Chess Openings Lab
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Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation

The Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation is 5...b5 6.Bb3 Bc5, with Black developing the bishop to c5 after ...Nf6 and White's castling. White aims for c3, a4 and a slow d3 or d4, while Black wants piece activity against f2 and a well placed ...Bb7.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5
ECO
C78
Engine
+0.36 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
596 games in our lichess sample
White scores
58.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play 7.c3 and d3 for a quiet center, then Nbd2 to bring the knight to the kingside.
  • Use a4 to pressure the b5 pawn; Black often has to answer with ...Bb7 or ...Rb8.
  • When ready, push d4 to hit the c5 bishop, as in the second engine line, and gain central space.
  • Rook to e1 guards e4 and supports a later d4 push in the third engine line.

Black

  • Answer c3 with ...d6, giving the c5 bishop a retreat to b6 and holding e5.
  • Put the light bishop on b7 to hit e4 and defend b5 against a4.
  • Play ...h6 so White's knight and bishop cannot use g5, then castle short.
  • If White plays d4, step back with ...Bb6 and consider ...Na5 to trade off the b3 bishop.

Plans and pawn structure

The structure after the main line is a quiet center, with c3, d3 and e4 against Black's e5. White maneuvers Nbd2 and Re1, then looks for d4 at a good moment or for pressure on b5 with a4. Black keeps the bishops on b6 and b7, plays ...h6 and castles, and aims for ...Na5 to trade the b3 bishop. Because the center stays closed, the side that handles the a-file and the b5 pawn usually decides the middlegame.

Where the engine's main line heads: Quiet center: c3–d3–e4 against e5. A slow center: White has c3, d3 and e4 against e5. Nobody is in a hurry, and the d3–d4 break decides when the game opens.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.36: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.36 7.c3 d6 8.a4 Bb7 9.d3 h6
  2. +0.36 7.a4 Bb7 8.c3 d6 9.d4 Bb6
  3. +0.32 7.Re1 d6 8.c3 Bb6 9.d4 exd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

596 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.3%.

under 120057.8%
1200–159961.1%
1600–199953.5%
2000 and up64.3%

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

How to play against it

As White, keep it simple: c3, a4 and d3, then build with Nbd2. Do not grab e5 with Nxe5 while the c5 bishop and the f2 square are loose. Push d4 only after preparing it, so Black's bishop has to retreat to b6.

Questions

What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation?

The Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5. Its ECO code is C78.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.36 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 596 lichess games from our sample, White scored 58.3%. A solid but active line for Black players who know where the bishops belong, while White needs patience in a closed center.

What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation?

Black develops the dark bishop to c5 instead of e7, adding pressure to f2 and keeping ...Bb7 in reserve. White answers with c3, a4 and a slow center, waiting to push d4 at a good moment.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is c3, with a4 and Re1 close behind. 7.c3 prepares d3 or d4 and takes the d4 square from Black's pieces.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.