Ruy Lopez: all variations and ECO codes

235 named lines across 40 ECO codes (C60–C99). Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.

The idea

The 235 named lines split mainly on how Black responds to the bishop’s pressure on c6: the Closed Ruy Lopez (3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, both sides castling before the real fight begins) leads to some of the most heavily studied middlegames in chess, the Exchange Variation (4.Bxc6) trades the bishop pair for doubled pawns immediately, and the Berlin Defense (3...Nf6) heads for an early queen trade and a famously solid, drawish endgame structure that top-level players have used to blunt White’s opening edge for two decades.

The main line

Position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 (C60). Open this line on Lichess → · Ruy Lopez on Lichess

How the main line scores at your rating

Real Lichess win rates for 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5, playing as white: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.

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Win/draw/loss rate by rating band
Rating bandGamesWhite / draw / BlackScore for white
1400-1600 3,225 White/draw/black: 52.8% / 3.7% / 43.5% 52.8% / 3.7% / 43.5% 54.7%
1600-1800 2,941 White/draw/black: 50.7% / 3.8% / 45.5% 50.7% / 3.8% / 45.5% 52.6%
1800-2000 2,497 White/draw/black: 49.7% / 5.0% / 45.3% 49.7% / 5.0% / 45.3% 52.2%
2000+ 2,374 White/draw/black: 48.1% / 10.2% / 41.7% 48.1% / 10.2% / 41.7% 53.2%

All 235 named variations

Every named line in the Ruy Lopez family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.

Browse more

ECO Volume C: Open Games and the French Defense → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →

Related

Ruy Lopez (full deep-dive)

Real replies, common mistakes, and master games for one curated line.

Bishop’s Opening

41 named lines, ECO C23

Center Game

18 named lines, ECO C20

Four Knights Game

49 named lines, ECO C47