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Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation

35K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

59.7%

45%65%
Floor59.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 60.2%.

Measured over 35K 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 · 35K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
35K
Best context
64.8% at 1600-1799 Bullet
Worst context
51.0% at 2000-2199 Blitz
Average game length
33 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: 16.9% · UltraBullet best · Rapid 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 falls away as the rating rises: 57.0% at 0-999, 43.7% 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: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (82 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (56 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 60.7% expected score (522 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.5% expected score (163 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (34 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 49.1% expected score (52 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 61.8% expected score (1,455 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.6% expected score (599 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (84 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (10 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 71.2% expected score (88 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 64.7% expected score (3,479 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 56.5% expected score (1,604 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (187 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 73.0% expected score (118 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 64.8% expected score (5,485 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 55.0% expected score (2,875 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.1% expected score (330 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 37.0% expected score (10 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 69.8% expected score (44 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 62.4% expected score (5,952 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 55.1% expected score (2,776 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (312 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 39.5% expected score (8 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 37.1% expected score (14 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 60.7% expected score (3,710 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (1,329 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (149 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 36.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 56.9% expected score (2,122 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (453 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 62.0% expected score (32 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.5% expected score (337 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 54.0% expected score (98 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 21.5% expected score (2 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: Noteboom Variation
49.8%
Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation
48.8%
Continuations (1)
Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation, Belyavsky Line
52.6%
Analyze Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-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, Anti-Noteboom Variation scores 59.7% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 59.3% and 60.2% — from 35K 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
35K+ 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, Anti-Noteboom Variation win rate?

Playing the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation, White wins 58.0%, draws 3.5% and loses 38.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.7%. It rests on 35K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation performs best for White at 1400-1599, with an Expected Score of 61.7% (5.4K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 54.5% in Blitz (10.0K games) against 51.1% in Rapid (1.1K games).

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

The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation has a sharpness score of 96.5 (very decisive), meaning 96.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

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

At 0-999, White wins 51.8%, draws 1.6% and loses 46.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.6%. It rests on 152 Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, White wins 56.6%, draws 2.7% and loses 40.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.0%. It rests on 722 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 57.9%, draws 2.7% and loses 39.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.3%. It rests on 2.2K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 60.2%, draws 3.0% and loses 36.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 61.7%. It rests on 5.4K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 59.7%, draws 3.3% and loses 37.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 61.4%. It rests on 8.8K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 58.1%, draws 3.4% and loses 38.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.8%. It rests on 9.1K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 55.8%, draws 4.0% and loses 40.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.8%. It rests on 5.2K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 53.4%, draws 5.0% and loses 41.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.9%. It rests on 2.6K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2500+, White wins 51.9%, draws 6.0% and loses 42.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.9%. It rests on 437 Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

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

In UltraBullet, White wins 65.3%, draws 2.6% and loses 32.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 66.6%. It rests on 321 Lichess games.

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

In Bullet, White wins 60.9%, draws 2.8% and loses 36.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 62.3%. It rests on 23K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 52.1%, draws 4.7% and loses 43.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 10.0K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 48.4%, draws 5.3% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.1%. It rests on 1.1K Lichess games.

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

The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 58.0% of its games and loses 38.6%. It performs best at 1400-1599. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.