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Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation

186K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score51.9%Range (90% confident): 51.7% – 52.1%Based on 186K games
0%51.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.7% – 52.1%
Outcome Distribution
49.4%4.9%45.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
5...a6
Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation
Analyzen=186K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate4.9%

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 51.9% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 51.7% and 52.1%), based on 186K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 58% → 43%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 58.4% win rate (498 games)
  • 1000-1199: 54.4% win rate (2,870 games)
  • 1200-1399: 50.9% win rate (10,309 games)
  • 1400-1599: 51.7% win rate (20,772 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.9% win rate (33,135 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.9% win rate (42,167 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.8% win rate (35,732 games)
  • 2200-2499: 46.9% win rate (31,730 games)
  • 2500+: 43.2% win rate (8,495 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (51%), worst in UltraBullet (33%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 33.3% win rate (27 games)
  • Bullet: 50.8% win rate (77,924 games)
  • Blitz: 48.6% win rate (92,802 games)
  • Rapid: 47.2% win rate (14,287 games)
  • Classical: 43.7% win rate (668 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, Bullet: 59.1% expected score (245 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 58.8% expected score (221 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 67.9% expected score (32 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 58.6% expected score (1,321 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (1,313 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (236 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 53.6% expected score (5,066 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (4,453 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (773 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 39.7% expected score (13 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 25.9% expected score (13 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (7,875 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (10,729 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (2,104 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (51 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 55.1% expected score (10,035 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (19,077 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (3,851 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.6% expected score (169 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 53.3% expected score (15,158 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.2% expected score (22,797 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (3,965 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.6% expected score (247 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 36.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (15,671 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (17,773 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (2,144 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 34.6% expected score (138 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (16,505 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (14,050 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.5% expected score (1,125 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 45.1% expected score (49 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 48.4% expected score (6,048 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 42.8% expected score (2,389 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 42.4% expected score (57 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 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: Bronstein Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate?

The Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 45.7% (90% CI: 45.5%-45.9%) win rate for white, based on 186K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation perform best?

The Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 49.7% win rate for white (8.5K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (49.2%) outperforms Bullet (45.4%) by 3.8%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation?

The Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a sharpness score of 95.1 (very decisive), meaning 95.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 39.1% (90% CI: 35.6%-42.8%) win rate for white, based on 498 Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 43.2% (90% CI: 41.7%-44.7%) win rate for white, based on 2.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 46.2% (90% CI: 45.4%-47.0%) win rate for white, based on 10K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 45.2% (90% CI: 44.7%-45.8%) win rate for white, based on 21K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 45.0% (90% CI: 44.6%-45.5%) win rate for white, based on 33K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 45.1% (90% CI: 44.7%-45.5%) win rate for white, based on 42K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 5.0% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 45.7% (90% CI: 45.2%-46.1%) win rate for white, based on 36K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 46.5% (90% CI: 46.0%-46.9%) win rate for white, based on 32K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 6.6% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 48.8%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 8.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 7.1% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 45.4% (90% CI: 45.1%-45.7%) win rate for white (78K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 45.7% (90% CI: 45.5%-46.0%) win rate for white (93K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.7%.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 46.5% (90% CI: 45.8%-47.2%) win rate for white (14K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.3%.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 46.0%-52.4%) win rate for white (668 Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.1%.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation a good opening?

The Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation is slightly favors black with a 45.7% (90% CI: 45.5%-45.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.