Average total pieces on board at game end including kings by game type
Elo+Chess Research Study
A comparison of pieces remaining on-board for valid game endings across Elo buckets.
Lichess losing-side endings grouped by game type and loser Elo bucket. In this article, valid game endings means exact checkmates plus engine-confirmed resignation-like endings, while excluding time forfeits, abandoned games, unclear engine cases, and positions where the losing side was not clearly lost.
Summary By Game Type
| game_type_label | n | n_checkmate | n_resignation_like | avg_total_pieces | median_total_pieces | pct_10_or_fewer | pct_16_or_fewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1min Bullet | 544,204 | 269,871 | 274,333 | 17.45 | 18.00 | 14.8% | 43.5% |
| 3min Blitz | 715,801 | 267,004 | 448,797 | 16.86 | 17.00 | 17.8% | 47.4% |
| 10min Rapid | 619,278 | 271,289 | 347,989 | 17.56 | 18.00 | 17.9% | 44.4% |
| >10min Rapid | 788,700 | 318,902 | 469,798 | 16.78 | 17.00 | 21.1% | 48.4% |
Definition
Valid means either checkmate on the final board, or
normal_decisive_unknown with engine class engine_almost_certain_loss,
engine_likely_loss, or engine_forced_mate_against_loser.
Piece count includes kings unless a chart or column explicitly says non-king pieces.
Main Observations
- 1min Bullet: 544,204 valid endings, averaging 17.45 pieces on board.
- 3min Blitz: 715,801 valid endings, averaging 16.86 pieces on board.
- 10min Rapid: 619,278 valid endings, averaging 17.56 pieces on board.
- >10min Rapid: 788,700 valid endings, averaging 16.78 pieces on board.
- 1min Bullet: average pieces decline from 24.00 in <800 to 15.76 in 2200+.
- 3min Blitz: average pieces decline from 20.38 in <800 to 15.49 in 2200+.
- 10min Rapid: average pieces decline from 19.29 in <800 to 16.36 in 1600-1799.
- >10min Rapid: average pieces decline from 18.88 in <800 to 12.68 in 2200+.
Share of games with 10 or fewer total pieces on board including kings at game end
Difference between avg pieces on board at game end between resignations and checkmates
Total piece count at game end bucket distribution
Average Non-king pieces on board at end by winning and losing side
Summary By Elo Bucket
| game_type_label | elo_bucket | n | claim_safe | avg_total_pieces | median_total_pieces | q1_total_pieces | q3_total_pieces | avg_nonking_pieces | avg_loser_nonking_pieces | avg_winner_nonking_pieces | pct_10_or_fewer | pct_16_or_fewer | avg_loser_material_delta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1min Bullet | <800 | 17,159 | yes | 24.00 | 25.00 | 21.00 | 28.00 | 22.00 | 10.11 | 11.89 | 0.8% | 7.9% | -7.32 |
| 1min Bullet | 800-999 | 23,278 | yes | 22.21 | 23.00 | 19.00 | 26.00 | 20.21 | 9.23 | 10.98 | 1.6% | 15.5% | -7.10 |
| 1min Bullet | 1000-1199 | 28,290 | yes | 20.73 | 21.00 | 17.00 | 25.00 | 18.73 | 8.51 | 10.22 | 3.5% | 23.5% | -7.00 |
| 1min Bullet | 1200-1399 | 32,196 | yes | 19.79 | 20.00 | 16.00 | 24.00 | 17.79 | 8.05 | 9.74 | 5.3% | 28.6% | -6.98 |
| 1min Bullet | 1400-1599 | 36,587 | yes | 18.86 | 19.00 | 15.00 | 23.00 | 16.86 | 7.55 | 9.31 | 7.8% | 34.9% | -7.15 |
| 1min Bullet | 1600-1799 | 39,953 | yes | 18.12 | 18.00 | 14.00 | 22.00 | 16.12 | 7.17 | 8.94 | 9.8% | 39.4% | -7.32 |
| 1min Bullet | 1800-1999 | 43,189 | yes | 17.61 | 18.00 | 14.00 | 22.00 | 15.61 | 6.94 | 8.67 | 11.9% | 42.8% | -7.20 |
| 1min Bullet | 2000-2199 | 46,849 | yes | 17.29 | 17.00 | 13.00 | 21.00 | 15.29 | 6.83 | 8.46 | 13.4% | 44.5% | -6.81 |
| 1min Bullet | 2200+ | 276,703 | yes | 15.76 | 16.00 | 11.00 | 20.00 | 13.76 | 6.17 | 7.59 | 21.4% | 53.6% | -5.69 |
| 3min Blitz | <800 | 42,556 | yes | 20.38 | 21.00 | 15.00 | 26.00 | 18.38 | 8.16 | 10.23 | 8.9% | 29.3% | -8.88 |
| 3min Blitz | 800-999 | 57,944 | yes | 18.98 | 19.00 | 14.00 | 24.00 | 16.98 | 7.55 | 9.43 | 11.9% | 36.1% | -8.14 |
| 3min Blitz | 1000-1199 | 63,268 | yes | 17.92 | 18.00 | 13.00 | 23.00 | 15.92 | 7.08 | 8.84 | 14.3% | 41.6% | -7.49 |
| 3min Blitz | 1200-1399 | 66,274 | yes | 17.29 | 17.00 | 13.00 | 22.00 | 15.29 | 6.81 | 8.48 | 15.9% | 45.1% | -7.00 |
| 3min Blitz | 1400-1599 | 68,474 | yes | 16.91 | 17.00 | 13.00 | 21.00 | 14.91 | 6.67 | 8.24 | 17.0% | 46.8% | -6.44 |
| 3min Blitz | 1600-1799 | 68,252 | yes | 16.63 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 21.00 | 14.63 | 6.58 | 8.05 | 17.6% | 48.2% | -5.97 |
| 3min Blitz | 1800-1999 | 67,620 | yes | 16.44 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 21.00 | 14.44 | 6.53 | 7.91 | 18.4% | 49.2% | -5.44 |
| 3min Blitz | 2000-2199 | 67,324 | yes | 16.37 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 21.00 | 14.37 | 6.57 | 7.81 | 18.3% | 49.6% | -4.80 |
| 3min Blitz | 2200+ | 214,089 | yes | 15.49 | 16.00 | 11.00 | 20.00 | 13.49 | 6.21 | 7.28 | 22.9% | 55.2% | -3.88 |
| 10min Rapid | <800 | 103,059 | yes | 19.29 | 20.00 | 13.00 | 26.00 | 17.29 | 7.56 | 9.73 | 15.3% | 37.0% | -9.39 |
| 10min Rapid | 800-999 | 118,233 | yes | 18.28 | 18.00 | 13.00 | 24.00 | 16.28 | 7.18 | 9.09 | 16.2% | 40.7% | -8.23 |
| 10min Rapid | 1000-1199 | 121,218 | yes | 17.44 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 23.00 | 15.44 | 6.84 | 8.59 | 17.8% | 44.7% | -7.35 |
| 10min Rapid | 1200-1399 | 123,848 | yes | 16.88 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 22.00 | 14.88 | 6.63 | 8.25 | 19.0% | 47.6% | -6.57 |
| 10min Rapid | 1400-1599 | 122,265 | yes | 16.51 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 21.00 | 14.51 | 6.52 | 7.99 | 20.0% | 49.5% | -5.83 |
| 10min Rapid | 1600-1799 | 30,439 | yes | 16.36 | 16.00 | 12.00 | 21.00 | 14.36 | 6.49 | 7.87 | 20.4% | 50.1% | -5.37 |
| 10min Rapid | 1800-1999 | 203 | no | 16.95 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 22.00 | 14.95 | 6.88 | 8.06 | 17.7% | 45.8% | -5.13 |
| 10min Rapid | 2000-2199 | 10 | no | 14.50 | 15.50 | 10.00 | 20.00 | 12.50 | 5.30 | 7.20 | 40.0% | 60.0% | -7.30 |
| 10min Rapid | 2200+ | 3 | no | 23.33 | 23.00 | 22.50 | 24.00 | 21.33 | 10.33 | 11.00 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1.33 |
| >10min Rapid | <800 | 67,727 | yes | 18.88 | 19.00 | 13.00 | 25.00 | 16.88 | 7.13 | 9.74 | 15.2% | 38.8% | -10.53 |
| >10min Rapid | 800-999 | 110,566 | yes | 18.19 | 18.00 | 13.00 | 24.00 | 16.19 | 7.08 | 9.11 | 16.7% | 41.2% | -8.42 |
| >10min Rapid | 1000-1199 | 126,108 | yes | 17.53 | 18.00 | 12.00 | 23.00 | 15.53 | 6.85 | 8.68 | 18.0% | 44.0% | -7.46 |
| >10min Rapid | 1200-1399 | 127,745 | yes | 16.89 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 22.00 | 14.89 | 6.58 | 8.30 | 19.9% | 47.5% | -6.73 |
| >10min Rapid | 1400-1599 | 124,121 | yes | 16.50 | 17.00 | 12.00 | 22.00 | 14.50 | 6.48 | 8.02 | 21.2% | 49.6% | -5.81 |
| >10min Rapid | 1600-1799 | 71,257 | yes | 16.18 | 16.00 | 11.00 | 21.00 | 14.18 | 6.40 | 7.78 | 21.7% | 51.0% | -5.01 |
| >10min Rapid | 1800-1999 | 57,014 | yes | 15.73 | 16.00 | 11.00 | 20.00 | 13.73 | 6.24 | 7.49 | 23.6% | 53.7% | -4.40 |
| >10min Rapid | 2000-2199 | 64,138 | yes | 15.17 | 15.00 | 10.00 | 20.00 | 13.17 | 5.99 | 7.18 | 26.6% | 57.5% | -4.16 |
| >10min Rapid | 2200+ | 40,024 | yes | 12.68 | 12.00 | 7.00 | 17.00 | 10.68 | 4.67 | 6.01 | 42.9% | 70.9% | -5.75 |
Top Excluded / Background Ending Classes
Shown for context. The study dataset keeps only the valid-ending cohorts described above.
| game_type_label | ending_cause_class | engine_ending_class | rows | suspicious_engine_rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1min Bullet | time_forfeit | (none) | 663,991 | 0 |
| >10min Rapid | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_almost_certain_loss | 384,391 | 0 |
| 3min Blitz | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_almost_certain_loss | 368,361 | 0 |
| >10min Rapid | checkmate_on_board | (none) | 318,902 | 0 |
| 3min Blitz | time_forfeit | (none) | 311,867 | 0 |
| 10min Rapid | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_almost_certain_loss | 280,173 | 0 |
| 10min Rapid | checkmate_on_board | (none) | 271,289 | 0 |
| 1min Bullet | checkmate_on_board | (none) | 269,871 | 0 |
| 3min Blitz | checkmate_on_board | (none) | 267,004 | 0 |
| 1min Bullet | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_almost_certain_loss | 223,362 | 0 |
| 10min Rapid | time_forfeit | (none) | 90,336 | 0 |
| >10min Rapid | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_forced_mate_against_loser | 82,512 | 0 |
| >10min Rapid | time_forfeit | (none) | 81,098 | 0 |
| 3min Blitz | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_forced_mate_against_loser | 78,289 | 0 |
| 10min Rapid | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_forced_mate_against_loser | 65,886 | 0 |
| 1min Bullet | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_forced_mate_against_loser | 49,866 | 0 |
| >10min Rapid | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_unclear | 18,119 | 18,119 |
| 10min Rapid | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_unclear | 14,460 | 14,460 |
| 3min Blitz | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_unclear | 11,710 | 11,710 |
| 10min Rapid | normal_decisive_unknown | engine_loser_not_lost | 9,677 | 9,677 |
Caveats
- Lichess target-B samples only.
- The resignation-like group is an operational proxy because exact resignation metadata is imperfect.
- This is conditioned on final game endings, not on all lost positions.
- Fixed-time Stockfish labels are useful but noisy.