Gambits that work at your level
These are the gambits that score best on Lichess between 900 and 1700, band by band. A win counts as one point and a draw as half. Almost all of them are White gambits that start with 1.. For these, the number shown is White's score. In the two Black gambits, it is Black's score.
Two gambits sit almost level at the top of the overall table, both around 59 points out of every 100. The Zukertort Gambit in the Ruy Lopez is just ahead, on 6,814 games, and hardly anyone plays it. The Vienna Gambit, after 3., has 68,504 games behind it.
Keep an eye on the games column too. The Queen's Gambit, 2., is by far the row with the most games: 1,317,441, about 4 out of every 100 games in the data. It scores about 55 out of 100, less than the Vienna, but with far more games behind that number. Fewer games means a wider margin: the Zukertort could really be anywhere from 58 to 60 out of 100.
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 all bands, the Zukertort Gambit (5.) and the Vienna Gambit (3.) both score about 59 out of every 100. Next come the Göring, 4. in the Scotch, and the Leonhardt, 4. against the queen on a5, both at 57. The King's Gambit, 2., closes the list at 54 out of 100 over 435,567 games. If you want a good score with plenty of data behind it, look at the Vienna and the Danish (3.), which scores 56 out of 100 over 105,539 games.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Zukertort Gambit | 59.1%between 57.9% and 60.3% | 6,814 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
| Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit | 58.8%between 58.5% and 59.2% | 68,504 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Scotch Game: Göring Gambit | 57.1%between 56.6% and 57.6% | 43,836 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Leonhardt Gambit | 56.7%between 55.8% and 57.7% | 10,202 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Italian Game: Evans Gambit | 56.6%between 55.8% and 57.3% | 17,338 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Danish Gambit | 55.7%between 55.4% and 56.0% | 105,539 | 0.4% | 1. 2. 3. |
| King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit | 55.0%between 54.1% and 56.0% | 10,807 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit | 54.7%between 54.5% and 55.0% | 119,370 | 0.4% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Queen's Gambit | 54.5%between 54.4% and 54.6% | 1,317,441 | 4.3% | 1. 2. |
| King's Gambit | 54.2%between 54.1% and 54.4% | 435,567 | 1.4% | 1. 2. |
900 to 1100
Between 900 and 1100, the Vienna Gambit scores 59 out of every 100 over 7,508 games, and the rest trail well behind: from the Evans down to the King's Gambit, they all sit around 55. The Queen's Gambit has 120,293 games and scores 55 out of 100, the row with the most data behind it. Two new names show up here: the Albin Gambit (5. in the Italian) and the Halloween, 4., where you give a knight for the e5 pawn. Be careful with the Albin. With only 1,245 games, its true score could be anywhere from 52 to 57 out of 100.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit | 59.3%between 58.2% and 60.4% | 7,508 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Italian Game: Evans Gambit | 55.4%between 52.6% and 58.1% | 1,284 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Scotch Game: Göring Gambit | 55.2%between 53.4% and 57.0% | 2,965 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Danish Gambit | 54.9%between 53.8% and 56.1% | 7,251 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Queen's Gambit | 54.8%between 54.5% and 55.1% | 120,293 | 3.1% | 1. 2. |
| Italian Game: Classical Variation, Albin Gambit | 54.6%between 51.8% and 57.4% | 1,245 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
| King's Gambit | 54.5%between 54.0% and 55.1% | 31,585 | 0.8% | 1. 2. |
| Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit | 54.4%between 53.3% and 55.4% | 8,792 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit | 53.0%between 51.3% and 54.7% | 3,201 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit | 52.9%between 50.7% and 55.0% | 2,025 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
1100 to 1300
Between 1100 and 1300, the Evans Gambit (4.) climbs to 59 out of every 100 and draws level with the Vienna, which again scores 59 over 16,228 games. The Leonhardt and the Zukertort come in at 58 each, but on just 1,729 and 1,450 games. The Halloween improves too, reaching 56 out of 100. Another Black gambit appears, the Icelandic-Palme: after 1. 2. 3., Black gives up another pawn with . It has 2,160 games.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit | 59.3%between 58.6% and 60.1% | 16,228 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Italian Game: Evans Gambit | 58.9%between 57.1% and 60.5% | 3,242 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Leonhardt Gambit | 58.2%between 55.8% and 60.5% | 1,729 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Zukertort Gambit | 57.6%between 55.0% and 60.1% | 1,450 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
| Scotch Game: Göring Gambit | 56.8%between 55.7% and 57.8% | 8,158 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit | 56.3%between 54.5% and 58.1% | 2,887 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit | 55.7%between 53.6% and 57.8% | 2,160 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Queen's Gambit | 55.1%between 55.0% and 55.3% | 256,249 | 3.7% | 1. 2. |
| Danish Gambit | 54.9%between 54.2% and 55.6% | 20,196 | 0.3% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit | 54.9%between 54.3% and 55.5% | 23,792 | 0.3% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
1300 to 1500
Between 1300 and 1500, the Zukertort moves to the top: 60 out of every 100 over 2,174 games. You reach it in the Ruy Lopez when Black puts the bishop on c5: 4. 5.. The Vienna holds at 59 over 22,284 games. The Bishop's Gambit shows up here, 3. after 2. , with a little over 55 out of 100 on 3,641 games. The plain King's Gambit scores about 55 over 139,749 games, almost the same.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Zukertort Gambit | 60.3%between 58.2% and 62.3% | 2,174 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
| Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit | 59.2%between 58.6% and 59.8% | 22,284 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Leonhardt Gambit | 57.8%between 56.2% and 59.5% | 3,450 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Scotch Game: Göring Gambit | 57.2%between 56.4% and 58.0% | 15,136 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Italian Game: Evans Gambit | 56.7%between 55.4% and 58.0% | 5,726 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Danish Gambit | 55.7%between 55.2% and 56.2% | 36,548 | 0.4% | 1. 2. 3. |
| King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit | 55.5%between 53.9% and 57.1% | 3,641 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit | 54.9%between 54.4% and 55.4% | 41,306 | 0.4% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| King's Gambit | 54.7%between 54.4% and 54.9% | 139,749 | 1.5% | 1. 2. |
| Queen's Gambit | 54.6%between 54.4% and 54.7% | 423,489 | 4.4% | 1. 2. |
1500 to 1700
Between 1500 and 1700, the top two dip slightly. The Zukertort scores 59 out of every 100 over 2,508 games and the Vienna 58 over 22,484. The Göring and the Danish hold steady: the Göring stays at nearly 58 out of 100 and the Danish at 56, with 41,544 games behind it. The Evans falls to 56 after its best band, 1100 to 1300. The Grob Gambit appears here, 1. 2., where you leave the g4 pawn hanging. It scores 56 out of 100 over 6,032 games.
| Opening | Score | Games | Share | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Zukertort Gambit | 58.7%between 56.8% and 60.6% | 2,508 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
| Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit | 57.9%between 57.3% and 58.6% | 22,484 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Scotch Game: Göring Gambit | 57.5%between 56.8% and 58.2% | 17,577 | 0.2% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Danish Gambit | 56.3%between 55.8% and 56.7% | 41,544 | 0.4% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Leonhardt Gambit | 55.7%between 54.2% and 57.2% | 4,289 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Grob Opening: Grob Gambit | 55.6%between 54.3% and 56.8% | 6,032 | 0.1% | 1. 2. |
| Italian Game: Evans Gambit | 55.6%between 54.5% and 56.8% | 7,086 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit | 54.8%between 53.4% and 56.2% | 4,842 | 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. |
| Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit | 54.6%between 54.1% and 55.0% | 45,480 | 0.4% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |
| Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit | 54.5%between 52.5% and 56.5% | 2,372 | under 0.1% | 1. 2. 3. 4. |