Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C61), reached after 10 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O Ne7.

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

Black bishop — 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: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C61. 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 10 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O Ne7.

It belongs to the Ruy Lopez family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Bird Variation → Paulsen Variation line). The immediate parent line is Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation, transitioned via 5…Ne7.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bb5 Nd4, 4.Nxd4 exd4, 5.O-O Ne7. 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.