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English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−15.9%

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

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −11.9% at 1800-1999
1600-17992200-2499
Win%43.7%
Games466
Breakpoint1600-1799first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted keeps Black's wins running −15.9% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 466 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
1600-1799−28.6%42.1%6.2%51.7%71
1800-1999−11.9%50.2%3.1%46.7%111
2000-2199−21.4%44.5%4.8%50.7%112
2200-2499−25.1%44.2%4.2%51.5%81
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 1800-1999, is −11.9%.

What is the English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted win rate?

Black wins 43.7% of English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted games, draws 4.2% and loses 52.1%. That rests on 466 games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 1800-1999: −11.9%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Does the English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted breakpoint vary by time control?

No. The first rating where the games do not show Black coming out ahead is 1800-1999 in Bullet. In Blitz, only 1800-1999 has enough games, and there the games do not show Black coming out ahead.

How sharp is the English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted?

The English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted is extremely sharp: 4.2% of its games are drawn, so 95.8% end with a winner.

Should I play the English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted?

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

How do I defend against the English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted?

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 English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted data?

This rests on 466 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.