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Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit

White Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst+23.5%

White wins at least 23.5 more of every 100 games than it loses

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: +32.3% at 2500+
1000-11992500+
Win%60.3%
Games129K
BreakpointNeverfirst rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit work for White at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit keeps White's wins running +23.5% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 129K Lichess games. This gambit is effective. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstWhite WinDrawWhite LossGames
1000-1199+24.4%65.9%2.0%32.1%280
1200-1399+18.6%60.6%1.8%37.6%1.4K
1400-1599+21.2%60.7%2.0%37.3%5.5K
1600-1799+24.1%61.6%2.0%36.3%16K
1800-1999+20.1%59.1%2.9%38.0%34K
2000-2199+22.1%59.6%3.6%36.8%40K
2200-2499+25.1%61.1%4.0%35.0%25K
2500++32.3%64.9%4.4%30.7%6.3K
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for White on the opening stats page
Analyze Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit sound?

The games never stop proving it. White comes out ahead at every rating we can see.

What is the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit win rate?

White wins 60.3% of Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit games, draws 3.2% and loses 36.4%. That rests on 129K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit?

2500+. There White wins at least 32.3 more of every 100 games than it loses (90% confident), its highest Edge at worst.

Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

About the same. For White, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is +24.6% in Blitz (57K games) and +25.0% in Rapid (9.5K games).

Does the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?

No. In Bullet, Blitz, Rapid and Classical, White comes out ahead at every rating we can see.

How sharp is the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit?

The Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit is extremely sharp: 3.2% of its games are drawn, so 96.8% end with a winner.

Should I play the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit?

Play it. White comes out ahead at every rating we can see.

How do I defend against the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit?

This one is hard to meet at every level. As Black, develop fast, castle early, trade pieces, and do not get greedy with the extra material. If sharp positions are not your game, decline it.

How reliable is the Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit data?

This rests on 129K 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.