TrueEloPlay what wins.
Analyzer

Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense

189K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score45.5%Range (90% confident): 45.3% – 45.7%Based on 189K games
0%45.5%100%
Range (90% confident): 45.3% – 45.7%
Outcome Distribution
43.9%3.3%52.9%
Win
Draw
Loss
4...Nc6
Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense
Analyzen=189K
Avg Length32 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.3%

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 45.5% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 45.3% and 45.7%), based on 189K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 50% → 41%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 50.0% win rate (8,414 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.1% win rate (11,400 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.2% win rate (14,733 games)
  • 1400-1599: 45.6% win rate (19,516 games)
  • 1600-1799: 43.7% win rate (28,859 games)
  • 1800-1999: 42.9% win rate (40,764 games)
  • 2000-2199: 42.5% win rate (38,533 games)
  • 2200-2499: 41.3% win rate (22,994 games)
  • 2500+: 40.6% win rate (3,993 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (53%), worst in Classical (43%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 52.9% win rate (603 games)
  • Bullet: 44.0% win rate (102,130 games)
  • Blitz: 43.4% win rate (71,177 games)
  • Rapid: 44.7% win rate (14,654 games)
  • Classical: 43.3% win rate (642 games)

Black% 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: 58.0% expected score (30 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (2,587 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (3,984 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 54.9% expected score (1,801 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 46.3% expected score (12 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 54.9% expected score (111 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (4,849 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (4,321 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (2,051 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 47.9% expected score (68 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 54.1% expected score (122 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (7,081 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (5,324 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.8% expected score (2,085 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 52.1% expected score (121 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 51.5% expected score (175 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (9,928 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 46.5% expected score (7,072 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (2,205 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 56.6% expected score (136 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 54.2% expected score (81 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 44.8% expected score (15,467 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 45.5% expected score (11,082 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 43.8% expected score (2,109 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 38.5% expected score (120 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 55.5% expected score (63 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 44.5% expected score (20,737 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 44.6% expected score (17,461 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 44.0% expected score (2,390 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 38.7% expected score (113 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 43.6% expected score (14 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 44.8% expected score (20,807 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 43.9% expected score (16,126 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 44.2% expected score (1,527 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 36.8% expected score (59 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 23.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 43.6% expected score (16,965 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 42.4% expected score (5,527 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.9% expected score (483 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 46.6% expected score (13 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 43.1% expected score (3,709 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.4% expected score (280 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 38.9% expected score (3 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Nimzowitsch Defense
50.3%
Variations (5)
Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation
50.3%
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%
Analyze Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense win rate?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 52.9% (90% CI: 52.7%-53.1%) win rate for white, based on 189K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 54.6% win rate for white (23K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (53.4%) outperforms UltraBullet (46.6%) by 6.8%. Choose your time control wisely.

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

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a sharpness score of 96.7 (very decisive), meaning 96.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 46.0% (90% CI: 45.1%-46.9%) win rate for white, based on 8.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 4.0% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 48.5% (90% CI: 47.7%-49.3%) win rate for white, based on 11K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 51.3% (90% CI: 50.6%-51.9%) win rate for white, based on 15K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 52.0% (90% CI: 51.4%-52.6%) win rate for white, based on 20K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 53.8% (90% CI: 53.3%-54.3%) win rate for white, based on 29K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 53.9% (90% CI: 53.5%-54.3%) win rate for white, based on 41K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 53.8% (90% CI: 53.4%-54.2%) win rate for white, based on 39K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 54.6% (90% CI: 54.0%-55.1%) win rate for white, based on 23K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 54.3% (90% CI: 53.0%-55.6%) win rate for white, based on 4.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 46.6% (90% CI: 43.2%-49.9%) win rate for white (603 Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.6%.

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

In Bullet games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 53.4% (90% CI: 53.1%-53.7%) win rate for white (102K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.6%.

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

In Blitz games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 52.7% (90% CI: 52.4%-53.0%) win rate for white (71K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.9%.

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

In Rapid games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 50.6% (90% CI: 49.9%-51.3%) win rate for white (15K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.7%.

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

In Classical games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense has a 51.4% (90% CI: 48.1%-54.6%) win rate for white (642 Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.4%.

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

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Riemann Defense is statistically favors white with a 52.9% (90% CI: 52.7%-53.1%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2200-2499 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.