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Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit

13M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

49.8%

45%55%
Floor49.8%

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

Measured over 13M games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.2 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 13M games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
13M
Best context
55.3% at 1800-1999 Classical
Worst context
42.1% at 0-999 Classical
Average game length
30 moves
Games that end decisively
96.8%
Draws
3.2%

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 BreakpointWhite

Peak: +3.0% · Breakpoint: 0-999

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: 46.6% at 0-999, 49.3% 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: 50.8% expected score (5,999 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (372,959 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 46.1% expected score (377,871 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 44.9% expected score (128,846 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 42.1% expected score (894 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 52.8% expected score (14,831 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (663,428 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (603,403 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.1% expected score (174,036 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 46.7% expected score (2,725 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 49.7% expected score (26,349 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (943,518 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (812,055 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 48.7% expected score (210,783 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 48.3% expected score (4,772 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 46.2% expected score (35,729 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (1,249,764 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (998,185 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.3% expected score (225,105 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 47.0% expected score (7,281 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.2% expected score (24,854 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (1,353,516 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (1,058,523 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.7% expected score (193,260 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.6% expected score (5,956 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.7% expected score (13,942 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (1,247,921 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (813,853 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (128,676 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 55.3% expected score (2,864 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.9% expected score (5,778 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (794,376 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (273,110 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (35,095 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.7% expected score (537 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 55.0% expected score (2,631 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (362,578 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (43,551 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.8% expected score (3,038 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 71.0% expected score (20 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 60.2% expected score (156 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (39,802 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (1,042 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 35.6% expected score (71 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Zukertort Opening
49.5%
Variations (5)
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%
Zukertort Opening: Pirc Invitation
49.9%
Continuations (1)
Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit, Brigg's Trap
72.5%
Analyze Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit scores 49.8% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 49.8% and 49.9% — from 13M 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
13M+ 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: Tennison Gambit win rate?

Playing the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit, White wins 48.2%, draws 3.2% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.8%. It rests on 13M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit perform best?

The Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 51.9% (41K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 49.6% in Blitz (5.0M games) against 49.1% in Rapid (1.1M games).

How sharp is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit?

The Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit has a sharpness score of 96.8 (very decisive), meaning 96.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 30 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 45.7%, draws 2.9% and loses 51.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 887K Lichess games, which average 23 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 48.0%, draws 2.6% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.3%. It rests on 1.5M Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 48.3%, draws 2.7% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 2.0M Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 48.2%, draws 2.8% and loses 48.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.7%. It rests on 2.5M Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 48.7%, draws 3.2% and loses 48.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 2.6M Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 48.7%, draws 3.6% and loses 47.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.5%. It rests on 2.2M Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 48.6%, draws 4.0% and loses 47.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 1.1M Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 48.6%, draws 4.5% and loses 46.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.9%. It rests on 412K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 48.9%, draws 5.9% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 41K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 48.6%, draws 1.5% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.4%. It rests on 130K Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 48.8%, draws 2.6% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 7.0M Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 47.7%, draws 3.8% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 5.0M Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 47.1%, draws 4.1% and loses 48.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.1%. It rests on 1.1M Lichess games.

What is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 47.3%, draws 4.3% and loses 48.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.5%. It rests on 25K Lichess games.

Is the Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit a good opening?

The Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 48.2% of its games and loses 48.6%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.