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Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense

8.8K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score54.4%Range (90% confident): 53.6% – 55.3%Based on 8.8K games
0%54.4%100%
Range (90% confident): 53.6% – 55.3%
Outcome Distribution
42.6%23.6%33.8%
Win
Draw
Loss
9...Be7
Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense
Analyzen=8.8K
Avg Length48 moves
Sharpness76%
Draw Rate23.6%

What is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 54.4% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 53.6% and 55.3%), based on 8.8K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 11.1% · Blitz best · Classical worst

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 33% → 27%

1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 1000-1199: 33.3% win rate (3 games)
  • 1200-1399: 47.4% win rate (8 games)
  • 1400-1599: 62.9% win rate (47 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.6% win rate (195 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.9% win rate (939 games)
  • 2000-2199: 49.0% win rate (2,323 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.0% win rate (2,767 games)
  • 2500+: 27.2% win rate (2,511 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Blitz (45%), worst in Classical (34%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 35.7% win rate (2,154 games)
  • Blitz: 45.4% win rate (5,618 games)
  • Rapid: 42.8% win rate (916 games)
  • Classical: 34.3% win rate (105 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

  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 67.2% expected score (16 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 70.0% expected score (21 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 81.6% expected score (8 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (46 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (128 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.6% expected score (19 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 56.0% expected score (90 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.7% expected score (729 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (111 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (255 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.0% expected score (1,789 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 55.1% expected score (253 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.4% expected score (26 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 56.5% expected score (467 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.2% expected score (2,010 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 58.0% expected score (269 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (21 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.3% expected score (1,277 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.3% expected score (936 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 55.9% expected score (254 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 56.6% expected score (44 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 (1)
Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Main Line
47.1%
Analyze Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 42.6% (90% CI: 41.7%-43.5%) win rate for white, based on 8.8K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 49.0% win rate for white (2.8K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Blitz (45.4%) outperforms Classical (34.3%) by 11.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense?

The Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a sharpness score of 76.4 (drawish), meaning 76.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 48 moves.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 47.6% (90% CI: 41.7%-53.4%) win rate for white, based on 195 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 1.8% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 46.9% (90% CI: 44.3%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 939 Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 8.5% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 49.0% (90% CI: 47.3%-50.7%) win rate for white, based on 2.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 8.5% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 49.0% (90% CI: 47.4%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 2.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 44 moves with a 12.2% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 27.2% (90% CI: 25.8%-28.7%) win rate for white, based on 2.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 66 moves with a 57.8% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 35.7% (90% CI: 34.1%-37.5%) win rate for white (2.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 39.3%.

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

In Blitz games, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 45.4% (90% CI: 44.3%-46.5%) win rate for white (5.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 16.8%.

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

In Rapid games, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 42.8% (90% CI: 40.1%-45.5%) win rate for white (916 Lichess games). Draw rate is 25.9%.

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

In Classical games, the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense has a 34.3% (90% CI: 26.9%-42.0%) win rate for white (105 Lichess games). Draw rate is 45.5%.

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

The Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense is statistically favors white with a 42.6% (90% CI: 41.7%-43.5%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2200-2499 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.