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Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6

58K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

49.3%

45%55%
Floor49.0%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 49.6%.

Measured over 58K 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 4.4 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 58K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
58K
Best context
55.2% at 0-999 Blitz
Worst context
41.1% at 2500+ Bullet
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
95.6%
Draws
4.4%

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 · 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 falls away as the rating rises: 53.8% at 0-999, 38.4% 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: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (533 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 55.2% expected score (638 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 53.4% expected score (249 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (1,131 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 52.3% expected score (1,930 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (836 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 74.4% expected score (19 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (7 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (1,921 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (3,708 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (1,782 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (51 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (2,388 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (5,391 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (2,733 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 56.2% expected score (129 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (2,495 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (5,869 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (2,475 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 49.7% expected score (156 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (2,922 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.7% expected score (5,349 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.0% expected score (1,654 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.4% expected score (84 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.7% expected score (2,422 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 46.3% expected score (3,339 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (605 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 34.5% expected score (21 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (2,587 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 43.8% expected score (2,477 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 44.0% expected score (190 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 41.1% expected score (983 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 36.7% expected score (378 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 38.9% expected score (21 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 36.7% 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%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 scores 49.3% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 49.0% and 49.6% — from 58K 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
58K+ 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 Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate?

Playing the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6, Black wins 47.1%, draws 4.4% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.3%. It rests on 58K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 53.9% (1.4K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 49.1% in Blitz (29K games) against 50.6% in Rapid (11K games).

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6?

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 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: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 52.7%, draws 2.3% and loses 45.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.9%. It rests on 1.4K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 50.9%, draws 3.2% and loses 45.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.5%. It rests on 3.9K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 49.3%, draws 3.7% and loses 47.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.2%. It rests on 7.5K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 49.2%, draws 3.6% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.0%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 47.3%, draws 4.3% and loses 48.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.5%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 46.7%, draws 4.5% and loses 48.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.0%. It rests on 10K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 44.5%, draws 5.3% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 6.4K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 42.1%, draws 6.1% and loses 51.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.2%. It rests on 5.3K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 35.1%, draws 9.5% and loses 55.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.8%. It rests on 1.4K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 47.2%, draws 3.1% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.8%. It rests on 17K Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 46.6%, draws 5.0% and loses 48.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.1%. It rests on 29K Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 48.1%, draws 5.0% and loses 46.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 11K Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 48.6%, draws 6.8% and loses 44.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 473 Lichess games.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with Nf6 is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 47.1% of its games and loses 48.5%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.