Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C76), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 a6 5. Ba4 d6 6. d4 Bd7.

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: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C76. 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 g6 4. c3 a6 5. Ba4 d6 6. d4 Bd7.

It belongs to the Ruy Lopez family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Morphy Defense → Modern Steinitz Defense → Fianchetto Variation line). The immediate parent line is Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, transitioned via 6…Bd7.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bb5 g6, 4.c3 a6, 5.Ba4 d6, 6.d4 Bd7. 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.