Caissa Codex
Tree path 14 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Ruy Lopez › Morphy Defense › Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Chigorin Defense › Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense › Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense › Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense
  1. Caissa Codex
  2. King's Pawn Game C20
  3. King's Knight Opening C40
  4. Normal Variation C44
  5. Ruy Lopez C60
  6. Morphy Defense C70
  7. Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense C78
  8. Ruy Lopez: Closed C84
  9. Ruy Lopez: Closed C88
  10. Ruy Lopez: Closed C90
  11. Ruy Lopez: Closed C92
  12. Chigorin Defense C97
  13. Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense C96
  14. Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense C96
  15. Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense C97 you are here
C97

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense

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Overview

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C97), arising from a recognised theoretical position.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

It begins with 22 plies and takes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 to reach the canonical position.

The line refines Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.

The line splits into 3 documented sub-systems: Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Panov System, Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin, Yugoslav System.

Together the deeper variations number 4 across the full subtree.

Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.

ECO code
C97
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
22
Parent
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense
Direct variations
3
Total in subtree
4

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

180,827 games · White 48.4% / Draw 6.1% / Black 45.4%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Nbd2100,234
d544,978
Bg510,071
Be36,552
a46,440
dxe56,369
b32,626
b41,113

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:29:17

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Variations (3)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense:

Show all 4 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-closed-chigorin-defense-4