TrueEloPlay what wins.
Analyzer

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation

650K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score51.1%Range (90% confident): 51.0% – 51.2%Based on 650K games
0%51.1%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.0% – 51.2%
Outcome Distribution
48.8%4.4%46.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
4.Bg5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation
Analyzen=650K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.4%

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 51.1% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 51.0% and 51.2%), based on 650K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~51%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 51.1% win rate (1,903 games)
  • 1000-1199: 52.4% win rate (9,809 games)
  • 1200-1399: 52.1% win rate (35,054 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.7% win rate (89,785 games)
  • 1600-1799: 49.2% win rate (159,712 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.9% win rate (188,171 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.3% win rate (115,716 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.5% win rate (44,469 games)
  • 2500+: 50.1% win rate (5,182 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (50%), worst in Classical (43%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 48.7% win rate (472 games)
  • Bullet: 50.1% win rate (178,726 games)
  • Blitz: 48.7% win rate (380,391 games)
  • Rapid: 47.2% win rate (86,375 games)
  • Classical: 42.8% win rate (3,837 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 (4 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (1,015 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.6% expected score (710 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 56.6% expected score (173 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 54.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 54.4% expected score (4,735 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (4,369 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.2% expected score (689 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 41.0% expected score (37 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.5% expected score (13,368 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (18,462 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (3,109 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 55.1% expected score (78 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 53.7% expected score (108 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.9% expected score (28,041 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.3% expected score (51,227 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (10,037 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 52.3% expected score (372 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.2% expected score (191 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.5% expected score (40,553 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (96,580 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (21,114 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.0% expected score (1,274 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 56.2% expected score (104 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (39,141 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (116,973 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (30,326 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 45.8% expected score (1,627 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (15 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (28,703 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.1% expected score (68,457 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (18,088 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 43.3% expected score (453 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (19,361 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (22,290 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (2,789 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 34.2% expected score (27 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (3,809 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 55.8% expected score (1,323 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 56.8% expected score (50 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Nimzo-Indian Defense
48.4%
Variations (5)
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation
50.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation
48.9%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Macieja System
54.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation
47.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Steiner Variation
46.2%
Continuations (2)
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Averbakh Gambit
50.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense
50.2%
Analyze Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation win rate?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.7%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 650K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation perform best?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 52.1% win rate for white (35K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (50.1%) outperforms Classical (42.8%) by 7.3%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a sharpness score of 95.6 (very decisive), meaning 95.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 51.1% (90% CI: 49.2%-53.0%) win rate for white, based on 1.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 2.0% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 52.4% (90% CI: 51.5%-53.2%) win rate for white, based on 9.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 52.1% (90% CI: 51.6%-52.5%) win rate for white, based on 35K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.4%-51.0%) win rate for white, based on 90K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.4%) win rate for white, based on 160K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.0% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 47.9% (90% CI: 47.7%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 188K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 47.3% (90% CI: 47.0%-47.5%) win rate for white, based on 116K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.1%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 44K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.5% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 50.1% (90% CI: 48.9%-51.2%) win rate for white, based on 5.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 7.7% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 44.9%-52.5%) win rate for white (472 Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.9%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 50.1% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.3%) win rate for white (179K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.1%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.8%) win rate for white (380K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.7%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 47.2% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.5%) win rate for white (86K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.7%.

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

In Classical games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation has a 42.8% (90% CI: 41.5%-44.1%) win rate for white (3.8K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.0%.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation a good opening?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.7%-48.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1200-1399 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.