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Analyzer

French Defense

176 variations · 131M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

French Defense is balanced for Black at 49.6% expected score.

This opening produces roughly even results, with outcomes depending more on middlegame play than opening choice.

You play
Playable
Rating
Time
Black Expected Score0.0%Range (90% confident): 49.6% – 49.7%Aggregated from 176 variations
0%49.6%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.6% – 49.7%
ContextOverall · n=131M
Outcome Distribution
47.6%3.9%48.4%
Win
Draw
Loss
2...d5
French Defense
Variations176
Games (Context)131M
Avg Length34 moves
Draw Rate3.9%

What Should I Play?

Player-controlled continuations for Black · Overall

#1French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn VariationTop Pick
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7
Min adv +5.7% · n=60K
53.2%
#2French Defense
1.e4 e6
Min adv +5.1% · n=9.8M
52.6%
#3French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 cxd4
Min adv +4.8% · n=14K
53.1%
#4French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Kf8
Min adv +4.5% · n=2.7K
53.9%
#5French Defense: Classical Variation, Normal Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7
Min adv +3.6% · n=113K
52.0%
#6French Defense: Winawer Variation, Warsaw Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 O-O
Min adv +3.6% · n=6.7K
52.8%
#7French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7
Min adv +3.4% · n=1.1M
51.8%
#8French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Haberditz Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 f5
Min adv +2.9% · n=37K
51.9%
#9French Defense: St. George Defense, St. George Gambit
1.e4 e6 2.d4 a6 3.c4 b5 4.cxb5 axb5
Min adv +2.7% · n=8.2K
52.3%
#10French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Qd7
Min adv +2.7% · n=25K
51.9%

Continuations show the most common variations from this opening. Higher expected scores indicate better statistical outcomes, but familiarity and playstyle matter too.

What is the French Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

Overall, the French Defense family has a 49.6% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 49.6% and 49.7%), aggregated from 176 variations and 131M Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 49% → 41%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.2% win rate (5,271,481 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.4% win rate (9,360,020 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.7% win rate (15,580,409 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.7% win rate (22,482,522 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.1% win rate (26,797,056 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.4% win rate (25,835,593 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.2% win rate (16,355,550 games)
  • 2200-2499: 44.3% win rate (8,205,967 games)
  • 2500+: 40.7% win rate (1,508,325 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (51%), worst in Rapid (47%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 50.7% win rate (846,163 games)
  • Bullet: 48.4% win rate (49,237,257 games)
  • Blitz: 47.2% win rate (63,072,431 games)
  • Rapid: 47.0% win rate (17,570,226 games)
  • Classical: 47.1% win rate (670,846 games)

Rating vs Time Control Matrix

Click cells to filter · Black expected scores

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, UltraBullet: 61.0% expected score (18,465 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 52.7% expected score (1,346,880 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (2,693,824 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (1,201,521 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 53.0% expected score (10,791 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 56.0% expected score (56,323 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (2,796,816 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.6% expected score (4,722,186 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 49.0% expected score (1,744,545 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.6% expected score (40,150 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 55.0% expected score (139,488 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (4,924,319 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (7,808,868 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (2,614,030 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 49.6% expected score (93,704 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 53.6% expected score (224,335 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (7,283,837 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.1% expected score (11,255,115 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (3,539,411 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 51.3% expected score (179,824 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.1% expected score (210,334 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (9,047,494 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (13,522,679 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (3,830,110 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.5% expected score (186,439 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.9% expected score (131,786 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (9,698,040 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (12,831,490 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (3,053,514 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.0% expected score (120,763 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 44.4% expected score (47,435 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (7,756,289 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (7,236,193 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.8% expected score (1,282,821 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 45.9% expected score (32,812 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 42.5% expected score (16,304 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (5,154,935 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.3% expected score (2,738,915 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 44.7% expected score (290,654 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 40.7% expected score (5,159 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 41.2% expected score (1,693 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.2% expected score (1,228,647 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (263,161 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 42.2% expected score (13,620 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 41.8% expected score (1,204 games)

Matrix view reveals how performance varies across rating brackets and time controls. Green indicates favorable, red indicates challenging contexts.

Variations (176)

1
French Defense: Morphy Gambit2.1K games
58.0%
2
French Defense: Advance Variation, Steinitz Variation402K games
54.6%
3
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation30K games
54.8%
French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit13K games
54.6%
French Defense: Bird Invitation198K games
53.6%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch System3.4M games
53.3%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation7.6K games
54.3%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation60K games
53.2%
French Defense9.8M games
52.6%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line14K games
53.1%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation2.7K games
53.9%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Normal Variation113K games
52.0%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Warsaw Variation6.7K games
52.8%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation1.1M games
51.8%
French Defense: Perseus Gambit617K games
51.6%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack3.3M games
51.5%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Haberditz Variation37K games
51.9%
French Defense: St. George Defense, St. George Gambit8.2K games
52.3%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation25K games
51.9%
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit166K games
51.4%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation9.7K games
52.0%
French Defense: Carlson Gambit216K games
51.3%
French Defense: Classical Variation264K games
51.1%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Main Line33K games
51.4%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit10K games
51.7%
French Defense: Exchange Variation, Svenonius Variation541K games
50.9%
French Defense: Steinitz Variation384K games
50.8%
French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense2.6M games
50.7%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Süchting Line245K games
50.8%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Wade Variation224K games
50.8%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation2.4K games
52.1%
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Fort Knox Variation201K games
50.6%
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Blackburne Defense837K games
50.4%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Classical Variation55K games
50.6%
French Defense: Advance Variation9.3M games
50.2%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Portisch-Hook Variation47K games
50.4%
French Defense: Steinitz Attack2.4M games
50.1%
French Defense: Horwitz Attack385K games
50.1%
French Defense: St. George Defense, Sanky-George Gambit16K games
50.6%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Main Line63K games
50.3%
French Defense: Exchange Variation15M games
49.9%
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation5.1M games
49.8%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation12K games
50.6%
French Defense: Knight Variation26M games
49.8%
French Defense: Queen's Knight6.4M games
49.7%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation3.4K games
51.0%
French Defense: Diemer-Duhm Gambit Accepted224K games
49.6%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap172K games
49.5%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Richter Attack100K games
49.5%
French Defense: King's Indian Attack4.8M games
49.1%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System215K games
49.2%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Morozevich Variation75K games
49.3%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation376K games
49.1%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Tartakower Variation48K games
49.3%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Maróczy-Wallis Variation61K games
49.3%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation3.0K games
50.4%
French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Maróczy Variation43K games
49.3%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Svenonius Variation69K games
49.2%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation35K games
49.1%
French Defense: St. George Defense509K games
48.8%
French Defense: Two Knights Variation3.1M games
48.7%
French Defense: Pelikan Variation355K games
48.7%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation1.5M games
48.6%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation339K games
48.7%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Lputian Variation73K games
48.8%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation38K games
48.9%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense93K games
48.8%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Stahlberg Variation158 games
55.0%
French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack373K games
48.6%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense91K games
48.7%
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation458K games
48.5%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation43K games
48.7%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation10K games
49.1%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Euwe-Keres Line206K games
48.4%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation163K games
48.3%
French Defense: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation2.1M games
48.1%
French Defense: Schlechter Variation804K games
48.1%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation13K games
48.7%
French Defense: Normal Variation10M games
48.0%
French Defense: Winawer Variation421K games
48.1%
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Maric Variation24K games
48.5%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System43K games
48.3%
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack30K games
48.4%
French Defense: Exchange Variation, Bogoljubow Variation13K games
48.6%
French Defense: Diemer-Duhm Gambit119K games
48.0%
French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation70K games
48.0%
French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack68K games
48.0%
French Defense: King's Indian Attack, Franco-Hiva Gambit26K games
48.2%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern Line7.8K games
48.6%
French Defense: Steiner Variation1.9M games
47.6%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line61K games
47.8%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation492K games
47.6%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Swiss Variation181K games
47.7%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Main Line74K games
47.8%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation54K games
47.8%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit858K games
47.4%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line608K games
47.4%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line138K games
47.6%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation8.4K games
48.1%
French Defense: Paulsen Variation948K games
47.2%
French Defense: Marshall Gambit436K games
47.2%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Ruisdonk Gambit55K games
47.3%
French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit Accepted90K games
47.2%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit4.8K games
48.1%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Botvinnik Variation11K games
47.7%
French Defense: Horwitz Attack, Papa-Ticulat Gambit422K games
47.0%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation75K games
47.1%
French Defense: Mediterranean Defense995K games
46.9%
French Defense: St. George Defense, Traditional Line9.5K games
47.6%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Kan Variation12K games
47.5%
French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva Gambit150K games
46.9%
French Defense: St. George Defense, Three Pawn Attack127K games
46.9%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Main Line100K games
46.9%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Pawn Center Variation164K games
46.8%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Advance Line6.5K games
47.6%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation857K games
46.4%
French Defense: Chigorin Variation545K games
46.4%
French Defense: Burn Variation291K games
46.4%
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation2.1M games
46.2%
French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit110K games
46.3%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Wolf Gambit9.4K games
46.9%
French Defense: Alapin Gambit176K games
46.1%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine-Maróczy Gambit77K games
46.2%
French Defense: Guimard Variation, Thunderbunny Variation2.2K games
47.5%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Wolf Gambit2.4K games
47.4%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation1.9K games
47.6%
French Defense: Baeuerle Gambit24K games
46.2%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation303 games
50.3%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation714K games
45.7%
French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Spielmann Variation9.8K games
46.3%
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack31K games
45.9%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Moscow Variation24K games
46.0%
French Defense: Henneberger Variation51K games
45.7%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Vistaneckis Variation13K games
46.0%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Attack123K games
45.3%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Bogoljubow Variation66K games
45.4%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation4.9K games
46.3%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Shaposhnikov Gambit620 games
48.3%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases Variation15K games
45.6%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line3.9K games
46.2%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation2.1K games
46.4%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation1.4K games
46.8%
French Defense: Wing Gambit458K games
44.5%
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Ellis Gambit17K games
44.9%
French Defense: Reversed Philidor Formation5.2K games
45.5%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Pollock Variation32K games
44.7%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation5.0K games
45.4%
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Capablanca Line6.2K games
45.2%
French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Teichmann Variation2.4K games
45.6%
French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Breyer Variation29K games
44.2%
French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit202K games
43.7%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation1.2K games
45.9%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Rubinstein Variation8.5K games
44.3%
French Defense: Exchange Variation, Bogoljubov Variation545 games
46.8%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Frankfurt Variation147 games
50.0%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Hector Variation43K games
43.5%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Janowski Variation7.5K games
44.0%
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Thunderbunny Variation520 games
46.4%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Bogoljubov Variation3.1K games
44.1%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit55K games
42.8%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation1.2K games
44.7%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line99K games
42.6%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Janowski Variation1.7K games
44.2%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation13K games
42.8%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation3.4K games
43.3%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Icelandic Defense2.2K games
43.3%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit Accepted26K games
41.7%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Exchange Variation, Canal Attack2.2K games
42.9%
French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Albin-Chatard Gambit58K games
41.2%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit24K games
41.4%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Sørensen Variation2.0K games
42.5%
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Bradford Attack Variation3.4K games
41.8%
French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation20K games
40.7%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Kunin Double Gambit733 games
41.4%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Duras Variation380 games
41.6%
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Kondratiyev Variation436 games
38.8%
Analyze French Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense win rate?

The French Defense family has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.4%) win rate for white, aggregated from 176 variations and 131M rated games from Lichess.

How many French Defense variations are there?

This analysis covers 176 French Defense variations with sufficient game data. Each variation has its own statistics page with detailed win rates by rating and time control.

At what rating does the French Defense perform best?

The French Defense family performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 51.0% win rate for white (1.5M games). Performance may vary by specific variation.

Is the French Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (48.7%) outperforms Classical (47.1%) by 1.6% across all French Defense variations.

How sharp is the French Defense?

French Defense games are 96.1% decisive (non-draws), with an average length of 34 moves. Sharpness varies by specific variation.

Is the French Defense a good opening family?

The French Defense family is statistically balanced overall with a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.4%) aggregated win rate. However, win rates vary significantly between the 176 variations—explore individual lines to find the best fit for your style.