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Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line

17K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score49.6%Range (90% confident): 49.0% – 50.3%Based on 17K games
0%49.6%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.0% – 50.3%
Outcome Distribution
46.8%5.6%47.6%
Win
Draw
Loss
6...Nc6
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line
Analyzen=17K
Avg Length33 moves
Sharpness94%
Draw Rate5.6%

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 49.6% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 49.0% and 50.3%), based on 17K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 46% → 43%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 46.0% win rate (352 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.5% win rate (1,129 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.4% win rate (1,937 games)
  • 1400-1599: 45.6% win rate (2,453 games)
  • 1600-1799: 49.0% win rate (1,907 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.9% win rate (1,585 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.5% win rate (2,070 games)
  • 2200-2499: 47.4% win rate (3,807 games)
  • 2500+: 43.3% win rate (1,843 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (48%), worst in UltraBullet (33%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 33.3% win rate (9 games)
  • Bullet: 47.5% win rate (5,643 games)
  • Blitz: 47.0% win rate (9,179 games)
  • Rapid: 45.2% win rate (2,161 games)
  • Classical: 34.1% win rate (91 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: 44.5% expected score (108 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (191 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (53 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (313 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (621 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (189 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (490 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (1,019 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 44.6% expected score (418 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 44.8% expected score (708 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 46.6% expected score (1,123 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.7% expected score (594 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 51.8% expected score (26 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (640 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (836 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.9% expected score (405 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 32.4% expected score (24 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (690 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (690 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (194 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 22.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (762 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (1,153 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (144 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (9 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (973 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.8% expected score (2,680 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 39.9% expected score (146 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 26.5% expected score (7 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (959 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (866 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 42.3% expected score (18 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: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 47.6% (90% CI: 46.9%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 17K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line performs best at 1400-1599 Elo with a 51.4% win rate for white (2.5K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Classical (57.8%) outperforms Blitz (46.6%) by 11.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line?

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a sharpness score of 94.4 (decisive), meaning 94.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 50.5% (90% CI: 46.1%-54.9%) win rate for white, based on 352 Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 49.6% (90% CI: 47.1%-52.0%) win rate for white, based on 1.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 50.4% (90% CI: 48.6%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 1.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 51.4% (90% CI: 49.7%-53.1%) win rate for white, based on 2.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 47.4% (90% CI: 45.6%-49.3%) win rate for white, based on 1.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 49.8% (90% CI: 47.7%-51.8%) win rate for white, based on 1.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 45.0% (90% CI: 43.2%-46.8%) win rate for white, based on 2.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 6.4% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 44.4% (90% CI: 43.0%-45.7%) win rate for white, based on 3.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 8.2% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 45.2% (90% CI: 43.3%-47.2%) win rate for white, based on 1.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 11.4% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.0%-49.2%) win rate for white (5.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.5%.

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

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 46.6% (90% CI: 45.7%-47.4%) win rate for white (9.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.5%.

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

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line has a 49.9% (90% CI: 48.1%-51.6%) win rate for white (2.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line is statistically balanced with a 47.6% (90% CI: 46.9%-48.2%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1400-1599 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.