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Analyzer

Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense

25K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score40.3%Range (90% confident): 39.8% – 40.8%Based on 25K games
0%40.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 39.8% – 40.8%
Outcome Distribution
38.6%3.4%58.0%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...Na5
Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense
Analyzen=25K
Avg Length30 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.4%

What is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 40.3% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 39.8% and 40.8%), based on 25K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 11.5% · Classical best · Blitz worst

Black Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 41% → 64%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 41.0% win rate (6,684 games)
  • 1000-1199: 39.2% win rate (8,527 games)
  • 1200-1399: 37.6% win rate (6,178 games)
  • 1400-1599: 33.1% win rate (2,267 games)
  • 1600-1799: 33.5% win rate (635 games)
  • 1800-1999: 41.8% win rate (141 games)
  • 2000-2199: 36.8% win rate (65 games)
  • 2200-2499: 39.5% win rate (20 games)
  • 2500+: 63.6% win rate (4 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Blitz (40%), worst in Classical (28%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 33.3% win rate (3 games)
  • Bullet: 39.2% win rate (1,847 games)
  • Blitz: 40.4% win rate (11,017 games)
  • Rapid: 37.3% win rate (11,025 games)
  • Classical: 28.2% win rate (629 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, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 38.8% expected score (779 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 46.0% expected score (3,292 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 40.4% expected score (2,578 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 21.9% expected score (34 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 42.8% expected score (406 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 41.1% expected score (4,205 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 40.5% expected score (3,811 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 35.2% expected score (103 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 40.9% expected score (391 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 40.2% expected score (2,607 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 39.0% expected score (2,992 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 31.3% expected score (188 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 32.0% expected score (157 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 37.0% expected score (714 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 34.4% expected score (1,157 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 30.1% expected score (239 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 33.9% expected score (42 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 41.1% expected score (116 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 36.5% expected score (417 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 24.8% expected score (60 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 58.0% expected score (30 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 37.6% expected score (43 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 41.5% expected score (63 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 44.1% expected score (32 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 37.3% expected score (26 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 26.5% expected score (7 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 39.5% expected score (8 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 42.6% expected score (12 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (2 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: Pollock Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense win rate?

The Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 58.0% (90% CI: 57.5%-58.5%) win rate for white, based on 25K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense perform best?

The Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense performs best at 1400-1599 Elo with a 64.1% win rate for white (2.3K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (67.8%) outperforms Blitz (56.3%) by 11.5%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense?

The Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a sharpness score of 96.6 (very decisive), meaning 96.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 30 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 55.4% (90% CI: 54.4%-56.4%) win rate for white, based on 6.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 57.6% (90% CI: 56.7%-58.5%) win rate for white, based on 8.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 58.9% (90% CI: 57.9%-59.9%) win rate for white, based on 6.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 64.1% (90% CI: 62.4%-65.7%) win rate for white, based on 2.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 61.7% (90% CI: 58.5%-64.8%) win rate for white, based on 635 Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 54.4% (90% CI: 47.5%-61.2%) win rate for white, based on 141 Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 59.6% (90% CI: 57.7%-61.5%) win rate for white (1.8K Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.2%.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 56.3% (90% CI: 55.6%-57.1%) win rate for white (11K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.3%.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 58.9% (90% CI: 58.1%-59.6%) win rate for white (11K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

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

In Classical games, the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense has a 67.8% (90% CI: 64.7%-70.8%) win rate for white (629 Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.0%.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense a good opening?

The Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense is statistically favors white with a 58.0% (90% CI: 57.5%-58.5%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1400-1599 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.