Skip to content
TrueEloPlay what wins.
Score a position

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation

833K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
4...Bc5
Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

46.8%

40%55%
Floor46.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 46.9%.

Measured over 833K 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 3.6 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 833K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
833K
Best context
51.1% at 0-999 Rapid
Worst context
37.5% at 1800-1999 Classical
Average game length
32 moves
Games that end decisively
96.4%
Draws
3.6%

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: 10.1% · Classical best · UltraBullet 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 falls away as the rating rises: 53.8% at 0-999, 33.6% 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: 60.2% expected score (23 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (11,782 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (18,440 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (12,031 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 57.2% expected score (160 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 43.4% expected score (51 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (24,247 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (44,566 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (22,693 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (478 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 53.9% expected score (75 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.7% expected score (33,068 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.4% expected score (70,085 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (34,962 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.1% expected score (1,133 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 64.5% expected score (54 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 46.8% expected score (38,520 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (82,078 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (39,848 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 43.3% expected score (2,571 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 64.9% expected score (12 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (38,807 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 46.9% expected score (87,723 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 45.7% expected score (34,465 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 43.8% expected score (2,240 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (34,813 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 46.1% expected score (78,637 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 45.0% expected score (24,512 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 37.5% expected score (1,170 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (21,321 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (38,674 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 44.1% expected score (9,985 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 34.5% expected score (221 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (10,616 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 44.1% expected score (8,644 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 37.9% expected score (1,586 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 34.2% expected score (27 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 44.0% expected score (1,987 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 36.4% expected score (482 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 28.5% expected score (96 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 25.7% expected score (17 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Ruy Lopez
51.9%
Variations (5)
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense
51.2%
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
49.9%
Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation
48.7%
Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation
49.9%
Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense
49.9%
Analyze Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation scores 46.8% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 46.7% and 46.9% — from 833K 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
833K+ 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 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate?

Playing the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation, Black wins 45.0%, draws 3.6% and loses 51.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.8%. It rests on 833K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation perform best?

The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 50.4% (42K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 46.9% in Blitz (429K games) against 46.5% in Rapid (180K games).

How sharp is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation?

The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation has a sharpness score of 96.4 (very decisive), meaning 96.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 48.7%, draws 3.4% and loses 47.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.4%. It rests on 42K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 46.3%, draws 3.1% and loses 50.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.9%. It rests on 92K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 45.5%, draws 3.2% and loses 51.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 139K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 45.1%, draws 3.3% and loses 51.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.8%. It rests on 163K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 44.6%, draws 3.6% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 163K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 43.9%, draws 4.0% and loses 52.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.9%. It rests on 139K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 43.4%, draws 4.3% and loses 52.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.6%. It rests on 70K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 42.2%, draws 5.3% and loses 52.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 21K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 36.5%, draws 10.6% and loses 52.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.8%. It rests on 2.6K Lichess games, which average 44 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 54.4%, draws 1.6% and loses 44.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.2%. It rests on 220 Lichess games.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 45.7%, draws 2.4% and loses 51.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.9%. It rests on 215K Lichess games.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 45.0%, draws 3.9% and loses 51.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.9%. It rests on 429K Lichess games.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 44.3%, draws 4.3% and loses 51.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 180K Lichess games.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 40.6%, draws 5.4% and loses 54.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.3%. It rests on 8.0K Lichess games.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation a good opening?

The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 45.0% of its games and loses 51.4%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.