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Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit

3.4K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

55.2%

45%60%
Floor53.8%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 56.6%.

Measured over 3.4K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.8 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 3.4K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
3.4K
Best context
not measured yet
Average game length
32 moves
Games that end decisively
96.2%
Draws
3.8%

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 BreakpointWhite

Peak: +6.3% · Breakpoint: 2200-2499

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It holds about the same all the way up, near 49.5%.

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: 35.7% expected score (9 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 58.2% expected score (23 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 69.0% expected score (17 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (9 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (84 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 63.5% expected score (69 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (15 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.7% expected score (157 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 59.9% expected score (191 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 64.1% expected score (59 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 53.3% expected score (340 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 58.5% expected score (271 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 65.0% expected score (52 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 60.5% expected score (434 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (385 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 54.4% expected score (56 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 56.9% expected score (412 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (268 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (35 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (257 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (158 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 73.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (92 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (25 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Nimzowitsch Defense
50.3%
Variations (5)
Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation
50.3%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Advance Variation
50.2%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation
49.6%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation
48.7%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation
50.9%
Analyze Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit scores 55.2% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 53.8% and 56.6% — from 3.4K 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
3.4K+ 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 Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate?

Playing the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit, White wins 53.3%, draws 3.8% and loses 42.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.2%. It rests on 3.4K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit perform best?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit performs best for White at 1600-1799, with an Expected Score of 56.3% (667 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 54.9% in Blitz (1.4K games) against 59.3% in Rapid (235 games).

How sharp is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit has a sharpness score of 96.2 (very decisive), meaning 96.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 55.2%, draws 2.7% and loses 42.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.5%. It rests on 168 Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 53.9%, draws 5.0% and loses 41.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.4%. It rests on 411 Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 55.1%, draws 2.3% and loses 42.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.3%. It rests on 667 Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 53.7%, draws 3.2% and loses 43.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.4%. It rests on 876 Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 53.2%, draws 4.8% and loses 42.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.6%. It rests on 716 Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 49.5%, draws 4.8% and loses 45.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 424 Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 46.8%, draws 6.3% and loses 46.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 117 Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 53.4%, draws 3.1% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.0%. It rests on 1.8K Lichess games.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 52.5%, draws 4.7% and loses 42.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.9%. It rests on 1.4K Lichess games.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 57.3%, draws 4.0% and loses 38.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.3%. It rests on 235 Lichess games.

Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit a good opening?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Richter Gambit is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 53.3% of its games and loses 42.9%. It performs best at 1600-1799. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.