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Analyzer

Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System

144K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
White Expected Score46.3%Range (90% confident): 46.1% – 46.5%Based on 144K games
0%46.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 46.1% – 46.5%
Outcome Distribution
43.9%4.8%51.3%
Win
Draw
Loss
5.Nc3
Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System
Analyzen=144K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate4.8%

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 46.3% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 46.1% and 46.5%), based on 144K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~48%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.8% win rate (33 games)
  • 1000-1199: 46.3% win rate (220 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.1% win rate (908 games)
  • 1400-1599: 44.9% win rate (3,368 games)
  • 1600-1799: 43.6% win rate (14,099 games)
  • 1800-1999: 42.4% win rate (43,388 games)
  • 2000-2199: 43.6% win rate (53,255 games)
  • 2200-2499: 46.3% win rate (25,345 games)
  • 2500+: 47.3% win rate (2,996 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (45%), worst in UltraBullet (33%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 33.3% win rate (9 games)
  • Bullet: 44.8% win rate (37,254 games)
  • Blitz: 43.7% win rate (92,224 games)
  • Rapid: 42.9% win rate (13,601 games)
  • Classical: 40.8% win rate (524 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: 42.7% expected score (19 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 46.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (128 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 40.3% expected score (81 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 58.7% expected score (10 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (411 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (422 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 54.1% expected score (72 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 44.7% expected score (1,268 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 46.7% expected score (1,781 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 47.6% expected score (304 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 17.8% expected score (14 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 13.7% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 44.7% expected score (4,141 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (8,746 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (1,124 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (84 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 43.6% expected score (8,042 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 45.0% expected score (30,639 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 44.1% expected score (4,439 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 45.3% expected score (265 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.1% expected score (11,229 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (35,881 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (6,003 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 48.7% expected score (142 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (9,835 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (13,862 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (1,632 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 64.3% expected score (16 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (2,181 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (801 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 43.6% expected score (14 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Benko Gambit
44.3%
Variations (5)
Benko Gambit: Fianchetto Variation
44.6%
Benko Gambit: Mutkin Countergambit
46.4%
Benko Gambit: Nd2 Variation
46.0%
Benko Gambit: Nescafe Frappe Attack
55.7%
Benko Gambit: Zaitsev Variation, Nescafe Frappe Attack
60.4%
Analyze Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate?

The Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 43.9% (90% CI: 43.7%-44.1%) win rate for white, based on 144K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System perform best?

The Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 46.3% win rate for white (25K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (44.8%) outperforms Classical (40.8%) by 4.0%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System?

The Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a sharpness score of 95.2 (very decisive), meaning 95.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 46.3% (90% CI: 40.8%-51.8%) win rate for white, based on 220 Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 1.6% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 48.1% (90% CI: 45.4%-50.8%) win rate for white, based on 908 Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 1.3% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 44.9% (90% CI: 43.5%-46.3%) win rate for white, based on 3.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 1.9% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 43.6% (90% CI: 42.9%-44.3%) win rate for white, based on 14K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 42.4% (90% CI: 42.1%-42.8%) win rate for white, based on 43K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 43.6% (90% CI: 43.3%-44.0%) win rate for white, based on 53K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 46.3% (90% CI: 45.8%-46.8%) win rate for white, based on 25K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 47.3% (90% CI: 45.8%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 3.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.5% draw rate.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 44.8% (90% CI: 44.4%-45.3%) win rate for white (37K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.2%.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 43.7% (90% CI: 43.4%-43.9%) win rate for white (92K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.3%.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 42.9% (90% CI: 42.2%-43.6%) win rate for white (14K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.1%.

What is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System has a 40.8% (90% CI: 37.3%-44.4%) win rate for white (524 Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.7%.

Is the Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System a good opening?

The Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System is slightly favors black with a 43.9% (90% CI: 43.7%-44.1%) 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.