Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation
Chess opening · ECO C64 · 6 half-moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5
The Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation is reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5. It is White's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Ruy Lopez with 3… Bc5.
How often it is played
The Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation and its variations appeared in 0.20% of games — 6,017 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 184 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 51%, 3.7% were drawn and Black won 46%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.57 — a small edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 | 0.44% |
| Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 | 0.35% |
| Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 | 0.34% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Central Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 | 0.05% |
| Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Spanish Wing Gambit | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. b4 | 0.00% |
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