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English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation

434K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

48.0%

40%55%
Floor47.8%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 48.1%.

Measured over 434K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

Black comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 5.8 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 434K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
434K
Best context
54.3% at 1000-1199 Rapid
Worst context
41.6% at 2500+ Blitz
Average game length
38 moves
Games that end decisively
94.2%
Draws
5.8%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It falls away as the rating rises: 61.2% at 0-999, 47.9% at 2500+.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 67.7% expected score (7 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (752 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.9% expected score (1,236 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 59.4% expected score (455 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.5% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (1,569 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (2,480 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 54.3% expected score (837 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 60.3% expected score (18 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 69.9% expected score (54 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (4,253 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.0% expected score (5,173 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (1,772 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 42.6% expected score (39 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 60.2% expected score (269 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (6,925 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (11,110 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (3,017 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 49.8% expected score (196 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 47.6% expected score (379 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (12,164 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (23,012 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.0% expected score (5,203 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.7% expected score (368 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 48.5% expected score (294 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (22,897 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.7% expected score (42,842 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (9,040 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 52.9% expected score (776 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.0% expected score (370 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (37,673 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (70,366 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (8,824 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 45.9% expected score (347 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 51.1% expected score (89 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (50,794 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.8% expected score (64,734 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 44.2% expected score (4,904 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 45.3% expected score (115 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 76.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (29,237 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.6% expected score (9,447 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 38.1% expected score (295 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 37.0% expected score (10 games)

Related Openings

Parent
English Opening
50.4%
Variations (5)
English Opening: King's English Variation
51.0%
English Opening: Agincourt Defense
50.2%
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense
52.0%
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian
52.2%
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation
50.5%
Continuations (1)
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation, Double Fianchetto
49.2%
Analyze English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation scores 48.0% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 47.8% and 48.1% — from 434K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
434K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate?

Playing the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation, Black wins 45.0%, draws 5.8% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.0%. It rests on 434K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation perform best?

The English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 52.2% (2.5K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 47.3% in Blitz (230K games) against 48.4% in Rapid (34K games).

How sharp is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation?

The English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation has a sharpness score of 94.2 (decisive), meaning 94.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 38 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 50.3%, draws 3.8% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 2.5K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 49.8%, draws 2.6% and loses 47.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.1%. It rests on 4.9K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 48.3%, draws 3.3% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.9%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 48.6%, draws 3.3% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 22K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 47.5%, draws 4.2% and loses 48.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 41K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 46.7%, draws 5.2% and loses 48.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.3%. It rests on 76K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 45.0%, draws 6.0% and loses 49.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.0%. It rests on 118K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 43.2%, draws 7.0% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.7%. It rests on 121K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 41.3%, draws 7.4% and loses 51.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.0%. It rests on 39K Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 49.7%, draws 2.5% and loses 47.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.0%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 46.4%, draws 4.5% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.7%. It rests on 166K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 44.0%, draws 6.6% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.3%. It rests on 230K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 44.9%, draws 7.0% and loses 48.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 34K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 45.6%, draws 9.1% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games.

Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation a good opening?

The English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 45.0% of its games and loses 49.1%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.