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Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation

4.2M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

46.3%

40%55%
Floor46.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. Its best is the same figure — the band is too tight to plot.

Measured over 4.2M 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 4.1 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 4.2M games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
4.2M
Best context
61.0% at 0-999 UltraBullet
Worst context
40.0% at 2200-2499 UltraBullet
Average game length
36 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.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Gambit BreakpointBlack

Peak: −5.1% · 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: 53.6% at 0-999, 42.6% 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: 61.0% expected score (873 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (42,948 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (96,607 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (43,990 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 56.6% expected score (498 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 52.8% expected score (4,503 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (72,349 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (121,924 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (45,295 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.8% expected score (1,505 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.4% expected score (12,523 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (133,119 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (173,684 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 46.9% expected score (56,572 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 47.8% expected score (2,888 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 47.1% expected score (33,989 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (219,553 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (234,397 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 47.0% expected score (66,351 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (4,485 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 47.0% expected score (59,924 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (292,253 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 46.9% expected score (273,625 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 46.1% expected score (61,757 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 45.8% expected score (3,659 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 45.5% expected score (56,414 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (403,059 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 46.5% expected score (263,518 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 45.3% expected score (43,963 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 42.0% expected score (1,664 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 43.4% expected score (19,572 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 45.8% expected score (443,014 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 45.1% expected score (200,270 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 43.7% expected score (18,781 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 40.0% expected score (462 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 40.0% expected score (6,596 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 44.7% expected score (445,064 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 43.3% expected score (78,904 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 42.0% expected score (5,123 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 43.2% expected score (108 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 40.1% expected score (864 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 42.6% expected score (142,644 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.0% expected score (6,281 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 39.5% expected score (226 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (52 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Zukertort Opening
49.5%
Variations (5)
Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit
48.2%
Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation
49.9%
Zukertort Opening: Kingside Fianchetto
49.3%
Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation
50.4%
Zukertort Opening: Pirc Invitation
49.9%
Analyze Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation scores 46.3% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 46.2% and 46.3% — from 4.2M 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
4.2M+ 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 Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate?

Playing the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation, Black wins 44.2%, draws 4.1% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.3%. It rests on 4.2M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation perform best?

The Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 50.0% (185K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 46.6% in Blitz (1.4M games) against 46.7% in Rapid (342K games).

How sharp is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation?

The Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation 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 Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 47.9%, draws 4.2% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 185K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 45.8%, draws 3.5% and loses 50.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.5%. It rests on 246K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 45.7%, draws 3.3% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 379K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 45.5%, draws 3.3% and loses 51.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 559K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 44.8%, draws 3.6% and loses 51.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.6%. It rests on 691K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 44.2%, draws 4.0% and loses 51.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.2%. It rests on 769K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 43.1%, draws 4.5% and loses 52.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.4%. It rests on 682K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 41.8%, draws 5.1% and loses 53.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.4%. It rests on 536K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 39.1%, draws 6.6% and loses 54.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.4%. It rests on 150K Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 45.2%, draws 2.4% and loses 52.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.4%. It rests on 195K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 44.1%, draws 3.5% and loses 52.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.9%. It rests on 2.2M Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 44.2%, draws 4.8% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.6%. It rests on 1.4M Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 44.1%, draws 5.2% and loses 50.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.7%. It rests on 342K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 44.0%, draws 6.4% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 15K Lichess games.

Is the Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation a good opening?

The Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 44.2% of its games and loses 51.7%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.