Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Nimzowitsch Attack
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Statistics from Lichess
43,156 games: White 53.5% / Draw 6.8% / Black 39.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 34,50435K | ||
| 8,4428,442 | ||
| 174174 | ||
| 1414 | ||
| 1313 | ||
| 66 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.03 White is better
Best play: 6... Bxc6 7. Qd3 exd4 8. Nxd4 g6 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. O-O-O h6 11. Bh4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Nimzowitsch Attack (ECO C62, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bxc6 (6 moves).
In 43,156 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.5%, Black 39.7% and 6.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Bxc6, in 80% 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: Steinitz Defense, Nimzowitsch Attack
The most played answer, 6…Bxc6, also scores best for Black: 44.5%, with Black winning 41.0% and White 51.9% of 35K games. Of the main answers, 6…bxc6 scores lowest: 37.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6…Bxc6.
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: Steinitz Defense, Nimzowitsch Attack (C62)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-steinitz-defense-nimzowitsch-attack