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Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit

106K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

51.9%

45%60%
Floor51.6%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 52.1%.

Measured over 106K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 5.1 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 106K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
106K
Best context
54.4% at 2200-2499 Bullet
Worst context
45.6% at 1000-1199 Blitz
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
94.9%
Draws
5.1%

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 BreakpointBlack

Peak: +8.8% · Breakpoint: 0-999

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: 55.1% at 0-999, 41.9% 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: 46.0% expected score (185 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 47.3% expected score (185 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (40 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 73.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (704 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (650 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 39.8% expected score (140 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 64.0% expected score (45 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (1,494 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (1,680 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (366 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 53.0% expected score (147 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (3,225 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (3,771 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.6% expected score (917 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 39.6% expected score (32 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.4% expected score (164 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (5,961 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (7,074 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.9% expected score (1,676 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 51.7% expected score (85 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.7% expected score (80 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.7% expected score (8,732 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (10,864 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (2,222 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 44.7% expected score (120 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 57.3% expected score (33 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (8,976 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (13,538 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 48.9% expected score (1,487 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 59.4% expected score (89 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 54.4% expected score (10,106 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (13,840 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (696 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 54.5% expected score (32 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (4,031 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (2,210 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 37.0% expected score (87 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 31.8% expected score (4 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Tarrasch Defense
48.8%
Variations (5)
Tarrasch Defense: Symmetrical Variation
48.5%
Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation
49.7%
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation
49.0%
Tarrasch Defense: Dubov Tarrasch
44.6%
Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation
50.3%
Analyze Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit scores 51.9% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 51.6% and 52.1% — from 106K 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
106K+ 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 Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate?

Playing the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit, Black wins 49.3%, draws 5.1% and loses 45.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 106K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit perform best?

The Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit performs best for Black at 2000-2199, with an Expected Score of 53.2% (24K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 51.6% in Blitz (54K games) against 48.8% in Rapid (7.6K games).

How sharp is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit?

The Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit has a sharpness score of 94.9 (decisive), meaning 94.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 46.7%, draws 2.3% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.9%. It rests on 411 Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 45.3%, draws 4.0% and loses 50.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.3%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 48.2%, draws 3.5% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 3.6K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 47.2%, draws 3.6% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.1%. It rests on 8.1K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 48.9%, draws 4.0% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.9%. It rests on 15K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 50.1%, draws 4.4% and loses 45.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 22K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 50.5%, draws 5.3% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.2%. It rests on 24K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 49.7%, draws 6.1% and loses 44.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.8%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 45.4%, draws 8.3% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 6.3K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 52.1%, draws 2.8% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 485 Lichess games.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 50.8%, draws 3.9% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.8%. It rests on 43K Lichess games.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 48.6%, draws 5.9% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.6%. It rests on 54K Lichess games.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 45.7%, draws 6.0% and loses 48.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.8%. It rests on 7.6K Lichess games.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 45.9%, draws 8.3% and loses 45.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 368 Lichess games.

Is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit a good opening?

The Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 49.3% of its games and loses 45.6%. It performs best at 2000-2199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.