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Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation

4.4K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score45.0%Range (90% confident): 43.8% – 46.3%Based on 4.4K games
0%45.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 43.8% – 46.3%
Outcome Distribution
42.3%5.5%52.3%
Win
Draw
Loss
5...Be7
Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation
Analyzen=4.4K
Avg Length37 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.5%

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 45.0% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 43.8% and 46.3%), based on 4.4K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 9.9% · Bullet best · Rapid worst

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 43% → 35%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 42.9% win rate (9 games)
  • 1000-1199: 51.7% win rate (42 games)
  • 1200-1399: 44.0% win rate (102 games)
  • 1400-1599: 49.3% win rate (259 games)
  • 1600-1799: 40.8% win rate (463 games)
  • 1800-1999: 45.0% win rate (802 games)
  • 2000-2199: 42.6% win rate (1,177 games)
  • 2200-2499: 41.4% win rate (1,146 games)
  • 2500+: 34.5% win rate (435 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (78%), worst in Classical (27%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 77.8% win rate (3 games)
  • Bullet: 40.7% win rate (1,912 games)
  • Blitz: 43.0% win rate (2,144 games)
  • Rapid: 46.5% win rate (361 games)
  • Classical: 27.3% win rate (15 games)

Black% 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: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 56.8% expected score (28 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 45.7% expected score (10 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (39 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 37.4% expected score (50 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.5% expected score (12 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.4% expected score (93 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (139 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 57.0% expected score (27 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 44.1% expected score (141 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 41.5% expected score (262 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (57 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (3 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 43.0% expected score (241 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (455 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 55.4% expected score (101 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 42.7% expected score (392 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 45.7% expected score (696 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.6% expected score (82 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 36.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 44.4% expected score (584 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.1% expected score (492 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 42.1% expected score (68 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 39.0% expected score (389 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 38.4% expected score (37 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 35.7% expected score (9 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Queen's Indian Defense
47.9%
Variations (5)
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation
48.3%
Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Nimzowitsch Line
49.8%
Queen's Indian Defense: Spassky System
48.5%
Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation
50.0%
Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Traditional Line
52.6%
Analyze Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate?

The Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 52.3% (90% CI: 51.0%-53.5%) win rate for white, based on 4.4K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation perform best?

The Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 56.9% win rate for white (435 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (54.2%) outperforms Rapid (44.3%) by 9.9%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation?

The Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a sharpness score of 94.5 (decisive), meaning 94.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 53.6% (90% CI: 45.6%-61.6%) win rate for white, based on 102 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 42.0%-52.1%) win rate for white, based on 259 Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 54.6% (90% CI: 50.8%-58.4%) win rate for white, based on 463 Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 50.1% (90% CI: 47.2%-53.0%) win rate for white, based on 802 Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 52.2% (90% CI: 49.8%-54.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 52.4% (90% CI: 50.0%-54.8%) win rate for white, based on 1.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 6.2% draw rate.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 56.9% (90% CI: 53.0%-60.8%) win rate for white, based on 435 Lichess games. Average game length is 44 moves with a 8.6% draw rate.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 54.2% (90% CI: 52.3%-56.1%) win rate for white (1.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.1%.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 51.8% (90% CI: 50.0%-53.6%) win rate for white (2.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.2%.

What is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation has a 44.3% (90% CI: 40.0%-48.6%) win rate for white (361 Lichess games). Draw rate is 9.2%.

Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation a good opening?

The Queen's Indian Defense: Traditional Variation is statistically favors white with a 52.3% (90% CI: 51.0%-53.5%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.