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

58K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score47.0%Range (90% confident): 46.6% – 47.3%Based on 58K games
0%47.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 46.6% – 47.3%
Outcome Distribution
44.3%5.2%50.4%
Win
Draw
Loss
10...Bg7
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation
Analyzen=58K
Avg Length37 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.2%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 47.0% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 46.6% and 47.3%), based on 58K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 23% → 40%

1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 1000-1199: 23.1% win rate (5 games)
  • 1200-1399: 49.7% win rate (70 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.6% win rate (368 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.9% win rate (1,865 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.9% win rate (8,380 games)
  • 2000-2199: 45.2% win rate (18,380 games)
  • 2200-2499: 43.2% win rate (23,967 games)
  • 2500+: 40.2% win rate (4,655 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (45%), worst in Classical (40%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 44.9% win rate (16,943 games)
  • Blitz: 44.0% win rate (36,649 games)
  • Rapid: 44.9% win rate (3,860 games)
  • Classical: 39.9% win rate (238 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

  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 35.7% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (42 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 53.9% expected score (24 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (171 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 54.8% expected score (156 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (37 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (658 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (1,083 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 46.5% expected score (111 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 70.7% expected score (13 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (1,989 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (5,581 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.5% expected score (759 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 38.6% expected score (51 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (3,863 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.4% expected score (12,763 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (1,631 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 48.0% expected score (123 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.7% expected score (7,261 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.8% expected score (15,416 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (1,250 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 41.6% expected score (40 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.4% expected score (2,956 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 42.3% expected score (1,626 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 42.6% expected score (66 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 61.8% expected score (7 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, Novosibirsk Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.8%) win rate for white, based on 58K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 51.1% win rate for white (24K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (51.2%) outperforms Classical (47.4%) by 3.8%. Choose your time control wisely.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a sharpness score of 94.8 (decisive), meaning 94.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 44.3%-52.9%) win rate for white, based on 368 Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 47.3%-51.1%) win rate for white, based on 1.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 48.2%-50.0%) win rate for white, based on 8.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.4%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 18K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 51.1% (90% CI: 50.6%-51.7%) win rate for white, based on 24K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 51.7% (90% CI: 50.5%-52.9%) win rate for white, based on 4.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 8.1% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 51.2% (90% CI: 50.5%-51.8%) win rate for white (17K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.9%.

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

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 50.3% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.8%) win rate for white (37K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.6%.

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

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 46.9%-49.5%) win rate for white (3.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.8%.

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

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation has a 47.4% (90% CI: 42.1%-52.7%) win rate for white (238 Lichess games). Draw rate is 12.7%.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation is statistically favors white with a 50.4% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.8%) 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.