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Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation

327K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

51.3%

45%55%
Floor51.1%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 51.4%.

Measured over 327K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for White

Draw 7.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 327K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
327K
Best context
56.5% at 2500+ Rapid
Worst context
45.2% at 1200-1399 Bullet
Average game length
39 moves
Games that end decisively
92.5%
Draws
7.5%

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.

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 gets better as the rating rises: 48.4% at 0-999, 55.4% 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: 50.0% expected score (10 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 39.0% expected score (94 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (56 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 31.0% expected score (9 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 45.2% expected score (586 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (315 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.2% expected score (53 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (2,593 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (2,503 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.2% expected score (294 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 47.0% expected score (31 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (6,915 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.7% expected score (13,691 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (1,613 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.7% expected score (136 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (14,532 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (46,686 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.7% expected score (6,868 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 46.3% expected score (550 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (23,889 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.7% expected score (71,899 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (11,567 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 52.8% expected score (585 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (31,381 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (57,591 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.0% expected score (7,879 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 60.0% expected score (219 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.6% expected score (14,732 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 55.9% expected score (8,436 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 56.5% expected score (952 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 54.7% expected score (74 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: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation scores 51.3% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 51.1% and 51.4% — from 327K 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
327K+ 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: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation win rate?

Playing the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation, White wins 47.5%, draws 7.5% and loses 45.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.3%. It rests on 327K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 55.1% (24K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 51.4% in Blitz (201K games) against 51.2% in Rapid (29K games).

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

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation has a sharpness score of 92.5 (decisive), meaning 92.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 39 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 41.4%, draws 2.8% and loses 55.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.8%. It rests on 159 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 45.5%, draws 3.1% and loses 51.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.1%. It rests on 960 Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 46.1%, draws 3.1% and loses 50.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.7%. It rests on 5.4K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 47.6%, draws 3.9% and loses 48.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 22K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 47.3%, draws 5.5% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 69K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 47.1%, draws 6.9% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 108K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 48.4%, draws 7.9% and loses 43.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 97K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

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

At 2500+, White wins 45.7%, draws 18.7% and loses 35.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 24K Lichess games, which average 48 moves.

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

In Bullet, White wins 47.7%, draws 6.2% and loses 46.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.8%. It rests on 95K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 47.5%, draws 7.7% and loses 44.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.4%. It rests on 201K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 46.2%, draws 10.0% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.2%. It rests on 29K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, White wins 43.2%, draws 15.6% and loses 41.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.0%. It rests on 1.6K Lichess games.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 47.5% of its games and loses 45.0%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.