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Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit

770K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

48.8%

45%55%
Floor48.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 48.9%.

Measured over 770K 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 White

Draw 3.4 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 770K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
770K
Best context
57.0% at 2000-2199 UltraBullet
Worst context
41.3% at 1400-1599 Classical
Average game length
33 moves
Games that end decisively
96.6%
Draws
3.4%

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: +6.7% · Breakpoint: 0-999

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 gets better as the rating rises: 43.6% at 0-999, 57.0% 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: 39.4% expected score (112 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (17,112 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 45.9% expected score (19,102 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 43.8% expected score (7,195 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 42.8% expected score (54 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.3% expected score (354 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (38,354 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (34,704 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (11,138 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 38.6% expected score (161 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 44.4% expected score (1,020 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (60,286 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (49,151 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.0% expected score (15,358 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 47.0% expected score (359 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 45.8% expected score (1,789 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (75,140 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (57,507 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.4% expected score (15,671 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 41.3% expected score (688 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 51.5% expected score (1,192 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (77,738 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (51,408 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (11,709 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 44.1% expected score (342 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 51.2% expected score (743 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (70,875 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (35,322 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.2% expected score (6,000 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.5% expected score (158 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 57.0% expected score (650 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (51,068 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.0% expected score (14,606 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (1,512 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 57.9% expected score (24 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 52.5% expected score (354 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.1% expected score (31,851 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (3,193 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (227 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 48.2% expected score (26 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.6% expected score (5,185 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 52.7% expected score (148 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 72.3% expected score (3 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Pirc Defense
49.1%
Variations (5)
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation
49.2%
Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation
52.8%
Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack
51.7%
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Schlechter Variation
50.2%
Pirc Defense: Kholmov System
49.7%
Analyze Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit scores 48.8% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 48.7% and 48.9% — from 770K 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
770K+ 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 Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate?

Playing the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit, White wins 47.1%, draws 3.4% and loses 49.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.8%. It rests on 770K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit perform best?

The Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 54.5% (5.4K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 48.1% in Blitz (265K games) against 46.6% in Rapid (69K games).

How sharp is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit?

The Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit has a sharpness score of 96.6 (very decisive), meaning 96.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 44.1%, draws 3.1% and loses 52.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.7%. It rests on 44K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 46.1%, draws 2.9% and loses 51.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.5%. It rests on 85K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 47.0%, draws 2.9% and loses 50.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.5%. It rests on 126K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 46.8%, draws 3.1% and loses 50.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 151K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 47.4%, 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 142K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 47.7%, draws 3.8% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 113K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 47.9%, draws 4.1% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 68K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 49.4%, draws 4.8% and loses 45.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.8%. It rests on 36K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 51.6%, draws 5.7% and loses 42.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 5.4K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 47.8%, draws 1.9% and loses 50.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.7%. It rests on 6.2K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 48.1%, draws 2.9% and loses 49.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 428K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 46.1%, draws 4.0% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.1%. It rests on 265K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 44.4%, draws 4.3% and loses 51.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.6%. It rests on 69K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 40.9%, draws 5.1% and loses 54.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.5%. It rests on 1.8K Lichess games.

Is the Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit a good opening?

The Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 47.1% of its games and loses 49.5%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.