Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Semi-Duras Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
8,372 games: White 58.7% / Draw 5.1% / Black 36.2%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 2,9942,994 | ||
| 2,2302,230 | ||
| 1,4681,468 | ||
| 972972 | ||
| 147147 | ||
| 117117 | ||
| 100100 | ||
| 7474 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 25, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.17 The position is about equal
Best play: 5... exd4 6. O-O Be7 7. Nxd4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bf6 9. Qd3 Ne7 10. Nc3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Semi-Duras Variation (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. c4 (5 moves).
In 8,372 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 58.7%, Black 36.2% and 5.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…exd4, in 36% 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, Semi-Duras Variation
5…Nf6 scores best for Black: 43.2%, with Black winning 40.6% and White 54.2% of 972 games. The most played, 5…exd4, scores 39.4% in 2,994 games, and 5…Nxd4 scores lowest: 34.6%. Stockfish's first choice is 5…exd4.
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, Semi-Duras Variation (C62)”. Lichess data as of 25 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-steinitz-defense-semi-duras-variation