The Open, Breslau Variation is a variation of the Ruy Lopez, catalogued as ECO C83. The line runs 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. c3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nd4 Nxe5, reaching the position shown below after 22 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Black is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to White's two, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after 11 moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; the e-file file is fully open.
On the Ruy Lopez generally: One of the oldest and most classical openings. White develops rapidly and puts pressure on Black's center.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 184 Ruy Lopez variations →
The Open, Breslau Variation goes 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. c3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nd4 Nxe5. It is a variation of the Ruy Lopez and is catalogued as ECO C83.
The Open, Breslau Variation is ECO C83. 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 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nd4 Nxe5 at 0.00 at depth 18, which is balanced. 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.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Black is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to White's two, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; the e-file file is fully open.