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Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit

10K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score56.2%Range (90% confident): 55.4% – 57.0%Based on 10K games
0%56.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 55.4% – 57.0%
Outcome Distribution
54.2%3.9%41.9%
Win
Draw
Loss
5.O-O
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit
Analyzen=10K
Avg Length33 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.9%

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 56.2% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 55.4% and 57.0%), based on 10K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Gambit BreakpointWhite

Peak: +13.0% · Breakpoint: 0-999

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.2% · Rapid best · Bullet worst

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 45% → 55%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 45.2% win rate (97 games)
  • 1000-1199: 52.0% win rate (309 games)
  • 1200-1399: 50.9% win rate (847 games)
  • 1400-1599: 55.4% win rate (1,632 games)
  • 1600-1799: 55.9% win rate (2,551 games)
  • 1800-1999: 52.5% win rate (3,061 games)
  • 2000-2199: 55.3% win rate (1,494 games)
  • 2200-2499: 57.2% win rate (449 games)
  • 2500+: 54.5% win rate (49 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (59%), worst in UltraBullet (46%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 45.5% win rate (4 games)
  • Bullet: 50.4% win rate (2,427 games)
  • Blitz: 54.2% win rate (5,924 games)
  • Rapid: 58.6% win rate (2,047 games)
  • Classical: 59.3% win rate (87 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, Bullet: 33.2% expected score (37 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (35 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 53.8% expected score (25 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (131 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 55.6% expected score (134 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 62.1% expected score (44 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (291 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (411 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 62.2% expected score (138 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (330 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 56.8% expected score (955 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 64.6% expected score (328 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 57.3% expected score (19 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 55.0% expected score (527 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 56.5% expected score (1,448 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 62.9% expected score (553 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 62.8% expected score (22 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (489 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 54.6% expected score (1,908 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 57.6% expected score (631 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 63.5% expected score (32 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 55.0% expected score (333 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 60.0% expected score (877 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 55.1% expected score (275 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 65.8% expected score (8 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 58.2% expected score (245 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 60.5% expected score (152 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 69.7% expected score (52 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 58.8% expected score (44 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 30.0% expected score (1 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%
Analyze Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate?

The Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 54.2% (90% CI: 53.4%-55.0%) win rate for white, based on 10K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit perform best?

The Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit performs best at 1600-1799 Elo with a 55.9% win rate for white (2.6K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid (58.6%) outperforms Bullet (50.4%) by 8.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit?

The Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a sharpness score of 96.1 (very decisive), meaning 96.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 52.0% (90% CI: 47.3%-56.7%) win rate for white, based on 309 Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 50.9% (90% CI: 48.0%-53.7%) win rate for white, based on 847 Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 1.8% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 55.4% (90% CI: 53.3%-57.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 55.9% (90% CI: 54.3%-57.5%) win rate for white, based on 2.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 52.5% (90% CI: 51.0%-54.0%) win rate for white, based on 3.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 55.3% (90% CI: 53.2%-57.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 57.2% (90% CI: 53.3%-61.0%) win rate for white, based on 449 Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 6.3% draw rate.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 50.4% (90% CI: 48.7%-52.0%) win rate for white (2.4K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.7%.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 54.2% (90% CI: 53.1%-55.2%) win rate for white (5.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.9%.

What is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit has a 58.6% (90% CI: 56.8%-60.3%) win rate for white (2.0K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.9%.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit a good opening?

The Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit is statistically favors white with a 54.2% (90% CI: 53.4%-55.0%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1600-1799 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.