Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Exchange Variation
The Schliemann Exchange Variation is 4.Bxc6, giving up the bishop to remove the c6 knight before Black's attack starts. White hopes to win e5 or a better pawn structure, while Black recaptures and relies on the bishop pair and open lines.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Bxc6
- ECO
- C63
- Engine
- 0.00 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 575 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 45.5%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After 4...dxc6, play Nc3 and meet ...fxe4 with Nxe4, then Qe2 against the e-file.
- If Black takes on e4 with the f-pawn instead, Bxe4 and Nxe5 win material.
- Against 4...bxc6, use exf5 and Ne5, then castle and bring the queen back to f5 or e5 lines.
- Keep the knights active since Black has the two bishops; avoid opening the position for them.
Black
- Recapture with 4...dxc6, opening the d-file and freeing the c8 bishop toward g4.
- After Nc3 fxe4 Nxe4, develop with ...Nf6 and pin the f3 knight with ...Bg4.
- Avoid 4...fxe4: the engine line with Bxe4, Nxe5 and Qh5+ shows a disaster.
- Use the bishop pair; a later ...Bd6 and ...O-O makes the king safe.
Plans and pawn structure
With the c6 knight gone, Black's e5 pawn is loose and White can win it with Nxe5 in some lines. Black gets the bishop pair and open files. After 4...dxc6, the position usually opens with ...fxe4 and Nxe4, and both sides castle short. White uses the knights on e4 and f3 and keeps the queen on e2. Black uses ...Bg4 and ...Bd6 to get active and aims at White's kingside.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position 0.00: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- 0.00 4...dxc6 5.Nc3 fxe4 6.Nxe4 Nf6 7.Qe2
- +0.30 4...bxc6 5.exf5 e4 6.Ne5 Qg5 7.O-O
- +3.04 4...fxe4 5.Bxe4 d5 6.Nxe5 dxe4 7.Qh5+
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
575 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 45.5%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, recapture toward the center with 4...dxc6 and develop. Do not take on e4 with the f-pawn: after Bxe4, the bishop and the Qh5+ check break your king's cover. Keep your bishops and open the position when you can.
Questions
What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Exchange Variation?
The Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Exchange Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Bxc6. Its ECO code is C63.
Is the Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Exchange Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position 0.00 at depth 20, which is level. In 575 lichess games from our sample, White scored 45.5%. A solid way for White to avoid theory, and Black gets easy development as long as the f-pawn capture trick is avoided.
What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense, Exchange Variation?
White trades the bishop for the c6 knight to undermine e5 and blunt Black's attack. Black recaptures with the d-pawn, gets the bishop pair, and develops with ...Nf6 and ...Bg4.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is dxc6, with bxc6 and fxe4 close behind. 4...dxc6 opens lines for the c8 bishop and queen while keeping the center flexible.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.