Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense
101K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026
Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds
46.0%
the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 46.2%.
Measured over 101K games at this level and clock.
Black comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.
Outcomes for Black
Draw 4.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 101K games
- Rank among the families Black can choose here
- not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
- Games in this context
- 101K
- Best context
- 54.3% at 2200-2499 UltraBullet
- Worst context
- 38.3% at 1600-1799 UltraBullet
- Average game length
- 35 moves
- Games that end decisively
- 95.5%
- Draws
- 4.5%
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 holds about the same all the way up, near 45.6%.
| Rating | UB | Bulle | Blitz | Rapid | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: 52.9% expected score (51 games)
- 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (2,530 games)
- 0-999 rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (5,321 games)
- 0-999 rating, Rapid: 40.8% expected score (2,411 games)
- 0-999 rating, Classical: 44.9% expected score (57 games)
- 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 49.8% expected score (193 games)
- 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 44.3% expected score (2,375 games)
- 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 44.0% expected score (5,042 games)
- 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 40.6% expected score (1,871 games)
- 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 44.3% expected score (77 games)
- 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 53.4% expected score (581 games)
- 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.8% expected score (3,419 games)
- 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 45.1% expected score (5,306 games)
- 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 42.7% expected score (1,918 games)
- 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 40.7% expected score (122 games)
- 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 45.0% expected score (1,404 games)
- 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 46.6% expected score (4,057 games)
- 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 44.4% expected score (5,885 games)
- 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 42.2% expected score (1,770 games)
- 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 35.2% expected score (228 games)
- 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 38.3% expected score (1,238 games)
- 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (4,876 games)
- 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 45.4% expected score (5,395 games)
- 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 43.7% expected score (1,400 games)
- 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 35.6% expected score (120 games)
- 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.7% expected score (947 games)
- 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (6,098 games)
- 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 46.0% expected score (4,063 games)
- 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 40.1% expected score (720 games)
- 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.3% expected score (35 games)
- 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 51.5% expected score (909 games)
- 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (7,070 games)
- 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 44.0% expected score (3,116 games)
- 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 38.6% expected score (319 games)
- 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
- 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 54.3% expected score (1,393 games)
- 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (10,145 games)
- 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.7% expected score (1,650 games)
- 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (103 games)
- 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
- 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 43.1% expected score (360 games)
- 2500+ rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (6,278 games)
- 2500+ rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (376 games)
- 2500+ rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (7 games)
Related Openings
Methodology
Across every rating and clock, the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense scores 46.0% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 45.7% and 46.2% — from 101K 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
- 101K+ 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: Ware Defense win rate?
Playing the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense, Black wins 43.7%, draws 4.5% and loses 51.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.0%. It rests on 101K rated games from Lichess.
At what rating does the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense perform best?
The Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense performs best for Black at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 48.8% (13K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.
Is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense better in blitz or rapid?
For Black, the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 44.8% in Blitz (36K games) against 41.6% in Rapid (11K games).
How sharp is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense?
The Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 0-999?
At 0-999, Black wins 40.2%, draws 6.8% and loses 53.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.6%. It rests on 10K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 1000-1199?
At 1000-1199, Black wins 41.3%, draws 4.4% and loses 54.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.5%. It rests on 9.6K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 1200-1399?
At 1200-1399, Black wins 43.6%, draws 3.9% and loses 52.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.6%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 1400-1599?
At 1400-1599, Black wins 42.6%, draws 4.0% and loses 53.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.6%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 1600-1799?
At 1600-1799, Black wins 44.1%, draws 3.6% and loses 52.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.9%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 1800-1999?
At 1800-1999, Black wins 44.8%, draws 3.8% and loses 51.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.7%. It rests on 12K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 2000-2199?
At 2000-2199, Black wins 44.8%, draws 4.3% and loses 50.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.0%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 2200-2499?
At 2200-2499, Black wins 46.5%, draws 4.5% and loses 49.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.8%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate at 2500+?
At 2500+, Black wins 44.8%, draws 5.8% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.7%. It rests on 7.0K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate in UltraBullet?
In UltraBullet, Black wins 46.4%, draws 2.2% and loses 51.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.5%. It rests on 7.1K Lichess games.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate in Bullet?
In Bullet, Black wins 45.9%, draws 3.6% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.7%. It rests on 47K Lichess games.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate in Blitz?
In Blitz, Black wins 42.1%, draws 5.3% and loses 52.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.8%. It rests on 36K Lichess games.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate in Rapid?
In Rapid, Black wins 38.3%, draws 6.6% and loses 55.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.6%. It rests on 11K Lichess games.
What is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense win rate in Classical?
In Classical, Black wins 35.3%, draws 7.2% and loses 57.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.9%. It rests on 643 Lichess games.
Is the Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense a good opening?
The Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 43.7% of its games and loses 51.8%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.