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Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line

187K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score50.9%Range (90% confident): 50.8% – 51.1%Based on 187K games
0%50.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.8% – 51.1%
Outcome Distribution
48.9%4.1%47.1%
Win
Draw
Loss
4...e5
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line
Analyzen=187K
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.1%

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 50.9% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 50.8% and 51.1%), based on 187K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 50% → 46%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.7% win rate (1,214 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.6% win rate (4,937 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.1% win rate (12,016 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.5% win rate (27,456 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.8% win rate (43,039 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.1% win rate (46,815 games)
  • 2000-2199: 49.3% win rate (34,605 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.9% win rate (14,590 games)
  • 2500+: 46.4% win rate (2,403 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (51%), worst in UltraBullet (39%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 39.1% win rate (10 games)
  • Bullet: 50.6% win rate (52,555 games)
  • Blitz: 48.5% win rate (99,963 games)
  • Rapid: 47.2% win rate (33,035 games)
  • Classical: 47.9% win rate (1,512 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: 55.0% expected score (604 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 45.3% expected score (485 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 47.3% expected score (125 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (2,081 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (2,371 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.5% expected score (479 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (2,826 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (7,118 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 48.2% expected score (2,023 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 56.2% expected score (47 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (6,940 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (14,544 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (5,679 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 54.5% expected score (290 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (9,759 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (22,793 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (9,805 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 51.4% expected score (680 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (10,360 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (26,392 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (9,647 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 45.9% expected score (414 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.1% expected score (10,586 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (19,613 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (4,335 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 48.6% expected score (71 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (7,345 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (6,305 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (935 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 65.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (2,054 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 42.8% expected score (342 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 26.5% 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: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 47.1% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.2%) win rate for white, based on 187K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 49.1% win rate for white (12K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid (47.9%) outperforms Classical (46.7%) by 1.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line?

The Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a sharpness score of 95.9 (very decisive), meaning 95.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 49.1% (90% CI: 46.7%-51.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 1.2% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 49.3% (90% CI: 48.1%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 4.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 49.1% (90% CI: 48.4%-49.9%) win rate for white, based on 12K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.8%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 27K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 47.4% (90% CI: 47.0%-47.8%) win rate for white, based on 43K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 46.5% (90% CI: 46.1%-46.9%) win rate for white, based on 47K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 45.9% (90% CI: 45.5%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 35K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 45.5% (90% CI: 44.8%-46.2%) win rate for white, based on 15K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 47.2% (90% CI: 45.5%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 2.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 6.5% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 46.4% (90% CI: 46.0%-46.7%) win rate for white (53K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.0%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 47.2% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.4%) win rate for white (100K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.3%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 47.9% (90% CI: 47.4%-48.3%) win rate for white (33K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.0%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line has a 46.7% (90% CI: 44.6%-48.9%) win rate for white (1.5K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.4%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line is statistically balanced with a 47.1% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.2%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1200-1399 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.