Chess Openings Lab
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Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation

The Anderssen Variation is 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3, where White protects e4 with the d-pawn before castling. White builds a quiet c3, d3 and e4 center, while Black chooses between ...b5 and ...Bc5 or a kingside fianchetto with ...d6 and ...g6.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3
ECO
C77
Engine
+0.18 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,742 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play c3 and castle, keeping the bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal after ...b5 and Bb3.
  • Use h3 to stop ...Bg4 pins and prepare a slow center build.
  • Re1 and a4 add pressure on the queenside after Black plays ...b5.

Black

  • Play ...b5 and ...Bc5, aiming the bishop at f2, as in the top engine line.
  • ...d6 and ...g6 build a sturdy kingside fianchetto setup, with the bishop on g7.
  • Castle quickly; the quiet center lets Black finish development comfortably and safely.

Plans and pawn structure

The structure is a quiet center: c3, d3 and e4 against e5. White maneuvers with Nbd2, Re1 and h3, then aims for d4 or a4 on the queenside. Black develops with ...Bc5, ...d6 and ...h6, or with ...g6 and ...Bg7, keeping e5 solid. The game is slow and maneuvering, and both sides look for the right moment to break with d4 or ...d5.

Where the engine's main line heads: Quiet center: c3–d3–e4 against e5. A slow center: White has c3, d3 and e4 against e5. Nobody is in a hurry, and the d3–d4 break decides when the game opens.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.18: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.18 5...b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.O-O d6 8.c3
  2. +0.18 5...Bc5 6.O-O b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3
  3. +0.20 5...d6 6.c3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,742 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.6%.

under 120048.2%
1200–159947.3%
1600–199951.1%
2000 and up46.6%

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

Where it goes next

  • Morphy Defense, Duras Variation5...d6 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, develop with ...b5 and ...Bc5 or with ...d6 and ...g6, and castle early. Do not rush ...d5, since White's quiet setup has no weak points and can meet it well. As White, play c3, castle and keep the tension in the center.

Questions

What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation?

The Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3. Its ECO code is C77.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.18 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,742 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.6%. A solid, slow choice for White players who like maneuvering; Black gets easy development.

What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation?

White protects e4 with d3 and builds a quiet c3, d3 and e4 center. Black develops with ...b5 and ...Bc5 or ...d6 and ...g6.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is b5, with Bc5 and d6 close behind. 5...b5 pushes the bishop to b3 and prepares ...Bc5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.