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Russian Game: Classical Attack

127K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

No move sequence recorded for this opening

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

53.6%

45%60%
Floor53.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 53.8%.

Measured over 127K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 6.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 127K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
127K
Best context
59.8% at 1000-1199 Rapid
Worst context
51.4% at 1600-1799 Bullet
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
94.0%
Draws
6.0%

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 · 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 falls away as the rating rises: 54.3% at 0-999, 51.6% 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: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 55.3% expected score (584 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (777 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 55.6% expected score (315 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 86.4% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 54.6% expected score (1,479 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 55.9% expected score (1,604 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 59.8% expected score (510 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 65.8% expected score (27 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (3,069 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.5% expected score (4,009 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 59.6% expected score (1,043 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 70.3% expected score (60 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (5,909 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (9,824 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 58.1% expected score (2,455 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 63.0% expected score (168 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (6,703 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.3% expected score (18,033 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (4,500 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 54.2% expected score (415 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (6,350 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (20,748 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (6,554 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 54.4% expected score (525 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (4,882 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (12,512 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 54.8% expected score (4,532 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 58.4% expected score (160 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (2,493 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 56.1% expected score (3,893 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 59.2% expected score (1,017 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 59.9% expected score (29 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 53.5% expected score (826 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.1% expected score (665 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (244 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 45.4% expected score (20 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Russian Game
48.9%
Variations (5)
Russian Game: Three Knights Game
50.2%
Russian Game: Italian Variation
50.9%
Russian Game: Stafford Gambit
46.2%
Russian Game: Modern Attack
51.5%
Russian Game: Damiano Variation
58.3%
Continuations (10)
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Marshall Variation
46.4%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Staunton Variation
48.8%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Closed Variation
51.6%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Mason Variation
50.3%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Mason-Showalter Variation
47.1%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation
44.5%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Jaenisch Variation
46.3%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line
44.6%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Browne Attack
47.4%
Russian Game: Classical Attack, Berger Variation
45.9%

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Russian Game: Classical Attack scores 53.6% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 53.3% and 53.8% — from 127K 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
127K+ 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 Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate?

Playing the Russian Game: Classical Attack, White wins 50.6%, draws 6.0% and loses 43.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.6%. It rests on 127K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Russian Game: Classical Attack perform best?

The Russian Game: Classical Attack performs best for White at 1000-1199, with an Expected Score of 56.0% (3.6K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Russian Game: Classical Attack better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Russian Game: Classical Attack scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 53.5% in Blitz (72K games) against 55.4% in Rapid (21K games).

How sharp is the Russian Game: Classical Attack?

The Russian Game: Classical Attack has a sharpness score of 94.0 (decisive), meaning 94.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 52.8%, draws 2.6% and loses 44.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.1%. It rests on 1.7K Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 54.8%, draws 2.3% and loses 42.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.0%. It rests on 3.6K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 53.4%, draws 3.1% and loses 43.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.9%. It rests on 8.2K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 52.2%, draws 3.8% and loses 44.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.1%. It rests on 18K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 50.2%, draws 4.7% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.6%. It rests on 30K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 49.9%, draws 6.0% and loses 44.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 34K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 50.4%, draws 6.8% and loses 42.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.8%. It rests on 22K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 51.1%, draws 8.8% and loses 40.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.5%. It rests on 7.4K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 27.7%, draws 53.3% and loses 19.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.4%. It rests on 1.8K Lichess games, which average 51 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 50.1%, draws 4.8% and loses 45.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.5%. It rests on 32K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 50.5%, draws 6.0% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 72K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 51.6%, draws 7.6% and loses 40.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.4%. It rests on 21K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Classical Attack win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 51.5%, draws 10.8% and loses 37.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.9%. It rests on 1.4K Lichess games.

Is the Russian Game: Classical Attack a good opening?

The Russian Game: Classical Attack is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 50.6% of its games and loses 43.4%. It performs best at 1000-1199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.