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Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−15.4%

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

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −12.9% at 2000-2199
0-9992200-2499
Win%41.6%
Games11K
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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4...Nxc4
Rating
Rating
Time Control
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Does Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit keeps Black's wins running −15.4% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 11K 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
0-999−19.6%42.2%3.0%54.8%545
1000-1199−18.0%42.2%2.4%55.4%1.1K
1200-1399−17.5%42.2%1.9%55.9%1.9K
1400-1599−22.3%39.1%2.9%58.0%2.2K
1600-1799−18.7%40.7%3.6%55.7%2.0K
1800-1999−16.2%42.3%3.2%54.4%1.6K
2000-2199−12.9%44.7%3.2%52.1%899
2200-2499−16.3%43.2%5.6%51.2%384
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 2000-2199, is −12.9%.

What is the Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit win rate?

Black wins 41.6% of Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit games, draws 3.0% and loses 55.4%. That rests on 11K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 2000-2199: −12.9%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz. For Black, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −19.7% in Blitz (3.7K games) and −22.9% in Rapid (690 games). In neither do the games show Black winning more than losing.

Does the Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?

No. The first rating where the games do not show Black coming out ahead is 0-999 in Bullet, 0-999 in Blitz and 0-999 in Rapid.

How sharp is the Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit?

The Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit is extremely sharp: 3.0% of its games are drawn, so 97.0% end with a winner.

Should I play the Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit?

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

How do I defend against the Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit?

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 Mikenas Defense: Pozarek Gambit data?

This rests on 11K 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.