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Analyzer

Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation

21K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.9%Range (90% confident): 50.4% – 51.5%Based on 21K games
0%50.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.4% – 51.5%
Outcome Distribution
48.3%5.2%46.5%
Win
Draw
Loss
4.a4
Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation
Analyzen=21K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.2%

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 50.9% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.4% and 51.5%), based on 21K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 53% → 49%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 52.9% win rate (7 games)
  • 1000-1199: 41.5% win rate (19 games)
  • 1200-1399: 52.9% win rate (75 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.8% win rate (181 games)
  • 1600-1799: 44.9% win rate (614 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.8% win rate (2,598 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.2% win rate (7,240 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.8% win rate (8,929 games)
  • 2500+: 49.0% win rate (856 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (55%), worst in Rapid (45%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 48.9% win rate (6,421 games)
  • Blitz: 48.2% win rate (13,353 games)
  • Rapid: 44.7% win rate (709 games)
  • Classical: 54.7% win rate (36 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: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 38.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 61.6% expected score (33 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 44.6% expected score (35 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 73.6% expected score (7 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (74 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (87 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 36.5% expected score (17 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 46.9% expected score (239 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 46.1% expected score (315 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (51 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 40.5% expected score (9 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 43.4% expected score (635 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (1,834 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.0% expected score (121 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 55.3% expected score (8 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (1,472 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (5,477 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 45.5% expected score (278 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 67.3% expected score (13 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (3,523 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (5,174 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (229 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (434 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (417 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 73.1% expected score (5 games)

Related Openings

Variations (5)
Benko Gambit Declined: Bishop Attack
45.7%
Benko Gambit Declined: Hjørring Countergambit
47.7%
Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line
47.6%
Benko Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Sämisch
47.2%
Benko Gambit Declined: Quiet Line
48.2%
Analyze Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate?

The Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.8%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 21K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation perform best?

The Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 49.8% win rate for white (8.9K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (48.9%) outperforms Rapid (44.7%) by 4.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation?

The Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a sharpness score of 94.8 (decisive), meaning 94.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 40.8%-52.9%) win rate for white, based on 181 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 0.8% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 44.9% (90% CI: 41.6%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 614 Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 45.2%-48.4%) win rate for white, based on 2.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 47.2% (90% CI: 46.2%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 7.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.0%-50.7%) win rate for white, based on 8.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.3% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 49.0% (90% CI: 46.2%-51.8%) win rate for white, based on 856 Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 7.4% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 48.9% (90% CI: 47.9%-50.0%) win rate for white (6.4K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.5%.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 47.5%-48.9%) win rate for white (13K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.9%.

What is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation has a 44.7% (90% CI: 41.6%-47.8%) win rate for white (709 Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.7%.

Is the Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation a good opening?

The Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.8%-48.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2200-2499 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.