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Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation

19K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score49.2%Range (90% confident): 48.6% – 49.8%Based on 19K games
0%49.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 48.6% – 49.8%
Outcome Distribution
43.6%11.2%45.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
8.Bxc4
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation
Analyzen=19K
Avg Length39 moves
Sharpness89%
Draw Rate11.2%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 49.2% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 48.6% and 49.8%), based on 19K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 18.8% · Blitz best · Classical worst

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 47% → 33%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.4% win rate (8 games)
  • 1000-1199: 37.6% win rate (45 games)
  • 1200-1399: 40.6% win rate (140 games)
  • 1400-1599: 41.5% win rate (487 games)
  • 1600-1799: 45.3% win rate (1,462 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.9% win rate (3,828 games)
  • 2000-2199: 45.4% win rate (4,887 games)
  • 2200-2499: 45.5% win rate (4,863 games)
  • 2500+: 33.1% win rate (2,912 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Blitz (45%), worst in Classical (26%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 43.9% win rate (5,140 games)
  • Blitz: 44.8% win rate (11,410 games)
  • Rapid: 37.2% win rate (1,916 games)
  • Classical: 26.0% win rate (166 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, Bullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 45.6% expected score (21 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (14 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 21.5% expected score (9 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.4% expected score (61 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 40.4% expected score (61 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 20.3% expected score (17 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (186 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 42.2% expected score (241 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 34.4% expected score (56 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (413 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (866 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 35.5% expected score (171 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (865 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (2,496 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (440 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (27 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (1,020 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (3,207 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.6% expected score (636 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 52.0% expected score (24 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (1,349 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (3,151 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (334 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 23.8% expected score (29 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (1,221 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 50.9% expected score (1,370 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (253 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 52.9% expected score (68 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%
Analyze Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 43.6% (90% CI: 43.0%-44.2%) win rate for white, based on 19K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation performs best at 1800-1999 Elo with a 46.9% win rate for white (3.8K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Blitz (44.8%) outperforms Classical (26.0%) by 18.8%. Choose your time control wisely.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a sharpness score of 88.8 (moderately decisive), meaning 88.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 39 moves.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 40.6% (90% CI: 33.9%-47.5%) win rate for white, based on 140 Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 41.5% (90% CI: 37.8%-45.1%) win rate for white, based on 487 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 45.3% (90% CI: 43.1%-47.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 45.5%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 3.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 45.4% (90% CI: 44.2%-46.5%) win rate for white, based on 4.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 6.6% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 44.4%-46.7%) win rate for white, based on 4.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 8.3% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 33.1% (90% CI: 31.6%-34.5%) win rate for white, based on 2.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 50 moves with a 36.4% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 43.9% (90% CI: 42.8%-45.1%) win rate for white (5.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 11.6%.

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

In Blitz games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 44.8% (90% CI: 44.1%-45.6%) win rate for white (11K Lichess games). Draw rate is 9.5%.

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

In Rapid games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 37.2% (90% CI: 35.4%-39.0%) win rate for white (1.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 17.4%.

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

In Classical games, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation has a 26.0% (90% CI: 20.6%-31.7%) win rate for white (166 Lichess games). Draw rate is 41.5%.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation is statistically balanced with a 43.6% (90% CI: 43.0%-44.2%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1800-1999 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.