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Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System

31K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score48.0%Range (90% confident): 47.5% – 48.5%Based on 31K games
0%48.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 47.5% – 48.5%
Outcome Distribution
45.2%5.6%49.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
7...Nbd7
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System
Analyzen=31K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness94%
Draw Rate5.6%

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 48.0% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 47.5% and 48.5%), based on 31K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.3% · Bullet best · Classical worst

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 50% → 35%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.5% win rate (54 games)
  • 1000-1199: 45.3% win rate (225 games)
  • 1200-1399: 47.8% win rate (889 games)
  • 1400-1599: 45.3% win rate (2,267 games)
  • 1600-1799: 45.2% win rate (5,235 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.0% win rate (8,455 games)
  • 2000-2199: 45.9% win rate (7,020 games)
  • 2200-2499: 45.6% win rate (4,982 games)
  • 2500+: 34.7% win rate (1,615 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Rapid (47%), worst in UltraBullet (20%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 20.0% win rate (1 games)
  • Bullet: 45.5% win rate (8,649 games)
  • Blitz: 44.8% win rate (18,836 games)
  • Rapid: 46.5% win rate (3,092 games)
  • Classical: 46.2% win rate (164 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: 52.1% expected score (22 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (25 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 61.8% expected score (7 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 43.7% expected score (110 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 46.3% expected score (92 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 62.3% expected score (23 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (390 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (437 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (61 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (857 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 44.8% expected score (1,218 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 47.4% expected score (185 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 44.7% expected score (1,508 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (3,178 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (516 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 58.7% expected score (33 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.8% expected score (1,904 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (5,514 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.1% expected score (983 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 54.6% expected score (54 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (1,669 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (4,428 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.1% expected score (871 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.3% expected score (52 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (1,496 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (3,128 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (345 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 53.5% expected score (13 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.5% expected score (693 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (816 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (101 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (5 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%
Continuations (4)
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation
43.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense
49.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation
44.9%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Keres Variation
37.1%
Analyze Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 49.2% (90% CI: 48.7%-49.7%) win rate for white, based on 31K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System perform best?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System performs best at 1400-1599 Elo with a 52.1% win rate for white (2.3K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (50.3%) outperforms Classical (42.0%) by 8.3%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a sharpness score of 94.4 (decisive), meaning 94.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 51.9% (90% CI: 46.4%-57.3%) win rate for white, based on 225 Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 50.7% (90% CI: 47.9%-53.5%) win rate for white, based on 889 Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 1.5% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 52.1% (90% CI: 50.4%-53.9%) win rate for white, based on 2.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 51.2% (90% CI: 50.0%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 5.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 49.6% (90% CI: 48.7%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 8.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 48.5% (90% CI: 47.5%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 7.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 47.6% (90% CI: 46.5%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 5.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 6.7% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 43.1% (90% CI: 41.1%-45.1%) win rate for white, based on 1.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 45 moves with a 22.2% draw rate.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 50.3% (90% CI: 49.4%-51.2%) win rate for white (8.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.2%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 49.4% (90% CI: 48.8%-50.0%) win rate for white (19K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.9%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 45.4% (90% CI: 44.0%-46.9%) win rate for white (3.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 8.1%.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System has a 42.0% (90% CI: 35.8%-48.3%) win rate for white (164 Lichess games). Draw rate is 11.8%.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System a good opening?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System is statistically balanced with a 49.2% (90% CI: 48.7%-49.7%) 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.