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English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation

254K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score46.1%Range (90% confident): 46.0% – 46.3%Based on 254K games
0%46.1%100%
Range (90% confident): 46.0% – 46.3%
Outcome Distribution
43.2%5.7%51.1%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...Nc6
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation
Analyzen=254K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness94%
Draw Rate5.7%

What is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 46.1% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 46.0% and 46.3%), based on 254K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 44% → 36%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 44.0% win rate (2,774 games)
  • 1000-1199: 43.7% win rate (6,178 games)
  • 1200-1399: 45.7% win rate (13,329 games)
  • 1400-1599: 45.0% win rate (24,121 games)
  • 1600-1799: 45.1% win rate (39,368 games)
  • 1800-1999: 44.8% win rate (57,320 games)
  • 2000-2199: 42.8% win rate (57,449 games)
  • 2200-2499: 40.1% win rate (44,025 games)
  • 2500+: 35.5% win rate (9,549 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (53%), worst in Classical (41%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 53.0% win rate (122 games)
  • Bullet: 44.2% win rate (80,380 games)
  • Blitz: 42.9% win rate (138,105 games)
  • Rapid: 42.6% win rate (33,244 games)
  • Classical: 41.3% win rate (2,262 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: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (826 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (1,300 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 44.4% expected score (632 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 71.1% expected score (8 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 35.2% expected score (12 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 44.6% expected score (2,045 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (2,959 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 42.8% expected score (1,127 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (35 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 39.7% expected score (13 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (4,058 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (6,801 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 44.2% expected score (2,365 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 40.9% expected score (92 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 53.4% expected score (28 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (6,711 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (12,957 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (4,152 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 45.8% expected score (273 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 62.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.1% expected score (10,411 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (21,321 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (6,923 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.0% expected score (702 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 57.9% expected score (24 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (15,610 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (32,487 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (8,450 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.8% expected score (749 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 62.8% expected score (22 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.6% expected score (17,762 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 45.3% expected score (33,040 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.7% expected score (6,320 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 34.9% expected score (305 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 44.8% expected score (17,433 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (23,542 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 41.7% expected score (2,972 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 48.0% expected score (74 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 42.0% expected score (5,524 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 42.4% expected score (3,698 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 35.6% expected score (303 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 28.5% expected score (24 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: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation win rate?

The English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 51.1% (90% CI: 50.9%-51.2%) win rate for white, based on 254K rated games from Lichess.

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

The English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 52.3% win rate for white (44K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (51.9%) outperforms UltraBullet (46.6%) by 5.3%. Choose your time control wisely.

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

The English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a sharpness score of 94.3 (decisive), meaning 94.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 52.2% (90% CI: 50.7%-53.8%) win rate for white, based on 2.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 52.9% (90% CI: 51.8%-53.9%) win rate for white, based on 6.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 51.0% (90% CI: 50.3%-51.8%) win rate for white, based on 13K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 51.2% (90% CI: 50.7%-51.8%) win rate for white, based on 24K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 50.5% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 39K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.6%-50.3%) win rate for white, based on 57K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 5.3% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 51.2% (90% CI: 50.9%-51.6%) win rate for white, based on 57K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 52.3% (90% CI: 51.9%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 44K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 7.6% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 51.7% (90% CI: 50.9%-52.6%) win rate for white, based on 9.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 44 moves with a 12.8% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 46.6% (90% CI: 39.2%-53.9%) win rate for white (122 Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.4%.

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

In Bullet games, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 51.9% (90% CI: 51.6%-52.1%) win rate for white (80K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.9%.

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

In Blitz games, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 50.9% (90% CI: 50.6%-51.1%) win rate for white (138K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.3%.

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

In Rapid games, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 50.1% (90% CI: 49.7%-50.6%) win rate for white (33K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.3%.

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

In Classical games, the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 47.3%-50.8%) win rate for white (2.3K Lichess games). Draw rate is 9.6%.

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

The English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation is statistically favors white with a 51.1% (90% CI: 50.9%-51.2%) 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.