Chess Openings Lab
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Ruy Lopez: Closed

The Closed Ruy Lopez arises after 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7, where Black develops the bishop to e7 and keeps the center closed. White plans Re1, Bb3, c3 and d4, while Black gains queenside space with ...b5 and ...d6 or prepares the Marshall with ...d5.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7
ECO
C84, C88, C90, C92
Engine
+0.34 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,102 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Re1 to protect e4, then Bb3 after ...b5, as in the main engine line.
  • Build with c3 and h3, preparing d4 without allowing an annoying ...Bg4 pin.
  • The slower d3 keeps the center closed and aims for a4 queenside play.
  • Nc3 is a less common choice; Black can answer with ...b5 and ...d6.

Black

  • Play ...b5 to push the bishop to b3, then castle and decide between ...d6 and ...d5.
  • The Marshall Attack with ...d5 gambits a pawn for an attack after Re1 and c3.
  • ...Na5 hits the b3 bishop, sends it to c2 and prepares ...c5 for queenside space.

Plans and pawn structure

The Closed Ruy is a long maneuvering game. White builds a center with c3 and d4, keeps the bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal or c2, and later reroutes the knight via d2 and f1 to g3. Black gains queenside space with ...b5, ...Na5 and ...c5, while keeping the e5 point solid with ...d6 and ...Re8. Pawn breaks like d4-d5 for White or ...d5 for Black decide the middlegame.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.34: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.34 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 Na5
  2. +0.33 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7
  3. +0.15 6.Nc3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 b4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,102 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.1%.

1200–159951.7%
1600–199954.4%
2000 and up52.6%

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

Where it goes next

  • Marshall Attack6.Re1 · 442 games
  • Closed, Center Attack, Basque Gambit6.d4 · rare
  • Closed, Martinez Variation6.d3 · rare
  • Closed, Morphy Attack6.Nc3 · rare
  • Closed, Delayed Exchange6.Bxc6 · rare
  • Closed, Worrall Attack, Delayed Castling Line6.Qe2 · rare
  • Marshall Attack, Main Line, Spassky Variation6.Re1 · rare

How to play against it

As White, play Re1 and Bb3 calmly, then prepare c3 and d4. Know your answer to the Marshall Attack with ...d5 before you allow it. As Black, play ...b5 and castle, then pick between the solid ...d6 lines and the Marshall gambit, and stay consistent with that choice.

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 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3; 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O; 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O.

Questions

What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Closed?

The Ruy Lopez: Closed starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7. Its ECO code is C84, C88, C90, C92.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.34 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 2,102 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.1%. A classical main line for players who like long strategic games; both sides need patience and knowledge of standard plans.

What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Closed?

The Closed Ruy is a slow strategic fight. White builds a c3 and d4 center, while Black gains queenside space with ...b5 and ...c5 or chooses the Marshall Attack.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Re1, with d3 and Nc3 close behind. 6.Re1 protects e4 and prepares Bb3 and c3, the standard Closed setup.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.