Chess Openings Lab
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Ruy Lopez: Nürnberg Variation

The Nurnberg Variation is 3...f6, protecting e5 with the f-pawn against the Ruy Lopez bishop. White wants to exploit the weakened light squares and the blocked f6 square, while Black hopes to finish development and keep the center closed.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f6
ECO
C60
Engine
+0.96 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,254 games in our lichess sample
White scores
56.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Castle with 4.O-O and follow with c3 and d4, as in the top engine line.
  • Open the center with d4, so the weak e8-h5 diagonal matters before Black has castled.
  • Use Bc4 to hit the g8 knight and the a2-g8 diagonal that ...f6 has weakened.
  • Look for Qh5+ ideas once the center opens, since f6 no longer covers that square.

Black

  • Develop with ...Bc5 and ...a6 to ask the b5 bishop what it wants.
  • Bring the knight to e7 or h6 since f6 is taken; ...Nge7 also protects the c6 knight.
  • Hold the e5 pawn with ...d6 and keep the center closed as long as you can.
  • Castle quickly, because after ...f6 the black king is the most exposed piece on the board.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a dubious move for Black. The f6 pawn takes the best square from the g8 knight and opens the a2-g8 and e8-h5 diagonals. White should castle, play c3 and d4, and open lines before Black can castle. If Black holds e5 with ...d6 and ...Ba7, the center stays closed and Black gets a cramped but playable game. White's aim is to keep the initiative with fast development and pressure on the light squares.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.96: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.96 4.O-O Bc5 5.c3 a6 6.Bc4 d6
  2. +0.87 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4+ 6.c3 Nxd4
  3. +0.75 4.Bc4 Na5 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.Nc3 c5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,254 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.5%.

under 120056.3%
1200–159956.7%
1600–199956.7%

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

How to play against it

As White, keep it simple: castle, play c3, then d4. Do not grab e5 with risky knight moves; strong development is enough. Bring a bishop to c4 to hit g8 and the weak diagonal. Black's king will be uncomfortable once the center opens.

Questions

What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Nürnberg Variation?

The Ruy Lopez: Nürnberg Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f6. Its ECO code is C60.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Nürnberg Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.96 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 1,254 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.5%. A weak move that club players should avoid as Black, and White only needs normal development to gain a clear edge.

What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Nürnberg Variation?

Black props up e5 with the f-pawn. This weakens the king's diagonals and takes the f6 square from the knight, so White should develop fast and open the center with c3 and d4.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is O-O, with d4 and Bc4 close behind. 4.O-O gets the king safe first and prepares c3 and d4 to open lines.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.