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Ruy Lopez: Open

130K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

47.1%

40%55%
Floor46.9%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 47.3%.

Measured over 130K 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 5.4 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 130K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
130K
Best context
53.0% at 2000-2199 Blitz
Worst context
39.0% at 1400-1599 Rapid
Average game length
33 moves
Games that end decisively
94.6%
Draws
5.4%

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 45.4%.

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: 40.7% expected score (1,166 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 40.1% expected score (2,137 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 45.6% expected score (998 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 55.3% expected score (8 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 41.5% expected score (1,671 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 41.1% expected score (5,401 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 39.6% expected score (2,777 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 46.2% expected score (51 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 43.2% expected score (1,975 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 40.1% expected score (6,678 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 39.4% expected score (4,788 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 40.7% expected score (186 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 44.0% expected score (1,970 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 42.8% expected score (6,883 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 39.0% expected score (5,375 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 35.3% expected score (454 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (2,369 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (9,935 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 42.6% expected score (4,659 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 44.0% expected score (502 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (2,911 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (15,374 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.9% expected score (5,212 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.8% expected score (445 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (3,815 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.0% expected score (16,911 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (4,396 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 44.5% expected score (208 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.6% expected score (4,560 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (10,928 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (1,895 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 42.5% expected score (45 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (1,675 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (1,254 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 37.8% expected score (187 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 44.9% expected score (18 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%
Continuations (10)
Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation
41.6%
Ruy Lopez: Open, Riga Variation
51.2%
Ruy Lopez: Open, Main Line
39.6%
Ruy Lopez: Open, Skipworth Gambit
64.9%
Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense
42.6%
Ruy Lopez: Open, St. Petersburg Variation
45.6%
Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack
48.5%
Ruy Lopez: Open, Dilworth Variation
35.3%
Ruy Lopez: Open, Italian Variation
48.3%
Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Main Line
47.1%
Analyze Ruy Lopez: Open PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Ruy Lopez: Open scores 47.1% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 46.9% and 47.3% — from 130K 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
130K+ 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: Open win rate?

Playing the Ruy Lopez: Open, Black wins 44.4%, draws 5.4% and loses 50.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.1%. It rests on 130K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Ruy Lopez: Open performs best for Black at 2000-2199, with an Expected Score of 52.7% (25K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For Black, the Ruy Lopez: Open scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 48.0% in Blitz (76K games) against 44.2% in Rapid (30K games).

How sharp is the Ruy Lopez: Open?

The Ruy Lopez: Open has a sharpness score of 94.6 (decisive), meaning 94.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

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

At 0-999, Black wins 40.0%, draws 3.0% and loses 57.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.5%. It rests on 4.3K Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, Black wins 39.4%, draws 2.6% and loses 58.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 40.7%. It rests on 9.9K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, Black wins 38.8%, draws 2.9% and loses 58.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 40.3%. It rests on 14K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, Black wins 39.8%, draws 3.0% and loses 57.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.3%. It rests on 15K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, Black wins 43.7%, draws 4.2% and loses 52.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.8%. It rests on 17K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, Black wins 47.5%, draws 5.4% and loses 47.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 24K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, Black wins 49.2%, draws 6.9% and loses 43.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.7%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, Black wins 46.8%, draws 8.9% and loses 44.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.3%. It rests on 17K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

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

At 2500+, Black wins 39.4%, draws 13.5% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 3.1K Lichess games, which average 47 moves.

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

In Bullet, Black wins 46.0%, draws 4.1% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.1%. It rests on 22K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, Black wins 45.1%, draws 5.8% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.0%. It rests on 76K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, Black wins 41.6%, draws 5.2% and loses 53.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.2%. It rests on 30K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, Black wins 40.0%, draws 6.5% and loses 53.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.3%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Open a good opening?

The Ruy Lopez: Open is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 44.4% of its games and loses 50.3%. It performs best at 2000-2199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.