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Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation

411K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

54.5%

45%60%
Floor54.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 54.6%.

Measured over 411K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.1 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 411K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
411K
Best context
58.8% at 2200-2499 Rapid
Worst context
49.6% at 0-999 Blitz
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
95.9%
Draws
4.1%

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.

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: 45.4% at 0-999, 52.1% 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: 27.8% expected score (12 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (3,512 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (6,395 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (3,255 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (28 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.3% expected score (75 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (8,986 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (9,715 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (3,707 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 43.8% expected score (103 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 51.4% expected score (398 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.4% expected score (14,227 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (15,895 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (5,203 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 53.9% expected score (193 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 55.2% expected score (202 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.8% expected score (15,563 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.6% expected score (25,282 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (7,789 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 49.9% expected score (340 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 56.3% expected score (71 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 54.9% expected score (22,640 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (28,869 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (8,715 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 49.8% expected score (278 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 58.1% expected score (79 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 55.4% expected score (30,375 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 54.8% expected score (41,602 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 54.9% expected score (7,586 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 56.3% expected score (269 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (28,283 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.6% expected score (40,929 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 57.5% expected score (4,486 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 59.0% expected score (155 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 88.5% expected score (5 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 55.5% expected score (35,487 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 56.2% expected score (22,832 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 58.8% expected score (1,581 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 48.6% expected score (34 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 56.3% expected score (13,201 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.7% expected score (2,146 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 44.6% expected score (35 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (6 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Vienna Game
51.4%
Variations (5)
Vienna Game: Max Lange Defense
50.3%
Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense
49.8%
Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit
57.4%
Vienna Game: Stanley Variation
51.0%
Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation
48.2%
Continuations (1)
Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, Pollock Gambit
57.6%
Analyze Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation scores 54.5% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 54.3% and 54.6% — from 411K 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
411K+ 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 Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate?

Playing the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation, White wins 52.4%, draws 4.1% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 411K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation perform best?

The Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 56.4% (15K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 54.3% in Blitz (194K games) against 53.2% in Rapid (42K games).

How sharp is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation?

The Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation has a sharpness score of 95.9 (very decisive), meaning 95.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 47.9%, draws 3.6% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.7%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 50.6%, draws 3.3% and loses 46.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.3%. It rests on 23K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 51.5%, draws 3.2% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.1%. It rests on 36K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 51.6%, draws 3.6% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 49K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 52.3%, draws 3.5% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.1%. It rests on 61K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 53.0%, draws 4.0% and loses 43.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.0%. It rests on 80K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 53.1%, draws 4.4% and loses 42.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.4%. It rests on 74K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 53.1%, draws 5.4% and loses 41.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.9%. It rests on 60K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 53.2%, draws 6.4% and loses 40.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.4%. It rests on 15K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 53.0%, draws 0.5% and loses 46.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.3%. It rests on 846 Lichess games.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 53.3%, draws 3.3% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.9%. It rests on 172K Lichess games.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 51.9%, draws 4.7% and loses 43.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.3%. It rests on 194K Lichess games.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 50.8%, draws 4.9% and loses 44.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.2%. It rests on 42K Lichess games.

What is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 48.5%, draws 7.4% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 1.4K Lichess games.

Is the Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation a good opening?

The Vienna Game: Paulsen Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 52.4% of its games and loses 43.5%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.