Chess Openings Lab
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Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense

The Alapin Defense is 3...Bb4 in the Ruy Lopez, where Black puts the dark bishop on b4 instead of a central square. Black hopes to develop quickly and copy White's bishop pin, while White gains time by hitting the bishop with c3 and preparing d4.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bb4
ECO
C60
Engine
+0.89 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
235 games in our lichess sample
White scores
62.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play c3 at once, as in the top engine line, gaining a tempo on the bishop and preparing d4.
  • After ...Ba5, push a4 to take b5 and make the bishop's retreat path awkward.
  • Trade on c6 with Bxc6 when Black's queenside is loose, then target the e5 pawn.

Black

  • Retreat to a5 and then b6 so the bishop still aims at f2.
  • Develop the king's knight to e7 so it can come to g6 and guard e5.
  • Castle quickly; the bishop on b4 is a temporary post, not a real pin.

Plans and pawn structure

White builds the classical center with c3 and d4, often after castling, and Black's bishop has to keep moving. Black sets up with ...Nge7, ...Ba5, ...Bb6 and castling, then hopes to pressure the center with ...d6 or ...d5. The main issue for Black is lost time: the bishop needs several moves to reach a good square. White aims for a space edge and kingside play once d4 is in.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.89: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.89 4.c3 Ba5 5.a4 a6 6.Bxc6 dxc6
  2. +0.37 4.O-O Nge7 5.c3 Ba5 6.Qa4 Bb6
  3. +0.21 4.h3 Nge7 5.O-O Ba5 6.Na3 O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

235 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 62.1%.

under 120061.4%
1200–159965.5%
1600–199946.8%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit4.c3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, hit the bishop with c3 and follow with d4 to build the center. Avoid early Bxc6 before it achieves something specific. As Black, do not let the bishop get trapped after a4; retreat it to b6 in time.

Questions

What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense?

The Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bb4. Its ECO code is C60.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.89 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 235 lichess games from our sample, White scored 62.1%. A dubious side line for Black: playable, but it hands White easy tempo gains and a comfortable center.

What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense?

Black develops the dark bishop to b4, but it loses time after c3. White builds a center with c3 and d4 while Black reroutes the bishop to a5 and b6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is c3, with O-O and h3 close behind. 4.c3 hits the bishop and prepares d4, gaining time for White's center.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.