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Analyzer

Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense

32K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense is balanced for Black at 50.4% expected score.

Results are roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

You play
Playable
Rating
Time
Black Expected Score50.4%Based on 32K gamesWin + ½×draw — predicts rating gain better than win rate
45%50.4%55%
Range (90% confident): 50.0% – 50.9%
Min adv-0.1%
ContextAll ratings · All speeds · n=32K
Outcome Distribution
7...Bg4
Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense
Analyzen=32K
Avg Length39 moves
Sharpness94%
Draw Rate5.7%

Sharpness — share of games that end decisively

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 50.4% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 50.0% and 50.9%), based on 32K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 49% → 40%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.3% win rate (251 games)
  • 1000-1199: 51.2% win rate (820 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.7% win rate (1,784 games)
  • 1400-1599: 56.4% win rate (4,460 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.2% win rate (5,850 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.7% win rate (8,160 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.0% win rate (6,570 games)
  • 2200-2499: 43.1% win rate (3,678 games)
  • 2500+: 40.0% win rate (740 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (51%), worst in Rapid (45%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 47.4% win rate (8 games)
  • Bullet: 50.6% win rate (11,797 games)
  • Blitz: 46.0% win rate (17,148 games)
  • Rapid: 44.8% win rate (3,224 games)
  • Classical: 47.6% win rate (136 games)

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter — click it again to clear. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

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, Bullet: 48.2% expected score (82 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.7% expected score (141 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 60.2% expected score (28 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (304 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 55.1% expected score (401 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (114 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (628 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (910 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (238 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 76.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 67.2% expected score (2,111 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (1,860 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (473 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 55.7% expected score (16 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (1,771 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.1% expected score (3,338 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (691 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 44.0% expected score (48 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (2,259 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (4,995 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (860 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 54.5% expected score (43 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (2,363 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.4% expected score (3,572 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (615 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 57.3% expected score (19 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (1,744 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.2% expected score (1,739 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 38.9% expected score (192 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 44.5% expected score (535 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 46.4% expected score (192 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 36.2% expected score (13 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Grünfeld Defense
45.8%
Variations (5)
Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation
45.9%
Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation
45.9%
Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation
47.7%
Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Petrosian System
49.2%
Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation
48.4%
Analyze Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates at your level with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate?

The Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 46.8% (90% CI: 46.3%-47.2%) win rate for white, based on 32K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense perform best?

The Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 49.8% win rate for white (1.8K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz (47.8%) outperforms Classical (43.3%) by 4.5%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense?

The Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a sharpness score of 94.3 (decisive), meaning 94.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 39 moves.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 47.3% (90% CI: 42.2%-52.5%) win rate for white, based on 251 Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 45.8% (90% CI: 43.0%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 820 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 49.8% (90% CI: 47.8%-51.7%) win rate for white, based on 1.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 38.9% (90% CI: 37.7%-40.1%) win rate for white, based on 4.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 44 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 47.5% (90% CI: 46.4%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 5.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.3% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 47.6% (90% CI: 46.7%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 8.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.7% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 48.0% (90% CI: 47.0%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 6.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 49.1% (90% CI: 47.7%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 3.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 7.8% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 50.5% (90% CI: 47.5%-53.5%) win rate for white, based on 740 Lichess games. Average game length is 46 moves with a 9.5% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 45.0% (90% CI: 44.3%-45.8%) win rate for white (12K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.4%.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 47.8% (90% CI: 47.2%-48.4%) win rate for white (17K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.2%.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 47.9% (90% CI: 46.4%-49.3%) win rate for white (3.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.3%.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense has a 43.3% (90% CI: 36.4%-50.3%) win rate for white (136 Lichess games). Draw rate is 9.1%.

Is the Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense a good opening?

The Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense is statistically balanced with a 46.8% (90% CI: 46.3%-47.2%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1200-1399 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.