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Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense

40K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

47.1%

40%55%
Floor46.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 47.5%.

Measured over 40K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

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

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 40K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
40K
Best context
54.7% at 2200-2499 Bullet
Worst context
33.6% at 0-999 Rapid
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
95.5%
Draws
4.5%

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

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 20.2% · Classical best · Bullet worst

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 41.8% at 0-999, 50.8% 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: 50.0% expected score (14 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 43.5% expected score (712 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 38.8% expected score (1,321 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 33.6% expected score (852 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 43.3% expected score (21 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 35.5% expected score (26 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 43.0% expected score (735 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 39.3% expected score (1,066 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 36.0% expected score (556 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 31.6% expected score (42 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 37.8% expected score (19 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (1,488 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 42.0% expected score (1,149 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 35.6% expected score (581 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 20.7% expected score (53 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 51.2% expected score (40 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (1,363 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 40.4% expected score (1,299 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 38.4% expected score (655 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 25.2% expected score (95 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 46.3% expected score (52 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (2,229 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 44.2% expected score (1,618 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 38.5% expected score (523 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 38.7% expected score (65 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 34.6% expected score (18 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (1,733 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (2,269 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (283 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (18 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 39.9% expected score (28 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.4% expected score (2,225 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (2,065 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (342 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 36.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 32.8% expected score (13 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 54.7% expected score (6,543 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (2,905 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 33.8% expected score (150 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 11.5% expected score (5 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (4,498 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 42.3% expected score (512 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 40.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Caro-Kann Defense
47.6%
Variations (5)
Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation
47.2%
Caro-Kann Defense: Hillbilly Attack
44.6%
Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation
49.2%
Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls Defense
46.0%
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack
50.2%
Analyze Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense scores 47.1% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 46.7% and 47.5% — from 40K 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
40K+ 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 Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate?

Playing the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense, Black wins 44.8%, draws 4.5% and loses 50.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.1%. It rests on 40K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense perform best?

The Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense performs best for Black at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 52.1% (9.6K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 45.0% in Blitz (14K games) against 38.7% in Rapid (3.9K games).

How sharp is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense?

The Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 36.0%, draws 4.9% and loses 59.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.5%. It rests on 2.9K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 37.7%, draws 3.4% and loses 58.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.4%. It rests on 2.4K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 41.5%, draws 2.9% and loses 55.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.0%. It rests on 3.3K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 41.3%, draws 2.9% and loses 55.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.8%. It rests on 3.5K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 43.5%, draws 3.0% and loses 53.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.0%. It rests on 4.5K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 46.2%, draws 3.9% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.2%. It rests on 4.3K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 47.5%, draws 5.6% and loses 47.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 4.7K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 49.5%, draws 5.2% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.1%. It rests on 9.6K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 46.6%, draws 6.8% and loses 46.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 5.0K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 41.6%, draws 1.6% and loses 56.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.5%. It rests on 211 Lichess games.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 48.3%, draws 4.0% and loses 47.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 22K Lichess games.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 42.3%, draws 5.2% and loses 52.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.0%. It rests on 14K Lichess games.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 36.1%, draws 5.2% and loses 58.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.7%. It rests on 3.9K Lichess games.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 28.7%, draws 3.4% and loses 67.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 30.4%. It rests on 307 Lichess games.

Is the Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense a good opening?

The Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker Defense is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 44.8% of its games and loses 50.6%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.