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Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation

166K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score51.5%Range (90% confident): 51.3% – 51.7%Based on 166K games
0%51.5%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.3% – 51.7%
Outcome Distribution
49.7%3.6%46.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
2...d5
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation
Analyzen=166K
Avg Length30 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.6%

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 51.5% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 51.3% and 51.7%), based on 166K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~50%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 50.0% win rate (24,822 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.8% win rate (22,623 games)
  • 1200-1399: 49.5% win rate (26,383 games)
  • 1400-1599: 49.8% win rate (28,712 games)
  • 1600-1799: 49.1% win rate (25,657 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.6% win rate (20,146 games)
  • 2000-2199: 50.3% win rate (11,385 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.6% win rate (5,260 games)
  • 2500+: 48.1% win rate (700 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~50%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 48.6% win rate (2,841 games)
  • Bullet: 50.1% win rate (55,705 games)
  • Blitz: 49.7% win rate (75,795 games)
  • Rapid: 48.9% win rate (30,171 games)
  • Classical: 49.6% win rate (1,176 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: 60.4% expected score (297 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (7,891 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (10,860 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (5,715 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 60.8% expected score (59 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 51.9% expected score (450 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (6,946 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.5% expected score (10,263 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (4,808 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 47.5% expected score (156 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 49.1% expected score (599 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (7,810 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.9% expected score (12,049 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.6% expected score (5,686 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 56.7% expected score (239 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 44.8% expected score (872 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (8,025 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (13,693 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.9% expected score (5,749 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 55.3% expected score (373 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 45.7% expected score (404 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (7,609 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (12,688 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.7% expected score (4,698 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.0% expected score (258 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 56.6% expected score (143 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (7,277 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (10,071 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (2,585 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.5% expected score (70 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (49 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (5,685 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.3% expected score (4,811 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (821 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 42.7% expected score (19 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 46.5% expected score (27 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (3,836 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.3% expected score (1,286 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.9% expected score (109 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (626 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.4% expected score (74 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%
Continuations (10)
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Advance Variation
50.2%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation
48.7%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation
47.3%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation, Marshall Gambit
46.4%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Vehre Variation
50.8%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit
51.2%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Heinola-Deppe Gambit
52.3%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubov Variation
47.1%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Aachen Gambit
51.2%
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Bogoljubov Variation, Vehre Variation
49.3%
Analyze Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 46.7% (90% CI: 46.5%-46.9%) win rate for white, based on 166K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation perform best?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation performs best at 1600-1799 Elo with a 47.5% win rate for white (26K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation better in blitz or rapid?

UltraBullet (50.0%) outperforms Classical (44.5%) by 5.5%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a sharpness score of 96.4 (very decisive), meaning 96.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 30 moves.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 45.2% (90% CI: 44.7%-45.8%) win rate for white, based on 25K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 47.1% (90% CI: 46.5%-47.6%) win rate for white, based on 23K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 47.4% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.9%) win rate for white, based on 26K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 47.1% (90% CI: 46.6%-47.5%) win rate for white, based on 29K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.0%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 26K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 46.2%-47.3%) win rate for white, based on 20K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 44.8%-46.3%) win rate for white, based on 11K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 46.1% (90% CI: 45.0%-47.2%) win rate for white, based on 5.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 46.7% (90% CI: 43.6%-49.8%) win rate for white, based on 700 Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 48.5%-51.6%) win rate for white (2.8K Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.4%.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 47.3% (90% CI: 47.0%-47.7%) win rate for white (56K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.5%.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 46.4% (90% CI: 46.1%-46.7%) win rate for white (76K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.9%.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 46.2% (90% CI: 45.8%-46.7%) win rate for white (30K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

What is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation has a 44.5% (90% CI: 42.1%-46.8%) win rate for white (1.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.0%.

Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation a good opening?

The Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation is statistically balanced with a 46.7% (90% CI: 46.5%-46.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1600-1799 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.