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Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening

21K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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2.Ke2
Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

39.8%

35%55%
Floor39.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 40.3%.

Measured over 21K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

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

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.6 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 21K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
21K
Best context
47.3% at 2500+ Bullet
Worst context
37.1% at 1400-1599 Blitz
Average game length
32 moves
Games that end decisively
96.4%
Draws
3.6%

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: 9.7% · Bullet best · UltraBullet worst

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It holds about the same all the way up, near 37.1%.

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: 17.5% expected score (17 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 33.1% expected score (424 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 35.6% expected score (376 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 29.1% expected score (173 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 24.6% expected score (30 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 38.2% expected score (583 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 31.7% expected score (448 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 24.4% expected score (207 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 26.7% expected score (37 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 41.2% expected score (1,040 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 39.1% expected score (807 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 30.1% expected score (270 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 42.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 43.6% expected score (37 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 39.2% expected score (1,466 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 37.1% expected score (1,295 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 31.5% expected score (382 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 22.4% expected score (42 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 42.7% expected score (26 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 44.9% expected score (1,897 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 38.8% expected score (1,762 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 38.8% expected score (389 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 22.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 13.7% expected score (4 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 39.4% expected score (1,774 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 39.0% expected score (1,634 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 37.7% expected score (432 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 28.3% expected score (10 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 45.7% expected score (1,495 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 40.7% expected score (1,123 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 38.1% expected score (208 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 42.4% expected score (1,678 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.3% expected score (568 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 58.7% expected score (73 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 64.3% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (508 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 34.8% expected score (123 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 33.9% expected score (48 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: King David's Opening PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening scores 39.8% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 39.2% and 40.3% — from 21K 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
21K+ 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: King David's Opening win rate?

Playing the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening, White wins 38.0%, draws 3.6% and loses 58.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.8%. It rests on 21K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening performs best for White at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 43.6% (2.3K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 38.7% in Blitz (8.1K games) against 34.5% in Rapid (2.2K games).

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening?

The Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening has a sharpness score of 96.4 (very decisive), meaning 96.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 31.0%, draws 4.1% and loses 64.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 33.1%. It rests on 991 Lichess games, which average 21 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 31.6%, draws 3.2% and loses 65.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 33.2%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 37.4%, draws 2.6% and loses 60.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.7%. It rests on 2.2K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 35.7%, draws 3.1% and loses 61.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 37.3%. It rests on 3.2K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 40.1%, draws 2.9% and loses 57.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.6%. It rests on 4.1K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 37.3%, draws 3.4% and loses 59.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.0%. It rests on 3.9K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 41.0%, draws 4.4% and loses 54.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.2%. It rests on 2.8K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 41.6%, draws 3.9% and loses 54.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.6%. It rests on 2.3K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 38.3%, draws 11.4% and loses 50.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.0%. It rests on 679 Lichess games, which average 50 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 30.5%, draws 1.6% and loses 67.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 31.4%. It rests on 154 Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 40.2%, draws 3.2% and loses 56.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.9%. It rests on 11K Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 36.8%, draws 3.8% and loses 59.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.7%. It rests on 8.1K Lichess games.

What is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 32.0%, draws 5.0% and loses 63.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 34.5%. It rests on 2.2K Lichess games.

Is the Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening is hard work for White — it favours Black. Across all ratings, White wins 38.0% of its games and loses 58.4%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.