Best replies to 1.e4
You have plenty of answers to 1., and in Lichess games from 900 to 1700 the gap between them is small. The top row of the overall table, , 2. and , gives Black 53 points out of 100 across 95,744 games. The Caro-Kann, , sits at 50 out of 100, but with 1,633,127 games it is the most solid number on the page.
The tables rank positions by Black's score. There is one overall table and one for each band: 900 to 1100, 1100 to 1300, 1300 to 1500 and 1500 to 1700. Find yours and look for the replies that keep showing up. followed by 2. appears in every band, with , , or .
Also check which replies are in your hands. is one of the few in these tables that doesn't wait for White's second move. The rows above it need a specific second move from your opponent, such as 2. or 2..
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
All bands together
Across 900 to 1700, the top spot goes to after and 2.: 53 points out of 100 in 95,744 games. Next is the Falkbeer Countergambit, against 2., also at 53 out of 100 in 17,136 games, though you only get it when your opponent plays the King's Gambit. The Sicilian fills four of the ten rows, all after 2., scoring between 50 and 51 out of 100. The Old Sicilian, , has 272,467 games behind it. The Scandinavian with , 2. and and the Caro-Kann close the list at 50 out of 100.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation | 53.1%between 52.7% and 53.4% | 95,744 | 0.3% | 1. 2. |
| King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit | 52.8%between 52.0% and 53.5% | 17,136 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 51.3%between 51.0% and 51.6% | 123,654 | 0.4% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | 51.0%between 50.7% and 51.2% | 129,030 | 0.4% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 50.8%between 50.3% and 51.2% | 41,706 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense | 50.7%between 50.2% and 51.2% | 36,679 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation | 50.6%between 50.0% and 51.2% | 28,843 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian | 50.4%between 50.2% and 50.6% | 272,467 | 0.9% | 1. 2. |
| Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation | 50.2%between 49.9% and 50.4% | 160,308 | 0.5% | 1. 2. |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 50.1%between 50.1% and 50.2% | 1,633,127 | 5.3% | 1. |
900 to 1100
From 900 to 1100, after and 2. scores 54 out of 100 in 18,553 games, the highest figure on the page. Below it, everything is packed between 50 and 52. The Hyperaccelerated Dragon, , shows 52 out of 100, but with just 2,933 games that number can swing a lot. Two defenses show up only in this band: the Modern with and the Pirc with , both at 50 out of 100. The Caro-Kann, , has 165,112 games and also lands around 50.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation | 53.9%between 53.2% and 54.6% | 18,553 | 0.5% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 51.8%between 50.0% and 53.6% | 2,933 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 51.6%between 50.5% and 52.7% | 8,218 | 0.2% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian | 50.5%between 49.8% and 51.2% | 20,721 | 0.5% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense | 50.4%between 50.2% and 50.7% | 170,663 | 4.5% | 1. |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | 50.3%between 49.2% and 51.3% | 9,294 | 0.2% | 1. 2. |
| Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation | 50.2%between 48.9% and 51.5% | 5,592 | 0.2% | 1. 2. |
| Modern Defense | 50.0%between 49.6% and 50.5% | 48,286 | 1.3% | 1. |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 49.8%between 49.6% and 50.1% | 165,112 | 4.3% | 1. |
| Pirc Defense | 49.6%between 49.3% and 50.0% | 74,967 | 2.0% | 1. |
1100 to 1300
From 1100 to 1300, after and 2. is on top again, with 53 out of 100 in 26,628 games. The top rows ask something of your opponent: 2. for that one and for the Sicilian with , 2. for the Franco-Sicilian. The most played reply in this table, , has 405,432 games behind it. You choose it yourself, and it gives Black 50 or 51 out of 100.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation | 53.4%between 52.8% and 54.0% | 26,628 | 0.4% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 51.8%between 51.1% and 52.4% | 22,498 | 0.3% | 1. 2. |
| French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense | 51.4%between 50.3% and 52.5% | 7,857 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit | 51.4%between 49.3% and 53.6% | 2,036 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 51.3%between 50.2% and 52.5% | 7,249 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | 51.3%between 50.7% and 51.9% | 23,515 | 0.3% | 1. 2. |
| Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation | 50.8%between 49.6% and 51.9% | 7,339 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense | 50.5%between 50.3% and 50.6% | 405,432 | 5.9% | 1. |
| Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian | 50.5%between 50.0% and 50.9% | 50,104 | 0.7% | 1. 2. |
| French Defense: St. George Defense | 50.2%between 48.4% and 52.0% | 2,964 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. |
1300 to 1500
From 1300 to 1500, after and 2. still leads with 53 out of 100 in 28,220 games. The Falkbeer Countergambit, against 2., is right behind at nearly 53 out of 100, but with just 4,687 games that number can swing a lot. The Sicilians with and sit around 51 out of 100, on 43,359 and 42,214 games. The Caro-Kann, , has 529,208 games and gives Black 50 out of 100.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation | 52.9%between 52.3% and 53.5% | 28,220 | 0.3% | 1. 2. |
| King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit | 52.5%between 51.0% and 53.9% | 4,687 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 51.5%between 51.1% and 52.0% | 43,359 | 0.4% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | 51.3%between 50.8% and 51.8% | 42,214 | 0.4% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 50.9%between 50.1% and 51.8% | 13,661 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense | 50.8%between 49.9% and 51.7% | 12,691 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian | 50.8%between 50.4% and 51.1% | 88,929 | 0.9% | 1. 2. |
| Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation | 50.7%between 49.6% and 51.7% | 8,502 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation | 50.5%between 50.1% and 50.9% | 53,357 | 0.5% | 1. 2. |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 50.3%between 50.1% and 50.4% | 529,208 | 5.5% | 1. |
1500 to 1700
From 1500 to 1700 the order changes. The Falkbeer Countergambit, against 2., moves ahead with 53 out of 100 in 9,528 games, and after and 2. drops to 52. Two new replies come in at 51 out of 100: the Alekhine with , 2. and , and the Elephant Gambit, after and 2., with 35,889 games. The Caro-Kann reaches 592,402 games and stays at 50 out of 100.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit | 53.3%between 52.3% and 54.3% | 9,528 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation | 52.1%between 51.5% and 52.8% | 22,343 | 0.2% | 1. 2. |
| Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation | 51.3%between 50.4% and 52.3% | 10,457 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Elephant Gambit | 51.3%between 50.8% and 51.8% | 35,889 | 0.4% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 50.8%between 50.4% and 51.3% | 49,579 | 0.5% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | 50.7%between 50.3% and 51.1% | 54,007 | 0.5% | 1. 2. |
| Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation | 50.7%between 49.5% and 51.8% | 7,410 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense | 50.6%between 49.7% and 51.5% | 12,842 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 50.2%between 49.5% and 51.0% | 17,863 | 0.2% | 1. 2. |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 50.1%between 50.0% and 50.3% | 592,402 | 5.8% | 1. |