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Analyzer

Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation

107K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.4%Range (90% confident): 50.2% – 50.7%Based on 107K games
0%50.4%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.2% – 50.7%
Outcome Distribution
47.7%5.3%47.0%
Win
Draw
Loss
5.b6
Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation
Analyzen=107K
Avg Length37 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.3%

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 50.4% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.2% and 50.7%), based on 107K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 60% → 52%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 60.0% win rate (6 games)
  • 1000-1199: 40.4% win rate (22 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.3% win rate (99 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.1% win rate (542 games)
  • 1600-1799: 46.9% win rate (3,645 games)
  • 1800-1999: 45.7% win rate (16,286 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.0% win rate (41,711 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.8% win rate (38,750 games)
  • 2500+: 52.1% win rate (5,989 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (50%), worst in UltraBullet (20%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 20.0% win rate (1 games)
  • Bullet: 49.7% win rate (29,370 games)
  • Blitz: 47.1% win rate (71,523 games)
  • Rapid: 45.8% win rate (5,953 games)
  • Classical: 47.2% win rate (203 games)

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999——
1000-1199——
1200-1399——
1400-1599
1600-1799—
1800-1999—
2000-2199—
2200-2499—
2500+——

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 37.1% expected score (14 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 37.9% expected score (56 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.6% expected score (34 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 69.1% expected score (9 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (257 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (260 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 41.5% expected score (22 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 64.3% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (1,479 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (1,939 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (211 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 44.3% expected score (16 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (4,052 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (11,151 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 46.9% expected score (1,003 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 57.4% expected score (80 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (7,496 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (31,622 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (2,519 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 45.4% expected score (74 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (12,336 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (24,275 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (2,108 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 60.8% expected score (31 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.3% expected score (3,677 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 55.8% expected score (2,235 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 55.7% expected score (77 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Benko Gambit Accepted
44.6%
Variations (5)
Benko Gambit Accepted: Central Storming Variation
55.5%
Benko Gambit Accepted: Dlugy Variation
49.6%
Benko Gambit Accepted: Fianchetto Variation
43.2%
Benko Gambit Accepted: Fully Accepted Variation
44.5%
Benko Gambit Accepted: King Walk Variation
46.3%
Analyze Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate?

The Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 47.5%-48.0%) win rate for white, based on 107K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation perform best?

The Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.1% win rate for white (6.0K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (49.7%) outperforms Classical (47.2%) by 2.5%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation?

The Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a sharpness score of 94.7 (decisive), meaning 94.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 46.1% (90% CI: 42.6%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 542 Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 45.6%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 3.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 45.7% (90% CI: 45.0%-46.3%) win rate for white, based on 16K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 46.6%-47.4%) win rate for white, based on 42K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.4%-49.2%) win rate for white, based on 39K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 52.1% (90% CI: 51.0%-53.2%) win rate for white, based on 6.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 6.8% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.2%-50.2%) win rate for white (29K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.5%.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 47.1% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.4%) win rate for white (72K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 45.8% (90% CI: 44.7%-46.8%) win rate for white (6.0K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.3%.

What is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation has a 47.2% (90% CI: 41.5%-52.9%) win rate for white (203 Lichess games). Draw rate is 11.0%.

Is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation a good opening?

The Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation is statistically balanced with a 47.7% (90% CI: 47.5%-48.0%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.