St. George Defense: Zilbermints Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
8,798 games: White 57.1% / Draw 3.5% / Black 39.3%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 3,7873,787 | ||
| 1,9021,902 | ||
| 1,8731,873 | ||
| 463463 | ||
| 315315 | ||
| 120120 | ||
| 115115 | ||
| 6363 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 6, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.24 White is better
Best play: 3. dxe5 Nc6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Bf4 g5 7. Bg3 h5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
St. George Defense: Zilbermints Gambit (ECO B00, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the St. George Defense, reached after 1. e4 a6 2. d4 e5 (2 moves).
In 8,798 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 57.1%, Black 39.3% and 3.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 3. dxe5, in 43% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the St. George Defense: Zilbermints Gambit
3. c3 scores best for White: 61.9%, with White winning 59.8% and Black 36.1% of 463 games. The most played, 3. dxe5, scores 61.5% in 3,787 games, and 3. d5 scores lowest: 50.9%. Stockfish's first choice is 3. dxe5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “St. George Defense: Zilbermints Gambit (B00)”. Lichess data as of 6 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/st-george-defense-zilbermints-gambit