Skip to content
TrueEloPlay what wins.
Score a position

Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation

280K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
5.f3
Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

53.7%

45%60%
Floor53.6%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 53.9%.

Measured over 280K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 5.6 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 280K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
280K
Best context
59.8% at 2500+ Blitz
Worst context
43.7% at 1000-1199 Blitz
Average game length
38 moves
Games that end decisively
94.4%
Draws
5.6%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 39.1% at 0-999, 58.3% at 2500+.

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: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (485 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 46.4% expected score (587 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 43.9% expected score (234 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (1,272 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 43.7% expected score (1,346 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 44.4% expected score (470 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 25.7% expected score (17 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.7% expected score (2,705 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 46.0% expected score (3,315 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 43.7% expected score (998 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 46.9% expected score (31 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (5,332 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (8,635 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 45.0% expected score (2,039 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 36.5% expected score (135 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (11,025 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (23,965 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.0% expected score (4,017 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 47.1% expected score (374 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (16,190 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 53.9% expected score (43,756 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (7,841 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 52.1% expected score (505 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (18,747 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.5% expected score (46,307 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (9,804 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 54.4% expected score (457 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 55.3% expected score (17,443 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 57.4% expected score (31,946 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 57.1% expected score (3,772 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 60.4% expected score (66 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.7% expected score (10,464 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.8% expected score (5,628 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 59.3% expected score (215 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%
Continuations (1)
Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation, Venice Attack
55.9%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation scores 53.7% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 53.6% and 53.9% — from 280K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
280K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation win rate?

Playing the Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation, White wins 50.9%, draws 5.6% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.7%. It rests on 280K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 57.2% (16K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 54.5% in Blitz (165K games) against 51.7% in Rapid (29K games).

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation has a sharpness score of 94.4 (decisive), meaning 94.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 38 moves.

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

At 0-999, White wins 44.6%, draws 3.8% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.5%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, White wins 43.5%, draws 2.6% and loses 53.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.8%. It rests on 3.1K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 45.2%, draws 3.0% and loses 51.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.7%. It rests on 7.0K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 47.2%, draws 3.2% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.8%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 49.5%, draws 4.0% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 39K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 51.0%, draws 4.9% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 68K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 51.6%, draws 6.0% and loses 42.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.6%. It rests on 75K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 52.8%, draws 7.7% and loses 39.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.7%. It rests on 53K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

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

At 2500+, White wins 53.0%, draws 8.2% and loses 38.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.2%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 44 moves.

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

In Bullet, White wins 51.1%, draws 3.9% and loses 44.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.1%. It rests on 84K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 51.4%, draws 6.2% and loses 42.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 165K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 48.3%, draws 6.8% and loses 44.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.7%. It rests on 29K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, White wins 45.8%, draws 8.6% and loses 45.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 1.6K Lichess games.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 50.9% of its games and loses 43.5%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.