Skip to content
TrueEloPlay what wins.
Score a position

Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation

1.2M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
1...b6
Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

48.3%

45%55%
Floor48.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 48.4%.

Measured over 1.2M 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 3.8 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 1.2M games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
1.2M
Best context
51.2% at 0-999 Bullet
Worst context
40.7% at 2000-2199 UltraBullet
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
96.2%
Draws
3.8%

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: 49.7% at 0-999, 39.8% 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: 52.2% expected score (115 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (6,884 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (8,689 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (2,255 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (21 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.9% expected score (350 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (16,713 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (16,622 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.4% expected score (3,360 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 44.9% expected score (106 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 49.9% expected score (1,507 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (47,188 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (35,841 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.4% expected score (6,218 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.0% expected score (212 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 49.4% expected score (3,121 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (90,302 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (66,054 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (11,141 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 44.2% expected score (610 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.7% expected score (6,461 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (143,709 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (81,123 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (11,923 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.9% expected score (514 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (5,464 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 48.2% expected score (177,160 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (61,729 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.1% expected score (8,182 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.0% expected score (298 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 40.7% expected score (2,206 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.2% expected score (158,414 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (35,602 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.2% expected score (3,179 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 51.7% expected score (90 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 40.9% expected score (814 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (124,051 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (16,203 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.9% expected score (1,282 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 41.1% expected score (21 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 43.7% expected score (30 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.4% expected score (43,139 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (2,387 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 36.3% expected score (86 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 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: Indian Variation
49.2%
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: English Variation
50.2%
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Dutch Variation
50.6%
Analyze Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation scores 48.3% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 48.2% and 48.4% — from 1.2M 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
1.2M+ 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: Symmetrical Variation win rate?

Playing the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation, Black wins 46.3%, draws 3.8% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.3%. It rests on 1.2M rated games from Lichess.

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

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 49.4% (18K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For Black, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 48.3% in Blitz (324K games) against 47.8% in Rapid (48K games).

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

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a sharpness score of 96.2 (very decisive), meaning 96.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

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

At 0-999, Black wins 47.6%, draws 3.6% and loses 48.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.4%. It rests on 18K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, Black wins 47.5%, draws 2.8% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.9%. It rests on 37K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, Black wins 47.7%, draws 2.7% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.1%. It rests on 91K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, Black wins 47.4%, draws 3.0% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.9%. It rests on 171K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, Black wins 47.0%, draws 3.4% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.7%. It rests on 244K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, Black wins 46.2%, draws 3.9% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.2%. It rests on 253K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, Black wins 46.0%, draws 4.3% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.1%. It rests on 199K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, Black wins 44.8%, draws 5.0% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.3%. It rests on 142K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

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

At 2500+, Black wins 41.8%, draws 6.9% and loses 51.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.3%. It rests on 46K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

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

In UltraBullet, Black wins 46.3%, draws 2.0% and loses 51.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 20K Lichess games.

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

In Bullet, Black wins 46.6%, draws 3.4% and loses 50.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.3%. It rests on 808K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, Black wins 45.9%, draws 4.8% and loses 49.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.3%. It rests on 324K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, Black wins 45.0%, draws 5.4% and loses 49.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.8%. It rests on 48K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, Black wins 42.9%, draws 6.2% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.0%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games.

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

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 46.3% of its games and loses 49.8%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.