Library/Openings/Ruy Lopez/Open/Howell Attack ECO C81
Opening· 17 plies

Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C81), reached after 17 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2.

Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack ECO C81
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Black rook
Black queen
Black king
Black bishop
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black knight
Black bishop
Black pawn
Black pawn
White pawn
Black knight
White bishop
White knight
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White queen
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White knight
White bishop
White rook
White king
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About this opening

Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C81. 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 17 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2.

It belongs to the Ruy Lopez family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Open → Howell Attack line). The immediate parent line is Ruy Lopez: Open, transitioned via 9.Qe2.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bb5 a6, 4.Ba4 Nf6, 5.O-O Nxe4, 6.d4 b5. From this position exactly one named continuation is recorded in the encyclopaedia.