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Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit

12K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.8%Range (90% confident): 50.1% – 51.6%Based on 12K games
0%50.8%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.1% – 51.6%
Outcome Distribution
48.4%4.7%46.9%
Win
Draw
Loss
4.h4
Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit
Analyzen=12K
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate4.7%

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 50.8% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.1% and 51.6%), based on 12K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Gambit BreakpointWhite

Peak: +3.2% · Breakpoint: 1200-1399

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 46% → 51%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 45.5% win rate (4 games)
  • 1000-1199: 50.8% win rate (31 games)
  • 1200-1399: 43.7% win rate (105 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.5% win rate (334 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.9% win rate (940 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.7% win rate (1,948 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.9% win rate (3,802 games)
  • 2200-2499: 50.2% win rate (3,611 games)
  • 2500+: 51.2% win rate (806 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Rapid (50%), worst in Classical (43%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 48.8% win rate (3,893 games)
  • Blitz: 48.1% win rate (6,922 games)
  • Rapid: 50.4% win rate (729 games)
  • Classical: 42.9% win rate (37 games)

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. 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: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 60.9% expected score (17 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 45.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 37.7% expected score (39 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (55 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 46.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 62.2% expected score (109 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (197 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 39.5% expected score (27 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (362 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (501 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (72 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 34.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (541 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (1,201 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.9% expected score (192 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (14 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (1,013 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (2,502 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (273 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.8% expected score (14 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (1,305 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (2,163 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.6% expected score (141 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (506 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (291 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 69.1% expected score (9 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Grünfeld Defense
45.8%
Variations (5)
Grünfeld Defense: Botvinnik Variation
47.7%
Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack
49.6%
Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit
45.9%
Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit Accepted
51.6%
Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit, Botvinnik Variation
45.0%
Analyze Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit win rate?

The Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 48.4% (90% CI: 47.7%-49.2%) win rate for white, based on 12K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit perform best?

The Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 50.2% win rate for white (3.6K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (48.8%) outperforms Blitz (48.1%) by 0.7%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit?

The Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a sharpness score of 95.3 (very decisive), meaning 95.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 43.7% (90% CI: 35.9%-51.6%) win rate for white, based on 105 Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 1.4% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 50.5% (90% CI: 46.0%-55.0%) win rate for white, based on 334 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 48.9% (90% CI: 46.2%-51.6%) win rate for white, based on 940 Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 46.7% (90% CI: 44.8%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 46.9% (90% CI: 45.6%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 3.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 50.2% (90% CI: 48.8%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 3.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 51.2% (90% CI: 48.3%-54.1%) win rate for white, based on 806 Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.9% draw rate.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 48.8% (90% CI: 47.5%-50.1%) win rate for white (3.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.5%.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.1%-49.0%) win rate for white (6.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.3%.

What is the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit has a 50.4% (90% CI: 47.4%-53.5%) win rate for white (729 Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.3%.

Is the Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit a good opening?

The Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit is statistically balanced with a 48.4% (90% CI: 47.7%-49.2%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2200-2499 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.