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Scandinavian Defense: Main Line

11M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score49.2%Range (90% confident): 49.2% – 49.2%Based on 11M games
0%49.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.2% – 49.2%
Outcome Distribution
47.3%3.7%48.9%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...Qa5
Scandinavian Defense: Main Line
Analyzen=11M
Avg Length33 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.7%

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 49.2% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 49.2% and 49.2%), based on 11M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 48% → 51%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 48.4% win rate (305,708 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.0% win rate (882,982 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.0% win rate (1,619,708 games)
  • 1400-1599: 47.3% win rate (2,192,337 games)
  • 1600-1799: 46.5% win rate (2,329,683 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.4% win rate (1,927,163 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.2% win rate (961,731 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.8% win rate (366,420 games)
  • 2500+: 50.8% win rate (60,071 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (52%), worst in Bullet (47%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 52.1% win rate (3,125 games)
  • Bullet: 46.7% win rate (3,484,438 games)
  • Blitz: 47.2% win rate (5,586,981 games)
  • Rapid: 49.0% win rate (1,523,785 games)
  • Classical: 50.0% win rate (47,474 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, UltraBullet: 40.6% expected score (190 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (114,988 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (149,784 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 52.7% expected score (40,582 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 59.7% expected score (164 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (473 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (296,285 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.2% expected score (455,797 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (129,258 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.7% expected score (1,169 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 53.6% expected score (1,009 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (491,354 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (846,055 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (276,444 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 51.8% expected score (4,846 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 51.2% expected score (709 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (637,082 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (1,170,903 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (370,153 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 53.4% expected score (13,490 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 55.4% expected score (523 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (651,656 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (1,295,029 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (365,060 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 51.8% expected score (17,415 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 65.8% expected score (185 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (597,495 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (1,068,729 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (252,074 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.6% expected score (8,680 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 78.3% expected score (25 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (410,178 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (471,994 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (77,984 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 58.0% expected score (1,550 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (232,773 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.0% expected score (121,477 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 56.7% expected score (12,003 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 65.6% expected score (156 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 53.6% expected score (52,627 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.1% expected score (7,213 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 59.4% expected score (227 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 68.2% expected score (4 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Scandinavian Defense
48.5%
Variations (5)
Scandinavian Defense: Anderssen Counterattack
51.7%
Scandinavian Defense: Anderssen Counterattack, Collijn Variation
52.9%
Scandinavian Defense: Anderssen Counterattack, Goteborg System
54.6%
Scandinavian Defense: Anderssen Counterattack, Orthodox Attack
44.3%
Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne Gambit
47.6%
Continuations (2)
Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Leonhardt Gambit
55.3%
Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation
46.6%
Analyze Scandinavian Defense: Main Line PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate?

The Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 47.3% (90% CI: 47.3%-47.3%) win rate for white, based on 11M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line perform best?

The Scandinavian Defense: Main Line performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 50.8% win rate for white (60K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line better in blitz or rapid?

UltraBullet (52.1%) outperforms Bullet (46.7%) by 5.4%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line?

The Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a sharpness score of 96.3 (very decisive), meaning 96.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 306K Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 49.0% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.1%) win rate for white, based on 883K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 48.0% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 1.6M Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 47.3% (90% CI: 47.3%-47.4%) win rate for white, based on 2.2M Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 46.5% (90% CI: 46.4%-46.6%) win rate for white, based on 2.3M Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 46.4% (90% CI: 46.3%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.9M Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 47.2% (90% CI: 47.1%-47.3%) win rate for white, based on 962K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.7%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 366K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.5%-51.2%) win rate for white, based on 60K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.1% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 52.1% (90% CI: 50.6%-53.5%) win rate for white (3.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.7%.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 46.7% (90% CI: 46.6%-46.7%) win rate for white (3.5M Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.7%.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 47.2% (90% CI: 47.2%-47.3%) win rate for white (5.6M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.2%.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 49.0% (90% CI: 48.9%-49.1%) win rate for white (1.5M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.5%.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.7%-50.4%) win rate for white (47K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.5%.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line a good opening?

The Scandinavian Defense: Main Line is statistically balanced with a 47.3% (90% CI: 47.3%-47.3%) 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.