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Analyzer

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line

143K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score53.3%Range (90% confident): 53.1% – 53.5%Based on 143K games
0%53.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 53.1% – 53.5%
Outcome Distribution
51.3%4.0%44.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
No position data
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line
n=143K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.0%

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 53.3% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 53.1% and 53.5%), based on 143K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 48% → 55%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 48.4% win rate (702 games)
  • 1000-1199: 51.3% win rate (2,892 games)
  • 1200-1399: 51.8% win rate (8,532 games)
  • 1400-1599: 52.1% win rate (17,800 games)
  • 1600-1799: 51.4% win rate (27,770 games)
  • 1800-1999: 50.8% win rate (32,580 games)
  • 2000-2199: 50.0% win rate (27,320 games)
  • 2200-2499: 51.6% win rate (20,386 games)
  • 2500+: 55.1% win rate (4,685 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Rapid (52%), worst in UltraBullet (47%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 47.0% win rate (657 games)
  • Bullet: 51.0% win rate (57,514 games)
  • Blitz: 51.4% win rate (71,166 games)
  • Rapid: 52.0% win rate (12,748 games)
  • Classical: 51.8% win rate (582 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: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (347 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (306 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 47.0% expected score (48 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 42.6% expected score (12 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (1,449 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (1,225 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 62.0% expected score (204 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 64.3% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 43.6% expected score (53 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.3% expected score (3,718 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.7% expected score (4,021 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 53.6% expected score (720 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 47.7% expected score (20 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 51.3% expected score (195 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.4% expected score (7,178 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 54.0% expected score (8,566 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (1,796 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 56.8% expected score (65 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.6% expected score (246 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (10,769 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (13,689 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.2% expected score (2,915 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 55.9% expected score (151 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 43.5% expected score (113 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (12,215 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (16,469 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 55.9% expected score (3,582 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.2% expected score (201 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.5% expected score (27 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (10,192 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (14,576 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (2,411 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.1% expected score (114 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 67.4% expected score (10 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (8,628 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 56.1% expected score (10,698 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 59.7% expected score (1,022 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 73.8% expected score (28 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 57.7% expected score (3,018 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.0% expected score (1,616 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 65.6% expected score (50 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 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%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 51.3% (90% CI: 51.0%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 143K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line perform best?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 55.1% win rate for white (4.7K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid (52.0%) outperforms UltraBullet (47.0%) by 5.0%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a sharpness score of 96.0 (very decisive), meaning 96.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 48.4% (90% CI: 45.3%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 702 Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 1.1% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 51.3% (90% CI: 49.8%-52.9%) win rate for white, based on 2.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 1.9% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 51.8% (90% CI: 50.9%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 8.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 52.1% (90% CI: 51.5%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 18K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 51.4% (90% CI: 50.9%-51.9%) win rate for white, based on 28K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.3%-51.3%) win rate for white, based on 33K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.5%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 27K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 51.6% (90% CI: 51.0%-52.2%) win rate for white, based on 20K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 55.1% (90% CI: 53.9%-56.3%) win rate for white, based on 4.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.2% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 47.0% (90% CI: 43.8%-50.2%) win rate for white (657 Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.2%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 51.0% (90% CI: 50.6%-51.3%) win rate for white (58K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.0%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 51.4% (90% CI: 51.1%-51.7%) win rate for white (71K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.6%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 52.0% (90% CI: 51.3%-52.7%) win rate for white (13K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.5%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line has a 51.8% (90% CI: 48.4%-55.2%) win rate for white (582 Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.9%.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line a good opening?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line is statistically favors white with a 51.3% (90% CI: 51.0%-51.5%) 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.