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Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−5.5%

Black isn't shown winning more often than losing at this level

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −7.1% at 2000-2199
1400-15992500+
Win%44.4%
Games7.9K
Breakpoint1400-1599first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line keeps Black's wins running −5.5% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 7.9K Lichess games. The games don't show this gambit paying at this level. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstBlack WinDrawBlack LossGames
1400-1599−11.7%50.3%5.0%44.8%89
1600-1799−8.3%46.9%5.5%47.6%458
1800-1999−9.0%45.1%5.3%49.7%1.4K
2000-2199−7.1%44.3%7.7%47.9%2.3K
2200-2499−7.6%43.6%8.8%47.6%2.1K
2500+−7.8%44.1%8.4%47.6%1.5K
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 2000-2199, is −7.1%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line win rate?

Black wins 44.4% of Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line games, draws 7.5% and loses 48.1%. That rests on 7.9K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 2000-2199: −7.1%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid. For Black, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −6.1% in Blitz (4.7K games) and −3.1% in Rapid (443 games). In neither do the games show Black winning more than losing.

Does the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line breakpoint vary by time control?

Yes. The first rating where the games do not show Black coming out ahead is 1600-1799 in Bullet, 1600-1799 in Blitz and 1800-1999 in Rapid.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line?

The Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line is very sharp: 7.5% of its games are drawn, so 92.5% end with a winner.

Should I play the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line?

Not for the results: Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see.

How do I defend against the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line?

As White, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. Black does not come out ahead with it at any rating we can see.

How reliable is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Gambit Line data?

This rests on 7.9K games from Lichess. Every figure carries the range it is in, 90% confident, and the table above shows how many games sit behind each rating and each clock — the fewer there are, the wider that range.