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Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense

320K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

No move sequence recorded for this opening

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

48.4%

45%55%
Floor48.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 48.6%.

Measured over 320K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.4 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 320K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
320K
Best context
52.4% at 2200-2499 Blitz
Worst context
42.4% at 1200-1399 Rapid
Average game length
33 moves
Games that end decisively
95.6%
Draws
4.4%

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: +1.6% · 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: 51.3% at 0-999, 60.0% 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: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.6% expected score (1,137 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 43.7% expected score (1,807 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 46.7% expected score (683 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 61.8% expected score (7 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (14 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (2,696 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (3,827 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 45.4% expected score (1,288 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 38.7% expected score (25 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 60.6% expected score (46 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (5,632 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 46.7% expected score (9,601 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 42.4% expected score (2,969 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 41.5% expected score (75 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 56.3% expected score (253 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (9,676 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 46.7% expected score (19,862 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 44.5% expected score (5,903 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 41.0% expected score (248 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.7% expected score (137 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.4% expected score (16,715 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.3% expected score (37,385 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 45.7% expected score (9,690 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 45.5% expected score (374 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 47.7% expected score (42 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (22,959 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (53,900 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 47.6% expected score (10,433 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.4% expected score (409 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 31.7% expected score (34 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (22,897 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.7% expected score (39,266 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.3% expected score (7,012 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.0% expected score (122 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 9.3% expected score (12 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (17,263 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (10,422 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (1,416 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 61.6% expected score (33 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (3,455 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 52.8% expected score (447 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 66.1% expected score (14 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Variations (1)
Danish Gambit Declined: Sörensen Defense
46.5%

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense scores 48.4% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 48.3% and 48.6% — from 320K 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
320K+ 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 Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate?

Playing the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense, White wins 46.2%, draws 4.4% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 320K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense perform best?

The Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense performs best for White at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 51.3% (29K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 48.4% in Blitz (177K games) against 46.6% in Rapid (39K games).

How sharp is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense?

The Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense has a sharpness score of 95.6 (very decisive), meaning 95.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 43.2%, draws 4.1% and loses 52.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.2%. It rests on 3.6K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 46.3%, draws 3.1% and loses 50.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.9%. It rests on 7.8K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 45.0%, draws 2.8% and loses 52.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.4%. It rests on 18K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 44.8%, draws 3.3% and loses 51.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 36K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 45.4%, draws 3.8% and loses 50.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.3%. It rests on 64K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 46.3%, draws 4.4% and loses 49.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.5%. It rests on 88K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 47.2%, draws 5.3% and loses 47.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.9%. It rests on 69K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 48.3%, draws 6.0% and loses 45.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.3%. It rests on 29K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 48.1%, draws 6.6% and loses 45.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 3.9K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 50.6%, draws 1.7% and loses 47.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 543 Lichess games.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 47.6%, draws 3.4% and loses 49.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.3%. It rests on 102K Lichess games.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 46.0%, draws 4.8% and loses 49.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 177K Lichess games.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 43.9%, draws 5.4% and loses 50.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.6%. It rests on 39K Lichess games.

What is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 42.7%, draws 6.7% and loses 50.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games.

Is the Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense a good opening?

The Danish Gambit Declined: Sorensen Defense is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 46.2% of its games and loses 49.4%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.