Tree path 13 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 › Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game C20
- King's Knight Opening C40
- Normal Variation C44
- Ruy Lopez C60
- Morphy Defense C70
- Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense C78
- Ruy Lopez: Open C80
- Ruy Lopez: Open C80
- Ruy Lopez: Open C80
- Ruy Lopez: Open C80
- Main Line C80
- Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation C80
- Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense C83 you are here
Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C83), 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 20 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 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 to reach the canonical position.
The line refines Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation, 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
- C83
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 20
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
16,223 games · White 47.7% / Draw 10.4% / Black 41.9%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bc2 | 14,517 | |
| Re1 | 824 | |
| Nd4 | 520 | |
| Qe2 | 239 | |
| h3 | 65 | |
| a4 | 53 | |
| Ng5 | 2 | |
| Qc2 | 1 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:26:25
Write a description
Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links).
Submissions are reviewed before publishing.