Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation

1.2M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score51.8%Range (90% confident): 51.7% – 51.8%Based on 1.2M games
0%51.8%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.7% – 51.8%
Outcome Distribution
49.8%3.8%46.3%
Win
Draw
Loss
1...b6
Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation
Analyzen=1.2M
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.8%

What is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 51.8% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 51.7% and 51.8%), based on 1.2M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 49% → 51%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 48.8% win rate (17,964 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.8% win rate (37,151 games)
  • 1200-1399: 49.6% win rate (90,966 games)
  • 1400-1599: 49.6% win rate (171,228 games)
  • 1600-1799: 49.6% win rate (243,730 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.9% win rate (252,833 games)
  • 2000-2199: 49.8% win rate (199,491 games)
  • 2200-2499: 50.2% win rate (142,371 games)
  • 2500+: 51.3% win rate (45,643 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~52%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 51.6% win rate (20,068 games)
  • Bullet: 50.0% win rate (807,560 games)
  • Blitz: 49.3% win rate (324,250 games)
  • Rapid: 49.5% win rate (47,626 games)
  • Classical: 51.0% win rate (1,873 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, UltraBullet: 47.9% expected score (115 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (6,884 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.2% expected score (8,689 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 53.7% expected score (2,255 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (21 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 49.2% expected score (350 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (16,713 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (16,622 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.6% expected score (3,360 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 55.1% expected score (106 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.2% expected score (1,507 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (47,188 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (35,841 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 52.7% expected score (6,218 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.0% expected score (212 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.6% expected score (3,121 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (90,302 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (66,054 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (11,141 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 55.9% expected score (610 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.3% expected score (6,461 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (143,709 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (81,123 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (11,923 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 53.2% expected score (514 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 53.9% expected score (5,464 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (177,160 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (61,729 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.9% expected score (8,182 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.0% expected score (298 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 59.4% expected score (2,206 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (158,414 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (35,602 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (3,179 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 48.4% expected score (90 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 59.2% expected score (814 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (124,051 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (16,203 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (1,282 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 58.9% expected score (21 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 56.4% expected score (30 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.6% expected score (43,139 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.4% expected score (2,387 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 63.7% expected score (86 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Analyze Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.7%-49.9%) win rate for white, based 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 at 2500+ Elo with a 51.3% win rate for white (46K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

UltraBullet (51.6%) outperforms Blitz (49.3%) by 2.3%. Choose your time control wisely.

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 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.1%-49.4%) win rate for white, based on 18K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.3%-50.2%) win rate for white, based on 37K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.6% (90% CI: 49.4%-49.9%) win rate for white, based on 91K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.6% (90% CI: 49.4%-49.8%) win rate for white, based on 171K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.6% (90% CI: 49.4%-49.8%) win rate for white, based on 244K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.7%-50.1%) win rate for white, based on 253K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.6%-49.9%) win rate for white, based on 199K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 50.2% (90% CI: 50.0%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 142K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.0% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 51.3% (90% CI: 50.9%-51.6%) win rate for white, based on 46K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 6.9% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 51.6% (90% CI: 51.1%-52.2%) win rate for white (20K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.0%.

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

In Bullet games, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.1%) win rate for white (808K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.4%.

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

In Blitz games, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.3% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.4%) win rate for white (324K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.8%.

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

In Rapid games, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 49.5% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.9%) win rate for white (48K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.4%.

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

In Classical games, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation has a 51.0% (90% CI: 49.1%-52.9%) win rate for white (1.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.2%.

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

The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Symmetrical Variation is statistically balanced with a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.7%-49.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.