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Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense

13K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

41.8%

35%55%
Floor41.1%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 42.5%.

Measured over 13K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

Black comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 3.2 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 13K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
13K
Best context
43.4% at 0-999 Bullet
Worst context
35.5% at 1400-1599 Rapid
Average game length
30 moves
Games that end decisively
96.8%
Draws
3.2%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 12.8% · Classical best · Bullet worst

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It holds about the same all the way up, near 43.1%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199—
2200-2499—
2500+———

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 43.4% expected score (531 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 42.8% expected score (1,759 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 42.2% expected score (1,181 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 29.3% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 59.5% expected score (30 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 41.9% expected score (406 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 42.4% expected score (1,464 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 38.6% expected score (835 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 35.4% expected score (36 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 51.5% expected score (66 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (398 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 43.3% expected score (960 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 37.6% expected score (762 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 37.9% expected score (60 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 51.0% expected score (47 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 43.4% expected score (508 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 40.0% expected score (769 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 35.5% expected score (550 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 25.5% expected score (72 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 13.9% expected score (40 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 45.3% expected score (468 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 42.9% expected score (511 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 41.9% expected score (206 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 26.5% expected score (24 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (201 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 44.9% expected score (260 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 38.4% expected score (80 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 23.9% expected score (10 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 43.9% expected score (96 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 44.8% expected score (132 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.0% expected score (23 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (87 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 34.1% expected score (33 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (7 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 38.3% expected score (24 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (2 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Goldsmith Defense
52.2%
Analyze Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense scores 41.8% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 41.1% and 42.5% — from 13K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
13K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate?

Playing the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense, Black wins 40.2%, draws 3.2% and loses 56.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.8%. It rests on 13K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense perform best?

The Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense performs best for Black at 1800-1999, with an Expected Score of 44.9% (559 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 42.5% in Blitz (5.9K games) against 39.3% in Rapid (3.6K games).

How sharp is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense?

The Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense has a sharpness score of 96.8 (very decisive), meaning 96.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 30 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 40.6%, draws 3.9% and loses 55.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.6%. It rests on 3.5K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 39.8%, draws 2.9% and loses 57.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.3%. It rests on 2.8K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 40.2%, draws 3.4% and loses 56.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.9%. It rests on 2.2K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 37.9%, draws 2.8% and loses 59.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.3%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 41.1%, draws 2.4% and loses 56.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.3%. It rests on 1.2K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 43.6%, draws 2.6% and loses 53.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 559 Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 42.5%, draws 3.7% and loses 53.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.4%. It rests on 256 Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 44.8%, draws 1.1% and loses 54.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.4%. It rests on 129 Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 44.7%, draws 0.2% and loses 55.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 203 Lichess games.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 43.7%, draws 1.5% and loses 54.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.4%. It rests on 2.7K Lichess games.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 40.8%, draws 3.4% and loses 55.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.5%. It rests on 5.9K Lichess games.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 37.1%, draws 4.3% and loses 58.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.3%. It rests on 3.6K Lichess games.

What is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 27.9%, draws 4.4% and loses 67.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 30.1%. It rests on 215 Lichess games.

Is the Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense a good opening?

The Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss Defense is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 40.2% of its games and loses 56.6%. It performs best at 1800-1999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.