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Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation

357K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

48.4%

45%55%
Floor48.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 48.5%.

Measured over 357K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 3.7 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 357K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
357K
Best context
50.8% at 2000-2199 Blitz
Worst context
42.4% at 1000-1199 Rapid
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
96.3%
Draws
3.7%

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: 10.4% · UltraBullet best · Classical worst

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, 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 42.9%.

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: 51.3% expected score (36 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (1,317 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 44.9% expected score (1,459 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 42.0% expected score (340 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 40.3% expected score (55 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (4,168 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 43.4% expected score (3,880 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 42.4% expected score (1,040 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 39.6% expected score (94 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (9,257 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 44.9% expected score (8,223 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 43.2% expected score (2,169 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 40.1% expected score (49 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 37.5% expected score (285 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 46.8% expected score (16,566 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (16,324 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (3,593 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 40.7% expected score (170 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 43.8% expected score (254 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (26,422 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (30,426 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.9% expected score (6,828 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.3% expected score (305 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 39.2% expected score (165 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (31,399 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (47,570 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (9,644 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.3% expected score (454 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 44.1% expected score (49 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (26,420 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (47,639 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.3% expected score (7,081 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 42.2% expected score (165 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 32.8% expected score (13 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.6% expected score (20,077 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (23,987 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.6% expected score (2,211 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 39.9% expected score (28 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (4,958 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (1,744 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 45.3% expected score (72 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Semi-Slav Defense
51.5%
Variations (5)
Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order
50.8%
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line
51.8%
Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit
53.5%
Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation
48.8%
Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense
48.6%
Continuations (4)
Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation
58.0%
Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Gambit
53.0%
Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation, Belyavsky Line
52.6%
Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation
47.2%
Analyze Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation scores 48.4% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 48.2% and 48.5% — from 357K 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
357K+ 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 Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate?

Playing the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Black wins 46.5%, draws 3.7% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 357K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation perform best?

The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation performs best for Black at 2000-2199, with an Expected Score of 49.7% (81K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 49.2% in Blitz (181K games) against 48.0% in Rapid (33K games).

How sharp is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation?

The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation has a sharpness score of 96.3 (very decisive), meaning 96.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 44.0%, draws 2.4% and loses 53.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.2%. It rests on 3.2K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 43.4%, draws 2.4% and loses 54.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.6%. It rests on 9.2K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 43.8%, draws 2.7% and loses 53.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.2%. It rests on 20K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 45.2%, draws 3.1% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.8%. It rests on 37K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 46.3%, draws 3.3% and loses 50.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.0%. It rests on 64K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 47.2%, draws 3.7% and loses 49.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.1%. It rests on 89K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 47.6%, draws 4.2% and loses 48.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.7%. It rests on 81K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 46.6%, draws 4.5% and loses 48.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.9%. It rests on 46K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 44.6%, draws 5.5% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 6.8K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 39.6%, draws 1.7% and loses 58.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 40.5%. It rests on 951 Lichess games.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 46.0%, draws 2.7% and loses 51.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 141K Lichess games.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 47.1%, draws 4.3% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 181K Lichess games.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 45.5%, draws 5.1% and loses 49.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.0%. It rests on 33K Lichess games.

What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 45.5%, draws 6.4% and loses 48.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.7%. It rests on 1.2K Lichess games.

Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation a good opening?

The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 46.5% of its games and loses 49.8%. It performs best at 2000-2199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.