Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
1,732 games: White 47.1% / Draw 4.0% / Black 49.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,1391,139 | ||
| 314314 | ||
| 152152 | ||
| 9494 | ||
| 2424 | ||
| 33 | ||
| 33 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.39 Black is slightly better
Best play: 5... Qxg2 6. Nd4+ c6 7. Qf3 Qxf3 8. Nxf3 dxe4 9. Nd4 cxb5 10. Nxb5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit (ECO C60, Open Games) is a gambit in the Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. Nxc6 (5 moves).
In 1,732 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.1%, Black 49.0% and 4.0% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Qxg2, in 66% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit
The most played answer, 5…Qxg2, also scores best for Black: 57.3%, with Black winning 54.9% and White 40.2% of 1,139 games. Of the main answers, 5…bxc6 scores lowest: 25.3%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…Qxg2.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit (C60)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-spanish-countergambit-harding-gambit