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French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation

54K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

52.3%

45%60%
Floor51.9%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 52.6%.

Measured over 54K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 54K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
54K
Best context
58.7% at 2500+ Blitz
Worst context
48.2% at 1400-1599 Blitz
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
96.0%
Draws
4.0%

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: 29.9% at 0-999, 58.5% 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: 46.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 13.7% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (41 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (26 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (186 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 41.3% expected score (113 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 77.6% expected score (13 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (493 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (639 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (64 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 55.9% expected score (7 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 40.7% expected score (20 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (1,467 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (3,138 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (408 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 54.5% expected score (21 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (3,058 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (8,054 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (1,327 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 51.1% expected score (45 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (5,119 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (11,386 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (1,543 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 55.6% expected score (52 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (6,542 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.4% expected score (6,009 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 56.0% expected score (603 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (14 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.9% expected score (2,500 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 58.7% expected score (718 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 60.9% expected score (17 games)

Related Openings

Parent
French Defense
45.7%
Variations (5)
French Defense: Knight Variation
48.3%
French Defense: Exchange Variation
47.7%
French Defense: Normal Variation
50.3%
French Defense: Advance Variation
48.0%
French Defense: Queen's Knight
48.5%
Analyze French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation scores 52.3% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 51.9% and 52.6% — from 54K 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
54K+ 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 French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate?

Playing the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation, White wins 50.3%, draws 4.0% and loses 45.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.3%. It rests on 54K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation perform best?

The French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 56.5% (3.2K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 51.9% in Blitz (30K games) against 52.1% in Rapid (4.0K games).

How sharp is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation?

The French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation has a sharpness score of 96.0 (very decisive), meaning 96.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 48.3%, draws 3.0% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.9%. It rests on 312 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 48.2%, draws 2.8% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.6%. It rests on 1.2K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 48.1%, draws 2.7% and loses 49.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.5%. It rests on 5.1K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 48.9%, draws 3.6% and loses 47.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.7%. It rests on 12K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 50.4%, draws 4.1% and loses 45.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.5%. It rests on 18K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 51.7%, draws 4.3% and loses 44.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.9%. It rests on 13K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 53.6%, draws 5.8% and loses 40.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.5%. It rests on 3.2K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 51.3%, draws 3.1% and loses 45.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 19K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 49.7%, draws 4.3% and loses 45.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 30K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 49.4%, draws 5.3% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.1%. It rests on 4.0K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 51.6%, draws 3.9% and loses 44.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.6%. It rests on 139 Lichess games.

Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 50.3% of its games and loses 45.8%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.