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Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit

130K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

45.4%

40%55%
Floor45.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 45.7%.

Measured over 130K 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 · 130K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
130K
Best context
49.0% at 1800-1999 Bullet
Worst context
40.5% at 0-999 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

Gambit BreakpointBlack

Peak: −8.7% · Breakpoint: 0-999

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 falls away as the rating rises: 43.1% at 0-999, 40.7% at 2500+.

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: 53.0% expected score (66 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (2,485 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 43.7% expected score (4,032 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 40.5% expected score (2,159 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 32.5% expected score (27 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.9% expected score (121 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 45.8% expected score (3,028 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 43.1% expected score (5,095 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 41.7% expected score (1,994 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 22.6% expected score (55 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 51.9% expected score (378 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (4,350 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 45.2% expected score (7,096 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 42.0% expected score (2,714 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 44.1% expected score (66 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 48.0% expected score (1,007 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (5,721 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 45.0% expected score (9,915 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 44.4% expected score (4,090 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 47.9% expected score (187 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 44.6% expected score (1,118 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (7,385 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 45.8% expected score (11,371 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 43.3% expected score (4,904 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.7% expected score (224 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.6% expected score (901 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (8,553 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 44.8% expected score (10,597 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 43.1% expected score (3,312 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 40.9% expected score (125 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 43.2% expected score (425 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (8,956 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 43.7% expected score (5,508 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 43.2% expected score (1,063 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 28.7% expected score (22 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 45.3% expected score (146 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 45.9% expected score (7,013 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 41.0% expected score (1,185 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 26.3% expected score (144 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 18.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 41.6% expected score (2,048 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 33.2% expected score (43 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 70.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Indian Defense
49.6%
Variations (5)
Indian Defense: Wade-Tartakower Defense
49.2%
Indian Defense: Normal Variation
50.3%
Indian Defense: London System
50.8%
Indian Defense: Knights Variation
50.9%
Indian Defense: Budapest Defense
48.1%
Analyze Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit scores 45.4% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 45.2% and 45.7% — from 130K 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
130K+ 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 Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate?

Playing the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit, Black wins 43.8%, draws 3.2% and loses 53.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.4%. It rests on 130K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit perform best?

The Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit performs best for Black at 1600-1799, with an Expected Score of 46.2% (25K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 44.6% in Blitz (55K games) against 42.7% in Rapid (20K games).

How sharp is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit?

The Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit 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 Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 41.9%, draws 3.5% and loses 54.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.6%. It rests on 8.8K Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 42.2%, draws 2.8% and loses 55.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.6%. It rests on 10K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 44.1%, draws 2.5% and loses 53.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.4%. It rests on 15K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 44.8%, draws 2.7% and loses 52.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 21K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 44.6%, draws 3.1% and loses 52.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.2%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 44.4%, draws 3.5% and loses 52.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.2%. It rests on 23K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 43.7%, draws 3.7% and loses 52.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.6%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 42.8%, draws 4.0% and loses 53.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.8%. It rests on 8.5K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 39.2%, draws 4.2% and loses 56.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.3%. It rests on 2.1K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 45.5%, draws 2.0% and loses 52.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 4.2K Lichess games.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 45.9%, draws 2.8% and loses 51.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 50K Lichess games.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 42.9%, draws 3.4% and loses 53.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.6%. It rests on 55K Lichess games.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 40.8%, draws 3.8% and loses 55.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.7%. It rests on 20K Lichess games.

What is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 40.9%, draws 4.6% and loses 54.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.2%. It rests on 706 Lichess games.

Is the Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit a good opening?

The Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 43.8% of its games and loses 53.0%. It performs best at 1600-1799. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.