TrueEloPlay what wins.
Analyzer

Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation

74K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score43.9%Range (90% confident): 43.6% – 44.2%Based on 74K games
0%43.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 43.6% – 44.2%
Outcome Distribution
41.0%5.8%53.3%
Win
Draw
Loss
10...f5
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation
Analyzen=74K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness94%
Draw Rate5.8%

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 43.9% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 43.6% and 44.2%), based on 74K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 10.5% · Blitz best · Classical worst

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 47% → 35%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 46.7% win rate (6 games)
  • 1000-1199: 46.7% win rate (36 games)
  • 1200-1399: 49.8% win rate (140 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.1% win rate (768 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.2% win rate (3,177 games)
  • 1800-1999: 44.4% win rate (10,618 games)
  • 2000-2199: 42.7% win rate (22,666 games)
  • 2200-2499: 39.0% win rate (29,496 games)
  • 2500+: 35.2% win rate (7,460 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (45%), worst in Blitz (41%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 41.8% win rate (20,967 games)
  • Blitz: 40.5% win rate (47,107 games)
  • Rapid: 41.2% win rate (5,899 games)
  • Classical: 45.4% win rate (394 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: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 64.3% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 72.3% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (16 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (71 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.2% expected score (41 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.3% expected score (26 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (346 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.7% expected score (324 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 41.6% expected score (87 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 74.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (1,123 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.7% expected score (1,752 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (276 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.2% expected score (26 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.8% expected score (2,443 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 46.0% expected score (6,905 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 44.1% expected score (1,150 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.6% expected score (120 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (4,935 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 44.3% expected score (15,386 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.9% expected score (2,191 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 49.4% expected score (154 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 42.3% expected score (7,851 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 41.7% expected score (19,666 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 43.1% expected score (1,924 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 53.6% expected score (55 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 41.7% expected score (4,185 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.1% expected score (3,015 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 46.4% expected score (234 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 57.3% expected score (26 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%
Continuations (3)
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation
47.5%
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation
50.4%
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Peresypkin's Sacrifice
58.5%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 53.3% (90% CI: 53.0%-53.6%) win rate for white, based on 74K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 55.0% win rate for white (29K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz (53.6%) outperforms Classical (43.1%) by 10.5%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a sharpness score of 94.2 (decisive), meaning 94.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 46.3% (90% CI: 39.4%-53.2%) win rate for white, based on 140 Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 48.9% (90% CI: 46.0%-51.9%) win rate for white, based on 768 Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 49.9% (90% CI: 48.4%-51.3%) win rate for white, based on 3.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 51.2%-52.8%) win rate for white, based on 11K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 52.7% (90% CI: 52.1%-53.2%) win rate for white, based on 23K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 55.0% (90% CI: 54.6%-55.5%) win rate for white, based on 29K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 51.1%-53.0%) win rate for white, based on 7.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 44 moves with a 12.8% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 53.3% (90% CI: 52.8%-53.9%) win rate for white (21K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.8%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 53.6% (90% CI: 53.3%-54.0%) win rate for white (47K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 49.6%-51.8%) win rate for white (5.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 8.1%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation has a 43.1% (90% CI: 39.0%-47.2%) win rate for white (394 Lichess games). Draw rate is 11.5%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation is statistically favors white with a 53.3% (90% CI: 53.0%-53.6%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2200-2499 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.