Chess Openings Lab
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Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense

The Steinitz Defense is 3...d6, supporting e5 with the d-pawn without first playing ...a6. White wants d4 to pressure e5 and gain central space, while Black keeps a solid but cramped position and often gives up the center with ...exd4.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6
ECO
C62
Engine
+0.56 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
17,459 games in our lichess sample
White scores
54.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Nc3 and d4 to attack e5 twice, as in the main engine lines.
  • After ...exd4 and Nxd4, White has more space and free piece play.
  • Trade on c6 with Bxc6 to give Black doubled pawns and open the center.
  • Castle, then Re1, and use the pin on c6 to pressure e5.

Black

  • Develop with ...Bd7 and ...Nf6 to break the pin and hold e5.
  • Accept the trade on d4 with ...exd4 and use the half-open e-file.
  • Do not castle too early: the Tarrasch Trap punishes ...O-O when e5 falls after Bxc6 and dxe5.
  • Answer Bxc6 with ...bxc6 to keep your pawns near the center and open the b-file.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's pawn on d6 keeps e5 solid but leaves the pieces cramped. White builds d4 and either keeps tension or forces ...exd4, after which Nxd4 gives White space and easy development. Black plays ...Be7, ...Bd7, ...Nf6 and castles, then waits for a good moment to free the game with ...d5. If White trades on c6, Black's doubled c-pawns limit options, but the bishop pair offers some play.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.56: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.56 4.Nc3 Be7 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Bd7
  2. +0.48 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bd7 6.Nc3 Nf6
  3. +0.45 4.O-O Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Bd7

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

17,459 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.8%.

under 120051.1%
1200–159953.5%
1600–199956.6%
2000 and up59.5%

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

Where it goes next

  • Berlin Defense, Tarrasch Trap4.d4 · rare

How to play against it

As White, play Nc3 and d4, then castle. Keep pressure on e5 and trade on c6 when it helps. As Black, do not castle while the trade on c6 and dxe5 can win a pawn; that is the Tarrasch Trap.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4.

Questions

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

The Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6. Its ECO code is C62.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.56 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 17,459 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.8%. A playable but passive line for Black players who like stable structures, while White gets free development with d4.

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

Black protects e5 with ...d6 for a solid center, but White gains space with d4. Black often trades on d4 and develops for a cramped but steady game.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc3, with d4 and O-O close behind. 4.Nc3 develops and supports d4 next to attack the e5 pawn.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.