Caissa Codex
C81

Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack 9…Be7 10. c4

Chess diagram: Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack after 10. c4

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Statistics from Lichess

63 games: White 46.0% / Draw 3.2% / Black 50.8%

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Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
5757
55
11

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

Engine evaluation

−0.87 Black is better

Best play: 10... bxc4 11. Bxc4 dxc4 12. Qxe4 Qd5 13. Qf4 O-O-O 14. Nc3 Qd3 15. Be3

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

Overview

Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack (ECO C81, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, 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. Qe2 Be7 10. c4 (10 moves).

In 63 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.0%, Black 50.8% and 3.2% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 10…bxc4, in 90% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 9…Be7 10. c4, the position after Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack (C81)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-open-howell-attack-2

https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-open-howell-attack-2