Tier list

Chess opening tier list
for 600 rated players.

Openings graded S to D by what actually wins at rating band 600 (under 1000), rapid and blitz pooled. Every grade is backed by win rate, popularity, blunder resistance and sample size. Switch the band in the header to see the ladder rearrange.

Showing 54 of 299 graded openings at band 600.

King's Pawn GameC2050.8%n = 1,775,723King's Knight OpeningC4052.1%n = 950,740Queen's GambitD0653.7%n = 77,143Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight AttackC5756.6%n = 37,919Italian Game: Classical VariationC5354.7%n = 8,545Vienna Game: Vienna GambitC2958.1%n = 6,040
King's Pawn GameB0050.2%n = 2,849,881Queen's Pawn GameA4049.9%n = 836,518King's Knight Opening: Normal VariationC4450.5%n = 527,948Queen's Pawn GameD0049.9%n = 457,398Bishop's OpeningC2350.9%n = 228,138Italian GameC5052.0%n = 217,726King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen AttackC2050.3%n = 162,535Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London SystemD0053.0%n = 99,835Scotch GameC4452.9%n = 75,690Petrov's Defense: Three Knights GameC4252.7%n = 72,984Ruy LopezC6051.7%n = 64,749English OpeningA1048.5%n = 57,286King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass GambitC4052.9%n = 55,271Scotch GameC4451.4%n = 36,714Bishop's Opening: Boi VariationC2355.7%n = 34,392Queen's Gambit AcceptedD2054.3%n = 34,031Nimzo-Larsen AttackA0148.7%n = 25,312Queen's Gambit Accepted: Saduleto VariationD2055.0%n = 14,336Queen's Gambit DeclinedD3052.6%n = 14,070Rapport-Jobava SystemD0154.2%n = 13,000Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange VariationB1350.2%n = 9,136King's Gambit Accepted: King's Knight's GambitC3453.9%n = 8,459Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6D0253.0%n = 7,395Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old VariationD2054.9%n = 6,580Italian Game: Classical VariationC5453.8%n = 6,564Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight VariationD3153.1%n = 5,543Danish GambitC2150.7%n = 5,410Center Game: Kieseritzky VariationC2150.8%n = 4,465Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center AttackC5456.0%n = 4,303Scandinavian Defense: Blackburne-Kloosterboer GambitB0154.9%n = 4,149English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Normal VariationA3454.6%n = 2,275
Scandinavian DefenseB0145.8%n = 306,387French DefenseC0047.3%n = 163,083Three Knights OpeningC4647.9%n = 152,369Sicilian DefenseB2048.8%n = 130,324Four Knights GameC4749.3%n = 128,211Van't Kruijs OpeningA0046.7%n = 127,956Caro-Kann DefenseB1049.1%n = 127,035Zukertort OpeningA0448.2%n = 114,838Vienna GameC2549.5%n = 114,542Center GameC2049.6%n = 111,727Four Knights Game: Italian VariationC4750.1%n = 89,993Pirc DefenseB0045.9%n = 89,921Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort VariationD0250.0%n = 86,430Bishop's Opening: Berlin DefenseC2448.7%n = 76,128Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin VariationD0048.8%n = 74,014Queen's Pawn GameD0047.2%n = 73,350King's Pawn Game: Leonardis VariationC2045.8%n = 64,907Indian DefenseA4548.4%n = 60,759Four Knights Game: Italian VariationC5049.4%n = 60,128Italian Game: Giuoco PianoC5050.3%n = 53,841King's Pawn Game: Napoleon AttackC2050.6%n = 48,305Vienna Game: Falkbeer VariationC2649.1%n = 47,914Center Game AcceptedC2145.7%n = 42,251Hungarian OpeningA0048.9%n = 41,973Zukertort OpeningA0647.4%n = 41,610Caro-Kann DefenseB1246.4%n = 41,385Modern DefenseB0647.8%n = 39,789King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie CountergambitC2050.2%n = 38,235Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin VariationD0249.0%n = 37,955Pirc DefenseB0045.2%n = 33,532Queen's Pawn GameA4149.1%n = 31,467Center GameC2144.3%n = 28,387French DefenseC0048.0%n = 28,060King's GambitC3050.9%n = 27,129Four Knights Game: Spanish VariationC4849.1%n = 26,814Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's OpeningC5552.3%n = 24,163Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights VariationC5050.1%n = 22,730Four Knights Game: Scotch VariationC4752.2%n = 21,458Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver DefenseC5048.6%n = 20,076Queen's Pawn Game: Modern DefenseA4049.1%n = 17,932Scotch Game: Lolli VariationC4454.0%n = 15,804Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra GambitB2147.5%n = 15,485Pirc DefenseB0048.5%n = 14,672Italian Game: Giuoco PianissimoC5050.8%n = 13,626Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang DefenseA0448.7%n = 13,604Vienna Game: Anderssen DefenseC2547.7%n = 12,287Caro-Kann DefenseB1049.2%n = 12,214King's Gambit AcceptedC3351.0%n = 11,924English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed SicilianA2151.6%n = 11,342Ponziani Opening: Jaenisch CounterattackC4448.0%n = 10,473Zukertort OpeningA0547.8%n = 10,472King's Pawn Game: MacLeod AttackC2047.4%n = 9,661French Defense: Paulsen VariationC1046.4%n = 9,359Scandinavian Defense: Modern VariationB0148.8%n = 8,826Queen's Pawn Game: London SystemD0253.6%n = 8,757French Defense: Advance VariationC0251.1%n = 7,690King's Indian AttackA0749.4%n = 6,475Pirc Defense: Classical VariationB0847.6%n = 6,279Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Classical VariationA0148.8%n = 5,490Zukertort Opening: Pirc InvitationA0447.3%n = 5,442English Opening: Symmetrical VariationA3051.8%n = 5,397Scotch Game: Scotch GambitC4454.6%n = 4,597Sicilian Defense: Staunton-Cochrane VariationB2051.3%n = 4,293Danish Gambit AcceptedC2151.8%n = 4,127French Defense: Exchange VariationC0145.8%n = 3,985English Opening: Agincourt DefenseA1347.6%n = 3,483English Opening: Anglo-Indian DefenseA1548.9%n = 3,201Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6D0253.3%n = 3,068Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio DefenseC5853.2%n = 2,979Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit AcceptedC4249.9%n = 2,409Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco PianissimoC5452.2%n = 2,271Réti OpeningA0952.4%n = 1,950Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo AttackB3051.7%n = 1,886Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights VariationD3753.0%n = 1,607French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen AttackC0247.8%n = 1,423Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern VariationD5054.2%n = 757
Philidor DefenseC4143.5%n = 106,766Italian Game: Two Knights DefenseC5543.4%n = 103,069Englund GambitA4043.7%n = 83,695Horwitz DefenseA4045.1%n = 74,974Alekhine DefenseB0243.7%n = 71,999French Defense: Normal VariationC0045.5%n = 59,304French Defense: Knight VariationC0046.0%n = 58,759Nimzowitsch DefenseB0043.3%n = 54,348Petrov's Defense: Italian VariationC4244.6%n = 48,221Sicilian DefenseB2747.1%n = 44,473Philidor DefenseC4142.9%n = 42,445Van Geet OpeningA0045.8%n = 38,747Caro-Kann DefenseB1247.0%n = 38,371Mieses OpeningA0044.3%n = 36,472Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin VariationA4547.2%n = 34,870Vienna Game: Max Lange DefenseC2546.2%n = 33,907Bird OpeningA0243.8%n = 30,145King's Pawn Game: McConnell DefenseC4043.5%n = 29,426Owen DefenseB0045.8%n = 29,267English Opening: King's English VariationA2047.8%n = 27,762Philidor DefenseC4142.1%n = 25,012Scotch GameC4551.2%n = 24,911Sicilian Defense: Bowdler AttackB2046.9%n = 23,888Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy VariationB0043.3%n = 23,712Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical VariationD0249.9%n = 21,992Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal VariationC5751.8%n = 20,854Sicilian Defense: Old SicilianB3047.4%n = 20,270Ponziani OpeningC4449.9%n = 19,079Vienna Game: Stanley VariationC2649.6%n = 18,790Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed FrenchA4045.1%n = 18,504Queen's Pawn GameD0045.8%n = 17,953Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, NormalC5050.8%n = 16,535Caro-Kann Defense: Advance VariationB1244.8%n = 16,212Ruy Lopez: Morphy DefenseC7042.5%n = 15,381Mieses Opening: Reversed RatA0043.5%n = 14,650Scandinavian Defense: Valencian VariationB0141.5%n = 14,606Sicilian Defense: ClosedB2348.7%n = 14,195French Defense: Queen's KnightC0046.8%n = 14,172Saragossa OpeningA0045.5%n = 13,966Indian Defense: Knights VariationA4648.1%n = 13,530Indian Defense: Accelerated London SystemA4550.0%n = 13,342Caro-Kann DefenseB1545.9%n = 12,872Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin VariationD0048.1%n = 12,809Caro-Kann DefenseB1049.5%n = 12,566Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern VariationA0147.5%n = 11,996Scandinavian Defense: Main LineB0145.5%n = 11,808Benoni Defense: Old BenoniA4345.3%n = 11,539Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation AcceptedC4750.9%n = 11,216Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian VariationB0246.0%n = 11,167Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer VariationB0039.2%n = 11,137Vienna Game: Stanley Variation, Three Knights VariationC2849.8%n = 10,807Sicilian Defense: Modern VariationsB5048.0%n = 10,490Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit InvitationA0448.7%n = 10,415English DefenseA4045.8%n = 10,336Dutch DefenseA8044.7%n = 10,290Modern DefenseB0647.8%n = 9,884Slav DefenseD1044.8%n = 9,881Polish OpeningA0044.6%n = 9,818Queen's Pawn Game: Colle SystemD0449.6%n = 9,744Ruy Lopez: Exchange VariationC6852.4%n = 9,559French Defense: Steinitz AttackC0048.2%n = 8,573Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange VariationB1350.9%n = 8,482English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian DefenseA1045.4%n = 7,286Rat Defense: Small Center DefenseC0043.2%n = 7,139French Defense: Exchange VariationC0148.0%n = 6,984Sicilian Defense: French VariationB4049.6%n = 6,623Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick GambitA4044.1%n = 6,519Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Advance VariationB0043.6%n = 6,487Sicilian Defense: Closed, TraditionalB2350.0%n = 6,055French Defense: King's Indian AttackC0046.0%n = 6,015Philidor Defense: Exchange VariationC4143.4%n = 5,921Blackmar-Diemer GambitD0043.7%n = 5,494Pirc Defense: Classical VariationB0847.1%n = 5,175Caro-Kann Defense: Main LineB1546.8%n = 5,004Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit AcceptedA4350.7%n = 4,635Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern VariationA0147.0%n = 4,527Petrov's Defense: Stafford GambitC4246.4%n = 4,371French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch SystemC0245.8%n = 4,262Queen's Pawn Game: Colle SystemD0550.9%n = 4,075Zukertort Opening: Sicilian InvitationA0447.8%n = 3,926East Indian DefenseA4850.9%n = 3,918Englund Gambit: Main LineA4051.1%n = 3,533Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls DefenseB1249.0%n = 3,466French Defense: La Bourdonnais VariationC0049.9%n = 3,301English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights VariationA2250.4%n = 3,245Sicilian Defense: Alapin VariationB2245.7%n = 3,192Sicilian DefenseB5046.4%n = 2,999French Defense: Classical VariationC1147.3%n = 2,795French Defense: Advance VariationC0249.7%n = 2,702Sicilian Defense: OpenB3247.3%n = 2,631Caro-Kann Defense: Classical VariationB1846.6%n = 2,464Modern Defense: Two Knights VariationB0646.3%n = 2,339Sicilian Defense: ClosedB2351.7%n = 2,251Trompowsky AttackA4546.6%n = 2,059English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive SystemA1146.5%n = 1,927Sicilian DefenseB5048.1%n = 1,874Italian Game: Hungarian DefenseC5046.4%n = 1,640French Defense: Advance VariationC0252.0%n = 1,404English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight VariationA1647.8%n = 1,390Modern Defense: Standard LineB0644.0%n = 1,191Slav Defense: Three Knights VariationD1545.1%n = 1,171Benoni Defense: Old BenoniA4343.2%n = 1,143King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer CountergambitC3148.6%n = 1,036Sicilian Defense: French Variation, OpenB4050.4%n = 1,013King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight VariationE6050.5%n = 740Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main LineB5448.7%n = 731Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with d6B5047.2%n = 487Nimzo-Indian DefenseE2047.2%n = 464Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted: Ryder GambitD0047.5%n = 448Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit AcceptedC4252.5%n = 320
Petrov's DefenseC4240.7%n = 142,567Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc VariationB0141.7%n = 96,492Petrov's DefenseC4239.0%n = 40,743King's Pawn Game: Damiano DefenseC4040.0%n = 35,899Mikenas DefenseA4043.4%n = 34,572Blackmar-Diemer GambitD0043.9%n = 27,577Zukertort Opening: Tennison GambitA0645.6%n = 27,492Petrov's Defense: Damiano VariationC4234.5%n = 23,058Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined VariationB0043.0%n = 21,897Ruy Lopez: Berlin DefenseC6543.9%n = 21,262Center Game: Normal VariationC2241.9%n = 20,972Elephant GambitC4042.3%n = 20,278French Defense: Advance VariationC0245.7%n = 19,644Italian Game: Paris DefenseC5043.8%n = 19,212Caro-Kann Defense: Hillbilly AttackB1042.5%n = 17,566King's Pawn Game: Maróczy DefenseB0744.1%n = 17,543Grob OpeningA0040.4%n = 16,876Queen's Gambit Declined: Marshall DefenseD0644.2%n = 14,374Bird Opening: Dutch VariationA0343.9%n = 11,012Nimzowitsch DefenseB0042.2%n = 10,375English Opening: The WhaleC2043.4%n = 9,728Indian Defense: Normal VariationA5046.3%n = 9,061Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights AttackB1046.9%n = 8,396Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić GambitC5046.3%n = 7,082Ruy Lopez: Steinitz DefenseC6245.3%n = 7,029Ruy Lopez: Classical VariationC6447.9%n = 6,948Barnes OpeningA0037.6%n = 6,726Pirc DefenseB0747.0%n = 6,337Queen's Pawn Game: Levitsky AttackD0043.8%n = 6,129Alekhine Defense: Normal VariationB0240.7%n = 5,894St. George DefenseB0040.7%n = 5,629King's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight DefenseC3047.1%n = 5,595Caro-Kann DefenseB1547.2%n = 5,083French Defense: Franco-Sicilian DefenseC0048.8%n = 4,296Petrov's DefenseC4242.2%n = 4,271Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Dubois Réti DefenseC4445.7%n = 4,114Ruy Lopez: Berlin DefenseC6541.3%n = 4,084Philidor Defense: Exchange VariationC4143.1%n = 4,020Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Short VariationB1245.3%n = 3,948Old Indian DefenseA4145.4%n = 3,900Sicilian Defense: OpenB3245.1%n = 3,864Slav DefenseD1043.8%n = 3,780Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice LineC5740.4%n = 3,659Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal DefenseD3546.0%n = 3,415Scotch Game: Classical VariationC4545.6%n = 3,406Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin CountergambitD0842.5%n = 2,973King's Gambit Accepted: MacLeod DefenseC3444.2%n = 2,953Indian Defense: West Indian DefenseE6048.3%n = 2,836French Defense: Exchange VariationC0145.3%n = 2,808Scandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts DefenseB0140.8%n = 2,525Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange VariationB1346.0%n = 2,467Sicilian Defense: McDonnell AttackB2147.7%n = 2,292Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated DragonB2749.1%n = 2,204Sicilian Defense: OpenB3246.7%n = 2,198Slav Defense: Modern LineD1142.8%n = 1,952Alekhine DefenseB0340.8%n = 1,817Ruy Lopez: Steinitz DefenseC6242.9%n = 1,812Old Indian DefenseA5348.0%n = 1,795King's Indian DefenseE6146.0%n = 1,551Dutch DefenseA8442.7%n = 1,364English Opening: Great Snake VariationA1047.1%n = 1,349Philidor DefenseC4145.4%n = 1,164Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move OrderD3145.1%n = 1,040King's Indian Defense: Normal VariationE7045.4%n = 788King's Indian Defense: Normal VariationE7043.5%n = 777King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare DefensesE9045.8%n = 627Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra GambitB2147.7%n = 627Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-IndianE1045.9%n = 597Semi-Slav DefenseD4345.7%n = 530Sicilian Defense: Accelerated DragonB3252.4%n = 492Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit AcceptedB2148.3%n = 435Sicilian Defense: Löwenthal VariationB3246.3%n = 423Vienna Game: Frankenstein-Dracula VariationC2746.7%n = 398Indian Defense: Budapest GambitA5147.2%n = 362Sicilian Defense: Taimanov VariationB4452.2%n = 339Sicilian Defense: Taimanov VariationB4545.8%n = 319

Band 600. 299 graded openings, sample sizes from 319 to 2,849,881 games, win rates shown for each opening's own color. Source period 2026-05.