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Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation

31K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

44.6%

40%55%
Floor44.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 45.1%.

Measured over 31K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

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

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 31K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
31K
Best context
47.9% at 1200-1399 Bullet
Worst context
42.0% at 2000-2199 Rapid
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
96.0%
Draws
4.0%

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.

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: 60.3% at 0-999, 38.9% 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: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 44.1% expected score (117 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (179 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 58.9% expected score (49 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 43.0% expected score (333 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 45.2% expected score (432 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (116 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (780 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 42.1% expected score (1,004 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (253 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 32.6% expected score (10 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 64.3% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 44.7% expected score (1,217 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 45.1% expected score (1,957 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.6% expected score (478 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 28.5% expected score (24 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 45.8% expected score (1,820 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 44.7% expected score (3,543 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 46.0% expected score (776 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 34.2% expected score (46 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 44.4% expected score (2,294 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 44.9% expected score (5,112 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 42.9% expected score (1,074 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 39.1% expected score (49 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 45.8% expected score (1,745 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 43.4% expected score (3,466 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 42.0% expected score (757 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 55.7% expected score (25 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (1,491 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 42.9% expected score (1,240 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 44.1% expected score (168 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (7 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 40.8% expected score (344 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 37.9% expected score (93 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Semi-Slav Defense
51.5%
Variations (5)
Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order
50.8%
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line
51.8%
Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit
53.5%
Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation
49.8%
Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation
48.8%
Analyze Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation scores 44.6% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 44.2% and 45.1% — from 31K 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
31K+ 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 Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate?

Playing the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation, Black wins 42.6%, draws 4.0% and loses 53.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.6%. It rests on 31K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation perform best?

The Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 49.7% (348 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 44.3% in Blitz (17K games) against 44.8% in Rapid (3.7K games).

How sharp is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation?

The Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation has a sharpness score of 96.0 (very decisive), meaning 96.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 48.8%, draws 1.9% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.7%. It rests on 348 Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 43.0%, draws 3.2% and loses 53.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.6%. It rests on 885 Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 43.9%, draws 2.9% and loses 53.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.3%. It rests on 2.0K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 43.5%, draws 3.0% and loses 53.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.0%. It rests on 3.7K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 43.3%, draws 3.4% and loses 53.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.1%. It rests on 6.2K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 42.4%, draws 4.2% and loses 53.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.5%. It rests on 8.5K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 41.5%, draws 4.9% and loses 53.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.0%. It rests on 6.0K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 42.2%, draws 5.1% and loses 52.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.8%. It rests on 2.9K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 36.8%, draws 6.2% and loses 57.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.9%. It rests on 443 Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 43.9%, draws 2.7% and loses 53.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.3%. It rests on 10K Lichess games.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 42.1%, draws 4.4% and loses 53.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.3%. It rests on 17K Lichess games.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 42.0%, draws 5.5% and loses 52.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.8%. It rests on 3.7K Lichess games.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 33.1%, draws 12.2% and loses 54.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.3%. It rests on 166 Lichess games.

Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation a good opening?

The Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 42.6% of its games and loses 53.4%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.