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King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation

White Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−4.9%

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

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −3.5% at 1200-1399
0-9992500+
Win%46.3%
Games62K
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Time Control
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Does King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation work for White at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation keeps White's wins running −4.9% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 62K 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
0-999−8.7%47.6%2.7%49.7%611
1000-1199−14.9%43.8%1.6%54.6%1.6K
1200-1399−3.5%48.3%2.3%49.4%4.7K
1400-1599−4.2%47.5%2.3%50.1%11K
1600-1799−6.1%45.9%3.1%50.9%20K
1800-1999−6.2%45.7%3.6%50.7%17K
2000-2199−7.1%45.6%3.9%50.5%5.8K
2200-2499−4.8%47.8%4.6%47.6%1.1K
2500+−9.5%52.9%5.9%41.2%58
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for White on the opening stats page
Analyze King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation sound?

Not shown to be. White does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 1200-1399, is −3.5%.

What is the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation win rate?

White wins 46.3% of King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation games, draws 3.1% and loses 50.6%. That rests on 62K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation?

No rating in these games shows it paying. White's Edge at worst is highest at 1200-1399: −3.5%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz. For White, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −5.2% in Blitz (35K games) and −7.3% in Rapid (7.8K games). In neither do the games show White winning more than losing.

Does the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation breakpoint vary by time control?

Yes. The first rating where the games do not show White coming out ahead is 0-999 in Bullet, 0-999 in Blitz, 0-999 in Rapid and 1600-1799 in Classical.

How sharp is the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation?

The King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation is extremely sharp: 3.1% of its games are drawn, so 96.9% end with a winner.

Should I play the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation?

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

How do I defend against the King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation?

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 King's Gambit Declined: Classical, Soldatenkov Variation data?

This rests on 62K 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.