Ruy Lopez: Brix Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O g6
The Ruy Lopez: Brix Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO C78, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O g6. It is a line of the Ruy Lopez. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 10 times by this move order. White won 70%, 10% were drawn and Black won 20%. The most popular continuation is 6. c3 (30% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.89 (Stockfish, depth 31; best line 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nxe5 Bg7 8. d3 Nh5)
- ECO
- C78
- Moves
- 10 plies
- FEN
r1bqkb1r/1ppp1p1p/p1n2np1/4p3/B3P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 6- PGN
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O g6
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 6 | |
| 1500-1999 | 4 | |
| All | 10 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 6. c3 | 3 (30%) | |
| 6. Re1 | 3 (30%) | |
| 6. Nc3 | 2 (20%) | |
| 6. Bxc6 | 1 (10%) | |
| 6. d3 | 1 (10%) |
Master games
6 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 50%, draw 33%, Black 17%). The strongest:
- GM Alexei Shirov (2662) – IM Nderim Saraci (2430) 1/2-1/2 · Tetraktys Concept Mgmt Bl · 2021-06-06
- GM Onischuk, V. (2601) – Ileniak, V. (1787) 1-0 · Nebesna Sotnya Mem Rapid · 2017-02-18
- Alfredo Miserendino (2043) – CM Lukas W LeBakken (2003) 0-1 · Titled Tue 30th Dec 2025 · 2025-12-30
- Miguel Antonio Neto Silva (2185) – Diana Sofia Nogueira (1660) 1/2-1/2 · 4th Famalicao Open 2016 · 2016-07-30
Search all games of the Ruy Lopez: Brix Variation and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- Entrecolunas (2009) – jsjostar (1883) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 2s
- rorobert (1788) – captainmq (1841) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 600 + 0s
- zaimi15 (1774) – Fakhril (1383) 1-0 · 2026-09-01 · 480 + 3s
Comes from
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense (4… Nf6 5. O-O) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O
More Ruy Lopez lines (all)
- Ruy Lopez C60
- Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense C60
- Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit C60
- Ruy Lopez: Brentano Gambit C60
- Ruy Lopez: Bulgarian Variation C60
- Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense C60
- Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Paulsen Variation C60
- Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Tartakower Gambit C60
- Ruy Lopez: Fianchetto Defense C60
- Ruy Lopez: Fianchetto Defense, Kevitz Gambit C60
- Ruy Lopez: Lucena Variation C60
- Ruy Lopez: Nürnberg Variation C60
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.