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Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation

273K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

54.6%

45%60%
Floor54.4%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 54.7%.

Measured over 273K 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 3.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 273K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
273K
Best context
58.1% at 2500+ Bullet
Worst context
52.2% at 2000-2199 Bullet
Average game length
31 moves
Games that end decisively
96.5%
Draws
3.5%

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.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.2% · Classical best · UltraBullet worst

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: 43.1% at 0-999, 55.2% 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: 17.5% expected score (20 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.5% expected score (4,538 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.5% expected score (11,967 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 52.6% expected score (5,612 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 37.3% expected score (30 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 55.2% expected score (75 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.7% expected score (8,243 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 56.0% expected score (17,733 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 57.7% expected score (7,642 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 52.2% expected score (158 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 47.6% expected score (165 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (13,367 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.0% expected score (25,709 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.0% expected score (9,928 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 55.1% expected score (373 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.5% expected score (225 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.6% expected score (16,601 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 55.1% expected score (32,282 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 56.0% expected score (10,762 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 57.0% expected score (609 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 44.2% expected score (238 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (16,927 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 54.5% expected score (28,636 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 56.3% expected score (9,125 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 67.1% expected score (436 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 54.4% expected score (101 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (12,984 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 54.9% expected score (16,020 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 56.7% expected score (4,736 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 57.5% expected score (112 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 58.8% expected score (27 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (8,169 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (4,365 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 56.8% expected score (910 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.8% expected score (14 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 76.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.3% expected score (2,964 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.5% expected score (812 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 40.0% expected score (68 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 58.1% expected score (585 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.6% expected score (25 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (2 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Philidor Defense
50.2%
Variations (5)
Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation
50.5%
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation
45.8%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation
46.9%
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
53.4%
Philidor Defense: Morphy Gambit
51.7%
Analyze Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation scores 54.6% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 54.4% and 54.7% — from 273K 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
273K+ 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 Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation win rate?

Playing the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation, White wins 52.8%, draws 3.5% and loses 43.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.6%. It rests on 273K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation performs best for White at 1000-1199, with an Expected Score of 55.8% (34K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 54.9% in Blitz (138K games) against 56.2% in Rapid (49K games).

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

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation has a sharpness score of 96.5 (very decisive), meaning 96.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 31 moves.

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

At 0-999, White wins 51.9%, draws 3.7% and loses 44.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.8%. It rests on 22K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, White wins 54.2%, draws 3.1% and loses 42.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.8%. It rests on 34K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 53.1%, draws 3.1% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.7%. It rests on 50K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 53.1%, draws 3.3% and loses 43.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.8%. It rests on 60K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 52.5%, draws 3.6% and loses 43.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.3%. It rests on 55K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 52.2%, draws 4.1% and loses 43.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.3%. It rests on 34K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 50.8%, draws 4.3% and loses 44.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.0%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 50.2%, draws 5.9% and loses 43.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.2%. It rests on 3.9K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 54.4%, draws 7.3% and loses 38.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.0%. It rests on 612 Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

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

In UltraBullet, White wins 47.7%, draws 2.0% and loses 50.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.7%. It rests on 857 Lichess games.

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

In Bullet, White wins 51.6%, draws 2.6% and loses 45.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 84K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 53.0%, draws 3.9% and loses 43.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.9%. It rests on 138K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 54.1%, draws 4.2% and loses 41.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.2%. It rests on 49K Lichess games.

What is the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 55.9%, draws 4.8% and loses 39.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.3%. It rests on 1.7K Lichess games.

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

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 52.8% of its games and loses 43.7%. It performs best at 1000-1199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.