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Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation

12K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score54.6%Range (90% confident): 53.9% – 55.4%Based on 12K games
0%54.6%100%
Range (90% confident): 53.9% – 55.4%
Outcome Distribution
52.9%3.5%43.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
5.Qd5
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation
Analyzen=12K
Avg Length29 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.5%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 54.6% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 53.9% and 55.4%), based on 12K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 18.7% · Classical best · Bullet worst

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 61% → 55%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 60.6% win rate (603 games)
  • 1000-1199: 58.2% win rate (1,141 games)
  • 1200-1399: 58.4% win rate (1,789 games)
  • 1400-1599: 53.0% win rate (2,233 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.9% win rate (2,214 games)
  • 1800-1999: 50.4% win rate (1,863 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.0% win rate (1,256 games)
  • 2200-2499: 51.9% win rate (861 games)
  • 2500+: 54.7% win rate (294 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (70%), worst in Bullet (51%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 60.0% win rate (6 games)
  • Bullet: 50.9% win rate (3,769 games)
  • Blitz: 51.3% win rate (6,140 games)
  • Rapid: 59.5% win rate (2,199 games)
  • Classical: 69.6% win rate (140 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: 62.9% expected score (146 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 58.8% expected score (320 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 69.2% expected score (137 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 55.6% expected score (265 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 59.1% expected score (540 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 62.3% expected score (324 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 72.3% expected score (12 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.3% expected score (542 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 58.3% expected score (831 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 67.4% expected score (393 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 83.3% expected score (21 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (686 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (1,069 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 62.0% expected score (440 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 72.7% expected score (36 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (671 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (1,033 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 58.4% expected score (473 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 65.1% expected score (35 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (585 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (981 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (278 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 69.6% expected score (19 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (421 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (713 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (113 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 69.1% expected score (9 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 58.3% expected score (289 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.7% expected score (543 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.4% expected score (28 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 59.7% expected score (164 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.7% expected score (110 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (13 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 79.4% expected score (7 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 Variation, Rellstab Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 52.9% (90% CI: 52.1%-53.6%) win rate for white, based on 12K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation performs best at 0-999 Elo with a 60.6% win rate for white (603 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Classical (69.6%) outperforms Bullet (50.9%) by 18.7%. Choose your time control wisely.

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

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a sharpness score of 96.5 (very decisive), meaning 96.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 29 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 60.6% (90% CI: 57.3%-63.9%) win rate for white, based on 603 Lichess games. Average game length is 23 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 58.2% (90% CI: 55.8%-60.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 58.4% (90% CI: 56.5%-60.3%) win rate for white, based on 1.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 2.0% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 53.0% (90% CI: 51.2%-54.7%) win rate for white, based on 2.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 48.9% (90% CI: 47.2%-50.7%) win rate for white, based on 2.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 48.5%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 1.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 44.6%-49.3%) win rate for white, based on 1.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 51.9% (90% CI: 49.1%-54.7%) win rate for white, based on 861 Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 7.9% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 54.7% (90% CI: 49.9%-59.4%) win rate for white, based on 294 Lichess games. Average game length is 46 moves with a 9.3% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 50.9% (90% CI: 49.5%-52.2%) win rate for white (3.8K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.2%.

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

In Blitz games, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 51.3% (90% CI: 50.2%-52.3%) win rate for white (6.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.1%.

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

In Rapid games, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 59.5% (90% CI: 57.8%-61.2%) win rate for white (2.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

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

In Classical games, the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation has a 69.6% (90% CI: 63.1%-75.8%) win rate for white (140 Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.4%.

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

The Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation is statistically favors white with a 52.9% (90% CI: 52.1%-53.6%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 0-999 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.