White's d4 break
Plan played in 51% of the 2,060 over-the-board games rated 2300+ with this structure.
55 in 100 choose it online.See dataHide
Online, 2200+: 54.7% of 48,331. Over the board, 2300+: 51.2% of 2,060; the alternative, : 36.3% and 43.0%.
Ruy Lopez (1. 2. 3.)
The Ruy Lopez is 1. 2. 3.. Your bishop hits the c6 knight, the piece holding e5, though the pawn isn't under real threat yet. The pressure builds as you castle, put a rook on e1 and get d4 ready. Between 900 and 1700 you score 53% with it (N = 701,005 Lichess games, September 2026).
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
At a glance
- Moves
- 1. 2. 3.
- ECO
- C60
- Amateur games
- 701,005
- Of all games rated 900 to 1700
- 2.3%
- White's score
- Lichess 900–1700: 53.3% · Online, 2200+: 53.2% · Over the board, 2300+: 56.9%
- Evaluation after 3.
- +0.18
200 named lines in this family; 3 with their own page.
By rating
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
What amateurs play and what strong players play
At your level the most common answer to 3. is , in 25 of every 100 games, ahead of on 21 and on 18. Strong players hardly touch : above 2200 online, 55 in 100 choose and 28 go for . After , just over half of players at your level trade with 4., while strong players retreat with 4. 86 times in 100. Then 46 in 100 of your opponents kick the bishop straight away with , where 80 in 100 strong players develop with . Against , 52 in 100 players at your level castle, against 72 in 100 strong players; 14 in 100 at your level play 5., which blocks the c-pawn.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24.6% | 53.2% | no data | no data | |
| 20.7% | 54.0% | 28.1% | 22.1% | |
| 18.0% | 53.8% | 54.8% | 72.1% | |
| 11.7% | 51.9% | 3.7% | 1.2% | |
| 6.6% | 52.2% | 4.3% | 1.3% | |
| 6.1% | 51.7% | 1.4% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 4.8% | 1.2% | |
| no data | no data | no data | 1.2% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52.3% | 52.8% | 13.7% | 2.6% | |
| 44.9% | 55.5% | 86.2% | 97.4% | |
| 2.2% | 49.8% | 0.0% | no data | |
| 0.2% | 27.1% | 0.0% | no data | |
| 0.1% | 53.0% | no data | no data | |
| 0.1% | 31.7% | no data | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46.0% | 57.0% | 5.4% | 1.7% | |
| 33.8% | 53.9% | 79.8% | 81.1% | |
| 7.7% | 55.2% | 6.3% | 8.5% | |
| 7.5% | 53.7% | 3.4% | 3.3% | |
| 0.8% | 53.2% | no data | no data | |
| 0.6% | 49.0% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 1.7% | 3.1% | |
| no data | no data | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52.2% | 55.4% | 71.6% | 81.6% | |
| 26.1% | 52.6% | 18.5% | 11.8% | |
| 13.8% | 51.7% | 2.6% | 4.8% | |
| 2.4% | 54.6% | no data | no data | |
| 2.4% | 53.0% | 2.9% | 0.7% | |
| 1.3% | 52.9% | 1.6% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 2.7% | 1.0% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36.3% | 56.5% | 23.4% | 9.5% | |
| 21.5% | 56.0% | 3.2% | 6.3% | |
| 15.2% | 53.0% | 52.8% | 67.1% | |
| 12.3% | 58.1% | 16.8% | 7.5% | |
| 10.1% | 53.8% | 3.6% | 9.7% | |
| 1.6% | 60.6% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.2% | no data |
The plan, from masters' games
The strong-player line runs 4. 5. 6. 7., and it's heading for the d4 break. Before you open the center, you tuck your king away, cover e4 with a rook and bring the bishop to b3. When your pawn reaches d4, it hits e5 together with the f3 knight.
3. attacks the c6 knight, the defender of e5. That isn't a threat yet: if you take on c6 and then on e5, your e4 pawn has no defender and your opponent wins material back. puts the question to the bishop, and 4. keeps eyeing c6 from the same diagonal.
attacks e4, and 5. doesn't protect it: king safety comes before the pawn. If your opponent grabs it with , as 17 in 100 strong players do, you're in the Open, whose main line goes 6.: you blow the center open while their king is still on e8.
, the choice of 54 in 100 strong players, leaves e4 alone. 6. defends it with the rook, and that changes the math. Now 7. followed by taking on e5 is a real threat, because e4 is no longer loose. That's why shows up in 98 of every 100 strong games: it kicks the bishop before the trade can happen. 7. drops it back onto the a2–g8 diagonal, where it aims at f7.
From there, d4 is the goal. Strong players make that break in 55 of every 100 online games and 51 over the board; in 36 online and 43 over the board they settle for d3, which props up e4 and saves the break for later. To give d4 backup, the c-pawn goes to c3 first. If your opponent then takes on d4, you recapture with that pawn and keep two pawns in the center.
At your level the line breaks down sooner. After 4., 46 in 100 opponents play instead of developing the knight. Your bishop still lands on b3 aiming at f7, and they've spent two pawn moves on the queenside. You score 57 in 100 from there.
The strong players' line
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 50,326 | 55.5% | |
| 27,924 | 86.8% | |
| 24,229 | 79.9% | |
| 19,333 | 72.2% | |
| 13,995 | 53.7% | |
| 7,697 | 78.3% | |
| 6,011 | 97.8% | |
| 5,872 | 100.0% |
The mistakes that cost the most games
Inaccuracy
After , 4. gives up your bishop for the knight and wins nothing. After 5. , the f6 pawn holds e5, and your opponent has the bishop pair, with the c8 bishop's diagonal now open. Play 4. instead, preparing d4 against the c5 bishop. 36 in 100 at your level make the trade; you score 50.2 against 55.3.
36 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.2%; scores 55.3%.
Mistake
takes f6 away from the g8 knight and opens the diagonal toward their king, and 4. gives up on exploiting it. After 5. 6. 7. the queens are gone and that open diagonal hardly matters. Play 4. right away. More than 1 in 3 trade; you score 52 against 57.7.
36 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.4 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.0%; scores 57.7%.
Blunder
Blunder, and a trap. After , the knight attacks your b5 bishop, which has no defender. 4. grabs the pawn and leaves the bishop hanging: . Then 5. 6. 7. wins the b5 knight back with check, but you're still a piece down for two pawns. Play 4. instead. You score 33.4 against 52.9.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 4.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 33.4%; scores 52.9%.
Mistake
After , the queen also guards e5, so 4. doesn't win the pawn. It just gives your opponent the bishop pair. Play goes 5. 6. 7., with their c8 bishop free. Play 4. instead: develop and keep the trade for later. You score 51.9 against 55.2.
22 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 51.9%; scores 55.2%.
Inaccuracy
After , the e7 knight already covers c6, so 4. only swaps your bishop for a knight. Play goes 5. 6. 7., and your opponent has the bishop pair with an open diagonal for the c8 bishop. Play 4. instead. You score 47.4 against 52.8.
13 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.4%; scores 52.8%.
Mistake
After 4. , 5. loses the d4 pawn: 6. 7. . Taking back with 8. walks into , the Noah's Ark Trap: the queen is hit and c4 threatens to shut your bishop in. Play 5. instead, with check, leaving e5 one defender against two attackers. You score 52.7 against 63.3.
34 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.9 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.7%; scores 63.3%.
How players castle
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 370,577 | ||
| Not castled | 124,094 | |
| 73,227 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 42,960 |
| Not castled | 32,896 | |
| 21,982 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 1,678 | ||
| Not castled | 196 | |
| 96 | ||
| 35 | ||
| 14 | ||
| Not castled | 13 |
Variations
Berlin Defense
1. 2. 3.
125,720 amateur games · 385 over the board
ignores e5 and counterattacks your e4 pawn with the knight.
Exchange Variation
1. 2. 3. 4.
67,686 amateur games · 38 over the board
4. gives up the bishop for the knight and leaves your opponent with doubled c-pawns.
Steinitz Defense
1. 2. 3. · 168,736 amateur games · 9 over the board
props up e5 with a pawn but leaves the c6 knight pinned to the king.
Classical Variation
1. 2. 3. · 80,076 amateur games · 25 over the board
puts the bishop on a diagonal aimed at f2.
Morphy Defense
1. 2. 3. · 72,168 amateur games · 712 over the board
questions the bishop; it's the reply of 55 in 100 strong online players.
Cozio Defense
1. 2. 3. · 46,448 amateur games · 27 over the board
brings the knight to e7, where it can guard c6 again.
Bird Variation
1. 2. 3. · 43,209 amateur games · 10 over the board
hits your b5 bishop and your f3 knight at the same time.
Nürnberg Variation
1. 2. 3. · 14,557 amateur games · 2 over the board
holds e5 but takes f6 from the knight and opens the e8–h5 diagonal.
Schliemann Defense
1. 2. 3. · 11,579 amateur games · 25 over the board
attacks your e4 pawn with a pawn; you score 49.9 in 100 here.
Spanish Countergambit
1. 2. 3. · 4,497 amateur games
strikes at e4 immediately; you score 57.9 in 100 against it.
Closed
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · 4,075 amateur games · 641 over the board
leaves e4 alone for now; after 6. the rook covers it.
Other named lines
Vinogradov Variation
1. 2. 3. · C60
2,936 amateur games · White's score: 54.8%
Alapin Defense
1. 2. 3. · C60
2,245 amateur games · White's score: 60.2%
Open
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C80
1,940 amateur games · White's score: 59.6%
Fianchetto Defense
1. 2. 3. · C60
1,396 amateur games · White's score: 54.1%
Lucena Variation
1. 2. 3. · C60
1,388 amateur games · White's score: 52.7%
Rotary-Albany Gambit
1. 2. 3. · C60
808 amateur games · White's score: 58.7%
Pollock Defense
1. 2. 3. · C60
704 amateur games · White's score: 60.4%
Marshall Attack
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · C89
499 amateur games · White's score: 45.1%
Bird's Defense Deferred
1. 2. 3. 4. · C70
409 amateur games · White's score: 49.3%
Bulgarian Variation
1. 2. 3. · C60
315 amateur games · White's score: 61.9%
Noah's Ark Trap
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · C71
287 amateur games · White's score: 34.7%
Halloween Attack
1. 2. 3. 4. · C65
279 amateur games · White's score: 31.7%
Open, Skipworth Gambit
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C80
255 amateur games · White's score: 63.7%
Retreat Variation
1. 2. 3. · C60
239 amateur games · White's score: 61.5%
Central Countergambit
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C78
214 amateur games · White's score: 61.0%
Open, Riga Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C80
143 amateur games · White's score: 62.9%
Classical Defense, Boden Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. · C64
111 amateur games · White's score: 55.0%
Brentano Gambit
1. 2. 3. · C60
109 amateur games · White's score: 57.3%
Marshall Attack, Modern Main Line
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. · C89
99 amateur games · White's score: 36.9%
Classical Defense, Benelux Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C64
80 amateur games · White's score: 49.4%
Exchange, Alekhine Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · C68
59 amateur games · White's score: 37.3%
Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C60
58 amateur games · White's score: 63.8%
Marshall Attack, Modern Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · C89
58 amateur games · White's score: 47.4%
Marshall Attack, Main Line
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. · C89
46 amateur games · White's score: 37.0%
Brix Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C78
45 amateur games · White's score: 56.7%
Marshall Attack, Original Marshall Attack
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · C89
40 amateur games · White's score: 28.7%
Open, Main Line
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · C80
30 amateur games · White's score: 65.0%
Open Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C67
26 amateur games · White's score: 30.8%
Marshall Attack, Steiner Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C89
22 amateur games · White's score: 27.3%
Open Berlin Defense, Showalter Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C67
21 amateur games · White's score: 61.9%
Steinitz Defense Deferred, Lipnitsky Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · C79
12 amateur games · White's score: 75.0%
Open, Bernstein Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C80
9 amateur games · White's score: 11.1%
Open, Classical Defense
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C83
8 amateur games · White's score: 68.8%
Fianchetto Defense, Kevitz Gambit
1. 2. 3. 4. · C60
5 amateur games · White's score: 40.0%
Open, Knorre Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C80
4 amateur games · White's score: 25.0%
Open, St. Petersburg Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · C82
4 amateur games · White's score: 37.5%
Open, Howell Attack
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C81
3 amateur games · White's score: 33.3%
Open, Italian Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C82
3 amateur games · White's score: 66.7%
Marshall Attack, Re3 Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. · C89
2 amateur games · White's score: 75.0%
Closed Berlin Defense, Chigorin Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C66
1 amateur game · White's score: 100.0%
Open, Berlin Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C82
1 amateur game · White's score: 100.0%
Open, Dilworth Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · C82
1 amateur game · White's score: 50.0%
Open, Motzko Attack
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · C82
1 amateur game · White's score: 0.0%
Wormald Attack, Grünfeld Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · C77
1 amateur game · White's score: 100.0%
Classical Defense, Zaitsev Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C64
Marshall Attack, Main Line, Spassky Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. · C89
Open, Berger Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · C80
Open, Bernstein Variation, Luther Line
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · C80
Open, Breslau Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · C83
Open, Classical Defense, Main Line
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · C83
Open, Friess Attack
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · C80
Open, Harksen Gambit
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · C80
Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. · C81
Open, Karpov Gambit
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · C80
Open, Malkin Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · C83
Open, Motzko Attack, Nenarokov Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · C82
Open, Richter Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · C80
Open, Schlechter Defense
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · C80
Open, Tarrasch Trap
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. · C83
Open, Zukertort Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · C80
Rabinovich Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · C78
Steinitz Defense Deferred, Boleslavsky Variation
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · C79
Traps
Other move orders that get here
- 1. 2. 3. 695,554 games
- 1. 2. 3. 8,210 games
- 1. 2. 3. 2,824 games
Questions
What is the Ruy Lopez?
It's 1. 2. 3.: your knight attacks e5 and your bishop goes after its defender, the c6 knight. It comes up in just over 2 of every 100 games between 900 and 1700. You can also reach it when your opponent starts with and plays later.
What are the main ideas of the Ruy Lopez?
Pressure on e5 through the c6 knight, then the d4 break. You castle first, cover e4 with 6., and only then does trading on c6 and taking on e5 become a threat, which is why strong players answer with . The bishop settles on b3 aiming at f7, and the c-pawn goes to c3 to support d4.
Is the Ruy Lopez good for beginners?
Its plan is a short checklist: castle, rook to e1, bishop to b3, then d4. Between 900 and 1100 you score 53.9 in 100 with it, and 53.1 between 1500 and 1700. The danger is cashing in too early. After , grabbing e5 with 4. drops your bishop.