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Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation

360K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score51.8%Range (90% confident): 51.7% – 51.9%Based on 360K games
0%51.8%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.7% – 51.9%
Outcome Distribution
49.5%4.5%46.0%
Win
Draw
Loss
3.Nc3
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation
Analyzen=360K
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.5%

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 51.8% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 51.7% and 51.9%), based on 360K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 53% → 48%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 52.6% win rate (29,854 games)
  • 1000-1199: 52.9% win rate (36,453 games)
  • 1200-1399: 51.9% win rate (41,624 games)
  • 1400-1599: 51.2% win rate (46,310 games)
  • 1600-1799: 49.4% win rate (49,779 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.1% win rate (54,734 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.0% win rate (54,999 games)
  • 2200-2499: 46.9% win rate (39,411 games)
  • 2500+: 47.6% win rate (7,166 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (55%), worst in Blitz (49%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 51.3% win rate (740 games)
  • Bullet: 49.2% win rate (112,258 games)
  • Blitz: 48.5% win rate (174,094 games)
  • Rapid: 52.3% win rate (69,662 games)
  • Classical: 54.7% win rate (3,576 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: 72.6% expected score (14 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.4% expected score (3,945 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (13,706 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 55.7% expected score (12,061 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 56.2% expected score (128 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 47.0% expected score (49 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (6,108 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (17,031 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 56.2% expected score (12,809 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 56.8% expected score (456 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 51.1% expected score (97 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (8,111 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (19,414 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 56.3% expected score (13,201 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 60.0% expected score (801 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 45.8% expected score (106 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (11,142 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (22,595 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 55.2% expected score (11,379 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 58.0% expected score (1,088 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 44.4% expected score (167 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (15,599 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (24,607 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.7% expected score (8,697 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 59.0% expected score (709 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 55.9% expected score (194 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (20,758 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (27,673 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (5,811 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.7% expected score (298 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 63.5% expected score (80 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (22,403 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (28,201 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (4,241 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 40.1% expected score (74 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 63.3% expected score (25 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (19,258 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (18,684 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 54.2% expected score (1,423 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 56.7% expected score (21 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 71.1% expected score (8 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (4,934 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (2,183 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 47.6% expected score (40 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 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%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 49.5% (90% CI: 49.4%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 360K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation performs best at 1000-1199 Elo with a 52.9% win rate for white (36K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (54.7%) outperforms UltraBullet (51.3%) by 3.4%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 52.6% (90% CI: 52.1%-53.1%) win rate for white, based on 30K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 52.9% (90% CI: 52.5%-53.4%) win rate for white, based on 36K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 51.9% (90% CI: 51.5%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 42K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 51.2% (90% CI: 50.8%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 46K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 49.4% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.8%) win rate for white, based on 50K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.7%-48.4%) win rate for white, based on 55K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 46.0% (90% CI: 45.7%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 55K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 46.5%-47.3%) win rate for white, based on 39K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 6.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 46.6%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 7.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 7.8% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 51.3% (90% CI: 48.3%-54.3%) win rate for white (740 Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.0%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.5%) win rate for white (112K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.3%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.3%-48.7%) win rate for white (174K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.1%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 52.3% (90% CI: 52.0%-52.6%) win rate for white (70K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation has a 54.7% (90% CI: 53.3%-56.1%) win rate for white (3.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.2%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation is statistically balanced with a 49.5% (90% CI: 49.4%-49.6%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1000-1199 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.