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Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation

4.9M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

51.8%

45%55%
Floor51.8%

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

Measured over 4.9M 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 White

Draw 3.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 4.9M games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
4.9M
Best context
61.6% at 1400-1599 Classical
Worst context
45.6% at 2000-2199 Blitz
Average game length
33 moves
Games that end decisively
97.0%
Draws
3.0%

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.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.2% · Classical best · UltraBullet worst

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 53.1%.

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: 40.9% expected score (426 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (86,481 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 58.2% expected score (180,393 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 58.1% expected score (66,570 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 57.1% expected score (406 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 47.9% expected score (900 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.1% expected score (171,997 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 58.4% expected score (267,023 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 60.6% expected score (126,136 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (2,134 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 47.5% expected score (1,649 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (267,861 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.9% expected score (314,150 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 59.6% expected score (131,969 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 60.1% expected score (6,212 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 49.0% expected score (1,890 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (345,600 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.3% expected score (354,817 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 56.8% expected score (108,608 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 61.6% expected score (7,357 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.6% expected score (1,495 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (366,400 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (385,231 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (86,564 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 55.9% expected score (4,451 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 47.4% expected score (645 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (337,303 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 46.7% expected score (397,345 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (67,991 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.9% expected score (2,239 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 55.0% expected score (291 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (250,827 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (251,696 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.1% expected score (37,395 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 48.8% expected score (765 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 49.7% expected score (148 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (149,665 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (50,162 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (5,347 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 46.8% expected score (75 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 63.6% expected score (17 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (20,820 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 51.2% expected score (1,160 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 56.7% expected score (104 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Nimzowitsch Defense
50.3%
Variations (5)
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Advance Variation
50.2%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation
49.6%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation
48.7%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation
50.9%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams Variation
50.6%
Analyze Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation scores 51.8% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 51.8% and 51.9% — from 4.9M 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
4.9M+ 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 Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate?

Playing the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation, White wins 50.3%, draws 3.0% and loses 46.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.8%. It rests on 4.9M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation perform best?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation performs best for White at 1000-1199, with an Expected Score of 57.0% (568K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 51.9% in Blitz (2.2M games) against 56.0% in Rapid (631K games).

How sharp is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation has a sharpness score of 97.0 (very decisive), meaning 97.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 54.8%, draws 3.1% and loses 42.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.4%. It rests on 334K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 55.5%, draws 2.9% and loses 41.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.0%. It rests on 568K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 53.4%, draws 2.7% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.8%. It rests on 722K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 51.5%, draws 2.7% and loses 45.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 818K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 48.9%, draws 2.8% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 844K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 46.3%, draws 3.2% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.9%. It rests on 806K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 45.3%, draws 3.7% and loses 51.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.1%. It rests on 541K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 47.5%, draws 4.0% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.5%. It rests on 205K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 49.2%, draws 5.6% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 22K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 48.0%, draws 1.1% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.5%. It rests on 7.5K Lichess games.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 49.2%, draws 2.1% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 2.0M Lichess games.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 50.1%, draws 3.6% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 2.2M Lichess games.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 54.0%, draws 4.0% and loses 42.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.0%. It rests on 631K Lichess games.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 56.2%, draws 4.0% and loses 39.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.2%. It rests on 24K Lichess games.

Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation a good opening?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 50.3% of its games and loses 46.7%. It performs best at 1000-1199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.