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Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit

1.7K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

43.6%

35%55%
Floor41.6%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 45.6%.

Measured over 1.7K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

White comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for White

Draw 5.1 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 1.7K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
1.7K
Best context
not measured yet
Average game length
32 moves
Games that end decisively
94.9%
Draws
5.1%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Gambit BreakpointWhite

Peak: −9.1% · Breakpoint: 0-999

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 43.5% at 0-999, 60.6% at 2500+.

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: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 37.9% expected score (48 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 44.5% expected score (62 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 34.9% expected score (48 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 45.6% expected score (32 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 38.0% expected score (61 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 41.5% expected score (22 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 29.5% expected score (35 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 32.3% expected score (55 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 33.6% expected score (32 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 31.7% expected score (72 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 39.2% expected score (100 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 37.4% expected score (50 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 40.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.6% expected score (104 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (93 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (33 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 60.6% expected score (8 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (149 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 43.4% expected score (89 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 37.0% expected score (33 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 45.3% expected score (135 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 44.2% expected score (102 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (13 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 41.5% expected score (92 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.6% expected score (141 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 66.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 43.6% expected score (22 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 70.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Benoni Defense
47.5%
Variations (5)
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni
48.4%
Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted
47.4%
Benoni Defense: French Benoni
50.8%
Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line
50.7%
Benoni Defense: Hromádka System
49.2%
Analyze Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit scores 43.6% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 41.6% and 45.6% — from 1.7K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
1.7K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate?

Playing the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit, White wins 41.0%, draws 5.1% and loses 53.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.6%. It rests on 1.7K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit performs best for White at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 50.6% (246 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 44.8% in Blitz (707 games) against 40.4% in Rapid (243 games).

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit?

The Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit has a sharpness score of 94.9 (decisive), meaning 94.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 35.0%, draws 9.0% and loses 56.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.5%. It rests on 160 Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 39.2%, draws 2.1% and loses 58.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 40.3%. It rests on 117 Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 29.5%, draws 5.0% and loses 65.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 32.0%. It rests on 129 Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 34.5%, draws 4.1% and loses 61.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 36.6%. It rests on 229 Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 48.0%, draws 2.3% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 235 Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 43.9%, draws 3.0% and loses 53.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.4%. It rests on 280 Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 43.0%, draws 4.6% and loses 52.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.3%. It rests on 251 Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 44.6%, draws 11.9% and loses 43.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 246 Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

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

In Bullet, White wins 41.3%, draws 2.8% and loses 55.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.8%. It rests on 689 Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 41.8%, draws 5.9% and loses 52.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.8%. It rests on 707 Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 35.8%, draws 9.2% and loses 55.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 40.4%. It rests on 243 Lichess games.

Is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit a good opening?

The Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit is hard work for White — it favours Black. Across all ratings, White wins 41.0% of its games and loses 53.9%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.