Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C66), reached after 13 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bxc6.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black queen — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C66. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 13 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bxc6.

It belongs to the Ruy Lopez family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Berlin Defense → Closed Showalter Variation line). The immediate parent line is Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, transitioned via 7.Bxc6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bb5 Nf6, 4.O-O d6, 5.d4 Bd7, 6.Nc3 Be7. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.