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Russian Game: Damiano Variation

600K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

No move sequence recorded for this opening

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

60.2%

45%65%
Floor60.1%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 60.3%.

Measured over 600K 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 3.8 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 600K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
600K
Best context
73.0% at 1600-1799 Classical
Worst context
50.8% at 2200-2499 Bullet
Average game length
27 moves
Games that end decisively
96.2%
Draws
3.8%

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: 15.2% · Classical best · UltraBullet worst

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 holds about the same all the way up, near 56.9%.

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: 48.2% expected score (81 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 58.2% expected score (26,078 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 59.6% expected score (83,890 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 59.8% expected score (70,316 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 58.7% expected score (861 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.4% expected score (96 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 59.2% expected score (22,228 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 61.5% expected score (68,502 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 64.5% expected score (55,327 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 66.3% expected score (2,309 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 48.9% expected score (88 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 58.1% expected score (16,768 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 60.2% expected score (51,148 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 64.6% expected score (39,742 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 69.1% expected score (2,923 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 60.1% expected score (88 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 57.7% expected score (12,332 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 58.8% expected score (34,307 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 63.1% expected score (24,668 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 70.5% expected score (3,165 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 59.4% expected score (68 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 54.0% expected score (8,963 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 56.2% expected score (22,763 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 60.8% expected score (11,816 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 73.0% expected score (1,238 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 52.3% expected score (65 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 53.8% expected score (6,285 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 55.3% expected score (13,223 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 58.1% expected score (4,947 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 69.7% expected score (235 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 56.5% expected score (60 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (3,297 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (5,822 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 58.5% expected score (1,443 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 56.2% expected score (39 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 45.8% expected score (46 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (1,920 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (2,168 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (383 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 59.1% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.1% expected score (508 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.7% expected score (182 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (11 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: Cozio Attack
48.5%
Continuations (1)
Russian Game: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit
47.5%

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Russian Game: Damiano Variation scores 60.2% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 60.1% and 60.3% — from 600K 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
600K+ 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: Damiano Variation win rate?

Playing the Russian Game: Damiano Variation, White wins 58.3%, draws 3.8% and loses 37.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 60.2%. It rests on 600K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Russian Game: Damiano Variation perform best?

The Russian Game: Damiano Variation performs best for White at 1000-1199, with an Expected Score of 62.3% (148K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Russian Game: Damiano Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 59.4% in Blitz (282K games) against 62.4% in Rapid (209K games).

How sharp is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation?

The Russian Game: Damiano Variation has a sharpness score of 96.2 (very decisive), meaning 96.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 27 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 57.2%, draws 4.5% and loses 38.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.4%. It rests on 181K Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 60.6%, draws 3.5% and loses 36.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 62.3%. It rests on 148K Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 60.1%, draws 3.1% and loses 36.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 61.7%. It rests on 111K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 58.9%, draws 3.1% and loses 37.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 60.5%. It rests on 75K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 55.6%, draws 3.6% and loses 40.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.4%. It rests on 45K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 53.5%, draws 4.0% and loses 42.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.6%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 51.3%, draws 5.4% and loses 43.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.0%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 47.4%, draws 8.1% and loses 44.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 4.5K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 51.3%, draws 8.9% and loses 39.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.8%. It rests on 701 Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 51.3%, draws 1.8% and loses 46.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 592 Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 56.3%, draws 2.1% and loses 41.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.4%. It rests on 98K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 57.4%, draws 3.8% and loses 38.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.4%. It rests on 282K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 60.1%, draws 4.5% and loses 35.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 62.4%. It rests on 209K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 66.5%, draws 3.9% and loses 29.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 68.5%. It rests on 11K Lichess games.

Is the Russian Game: Damiano Variation a good opening?

The Russian Game: Damiano Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 58.3% of its games and loses 37.9%. It performs best at 1000-1199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.