Chess openings by rating

Chess Openings for Players Rated 1800–1999

At 1800 to 1999, 1...e5 and 1...c5 are almost level against 1.e4, and 1...Nf6 nearly matches 1...d5 against 1.d4. The Caro-Kann enters the top ten, and two Queen's Gambit Declined lines score about double their averages.

Black's replies even out

1...c6, the Caro-Kann move, joins the top four replies to 1.e4. White's own first moves shift slightly toward 1.d4, 1.c4 and 1.Nf3, with 1.e4 still ahead.

White's first move

  1. 1. e459%
  2. 1. d428%
  3. 1. c45%
  4. 1. Nf34%

Black against 1.e4

  1. 1... e530%
  2. 1... c529%
  3. 1... e613%
  4. 1... c68%

Black against 1.d4

  1. 1... d536%
  2. 1... Nf632%
  3. 1... e610%
  4. 1... c54%

Indian Defense climbs to third

Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6) moves into third place on the list, with its Normal Variation further down. The Sicilian keeps the top spot.

  1. Sicilian Defense17.1%
  2. King's Knight Opening11.3%
  3. Indian Defense9%
  4. King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation8.2%
  5. French Defense7.6%
  6. Queen's Gambit5.9%
  7. Indian Defense: Normal Variation5.3%
  8. Caro-Kann Defense4.9%
  9. French Defense: Normal Variation4.4%
  10. Scandinavian Defense4.3%
  11. Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian4.2%
  12. Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations3.4%
  13. Italian Game3%
  14. Ruy Lopez2.9%
  15. Horwitz Defense2.7%

Systems at double their share

The King's Indian, the West Indian (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6) and two Queen's Gambit Declined lines score about double their averages, alongside the Modern Scandinavian and the McDonnell Attack.

  1. Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense1% here, 0.5% overall
  2. King's Indian Defense1.6% here, 0.8% overall
  3. Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation1.6% here, 0.8% overall
  4. Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack1.3% here, 0.7% overall
  5. Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation1.3% here, 0.7% overall
  6. Indian Defense: West Indian Defense1.8% here, 0.9% overall

Early bishop lines drop away

The Bishop's Opening and its Berlin Defense fall well below their averages, along with the Philidor, the Vienna, the Three Knights and 1.e3.

  1. Van't Kruijs Opening0.6% here, 2.1% overall
  2. Philidor Defense1.6% here, 3.2% overall
  3. Bishop's Opening1.4% here, 2.8% overall
  4. Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defense0.5% here, 1% overall
  5. Vienna Game0.5% here, 1% overall
  6. Three Knights Opening0.5% here, 0.9% overall

Openings by rating

Published by BeaconChess

AI-generated content. Every figure comes from the opening books BeaconChess opponents play from, built from rated Lichess games. Check important lines on the board before relying on them.

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