Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation

151K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score51.0%Range (90% confident): 50.8% – 51.2%Based on 151K games
0%51.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.8% – 51.2%
Outcome Distribution
48.4%5.1%46.5%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...g6
Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation
Analyzen=151K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.1%

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 51.0% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.8% and 51.2%), based on 151K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 45% → 53%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 44.9% win rate (429 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.8% win rate (1,219 games)
  • 1200-1399: 47.4% win rate (4,302 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.8% win rate (10,629 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.3% win rate (21,627 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.0% win rate (35,482 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.9% win rate (39,970 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.0% win rate (31,474 games)
  • 2500+: 52.5% win rate (6,120 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~49%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 48.1% win rate (303 games)
  • Bullet: 48.5% win rate (57,816 games)
  • Blitz: 48.3% win rate (82,825 games)
  • Rapid: 49.3% win rate (9,943 games)
  • Classical: 47.6% win rate (365 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: 46.9% expected score (174 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 42.5% expected score (183 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (72 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (673 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (430 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (110 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 39.5% expected score (8 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.7% expected score (2,476 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.6% expected score (1,542 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (266 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 71.8% expected score (10 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 37.4% expected score (46 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (4,904 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (4,913 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.2% expected score (737 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 48.4% expected score (29 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 47.9% expected score (45 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (7,752 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (11,805 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (1,942 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (83 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 44.2% expected score (59 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (12,097 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (20,047 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.2% expected score (3,123 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 48.7% expected score (156 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 67.1% expected score (60 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (13,518 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.9% expected score (23,660 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (2,665 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 51.5% expected score (67 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 52.0% expected score (75 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (12,041 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (18,365 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 57.1% expected score (977 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 72.9% expected score (16 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.9% expected score (4,181 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.5% expected score (1,880 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 54.8% expected score (51 games)

Related Openings

Analyze Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation win rate?

The Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 151K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.5% win rate for white (6.1K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Rapid (49.3%) outperforms Classical (47.6%) by 1.7%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation?

The Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a sharpness score of 94.9 (decisive), meaning 94.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 44.9% (90% CI: 41.0%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 429 Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 1.5% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 45.5%-50.2%) win rate for white, based on 1.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 47.4% (90% CI: 46.1%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 4.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.0%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 11K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.8%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 22K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 48.0% (90% CI: 47.6%-48.4%) win rate for white, based on 35K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 47.9% (90% CI: 47.5%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 40K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 49.0% (90% CI: 48.5%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 31K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 6.6% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 52.5% (90% CI: 51.4%-53.5%) win rate for white, based on 6.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 7.5% draw rate.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 43.4%-52.8%) win rate for white (303 Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.1%.

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

In Bullet games, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.9%) win rate for white (58K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.7%.

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

In Blitz games, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.6%) win rate for white (83K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

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

In Rapid games, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 49.3% (90% CI: 48.5%-50.1%) win rate for white (9.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.8%.

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

In Classical games, the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 43.3%-51.9%) win rate for white (365 Lichess games). Draw rate is 9.7%.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation a good opening?

The Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.6%) 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.