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Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6

1.6M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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h8
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a
6...h6
Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

50.6%

45%55%
Floor50.5%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 50.7%.

Measured over 1.6M games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 1.6M games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
1.6M
Best context
61.7% at 1000-1199 Classical
Worst context
43.4% at 2200-2499 Rapid
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
95.5%
Draws
4.5%

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

How to Beat This (Move 3)

Best: 3...Bc5 · Black wins: 48.5% · 1.4M games

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 10.9% · UltraBullet best · Classical 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 falls away as the rating rises: 57.3% at 0-999, 43.6% 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: 55.1% expected score (18 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.7% expected score (17,268 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.8% expected score (31,854 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 56.8% expected score (14,110 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 66.0% expected score (80 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 59.5% expected score (25 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (38,971 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (99,917 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (47,462 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 61.7% expected score (548 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 34.8% expected score (38 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (52,770 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (164,782 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 52.0% expected score (86,655 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 56.6% expected score (2,177 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 31.4% expected score (20 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (56,007 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (195,458 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (103,450 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 53.8% expected score (4,630 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (49,853 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (185,429 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (90,252 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 51.4% expected score (4,768 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (36,934 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.0% expected score (128,759 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (57,387 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.4% expected score (2,253 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (20,971 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (53,292 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (19,663 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 45.6% expected score (548 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.2% expected score (11,052 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.1% expected score (14,125 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 43.4% expected score (3,619 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 44.3% expected score (60 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (3,008 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 45.8% expected score (1,653 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 39.6% expected score (123 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 43.1% expected score (13 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Italian Game
55.0%
Variations (5)
Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense
51.3%
Italian Game: Paris Defense
50.2%
Italian Game: Giuoco Piano
47.0%
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening
50.6%
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal
49.3%
Analyze Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 scores 50.6% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 50.5% and 50.7% — from 1.6M 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
1.6M+ 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 Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate?

Playing the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6, Black wins 48.3%, draws 4.5% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 1.6M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 perform best?

The Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 54.9% (63K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 50.4% in Blitz (875K games) against 51.2% in Rapid (423K games).

How sharp is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6?

The Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 53.1%, draws 3.6% and loses 43.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.9%. It rests on 63K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 49.9%, draws 4.1% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 187K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 49.3%, draws 4.1% and loses 46.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.3%. It rests on 306K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 48.7%, draws 4.2% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.8%. It rests on 360K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 47.9%, draws 4.6% and loses 47.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 330K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 46.6%, draws 5.1% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 225K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 45.5%, draws 5.4% and loses 49.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.2%. It rests on 94K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 43.4%, draws 6.2% and loses 50.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 29K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 37.6%, draws 16.3% and loses 46.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.8%. It rests on 4.8K Lichess games, which average 45 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 44.2%, draws 0.5% and loses 55.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.5%. It rests on 106 Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 48.7%, draws 2.9% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 287K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 48.1%, draws 4.5% and loses 47.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.4%. It rests on 875K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 48.5%, draws 5.4% and loses 46.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.2%. It rests on 423K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 49.4%, draws 6.1% and loses 44.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.5%. It rests on 15K Lichess games.

Is the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 a good opening?

The Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 48.3% of its games and loses 47.2%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.