Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Alapin Gambit

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C69), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5.

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: Exchange Variation, Alapin Gambit is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C69. 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 12 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5.

It belongs to the Ruy Lopez family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Exchange Variation → Alapin Gambit line). The immediate parent line is Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, transitioned via 6…h5.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bb5 a6, 4.Bxc6 dxc6, 5.O-O Bg4, 6.h3 h5. 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.