Does Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation work for White at All Ratings?
Snapshot
At All Ratings, Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation gives White a +13.8% minimum advantage (90% confidence). This gambit is effective.
Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation
White GambitSource Lichess
View As
Play This+14%All Ratings
Minimum Advantage+13.8%
White wins at least 13.8% more often than loses
Rating TrendPeak: +16.1% at 1600-1799
Win%55.8%
Games244K
Breakpoint (Overall)2200-2499
5...Ng4
Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside VariationWhite Gambit
Rating
Time Control
| Rating | Min Adv | White Win | Draw | White Loss | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-999 | +6.0% | 53.5% | 1.5% | 45.0% | 4.4K |
| 1000-1199 | +10.3% | 54.9% | 1.8% | 43.3% | 17K |
| 1200-1399 | +14.6% | 56.7% | 2.0% | 41.3% | 39K |
| 1400-1599 | +14.4% | 56.4% | 2.2% | 41.3% | 61K |
| 1600-1799 | +16.1% | 57.1% | 2.5% | 40.4% | 65K |
| 1800-1999 | +13.0% | 55.3% | 3.2% | 41.5% | 38K |
| 2000-2199 | +5.8% | 51.6% | 4.0% | 44.4% | 13K |
| 2200-2499 | -4.2% | 46.2% | 5.6% | 48.2% | 5.6K |
| 2500+ | -6.4% | 45.8% | 6.7% | 47.5% | 1.2K |
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for White on the opening stats page
Analyze Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation sound?
The Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation breaks at 2200-2499 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 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation win rate?
The Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation has a 55.8% (90% CI: 55.6%-55.9%) win rate for White overall, with a 2.6% draw rate and 41.7% loss rate. This is based on 244K games from Lichess.
What is the best rating to play the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation?
The Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation performs best at 1600-1799, where White has a minimum advantage of +16.1%. This means we're 90% confident White wins at least 16.1 percentage points more than they lose at this rating.
Is the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation better in blitz or rapid?
Classical (+17.3% edge) outperforms Bullet (+12.9% edge) by 4.4 percentage points. Faster time controls typically favor gambits because opponents have less time to find accurate defenses.
Does the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation breakpoint vary by time control?
Yes, significantly. Breakpoints by time control: Bullet: 2200-2499, Blitz: 0-999, Rapid: 0-999, Classical: 2000-2199. "Never" means the gambit remains viable through all rating brackets in that time control. Faster time controls typically extend viability.
How sharp is the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation?
The Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation is extremely sharp with only 2.6% draws—97.4% 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 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation?
If you're below 2200-2499 overall, the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation 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 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation?
As Black, the Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation becomes easier to defend at 2200-2499 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 Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Kingside Variation 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.