Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Romanovsky Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
26,667 games: White 40.9% / Draw 5.2% / Black 53.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 5,6345,634 | ||
| 5,0455,045 | ||
| 4,8284,828 | ||
| 3,3183,318 | ||
| 2,9952,995 | ||
| 2,2502,250 | ||
| 1,8711,871 | ||
| 137137 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 25, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.15 The position is about equal
Best play: 6... Bd6 7. Nd2 Be6 8. Nc4 Bf8 9. Be3 Qd7 10. Qh5+ Bf7 11. Qe2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Romanovsky Variation (ECO C68, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Keres Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 f6 6. d3 (6 moves).
In 26,667 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 40.9%, Black 53.9% and 5.2% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Bg4, in 21% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Romanovsky Variation
6…c5 scores best for Black: 63.0%, with Black winning 60.8% and White 34.8% of 2,250 games. The most played, 6…Bg4, scores 55.8% in 5,634 games, and 6…Bb4 scores lowest: 52.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…Bd6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Romanovsky Variation (C68)”. Lichess data as of 25 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-exchange-variation-romanovsky-variation