Ruy Lopez: Open
The Open Ruy Lopez is 5...Nxe4, where Black grabs the e4 pawn after White castles. White wants to regain it with d4 and use the open e-file, while Black plans ...b5, ...d5 and ...Be6 to keep the knight on e4.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4
- ECO
- C80, C82
- Engine
- +0.36 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 536 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.7%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play 6.d4 at once to open the center while Black's king is still in the middle.
- After 6...b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5, the e5 pawn cramps Black and gives White space.
- Use c3 to keep the b3 bishop a retreat square on c2, then Re1 and Nbd2.
- Watch for the Tarrasch Trap: Nd4 and Nxe6, then a rook taking on e4, punish a careless ...Qd7.
Black
- Answer 6.d4 with ...b5 and ...d5 to protect the e4 knight with a pawn.
- Put the light bishop on e6 to defend d5 and develop with ...Be7 and castling.
- Do not put the queen on d7 when White's knight can trade on e6 and a rook can hit e4.
- Against an early Re1, the knight can step back to c5 and keep the extra pawn for a while.
Plans and pawn structure
The engine main line shows the standard picture: White's pawn on e5 against Black's d5, with a knight on e4 and a bishop on e6. White plays c3, Nbd2 and Bc2, aiming to trade the e4 knight and attack on the kingside with f4-f5 ideas. Black castles and uses the open c and d files, sometimes pushing ...c5 to fight for d4. Both sides must count tactics on the e-file carefully.
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:
- +0.36 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6
- +0.16 6.Re1 Nc5 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.Nxe5 Be7
- −0.19 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Re1 Nd6 8.Rxe5+ Be7
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
536 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.7%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Traps and pitfalls
Tarrasch Trap (White sets it)
In the Open Ruy Lopez, Black puts the queen on d7 behind the d5 pawn. White trades on e6 and then gives a rook on e4, and when the d5 pawn takes it, the d-file opens and the white queen wins the black queen.
Where it goes next
- Morphy Defense, Tartakower Variation6.Qe2 · rare
- Open, Knorre Variation6.Nc3 · rare
- Open, Tarrasch Trap6.d4 · rare
- Open, Skipworth Gambit6.Re1 · rare
How to play against it
As White, play 6.d4 and regain material with dxe5. Then c3 and Re1 are natural. As Black, keep the knight on e4 protected with ...d5, and avoid ...Qd7 when Nxe6 and a rook capture on e4 are possible; that is the Tarrasch Trap.
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4; 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3; 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5.
Questions
What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Open?
The Ruy Lopez: Open starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4. Its ECO code is C80, C82.
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.36 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 536 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.7%. A dynamic choice for Black players who know the e-file tactics, and White needs precise play to keep an edge.
What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Open?
Black takes the e4 pawn and keeps the knight there with ...b5 and ...d5. White regains material with d4 and dxe5, then plays against the knight and down the e-file.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is d4, with Re1 and Bxc6 close behind. 6.d4 opens the center at once while Black's king and pieces are not ready.
Related lines
- Ruy Lopez
- Steinitz Defense
- Berlin Defense
- Morphy Defense
- Classical Variation
- Exchange Variation
- How to beat the Ruy Lopezguide
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.