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Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation

1.5M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score52.5%Range (90% confident): 52.4% – 52.5%Based on 1.5M games
0%52.5%100%
Range (90% confident): 52.4% – 52.5%
Outcome Distribution
50.6%3.8%45.6%
Win
Draw
Loss
No position data
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation
n=1.5M
Avg Length33 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.8%

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 52.5% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 52.4% and 52.5%), based on 1.5M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 50% → 53%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.7% win rate (10,983 games)
  • 1000-1199: 50.9% win rate (39,290 games)
  • 1200-1399: 50.6% win rate (112,376 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.7% win rate (257,262 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.4% win rate (402,340 games)
  • 1800-1999: 50.3% win rate (408,686 games)
  • 2000-2199: 50.8% win rate (214,852 games)
  • 2200-2499: 52.0% win rate (76,928 games)
  • 2500+: 52.5% win rate (10,484 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (53%), worst in Bullet (50%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 51.6% win rate (979 games)
  • Bullet: 50.0% win rate (646,474 games)
  • Blitz: 50.8% win rate (732,061 games)
  • Rapid: 51.8% win rate (148,952 games)
  • Classical: 53.3% win rate (4,735 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: 51.9% expected score (25 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (5,710 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (4,448 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (798 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 60.1% expected score (78 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (19,288 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.0% expected score (16,312 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 53.7% expected score (3,582 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 37.3% expected score (30 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.4% expected score (137 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (49,106 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (52,841 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (10,095 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 52.5% expected score (197 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 45.9% expected score (267 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (97,811 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.7% expected score (132,893 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 53.9% expected score (25,323 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 54.0% expected score (968 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 53.1% expected score (243 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (139,830 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (215,558 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.6% expected score (44,917 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 56.6% expected score (1,792 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 58.2% expected score (127 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (155,050 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (206,403 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 54.1% expected score (45,684 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 56.3% expected score (1,422 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 56.0% expected score (57 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.6% expected score (113,915 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (84,362 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 56.9% expected score (16,244 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 65.8% expected score (274 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 65.5% expected score (34 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.3% expected score (56,939 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 56.8% expected score (17,690 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 62.5% expected score (2,224 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 59.4% expected score (41 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 54.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 56.2% expected score (8,825 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.3% expected score (1,554 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 56.4% expected score (85 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 73.8% expected score (9 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%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.6% (90% CI: 50.5%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.5M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation perform best?

The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 52.0% win rate for white (77K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (53.3%) outperforms UltraBullet (51.6%) by 1.7%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a sharpness score of 96.2 (very decisive), meaning 96.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 48.9%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 11K Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.9% (90% CI: 50.5%-51.3%) win rate for white, based on 39K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.6% (90% CI: 50.4%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 112K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.5%-50.8%) win rate for white, based on 257K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 50.2%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 402K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.3% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 409K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.6%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 215K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 51.7%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 77K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 52.5% (90% CI: 51.7%-53.3%) win rate for white, based on 10K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 7.7% draw rate.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 51.6% (90% CI: 48.9%-54.2%) win rate for white (979 Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.1%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.1%) win rate for white (646K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.0%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.7%-50.9%) win rate for white (732K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.3%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 51.8% (90% CI: 51.6%-52.0%) win rate for white (149K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.0%.

What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation has a 53.3% (90% CI: 52.1%-54.5%) win rate for white (4.7K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.0%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Normal Variation is statistically favors white with a 50.6% (90% CI: 50.5%-50.6%) 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.