Caissa Codex
Tree path 12 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Ruy Lopez › Morphy Defense › Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense › Ruy Lopez: Open › Ruy Lopez: Open › Ruy Lopez: Open › Ruy Lopez: Open › Main Line › Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation
  1. Caissa Codex
  2. King's Pawn Game C20
  3. King's Knight Opening C40
  4. Normal Variation C44
  5. Ruy Lopez C60
  6. Morphy Defense C70
  7. Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense C78
  8. Ruy Lopez: Open C80
  9. Ruy Lopez: Open C80
  10. Ruy Lopez: Open C80
  11. Ruy Lopez: Open C80
  12. Main Line C80
  13. Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation C80 you are here
C80

Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation

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Overview

Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C80), 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.

It begins with 17 plies and takes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 to reach the canonical position.

The line refines Ruy Lopez: Open, Main Line, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.

The line splits into 3 documented sub-systems: Luther Line, Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Ruy Lopez: Open, Karpov Gambit.

Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.

ECO code
C80
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
17
Parent
Ruy Lopez: Open, Main Line
Direct variations
3

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

37,958 games · White 47.7% / Draw 8.9% / Black 43.4%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Nc523,284
Bc57,648
Be74,782
Nxd21,560
Bg4169
Na5147
Qd7103
f585

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:16:15

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Variations (3)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Ruy Lopez: Open, Main Line:

https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-open-bernstein-variation