Chess openings by rating: under 1200
Among 274,199 rated games between players rated under 1200 on 1 September 2026, the most played openings were Queen's Pawn Game, King's Pawn Game, Italian Game. White scored 51.9% across all openings at this level, with a margin of 0.2 points.
What openings do players rated under 1200 play most?
The table lists the 15 most played opening families in games between players rated under 1200, with White's score and its margin. A score close to 51.9%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Pawn Game | 29,782 | 10.9% | 52.7% | 0.6 | No clear difference |
| King's Pawn Game | 23,156 | 8.4% | 51.7% | 0.6 | No clear difference |
| Italian Game | 17,493 | 6.4% | 53.1% | 0.7 | Above |
| Scandinavian Defense | 16,863 | 6.1% | 52.3% | 0.7 | No clear difference |
| French Defense | 13,600 | 5.0% | 49.5% | 0.8 | Below |
| Sicilian Defense | 12,471 | 4.5% | 49.5% | 0.9 | Below |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 12,076 | 4.4% | 49.6% | 0.9 | Below |
| Bishop's Opening | 8,737 | 3.2% | 52.9% | 1.0 | No clear difference |
| Philidor Defense | 8,563 | 3.1% | 53.2% | 1.0 | Above |
| Four Knights Game | 7,490 | 2.7% | 51.4% | 1.1 | No clear difference |
| Scotch Game | 6,937 | 2.5% | 55.2% | 1.1 | Above |
| Petrov's Defense | 6,744 | 2.5% | 54.1% | 1.2 | Above |
| Zukertort Opening | 5,902 | 2.2% | 50.1% | 1.2 | Below |
| Van't Kruijs Opening | 5,749 | 2.1% | 50.1% | 1.3 | Below |
| Ruy Lopez | 5,474 | 2.0% | 53.4% | 1.3 | Above |
Which openings score above or below average for players rated under 1200?
White scored clearly above the level average in games that reached the Italian Game, Philidor Defense, Scotch Game, Petrov's Defense, Ruy Lopez, Nimzowitsch Defense, King's Knight Opening, 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, Sicilian Defense, Caro-Kann Defense, Zukertort Opening, Van't Kruijs Opening, Modern Defense, Mieses Opening, 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 49.5% to 55.2%, around 51.9% 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 under 1200?
The Queen's Pawn Game, with 29,782 games, which is 10.9% of the games between players rated under 1200 on 1 September 2026.
How often does White win when players are rated under 1200?
White won 50.0%, drew 3.8% and lost 46.2% of 274,199 games, a White score of 51.9%.
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 1200 to 1599
- Chess opening statistics for players rated 1600 to 1999
- Chess opening statistics for players rated 2000 and above
- Queen's Pawn Game win rate and statistics
- King's Pawn Game win rate and statistics
- Italian Game win rate and statistics
- Scandinavian Defense win rate and statistics
- French Defense win rate and statistics
- Sicilian Defense 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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