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Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation

1.6K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score60.4%Range (90% confident): 58.4% – 62.4%Based on 1.6K games
0%60.4%100%
Range (90% confident): 58.4% – 62.4%
Outcome Distribution
58.9%3.1%38.1%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...Bb7
Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation
Analyzen=1.6K
Avg Length33 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.1%

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 60.4% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 58.4% and 62.4%), based on 1.6K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 21.6% · Rapid best · Bullet worst

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 63% → 14%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 62.9% win rate (74 games)
  • 1000-1199: 59.6% win rate (137 games)
  • 1200-1399: 54.0% win rate (227 games)
  • 1400-1599: 64.0% win rate (282 games)
  • 1600-1799: 56.8% win rate (371 games)
  • 1800-1999: 55.5% win rate (313 games)
  • 2000-2199: 61.6% win rate (165 games)
  • 2200-2499: 68.4% win rate (46 games)
  • 2500+: 14.3% win rate (2 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Rapid (74%), worst in UltraBullet (23%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 23.1% win rate (5 games)
  • Bullet: 52.6% win rate (613 games)
  • Blitz: 60.0% win rate (791 games)
  • Rapid: 74.2% win rate (200 games)
  • Classical: 47.4% win rate (8 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, Bullet: 68.4% expected score (23 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 65.8% expected score (43 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 55.3% expected score (8 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 46.9% expected score (46 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 66.6% expected score (71 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 72.0% expected score (19 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (84 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (106 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 78.8% expected score (35 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 60.3% expected score (110 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 66.1% expected score (132 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 75.9% expected score (39 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (142 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 63.6% expected score (183 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 79.7% expected score (39 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (111 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 58.6% expected score (157 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 71.4% expected score (43 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 61.6% expected score (72 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 63.0% expected score (79 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 69.4% expected score (14 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 62.3% expected score (23 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 77.9% expected score (20 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Owen Defense
49.8%
Variations (5)
Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense
50.9%
Owen Defense: Hekili-Loa Gambit
52.9%
Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit
61.3%
Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit
56.5%
Owen Defense: Smith Gambit
49.1%
Analyze Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate?

The Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 58.9% (90% CI: 56.8%-60.9%) win rate for white, based on 1.6K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation perform best?

The Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation performs best at 1400-1599 Elo with a 64.0% win rate for white (282 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid (74.2%) outperforms Bullet (52.6%) by 21.6%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation?

The Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a sharpness score of 96.9 (very decisive), meaning 96.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 59.6% (90% CI: 52.7%-66.3%) win rate for white, based on 137 Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 1.8% draw rate.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 54.0% (90% CI: 48.6%-59.4%) win rate for white, based on 227 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 1.1% draw rate.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 64.0% (90% CI: 59.3%-68.6%) win rate for white, based on 282 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 56.8% (90% CI: 52.5%-61.0%) win rate for white, based on 371 Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 55.5% (90% CI: 50.9%-60.1%) win rate for white, based on 313 Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 61.6% (90% CI: 55.3%-67.7%) win rate for white, based on 165 Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 52.6% (90% CI: 49.3%-56.0%) win rate for white (613 Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.4%.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 60.0% (90% CI: 57.1%-62.8%) win rate for white (791 Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

What is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation has a 74.2% (90% CI: 69.0%-79.1%) win rate for white (200 Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.2%.

Is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation a good opening?

The Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation is statistically favors white with a 58.9% (90% CI: 56.8%-60.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1400-1599 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.