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English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense

84K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score47.2%Range (90% confident): 46.9% – 47.4%Based on 84K games
0%47.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 46.9% – 47.4%
Outcome Distribution
45.1%4.2%50.8%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...c6
English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense
Analyzen=84K
Avg Length37 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.2%

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 47.2% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 46.9% and 47.4%), based on 84K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 46% → 39%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 46.4% win rate (1,189 games)
  • 1000-1199: 46.5% win rate (3,172 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.9% win rate (7,917 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.5% win rate (14,072 games)
  • 1600-1799: 46.1% win rate (19,619 games)
  • 1800-1999: 44.7% win rate (20,297 games)
  • 2000-2199: 42.6% win rate (12,592 games)
  • 2200-2499: 40.3% win rate (4,338 games)
  • 2500+: 39.1% win rate (317 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (50%), worst in Rapid (44%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 49.6% win rate (60 games)
  • Bullet: 45.7% win rate (23,623 games)
  • Blitz: 45.1% win rate (46,951 games)
  • Rapid: 43.5% win rate (12,445 games)
  • Classical: 45.6% win rate (434 games)

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

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: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (423 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (546 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 41.7% expected score (214 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 32.9% expected score (19 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (1,055 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (1,541 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.0% expected score (552 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 64.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.6% expected score (2,241 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (4,177 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 45.3% expected score (1,438 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (52 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 52.5% expected score (19 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (3,599 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (7,830 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.6% expected score (2,488 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 43.1% expected score (136 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.6% expected score (5,208 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (10,913 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 46.8% expected score (3,354 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 47.5% expected score (137 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 45.7% expected score (5,157 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (12,124 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 46.5% expected score (2,933 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (82 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (3,613 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 44.7% expected score (7,743 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 44.3% expected score (1,218 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (17 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 43.5% expected score (2,050 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 43.0% expected score (2,038 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 45.2% expected score (247 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 44.5% expected score (277 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 32.7% expected score (39 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 30.0% expected score (1 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: King's English Variation, Keres Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.5%-51.1%) win rate for white, based on 84K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense perform best?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 53.7% win rate for white (4.3K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (51.5%) outperforms UltraBullet (49.6%) by 1.9%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a sharpness score of 95.8 (very decisive), meaning 95.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 50.3% (90% CI: 47.9%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 1.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 50.8% (90% CI: 49.4%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 3.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 50.6% (90% CI: 49.7%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 7.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.1%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 14K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.5%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 20K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 50.6% (90% CI: 50.1%-51.2%) win rate for white, based on 20K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 52.3% (90% CI: 51.6%-53.1%) win rate for white, based on 13K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 53.7% (90% CI: 52.4%-54.9%) win rate for white, based on 4.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 53.5% (90% CI: 48.9%-58.1%) win rate for white, based on 317 Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 7.4% draw rate.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 51.5% (90% CI: 51.0%-52.1%) win rate for white (24K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.8%.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 50.3% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.7%) win rate for white (47K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.5%.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 51.2% (90% CI: 50.5%-52.0%) win rate for white (12K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.3%.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense has a 49.0% (90% CI: 45.1%-53.0%) win rate for white (434 Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.4%.

Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense a good opening?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense is statistically favors white with a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.5%-51.1%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2200-2499 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.