Center Game: Berger Variation

855K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score52.5%Range (90% confident): 52.4% – 52.6%Based on 855K games

0%52.5%100%

Range (90% confident): 52.4% – 52.6%

Outcome Distribution

50.7%3.5%45.8%

Win

Draw

Loss

4...Nf6

Center Game: Berger Variation

Analyzen=855K

Avg Length31 moves

Sharpness97%

Draw Rate3.5%

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 52.5% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 52.4% and 52.6%), based on 855K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 17.2% · UltraBullet best · Classical worst

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 47% → 56%

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2500+

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (62%), worst in Classical (44%)

UltraBullet

Bullet

Blitz

Rapid

Classical

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

Rating	UB	Bulle	Blitz	Rapid	Class
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: 60.8% expected score (31 games)
0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (18,080 games)
0-999 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (44,497 games)
0-999 rating, Rapid: 45.0% expected score (12,108 games)
0-999 rating, Classical: 39.6% expected score (56 games)
1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 62.0% expected score (32 games)
1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.4% expected score (31,258 games)
1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.1% expected score (87,849 games)
1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (34,230 games)
1000-1199 rating, Classical: 41.2% expected score (429 games)
1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 64.6% expected score (43 games)
1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (35,250 games)
1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (88,637 games)
1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 48.5% expected score (40,606 games)
1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.4% expected score (1,510 games)
1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 67.6% expected score (27 games)
1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 54.5% expected score (33,729 games)
1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.7% expected score (72,952 games)
1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.2% expected score (29,889 games)
1400-1599 rating, Classical: 47.1% expected score (1,808 games)
1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 47.0% expected score (15 games)
1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 56.0% expected score (30,848 games)
1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (56,092 games)
1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (18,866 games)
1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.9% expected score (1,050 games)
1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 56.7% expected score (29,009 games)
1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 55.5% expected score (48,946 games)
1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (10,504 games)
1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.9% expected score (419 games)
2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 57.5% expected score (23,072 games)
2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.7% expected score (39,399 games)
2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.6% expected score (5,572 games)
2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.7% expected score (229 games)
2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 57.5% expected score (20,256 games)
2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 56.2% expected score (26,252 games)
2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (2,221 games)
2200-2499 rating, Classical: 47.4% expected score (76 games)
2500+ rating, Bullet: 61.6% expected score (6,317 games)
2500+ rating, Blitz: 58.2% expected score (2,364 games)
2500+ rating, Rapid: 55.0% expected score (171 games)
2500+ rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (3 games)

Related Openings

Parent

Center Game

53.6%

Variations (5)

Center Game: Charousek Variation

46.8%

Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit

51.1%

Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, Crocodile Variation

47.6%

Center Game: Hall Variation

48.4%

Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation

54.5%

Analyze Center Game: Berger Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate?

The Center Game: Berger Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.6%-50.8%) win rate for white, based on 855K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Center Game: Berger Variation perform best?

The Center Game: Berger Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 55.8% win rate for white (8.9K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Center Game: Berger Variation better in blitz or rapid?

UltraBullet (61.6%) outperforms Classical (44.4%) by 17.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Center Game: Berger Variation?

The Center Game: Berger Variation has a sharpness score of 96.5 (very decisive), meaning 96.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 31 moves.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 46.6% (90% CI: 46.3%-46.9%) win rate for white, based on 75K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.3%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 154K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 49.3% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 166K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.5%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 138K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 52.4% (90% CI: 52.2%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 107K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 53.9% (90% CI: 53.6%-54.2%) win rate for white, based on 89K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 54.0% (90% CI: 53.7%-54.3%) win rate for white, based on 68K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.0% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 54.3% (90% CI: 53.9%-54.6%) win rate for white, based on 49K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 55.8% (90% CI: 54.9%-56.7%) win rate for white, based on 8.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 9.5% draw rate.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 61.6% (90% CI: 55.3%-67.7%) win rate for white (165 Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.9%.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 54.1% (90% CI: 53.9%-54.3%) win rate for white (228K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.3%.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 50.3%-50.5%) win rate for white (467K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.2%) win rate for white (154K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.0%.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Center Game: Berger Variation has a 44.4% (90% CI: 43.3%-45.5%) win rate for white (5.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.0%.

Is the Center Game: Berger Variation a good opening?

The Center Game: Berger Variation is statistically favors white with a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.6%-50.8%) 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.

What is the Center Game: Berger Variation expected score for White?