Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O d5

ECO C78

The Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit is a chess opening line in the Ruy Lopez complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O d5.

It is catalogued under code C78 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move d5 is chosen by Black on move 5.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Marshall Attack course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.