Chess openings by rating

Chess Openings for Players Rated 2000 and up

At 2000 and up, 1...c5 becomes Black's leading reply to 1.e4 and 1...Nf6 leads against 1.d4. Main-line Sicilians such as the Najdorf score far above their averages, while the Philidor falls to a small fraction of its usual share.

1...c5 and 1...Nf6 take over

1.Nf3 climbs to third among White's first moves. Against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 holds about 45 points of share, well clear of 1...d5.

White's first move

  1. 1. e454%
  2. 1. d429%
  3. 1. Nf36%
  4. 1. c44%

Black against 1.e4

  1. 1... c537%
  2. 1... e525%
  3. 1... e611%
  4. 1... c68%

Black against 1.d4

  1. 1... Nf645%
  2. 1... d528%
  3. 1... c56%
  4. 1... e66%

Sicilian main lines rise

The Sicilian leads the list, and its Modern Variations (the 2...d6 lines) reach the top ten. Indian Defense holds second place.

  1. Sicilian Defense19.8%
  2. Indian Defense13.3%
  3. King's Knight Opening9.7%
  4. Indian Defense: Normal Variation8.1%
  5. King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation7.8%
  6. French Defense5.9%
  7. Queen's Gambit5.2%
  8. Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations5.2%
  9. Caro-Kann Defense4.4%
  10. French Defense: Normal Variation4.4%
  11. Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian3.7%
  12. Ruy Lopez3.5%
  13. Indian Defense: Knights Variation3%
  14. Pirc Defense3%
  15. Sicilian Defense: French Variation3%

Main lines above their averages

The Najdorf has more than three times its average share here. The Open French Variation of the Sicilian, the main-line Modern Sicilian, the Knights Variation of the Indian Defense and the French Paulsen also score far above their averages.

  1. Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation1.7% here, 0.5% overall
  2. Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line3% here, 1% overall
  3. Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open1.8% here, 0.6% overall
  4. Indian Defense: Knights Variation3% here, 1.1% overall
  5. Indian Defense: Normal Variation8.1% here, 3.1% overall
  6. French Defense: Paulsen Variation1.4% here, 0.5% overall

What strong players set aside

The Philidor drops to about a sixth of its average share. The Queen's Gambit Accepted, the Center Game, the French Knight Variation and both King's Gambit Accepted lines sit at roughly half or less.

  1. Philidor Defense0.5% here, 3.2% overall
  2. French Defense: Knight Variation0.6% here, 1.5% overall
  3. Queen's Gambit Accepted0.5% here, 1.1% overall
  4. King's Gambit Accepted: King's Knight's Gambit0.5% here, 0.9% overall
  5. King's Gambit Accepted0.5% here, 1% overall
  6. Center Game1% here, 1.9% 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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