The Open, Classical Defense, Main Line 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 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3 d5 9. dxe5 Be6 10. c3, reaching the position shown below after 19 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d5). Black is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to White's two. It is Black to move after ten moves. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted.
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 Open, Classical Defense, Main Line goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3 d5 9. dxe5 Be6 10. c3. It is a variation of the Ruy Lopez and is catalogued as ECO C83.
The Open, Classical Defense, Main Line 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 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3 d5 9. dxe5 Be6 10. c3 at +0.13 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d5). Black is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to White's two. It is Black to move. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted.