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Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation

11K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

52.6%

45%60%
Floor51.8%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 53.4%.

Measured over 11K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

A strong choice for Black at this level and clock.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 3.4 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 11K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
11K
Best context
56.0% at 1600-1799 Rapid
Worst context
47.8% at 1200-1399 Blitz
Average game length
29 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.

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: 52.2% at 0-999, 37.7% 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, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (90 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.4% expected score (305 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 55.4% expected score (118 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (123 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (561 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (357 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.3% expected score (175 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.8% expected score (691 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 54.7% expected score (588 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 58.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (185 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.7% expected score (781 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (559 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 45.9% expected score (70 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (221 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.3% expected score (790 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 56.0% expected score (522 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.9% expected score (31 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (348 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (1,113 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 54.1% expected score (478 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 66.3% expected score (17 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 55.2% expected score (326 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.6% expected score (1,003 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (260 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 67.7% expected score (7 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 58.5% expected score (317 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 56.7% expected score (469 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 43.6% expected score (115 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 27.8% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (87 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.0% expected score (34 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 22.8% expected score (4 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Ponziani Opening
51.8%
Variations (5)
Ponziani Opening: Jaenisch Counterattack
49.8%
Ponziani Opening: Neumann Gambit
48.9%
Ponziani Opening: Ponziani Countergambit
45.2%
Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation
50.2%
Ponziani Opening: Spanish Variation
46.3%
Analyze Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation scores 52.6% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 51.8% and 53.4% — from 11K 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
11K+ 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 Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate?

Playing the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation, Black wins 50.9%, draws 3.4% and loses 45.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.6%. It rests on 11K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation perform best?

The Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation performs best for Black at 2000-2199, with an Expected Score of 54.8% (1.6K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 51.8% in Blitz (5.7K games) against 53.7% in Rapid (3.0K games).

How sharp is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation?

The Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation has a sharpness score of 96.6 (very decisive), meaning 96.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 29 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 52.0%, draws 3.4% and loses 44.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.7%. It rests on 515 Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 48.9%, draws 2.1% and loses 48.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 1.0K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 50.0%, draws 2.8% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.4%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 50.0%, draws 2.7% and loses 47.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.3%. It rests on 1.6K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 52.0%, draws 3.2% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.6%. It rests on 1.6K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 49.8%, draws 4.6% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 2.0K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 52.7%, draws 4.1% and loses 43.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.8%. It rests on 1.6K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 53.5%, draws 4.0% and loses 42.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.5%. It rests on 904 Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 41.5%, draws 6.7% and loses 51.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 125 Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 52.5%, draws 2.2% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.6%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 50.0%, draws 3.6% and loses 46.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.8%. It rests on 5.7K Lichess games.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 51.7%, draws 4.0% and loses 44.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.7%. It rests on 3.0K Lichess games.

What is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 48.5%, draws 3.1% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 146 Lichess games.

Is the Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation a good opening?

The Ponziani Opening: Leonhardt Variation is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 50.9% of its games and loses 45.7%. It performs best at 2000-2199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.