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Zukertort Opening: Lisitsyn Gambit as White
The Zukertort Opening: Lisitsyn Gambit starts with 1.Nf3 f5 2.e4, and the first big decision arrives immediately because it is Black to move in the resulting position. This is a sharp little opening that can lead to an equal fight if Black knows the best reply, but it also gives you chances to punish careless moves. Use the drill below to practise the critical position, learn the most common replies, and spot the mistakes that let White take over.
Play the Zukertort Opening: Lisitsyn Gambit against the engine
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Play the drill and test yourself against the main replies. Create a free account to track your progress and sharpen your opening play.
Create a free account →What the position asks you to handle
After 1.Nf3 f5 2.e4, you are in a position where both sides still have a lot of freedom. Stockfish rates this -0.12, a small plus for Black. That means you are slightly worse here. The practical takeaway is simple: do not panic, but do be ready for accurate defence against Black’s most forcing response. This is a good position to know because it can become a real battle very quickly if your opponent chooses anything less precise than the engine’s top move.
The move Black should know
The engine’s best move here is fxe4, and that is the reply you should expect most often in the drill. The main continuation listed is fxe4 Ng5 Nf6 d3. You do not need to memorise long branches beyond that here; the important point is that Black can meet your challenge directly and keep the game on track. Your job as White is to understand the position well enough to handle this response confidently and to notice when Black steps off the best line.
What the database says
This exact position has been played 168,029 times in the Lichess database, so it is common enough to deserve serious attention. White scores 48.7%, draws 2.9%, and Black wins 48.4%. That is another sign that the opening is basically level in practical play, even if the engine gives Black a tiny edge. For White, the lesson is not that the opening is winning, but that you can get a playable game and put Black under pressure if they choose an imprecise continuation.
The replies you are most likely to face
The most-played continuation is fxe4, with 130,206 games and White scoring 46.8%. After that, the next most common replies are Nf6, d6, e6, e5, and f4. These are the moves you should expect to meet in the drill, especially if you want to learn the opening by pattern rather than by memorising theory. Since the position can stay close to equal, understanding which replies are risky matters more than chasing tricks.
Which replies slip up
Three replies are marked as mistakes in this position. Nf6 is a mistake and loses about 1.8 pawns, with fxe4 as the better move. d6 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns, again with fxe4 as the better move. e6 is a mistake and loses about 1.5 pawns, also with fxe4 as the better move. If Black chooses one of these, you should be alert: the opening has just become much easier for you to handle, and the drill is a good place to learn how to punish those slips.
Results across 168,029 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| fxe4 | 130,206 | 46.8% |
| Nf6 | 15,883 | 52.4% |
| d6 | 5,190 | 52.0% |
| e6 | 3,844 | 56.0% |
| e5 | 2,442 | 54.8% |
| f4 | 2,044 | 62.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zukertort Opening: Lisitsyn Gambit good for White?
It is playable, but not clearly better for White in the starting position shown here. Stockfish rates the position -0.12, a small plus for Black, so you should expect a roughly equal fight rather than an easy advantage. The practical results are also close to balanced.
What is the main move I should expect from Black?
The engine’s best move is fxe4, and it is also the most-played continuation by a large margin. If you are studying this opening, that is the reply to focus on first. The listed main continuation is fxe4 Ng5 Nf6 d3.
Which Black moves are risky in this position?
Nf6 is a mistake, d6 is an inaccuracy, and e6 is a mistake. In each case, the better move is fxe4. That makes these replies useful targets when you are training the opening as White.
What should I learn from the database results?
This exact position has a very close score over 168,029 games, with White wins at 48.7%, draws at 2.9%, and Black wins at 48.4%. That tells you the opening is practical and balanced enough to play as White. The key is to know the main reply and recognise the common mistakes.
How many games feature the Zukertort Opening: Lisitsyn Gambit?
Over 168K Lichess games have reached the Zukertort Opening: Lisitsyn Gambit position. White wins 48.7%, Black wins 48.4%, with 2.9% draws — based on real rated games.