Ruy Lopez: Closed, Rossolimo Defense

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 c6 11.d4 Qc7

ECO C96

The Ruy Lopez: Closed, Rossolimo Defense 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 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c6 11.d4 Qc7.

It is catalogued under code C96 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Qc7 is chosen by Black on move 11.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the Ruy Lopez 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.