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Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation

6.7K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.7%Range (90% confident): 49.7% – 51.7%Based on 6.7K games
0%50.7%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.7% – 51.7%
Outcome Distribution
48.3%4.7%46.9%
Win
Draw
Loss
8.Be2
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation
Analyzen=6.7K
Avg Length38 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate4.7%

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 50.7% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 49.7% and 51.7%), based on 6.7K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 33% → 45%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 33.3% win rate (6 games)
  • 1000-1199: 55.1% win rate (23 games)
  • 1200-1399: 44.2% win rate (72 games)
  • 1400-1599: 51.3% win rate (212 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.2% win rate (608 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.3% win rate (1,531 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.3% win rate (2,293 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.2% win rate (1,662 games)
  • 2500+: 45.2% win rate (309 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (49%), worst in UltraBullet (41%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 41.2% win rate (7 games)
  • Bullet: 49.3% win rate (2,009 games)
  • Blitz: 47.9% win rate (4,091 games)
  • Rapid: 48.2% win rate (589 games)
  • Classical: 44.2% win rate (20 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: 27.8% 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: 55.7% expected score (16 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 28.9% expected score (34 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 61.1% expected score (30 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 60.6% expected score (8 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 54.2% expected score (95 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (103 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 43.1% expected score (13 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (178 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (374 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (51 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 72.3% expected score (3 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (364 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (988 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 54.7% expected score (169 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (528 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (1,547 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.3% expected score (210 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (588 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (937 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (135 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (203 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (104 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Benoni Defense
47.5%
Variations (5)
Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted
47.4%
Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense
48.7%
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense
50.1%
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order
49.0%
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit
53.5%
Analyze Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate?

The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.3%-49.3%) win rate for white, based on 6.7K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation perform best?

The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation performs best at 1800-1999 Elo with a 49.3% win rate for white (1.5K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (49.3%) outperforms Rapid (48.2%) by 1.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation?

The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a sharpness score of 95.3 (very decisive), meaning 95.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 38 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 51.3% (90% CI: 45.7%-56.9%) win rate for white, based on 212 Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 47.2% (90% CI: 43.9%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 608 Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 49.3% (90% CI: 47.2%-51.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 46.6%-50.0%) win rate for white, based on 2.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 46.2%-50.2%) win rate for white, based on 1.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 5.9% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 45.2% (90% CI: 40.6%-49.9%) win rate for white, based on 309 Lichess games. Average game length is 44 moves with a 7.9% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 49.3% (90% CI: 47.4%-51.1%) win rate for white (2.0K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 47.9% (90% CI: 46.6%-49.2%) win rate for white (4.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.1%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 44.8%-51.6%) win rate for white (589 Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.0%.

Is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation a good opening?

The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.3%-49.3%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1800-1999 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.