1. pushes the queen's pawn two squares, where your queen already defends it, and gets you ready to build a centre with c4 or e4. Rated 900 to 1700, you score 52.3% across 2,121,730 Lichess games from September 2026. At your level 51 in 100 opponents reply ; players rated 2200 and up prefer , which covers e4 from move one.
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.
42 named lines in this family; 4 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
At your level, after 1. you meet in 51 in 100 games, in 12, in almost 10 and , which offers you a pawn, in 8. Among players rated 2200 and up online, is the most common reply at 47 in 100, and drops to 28. Against , players at your level split their answer: 2. in 29 in 100, 2. in 23 and 2. in 16. Strong players choose 2. just over half the time. After 3., your opponent pins the knight with in 46 in 100 games at your level and in 71 among strong players.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50.8% | 53.4% | 28.4% | 26.5% | |
| 12.1% | 51.3% | 47.1% | 64.0% | |
| 9.5% | 52.6% | 5.6% | 2.9% | |
| 8.0% | 50.4% | no data | no data | |
| 4.1% | 50.7% | 3.7% | 1.5% | |
| 3.7% | 52.7% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 3.8% | 2.4% | |
| no data | no data | 3.7% | no data | |
| no data | no data | no data | 2.0% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29.1% | 51.6% | 51.5% | 77.0% | |
| 22.8% | 51.3% | 7.2% | 1.8% | |
| 15.6% | 51.2% | 24.4% | 16.8% | |
| 12.3% | 52.5% | 6.9% | 1.3% | |
| 8.7% | 50.6% | 1.4% | no data | |
| 4.1% | 50.7% | 6.1% | 2.4% | |
| no data | no data | no data | 0.5% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32.1% | 50.0% | 28.2% | 21.2% | |
| 28.4% | 51.9% | 46.7% | 69.8% | |
| 15.6% | 54.8% | no data | no data | |
| 8.2% | 51.8% | 3.6% | 2.3% | |
| 5.3% | 50.1% | 3.4% | no data | |
| 4.4% | 48.3% | 13.6% | 4.6% | |
| no data | no data | 1.5% | 0.9% | |
| no data | no data | no data | 0.9% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64.0% | 52.2% | 49.9% | 40.5% | |
| 15.0% | 53.2% | 36.7% | 50.8% | |
| 5.5% | 53.6% | 1.5% | 0.2% | |
| 5.4% | 52.3% | 0.4% | no data | |
| 5.1% | 51.9% | 0.4% | 0.2% | |
| 1.6% | 52.9% | 10.4% | 7.5% | |
| no data | no data | no data | 0.7% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46.3% | 52.1% | 70.5% | 78.8% | |
| 29.9% | 51.8% | 23.4% | 20.3% | |
| 6.2% | 50.1% | 3.8% | 1.0% | |
| 5.1% | 54.6% | 0.5% | no data | |
| 3.3% | 51.2% | 1.4% | no data | |
| 3.0% | 52.9% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.2% | no data |
The line strong players repeat most is 2. 3. 4. 5.. All of it revolves around e4. You want pawns on c4, d4 and e4; your opponent uses pieces, not pawns, to stop that square from becoming yours. You will not see this line much at your level, since comes in only 12 in 100 games, but the same fight for e4 comes back in several of the variations below.
hits e4 straight away: if you push 2., the knight takes it. So 2. grabs space on the other wing. The c4 pawn covers d5 and b5, and it goes before the b1 knight so that the knight, once on c3, does not block it.
clears e7 and opens the f8 bishop's diagonal all the way to a3. 3. goes back to the main idea: the knight covers e4 and d5, so e4 now has one of your defenders facing the f6 knight.
is the answer to that. The bishop pins the c3 knight to your king, because d2 was left empty when you played 1.. Pinned, the knight cannot move, so it cannot recapture on e4, and your opponent can take on c3 to double your c-pawns.
4. puts off getting a pawn to e4 for now: it defends d4 and opens the f1 bishop's diagonal towards d3. tucks your opponent's king away before anything is settled in the centre. 5. rounds off the idea. The bishop covers e4 again, so two of your pieces now bear on that square against the f6 knight, and it also looks through e4, f5 and g6 to h7, right beside the castled king.
Against , which you will meet far more often, the benchmark is 2.: it scores 55 in 100, against 53 for 2.. The c4 pawn hits d5 from the side, while 2. gives a pawn away.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 518,443 | 47.5% | |
| 245,952 | 52.2% | |
| 129,252 | 47.6% | |
| 64,264 | 49.4% | |
| 32,248 | 70.9% | |
| 22,801 | 32.5% | |
| 7,371 | 56.3% | |
| 4,121 | 53.7% |
After , 2. gives up a pawn: 3. 4. 5.. In return you get a half-open f-file and free diagonals for both bishops, but you are still a pawn down. It is an inaccuracy, and at your level it rarely gets punished: you score 53 in 100, against 55 with 2..
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.9 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.9%; scores 54.6%.
After , 2. turns down the pawn on offer. With your opponent's bishop aims at f2, since your pawn no longer blocks d4, and after 3. 4. 5. they develop in comfort. Best is 2.. Even so, at your level it is hardly ever punished: you score 51 in 100, the same as with the capture.
11 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.4 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.1%; scores 50.9%.
After , 2. leaves the pawn alone and your opponent pushes it: attacks the knight. 3. retreats to a square that blocks your c1 bishop, and after 4. 5. the e4 pawn is firmly backed by d5. Best is 2.. This one does show: you score 49 in 100, against 51 with the capture.
5 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.6%; scores 50.9%.
After , 2. lets your opponent trade on d4: 3. , and the knight hits your queen. After 4. 5., your queen has spent two moves getting back to d1 while both enemy knights are already out. Best is 2.. Even so, at your level it often goes unpunished: with 2. you score 50 in 100, against 51.
5 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.3 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.8%; scores 50.9%.
After , 2. defends d4 but wins nothing. With 3. the pawns end up symmetrical and the e-file is open for both sides. After 4. 5. your opponent has equalised with no effort. Best is 2., though at your level the gap barely exists: you score 51 in 100 either way.
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.8%; scores 50.9%.
After , 2. props up d4 but lets your opponent advance: takes f3 away from your g1 knight, and c3 is no longer free for the other one. After 3. 4. 5. you move the c-pawn a second time. Best is 2.. At your level it barely shows: just over 50 in 100, against 51.
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.3 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.5%; scores 50.9%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 868,949 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 270,016 |
| Not castled | 250,932 | |
| Not castled | 219,160 | |
| 162,897 | ||
| 144,397 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 419 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 40 |
| Not castled | 27 | |
| Not castled | 24 | |
| 22 | ||
| Not castled | 14 |
1. 2. 3.
136,155 amateur games · 106 over the board
3. supports d4 and frees the f1 bishop, leaving the c1 bishop behind: over 52 in 100.
1. 2. 3.
22,238 amateur games · 2 over the board
3. covers e4 and aims down the open diagonal at h7: 53 in 100.
1. 2. 3.
17,998 amateur games · 49 over the board
3. hits the f6 knight, which guards e4: you score 52 in 100.
1. 2. · 416,400 amateur games · 9 over the board
2. covers e4 but blocks your c-pawn: you score 53 in 100.
1. · 201,913 amateur games · 51 over the board
leaves the centre to you, with e4 free for your pawn: 51 in 100.
1. 2. · 195,723 amateur games · 58 over the board
2. covers e5 and holds back the decision on your pawns: 53 in 100.
1. 2. · 67,108 amateur games · 197 over the board
mirrors your knight and also covers e4: you score 51 in 100.
1. 2. · 56,133 amateur games · 17 over the board
2. hits e7 before any knight comes out: your best result among these lines, 55 in 100.
1. 2. · 47,522 amateur games · 6 over the board
With your opponent's bishop comes out and hits your f3 knight: 52 in 100.
1. 2. · 29,787 amateur games · 13 over the board
goes after your d4 pawn at once: you score 51 in 100.
1. 2. · 29,375 amateur games
2. covers e5 with a pawn but opens the diagonal to your king: 52 in 100.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 13,381 amateur games
4. pins the f6 knight, but your c-pawn is still stuck behind c3: under 50 in 100.
1. 2. · 7,197 amateur games · 5 over the board
2. gains space, and leaves d5 without an enemy pawn: 52 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 6,909 amateur games
2. prepares e4 with a pawn but takes f3 from your knight: under 50 in 100.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 3,531 amateur games · 12 over the board
4., with the knight already on c3, aims at c7: you score 51 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · D00
2,602 amateur games · White's score: 52.3%
1. 2. · A80
1,348 amateur games · White's score: 53.9%
1. 2. · D00
660 amateur games · White's score: 33.0%
1. 2. 3. · A43
331 amateur games · White's score: 44.9%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D02
77 amateur games · White's score: 53.2%
1. 2. 3. · E60
43 amateur games · White's score: 52.3%
1. 2. 3. · D02
3 amateur games · White's score: 100.0%
1. 2. · A41