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Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation

23K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score47.8%Range (90% confident): 47.2% – 48.3%Based on 23K games
0%47.8%100%
Range (90% confident): 47.2% – 48.3%
Outcome Distribution
45.2%5.2%49.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
4...Nc6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation
Analyzen=23K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.2%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 47.8% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 47.2% and 48.3%), based on 23K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 50% → 41%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.7% win rate (82 games)
  • 1000-1199: 46.1% win rate (360 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.6% win rate (1,104 games)
  • 1400-1599: 47.0% win rate (2,244 games)
  • 1600-1799: 43.4% win rate (3,724 games)
  • 1800-1999: 44.3% win rate (5,066 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.3% win rate (5,680 games)
  • 2200-2499: 45.4% win rate (4,062 games)
  • 2500+: 41.3% win rate (751 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (60%), worst in Classical (39%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 60.0% win rate (1 games)
  • Bullet: 45.9% win rate (5,165 games)
  • Blitz: 45.6% win rate (13,749 games)
  • Rapid: 43.1% win rate (3,924 games)
  • Classical: 39.3% win rate (234 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: 57.1% expected score (34 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 44.4% expected score (43 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 43.7% expected score (109 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (205 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.9% expected score (45 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (219 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.8% expected score (695 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (189 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (384 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (1,306 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (522 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (31 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (721 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 45.8% expected score (1,985 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 43.9% expected score (939 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.3% expected score (79 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (937 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (2,865 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 44.4% expected score (1,176 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 44.5% expected score (88 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.8% expected score (1,087 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (3,821 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 48.1% expected score (742 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.2% expected score (30 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (1,222 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (2,538 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (299 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 44.3% expected score (452 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 45.1% expected score (291 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 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, Zurich Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.2%-50.2%) win rate for white, based on 23K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation performs best at 1600-1799 Elo with a 52.2% win rate for white (3.7K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Rapid (50.8%) outperforms Classical (52.0%) by -1.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a sharpness score of 94.8 (decisive), meaning 94.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 50.2% (90% CI: 45.9%-54.5%) win rate for white, based on 360 Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 50.9% (90% CI: 48.4%-53.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 49.9% (90% CI: 48.1%-51.6%) win rate for white, based on 2.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 52.2% (90% CI: 50.9%-53.6%) win rate for white, based on 3.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 50.5% (90% CI: 49.3%-51.6%) win rate for white, based on 5.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 47.9% (90% CI: 46.8%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 5.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.8% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 48.0% (90% CI: 46.7%-49.3%) win rate for white, based on 4.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 6.6% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 52.2% (90% CI: 49.2%-55.1%) win rate for white, based on 751 Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.6% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 49.2%-51.5%) win rate for white (5.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.7%.

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

In Blitz games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 48.4%-49.8%) win rate for white (14K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.4%.

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

In Rapid games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 50.8% (90% CI: 49.5%-52.1%) win rate for white (3.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.1%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 46.7%-57.4%) win rate for white (234 Lichess games). Draw rate is 8.7%.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation is statistically balanced with a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.2%-50.2%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1600-1799 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.