Skip to content
TrueEloPlay what wins.
Score a position

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit

25K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
5...Nb4
Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

48.9%

45%55%
Floor48.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 49.4%.

Measured over 25K 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 2.9 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 25K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
25K
Best context
52.2% at 1200-1399 Bullet
Worst context
46.5% at 1000-1199 Rapid
Average game length
28 moves
Games that end decisively
97.1%
Draws
2.9%

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: +8.8% · 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: 45.4% at 0-999, 33.0% 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: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (616 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (1,597 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 46.8% expected score (1,267 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 32.4% expected score (7 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (1,085 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (2,067 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 46.5% expected score (1,744 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 43.6% expected score (37 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (1,498 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (2,708 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.5% expected score (1,441 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 44.8% expected score (65 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (1,348 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (2,579 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (1,200 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 45.5% expected score (76 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (975 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (1,611 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (706 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 44.3% expected score (51 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (702 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (841 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.5% expected score (330 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 38.6% expected score (16 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (249 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 42.0% expected score (286 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.1% expected score (74 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 60.6% expected score (112 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.7% expected score (25 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 13.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 31.9% expected score (15 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 37.0% expected score (10 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 30.0% expected score (1 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: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit scores 48.9% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 48.3% and 49.4% — from 25K 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
25K+ 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: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate?

Playing the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit, Black wins 47.4%, draws 2.9% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.9%. It rests on 25K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit perform best?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit performs best for Black at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 55.7% (149 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 48.5% in Blitz (12K games) against 47.4% in Rapid (6.8K games).

How sharp is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit has a sharpness score of 97.1 (very decisive), meaning 97.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 28 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 46.0%, draws 3.2% and loses 50.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.6%. It rests on 3.5K Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 45.9%, draws 2.6% and loses 51.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 4.9K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 48.2%, draws 2.8% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 5.7K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 48.6%, draws 2.8% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 5.2K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 47.5%, draws 3.5% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 3.3K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 48.5%, draws 3.2% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 43.9%, draws 3.2% and loses 52.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.5%. It rests on 610 Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 53.5%, draws 4.3% and loses 42.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.7%. It rests on 149 Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 50.2%, draws 1.8% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.1%. It rests on 6.6K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 47.0%, draws 3.0% and loses 50.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.5%. It rests on 12K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 45.5%, draws 3.9% and loses 50.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 6.8K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 42.6%, draws 2.6% and loses 54.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.9%. It rests on 253 Lichess games.

Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit a good opening?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 47.4% of its games and loses 49.7%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.