The Closed, Chigorin Defense is a variation of the Ruy Lopez, catalogued as ECO C96. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2, reaching the position shown below after 19 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e4, Black on e5). Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move after ten moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
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 Closed, Chigorin Defense goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2. It is a variation of the Ruy Lopez and is catalogued as ECO C96.
The Closed, Chigorin Defense is ECO C96. 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 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 at +0.56 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e4, Black on e5). Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.