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Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation

375K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
White Expected Score47.5%Range (90% confident): 47.3% – 47.6%Based on 375K games
0%47.5%100%
Range (90% confident): 47.3% – 47.6%
Outcome Distribution
45.8%3.4%50.9%
Win
Draw
Loss
2...Nf6
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
Analyzen=375K
Avg Length32 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.4%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 47.5% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 47.3% and 47.6%), based on 375K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 50% → 44%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.8% win rate (22,505 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.7% win rate (29,292 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.6% win rate (37,755 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.9% win rate (49,645 games)
  • 1600-1799: 44.9% win rate (61,715 games)
  • 1800-1999: 44.1% win rate (69,526 games)
  • 2000-2199: 43.1% win rate (60,843 games)
  • 2200-2499: 45.0% win rate (38,015 games)
  • 2500+: 44.1% win rate (6,086 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (51%), worst in Blitz (45%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 51.0% win rate (994 games)
  • Bullet: 45.8% win rate (181,250 games)
  • Blitz: 45.1% win rate (151,604 games)
  • Rapid: 47.7% win rate (39,981 games)
  • Classical: 50.2% win rate (1,553 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: 59.0% expected score (32 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.4% expected score (4,085 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.5% expected score (10,571 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (7,739 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 46.3% expected score (78 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (138 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (7,921 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (13,662 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.2% expected score (7,285 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 54.7% expected score (286 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 55.4% expected score (202 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (12,626 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (17,177 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (7,373 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.2% expected score (377 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 52.9% expected score (211 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (21,114 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (21,527 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (6,343 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 52.5% expected score (450 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 43.3% expected score (221 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 46.1% expected score (30,892 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (25,103 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (5,249 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.6% expected score (250 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 55.0% expected score (139 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (37,164 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 45.1% expected score (28,798 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (3,336 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 48.4% expected score (89 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 69.0% expected score (46 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 45.7% expected score (34,942 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 44.3% expected score (23,709 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 43.4% expected score (2,126 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 40.7% expected score (20 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (27,156 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.5% expected score (10,328 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 45.2% expected score (523 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 61.1% expected score (3 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.8% expected score (5,350 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (729 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 32.4% expected score (7 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 (4)
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Advance Variation
50.0%
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation
49.5%
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Exchange Variation
53.6%
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line
47.6%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 45.8% (90% CI: 45.6%-45.9%) win rate for white, based on 375K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation performs best at 0-999 Elo with a 49.8% win rate for white (23K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

UltraBullet (51.0%) outperforms Blitz (45.1%) by 5.9%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a sharpness score of 96.6 (very decisive), meaning 96.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.3%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 23K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.3%-50.2%) win rate for white, based on 29K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.1%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 38K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 46.5%-47.2%) win rate for white, based on 50K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 44.9% (90% CI: 44.5%-45.2%) win rate for white, based on 62K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 44.1% (90% CI: 43.8%-44.4%) win rate for white, based on 70K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 43.1% (90% CI: 42.8%-43.4%) win rate for white, based on 61K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 45.0% (90% CI: 44.6%-45.4%) win rate for white, based on 38K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 44.1% (90% CI: 43.0%-45.1%) win rate for white, based on 6.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 6.2% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 51.0% (90% CI: 48.4%-53.6%) win rate for white (994 Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.3%.

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

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 45.8% (90% CI: 45.6%-46.0%) win rate for white (181K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.6%.

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

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 45.1% (90% CI: 44.9%-45.3%) win rate for white (152K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.1%.

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

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 47.3%-48.1%) win rate for white (40K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.4%.

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

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation has a 50.2% (90% CI: 48.1%-52.3%) win rate for white (1.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.2%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation is slightly favors black with a 45.8% (90% CI: 45.6%-45.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 0-999 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.