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Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense

129K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

47.2%

40%55%
Floor47.0%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 47.5%.

Measured over 129K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

Black comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 5.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 129K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
129K
Best context
51.0% at 1400-1599 Rapid
Worst context
43.7% at 2500+ Bullet
Average game length
37 moves
Games that end decisively
94.7%
Draws
5.3%

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: 8.9% · Bullet best · UltraBullet 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 falls away as the rating rises: 52.5% at 0-999, 42.5% 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, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (119 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (282 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (120 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 45.6% expected score (372 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (426 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 56.1% expected score (196 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 66.0% expected score (33 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (771 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (939 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (327 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 29.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 60.2% expected score (33 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (1,786 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (2,612 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (675 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 51.3% expected score (37 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 47.6% expected score (19 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (4,131 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (6,426 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (1,216 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.8% expected score (92 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 52.5% expected score (19 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (8,105 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (16,893 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.1% expected score (2,182 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 52.2% expected score (161 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (12,598 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (24,178 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.5% expected score (2,901 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 50.4% expected score (157 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.7% expected score (17,120 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.4% expected score (16,448 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (1,261 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 45.1% expected score (19 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 43.7% expected score (5,486 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 44.4% expected score (1,284 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (42 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, Korchnoi Defense PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense scores 47.2% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 47.0% and 47.5% — from 129K 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
129K+ 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, Korchnoi Defense win rate?

Playing the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense, Black wins 44.6%, 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 129K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 53.0% (521 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 47.4% in Blitz (69K games) against 49.4% in Rapid (8.9K games).

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense?

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a sharpness score of 94.7 (decisive), meaning 94.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 50.6%, draws 4.7% and loses 44.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.0%. It rests on 521 Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 47.8%, draws 3.1% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.4%. It rests on 1.0K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 48.7%, draws 2.7% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 2.1K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 47.7%, draws 3.2% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.3%. It rests on 5.1K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 46.5%, draws 3.6% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.3%. It rests on 12K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 45.4%, draws 4.7% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.8%. It rests on 27K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 44.3%, draws 5.5% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.1%. It rests on 40K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 43.5%, draws 6.3% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.7%. It rests on 35K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 40.4%, draws 6.8% and loses 52.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.8%. It rests on 6.8K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 57.0%, draws 0.4% and loses 42.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.2%. It rests on 117 Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 44.5%, draws 4.0% and loses 51.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 50K Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 44.4%, draws 6.0% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.4%. It rests on 69K Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 46.0%, draws 6.6% and loses 47.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.4%. It rests on 8.9K Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 45.8%, draws 8.2% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.9%. It rests on 478 Lichess games.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 44.6% of its games and loses 50.2%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.