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Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit

White Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−16.9%

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

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −9.1% at 2200-2499
0-9992200-2499
Win%41.0%
Games1.7K
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit work for White at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit keeps White's wins running −16.9% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 1.7K 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 worstWhite WinDrawWhite LossGames
0-999−33.5%35.0%9.0%56.0%160
1000-1199−34.0%39.2%2.1%58.6%117
1200-1399−49.1%29.5%5.0%65.5%129
1400-1599−37.2%34.5%4.1%61.4%229
1600-1799−12.3%48.0%2.3%49.7%235
1800-1999−19.0%43.9%3.0%53.1%280
2000-2199−19.7%43.0%4.6%52.5%251
2200-2499−9.1%44.6%11.9%43.4%246
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for White on the opening stats page
Analyze Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit sound?

Not shown to be. White does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 2200-2499, is −9.1%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit win rate?

White wins 41.0% of Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit games, draws 5.1% and loses 53.9%. That rests on 1.7K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit?

No rating in these games shows it paying. White's Edge at worst is highest at 2200-2499: −9.1%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz. For White, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −16.6% in Blitz (707 games) and −29.4% in Rapid (243 games). In neither do the games show White winning more than losing.

Does the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?

Yes. The first rating where the games do not show White coming out ahead is 1400-1599 in Bullet and 0-999 in Blitz. In Rapid, only 1400-1599 has enough games, and there the games do not show White coming out ahead.

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit?

The Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit is very sharp: 5.1% of its games are drawn, so 94.9% end with a winner.

Should I play the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit?

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

How do I defend against the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit?

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

How reliable is the Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit data?

This rests on 1.7K 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.