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Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation

17K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

55.1%

45%60%
Floor54.4%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 55.7%.

Measured over 17K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for Black at this level and clock.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 5.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 17K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
17K
Best context
58.6% at 2000-2199 Blitz
Worst context
54.3% at 1600-1799 Blitz
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
94.7%
Draws
5.3%

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 holds about the same all the way up, near 45.0%.

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: 64.7% expected score (70 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.0% expected score (97 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 44.8% expected score (46 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (154 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (216 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 43.5% expected score (90 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (226 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (363 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.7% expected score (165 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 20.6% expected score (7 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 54.6% expected score (308 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (432 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.5% expected score (210 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (9 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (379 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (539 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (196 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (20 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 55.0% expected score (471 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 57.3% expected score (1,479 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (305 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 43.0% expected score (27 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 57.4% expected score (1,218 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 58.6% expected score (3,033 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 57.3% expected score (479 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 56.6% expected score (29 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 55.5% expected score (1,905 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (3,499 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 54.6% expected score (317 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.6% expected score (582 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 49.0% expected score (311 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 46.4% expected score (40 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 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: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation scores 55.1% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 54.4% and 55.7% — from 17K 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
17K+ 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: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation win rate?

Playing the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation, Black wins 52.4%, draws 5.3% and loses 42.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 17K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation perform best?

The Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation performs best for Black at 2000-2199, with an Expected Score of 58.1% (4.8K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 55.3% in Blitz (10.0K games) against 53.7% in Rapid (1.8K games).

How sharp is the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation?

The Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a sharpness score of 94.7 (decisive), meaning 94.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

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

At 0-999, Black wins 49.7%, draws 6.2% and loses 44.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.8%. It rests on 215 Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, Black wins 46.7%, draws 2.3% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.9%. It rests on 462 Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, Black wins 47.9%, draws 2.4% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.1%. It rests on 762 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, Black wins 50.6%, draws 2.5% and loses 46.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 960 Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, Black wins 51.9%, draws 2.4% and loses 45.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.1%. It rests on 1.1K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, Black wins 54.7%, draws 3.9% and loses 41.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.7%. It rests on 2.3K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, Black wins 55.5%, draws 5.2% and loses 39.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.1%. It rests on 4.8K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, Black wins 51.2%, draws 7.0% and loses 41.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.7%. It rests on 5.7K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 48.0%, draws 8.5% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.3%. It rests on 934 Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 53.3%, draws 3.8% and loses 42.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.2%. It rests on 5.3K Lichess games.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 52.3%, draws 5.9% and loses 41.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.3%. It rests on 10.0K Lichess games.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 50.8%, draws 5.7% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.7%. It rests on 1.8K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, Black wins 40.3%, draws 10.9% and loses 48.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.8%. It rests on 104 Lichess games.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation a good opening?

The Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation is good for Black. Across all ratings, Black wins 52.4% of its games and loses 42.3%. It performs best at 2000-2199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.