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Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit

White Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst+16.8%

White wins at least 16.8 more of every 100 games than it loses

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: +17.7% at 1800-1999
1000-11992500+
Win%57.5%
Games11K
Breakpoint1000-1199first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit work for White at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit keeps White's wins running +16.8% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 11K Lichess games. This gambit is effective. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstWhite WinDrawWhite LossGames
1000-1199−16.8%51.4%2.8%45.8%52
1200-1399+15.5%65.5%0.5%34.0%97
1400-1599+9.7%58.1%2.2%39.6%333
1600-1799+13.5%58.4%2.2%39.4%868
1800-1999+17.7%59.1%2.9%38.0%2.2K
2000-2199+16.0%57.5%3.4%39.1%4.8K
2200-2499+12.2%55.6%4.2%40.2%2.5K
2500++10.0%58.1%5.1%36.9%206
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for White on the opening stats page
Analyze Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit sound?

At some ratings. White comes out ahead at 1200+; at the other ratings we can see, the games do not show it paying. Where it pays changes with the clock, so set yours above and look again.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit win rate?

White wins 57.5% of Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit games, draws 3.3% and loses 39.2%. That rests on 11K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit?

1800-1999. There White wins at least 17.7 more of every 100 games than it loses (90% confident), its highest Edge at worst.

Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz. For White, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is +13.6% in Blitz (4.8K games) and +7.2% in Rapid (441 games).

Does the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?

Yes. The first rating where the games do not show White coming out ahead is 1400-1599 in Blitz and 1600-1799 in Rapid. In Bullet, White comes out ahead at every rating we can see.

How sharp is the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit?

The Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit is extremely sharp: 3.3% of its games are drawn, so 96.7% end with a winner.

Should I play the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit?

At 1200+, where White comes out ahead. At the other ratings we can see, the games do not show it paying. Where it pays changes with the clock, so set yours above and look again.

How do I defend against the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit?

As Black, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. At 1200+, White still comes out ahead in these games; at the other ratings we can see, the games do not show the gambit paying.

How reliable is the Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam 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.