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King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation

910K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.8%Range (90% confident): 50.7% – 50.9%Based on 910K games
0%50.8%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.7% – 50.9%
Outcome Distribution
48.7%4.1%47.1%
Win
Draw
Loss
5.Bg5
King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation
Analyzen=910K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.1%

What is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 50.8% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.7% and 50.9%), based on 910K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 47% → 53%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.3% win rate (3,856 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.1% win rate (20,111 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.8% win rate (58,884 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.8% win rate (126,740 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.1% win rate (199,636 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.2% win rate (231,117 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.7% win rate (162,717 games)
  • 2200-2499: 50.7% win rate (92,887 games)
  • 2500+: 52.7% win rate (13,854 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~50%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 49.7% win rate (1,672 games)
  • Bullet: 48.7% win rate (479,783 games)
  • Blitz: 48.8% win rate (371,934 games)
  • Rapid: 48.6% win rate (54,816 games)
  • Classical: 48.1% win rate (1,597 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: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (2,310 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (1,329 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (212 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 54.1% expected score (35 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (11,701 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (7,229 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (1,136 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 58.7% expected score (10 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 53.1% expected score (161 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (30,982 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (23,799 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (3,845 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 55.6% expected score (97 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.6% expected score (405 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (61,282 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.7% expected score (55,586 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (9,180 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.2% expected score (287 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 53.6% expected score (470 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (92,885 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (91,092 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.7% expected score (14,659 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 49.0% expected score (530 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.8% expected score (384 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (112,666 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (101,803 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.5% expected score (15,772 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.2% expected score (492 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (176 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (91,175 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (63,333 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (7,890 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 57.0% expected score (143 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 34.0% expected score (36 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (65,131 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 56.3% expected score (25,617 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 58.0% expected score (2,065 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 61.4% expected score (38 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.8% expected score (11,651 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.2% expected score (2,146 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 52.6% expected score (57 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: Smyslov Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation win rate?

The King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 910K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation perform best?

The King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.7% win rate for white (14K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (48.7%) outperforms Classical (48.1%) by 0.6%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation?

The King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a sharpness score of 95.9 (very decisive), meaning 95.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 47.3% (90% CI: 46.0%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 3.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 48.5%-49.7%) win rate for white, based on 20K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.5%-49.2%) win rate for white, based on 59K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.5%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 127K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.9%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 200K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 231K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 163K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.4%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 93K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 5.3% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 52.7% (90% CI: 52.0%-53.4%) win rate for white, based on 14K Lichess games. Average game length is 43 moves with a 6.6% draw rate.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 47.7%-51.8%) win rate for white (1.7K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.2%.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.8%) win rate for white (480K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.4%.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.9%) win rate for white (372K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.0%.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.9%) win rate for white (55K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.4%.

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

In Classical games, the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 46.0%-50.1%) win rate for white (1.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.8%.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation a good opening?

The King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.8%) 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.