1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 opens the Ruy Lopez, Closed Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3... dxc6, ECO C85. Lichess records 79,375 games in this line, which gives us a reliable view of how it actually performs in practice.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Ruy Lopez, Closed Defence. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Mato Damjanovic (31 games), Ratmir Kholmov (22 games), Hans Joachim Hecht (18 games). Black-side regulars include Oleg M Romanishin (23 games), Svetozar Gligoric (23 games), Peter Lukacs (20 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
How well the Ruy Lopez, Closed Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3... dxc6 works depends on what level you're playing at. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.00% of games (1,849 samples). White scores 49.4%, Black 47.2%, draws 3.5%. Move up to 1800 Elo and the share shifts to 0.00%, with White winning 49.7% versus Black's 44.8%. At 2500, 0.02% of games go into this opening; draws sit at 12.6% — the line is well-mapped at this level. Positions also become less sharp as level rises (sharpness 0.96 → 0.87).
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
What players actually play after the opening moves depends heavily on rating. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is Nxe5, played 74.5% of the time. There are 3 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 90.3% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 1.39. By 2500, d3 dominates at 62% of replies; only 5 viable alternatives remain and 84.6% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 1.75. Move diversity stays high even at master level, suggesting the opening doesn't force one specific response.
Common Mistakes
- Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, theory adherence sits at 84.1% — versus 90.3% at 2000. The most popular deviation is Re1 (played 13.6% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
- Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
- Playing without a plan — Each Ruy Lopez, Closed Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3... dxc6 middlegame demands a specific approach. Decide whether the position calls for attack, manoeuvre, or simplification before reaching for a move.
Practice on Chessiverse
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