Chess opening results by Lichess rating and time control
For each opening, two simple tables: how its games turned out at each Lichess rating level, and in each time control — every level and every time control in its own row, so you can compare them at a glance.
Based on a reproducible sample of rated games from the Lichess open database (games from 1 Sep 2026 – 30 Sep 2026): 483,833 games read, 456,087 used after filters. The two tables are separate summaries. These are observed results, not a guide to the "best" opening, and the margins of error are approximate.
Openings chosen by White
White makes the move that defines these openings. Each page shows results for both sides.
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →
| Opening | Moves | Games in sample | Rating levels with enough games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Game | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 | 17,497 | 5 of 5 |
| Queen's Gambit | 1.d4 d5 2.c4 | 16,646 | 5 of 5 |
| London System | 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 | 9,916 | 5 of 5 |
| Ruy Lopez | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 | 7,856 | 5 of 5 |
| English Opening | 1.c4 | 14,009 | 5 of 5 |
| Scotch Game | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 | 8,449 | 5 of 5 |
Defenses chosen by Black
Black makes the move that defines these defenses. Each page shows results for both sides.
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →
| Opening | Moves | Games in sample | Rating levels with enough games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense | 1.e4 c5 | 42,497 | 5 of 5 |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 1.e4 c6 | 24,519 | 5 of 5 |
Download the numbers: all openings (CSV), released under CC0. How the numbers are made.