The Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation is a variation of the Ruy Lopez, catalogued as ECO C67. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Be3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 c5, reaching the position shown below after 26 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e5. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is White to move after 13 moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; Black has doubled pawns on the c-file; Black’s a-file pawn is isolated; Black has the bishop pair.
On the Ruy Lopez generally: One of the oldest and most classical openings. White develops rapidly and puts pressure on Black's center.
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The Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Be3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 c5. It is a variation of the Ruy Lopez and is catalogued as ECO C67.
The Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation is ECO C67. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Ruy Lopez.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Be3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 c5 at +0.26 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on e5. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; Black has doubled pawns on the c-file; Black’s a-file pawn is isolated; Black has the bishop pair.