Does Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack work for White at All Ratings?
Snapshot
At All Ratings, Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack gives White a +2.2% minimum advantage (90% confidence). This gambit is playable but marginal.
Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack
White GambitSource Lichess
View As
Playable+2%All Ratings
Minimum Advantage+2.2%
White wins at least 2.2% more often than loses
Rating TrendPeak: +37.9% at 0-999
Win%47.6%
Games164K
Breakpoint (Overall)1800-1999
8.Nc3
Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen AttackWhite Gambit
Rating
Time Control
| Rating | Min Adv | White Win | Draw | White Loss | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-999 | +37.9% | 73.1% | 0.2% | 26.8% | 314 |
| 1000-1199 | +33.1% | 67.9% | 1.7% | 30.4% | 1.2K |
| 1200-1399 | +25.8% | 63.4% | 2.2% | 34.4% | 2.5K |
| 1400-1599 | +16.3% | 57.9% | 2.8% | 39.2% | 4.5K |
| 1600-1799 | +7.1% | 52.3% | 4.0% | 43.6% | 11K |
| 1800-1999 | -0.1% | 47.4% | 6.0% | 46.6% | 33K |
| 2000-2199 | -1.6% | 45.7% | 7.8% | 46.6% | 56K |
| 2200-2499 | +1.3% | 46.3% | 9.3% | 44.3% | 45K |
| 2500+ | +3.5% | 47.8% | 9.6% | 42.7% | 10K |
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for White on the opening stats page
Analyze Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack sound?
The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack breaks at 1800-1999 overall (all time controls)—the first rating bracket where White no longer statistically wins more than loses. Below this rating, the gambit is viable for White. Note: breakpoints vary by time control—use the filters above for specific data.
What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack win rate?
The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack has a 47.6% (90% CI: 47.4%-47.8%) win rate for White overall, with a 7.4% draw rate and 45.0% loss rate. This is based on 164K games from Lichess.
What is the best rating to play the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack?
The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack performs best at 0-999, where White has a minimum advantage of +37.9%. This means we're 90% confident White wins at least 37.9 percentage points more than they lose at this rating.
Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack better in blitz or rapid?
Bullet (+3.7% edge) outperforms Classical (+-10.6% edge) by 14.3 percentage points. Faster time controls typically favor gambits because opponents have less time to find accurate defenses.
Does the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack breakpoint vary by time control?
Yes, significantly. Breakpoints by time control: Bullet: 2000-2199, Blitz: 1800-1999, Rapid: 1800-1999, Classical: 1600-1799. "Never" means the gambit remains viable through all rating brackets in that time control. Faster time controls typically extend viability.
How sharp is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack?
The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack is very sharp with only 7.4% draws—92.6% of games end decisively. This makes it an excellent choice when you need to play for a win rather than accept a draw.
Should I play the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack?
If you're below 1800-1999 overall, the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack is statistically favorable for White. Above that rating, opponents defend better and the gambit's edge disappears. Consider your typical opponents' level and the time control—faster games extend the gambit's viability.
How do I defend against the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack?
As Black, the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack becomes easier to defend at 1800-1999 and above. Key principles: accept the material but develop quickly, castle early, trade pieces to reduce attacking potential, and return material at the right moment to neutralize the initiative. In faster time controls, the gambit is harder to defend—consider declining or transposing if you're not prepared.
How reliable is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack data?
This analysis is based on 164K games from Lichess. All statistics include 90% confidence intervals. Generally, 300+ games provide statistically meaningful results. Rating-specific and time-control-specific breakdowns have their own sample sizes shown in the table above.