Tree path 15 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 › Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense
- Caissa Codex
- King's Pawn Game C20
- King's Knight Opening C40
- Normal Variation C44
- Ruy Lopez C60
- Morphy Defense C70
- Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense C78
- Ruy Lopez: Closed C84
- Ruy Lopez: Closed C88
- Ruy Lopez: Closed C90
- Ruy Lopez: Closed C92
- Chigorin Defense C97
- Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense C96
- Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense C96
- Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense C97
- Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense C98 you are here
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C98.
The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.
The line arises from 24 plies — specifically the moves 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 12. Nbd2 Nc6.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.
It continues primarily into one named line, Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- C98
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 24
- Direct variations
- 1
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
18,024 games · White 48.0% / Draw 6.7% / Black 45.3%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| d5 | 10,584 | |
| Nf1 | 5,823 | |
| dxc5 | 453 | |
| Nb3 | 377 | |
| dxe5 | 286 | |
| a4 | 233 | |
| a3 | 146 | |
| b3 | 57 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:30:45
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