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Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation

708K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

53.9%

45%60%
Floor53.8%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 54.0%.

Measured over 708K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for Black at this level and clock.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 3.9 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 708K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
708K
Best context
75.1% at 0-999 Rapid
Worst context
41.6% at 2200-2499 Rapid
Average game length
30 moves
Games that end decisively
96.1%
Draws
3.9%

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

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 11.6% · Blitz best · UltraBullet 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 falls away as the rating rises: 67.5% at 0-999, 53.8% 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: 78.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 68.1% expected score (5,819 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 66.4% expected score (4,030 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 75.1% expected score (1,365 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 71.7% expected score (40 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 62.3% expected score (17,409 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 58.0% expected score (16,270 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 62.7% expected score (4,916 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 79.8% expected score (54 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 85.3% expected score (58 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 59.9% expected score (28,386 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.7% expected score (38,761 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (13,414 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 61.6% expected score (205 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 64.7% expected score (118 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 58.8% expected score (44,627 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.6% expected score (65,501 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 54.1% expected score (23,933 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 59.5% expected score (813 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 55.4% expected score (73 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 56.5% expected score (57,627 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.2% expected score (82,225 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.2% expected score (27,119 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.2% expected score (1,256 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 62.4% expected score (71 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 54.0% expected score (57,338 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (70,349 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (17,526 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 51.4% expected score (765 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 60.3% expected score (91 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.4% expected score (40,668 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (34,835 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.8% expected score (5,730 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (191 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (24 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (25,503 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 44.5% expected score (12,942 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 41.6% expected score (1,386 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 40.9% expected score (26 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.1% expected score (5,524 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.9% expected score (1,190 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (58 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 62.9% expected score (14 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Scotch Game
52.9%
Variations (5)
Scotch Game: Lolli Variation
53.8%
Scotch Game: Classical Variation
50.6%
Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit
54.2%
Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation
47.9%
Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit
55.7%
Analyze Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation scores 53.9% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 53.8% and 54.0% — from 708K 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
708K+ 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 Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate?

Playing the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation, Black wins 51.9%, draws 3.9% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.9%. It rests on 708K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation perform best?

The Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 68.4% (11K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 52.2% in Blitz (326K games) against 53.7% in Rapid (95K games).

How sharp is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation?

The Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation has a sharpness score of 96.1 (very decisive), meaning 96.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 30 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 67.4%, draws 1.9% and loses 30.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 68.4%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 19 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 59.5%, draws 2.0% and loses 38.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 60.5%. It rests on 39K Lichess games, which average 23 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 56.0%, draws 2.8% and loses 41.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.4%. It rests on 81K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 53.9%, draws 3.2% and loses 42.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.5%. It rests on 135K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 51.7%, draws 3.9% and loses 44.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.7%. It rests on 168K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 49.7%, draws 4.5% and loses 45.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 146K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 47.6%, draws 5.1% and loses 47.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 82K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 43.9%, draws 6.5% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 40K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 41.1%, draws 8.6% and loses 50.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.4%. It rests on 6.8K Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 63.8%, draws 2.4% and loses 33.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 65.0%. It rests on 487 Lichess games.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 54.3%, draws 2.9% and loses 42.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.8%. It rests on 283K Lichess games.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 49.9%, draws 4.6% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 326K Lichess games.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 51.3%, draws 4.7% and loses 44.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.7%. It rests on 95K Lichess games.

What is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 51.5%, draws 6.3% and loses 42.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.7%. It rests on 3.3K Lichess games.

Is the Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation a good opening?

The Scotch Game: Classical Variation, Intermezzo Variation is good for Black. Across all ratings, Black wins 51.9% of its games and loses 44.2%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.