Chess Openings Lab
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Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation

The Graz Variation of the Morphy Defense is 4...b5 5.Bb3 Bc5, where Black kicks the bishop and then posts the dark bishop on c5 before playing ...Nf6. White wants c3 and d4 to hit that bishop, while Black hopes the c5 bishop and the b5 pawn give fast queenside play.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5
ECO
C70
Engine
+0.64 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
676 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Start with 6.c3 and follow with d4, gaining time on the c5 bishop exactly as the top engine line does.
  • After d4 and ...exd4, recapture with cxd4 to build a broad pawn center on d4 and e4.
  • The b3 bishop points at f7. Keep it, and answer ...Na5 by retreating it to c2 to stay on the long diagonal.
  • The a4 lever, as in the second and third engine lines, asks the b5 pawn awkward questions before Black castles.

Black

  • Answer c3 with ...Nge7, keeping the f-pawn free and covering d5 before White pushes d4.
  • After the exchange on d4, drop the bishop to b6 and keep it aimed at f2 and d4.
  • Use ...Na5 to chase the b3 bishop, the move Black plays at the end of the main engine line.
  • Meet a4 with ...Bb7 and support b5; a loose b5 pawn is Black's main weakness here.

Plans and pawn structure

The game turns on whether White can build c3 and d4 with tempo. If the center rises with cxd4, White has more space and the b3 bishop bears down on f7, so Black must react with ...Bb6 and ...Na5 to trade that bishop. If White prefers a slower setup with castling, a4 and d3, the position stays closed and Black has time for ...Nf6, ...d6 and ...h6. In both cases White's long-term target is the advanced b5 pawn, and Black's is the f2 square.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.64: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.64 6.c3 Nge7 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bb6
  2. +0.39 6.O-O Nf6 7.a4 Bb7 8.c3 d6
  3. +0.38 6.a4 Bb7 7.c3 Nf6 8.O-O d6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

676 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.8%.

under 120049.4%
1200–159951.3%
1600–199954.1%
2000 and up60.5%

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

How to play against it

As White, do not rush to castle and forget the center. Play c3 and d4 so the c5 bishop has to move again. Keep the b3 bishop out of reach of ...Na5 trades if you can, and use a4 against the b5 pawn once Black castles.

Questions

What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation?

The Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5. Its ECO code is C70.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.64 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 676 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.8%. A lively choice for Black players who like active bishops, but it asks Black to defend the b5 pawn and react well to a quick d4.

What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation?

Black develops the dark bishop to c5 early, aiming at f2, after gaining space with ...b5. White's main answer is c3 and d4, gaining time on the bishop and building a big center.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is c3, with O-O and a4 close behind. 6.c3 prepares d4, so White builds the center while hitting the c5 bishop.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.