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Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation

12K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score48.9%Range (90% confident): 48.2% – 49.6%Based on 12K games
0%48.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 48.2% – 49.6%
Outcome Distribution
45.0%7.8%47.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
5...O-O
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation
Analyzen=12K
Avg Length38 moves
Sharpness92%
Draw Rate7.8%

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 48.9% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 48.2% and 49.6%), based on 12K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 60% → 43%

1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 1000-1199: 60.0% win rate (1 games)
  • 1200-1399: 71.4% win rate (16 games)
  • 1400-1599: 43.6% win rate (80 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.7% win rate (384 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.8% win rate (1,333 games)
  • 2000-2199: 45.7% win rate (3,473 games)
  • 2200-2499: 44.0% win rate (5,540 games)
  • 2500+: 42.7% win rate (1,483 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (47%), worst in Classical (40%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 47.2% win rate (2,951 games)
  • Blitz: 44.3% win rate (8,433 games)
  • Rapid: 44.8% win rate (856 games)
  • Classical: 39.9% win rate (70 games)

Black% 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

  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 60.6% expected score (8 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 81.6% expected score (8 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 45.8% expected score (22 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (52 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 36.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 60.1% expected score (118 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (226 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (33 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 55.9% expected score (7 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (292 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (858 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (151 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (32 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (652 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (2,508 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.7% expected score (294 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 45.2% expected score (19 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (1,195 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (3,992 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (344 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (9 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (663 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 46.6% expected score (789 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (28 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (3 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Nimzo-Indian Defense
48.4%
Variations (5)
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation
50.0%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation
48.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation
50.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation
49.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation
51.8%
Analyze Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 47.2% (90% CI: 46.5%-48.0%) win rate for white, based on 12K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation perform best?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 49.1% win rate for white (1.5K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz (47.5%) outperforms Classical (48.3%) by -0.8%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a sharpness score of 92.2 (decisive), meaning 92.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 38 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 44.7% (90% CI: 40.6%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 384 Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 4.5% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 46.3% (90% CI: 44.0%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 1.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 47.1% (90% CI: 45.7%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 3.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 7.2% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 47.2% (90% CI: 46.1%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 5.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 8.8% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 46.9%-51.2%) win rate for white, based on 1.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 43 moves with a 8.3% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 47.3% (90% CI: 45.8%-48.8%) win rate for white (3.0K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.5%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 46.6%-48.4%) win rate for white (8.4K Lichess games). Draw rate is 8.3%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation has a 44.1% (90% CI: 41.4%-46.9%) win rate for white (856 Lichess games). Draw rate is 11.0%.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation a good opening?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation is statistically balanced with a 47.2% (90% CI: 46.5%-48.0%) 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.