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Scotch Game: Lolli Variation

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−12.1%

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

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −3.6% at 2500+
0-9992500+
Win%41.7%
Games8.4M
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Time Control
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Does Scotch Game: Lolli Variation work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Scotch Game: Lolli Variation keeps Black's wins running −12.1% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 8.4M 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
0-999−15.2%40.7%3.7%55.6%473K
1000-1199−12.2%42.1%3.8%54.1%1.1M
1200-1399−12.2%41.9%4.1%54.0%1.8M
1400-1599−12.4%41.6%4.4%53.9%2.1M
1600-1799−12.1%41.5%5.1%53.5%1.7M
1800-1999−11.5%41.5%5.7%52.8%849K
2000-2199−10.2%42.0%6.0%52.0%218K
2200-2499−7.4%43.5%6.4%50.1%39K
2500+−3.6%46.1%7.4%46.5%2.6K
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze Scotch Game: Lolli Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 2500+, is −3.6%.

What is the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation win rate?

Black wins 41.7% of Scotch Game: Lolli Variation games, draws 4.5% and loses 53.8%. That rests on 8.4M games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 2500+: −3.6%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz. For Black, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −12.5% in Blitz (4.4M games) and −14.2% in Rapid (1.7M games). In neither do the games show Black winning more than losing.

Does the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation 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, 0-999 in Rapid and 0-999 in Classical.

How sharp is the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation?

The Scotch Game: Lolli Variation is extremely sharp: 4.5% of its games are drawn, so 95.5% end with a winner.

Should I play the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation?

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

How do I defend against the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation?

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 Scotch Game: Lolli Variation data?

This rests on 8.4M 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.