Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense 6…Bxf5 7. O-O
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Statistics from Lichess
8,364 games: White 48.7% / Draw 5.9% / Black 45.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 4,5884,588 | ||
| 2,4342,434 | ||
| 547547 | ||
| 288288 | ||
| 209209 | ||
| 5555 | ||
| 4949 | ||
| 4646 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.12 The position is about equal
Best play: 7... Bd3 8. Re1 Be7 9. Bc2 Bxc2 10. Qxc2 Nf6 11. d3 Qd7 12. Nbd2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense (ECO C74, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Siesta Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 f5 6. exf5 Bxf5 7. O-O (7 moves).
In 8,364 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.7%, Black 45.4% and 5.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…Bd3, in 55% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 7. O-O
The most played answer, 7…Bd3, also scores best for Black: 51.8%, with Black winning 48.4% and White 44.9% of 4,588 games. Of the main answers, 7…Nf6 scores lowest: 46.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…Bd3.
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: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense (C74)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-morphy-defense-modern-steinitz-defense-10