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Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation

231K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score52.2%Range (90% confident): 52.0% – 52.4%Based on 231K games
0%52.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 52.0% – 52.4%
Outcome Distribution
49.7%5.0%45.3%
Win
Draw
Loss
5.Nf3
Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation
Analyzen=231K
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.0%

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 52.2% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 52.0% and 52.4%), based on 231K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~50%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.6% win rate (2,022 games)
  • 1000-1199: 51.1% win rate (7,661 games)
  • 1200-1399: 50.6% win rate (17,992 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.7% win rate (29,666 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.0% win rate (36,770 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.8% win rate (43,277 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.8% win rate (43,966 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.7% win rate (41,077 games)
  • 2500+: 49.5% win rate (8,804 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (55%), worst in Bullet (48%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 55.3% win rate (269 games)
  • Bullet: 48.4% win rate (89,761 games)
  • Blitz: 50.0% win rate (114,841 games)
  • Rapid: 52.4% win rate (25,186 games)
  • Classical: 53.5% win rate (1,178 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, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.9% expected score (921 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.8% expected score (952 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 59.8% expected score (147 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 38.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (3,096 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.5% expected score (3,738 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 59.3% expected score (806 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 63.1% expected score (10 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 63.6% expected score (17 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (6,219 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (9,528 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.1% expected score (2,186 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 47.7% expected score (42 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 62.0% expected score (61 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (9,198 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (15,383 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 54.4% expected score (4,825 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 65.7% expected score (199 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.6% expected score (68 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (12,536 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (17,576 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.9% expected score (6,229 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 58.0% expected score (361 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 57.5% expected score (52 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (16,554 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (20,834 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (5,504 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (333 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.9% expected score (35 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (16,530 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.2% expected score (23,722 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 54.9% expected score (3,518 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 54.6% expected score (161 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 72.5% expected score (23 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.5% expected score (18,963 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.0% expected score (20,221 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.9% expected score (1,827 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 35.4% expected score (43 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 53.6% expected score (5,744 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.9% expected score (2,887 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 65.1% expected score (144 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 73.0% expected score (29 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Tarrasch Defense
48.8%
Variations (5)
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation
49.0%
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Advance Variation
44.6%
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Bogoljubow Variation
46.6%
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Carlsbad Variation
48.9%
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Classical Tarrasch Gambit
45.0%
Analyze Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate?

The Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.5%-49.8%) win rate for white, based on 231K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation perform best?

The Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation performs best at 1000-1199 Elo with a 51.1% win rate for white (7.7K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid (52.4%) outperforms Bullet (48.4%) by 4.0%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation?

The Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a sharpness score of 95.0 (very decisive), meaning 95.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 49.6% (90% CI: 47.8%-51.4%) win rate for white, based on 2.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 2.1% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 51.1% (90% CI: 50.2%-52.1%) win rate for white, based on 7.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.1% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 50.6% (90% CI: 50.0%-51.2%) win rate for white, based on 18K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.2%-51.1%) win rate for white, based on 30K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.6%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 37K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.4%-50.2%) win rate for white, based on 43K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.4%-49.2%) win rate for white, based on 44K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 5.7% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.3%-49.1%) win rate for white, based on 41K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 7.2% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 49.5% (90% CI: 48.6%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 8.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 44 moves with a 10.9% draw rate.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 55.3% (90% CI: 50.3%-60.2%) win rate for white (269 Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.9%.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.7%) win rate for white (90K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.7%-50.2%) win rate for white (115K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 52.4% (90% CI: 51.9%-52.9%) win rate for white (25K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

What is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation has a 53.5% (90% CI: 51.1%-55.8%) win rate for white (1.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 9.1%.

Is the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation a good opening?

The Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation is statistically favors white with a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.5%-49.8%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1000-1199 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.