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Philidor Defense: Berger Variation

161 games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
White Expected Score44.8%Range (90% confident): 38.5% – 51.2%Based on 161 games
0%44.8%100%
Range (90% confident): 38.5% – 51.2%
Outcome Distribution
40.3%8.9%50.8%
Win
Draw
Loss
10.Re1
Philidor Defense: Berger Variation
Analyzen=161
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness91%
Draw Rate8.9%

What is the Philidor Defense: Berger Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Philidor Defense: Berger Variation has a 44.8% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 38.5% and 51.2%), based on 161 Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~60%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 60.0% win rate (1 games)
  • 1000-1199: 7.7% win rate (5 games)
  • 1200-1399: 21.7% win rate (10 games)
  • 1400-1599: 41.2% win rate (24 games)
  • 1600-1799: 41.5% win rate (60 games)
  • 1800-1999: 38.0% win rate (34 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.9% win rate (22 games)
  • 2200-2499: 45.5% win rate (4 games)
  • 2500+: 60.0% win rate (1 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (48%), worst in Blitz (35%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid

  • Bullet: 47.9% win rate (58 games)
  • Blitz: 34.8% win rate (89 games)
  • Rapid: 41.9% win rate (14 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)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 13.7% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 27.8% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 45.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (14 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 35.4% expected score (19 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (37 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 59.1% expected score (4 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 71.1% expected score (8 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 30.9% expected score (22 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 59.1% expected score (4 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 64.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 45.7% expected score (10 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 35.7% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Philidor Defense
50.2%
Variations (5)
Philidor Defense: Albin-Blackburne Gambit
44.3%
Philidor Defense: Bird Gambit
53.3%
Philidor Defense: Boden Variation
49.4%
Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation
50.5%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation
46.9%
Analyze Philidor Defense: Berger Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Philidor Defense: Berger Variation win rate?

The Philidor Defense: Berger Variation has a 40.3% (90% CI: 34.1%-46.7%) win rate for white, based on 161 rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Philidor Defense: Berger Variation perform best?

The Philidor Defense: Berger Variation performs best at 1600-1799 Elo with a 41.5% win rate for white (60 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Philidor Defense: Berger Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (47.9%) outperforms Blitz (34.8%) by 13.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Philidor Defense: Berger Variation?

The Philidor Defense: Berger Variation has a sharpness score of 91.1 (decisive), meaning 91.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

Is the Philidor Defense: Berger Variation a good opening?

The Philidor Defense: Berger Variation is slightly favors black with a 40.3% (90% CI: 34.1%-46.7%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1600-1799 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.