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Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation

105K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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a1
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4.Nf3
Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

54.5%

45%60%
Floor54.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 54.8%.

Measured over 105K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.8 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 105K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
105K
Best context
59.6% at 2200-2499 Rapid
Worst context
51.1% at 0-999 Blitz
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
95.2%
Draws
4.8%

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 · 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 gets better as the rating rises: 43.2% at 0-999, 62.6% 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: 30.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (452 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (763 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (289 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 39.5% expected score (8 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.9% expected score (1,318 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.9% expected score (1,305 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 56.4% expected score (487 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 26.3% expected score (28 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (2,484 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.2% expected score (2,250 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 52.0% expected score (703 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 44.6% expected score (17 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 46.2% expected score (157 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (3,703 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 55.3% expected score (4,478 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 57.0% expected score (1,055 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 65.0% expected score (42 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.0% expected score (291 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (6,268 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.6% expected score (7,698 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.8% expected score (1,775 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.2% expected score (91 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 59.4% expected score (105 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 54.2% expected score (8,334 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 55.4% expected score (12,358 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 55.4% expected score (2,191 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 61.9% expected score (154 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.4% expected score (43 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.8% expected score (7,828 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.8% expected score (13,237 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 57.7% expected score (1,998 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 60.9% expected score (54 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (16 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.8% expected score (6,846 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.5% expected score (11,213 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 59.6% expected score (757 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 79.7% expected score (12 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 56.8% expected score (2,313 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 55.5% expected score (1,909 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 62.4% expected score (51 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Old Indian Defense
49.1%
Variations (5)
Old Indian Defense: Czech Variation, with Nc3
48.7%
Old Indian Defense: Czech Variation, with Nf3
48.7%
Old Indian Defense: Ukrainian Variation
45.5%
Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation
47.9%
Old Indian Defense: Janowski Variation
50.0%
Analyze Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation scores 54.5% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 54.3% and 54.8% — from 105K 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
105K+ 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 Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate?

Playing the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation, White wins 52.1%, draws 4.8% and loses 43.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 105K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation perform best?

The Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 56.3% (4.3K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 54.9% in Blitz (55K games) against 56.1% in Rapid (9.3K games).

How sharp is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation?

The Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation has a sharpness score of 95.2 (very decisive), meaning 95.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 49.5%, draws 3.9% and loses 46.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 52.3%, draws 2.9% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.8%. It rests on 3.1K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 51.7%, draws 3.3% and loses 45.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 5.5K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 53.0%, draws 2.9% and loses 44.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 9.4K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 51.3%, draws 3.9% and loses 44.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.3%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 52.7%, draws 4.8% and loses 42.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 23K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 52.6%, draws 5.3% and loses 42.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.3%. It rests on 23K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 51.5%, draws 5.8% and loses 42.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 19K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 51.8%, draws 9.1% and loses 39.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.3%. It rests on 4.3K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 48.1%, draws 1.7% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.0%. It rests on 663 Lichess games.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 51.8%, draws 3.7% and loses 44.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.7%. It rests on 40K Lichess games.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 52.2%, draws 5.4% and loses 42.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.9%. It rests on 55K Lichess games.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 53.0%, draws 6.2% and loses 40.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.1%. It rests on 9.3K Lichess games.

What is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 55.9%, draws 7.0% and loses 37.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.4%. It rests on 377 Lichess games.

Is the Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation a good opening?

The Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 52.1% of its games and loses 43.1%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.