Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6

ECO C71

The Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense is a chess opening line in the Ruy Lopez complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6.

It is catalogued under code C71 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move d6 is chosen by Black on move 4.

2 named continuations branch from this position, including the Siesta Variation and the Fianchetto Variation.

Named variations

• Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Siesta Variation — ECO C74
• Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation — ECO C76

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.