Caissa Codex
C70

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale Gambit

Chess diagram: Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale Gambit after 6. Bxf7+

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Statistics from Lichess

19,695 games: White 55.5% / Draw 2.9% / Black 41.5%

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Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
19,58020K
115115

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.19 The position is about equal

Best play: 6... Kxf7 7. Nxe5+ Ke7 8. d4 d6 9. Nd3 Bb7 10. a4 Nf6 11. e5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale Gambit (ECO C70, Open Games) is a gambit in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5 6. Bxf7+ (6 moves).

In 19,695 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 55.5%, Black 41.5% and 2.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Kxf7, in 99% of those games.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale Gambit (C70)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-morphy-defense-norwegian-variation-nightingale-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-morphy-defense-norwegian-variation-nightingale-gambit