Skip to content
TrueEloPlay what wins.
Score a position

Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack

133K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

No move sequence recorded for this opening

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

53.6%

45%60%
Floor53.4%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 53.8%.

Measured over 133K 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 6.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 133K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
133K
Best context
58.1% at 1800-1999 Classical
Worst context
50.2% at 1000-1199 Blitz
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
93.5%
Draws
6.5%

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.

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 holds about the same all the way up, near 53.0%.

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: 46.6% expected score (434 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 55.0% expected score (605 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 57.4% expected score (325 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (820 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (1,223 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 57.7% expected score (658 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.7% expected score (14 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (1,598 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.2% expected score (2,481 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (767 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (32 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (2,953 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (5,126 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (1,503 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 67.6% expected score (101 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 54.1% expected score (4,808 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (10,381 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.2% expected score (2,758 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 55.6% expected score (284 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (6,261 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 54.2% expected score (19,487 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (4,644 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 58.1% expected score (504 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (7,415 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.2% expected score (22,438 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 56.5% expected score (4,755 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (239 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (8,321 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (14,392 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.9% expected score (2,326 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 55.7% expected score (78 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.6% expected score (3,191 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 53.6% expected score (1,620 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 58.3% expected score (95 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (13 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Russian Game
48.9%
Variations (5)
Russian Game: Three Knights Game
50.2%
Russian Game: Italian Variation
50.9%
Russian Game: Stafford Gambit
46.2%
Russian Game: Modern Attack
51.5%
Russian Game: Damiano Variation
58.3%

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack scores 53.6% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 53.4% and 53.8% — from 133K 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
133K+ 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 Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate?

Playing the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack, White wins 50.3%, draws 6.5% and loses 43.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.6%. It rests on 133K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack perform best?

The Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack performs best for White at 1800-1999, with an Expected Score of 54.2% (31K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 53.3% in Blitz (78K games) against 55.7% in Rapid (18K games).

How sharp is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack?

The Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack has a sharpness score of 93.5 (decisive), meaning 93.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 50.6%, draws 4.7% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 1.4K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 50.4%, draws 4.8% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.8%. It rests on 2.7K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 51.8%, draws 4.4% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.0%. It rests on 4.9K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 52.0%, draws 4.4% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.3%. It rests on 9.7K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 51.2%, draws 5.1% and loses 43.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.8%. It rests on 18K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 51.1%, draws 6.3% and loses 42.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.2%. It rests on 31K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 50.0%, draws 6.9% and loses 43.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 35K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 48.8%, draws 7.9% and loses 43.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.8%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 47.5%, draws 9.7% and loses 42.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 4.9K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 50.4%, draws 4.9% and loses 44.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 36K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 49.9%, draws 6.8% and loses 43.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.3%. It rests on 78K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 51.7%, draws 7.9% and loses 40.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.7%. It rests on 18K Lichess games.

What is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 51.1%, draws 11.6% and loses 37.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.9%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games.

Is the Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack a good opening?

The Russian Game: Nimzowitsch Attack is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 50.3% of its games and loses 43.2%. It performs best at 1800-1999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.