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Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−2.5%

Black isn't shown winning more often than losing at this level

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −0.9% at 1600-1799
0-9992500+
Win%47.0%
Games41K
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense keeps Black's wins running −2.5% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 41K Lichess games. The games don't show this gambit paying at this level. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstBlack WinDrawBlack LossGames
0-999−12.7%42.5%5.8%51.8%2.3K
1000-1199−14.5%43.0%4.0%53.0%1.3K
1200-1399−5.4%47.5%3.3%49.2%2.0K
1400-1599−5.1%47.2%3.5%49.3%3.2K
1600-1799−0.9%48.9%3.7%47.4%4.6K
1800-1999−2.0%47.9%4.0%48.1%8.2K
2000-2199−2.7%47.3%4.3%48.4%11K
2200-2499−3.9%46.3%5.3%48.4%7.6K
2500+−7.2%46.0%5.3%48.7%1.4K
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 1600-1799, is −0.9%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense win rate?

Black wins 47.0% of Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense games, draws 4.3% and loses 48.7%. That rests on 41K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 1600-1799: −0.9%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz. For Black, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −1.4% in Blitz (21K games) and −6.2% in Rapid (3.7K games). In neither do the games show Black winning more than losing.

Does the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense breakpoint vary by time control?

No. The first rating where the games do not show Black coming out ahead is 0-999 in Bullet, 0-999 in Blitz and 0-999 in Rapid.

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense?

The Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense is extremely sharp: 4.3% of its games are drawn, so 95.7% end with a winner.

Should I play the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense?

Not for the results: Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see.

How do I defend against the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense?

As White, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. Black does not come out ahead with it at any rating we can see.

How reliable is the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense data?

This rests on 41K games from Lichess. Every figure carries the range it is in, 90% confident, and the table above shows how many games sit behind each rating and each clock — the fewer there are, the wider that range.