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Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation

51K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

46.1%

40%55%
Floor45.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 46.4%.

Measured over 51K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

White comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.6 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 51K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
51K
Best context
51.1% at 2200-2499 Blitz
Worst context
44.4% at 1200-1399 Bullet
Average game length
35 moves
Games that end decisively
95.4%
Draws
4.6%

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: 39.8% at 0-999, 51.8% 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, Bullet: 36.7% expected score (134 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 43.7% expected score (132 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 39.1% expected score (72 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (544 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 44.9% expected score (504 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.5% expected score (202 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 44.4% expected score (1,295 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 44.7% expected score (1,657 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.0% expected score (455 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 29.5% expected score (18 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 45.4% expected score (2,552 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (3,983 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 45.1% expected score (1,094 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 41.7% expected score (70 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 73.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 45.8% expected score (3,907 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 45.8% expected score (6,820 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.4% expected score (1,917 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (134 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (5,264 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 45.0% expected score (7,408 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 46.3% expected score (2,027 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 39.5% expected score (127 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (3,821 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (3,435 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.8% expected score (816 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (1,843 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (779 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (130 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (226 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 45.7% expected score (10 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 61.2% expected score (3 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, Vitolins Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation scores 46.1% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 45.7% and 46.4% — from 51K 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
51K+ 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, Vitolins Variation win rate?

Playing the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation, White wins 43.8%, draws 4.6% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 51K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation performs best for White at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 49.4% (2.8K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 45.9% in Blitz (25K games) against 46.9% in Rapid (6.7K games).

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation has a sharpness score of 95.4 (very decisive), meaning 95.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

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

At 0-999, White wins 38.4%, draws 2.8% and loses 58.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 39.8%. It rests on 338 Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, White wins 46.0%, draws 2.6% and loses 51.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.3%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 43.3%, draws 3.5% and loses 53.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.1%. It rests on 3.4K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 43.7%, draws 4.1% and loses 52.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.8%. It rests on 7.7K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 43.7%, draws 4.6% and loses 51.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 43.0%, draws 4.8% and loses 52.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.5%. It rests on 15K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 44.3%, draws 5.1% and loses 50.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.8%. It rests on 8.1K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 46.7%, draws 5.4% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.4%. It rests on 2.8K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

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

At 2500+, White wins 46.4%, draws 4.4% and loses 49.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.6%. It rests on 239 Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

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

In Bullet, White wins 44.6%, draws 3.0% and loses 52.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 20K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 43.3%, draws 5.2% and loses 51.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.9%. It rests on 25K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 43.6%, draws 6.5% and loses 49.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.9%. It rests on 6.7K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, White wins 37.5%, draws 10.8% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.9%. It rests on 365 Lichess games.

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

The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation is hard work for White — it favours Black. Across all ratings, White wins 43.8% of its games and loses 51.7%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.