In 18,228 Lichess games between players rated 900 to 1700 (September 2026 data), you score 49.2% with Anderssen's Opening. Almost nobody plays it. After 1., Black answers in 42 out of every 100 games and in 26 out of every 100. Strong players meet with 2. and build a center with pawns on e3 and d4.
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.
2 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After 1. , 31 out of every 100 players at your level continue with 2. and 19 out of every 100 with 2.. Strong players, 2200 and up on Lichess, choose 2. in 28 out of every 100 games and score 62 points out of every 100 with it. It leads to a center with pawns on e3 and d4.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42.0% | 49.7% | 22.6% | 17.9% | |
| 26.1% | 48.5% | 27.6% | 25.0% | |
| 6.7% | 51.8% | no data | no data | |
| 4.9% | 47.2% | 11.8% | 35.7% | |
| 4.6% | 50.8% | 10.0% | no data | |
| 3.7% | 45.9% | 10.5% | 21.4% | |
| no data | no data | 3.2% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.9% | 51.2% | 12.3% | no data | |
| 18.9% | 47.5% | 6.1% | no data | |
| 12.3% | 51.7% | 21.7% | no data | |
| 10.0% | 45.6% | 5.2% | no data | |
| 6.6% | 52.3% | 27.6% | no data | |
| 5.2% | 45.3% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 16.5% | 100.0% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.7% | 50.6% | 52.7% | no data | |
| 11.1% | 48.9% | 19.6% | no data | |
| 9.6% | 51.5% | 5.4% | no data | |
| 9.3% | 49.3% | 3.4% | no data | |
| 9.1% | 47.0% | 10.1% | no data | |
| 8.9% | 51.4% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 8.8% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.2% | 51.2% | no data | no data | |
| 24.5% | 48.4% | no data | no data | |
| 12.3% | 52.1% | no data | no data | |
| 8.7% | 51.3% | no data | no data | |
| 6.0% | 49.3% | no data | no data | |
| 4.6% | 47.9% | 100.0% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64.1% | 52.7% | 28.6% | no data | |
| 35.9% | 45.8% | 32.3% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 39.1% | no data |
The sequence strong players follow is 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.. It aims for a center with pawns on e3 and d4 and, once Black pushes to e4, switches to attacking the black pawn chain on d5 and e4.
1. does not take the center. It takes the b4 square away from Black's f8 bishop and lets Black commit first, with .
2. opens the diagonal for the f1 bishop and puts a pawn behind d4 before you play it. After Black has two central pawns, and 3. sets yours against the one on e5. hits d4 a second time and defends e5. 4. defends d4 and attacks e5 at the same time. That is the order: first you back up d4 with the e3 pawn, then with the knight.
gains space and kicks the knight off f3. 5. steps away from the pawn and from d2 starts attacking e4. Black has more space, but the d5 and e4 chain is fixed and you know where to hit it: e4 with the knight, and d5 with the c-pawn once you bring it to c4. The price is the c1 bishop: with the pawn on b2 and the knight on d2 it has no way out. To free it you will need to move either the b2 pawn or the d2 knight.
With 2., strong players score 62 points out of every 100 across 144 games.
At your level the reply you will see most is . Use the same setup: if you play 2. and your opponent answers , you reach the same position as above by a different move order. From there almost nobody at your level goes on with 3.: only 234 of 5,159 games. The usual moves are 3., in 27 out of every 100, or 3., in 24 out of every 100. With no common sequence, keep the idea: a pawn to d4 against e5 and the knight to f3, which hits it too.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 1,962 | 27.6% | |
| 528 | 27.3% | |
| 148 | 52.7% | |
| 155 | 100.0% | |
| 133 | 39.1% | |
| 47 | 70.2% | |
| 26 | 100.0% | |
| 23 | 78.3% |
After 1. 2. , 3. goes after the e5 pawn, which has no defender. protects it, and the knight heading for f6 would hit your queen, so you retreat with 4.. You have spent two moves and Black carries on with . Play 3. instead, against e5. At your level opponents often don't punish it.
9 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 51.3%; scores 47.9%.
After 1. 2. , 3. is an inaccuracy: it attacks nothing and takes the c3 square from your knight. Black piles up on e4 with , and , while you hold it only with 4. and 5.: three attackers against two defenders. Play 3. instead, hitting e5. At your level opponents often don't punish it.
11 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.3%; scores 51.5%.
After 1. 2. , 3. pushes another pawn in front of your kingside castle. Black attacks it with , and after 5. your h5 pawn is hit by the knight and the h8 rook with nothing defending it. Play 3. instead, preparing d4. At your level opponents often don't punish it.
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.2 pawns of advantage. It scores 46.9%; scores 48.8%.
After 1. 2. , the black knight is hitting e4. 3. develops the bishop but leaves that pawn undefended, and wins it. After 4. 5. 6. your pieces are out but you are a pawn down. Play 3. instead, defending e4. At your level opponents often don't take advantage.
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.5%; scores 50.7%.
After 1. 2. , 3. holds e4 but opens the h4 diagonal to your king: if you take the knight with the pawn after , the black queen checks from h4. You regain the pawn with 4. 5. 6., but 3. is better. This one does cost you: you score 46 out of 100 instead of 51.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 45.7%; scores 50.7%.
After 1. 2. , 3. does nothing for e4, and wins it. You get it back with 4. 5. 6., but Black blocks the check by developing a piece and keeps the d5 pawn in the center. Play 3. instead, defending e4. At your level opponents often don't punish it.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.3 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.1%; scores 50.7%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 5,051 | ||
| Not castled | 4,634 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 3,614 |
| Not castled | 1,224 | |
| Not castled | 1,155 | |
| 1,078 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | ||
| Not castled | 3 | |
| Not castled | 1 | |
| 1 | ||
| Not castled | 1 |
1. 2. · A00
45 amateur games · White's score: 46.7%