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King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation

469K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.4%Range (90% confident): 50.3% – 50.6%Based on 469K games
0%50.4%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.3% – 50.6%
Outcome Distribution
48.1%4.5%47.3%
Win
Draw
Loss
6.Be2
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation
Analyzen=469K
Avg Length38 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.5%

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 50.4% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.3% and 50.6%), based on 469K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~49%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 48.6% win rate (2,947 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.7% win rate (12,880 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.1% win rate (34,804 games)
  • 1400-1599: 47.7% win rate (64,905 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.0% win rate (96,967 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.9% win rate (99,297 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.7% win rate (80,191 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.5% win rate (61,819 games)
  • 2500+: 48.1% win rate (15,542 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~48%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 48.4% win rate (3,971 games)
  • Bullet: 48.3% win rate (281,588 games)
  • Blitz: 48.1% win rate (154,406 games)
  • Rapid: 46.7% win rate (28,260 games)
  • Classical: 45.5% win rate (1,127 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: 50.0% expected score (14 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (1,519 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.2% expected score (1,204 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (209 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (50 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (6,705 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (5,356 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.9% expected score (767 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 42.2% expected score (146 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (17,932 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (13,930 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (2,760 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.0% expected score (36 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 43.0% expected score (607 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (31,736 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (26,675 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.2% expected score (5,698 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 47.4% expected score (189 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 51.0% expected score (1,454 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (50,089 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (37,263 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.7% expected score (7,730 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 49.3% expected score (431 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.5% expected score (979 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (56,011 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (34,759 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (7,210 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.5% expected score (338 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.9% expected score (539 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (54,205 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (22,201 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (3,140 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.7% expected score (106 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 54.4% expected score (171 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (49,013 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (11,946 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.8% expected score (670 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 35.4% expected score (19 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 62.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (14,378 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.7% expected score (1,072 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 61.6% expected score (76 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (5 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%
Continuations (4)
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Benoni Variation
48.5%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation
44.7%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Hollywood Variation
47.9%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Queenside Storm Line
48.6%
Analyze King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate?

The King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 469K rated games from Lichess.

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

The King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation performs best at 2000-2199 Elo with a 48.7% win rate for white (80K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (48.3%) outperforms Classical (45.5%) by 2.8%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation?

The King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 38 moves.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 47.0%-50.1%) win rate for white, based on 2.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 47.0%-48.4%) win rate for white, based on 13K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.7%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 35K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 47.3%-48.0%) win rate for white, based on 65K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.0% (90% CI: 47.8%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 97K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 47.9% (90% CI: 47.7%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 99K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.4%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 80K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.1%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 62K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.4%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 16K Lichess games. Average game length is 45 moves with a 7.0% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.4% (90% CI: 47.1%-49.7%) win rate for white (4.0K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.8%.

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

In Bullet games, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 48.1%-48.4%) win rate for white (282K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

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

In Blitz games, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.9%-48.4%) win rate for white (154K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.5%.

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

In Rapid games, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 46.7% (90% CI: 46.2%-47.2%) win rate for white (28K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.2%.

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

In Classical games, the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 43.1%-47.9%) win rate for white (1.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.7%.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation a good opening?

The King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.3%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2000-2199 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.