Tree path 11 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Ruy Lopez › Morphy Defense › Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Chigorin Defense

C97

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense

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Overview

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C97.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

Play reaches this position via 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 9. h3 Na5, after 18 plies of opening development.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Ruy Lopez: Closed, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

It continues primarily into one named line, Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense.

In total, the branch covers 11 sub-variations across all depths.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code: C97
Group: Open Games (C)
Plies: 18
Parent: Ruy Lopez: Closed
Direct variations: 1
Total in subtree: 11

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. A more detailed, human-written description is on the way — and you can speed it up by suggesting one yourself.

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Variations (1)

C96 Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense

Show all 11 sub-variations (full subtree)

Overview

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Description

Variations (1)

Related variations at the same level