You take with knowing the pawn will go back. What you get for it is time to develop and to hit d4 with your c-pawn. In 329,767 Lichess games from September 2026, rated 900 to 1700, you score 43% as Black in this opening. Among players rated 2200 or more online, that rises to 48 in 100. Against 3., clinging to the pawn with drops you to 35 in 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.
41 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After , opponents at your level split between 3., in 33 in 100 games, 3., in 31, and 3., in 23. Among players rated 2200 or more online, 3. leads with 39 in 100, and 3. drops to 13. The strong players' line goes 4. 5. 6. . After 3., comes in 87 in 100 over-the-board games at 2300 or more; at your level, in 26. And once you reach 5., only 3 in 100 players at your level follow with , against 63 in 100 strong players.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33.4% | 56.4% | 22.5% | 26.8% | |
| 30.7% | 56.6% | 12.9% | no data | |
| 23.3% | 58.2% | 24.0% | 12.9% | |
| 7.5% | 56.9% | 39.2% | 60.3% | |
| 2.7% | 52.3% | 1.0% | no data | |
| 1.0% | 56.3% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.3% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25.8% | 56.8% | 62.8% | 87.3% | |
| 15.2% | 56.5% | 6.5% | no data | |
| 12.7% | 59.2% | no data | no data | |
| 11.5% | 55.9% | no data | no data | |
| 10.1% | 56.2% | 0.9% | no data | |
| 6.3% | 57.6% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 12.3% | 7.0% | |
| no data | no data | 10.5% | 5.7% | |
| no data | no data | 4.5% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.1% | 56.2% | 20.7% | no data | |
| 29.9% | 58.7% | 69.8% | 95.5% | |
| 11.3% | 58.2% | 4.8% | no data | |
| 4.6% | 54.9% | 3.3% | 4.5% | |
| 4.5% | 58.9% | no data | no data | |
| 2.9% | 53.6% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.5% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.4% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25.9% | 55.6% | 47.4% | 69.5% | |
| 21.3% | 56.2% | 16.6% | 26.0% | |
| 18.3% | 60.0% | no data | no data | |
| 16.9% | 64.1% | 2.8% | no data | |
| 6.7% | 56.2% | no data | no data | |
| 5.7% | 54.5% | 6.8% | 4.5% | |
| no data | no data | 14.7% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 8.2% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96.7% | 56.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | |
| 3.3% | 50.0% | no data | no data |
The strong players' line, 3. 4. 5. 6. , makes no attempt to keep the c4 pawn. It hands it back for time, and spends that time hitting d4 with your c-pawn. After your opponent has no c-pawn left, so d4 can only lean on the e-pawn and on pieces.
develops and covers e4: your opponent can't push that pawn two squares without leaving it undefended. So the usual reply is 4., chosen by 7 in 10 strong players. It opens the f1 bishop's diagonal to c4 to win the pawn back.
sets up what comes next. It frees your f8 bishop and gives it cover over c5. That is why it comes before the c-pawn moves: when arrives and your opponent takes on c5, your bishop recaptures and develops in one go. First, though, 5. regains the pawn, as 97 in 100 opponents at your level do in that position.
Then hits d4 with the pawn and with your queen from d8. Your opponent holds it with the queen, the e3 pawn and the f3 knight, so you don't win it. You lean on it. If you later trade on d4 and your opponent recaptures with the e-pawn, the d4 pawn has no neighbours on the c- or e-file. After 6., prepares b5: with the pawn on a6, the b-pawn can advance, hit the c4 bishop and arrive protected, and it clears b7 for your c8 bishop.
At your level this sequence is rare. 3. turns up in 1 in 13 games, and what you will meet most is 3. and 3.. The idea stays the same: don't cling to the pawn, and use the moves your opponent spends winning it back to hit d4 with a pawn. Against 3., does that at once. And if you reach 5., remember : 63 in 100 strong players play it, and only 3 in 100 players at your level.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 9,375 | 39.8% | |
| 3,721 | 63.8% | |
| 4,272 | 70.9% | |
| 2,998 | 48.6% | |
| 1,576 | 100.0% | |
| 1,998 | 63.2% | |
| 1,381 | 93.9% | |
| 1,193 | 60.8% |
After 3., puts the bishop where a pawn can hit it: 4. takes the centre with tempo and the bishop steps back with . Then 5. regains the pawn and eyes f7. Best is , which covers e4. It costs almost 2 pawns, but at your level opponents often let it go: you score 42 in 100 against 44.
8 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.9 pawns of advantage. It scores 42.1%; scores 43.7%.
Against 3., tries to keep the c4 pawn, but b5 has no defender. 4. hits it and, after , c4 loses its support. 5. goes after your a8 rook down the open diagonal, blocks, and 6. wins the pawn back. Best is . It is an inaccuracy that does get punished: you score 35 in 100 against 46.5.
23 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 35.3%; scores 46.5%.
After 3., parks the knight in front of your c-pawn and within reach of the d-pawn. 4. hits it, the knight goes back with , and 5. leaves your opponent with two pawns in the centre. Best is . It is an inaccuracy that rarely gets punished at your level: you score 43.3 in 100 against 43.7.
15 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 43.3%; scores 43.7%.
After 3. 4., leaves d4 alone and shuts your c8 bishop in behind e6. 5. regains the pawn with e4 and d4 still standing. If you hit d4 late, after 6. 7. the queens come off and your opponent keeps the e4 pawn. Best is : you score 47 in 100 against 43.
35 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 42.9%; scores 47.0%.
After 3. 4., hits the queen on d1, but 5. blocks the diagonal, kicks the bishop and props up e4. After 6. 7., your bishop is back home. Best is . It costs more than 1 pawn, but at your level it rarely gets punished: you score 45.5 in 100 against 47.
16 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.3 pawns of advantage. It scores 45.5%; scores 47.0%.
After 3. 4., hits d4, but it blocks your c-pawn, so it can no longer reach c5 to hit d4. After 5. 6. 7., your opponent has the pawn back and d4 has three defenders. Best is : you score 47 in 100 against 43.2.
23 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 43.2%; scores 47.0%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 151,976 | ||
| Not castled | 54,269 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 54,231 |
| Not castled | 27,521 | |
| 19,379 | ||
| 7,717 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 293 | ||
| Not castled | 63 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 32 |
| Not castled | 16 | |
| 14 | ||
| Not castled | 6 |
1. 2. 3. · 76,834 amateur games · 19 over the board
3. opens the f1 bishop's diagonal to c4 to win the pawn back: you score 42 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 35,328 amateur games
3. builds a two-pawn centre, the most common choice at your level: you score 42 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 22,693 amateur games · 10 over the board
After 3., props up c4 instead of giving it back: you score just over 44.
1. 2. 3. · 18,151 amateur games · 2 over the board
After 3., goes after d4 with the knight: you score 44 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 17,085 amateur games · 30 over the board
After 3., hits the e4 pawn, which has no defender: you score almost 44 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 16,972 amateur games · 27 over the board
3. develops before regaining the pawn, and it is the strong players' pick: you score 42 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 15,536 amateur games · 23 over the board
After 3., strikes at d4 straight away: at 46 in 100, one of your better results.
1. 2. 3. · 10,212 amateur games · 4 over the board
After 3., frees your f8 bishop before the knight comes out: you score 44 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 9,056 amateur games
3. gives check and hits c4: at 47.6 in 100, your best line here.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 5,435 amateur games · 2 over the board
After 3. , 4. covers e4 instead of opening the bishop to c4: you score just over 44.
1. 2. 3. · D20
2,672 amateur games · White's score: 55.6%
1. 2. 3. · D21
2,504 amateur games · White's score: 56.1%
1. 2. 3. · D21
1,861 amateur games · White's score: 53.2%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D25
1,574 amateur games · White's score: 57.0%
1. 2. 3. · D22
917 amateur games · White's score: 55.9%
1. 2. 3. · D20
741 amateur games · White's score: 63.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D26
737 amateur games · White's score: 50.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D25
725 amateur games · White's score: 53.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D23
698 amateur games · White's score: 55.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D24
375 amateur games · White's score: 48.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D22
319 amateur games · White's score: 56.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D25
274 amateur games · White's score: 53.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D20
222 amateur games · White's score: 57.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D21
176 amateur games · White's score: 54.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D26
158 amateur games · White's score: 53.5%
1. 2. 3. · D21
141 amateur games · White's score: 56.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D26
129 amateur games · White's score: 52.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D26
65 amateur games · White's score: 59.2%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D27
48 amateur games · White's score: 32.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D20
44 amateur games · White's score: 61.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D27
20 amateur games · White's score: 37.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D27
9 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D24
3 amateur games · White's score: 66.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D28
2 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D29
1 amateur game · White's score: 0.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D27
1 amateur game · White's score: 100.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D22
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · D29
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. · D28
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · D26
It is meeting 1. 2. by taking the pawn with . You don't try to keep it. You use the moves your opponent spends winning it back to develop and to hit d4 with your c-pawn. It shows up in about 1 in 100 games between 900 and 1700, and you score 43 in 100 with it.
Develop instead of defending the pawn. Against 3., play , then so your f8 bishop covers c5, and once the bishop lands on c4, strike with . Against 3., hit d4 at once with . Against 3., don't hold c4 with : you drop to 35 in 100.
You score 43 in 100 from 900 to 1700, and every rating band sits between 43 and 44, so the result barely moves as you improve. Among players rated 2200 or more online it reaches 48 in 100. The main gap at your level is : strong players choose it 63 times in 100, players at your level 3.