Chess openings by rating: 1600 to 1999
Among 606,149 rated games between players rated 1600 to 1999 on 1 September 2026, the most played openings were Sicilian Defense, Queen's Pawn Game, French Defense. White scored 51.8% across all openings at this level, with a margin of 0.1 points.
What openings do players rated 1600 to 1999 play most?
The table lists the 15 most played opening families in games between players rated 1600 to 1999, with White's score and its margin. A score close to 51.8%, the average for this level, means the opening does not stand out.
| Opening | Games | Share of games | White score | Margin (points) | Against the level average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense | 77,421 | 12.8% | 50.9% | 0.3 | No clear difference |
| Queen's Pawn Game | 54,385 | 9.0% | 52.9% | 0.4 | Above |
| French Defense | 41,635 | 6.9% | 50.5% | 0.5 | Below |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 38,257 | 6.3% | 50.2% | 0.5 | Below |
| Scandinavian Defense | 31,645 | 5.2% | 50.8% | 0.5 | Below |
| Italian Game | 25,018 | 4.1% | 51.6% | 0.6 | No clear difference |
| English Opening | 19,911 | 3.3% | 53.6% | 0.7 | Above |
| Queen's Gambit Declined | 19,317 | 3.2% | 53.4% | 0.7 | Above |
| Indian Defense | 13,847 | 2.3% | 51.6% | 0.8 | No clear difference |
| Philidor Defense | 13,588 | 2.2% | 51.7% | 0.8 | No clear difference |
| Modern Defense | 13,095 | 2.2% | 51.5% | 0.8 | No clear difference |
| Scotch Game | 12,761 | 2.1% | 53.8% | 0.8 | Above |
| Pirc Defense | 12,016 | 2.0% | 52.2% | 0.9 | No clear difference |
| Ruy Lopez | 11,357 | 1.9% | 53.4% | 0.9 | Above |
| Zukertort Opening | 10,660 | 1.8% | 52.0% | 0.9 | No clear difference |
Which openings score above or below average for players rated 1600 to 1999?
White scored clearly above the level average in games that reached the Queen's Pawn Game, English Opening, Queen's Gambit Declined, Scotch Game, Ruy Lopez, Bishop's Opening, Vienna Game, Queen's Gambit Accepted, where the gap from the average is larger than the margin and at least a point.
White scored clearly below the average in games that reached the French Defense, Caro-Kann Defense, Scandinavian Defense, King's Pawn Game, Van't Kruijs Opening, Nimzowitsch Defense, Alekhine Defense, Elephant Gambit, by the same rule.
A family is a group of related lines, and a score above average for White is a score below average for the side that chose the defense. Treat a clear gap as a hint about what players at this level handle well, not as a verdict on the opening.
What should I take from these numbers when I choose an opening?
White's score in the 15 most played openings runs from 50.2% to 53.8%, around 51.8% for all openings at this level. A gap that size is small next to knowing an opening well, so the opening you understand and have played before will usually serve you better than the one with the best score, and a coach can look at the positions you reach in your own games. A first lesson with George Li starts from those games.
How were these opening statistics measured?
Rated Blitz, Rapid and Classical games on 1 September 2026 between players within 100 rating points, banded by the lower rating. A score is wins plus half the draws, with a 95 percent margin. The hub page explains the method in full.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most played opening for players rated 1600 to 1999?
The Sicilian Defense, with 77,421 games, which is 12.8% of the games between players rated 1600 to 1999 on 1 September 2026.
How often does White win when players are rated 1600 to 1999?
White won 49.5%, drew 4.5% and lost 46.0% of 606,149 games, a White score of 51.8%.
Do these numbers show the best opening?
No. They show how often White scored in games that reached each opening. The side that chooses an opening also chooses which games reach it, and players of different strength choose different openings, so a score is not a ranking of quality.
Sources
Related guides and tools
- Chess opening statistics for players rated under 1200
- Chess opening statistics for players rated 1200 to 1599
- Chess opening statistics for players rated 2000 and above
- Sicilian Defense win rate and statistics
- Queen's Pawn Game win rate and statistics
- French Defense win rate and statistics
- Caro-Kann Defense win rate and statistics
- Scandinavian Defense win rate and statistics
- Italian Game win rate and statistics
- Most popular chess openings and win rates
- Average chess rating and a good chess rating
- Book your first lesson
Last updated 2026-10-22.
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