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10 Chess Openings Beginners Keep Playing That Stockfish Hates (June 2026)
Ranked by how many real Lichess games begin with each of these objectively bad moves. We cross-referenced every popular opening on Lichess with Stockfish depth-16 evaluations. These 10 openings appear in millions of real games — and they're all objectively terrible for the player who chose them.
Data: Lichess games at 600–1,200 Elo · Lichess database · Stockfish depth 16 · 2026-06-06 · Stockfish depth 16
Rankings
| # | Opening | Bad for | Stockfish | Games (600–1200) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Englund Gambitd4 e5
|
Black | +1.20 | 39,390,142 | W 48.8% / D 3.6% / B 47.6% |
| 2 |
King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambite4 e5 Nf3 Bc5
|
Black | +1.49 | 14,911,594 | W 52.5% / D 3.3% / B 44.1% |
| 3 |
King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defensee4 e5 Nf3 Qf6
|
Black | +1.21 | 11,711,129 | W 51.2% / D 3.8% / B 45.0% |
| 4 |
Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambite4 e5 Nf3 Nf6 Nxe5 Nc6
|
Black | +1.51 | 7,046,171 | W 45.6% / D 3.2% / B 51.2% |
| 5 |
Grob Openingg4
|
White | -1.25 | 7,464,594 | W 48.3% / D 3.8% / B 47.9% |
| 6 |
Blackburne Shilling Gambite4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nd4
|
Black | +1.10 | 8,063,226 | W 46.6% / D 3.5% / B 49.9% |
| 7 |
Elephant Gambite4 e5 Nf3 d5
|
Black | +0.92 | 8,673,155 | W 49.6% / D 3.5% / B 46.9% |
| 8 |
King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defensee4 e5 Nf3 f6
|
Black | +1.54 | 5,035,465 | W 60.5% / D 3.8% / B 35.7% |
| 9 |
Fried Liver Attacke4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6 Ng5 d5 exd5 Nxd5
|
Black | +1.11 | 6,266,722 | W 62.6% / D 3.0% / B 34.3% |
| 10 |
Duras Gambite4 f5
|
Black | +1.63 | 3,049,224 | W 51.7% / D 3.2% / B 45.1% |
#1 — Englund Gambit d4 e5
After d4 e5, the Englund Gambit hands White a 1.20-pawn advantage. Despite this, 39,390,142 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 47.6% of those games (3.6% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with dxe5 (dxe5 Nc6 Nf3 d5).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 48.8% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
#2 — King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit e4 e5 Nf3 Bc5
After e4 e5 Nf3 Bc5, the King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit hands White a 1.49-pawn advantage. Despite this, 14,911,594 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 44.1% of those games (3.3% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with Nxe5 (Nxe5 Nc6 Nxc6 dxc6).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 52.5% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
#3 — King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defense e4 e5 Nf3 Qf6
After e4 e5 Nf3 Qf6, the King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defense hands White a 1.21-pawn advantage. Despite this, 11,711,129 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 45.0% of those games (3.8% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with Nc3 (Nc3 Nc6 d4 Bb4).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 51.2% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
#4 — Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit e4 e5 Nf3 Nf6 Nxe5 Nc6
After e4 e5 Nf3 Nf6 Nxe5 Nc6, the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit hands White a 1.51-pawn advantage. Despite this, 7,046,171 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 51.2% of those games (3.2% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with Nxc6 (Nxc6 bxc6 Nc3 Bb4).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 45.6% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
#5 — Grob Opening g4
The Grob Opening (g4) gives Black a 1.25-pawn advantage according to Stockfish at depth 16. Despite this, 7,464,594 Lichess games have reached this position — making it one of the most popular objectively-losing opening choices for White.
White wins just 48.3% of those games, well below the 50% baseline. Stockfish's recommendation is d5 — a line that runs d5 g5 h6 d4.
The position violates fundamental opening principles: it fails to contest the centre, wastes tempo, or weakens key squares — handing Black a smooth path to an advantage.
#6 — Blackburne Shilling Gambit e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nd4
After e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nd4, the Blackburne Shilling Gambit hands White a 1.10-pawn advantage. Despite this, 8,063,226 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 49.9% of those games (3.5% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with Nxd4 (Nxd4 exd4 O-O g6).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 46.6% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
#7 — Elephant Gambit e4 e5 Nf3 d5
After e4 e5 Nf3 d5, the Elephant Gambit hands White a 0.92-pawn advantage. Despite this, 8,673,155 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 46.9% of those games (3.5% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with exd5 (exd5 e4 Qe2 Qe7).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 49.6% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
#8 — King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense e4 e5 Nf3 f6
After e4 e5 Nf3 f6, the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense hands White a 1.54-pawn advantage. Despite this, 5,035,465 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 35.7% of those games (3.8% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with Nxe5 (Nxe5 Qe7 Nf3 d5).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 60.5% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
#9 — Fried Liver Attack e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6 Ng5 d5 exd5 Nxd5
After e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6 Ng5 d5 exd5 Nxd5, the Fried Liver Attack hands White a 1.11-pawn advantage. Despite this, 6,266,722 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 34.3% of those games (3.0% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with Nxf7 (Nxf7 Kxf7 Qf3+ Ke6).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 62.6% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
#10 — Duras Gambit e4 f5
After e4 f5, the Duras Gambit hands White a 1.63-pawn advantage. Despite this, 3,049,224 Lichess games have featured it — typically because Black hopes for a tactical trick that Stockfish already refutes.
Black wins just 45.1% of those games (3.2% drawn). Stockfish's clean refutation starts with exf5 (exf5 Nf6 d4 d5).
The engine's verdict is decisive: the activity Black gains from the gambit doesn't compensate for the structural or material deficit. White's 51.7% win rate confirms how often the refutation is straightforward.
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