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Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation

118K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

44.9%

40%55%
Floor44.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 45.2%.

Measured over 118K 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 4.6 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 118K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
118K
Best context
49.4% at 2200-2499 Blitz
Worst context
40.5% at 1200-1399 Rapid
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
95.4%
Draws
4.6%

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

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 10.3% · Classical best · Blitz worst

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 gets better as the rating rises: 38.7% at 0-999, 43.5% 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: 45.1% expected score (730 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (1,476 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 45.9% expected score (532 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 43.8% expected score (1,956 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 44.8% expected score (3,560 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 42.5% expected score (1,181 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 31.1% expected score (17 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 53.9% expected score (24 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 42.8% expected score (3,879 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 42.8% expected score (6,366 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 40.5% expected score (2,029 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 33.9% expected score (67 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 40.4% expected score (40 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 44.7% expected score (6,142 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 44.2% expected score (10,279 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 43.8% expected score (2,977 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 37.6% expected score (167 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 35.9% expected score (69 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 44.6% expected score (7,872 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 45.7% expected score (12,301 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 43.3% expected score (2,993 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 34.4% expected score (165 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 35.7% expected score (23 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.1% expected score (8,061 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 44.0% expected score (10,864 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 43.4% expected score (2,415 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 31.9% expected score (109 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 44.9% expected score (5,584 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 45.4% expected score (7,685 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 41.6% expected score (1,074 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.8% expected score (45 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (3,558 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (8,768 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 41.3% expected score (524 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 31.5% expected score (12 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (2,066 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 47.3% expected score (2,370 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 36.0% expected score (59 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Queen's Gambit Accepted
53.1%
Variations (5)
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation
54.9%
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Saduleto Variation
55.4%
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Greco Variation
52.2%
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation
55.4%
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System
53.6%
Analyze Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation scores 44.9% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 44.7% and 45.2% — from 118K 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
118K+ 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 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate?

Playing the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation, Black wins 42.6%, draws 4.6% and loses 52.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 118K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation perform best?

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation performs best for Black at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 48.4% (13K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 45.4% in Blitz (64K games) against 42.8% in Rapid (14K games).

How sharp is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation?

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation has a sharpness score of 95.4 (very decisive), meaning 95.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 44.5%, draws 3.4% and loses 52.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.2%. It rests on 2.7K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 42.4%, draws 3.3% and loses 54.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.1%. It rests on 6.7K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 40.7%, draws 3.4% and loses 55.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.4%. It rests on 12K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 42.4%, draws 3.6% and loses 54.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.2%. It rests on 20K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 42.9%, draws 3.8% and loses 53.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 23K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 42.4%, draws 4.4% and loses 53.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.6%. It rests on 21K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 42.2%, draws 5.4% and loses 52.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 14K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 44.7%, draws 7.4% and loses 47.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 42.8%, draws 8.7% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.1%. It rests on 4.5K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 40.3%, draws 0.9% and loses 58.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 40.8%. It rests on 171 Lichess games.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 43.5%, draws 3.1% and loses 53.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.1%. It rests on 40K Lichess games.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 42.7%, draws 5.3% and loses 52.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.4%. It rests on 64K Lichess games.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 40.1%, draws 5.3% and loses 54.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.8%. It rests on 14K Lichess games.

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 32.7%, draws 5.0% and loses 62.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 35.2%. It rests on 585 Lichess games.

Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation a good opening?

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 42.6% of its games and loses 52.8%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.