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Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation

74K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

47.8%

40%55%
Floor47.5%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 48.1%.

Measured over 74K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

Black comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 74K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
74K
Best context
51.0% at 0-999 Blitz
Worst context
42.9% at 2200-2499 Blitz
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
96.0%
Draws
4.0%

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: 50.7% at 0-999, 48.0% 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: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (541 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (1,106 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 46.4% expected score (457 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 36.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (1,455 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 46.9% expected score (2,486 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (893 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 48.1% expected score (24 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 55.9% expected score (7 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.1% expected score (2,632 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.3% expected score (4,873 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (1,778 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 56.6% expected score (67 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 18.9% expected score (29 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (3,720 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (8,813 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.1% expected score (3,062 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 44.6% expected score (128 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (4,020 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (11,159 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (4,519 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.6% expected score (177 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (2,804 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (8,866 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 47.2% expected score (3,684 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 57.1% expected score (76 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (1,517 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 46.9% expected score (2,865 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 45.0% expected score (1,028 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.3% expected score (12 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 44.9% expected score (503 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 42.9% expected score (559 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (83 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (36 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 50.0% 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: Spanish Variation
46.3%
Ponziani Opening: Vukovic Gambit
42.1%
Analyze Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation scores 47.8% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 47.5% and 48.1% — from 74K 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
74K+ 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: Romanishin Variation win rate?

Playing the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation, Black wins 45.8%, draws 4.0% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.8%. It rests on 74K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation performs best for Black at 1400-1599, with an Expected Score of 48.4% (16K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For Black, the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 47.9% in Blitz (41K games) against 47.7% in Rapid (16K games).

How sharp is the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation?

The Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation has a sharpness score of 96.0 (very decisive), meaning 96.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

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

At 0-999, Black wins 47.5%, draws 3.1% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.1%. It rests on 2.1K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, Black wins 45.4%, draws 3.3% and loses 51.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.1%. It rests on 4.9K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, Black wins 45.4%, draws 3.1% and loses 51.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.0%. It rests on 9.4K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, Black wins 46.6%, draws 3.6% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, Black wins 46.2%, draws 3.7% and loses 50.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.1%. It rests on 20K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, Black wins 45.7%, draws 4.8% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.1%. It rests on 15K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, Black wins 44.1%, draws 6.3% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.3%. It rests on 5.4K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, Black wins 40.7%, draws 6.7% and loses 52.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.1%. It rests on 1.1K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

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

In Bullet, Black wins 46.5%, draws 2.6% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.8%. It rests on 17K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, Black wins 45.8%, draws 4.2% and loses 50.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.9%. It rests on 41K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, Black wins 45.1%, draws 5.1% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.7%. It rests on 16K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, Black wins 46.4%, draws 6.9% and loses 46.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.8%. It rests on 487 Lichess games.

Is the Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation a good opening?

The Ponziani Opening: Romanishin Variation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 45.8% of its games and loses 50.2%. It performs best at 1400-1599. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.