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Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional

5.8M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score49.0%Range (90% confident): 49.0% – 49.0%Based on 5.8M games
0%49.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.0% – 49.0%
Outcome Distribution
47.1%3.7%49.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
2...Nc6
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional
Analyzen=5.8M
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.7%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 49.0% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 49.0% and 49.0%), based on 5.8M Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

How to Beat This (Move 3)

Best: 3...g5?! · Black wins: 56.2% · n=2.5M

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.1% · UltraBullet best · Classical worst

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 51% → 40%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 51.4% win rate (146,377 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.8% win rate (302,400 games)
  • 1200-1399: 49.1% win rate (547,302 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.9% win rate (879,693 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.5% win rate (1,172,829 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.6% win rate (1,262,248 games)
  • 2000-2199: 45.5% win rate (894,897 games)
  • 2200-2499: 43.3% win rate (509,838 games)
  • 2500+: 40.1% win rate (88,164 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (51%), worst in UltraBullet (46%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 46.4% win rate (14,398 games)
  • Bullet: 47.2% win rate (2,717,291 games)
  • Blitz: 46.7% win rate (2,480,114 games)
  • Rapid: 48.1% win rate (569,805 games)
  • Classical: 50.8% win rate (22,140 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: 55.5% expected score (374 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.6% expected score (42,733 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (72,463 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 52.6% expected score (30,604 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 61.3% expected score (203 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.0% expected score (1,001 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (109,111 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (133,058 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (58,204 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 56.9% expected score (1,026 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 49.1% expected score (1,634 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (217,356 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (238,572 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (86,764 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (2,976 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 49.1% expected score (3,078 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (362,231 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (392,401 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.1% expected score (115,625 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 57.0% expected score (6,358 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 46.6% expected score (4,060 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (496,363 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (548,637 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (117,585 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.5% expected score (6,184 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.5% expected score (2,553 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 48.4% expected score (583,222 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (579,916 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (92,819 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.6% expected score (3,738 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.4% expected score (1,122 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (496,384 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (346,526 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.3% expected score (49,587 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 47.0% expected score (1,278 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 43.5% expected score (411 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (336,743 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 44.9% expected score (154,371 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 43.5% expected score (17,951 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 41.7% expected score (362 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 38.0% expected score (165 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 43.8% expected score (73,148 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.3% expected score (14,170 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 36.5% expected score (666 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 47.0% expected score (15 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, Traditional PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.2%) win rate for white, based on 5.8M rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 53.5% win rate for white (88K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

UltraBullet (51.8%) outperforms Classical (43.7%) by 8.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional?

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a sharpness score of 96.3 (very decisive), meaning 96.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 45.6% (90% CI: 45.3%-45.8%) win rate for white, based on 146K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 47.3% (90% CI: 47.2%-47.5%) win rate for white, based on 302K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 48.0% (90% CI: 47.9%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 547K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 48.0% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 880K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 49.0% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.1%) win rate for white, based on 1.2M Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 49.5% (90% CI: 49.4%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.3M Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 50.2% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.2%) win rate for white, based on 895K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 51.6% (90% CI: 51.5%-51.7%) win rate for white, based on 510K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 53.5% (90% CI: 53.2%-53.8%) win rate for white, based on 88K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.4% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 51.8% (90% CI: 51.1%-52.5%) win rate for white (14K Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.8%.

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

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.0%) win rate for white (2.7M Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.9%.

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

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 48.9% (90% CI: 48.8%-48.9%) win rate for white (2.5M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.4%.

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

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 47.1% (90% CI: 47.0%-47.2%) win rate for white (570K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.7%.

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

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional has a 43.7% (90% CI: 43.2%-44.3%) win rate for white (22K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.5%.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional is statistically balanced with a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.2%) 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.