Caissa Codex
C63

Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Kostić Defense

Chess diagram: Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Kostić Defense after 5…Be7

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

208 games: White 44.7% / Draw 10.1% / Black 45.2%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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55
33
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+1.67 White is clearly better

Best play: 6. d4 a6 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. O-O Nf6 9. Nxf6+ Bxf6 10. Nxe5 O-O

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

Overview

Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Kostić Defense (ECO C63, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Dyckhoff Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 (5 moves).

In 208 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.7%, Black 45.2% and 10.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. O-O, in 41% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4…fxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7, the position after Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Dyckhoff Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Kostić Defense (C63)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-schliemann-defense-kostic-defense

https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-schliemann-defense-kostic-defense