TrueEloPlay what wins.
Analyzer

Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack

9.0M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.2%Range (90% confident): 50.2% – 50.3%Based on 9.0M games
0%50.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.2% – 50.3%
Outcome Distribution
48.6%3.3%48.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
2.f4
Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack
Analyzen=9.0M
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.3%

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 50.2% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.2% and 50.3%), based on 9.0M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 47% → 51%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.1% win rate (77,586 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.5% win rate (233,881 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.7% win rate (617,532 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.5% win rate (1,424,389 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.5% win rate (2,562,454 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.4% win rate (2,673,686 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.8% win rate (1,130,762 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.7% win rate (247,611 games)
  • 2500+: 51.4% win rate (14,737 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (49%), worst in Classical (45%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 46.2% win rate (5,115 games)
  • Bullet: 49.2% win rate (2,752,907 games)
  • Blitz: 48.4% win rate (5,159,993 games)
  • Rapid: 47.6% win rate (1,036,095 games)
  • Classical: 44.8% win rate (28,528 games)

White% 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: 40.2% expected score (406 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.3% expected score (33,308 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (34,879 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 47.4% expected score (8,925 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 45.7% expected score (68 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.2% expected score (635 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (104,164 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (106,250 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (22,519 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 39.7% expected score (313 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 44.2% expected score (1,079 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (255,399 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (303,503 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (56,149 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 43.8% expected score (1,402 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 47.3% expected score (1,565 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (473,730 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (806,225 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.2% expected score (138,610 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 44.8% expected score (4,259 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.8% expected score (1,248 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (683,811 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (1,568,554 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (296,990 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 47.0% expected score (11,851 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.4% expected score (147 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (670,189 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (1,619,169 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (375,010 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.1% expected score (9,171 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 48.3% expected score (27 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (384,801 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (616,989 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.5% expected score (127,617 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 49.3% expected score (1,328 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (134,971 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.2% expected score (102,336 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.4% expected score (10,165 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 58.3% expected score (131 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.0% expected score (12,534 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 58.5% expected score (2,088 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 69.3% expected score (110 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Sicilian Defense
48.5%
Variations (5)
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon
45.7%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Exchange Variation
45.8%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind
48.8%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Breyer Variation
43.7%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Gurgenidze Variation
44.6%
Continuations (1)
Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack, Tal Gambit
46.2%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 9.0M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 51.4% win rate for white (15K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (49.2%) outperforms Classical (44.8%) by 4.4%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack?

The Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a sharpness score of 96.7 (very decisive), meaning 96.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 47.1% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.4%) win rate for white, based on 78K Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.3%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 234K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 618K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.4M Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 2.6M Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 2.7M Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.7%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 1.1M Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.5%-49.9%) win rate for white, based on 248K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 51.4% (90% CI: 50.7%-52.1%) win rate for white, based on 15K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 46.2% (90% CI: 45.1%-47.4%) win rate for white (5.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.5%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.3%) win rate for white (2.8M Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.2%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.5%) win rate for white (5.2M Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 47.6% (90% CI: 47.5%-47.7%) win rate for white (1.0M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.2%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack has a 44.8% (90% CI: 44.3%-45.3%) win rate for white (29K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.8%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack is statistically balanced with a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.6%) 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.