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King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation

1.4M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.5%Range (90% confident): 50.4% – 50.5%Based on 1.4M games
0%50.5%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.4% – 50.5%
Outcome Distribution
48.1%4.7%47.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
3.c4
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation
Analyzen=1.4M
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate4.7%

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 50.5% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.4% and 50.5%), based on 1.4M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 46% → 51%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 45.8% win rate (15,834 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.3% win rate (45,657 games)
  • 1200-1399: 47.5% win rate (95,427 games)
  • 1400-1599: 47.5% win rate (168,126 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.6% win rate (240,277 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.6% win rate (299,796 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.2% win rate (288,425 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.4% win rate (227,363 games)
  • 2500+: 50.5% win rate (55,099 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (49%), worst in Classical (45%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 49.1% win rate (6,715 games)
  • Bullet: 48.6% win rate (578,106 games)
  • Blitz: 47.9% win rate (677,327 games)
  • Rapid: 47.0% win rate (166,430 games)
  • Classical: 44.8% win rate (7,426 games)

White% 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: 24.4% expected score (18 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (5,542 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (7,798 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 46.5% expected score (2,466 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 10.9% expected score (10 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.0% expected score (73 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (16,758 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (21,820 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (6,916 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 45.1% expected score (90 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 42.1% expected score (391 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (33,136 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (46,727 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.2% expected score (14,755 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (418 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 43.1% expected score (948 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (55,274 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (83,283 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (27,311 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 45.4% expected score (1,310 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.7% expected score (2,575 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (79,276 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (119,366 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.2% expected score (36,832 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.0% expected score (2,228 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 55.5% expected score (2,034 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (102,453 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (153,400 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (39,730 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.8% expected score (2,179 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 56.4% expected score (568 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (112,771 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (145,959 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.7% expected score (28,210 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 54.5% expected score (917 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 49.6% expected score (101 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (128,323 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.6% expected score (89,003 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.4% expected score (9,683 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 55.3% expected score (253 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 8.9% expected score (7 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 53.7% expected score (44,573 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.6% expected score (9,971 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 60.1% expected score (527 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 67.8% expected score (21 games)

Related Openings

Parent
King's Indian Defense
48.1%
Variations (5)
King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation
49.7%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation
55.2%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense
46.8%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Advance Variation
50.6%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation
49.1%
Analyze King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate?

The King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 1.4M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation perform best?

The King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 50.5% win rate for white (55K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (48.6%) outperforms Classical (44.8%) by 3.8%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation?

The King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a sharpness score of 95.3 (very decisive), meaning 95.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 45.8% (90% CI: 45.2%-46.5%) win rate for white, based on 16K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 47.3% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.7%) win rate for white, based on 46K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.3%-47.8%) win rate for white, based on 95K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.3%-47.7%) win rate for white, based on 168K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 47.5%-47.8%) win rate for white, based on 240K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 47.5%-47.8%) win rate for white, based on 300K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 288K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.3% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 49.4% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 227K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 50.5% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.8%) win rate for white, based on 55K Lichess games. Average game length is 43 moves with a 7.7% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-50.1%) win rate for white (6.7K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.8%.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.7%) win rate for white (578K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 47.9% (90% CI: 47.8%-48.0%) win rate for white (677K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.3%.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.2%) win rate for white (166K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.7%.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation has a 44.8% (90% CI: 43.8%-45.7%) win rate for white (7.4K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.7%.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation a good opening?

The King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.1%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.