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Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation

3.1M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

47.5%

40%55%
Floor47.4%

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

Measured over 3.1M 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 4.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 3.1M games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
3.1M
Best context
54.4% at 1000-1199 UltraBullet
Worst context
38.3% at 2500+ UltraBullet
Average game length
37 moves
Games that end decisively
95.7%
Draws
4.3%

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 · 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: 53.2% at 0-999, 37.6% 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: 56.6% expected score (278 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (22,716 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (34,840 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (13,118 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 55.5% expected score (108 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 54.4% expected score (1,450 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (45,106 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (59,618 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (20,011 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 49.4% expected score (329 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 52.0% expected score (4,134 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (88,423 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (98,677 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 48.1% expected score (31,934 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (960 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 49.7% expected score (13,562 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (143,277 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (150,887 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 47.9% expected score (41,553 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 49.6% expected score (1,946 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.5% expected score (27,618 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (202,119 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (205,638 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.3% expected score (43,972 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 47.1% expected score (2,338 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.2% expected score (29,935 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (301,422 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.8% expected score (224,336 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 46.8% expected score (35,806 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 46.0% expected score (1,385 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.7% expected score (14,873 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (357,557 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 46.7% expected score (185,764 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 45.4% expected score (17,805 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 37.3% expected score (495 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 42.2% expected score (5,491 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (417,743 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 43.7% expected score (79,584 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 39.9% expected score (4,795 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 39.6% expected score (80 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 38.3% expected score (657 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 43.5% expected score (146,838 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 39.8% expected score (5,591 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 42.0% expected score (105 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 24.2% expected score (14 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Zukertort Opening
49.5%
Variations (5)
Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit
48.2%
Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation
51.7%
Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation
49.9%
Zukertort Opening: Kingside Fianchetto
49.3%
Zukertort Opening: Pirc Invitation
49.9%
Analyze Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation scores 47.5% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 47.4% and 47.5% — from 3.1M 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
3.1M+ 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: Slav Invitation win rate?

Playing the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation, Black wins 45.3%, draws 4.3% and loses 50.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.5%. It rests on 3.1M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation perform best?

The Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 51.2% (71K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 47.5% in Blitz (1.0M games) against 47.5% in Rapid (209K games).

How sharp is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation?

The Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation has a sharpness score of 95.7 (very decisive), meaning 95.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 49.4%, draws 3.5% and loses 47.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.2%. It rests on 71K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 47.2%, draws 3.2% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.8%. It rests on 127K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 47.0%, draws 3.1% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.6%. It rests on 224K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 47.0%, draws 3.3% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.7%. It rests on 351K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 46.2%, draws 3.9% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.2%. It rests on 482K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 45.5%, draws 4.3% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.7%. It rests on 593K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 44.8%, draws 4.8% and loses 50.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 576K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 43.0%, draws 5.2% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.7%. It rests on 508K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 40.0%, draws 6.6% and loses 53.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.3%. It rests on 153K Lichess games, which average 44 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 46.0%, draws 2.6% and loses 51.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 98K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 45.5%, draws 3.8% and loses 50.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 1.7M Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 44.9%, draws 5.1% and loses 50.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.5%. It rests on 1.0M Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 44.8%, draws 5.3% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.5%. It rests on 209K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 44.3%, draws 6.1% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.3%. It rests on 7.7K Lichess games.

Is the Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation a good opening?

The Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 45.3% of its games and loses 50.4%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.