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Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian

18M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.4%Range (90% confident): 50.4% – 50.5%Based on 18M games
0%50.4%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.4% – 50.5%
Outcome Distribution
48.5%3.8%47.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
2...Nc6
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian
Analyzen=18M
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.8%

What is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 50.4% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.4% and 50.5%), based on 18M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 47% → 52%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 46.5% win rate (430,775 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.9% win rate (1,137,907 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.2% win rate (2,220,684 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.1% win rate (3,511,123 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.5% win rate (4,372,424 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.8% win rate (3,861,580 games)
  • 2000-2199: 49.4% win rate (1,840,140 games)
  • 2200-2499: 50.3% win rate (637,463 games)
  • 2500+: 52.4% win rate (79,995 games)

White Win% by Time Control

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

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 49.3% win rate (18,922 games)
  • Bullet: 49.2% win rate (5,506,103 games)
  • Blitz: 48.5% win rate (9,760,185 games)
  • Rapid: 47.6% win rate (2,724,972 games)
  • Classical: 44.9% win rate (81,909 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: 40.8% expected score (1,781 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.1% expected score (165,205 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.4% expected score (200,912 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 48.0% expected score (62,446 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 40.4% expected score (431 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.4% expected score (3,807 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (410,779 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (558,379 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (162,778 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 46.7% expected score (2,164 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.4% expected score (3,700 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (726,596 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (1,144,177 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (338,733 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 45.1% expected score (7,478 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 48.9% expected score (4,614 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (997,080 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (1,926,986 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.0% expected score (561,363 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 45.6% expected score (21,080 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 52.9% expected score (2,854 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (1,103,598 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (2,513,449 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (723,175 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.3% expected score (29,348 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 53.5% expected score (1,380 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (1,001,014 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (2,212,711 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.5% expected score (629,265 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.2% expected score (17,210 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 57.1% expected score (597 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (670,268 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (950,906 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.1% expected score (214,754 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.6% expected score (3,615 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 52.9% expected score (172 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.7% expected score (367,997 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.6% expected score (236,972 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.0% expected score (31,767 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 56.1% expected score (555 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (17 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.3% expected score (63,566 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 58.5% expected score (15,693 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 59.4% expected score (691 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 65.3% expected score (28 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: Old Sicilian PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 18M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.4% win rate for white (80K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (49.2%) outperforms Classical (44.9%) by 4.3%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian?

The Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a sharpness score of 96.2 (very decisive), meaning 96.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 46.5% (90% CI: 46.3%-46.6%) win rate for white, based on 431K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 47.9% (90% CI: 47.8%-48.0%) win rate for white, based on 1.1M Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 48.2% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 2.2M Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 48.1% (90% CI: 48.1%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 3.5M Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 4.4M Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.7%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 3.9M Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 49.4% (90% CI: 49.3%-49.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.8M Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.0% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 50.3% (90% CI: 50.2%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 637K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.7% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 52.4% (90% CI: 52.1%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 80K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 7.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 49.3% (90% CI: 48.7%-49.9%) win rate for white (19K Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.3%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.2%) win rate for white (5.5M Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.7%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.5%) win rate for white (9.8M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.2%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 47.6% (90% CI: 47.5%-47.6%) win rate for white (2.7M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.7%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian has a 44.9% (90% CI: 44.6%-45.2%) win rate for white (82K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.5%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian is statistically balanced with a 48.5% (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.