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French Defense: Chigorin Variation

545K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score53.7%Range (90% confident): 53.5% – 53.8%Based on 545K games
0%53.7%100%
Range (90% confident): 53.5% – 53.8%
Outcome Distribution
51.4%4.4%44.1%
Win
Draw
Loss
2.Qe2
French Defense: Chigorin Variation
Analyzen=545K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.4%

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 53.7% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 53.5% and 53.8%), based on 545K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 44% → 56%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 43.7% win rate (7,079 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.4% win rate (7,287 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.2% win rate (14,124 games)
  • 1400-1599: 49.7% win rate (31,262 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.2% win rate (69,611 games)
  • 1800-1999: 50.6% win rate (115,539 games)
  • 2000-2199: 51.6% win rate (136,852 games)
  • 2200-2499: 52.9% win rate (131,294 games)
  • 2500+: 55.7% win rate (32,119 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (52%), worst in UltraBullet (46%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 45.8% win rate (2,677 games)
  • Bullet: 52.4% win rate (242,456 games)
  • Blitz: 50.8% win rate (259,500 games)
  • Rapid: 49.2% win rate (38,934 games)
  • Classical: 47.4% win rate (1,600 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: 40.2% expected score (75 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 44.9% expected score (1,580 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (3,392 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 44.7% expected score (2,014 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 47.5% expected score (18 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 41.5% expected score (534 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (2,131 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (3,151 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.9% expected score (1,394 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 33.5% expected score (77 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 48.1% expected score (463 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (6,002 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (5,801 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.2% expected score (1,751 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 42.7% expected score (107 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 45.9% expected score (340 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (12,347 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (15,341 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.0% expected score (3,023 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 45.8% expected score (211 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 42.8% expected score (502 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (28,115 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (34,619 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (5,888 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.7% expected score (487 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 52.3% expected score (572 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (37,260 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (66,069 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (11,259 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 55.4% expected score (379 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 52.7% expected score (169 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.8% expected score (51,571 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (75,406 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (9,443 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 53.8% expected score (263 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 45.8% expected score (22 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 55.6% expected score (77,201 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.2% expected score (49,976 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 56.3% expected score (4,038 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 54.3% expected score (57 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 58.6% expected score (26,249 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 58.5% expected score (5,745 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 64.8% expected score (124 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
French Defense
45.7%
Variations (5)
French Defense: Advance Variation
48.0%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation
46.1%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap
48.6%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit
46.5%
French Defense: Advance Variation, Lputian Variation
48.8%
Analyze French Defense: Chigorin Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate?

The French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 51.4% (90% CI: 51.3%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 545K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the French Defense: Chigorin Variation perform best?

The French Defense: Chigorin Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 55.7% win rate for white (32K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (52.4%) outperforms UltraBullet (45.8%) by 6.6%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation?

The French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a sharpness score of 95.6 (very decisive), meaning 95.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 43.7% (90% CI: 42.8%-44.7%) win rate for white, based on 7.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 47.4% (90% CI: 46.4%-48.4%) win rate for white, based on 7.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 47.6%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 14K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.2%-50.1%) win rate for white, based on 31K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 50.2% (90% CI: 49.9%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 70K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 50.6% (90% CI: 50.4%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 116K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 51.6% (90% CI: 51.3%-51.8%) win rate for white, based on 137K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 52.9% (90% CI: 52.6%-53.1%) win rate for white, based on 131K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 55.7% (90% CI: 55.3%-56.2%) win rate for white, based on 32K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 5.8% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 45.8% (90% CI: 44.2%-47.3%) win rate for white (2.7K Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.3%.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 52.4% (90% CI: 52.3%-52.6%) win rate for white (242K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.4%.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.7%-51.0%) win rate for white (260K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.3%.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 48.8%-49.6%) win rate for white (39K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

What is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the French Defense: Chigorin Variation has a 47.4% (90% CI: 45.4%-49.5%) win rate for white (1.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 7.0%.

Is the French Defense: Chigorin Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: Chigorin Variation is statistically favors white with a 51.4% (90% CI: 51.3%-51.5%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.