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Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit

1.4M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

50.1%

45%55%
Floor50.1%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. Its best is the same figure — the band is too tight to plot.

Measured over 1.4M games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 3.2 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 1.4M games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
1.4M
Best context
52.5% at 1600-1799 Bullet
Worst context
35.0% at 1400-1599 Classical
Average game length
32 moves
Games that end decisively
96.8%
Draws
3.2%

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.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Gambit BreakpointBlack

Peak: +4.8% · Breakpoint: 0-999

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 11.8% · Classical best · Bullet worst

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 gets better as the rating rises: 42.9% at 0-999, 45.7% at 2500+.

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: 58.2% expected score (341 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 44.5% expected score (18,208 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 42.6% expected score (17,024 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 37.4% expected score (8,115 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 31.9% expected score (106 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 48.3% expected score (606 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (28,252 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (34,154 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 41.0% expected score (9,428 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 31.3% expected score (247 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.9% expected score (1,391 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (51,845 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (62,367 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 43.9% expected score (15,877 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 29.8% expected score (402 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.7% expected score (2,019 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (82,858 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (98,139 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (21,436 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 35.0% expected score (1,056 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 46.6% expected score (2,769 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (128,416 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (146,468 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (22,506 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 43.5% expected score (773 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 49.7% expected score (2,537 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (159,163 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (135,879 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.3% expected score (17,989 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 46.2% expected score (725 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 48.1% expected score (2,226 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (143,822 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (60,375 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.2% expected score (4,649 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (100 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 47.8% expected score (897 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (119,585 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.4% expected score (13,002 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.5% expected score (399 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 40.6% expected score (152 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (20,955 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 45.0% expected score (360 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (5 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Scandinavian Defense
48.5%
Variations (5)
Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation
50.2%
Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation
49.0%
Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation
47.8%
Scandinavian Defense: Main Line
47.3%
Scandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts Defense
48.5%
Analyze Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit scores 50.1% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 50.1% and 50.2% — from 1.4M 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
1.4M+ 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 Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate?

Playing the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit, Black wins 48.5%, draws 3.2% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 1.4M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit perform best?

The Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit performs best for Black at 1600-1799, with an Expected Score of 51.5% (301K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 49.8% in Blitz (568K games) against 45.9% in Rapid (100K games).

How sharp is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit?

The Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit has a sharpness score of 96.8 (very decisive), meaning 96.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 40.6%, draws 3.8% and loses 55.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.5%. It rests on 44K Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 44.6%, draws 2.6% and loses 52.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.9%. It rests on 73K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 47.8%, draws 2.5% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.0%. It rests on 132K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 49.0%, draws 2.6% and loses 48.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 206K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 50.0%, draws 2.9% and loses 47.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 301K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 49.7%, draws 3.3% and loses 47.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.4%. It rests on 316K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 48.9%, draws 3.7% and loses 47.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.8%. It rests on 211K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 47.1%, draws 4.3% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 134K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 44.2%, draws 6.0% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 21K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 47.7%, draws 2.4% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.9%. It rests on 13K Lichess games.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 49.6%, draws 2.8% and loses 47.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.0%. It rests on 753K Lichess games.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 48.0%, draws 3.6% and loses 48.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.8%. It rests on 568K Lichess games.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 43.9%, draws 4.0% and loses 52.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.9%. It rests on 100K Lichess games.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 36.1%, draws 4.6% and loses 59.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.4%. It rests on 3.4K Lichess games.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit a good opening?

The Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 48.5% of its games and loses 48.3%. It performs best at 1600-1799. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.