TrueEloPlay what wins.
Analyzer

Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni

141K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score51.6%Range (90% confident): 51.4% – 51.9%Based on 141K games
0%51.6%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.4% – 51.9%
Outcome Distribution
49.4%4.4%46.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...d6
Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni
Analyzen=141K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.4%

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 51.6% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 51.4% and 51.9%), based on 141K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 50% → 55%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.6% win rate (1,636 games)
  • 1000-1199: 50.6% win rate (3,134 games)
  • 1200-1399: 49.2% win rate (5,324 games)
  • 1400-1599: 49.2% win rate (9,508 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.7% win rate (16,135 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.2% win rate (26,731 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.6% win rate (35,746 games)
  • 2200-2499: 51.5% win rate (34,687 games)
  • 2500+: 55.3% win rate (7,632 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (55%), worst in Rapid (49%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 55.2% win rate (81 games)
  • Bullet: 50.0% win rate (38,129 games)
  • Blitz: 49.2% win rate (89,429 games)
  • Rapid: 49.2% win rate (12,362 games)
  • Classical: 53.3% win rate (532 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, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.1% expected score (377 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 53.3% expected score (986 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 52.2% expected score (270 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 55.3% expected score (8 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 46.7% expected score (680 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (1,751 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (680 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 59.1% expected score (15 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 72.3% expected score (12 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (1,356 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (2,927 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 53.3% expected score (997 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 47.1% expected score (32 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (20 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.5% expected score (2,239 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (5,670 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.4% expected score (1,497 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 54.2% expected score (82 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 54.9% expected score (19 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.7% expected score (4,171 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (9,848 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.7% expected score (1,970 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 53.9% expected score (127 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (6,037 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (17,217 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (3,316 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 58.6% expected score (156 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (8,098 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (24,959 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (2,592 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 57.4% expected score (94 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.4% expected score (10,607 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.4% expected score (23,043 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 57.6% expected score (1,004 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 70.8% expected score (25 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 86.4% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 57.1% expected score (4,564 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.9% expected score (3,028 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 62.0% expected score (36 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: Semi-Benoni PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate?

The Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 49.4% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 141K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni perform best?

The Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 55.3% win rate for white (7.6K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (53.3%) outperforms UltraBullet (55.2%) by -1.9%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni?

The Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a sharpness score of 95.6 (very decisive), meaning 95.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 49.6% (90% CI: 47.6%-51.7%) win rate for white, based on 1.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 50.6% (90% CI: 49.1%-52.0%) win rate for white, based on 3.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 49.2% (90% CI: 48.0%-50.3%) win rate for white, based on 5.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 49.2% (90% CI: 48.4%-50.1%) win rate for white, based on 9.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 47.7% (90% CI: 47.1%-48.4%) win rate for white, based on 16K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 47.2% (90% CI: 46.7%-47.7%) win rate for white, based on 27K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.1%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 36K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 51.5% (90% CI: 51.1%-52.0%) win rate for white, based on 35K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 55.3% (90% CI: 54.3%-56.2%) win rate for white, based on 7.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 5.9% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.5%-50.4%) win rate for white (38K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.0%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 49.2% (90% CI: 48.9%-49.5%) win rate for white (89K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 49.2% (90% CI: 48.5%-50.0%) win rate for white (12K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.4%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni has a 53.3% (90% CI: 49.8%-56.9%) win rate for white (532 Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.3%.

Is the Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni a good opening?

The Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni is statistically balanced with a 49.4% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.6%) 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.