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Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense

3.0K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense is balanced for Black at 49.4% expected score.

Results are roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

You play
Tough Sell
Rating
Time
Black Expected Score49.4%Based on 3.0K gamesWin + ½×draw — predicts rating gain better than win rate
40%49.4%55%
Range (90% confident): 47.9% – 50.9%
Min adv-4.2%
ContextAll ratings · All speeds · n=3.0K
Outcome Distribution
5...Qe7
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense
Analyzen=3.0K
Avg Length39 moves
Sharpness89%
Draw Rate11.4%

Sharpness — share of games that end decisively

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 49.4% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 47.9% and 50.9%), based on 3.0K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 52% → 39%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 52.3% win rate (53 games)
  • 1000-1199: 38.5% win rate (31 games)
  • 1200-1399: 42.5% win rate (35 games)
  • 1400-1599: 42.2% win rate (40 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.2% win rate (41 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.8% win rate (108 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.7% win rate (351 games)
  • 2200-2499: 44.4% win rate (1,541 games)
  • 2500+: 39.3% win rate (771 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (44%), worst in Classical (33%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 44.2% win rate (732 games)
  • Blitz: 43.6% win rate (2,063 games)
  • Rapid: 42.4% win rate (167 games)
  • Classical: 33.3% win rate (9 games)

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter — click it again to clear. 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, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (26 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 60.2% expected score (23 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 11.5% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 56.9% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 39.7% expected score (13 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 41.9% expected score (17 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.5% expected score (12 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 62.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 35.2% expected score (12 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 41.9% expected score (17 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 54.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 46.0% expected score (23 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 43.9% expected score (23 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 60.1% expected score (63 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (18 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 42.4% expected score (91 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 54.7% expected score (233 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 59.5% expected score (25 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 54.0% expected score (226 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (1,271 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 35.4% expected score (43 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 44.7% expected score (356 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (405 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 28.3% expected score (10 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Four Knights Game
47.3%
Variations (5)
Four Knights Game: Italian Variation
48.7%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation Accepted
51.9%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation
50.7%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation
49.0%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation
52.8%
Analyze Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates at your level with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense win rate?

The Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 44.9% (90% CI: 43.4%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 3.0K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense perform best?

The Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 48.9% win rate for white (771 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (49.8%) outperforms Blitz (42.8%) by 7.0%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense?

The Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a sharpness score of 88.6 (moderately decisive), meaning 88.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 39 moves.

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 42.5% (90% CI: 34.8%-50.3%) win rate for white, based on 108 Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 7.8% draw rate.

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 43.3% (90% CI: 38.9%-47.6%) win rate for white, based on 351 Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 10.1% draw rate.

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 42.7% (90% CI: 40.6%-44.8%) win rate for white, based on 1.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 12.9% draw rate.

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 48.9% (90% CI: 45.9%-51.8%) win rate for white, based on 771 Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 11.8% draw rate.

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 49.8% (90% CI: 46.8%-52.9%) win rate for white (732 Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.9%.

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 42.8% (90% CI: 41.0%-44.6%) win rate for white (2.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 13.6%.

What is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense has a 49.6% (90% CI: 43.2%-55.9%) win rate for white (167 Lichess games). Draw rate is 8.0%.

Is the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense a good opening?

The Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense is statistically balanced with a 44.9% (90% CI: 43.4%-46.4%) 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.