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Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation

14K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

No move sequence recorded for this opening

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

54.7%

45%60%
Floor54.0%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 55.4%.

Measured over 14K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 14K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
14K
Best context
55.1% at 1400-1599 Bullet
Worst context
52.2% at 1800-1999 Bullet
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
96.5%
Draws
3.5%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It holds about the same all the way up, near 58.6%.

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: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.6% expected score (159 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 53.2% expected score (380 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 48.0% expected score (96 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 60.5% expected score (463 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 54.2% expected score (685 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.6% expected score (177 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (767 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 54.2% expected score (1,265 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (334 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 62.1% expected score (15 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 67.7% expected score (7 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 55.1% expected score (895 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 54.9% expected score (1,519 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 56.7% expected score (425 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (18 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 76.1% expected score (10 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 54.7% expected score (1,029 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 54.2% expected score (1,345 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.4% expected score (386 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 59.5% expected score (25 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (737 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (895 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 57.6% expected score (223 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 69.1% expected score (9 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 35.7% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 54.2% expected score (430 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (363 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 58.8% expected score (50 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (281 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 60.1% expected score (371 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 65.7% expected score (24 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.0% expected score (123 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.0% expected score (49 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 70.0% 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%

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation scores 54.7% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 54.0% and 55.4% — from 14K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
14K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Playing the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation, White wins 52.9%, draws 3.5% and loses 43.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.7%. It rests on 14K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation performs best for White at 1000-1199, with an Expected Score of 56.2% (1.3K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 54.5% in Blitz (6.9K games) against 55.1% in Rapid (1.7K games).

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation has a sharpness score of 96.5 (very decisive), meaning 96.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 51.1%, draws 2.0% and loses 46.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.1%. It rests on 637 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, White wins 54.8%, draws 2.7% and loses 42.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.2%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 52.8%, draws 3.4% and loses 43.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 2.4K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 53.5%, draws 3.4% and loses 43.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.2%. It rests on 2.9K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 52.8%, draws 3.4% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 2.8K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 52.0%, draws 3.4% and loses 44.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.8%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 51.5%, draws 4.1% and loses 44.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.6%. It rests on 848 Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 53.1%, draws 6.3% and loses 40.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.2%. It rests on 676 Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

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

At 2500+, White wins 51.3%, draws 7.7% and loses 41.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.2%. It rests on 173 Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

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

In Bullet, White wins 53.3%, draws 2.5% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.6%. It rests on 4.9K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 52.6%, draws 3.7% and loses 43.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 6.9K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 52.4%, draws 5.3% and loses 42.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 1.7K Lichess games.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 52.9% of its games and loses 43.6%. It performs best at 1000-1199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.