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Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit

5.5K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

39.5%

35%55%
Floor38.4%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 40.6%.

Measured over 5.5K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

White comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.7 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 5.5K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
5.5K
Best context
40.9% at 0-999 Blitz
Average game length
28 moves
Games that end decisively
96.3%
Draws
3.7%

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 BreakpointWhite

Peak: −11.9% · Breakpoint: 0-999

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 31.6% at 0-999, 43.1% 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: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 33.3% expected score (312 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 40.9% expected score (723 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 40.7% expected score (445 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 6.5% expected score (10 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 33.3% expected score (196 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 39.1% expected score (423 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 35.0% expected score (218 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 27.2% expected score (16 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 38.6% expected score (169 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 36.5% expected score (338 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 38.1% expected score (187 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 44.9% expected score (18 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 47.3% expected score (17 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 34.2% expected score (292 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 36.3% expected score (344 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 32.7% expected score (166 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 17.5% expected score (20 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (261 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 43.2% expected score (311 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 46.2% expected score (103 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (196 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 41.6% expected score (206 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 47.6% expected score (40 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 35.7% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 45.3% expected score (145 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 44.3% expected score (85 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 23.9% expected score (10 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (121 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.3% expected score (27 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 38.2% expected score (24 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 61.2% expected score (3 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: Zilbermints Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit scores 39.5% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 38.4% and 40.6% — from 5.5K 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
5.5K+ 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: Zilbermints Gambit win rate?

Playing the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit, White wins 37.6%, draws 3.7% and loses 58.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.5%. It rests on 5.5K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit perform best?

The Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit performs best for White at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 50.7% (153 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 39.9% in Blitz (2.5K games) against 38.7% in Rapid (1.2K games).

How sharp is the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit?

The Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit has a sharpness score of 96.3 (very decisive), meaning 96.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 28 moves.

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

At 0-999, White wins 36.5%, draws 5.3% and loses 58.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.1%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, White wins 33.8%, draws 4.2% and loses 61.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 36.0%. It rests on 863 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 35.7%, draws 3.4% and loses 60.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 37.5%. It rests on 716 Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 32.9%, draws 3.2% and loses 64.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 34.5%. It rests on 839 Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 44.5%, draws 2.0% and loses 53.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.5%. It rests on 681 Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 44.2%, draws 1.4% and loses 54.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 450 Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 40.5%, draws 6.4% and loses 53.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.7%. It rests on 242 Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 50.2%, draws 1.0% and loses 48.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.7%. It rests on 153 Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 39.2%, draws 1.6% and loses 59.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 40.0%. It rests on 1.7K Lichess games.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 37.9%, draws 4.0% and loses 58.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.9%. It rests on 2.5K Lichess games.

What is the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 35.5%, draws 6.3% and loses 58.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.7%. It rests on 1.2K Lichess games.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit a good opening?

The Scandinavian Defense: Zilbermints Gambit is hard work for White — it favours Black. Across all ratings, White wins 37.6% of its games and loses 58.7%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.