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Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation

373K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

50.8%

45%55%
Floor50.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 51.0%.

Measured over 373K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 373K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
373K
Best context
55.1% at 0-999 Bullet
Worst context
43.1% at 2200-2499 Rapid
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
96.0%
Draws
4.0%

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 · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It falls away as the rating rises: 58.9% at 0-999, 44.8% 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: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 55.1% expected score (591 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (356 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (135 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 67.3% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 54.9% expected score (2,701 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (1,632 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.6% expected score (511 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 67.4% expected score (10 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 65.0% expected score (32 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (8,364 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (5,938 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (1,441 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 40.2% expected score (44 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 54.5% expected score (55 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (18,407 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.5% expected score (18,544 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (3,879 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 55.7% expected score (208 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 51.6% expected score (31 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (31,525 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (41,577 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.2% expected score (7,808 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.4% expected score (530 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 81.1% expected score (13 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (39,785 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (58,823 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (10,698 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.9% expected score (514 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (30,362 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (39,336 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (5,688 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.4% expected score (130 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (20,685 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (16,006 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 43.1% expected score (1,961 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 55.5% expected score (26 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (3,490 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (742 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (98 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 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 (10)
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation
46.3%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with f3
49.7%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with Qd2
48.6%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation
43.8%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Modern Variation
49.0%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Keres Attack
52.7%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Matanovic Attack
48.7%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Delayed Keres Attack
51.4%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Fianchetto Variation
47.6%
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation
47.6%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation scores 50.8% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 50.7% and 51.0% — from 373K 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
373K+ 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: Scheveningen Variation win rate?

Playing the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Black wins 48.8%, draws 4.0% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.8%. It rests on 373K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation performs best for Black at 1000-1199, with an Expected Score of 53.6% (4.9K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For Black, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 50.6% in Blitz (183K games) against 50.1% in Rapid (32K games).

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation has a sharpness score of 96.0 (very decisive), meaning 96.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

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

At 0-999, Black wins 53.7%, draws 2.1% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.8%. It rests on 1.1K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, Black wins 52.0%, draws 3.1% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.6%. It rests on 4.9K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, Black wins 51.0%, draws 2.5% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.3%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, Black wins 50.5%, draws 3.2% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.1%. It rests on 41K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, Black wins 49.9%, draws 3.6% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.7%. It rests on 81K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, Black wins 49.1%, draws 4.1% and loses 46.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.2%. It rests on 110K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, Black wins 47.8%, draws 4.4% and loses 47.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 76K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, Black wins 45.2%, draws 5.2% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.8%. It rests on 39K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

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

At 2500+, Black wins 43.1%, draws 6.4% and loses 50.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.4%. It rests on 4.3K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

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

In UltraBullet, Black wins 58.2%, draws 0.3% and loses 41.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.4%. It rests on 154 Lichess games.

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

In Bullet, Black wins 49.8%, draws 3.0% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.3%. It rests on 156K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, Black wins 48.3%, draws 4.5% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 183K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, Black wins 47.1%, draws 6.0% and loses 46.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 32K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, Black wins 46.5%, draws 7.9% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.5%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 48.8% of its games and loses 47.2%. It performs best at 1000-1199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.