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Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation

1.1M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score50.8%Range (90% confident): 50.7% – 50.9%Based on 1.1M games
0%50.8%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.7% – 50.9%
Outcome Distribution
48.6%4.4%47.0%
Win
Draw
Loss
6.Be2
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation
Analyzen=1.1M
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.4%

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 50.8% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 50.7% and 50.9%), based on 1.1M Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 51% → 45%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 51.1% win rate (6,471 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.9% win rate (22,915 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.7% win rate (57,255 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.8% win rate (127,260 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.4% win rate (223,713 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.8% win rate (287,922 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.9% win rate (222,155 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.1% win rate (130,396 games)
  • 2500+: 44.9% win rate (26,535 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~50%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 49.7% win rate (402 games)
  • Bullet: 49.2% win rate (423,766 games)
  • Blitz: 48.3% win rate (555,071 games)
  • Rapid: 47.7% win rate (120,197 games)
  • Classical: 49.0% win rate (5,186 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, UltraBullet: 62.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 54.6% expected score (3,345 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (2,487 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (623 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 65.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.8% expected score (22 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (11,206 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (9,387 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (2,266 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 61.3% expected score (34 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 61.4% expected score (47 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (24,100 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (26,220 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (6,754 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 44.1% expected score (134 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 57.6% expected score (84 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (46,305 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (64,074 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (16,076 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 53.0% expected score (721 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 43.3% expected score (81 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (73,159 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (120,413 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.5% expected score (28,476 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 55.0% expected score (1,584 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 41.3% expected score (56 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (90,296 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (160,487 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (35,226 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.1% expected score (1,857 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 39.7% expected score (42 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (83,929 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.6% expected score (114,394 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.2% expected score (23,048 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 49.4% expected score (742 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 58.9% expected score (49 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (70,854 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (51,982 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 49.7% expected score (7,408 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (103 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (10 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (20,572 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 45.8% expected score (5,627 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 40.1% expected score (320 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 63.4% expected score (6 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Sicilian Defense
48.5%
Variations (5)
Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack
47.2%
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian
48.5%
Sicilian Defense: Closed
49.8%
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
50.2%
Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack
48.6%
Continuations (4)
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Sozin Attack
48.4%
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Anti-Sozin Variation
46.5%
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Fianchetto Variation
48.0%
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Dragon Transfer
47.4%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.1%) win rate for white, based on 1.1M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 48.3% win rate for white (57K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (47.5%) outperforms Classical (43.1%) by 4.4%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a sharpness score of 95.6 (very decisive), meaning 95.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.2% (90% CI: 45.2%-47.3%) win rate for white, based on 6.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.0%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 23K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.9%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 57K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 47.6%-48.0%) win rate for white, based on 127K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 47.6%-47.9%) win rate for white, based on 224K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 46.6%-46.9%) win rate for white, based on 288K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.2% (90% CI: 46.0%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 222K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.2% (90% CI: 46.0%-46.5%) win rate for white, based on 130K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 47.3%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 27K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 7.2% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 44.6%-52.8%) win rate for white (402 Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.6%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.3%-47.6%) win rate for white (424K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.3%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 46.7%-46.9%) win rate for white (555K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.6% (90% CI: 46.3%-46.8%) win rate for white (120K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation has a 43.1% (90% CI: 42.0%-44.2%) win rate for white (5.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.9%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation is statistically balanced with a 47.0% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.1%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1200-1399 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.