Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation

7.5K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.7%Range (90% confident): 49.8% – 51.7%Based on 7.5K games
0%50.7%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.8% – 51.7%
Outcome Distribution
48.6%4.1%47.3%
Win
Draw
Loss
2...g6
Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation
Analyzen=7.5K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.1%

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 50.7% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 49.8% and 51.7%), based on 7.5K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 51% → 44%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 51.0% win rate (695 games)
  • 1000-1199: 51.5% win rate (547 games)
  • 1200-1399: 53.2% win rate (597 games)
  • 1400-1599: 47.9% win rate (826 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.1% win rate (916 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.3% win rate (1,255 games)
  • 2000-2199: 44.5% win rate (1,599 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.8% win rate (889 games)
  • 2500+: 43.6% win rate (135 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (56%), worst in Blitz (48%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 53.8% win rate (278 games)
  • Bullet: 48.5% win rate (3,563 games)
  • Blitz: 47.7% win rate (2,929 games)
  • Rapid: 50.9% win rate (654 games)
  • Classical: 56.2% win rate (35 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: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 55.5% expected score (164 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (370 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 55.6% expected score (159 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.8% expected score (170 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (247 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (120 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 41.8% expected score (29 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 56.4% expected score (217 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 57.0% expected score (234 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 54.7% expected score (106 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 47.8% expected score (67 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (391 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (285 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 43.0% expected score (76 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 73.6% expected score (7 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 60.5% expected score (75 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (412 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (353 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 58.4% expected score (70 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 56.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 58.4% expected score (64 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (598 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (532 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (57 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 60.2% expected score (33 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.1% expected score (890 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 46.0% expected score (616 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 60.9% expected score (58 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (604 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.6% expected score (275 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 76.3% expected score (8 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.8% expected score (117 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 55.4% expected score (17 games)

Related Openings

Analyze Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate?

The Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 47.7%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 7.5K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation perform best?

The Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 53.2% win rate for white (597 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation better in blitz or rapid?

UltraBullet (53.8%) outperforms Blitz (47.7%) by 6.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation?

The Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a sharpness score of 95.9 (very decisive), meaning 95.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 51.0% (90% CI: 47.9%-54.2%) win rate for white, based on 695 Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 51.5% (90% CI: 48.0%-55.0%) win rate for white, based on 547 Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 53.2% (90% CI: 49.9%-56.6%) win rate for white, based on 597 Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 47.9% (90% CI: 45.1%-50.8%) win rate for white, based on 826 Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 50.1% (90% CI: 47.4%-52.8%) win rate for white, based on 916 Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 46.0%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 44.5% (90% CI: 42.4%-46.5%) win rate for white, based on 1.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 5.0% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 49.8% (90% CI: 47.0%-52.6%) win rate for white, based on 889 Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 43.6% (90% CI: 36.7%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 135 Lichess games. Average game length is 43 moves with a 6.2% draw rate.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 53.8% (90% CI: 48.9%-58.7%) win rate for white (278 Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.3%.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 47.1%-49.9%) win rate for white (3.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.4%.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 46.2%-49.2%) win rate for white (2.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

What is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation has a 50.9% (90% CI: 47.7%-54.1%) win rate for white (654 Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.1%.

Is the Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation a good opening?

The Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.6% (90% CI: 47.7%-49.6%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1200-1399 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.