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English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation

323K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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2.Nf3
Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

53.0%

45%60%
Floor52.8%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 53.1%.

Measured over 323K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.9 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 323K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
323K
Best context
59.5% at 2500+ Blitz
Worst context
43.8% at 1400-1599 Classical
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
96.1%
Draws
3.9%

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: 8.3% · 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: 45.7% at 0-999, 62.2% 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: 38.9% expected score (57 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (5,540 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.7% expected score (13,129 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 47.8% expected score (9,451 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 44.3% expected score (155 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 48.4% expected score (268 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (7,127 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.6% expected score (12,689 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (6,454 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 45.3% expected score (329 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 48.7% expected score (374 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (11,343 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (17,214 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (7,340 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.2% expected score (482 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 55.6% expected score (949 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (17,445 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (22,743 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (7,829 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 43.8% expected score (551 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 55.9% expected score (680 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (22,759 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (23,183 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (5,684 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.8% expected score (247 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 57.1% expected score (289 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 53.3% expected score (23,246 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 54.6% expected score (20,664 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 55.3% expected score (4,286 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 64.0% expected score (213 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 59.0% expected score (232 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (22,951 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.3% expected score (18,854 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 55.2% expected score (1,450 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 59.4% expected score (41 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 53.9% expected score (75 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 54.5% expected score (21,616 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 58.0% expected score (8,151 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 58.6% expected score (494 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 58.5% expected score (6,061 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.5% expected score (764 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 64.3% expected score (16 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 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, Nimzowitsch Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation scores 53.0% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 52.8% and 53.1% — from 323K 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
323K+ 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: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate?

Playing the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation, White wins 51.0%, draws 3.9% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.0%. It rests on 323K rated games from Lichess.

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

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 58.7% (6.8K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 53.5% in Blitz (137K games) against 51.0% in Rapid (43K games).

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

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation has a sharpness score of 96.1 (very decisive), meaning 96.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999, White wins 46.3%, draws 4.6% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.6%. It rests on 28K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, White wins 49.5%, draws 3.4% and loses 47.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.2%. It rests on 27K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 50.3%, draws 3.1% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 37K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 50.6%, draws 3.1% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 50K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 51.7%, draws 3.4% and loses 45.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 53K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 52.1%, draws 3.9% and loses 44.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.1%. It rests on 49K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 52.0%, draws 4.4% and loses 43.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.2%. It rests on 44K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 52.8%, draws 5.4% and loses 41.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.5%. It rests on 30K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

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

At 2500+, White wins 55.5%, draws 6.3% and loses 38.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.7%. It rests on 6.8K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 53.7%, draws 1.0% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.2%. It rests on 2.9K Lichess games.

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

In Bullet, White wins 51.7%, draws 2.9% and loses 45.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.2%. It rests on 138K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 51.2%, draws 4.5% and loses 44.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 137K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 48.4%, draws 5.1% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.0%. It rests on 43K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, White wins 45.4%, draws 5.3% and loses 49.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.1%. It rests on 2.0K Lichess games.

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

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 51.0% of its games and loses 45.1%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.