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Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation

3.7M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

48.7%

45%55%
Floor48.6%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. Its best is the same figure — the band is too tight to plot.

Measured over 3.7M games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 3.7M games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
3.7M
Best context
56.2% at 1000-1199 UltraBullet
Worst context
43.3% at 2500+ Blitz
Average game length
37 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 · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It falls away as the rating rises: 54.9% at 0-999, 39.7% 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: 59.3% expected score (133 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (14,770 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (17,966 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 52.9% expected score (4,650 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 58.3% expected score (41 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 56.2% expected score (542 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (35,664 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (34,851 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (8,718 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 52.4% expected score (124 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 53.2% expected score (3,215 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (97,143 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (76,586 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (16,413 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 51.9% expected score (399 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 52.6% expected score (10,906 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (186,505 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (148,070 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (28,326 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 52.3% expected score (1,287 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.1% expected score (25,816 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (310,518 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (223,064 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (38,109 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 54.0% expected score (1,818 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 49.2% expected score (24,483 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (439,163 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (276,646 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (37,624 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 51.2% expected score (1,883 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.3% expected score (12,348 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (515,379 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (227,533 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 48.8% expected score (24,537 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 44.8% expected score (774 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 46.7% expected score (4,645 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (549,038 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.1% expected score (102,958 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (9,100 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 37.6% expected score (196 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 37.4% expected score (256 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 44.6% expected score (220,217 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.3% expected score (11,966 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 40.8% expected score (415 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 32.4% expected score (7 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Nimzo-Larsen Attack
51.1%
Variations (5)
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation
49.9%
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Classical Variation
50.2%
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: English Variation
50.2%
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation
49.8%
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Dutch Variation
50.6%
Analyze Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation scores 48.7% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 48.6% and 48.7% — from 3.7M 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
3.7M+ 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-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate?

Playing the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation, Black wins 46.5%, draws 4.3% and loses 49.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.7%. It rests on 3.7M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation perform best?

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 52.0% (38K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 49.1% in Blitz (1.1M games) against 50.6% in Rapid (168K games).

How sharp is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation?

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation has a sharpness score of 95.7 (very decisive), meaning 95.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 50.5%, draws 3.0% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 38K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 48.7%, draws 2.7% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 80K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 48.6%, draws 2.7% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 194K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 48.3%, draws 3.0% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.8%. It rests on 375K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 47.8%, draws 3.5% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 599K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 47.1%, draws 4.2% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 780K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 46.2%, draws 4.7% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.6%. It rests on 781K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 44.5%, draws 5.3% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 666K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 41.1%, draws 6.9% and loses 52.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.5%. It rests on 233K Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 48.1%, draws 2.5% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.4%. It rests on 82K Lichess games.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 46.3%, draws 3.8% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.2%. It rests on 2.4M Lichess games.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 46.5%, draws 5.2% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.1%. It rests on 1.1M Lichess games.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 47.6%, draws 5.8% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 168K Lichess games.

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 47.3%, draws 7.6% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.1%. It rests on 6.5K Lichess games.

Is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation a good opening?

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 46.5% of its games and loses 49.2%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.