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Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense

129K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score47.2%Range (90% confident): 47.0% – 47.5%Based on 129K games
0%47.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 47.0% – 47.5%
Outcome Distribution
44.6%5.3%50.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...d5
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense
Analyzen=129K
Avg Length37 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.3%

What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 47.2% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 47.0% and 47.5%), based on 129K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.9% · Bullet best · UltraBullet worst

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 51% → 40%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 50.6% win rate (521 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.8% win rate (1,002 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.7% win rate (2,078 games)
  • 1400-1599: 47.7% win rate (5,143 games)
  • 1600-1799: 46.5% win rate (11,884 games)
  • 1800-1999: 45.4% win rate (27,360 games)
  • 2000-2199: 44.3% win rate (39,838 games)
  • 2200-2499: 43.5% win rate (34,849 games)
  • 2500+: 40.4% win rate (6,816 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (57%), worst in Blitz (44%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 57.0% win rate (117 games)
  • Bullet: 44.5% win rate (50,488 games)
  • Blitz: 44.4% win rate (69,488 games)
  • Rapid: 46.0% win rate (8,920 games)
  • Classical: 45.8% win rate (478 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, 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 PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 50.2% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.4%) win rate for white, based 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 at 2500+ Elo with a 52.8% win rate for white (6.8K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (51.5%) outperforms UltraBullet (42.6%) by 8.9%. Choose your time control wisely.

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 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 44.7% (90% CI: 41.1%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 521 Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 49.1% (90% CI: 46.5%-51.7%) win rate for white, based on 1.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 48.6% (90% CI: 46.8%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 2.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 49.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-50.3%) win rate for white, based on 5.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.2%-50.7%) win rate for white, based on 12K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.4%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 27K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 50.2% (90% CI: 49.8%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 40K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.5% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 50.2% (90% CI: 49.8%-50.7%) win rate for white, based on 35K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 6.3% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 52.8% (90% CI: 51.8%-53.8%) win rate for white, based on 6.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 6.8% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 42.6% (90% CI: 35.2%-50.1%) win rate for white (117 Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.4%.

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

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 51.5% (90% CI: 51.1%-51.9%) win rate for white (50K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.0%.

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

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 49.6% (90% CI: 49.3%-49.9%) win rate for white (69K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.0%.

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

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 47.3% (90% CI: 46.4%-48.2%) win rate for white (8.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.6%.

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

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense has a 46.0% (90% CI: 42.3%-49.7%) win rate for white (478 Lichess games). Draw rate is 8.2%.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense is statistically favors white with a 50.2% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.4%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.