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Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation

712K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

52.2%

45%60%
Floor52.1%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 52.3%.

Measured over 712K 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 4.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 712K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
712K
Best context
56.1% at 2500+ Blitz
Worst context
50.1% at 1600-1799 Classical
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
95.7%
Draws
4.3%

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 falls away as the rating rises: 50.9% at 0-999, 48.7% at 2500+.

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: 34.9% expected score (15 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (1,456 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.8% expected score (1,256 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (327 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 34.1% expected score (30 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.9% expected score (6,172 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (5,453 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (1,033 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 47.5% expected score (18 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 45.5% expected score (120 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.0% expected score (15,491 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 54.2% expected score (18,336 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (3,320 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 56.3% expected score (86 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 48.9% expected score (410 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (30,401 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.3% expected score (42,129 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (8,805 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.3% expected score (343 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 51.1% expected score (699 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (51,061 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (75,139 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.6% expected score (15,352 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.1% expected score (872 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 56.1% expected score (467 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (65,454 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.9% expected score (95,613 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (19,300 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.8% expected score (1,027 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 55.7% expected score (131 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (60,689 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (69,312 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (12,395 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.7% expected score (394 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 57.3% expected score (19 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (50,625 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.2% expected score (35,723 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (3,212 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 61.8% expected score (79 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (14,425 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.1% expected score (4,631 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 56.3% expected score (205 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 54.6% expected score (31 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Nimzo-Indian Defense
48.4%
Variations (5)
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%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation
50.7%
Continuations (5)
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Duchamp Variation
47.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Korchnoi Variation
50.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Euwe Variation
50.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Shocron Gambit
46.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Duchamp Variation, Modern Line
51.8%
Analyze Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation scores 52.2% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 52.1% and 52.3% — from 712K 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
712K+ 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: Three Knights Variation win rate?

Playing the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, White wins 50.0%, draws 4.3% and loses 45.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 712K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 55.1% (19K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 52.1% in Blitz (348K games) against 51.9% in Rapid (64K games).

How sharp is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation has a sharpness score of 95.7 (very decisive), meaning 95.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 52.3%, draws 2.2% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 3.1K Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 52.3%, draws 2.0% and loses 45.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 52.7%, draws 2.6% and loses 44.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.0%. It rests on 37K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 51.9%, draws 3.2% and loses 44.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 82K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 50.7%, draws 3.7% and loses 45.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.6%. It rests on 143K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 49.3%, draws 4.2% and loses 46.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.4%. It rests on 182K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 48.5%, draws 4.9% and loses 46.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.0%. It rests on 143K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 49.5%, draws 5.5% and loses 45.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.3%. It rests on 90K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 50.2%, draws 9.8% and loses 40.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 19K Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

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

In UltraBullet, White wins 50.3%, draws 2.2% and loses 47.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.4%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games.

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

In Bullet, White wins 50.7%, draws 3.3% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 296K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 49.6%, draws 4.9% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.1%. It rests on 348K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 49.0%, draws 5.7% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 64K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, White wins 46.6%, draws 9.5% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.4%. It rests on 2.9K Lichess games.

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

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 50.0% of its games and loses 45.7%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.