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English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation

346K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

51.5%

45%55%
Floor51.4%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 51.6%.

Measured over 346K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for White

Draw 10.7 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 346K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
346K
Best context
58.1% at 2200-2499 Rapid
Worst context
45.8% at 0-999 Rapid
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
89.3%
Draws
10.7%

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.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.2% · UltraBullet best · Classical worst

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 44.1% at 0-999, 46.5% 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: 37.1% expected score (14 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (5,389 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (14,335 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (7,784 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 41.5% expected score (69 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.4% expected score (20 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.5% expected score (9,152 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (23,572 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.9% expected score (12,431 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (316 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 56.4% expected score (30 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (9,412 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (26,636 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.3% expected score (16,512 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.6% expected score (768 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 63.8% expected score (53 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (10,013 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (27,820 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (16,090 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 48.3% expected score (1,367 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 46.6% expected score (13 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (8,674 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (24,364 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (12,531 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.5% expected score (909 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 40.5% expected score (9 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.5% expected score (7,325 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (18,897 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (8,080 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.1% expected score (413 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 39.5% expected score (8 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.3% expected score (6,558 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.3% expected score (14,927 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (3,452 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 64.0% expected score (210 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (14 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 55.5% expected score (8,204 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 57.1% expected score (16,246 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 58.1% expected score (2,211 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 60.5% expected score (75 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.0% expected score (16,429 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 53.9% expected score (11,560 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (2,133 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 55.5% expected score (488 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%
Analyze English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation scores 51.5% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 51.4% and 51.6% — from 346K 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
346K+ 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: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate?

Playing the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation, White wins 46.1%, draws 10.7% and loses 43.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 346K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation perform best?

The English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation performs best for White at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 56.7% (27K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 51.8% in Blitz (178K games) against 50.0% in Rapid (81K games).

How sharp is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation?

The English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation has a sharpness score of 89.3 (moderately decisive), meaning 89.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 45.8%, draws 3.6% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.7%. It rests on 28K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 48.1%, draws 3.7% and loses 48.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 45K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 48.1%, draws 3.8% and loses 48.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 53K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 48.4%, draws 4.0% and loses 47.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.4%. It rests on 55K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 49.2%, draws 4.5% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 46K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 49.5%, draws 5.3% and loses 45.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 35K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 51.4%, draws 6.2% and loses 42.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 53.2%, draws 7.0% and loses 39.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.7%. It rests on 27K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 16.9%, draws 73.9% and loses 9.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.9%. It rests on 31K Lichess games, which average 57 moves.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 51.1%, draws 0.9% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.6%. It rests on 164 Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 43.5%, draws 17.4% and loses 39.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 81K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 47.2%, draws 9.1% and loses 43.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.8%. It rests on 178K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 46.4%, draws 7.1% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 81K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 42.9%, draws 15.0% and loses 42.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.4%. It rests on 4.6K Lichess games.

Is the English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation a good opening?

The English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 46.1% of its games and loses 43.2%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.