TrueEloPlay what wins.
Analyzer

French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation

70K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
Black Expected Score48.0%Range (90% confident): 47.7% – 48.3%Based on 70K games
0%48.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 47.7% – 48.3%
Outcome Distribution
46.0%3.9%50.1%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...Nc6
French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation
Analyzen=70K
Avg Length32 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.9%

What is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 48.0% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 47.7% and 48.3%), based on 70K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 47% → 41%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.4% win rate (7,762 games)
  • 1000-1199: 45.1% win rate (8,924 games)
  • 1200-1399: 45.0% win rate (9,910 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.1% win rate (10,471 games)
  • 1600-1799: 46.1% win rate (9,435 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.1% win rate (7,811 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.6% win rate (7,001 games)
  • 2200-2499: 46.9% win rate (7,199 games)
  • 2500+: 41.4% win rate (1,562 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~47%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 46.4% win rate (256 games)
  • Bullet: 46.9% win rate (19,214 games)
  • Blitz: 46.0% win rate (34,407 games)
  • Rapid: 45.1% win rate (15,615 games)
  • Classical: 44.9% win rate (583 games)

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: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (992 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (4,074 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (2,680 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 74.2% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 60.4% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (1,486 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (4,290 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 45.9% expected score (3,075 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (60 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 62.7% expected score (30 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 45.7% expected score (2,023 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.6% expected score (4,788 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 45.6% expected score (2,948 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 42.7% expected score (121 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 42.1% expected score (62 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (2,415 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.4% expected score (5,032 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (2,774 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 51.6% expected score (188 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 44.9% expected score (87 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (2,591 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (4,539 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.2% expected score (2,102 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 45.4% expected score (116 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.6% expected score (28 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (2,609 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (3,881 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.8% expected score (1,228 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (65 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 39.1% expected score (26 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (2,665 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (3,767 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.5% expected score (527 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (16 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (3,365 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (3,549 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (275 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 48.2% expected score (1,068 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 39.9% expected score (487 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 43.3% expected score (6 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: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation win rate?

The French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 50.1% (90% CI: 49.8%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 70K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation perform best?

The French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 51.9% win rate for white (9.9K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid (50.4%) outperforms UltraBullet (52.6%) by -2.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation?

The French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a sharpness score of 96.1 (very decisive), meaning 96.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 47.6%-49.4%) win rate for white, based on 7.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 51.4% (90% CI: 50.6%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 8.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 51.9% (90% CI: 51.1%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 9.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.0%-51.6%) win rate for white, based on 10K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 49.8%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 9.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 49.5% (90% CI: 48.6%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 7.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 48.1%-50.1%) win rate for white, based on 7.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 46.7%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 7.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.5% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 48.4%-52.5%) win rate for white, based on 1.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 8.2% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 52.6% (90% CI: 47.5%-57.7%) win rate for white (256 Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.0%.

What is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 50.2% (90% CI: 49.6%-50.8%) win rate for white (19K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.0%.

What is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.5%-50.4%) win rate for white (34K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.1%.

What is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 49.7%-51.0%) win rate for white (16K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.6%.

What is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation has a 51.8% (90% CI: 48.4%-55.1%) win rate for white (583 Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.3%.

Is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation is statistically balanced with a 50.1% (90% CI: 49.8%-50.4%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1200-1399 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.