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Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation

17K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Black Expected Score55.1%Range (90% confident): 54.4% – 55.7%Based on 17K games
0%55.1%100%
Range (90% confident): 54.4% – 55.7%
Outcome Distribution
52.4%5.3%42.3%
Win
Draw
Loss
6...Bb6
Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation
Analyzen=17K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.3%

What is the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 55.1% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 54.4% and 55.7%), based on 17K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~50%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.7% win rate (215 games)
  • 1000-1199: 46.7% win rate (462 games)
  • 1200-1399: 47.9% win rate (762 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.6% win rate (960 games)
  • 1600-1799: 51.9% win rate (1,134 games)
  • 1800-1999: 54.7% win rate (2,282 games)
  • 2000-2199: 55.5% win rate (4,759 games)
  • 2200-2499: 51.2% win rate (5,729 games)
  • 2500+: 48.0% win rate (934 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (53%), worst in UltraBullet (33%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 33.3% win rate (3 games)
  • Bullet: 53.3% win rate (5,313 games)
  • Blitz: 52.3% win rate (9,969 games)
  • Rapid: 50.8% win rate (1,848 games)
  • Classical: 40.3% win rate (104 games)

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

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 PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 42.3% (90% CI: 41.7%-43.0%) win rate for white, based 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 at 1000-1199 Elo with a 51.0% win rate for white (462 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (42.9%) outperforms Blitz (41.7%) by 1.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

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 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 44.1% (90% CI: 38.6%-49.7%) win rate for white, based on 215 Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 6.2% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 51.0% (90% CI: 47.2%-54.8%) win rate for white, based on 462 Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 2.3% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 46.7%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 762 Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 44.2%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 960 Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 45.7% (90% CI: 43.2%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 1.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 41.4% (90% CI: 39.8%-43.1%) win rate for white, based on 2.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 39.3% (90% CI: 38.1%-40.5%) win rate for white, based on 4.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 41.8% (90% CI: 40.8%-42.9%) win rate for white, based on 5.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 7.0% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 43.5% (90% CI: 40.8%-46.1%) win rate for white, based on 934 Lichess games. Average game length is 43 moves with a 8.5% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 42.9% (90% CI: 41.8%-44.0%) win rate for white (5.3K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

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

In Blitz games, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 41.7% (90% CI: 40.9%-42.6%) win rate for white (10.0K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.9%.

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

In Rapid games, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 43.5% (90% CI: 41.6%-45.4%) win rate for white (1.8K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.7%.

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

In Classical games, the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 40.9%-56.8%) win rate for white (104 Lichess games). Draw rate is 10.9%.

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

The Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation is slightly favors black with a 42.3% (90% CI: 41.7%-43.0%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1000-1199 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.