C80

Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation, Luther Line

Chess diagram: Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation, Luther Line after 10. Qe1

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Statistics from Lichess

79 games: White 65.8% / Draw 5.1% / Black 29.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
4141
2727
99
11
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.23 The position is about equal

Best play: 10... Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Qd7 12. c3 Rd8 13. a4 d4 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Qf4

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

Overview

Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation, Luther Line (ECO C80, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation, reached after 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 Bc5 10. Qe1 (10 moves).

In 79 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 65.8%, Black 29.1% and 5.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 10…Nxd2, in 52% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation, Luther Line (C80)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-open-bernstein-variation-luther-line