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Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation

8.2K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score49.9%Range (90% confident): 49.0% – 50.8%Based on 8.2K games
0%49.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.0% – 50.8%
Outcome Distribution
47.3%5.1%47.6%
Win
Draw
Loss
8...Nc6
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation
Analyzen=8.2K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.1%

What is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 49.9% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 49.0% and 50.8%), based on 8.2K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 47% → 39%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.4% win rate (8 games)
  • 1000-1199: 34.9% win rate (20 games)
  • 1200-1399: 58.0% win rate (127 games)
  • 1400-1599: 53.4% win rate (423 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.9% win rate (1,397 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.2% win rate (2,377 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.8% win rate (2,007 games)
  • 2200-2499: 44.1% win rate (1,466 games)
  • 2500+: 38.9% win rate (370 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (48%), worst in Classical (30%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 48.2% win rate (2,262 games)
  • Blitz: 47.0% win rate (5,054 games)
  • Rapid: 46.9% win rate (842 games)
  • Classical: 29.9% win rate (37 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: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 39.7% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 32.4% expected score (7 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 61.0% expected score (62 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 63.9% expected score (56 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 21.5% expected score (9 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 55.0% expected score (138 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (254 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 62.7% expected score (30 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (302 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.2% expected score (963 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (128 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (478 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (1,560 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (319 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 38.4% expected score (20 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (521 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (1,233 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (243 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 23.9% expected score (10 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (527 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (831 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (106 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (215 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.0% expected score (148 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 50.0% 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: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 46.7%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 8.2K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 49.2% win rate for white (1.5K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (48.1%) outperforms Rapid (46.4%) by 1.7%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a sharpness score of 94.9 (decisive), meaning 94.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 39.3% (90% CI: 32.3%-46.5%) win rate for white, based on 127 Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 44.4% (90% CI: 40.5%-48.4%) win rate for white, based on 423 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 45.6% (90% CI: 43.4%-47.8%) win rate for white, based on 1.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 46.1%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 2.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 46.2%-49.9%) win rate for white, based on 2.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 47.1%-51.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.5K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 6.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 50.5% (90% CI: 46.2%-54.7%) win rate for white, based on 370 Lichess games. Average game length is 43 moves with a 10.6% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 46.4%-49.9%) win rate for white (2.3K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

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

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 46.3%-48.6%) win rate for white (5.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.5%.

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

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation has a 46.4% (90% CI: 43.6%-49.2%) win rate for white (842 Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.7%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation is statistically balanced with a 47.6% (90% CI: 46.7%-48.5%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2200-2499 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.