Tree path 8 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Ruy Lopez › Morphy Defense › Modern Steinitz Defense › Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense › Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game C20
- King's Knight Opening C40
- Normal Variation C44
- Ruy Lopez C60
- Morphy Defense C70
- Modern Steinitz Defense C71
- Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense C73
- Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense C73 you are here
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C73), 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.
Play reaches this position via 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. d4 f6, after 12 plies of opening development.
The line refines Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- C73
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 12
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
4,804 games · White 44.9% / Draw 5.9% / Black 49.2%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 1,264 | |
| O-O | 1,081 | |
| dxe5 | 992 | |
| h3 | 490 | |
| c4 | 442 | |
| Be3 | 275 | |
| c3 | 88 | |
| Nh4 | 57 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:41:11
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Submissions are reviewed before publishing.