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Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation

9.8K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score53.6%Range (90% confident): 52.7% – 54.4%Based on 9.8K games
0%53.6%100%
Range (90% confident): 52.7% – 54.4%
Outcome Distribution
52.1%2.9%45.0%
Win
Draw
Loss
4.Ng5
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation
Analyzen=9.8K
Avg Length28 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate2.9%

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 53.6% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 52.7% and 54.4%), based on 9.8K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Traps & Chaos

Complexity: 92.8 · Trap factor: +16.5 · n=9.8K

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 50% → 71%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 50.2% win rate (3,109 games)
  • 1000-1199: 52.3% win rate (2,735 games)
  • 1200-1399: 53.3% win rate (2,012 games)
  • 1400-1599: 53.3% win rate (1,231 games)
  • 1600-1799: 53.9% win rate (489 games)
  • 1800-1999: 50.4% win rate (190 games)
  • 2000-2199: 58.2% win rate (44 games)
  • 2200-2499: 59.0% win rate (18 games)
  • 2500+: 71.4% win rate (2 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (59%), worst in Rapid (51%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 58.7% win rate (110 games)
  • Bullet: 52.0% win rate (2,667 games)
  • Blitz: 52.4% win rate (4,542 games)
  • Rapid: 51.1% win rate (2,427 games)
  • Classical: 55.6% win rate (84 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: 52.4% expected score (752 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.2% expected score (1,587 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (765 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (549 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 55.2% expected score (1,469 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.7% expected score (685 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 65.6% expected score (21 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 63.6% expected score (39 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (498 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.5% expected score (881 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (571 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (23 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 53.0% expected score (32 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 55.5% expected score (459 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (429 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 56.4% expected score (281 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (30 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 58.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 56.5% expected score (229 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (139 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.8% expected score (105 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 64.9% expected score (12 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (131 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.4% expected score (29 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 44.9% expected score (18 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 55.7% expected score (34 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 74.2% expected score (13 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 34.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Philidor Defense
50.2%
Variations (5)
Philidor Defense: Albin-Blackburne Gambit
44.3%
Philidor Defense: Berger Variation
40.3%
Philidor Defense: Bird Gambit
53.3%
Philidor Defense: Boden Variation
49.4%
Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation
50.5%
Analyze Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation win rate?

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 52.1% (90% CI: 51.2%-52.9%) win rate for white, based on 9.8K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation perform best?

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 53.3% win rate for white (2.0K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz (52.4%) outperforms Classical (55.6%) by -3.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation?

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a sharpness score of 97.1 (very decisive), meaning 97.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 28 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 50.2% (90% CI: 48.7%-51.6%) win rate for white, based on 3.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 52.3% (90% CI: 50.7%-53.9%) win rate for white, based on 2.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 53.3% (90% CI: 51.5%-55.1%) win rate for white, based on 2.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 53.3% (90% CI: 50.9%-55.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 53.9% (90% CI: 50.2%-57.6%) win rate for white, based on 489 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 44.5%-56.3%) win rate for white, based on 190 Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 58.7% (90% CI: 51.0%-66.3%) win rate for white (110 Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.3%.

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 50.4%-53.5%) win rate for white (2.7K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.0%.

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 52.4% (90% CI: 51.2%-53.6%) win rate for white (4.5K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.9%.

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation has a 51.1% (90% CI: 49.5%-52.8%) win rate for white (2.4K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.9%.

Is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation a good opening?

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation is statistically favors white with a 52.1% (90% CI: 51.2%-52.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1200-1399 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.