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Ruy Lopez: Closed

261K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score52.9%Range (90% confident): 52.7% – 53.0%Based on 261K games
0%52.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 52.7% – 53.0%
Outcome Distribution
49.9%5.9%44.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
9.h3
Ruy Lopez: Closed
Analyzen=261K
Avg Length37 moves
Sharpness94%
Draw Rate5.9%

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 52.9% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 52.7% and 53.0%), based on 261K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 52% → 42%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 52.4% win rate (1,046 games)
  • 1000-1199: 52.3% win rate (3,822 games)
  • 1200-1399: 52.2% win rate (9,593 games)
  • 1400-1599: 51.8% win rate (20,955 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.6% win rate (39,728 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.3% win rate (67,130 games)
  • 2000-2199: 49.7% win rate (69,324 games)
  • 2200-2499: 50.5% win rate (40,131 games)
  • 2500+: 41.9% win rate (9,762 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (50%), worst in UltraBullet (41%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 40.7% win rate (12 games)
  • Bullet: 50.2% win rate (59,481 games)
  • Blitz: 50.1% win rate (158,410 games)
  • Rapid: 48.8% win rate (41,187 games)
  • Classical: 49.0% win rate (2,401 games)

White% 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, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (535 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (366 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 55.9% expected score (144 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.6% expected score (1,640 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 54.5% expected score (1,712 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 49.0% expected score (462 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 55.0% expected score (3,163 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.8% expected score (4,947 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 54.3% expected score (1,444 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 55.7% expected score (34 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 54.5% expected score (5,617 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (11,417 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (3,724 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (192 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (8,452 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.7% expected score (23,658 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.6% expected score (7,051 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 55.7% expected score (567 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.7% expected score (11,727 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (42,525 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (11,990 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 51.3% expected score (888 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (12,719 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (44,635 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (11,436 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 55.9% expected score (534 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.6% expected score (10,290 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.5% expected score (25,248 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.7% expected score (4,488 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 62.7% expected score (105 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (5,338 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.2% expected score (3,902 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 55.4% expected score (448 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 63.3% expected score (74 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Ruy Lopez
51.9%
Variations (5)
Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense
55.9%
Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit
53.0%
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
49.9%
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anderssen Variation
48.6%
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Berlin Wall
12.2%
Continuations (10)
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall
49.0%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh Variation
53.0%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Balla Variation
49.6%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Bogoljubov Variation
45.1%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Bogoljubow Variation
46.9%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Borisenko Variation
52.8%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer
56.7%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense
49.8%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Quiet Variation
49.4%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Zaitsev Hybrid
47.8%
Analyze Ruy Lopez: Closed PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate?

The Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.7%-50.0%) win rate for white, based on 261K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Ruy Lopez: Closed perform best?

The Ruy Lopez: Closed performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 52.2% win rate for white (9.6K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (50.2%) outperforms Classical (49.0%) by 1.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Ruy Lopez: Closed?

The Ruy Lopez: Closed has a sharpness score of 94.1 (decisive), meaning 94.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 52.4% (90% CI: 49.8%-54.9%) win rate for white, based on 1.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 52.3% (90% CI: 51.0%-53.6%) win rate for white, based on 3.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 52.2% (90% CI: 51.4%-53.0%) win rate for white, based on 9.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 51.8% (90% CI: 51.2%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 21K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 50.6% (90% CI: 50.2%-51.0%) win rate for white, based on 40K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 49.3% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 67K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.4%-50.0%) win rate for white, based on 69K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.8% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 50.5% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 40K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 6.8% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 41.9% (90% CI: 41.0%-42.7%) win rate for white, based on 9.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 49 moves with a 28.0% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 50.2% (90% CI: 49.8%-50.5%) win rate for white (59K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.9%.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 50.1% (90% CI: 49.8%-50.3%) win rate for white (158K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.7%.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.4%-49.2%) win rate for white (41K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.7%.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Closed win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Ruy Lopez: Closed has a 49.0% (90% CI: 47.3%-50.6%) win rate for white (2.4K Lichess games). Draw rate is 10.1%.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed a good opening?

The Ruy Lopez: Closed is statistically favors white with a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.7%-50.0%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1200-1399 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.