Does Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit work for White at All Ratings?
Snapshot
Defending against Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit at All Ratings: White is favored. The gambit player has 4.1% edge.
Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit
Black GambitSource Lichess
View As
Play This+4%All Ratings
Opponent Disadvantage+4.1%
Defending is slightly favorable for White
Rating TrendBest Defending: +13.9% at 0-999
Loss%46.3%
Games244K
Breakpoint (Overall)0-999
2...e5
Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk GambitBlack Gambit
Rating
Time Control
| Rating | Def Adv | White Win | Draw | White Loss | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-999 | +13.9% | 54.1% | 4.9% | 41.0% | 42K |
| 1000-1199 | +7.1% | 51.2% | 3.7% | 45.1% | 30K |
| 1200-1399 | +7.8% | 51.8% | 3.3% | 44.9% | 30K |
| 1400-1599 | +5.6% | 50.8% | 3.0% | 46.2% | 31K |
| 1600-1799 | +0.4% | 48.2% | 3.0% | 48.8% | 32K |
| 1800-1999 | -0.4% | 47.6% | 3.4% | 49.0% | 31K |
| 2000-2199 | -0.4% | 47.4% | 3.8% | 48.8% | 26K |
| 2200-2499 | -1.4% | 46.6% | 4.2% | 49.2% | 18K |
| 2500+ | -2.4% | 44.7% | 5.8% | 49.6% | 4.5K |
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit sound?
The Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit breaks at 0-999 overall (all time controls)—the first rating bracket where Black no longer statistically wins more than loses. Below this rating, the gambit is viable for Black. Note: breakpoints vary by time control—use the filters above for specific data.
What is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit win rate?
The Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit has a 46.3% (90% CI: 46.1%-46.4%) win rate for Black overall, with a 3.7% draw rate and 50.0% loss rate. This is based on 244K games from Lichess.
What is the best rating to play the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit?
The Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit performs best at 2500+, where Black has a minimum advantage of +2.4%. This means we're 90% confident Black wins at least 2.4 percentage points more than they lose at this rating.
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit better in blitz or rapid?
Bullet (+0.7% edge) outperforms Classical (+-24.0% edge) by 24.7 percentage points. Faster time controls typically favor gambits because opponents have less time to find accurate defenses.
Does the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?
Yes, significantly. Breakpoints by time control: Bullet: 0-999, Blitz: 0-999, Rapid: 0-999, Classical: 0-999. "Never" means the gambit remains viable through all rating brackets in that time control. Faster time controls typically extend viability.
How sharp is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit?
The Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit is extremely sharp with only 3.7% draws—96.3% 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 Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit?
If you're below 0-999 overall, the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit is statistically favorable for Black. 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 Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit?
As White, the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit becomes easier to defend at 0-999 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 Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk Gambit data?
This analysis is based on 244K 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.