1. pushes a rook pawn and hands the center to your opponent. In N = 24,454 Lichess games between players rated 900 to 1700 (September 2026), you score 45.2%. In 847 online games by players rated over 2200, the score is 57.9%. Those players follow 2. 3. 4. 5., and that is the line this page explains.
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.
7 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
At your level, your opponent answers 1. with in 42 of every 100 games and with in 24. Against the replies are spread out: 2. in 20 of every 100, 2. in 16, 2. in 13 and 2. in 11. Online players rated over 2200 choose 2. in 65 of every 100 games and 2. in 25. The biggest gap comes one move later. After they play 3. in all 218 games, while only 21 in 100 players at your level do; 3. is more common, at 28 in 100. Your score barely moves with rating: between 44 and 46 out of 100 in every band from 900 to 1700.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41.8% | 43.8% | 34.9% | no data | |
| 23.7% | 45.0% | 20.6% | no data | |
| 5.9% | 47.5% | no data | no data | |
| 4.5% | 45.6% | 25.2% | no data | |
| 4.0% | 43.4% | 2.8% | no data | |
| 3.9% | 48.2% | 2.8% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 3.9% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.2% | 46.8% | 25.4% | no data | |
| 16.2% | 45.2% | no data | no data | |
| 13.4% | 45.7% | no data | no data | |
| 11.2% | 42.8% | 64.7% | no data | |
| 9.2% | 46.7% | no data | no data | |
| 4.7% | 41.0% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 7.4% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 2.5% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.5% | 47.8% | 100.0% | no data | |
| 25.1% | 44.7% | no data | no data | |
| 11.0% | 45.6% | no data | no data | |
| 9.7% | 46.7% | no data | no data | |
| 7.9% | 48.5% | no data | no data | |
| 3.6% | 26.7% | no data | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28.0% | 54.2% | no data | no data | |
| 20.8% | 43.6% | 100.0% | no data | |
| 20.6% | 46.2% | no data | no data | |
| 4.9% | 54.0% | no data | no data | |
| 4.8% | 57.1% | no data | no data | |
| 4.5% | 53.3% | no data | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.3% | 51.0% | 73.8% | no data | |
| 37.3% | 33.0% | 6.5% | no data | |
| 25.4% | 45.6% | 2.8% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 16.8% | no data |
The strong-player line, 2. 3. 4. 5., has one goal: put a pawn in the center, keep it there, and end up with a pawn on d5 that covers c6 and e6, facing the black pawn on e5. The a4 pawn stays on the sidelines. It covers b5 and not much else.
2. takes the central square that 1. left alone. hits it at once, and nothing defends it. 3. covers it with a piece that also develops. 3. defends it too, but it blocks the f1 bishop's diagonal. attacks that knight: if the bishop takes it, e4 loses its defender and the f6 knight can grab the pawn. That is why 4. comes before the rest of your development. The knight steps out of the trade, and from d5 it hits the b4 bishop, which has no defender, the f6 knight and the c7 pawn all at once. removes it, and 5. takes back with the pawn.
In the final position material is level. Your e4 pawn has moved to d5, where it takes c6 and e6 away from your opponent's pieces. The b4 bishop is still loose, and c3 is empty: a pawn on c3 would attack it. Your opponent has f8 and g8 clear and can castle right away. Your f1 bishop and g1 knight are still at home, so get them out soon.
The numbers add some nuance. At your level, after , 2. scores 43 out of 100, below 2. at 47; strong players score 67 with it. After 2., only a bit more than 1 in 3 opponents reply . 1 in 4 choose , which guards e5 and leaves your pawn alone, and 11 in 100 play . If comes after 3., the bishop aims at f2, which only your king defends. You score 33 out of 100 there, in a small sample of 50 games.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 866 | 34.9% | |
| 283 | 64.7% | |
| 220 | 100.0% | |
| 218 | 100.0% | |
| 214 | 73.8% | |
| 158 | 51.9% | |
| 78 | 92.3% | |
| 72 | 100.0% |
After , 2. is the Crab Variation: another rook pawn and no pieces out. Your opponent takes the center with , and after 3. 4. 5. they have a knight out and you have none. 16 in 100 players choose it. It is rarely punished: you score 45 out of 100, and 43 with 2..
16 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 45.2%; scores 42.8%.
Blunder: this is the Meadow Hay Trap. After , 2. puts the rook on the f8 bishop's diagonal, which the e7 pawn no longer blocks. After 3. you have given a rook for a bishop. 4 in 100 players try it, and opponents do cash in: you score 33 out of 100, against 43 with 2..
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 3.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 33.1%; scores 42.8%.
After , 2. clears b2 for your c1 bishop but leaves the center to your opponent: 3. 4. 5., and the d6 bishop attacks your e5 pawn while your opponent keeps the d5 pawn. 13 in 100 players choose it. It is rarely punished: you score 46 out of 100, above the 43 of 2..
13 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 45.7%; scores 42.8%.
After , 2. moves another wing pawn, and your opponent builds a three-pawn center: 3. 4. 5., with pawns on c5, d5 and e5 and none of your pieces developed. 15 in 100 players choose it. At your level it is hardly punished: you score 46 out of 100, against 44 with 2..
15 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 45.7%; scores 43.8%.
After , 2. puts a pawn where the f8 bishop attacks it, and nothing defends it. wins it. 3. kicks the bishop, but after 4. 5. you are still a pawn down. 4 in 100 players try it, and it costs you: you score 31 out of 100, against 43 with 2..
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 31.3%; scores 42.8%.
After , 3. seems to guard e4, but takes it: recapture with the f3 pawn and the black queen checks from h4, then wins e4. After 4. 5. 6. you are a pawn down. 21 in 100 choose it. It is rarely punished: you score 46 out of 100, and 44 with 3..
21 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 2.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 46.2%; scores 43.6%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Not castled | 7,764 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 7,147 |
| 4,724 | ||
| Not castled | 1,733 | |
| Not castled | 1,305 | |
| 684 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Not castled | Not castled | 1 |
| 1 |
1. 2. · A00
2,979 amateur games · White's score: 44.5%
1. · A00
894 amateur games · White's score: 48.2%
1. 2. · A00
397 amateur games · White's score: 33.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. · A00
2 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. · A00
1 amateur game · White's score: 0.0%
1. 2. 3. · A00