Skip to content
TrueEloPlay what wins.
Score a position

King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System

174K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
6.Be3
Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

52.7%

45%60%
Floor52.5%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 52.9%.

Measured over 174K 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 4.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 174K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
174K
Best context
56.8% at 2500+ Blitz
Worst context
49.8% at 1400-1599 Blitz
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
95.5%
Draws
4.5%

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.

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 holds about the same all the way up, near 56.1%.

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, Bullet: 60.1% expected score (73 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 58.3% expected score (53 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (10 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 56.5% expected score (252 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (328 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 61.5% expected score (51 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 55.0% expected score (1,375 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (1,152 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.0% expected score (185 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (3,456 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (4,000 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.7% expected score (826 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 64.2% expected score (41 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 54.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.4% expected score (5,089 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (10,563 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.4% expected score (1,912 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 56.0% expected score (124 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (9,712 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (19,346 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (3,830 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.5% expected score (229 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (11,412 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (28,976 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (4,128 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 58.7% expected score (188 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (16,771 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (31,165 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.8% expected score (3,075 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 57.9% expected score (62 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (8,861 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.8% expected score (6,629 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 59.1% expected score (213 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (4 games)

Related Openings

Parent
King's Indian Defense
48.1%
Variations (5)
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation
48.9%
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses
47.5%
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation
48.1%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation
49.9%
King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation
48.7%
Analyze King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System scores 52.7% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 52.5% and 52.9% — from 174K 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
174K+ 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 King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate?

Playing the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System, White wins 50.4%, draws 4.5% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.7%. It rests on 174K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System perform best?

The King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 55.3% (16K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 52.4% in Blitz (102K games) against 52.4% in Rapid (14K games).

How sharp is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System?

The King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 57.8%, draws 1.8% and loses 40.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.7%. It rests on 136 Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 53.5%, draws 2.0% and loses 44.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 633 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 52.8%, draws 2.1% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.9%. It rests on 2.7K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 50.1%, draws 2.6% and loses 47.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.4%. It rests on 8.3K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 50.3%, draws 3.3% and loses 46.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 18K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 49.8%, draws 3.5% and loses 46.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.6%. It rests on 33K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 49.7%, draws 4.4% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 45K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 50.8%, draws 5.4% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 51K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 51.7%, draws 7.2% and loses 41.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.3%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 51.4%, draws 3.4% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.2%. It rests on 57K Lichess games.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 49.9%, draws 5.0% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 102K Lichess games.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 49.6%, draws 5.6% and loses 44.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 14K Lichess games.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 51.5%, draws 7.7% and loses 40.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.4%. It rests on 656 Lichess games.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System a good opening?

The King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 50.4% 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.