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Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation

1.9K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score48.0%Range (90% confident): 46.1% – 49.8%Based on 1.9K games
0%48.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 46.1% – 49.8%
Outcome Distribution
45.1%5.7%49.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
6...Nc6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation
Analyzen=1.9K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness94%
Draw Rate5.7%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 48.0% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 46.1% and 49.8%), based on 1.9K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 36% → 51%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 35.5% win rate (14 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.2% win rate (97 games)
  • 1200-1399: 53.0% win rate (224 games)
  • 1400-1599: 42.8% win rate (378 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.6% win rate (465 games)
  • 1800-1999: 39.4% win rate (340 games)
  • 2000-2199: 41.5% win rate (173 games)
  • 2200-2499: 40.4% win rate (131 games)
  • 2500+: 50.5% win rate (51 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (49%), worst in Blitz (44%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 48.2% win rate (342 games)
  • Blitz: 43.9% win rate (1,123 games)
  • Rapid: 45.4% win rate (392 games)
  • Classical: 48.6% win rate (16 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

  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 38.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 44.7% expected score (36 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 58.3% expected score (53 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 29.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 61.8% expected score (41 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (142 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 54.7% expected score (41 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 41.0% expected score (70 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 45.3% expected score (232 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (74 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 58.3% expected score (65 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (266 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.2% expected score (128 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 56.0% expected score (57 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 40.6% expected score (179 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 45.5% expected score (99 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 39.4% expected score (36 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 43.7% expected score (102 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 48.5% expected score (32 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (27 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 44.3% expected score (95 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 35.7% expected score (9 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 34.2% expected score (8 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.8% expected score (43 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, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation win rate?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 47.3%-51.1%) win rate for white, based on 1.9K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation performs best at 1400-1599 Elo with a 52.0% win rate for white (378 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Blitz (50.0%) outperforms Rapid (47.6%) by 2.4%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a sharpness score of 94.3 (decisive), meaning 94.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 42.8% (90% CI: 37.4%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 224 Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 47.8%-56.2%) win rate for white, based on 378 Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 43.9%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 465 Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 50.8% (90% CI: 46.4%-55.2%) win rate for white, based on 340 Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 9.8% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 52.4% (90% CI: 46.2%-58.6%) win rate for white, based on 173 Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 50.9% (90% CI: 43.8%-58.1%) win rate for white, based on 131 Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 8.7% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 43.8%-52.6%) win rate for white (342 Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

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

In Blitz games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 47.6%-52.5%) win rate for white (1.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.1%.

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

In Rapid games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 43.5%-51.8%) win rate for white (392 Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.0%.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation a good opening?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation is statistically balanced with a 49.2% (90% CI: 47.3%-51.1%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1400-1599 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.