Chessy
Ruy Lopez: Vinogradov Variation — Play it as Black
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qe7, you are choosing a very specific kind of Ruy Lopez. The position is already sharp enough to matter, and White gets the move with a healthy pull. That makes this a good drill for learning how to survive the opening, keep your pieces coordinated, and answer White’s most common tries without drifting into passivity. Use the board below to test whether you can find the right defensive setup and handle the most popular continuations.
Play the Ruy Lopez: Vinogradov Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position says immediately
This line is not equal. Stockfish rates this +1.14, a clear edge for White. That means you are clearly worse here. The practical lesson is simple: do not play for tricks and do not waste tempi; you need solid development and reliable squares for your pieces. White has a comfortable lead, so your job is to make the position as awkward as possible and stop the advantage from growing.
The engine’s recommendation
The engine’s best move here is O-O, continuing O-O a6 Ba4 d6. That tells you the safest approach is usually to get the king secure first and then keep the position compact. In this kind of structure, calm moves matter more than flashy ideas. If you can finish development without creating extra weaknesses, you give yourself a real chance to stay in the game.
What White usually chooses
The most common continuation is O-O, and it scores strongly for White across a huge sample. Other popular tries are Bxc6, Nc3, d3, c3, and d4. That mix is useful for your training: White can choose a quiet developing plan, a simplification, or a direct central push, so you should be ready for several different kinds of middlegame rather than memorising one narrow line.
The mistakes to punish
There are two known mistakes worth knowing. Bxc6 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; better was O-O. d4 is also a mistake and loses about 1.3 pawns; better was O-O. The practical message is that when White overreaches, you want to stay disciplined and let the extra space or structure weakness become a long-term target.
Results across 269,948 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| O-O | 92,224 | 57.6% |
| Bxc6 | 82,196 | 49.3% |
| Nc3 | 42,052 | 55.6% |
| d3 | 21,109 | 53.0% |
| c3 | 19,599 | 55.9% |
| d4 | 6,333 | 49.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ruy Lopez: Vinogradov Variation good for Black?
Not really, at least not in the exact position in this lesson. The engine gives +1.14, which is a clear edge for White, so you are starting from an unpleasant situation. The point of the drill is to learn how to handle that disadvantage as accurately as possible.
What should I play as Black here?
The engine’s best move is O-O. The suggested continuation is O-O a6 Ba4 d6, which shows a calm, king-safe approach. In practical terms, you want to finish development and avoid making the position even easier for White.
What is White most likely to play?
The most-played move is O-O, with Bxc6, Nc3, d3, c3, and d4 also appearing often. That means you should be ready for both normal development and more direct central play. The drill helps you practise responding to the moves you are most likely to face.
Which White moves are bad in this position?
Bxc6 and d4 are both listed as mistakes. Bxc6 loses about 1.1 pawns, while d4 loses about 1.3 pawns, and in both cases O-O is the better move. Knowing that helps you recognise when White has given you a small practical relief.
How many games feature the Ruy Lopez: Vinogradov Variation?
Over 269K Lichess games have reached the Ruy Lopez: Vinogradov Variation position. White wins 53.9%, Black wins 42.3%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.