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Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense

188K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

46.8%

40%55%
Floor46.6%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 47.0%.

Measured over 188K 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 · 188K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
188K
Best context
49.5% at 0-999 Bullet
Worst context
41.5% at 1400-1599 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: 50.4% at 0-999, 44.3% 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: 64.8% expected score (83 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (2,268 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (3,333 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 44.1% expected score (1,000 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 45.2% expected score (9 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 43.7% expected score (260 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (3,601 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (5,827 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 46.1% expected score (1,569 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 43.0% expected score (34 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 39.0% expected score (401 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.4% expected score (6,053 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (8,963 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 46.1% expected score (3,002 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.5% expected score (111 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 41.5% expected score (581 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (8,053 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (12,801 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 47.8% expected score (4,099 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (218 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 45.0% expected score (638 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 46.1% expected score (10,828 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 46.9% expected score (12,652 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (3,715 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 40.2% expected score (217 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.4% expected score (890 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.7% expected score (12,685 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 46.4% expected score (12,286 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (2,660 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 55.1% expected score (87 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 41.0% expected score (397 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (15,626 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 46.7% expected score (9,332 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 44.8% expected score (1,058 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 48.2% expected score (26 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 40.0% expected score (83 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (18,496 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (6,401 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 37.4% expected score (380 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 64.3% expected score (16 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (15,947 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.8% expected score (867 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 31.5% expected score (12 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 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: Slav Invitation
50.4%
Analyze Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense scores 46.8% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 46.6% and 47.0% — from 188K 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
188K+ 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: St. George Defense win rate?

Playing the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense, Black wins 44.6%, draws 4.3% and loses 51.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.8%. It rests on 188K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense perform best?

The Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 48.4% (6.7K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 46.5% in Blitz (72K games) against 46.1% in Rapid (17K games).

How sharp is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense?

The Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense 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: St. George Defense win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 45.9%, draws 4.9% and loses 49.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 6.7K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 45.4%, draws 3.2% and loses 51.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.0%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 45.1%, draws 3.1% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.7%. It rests on 19K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 45.5%, draws 3.4% and loses 51.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 26K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 44.5%, draws 3.9% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.4%. It rests on 28K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 44.5%, draws 3.9% and loses 51.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 29K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 44.6%, draws 4.4% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.8%. It rests on 26K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 44.1%, draws 5.4% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.8%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 42.7%, draws 6.8% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 17K Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 42.6%, draws 2.4% and loses 55.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.8%. It rests on 3.3K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 45.2%, draws 3.8% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.1%. It rests on 94K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 44.1%, draws 4.8% and loses 51.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 72K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 43.5%, draws 5.2% and loses 51.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 17K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 44.6%, draws 4.6% and loses 50.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.0%. It rests on 719 Lichess games.

Is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense a good opening?

The Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 44.6% of its games and loses 51.1%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.