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French Defense: Knight Variation

26M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.3%Range (90% confident): 50.3% – 50.3%Based on 26M games
0%50.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.3% – 50.3%
Outcome Distribution
48.3%3.9%47.8%
Win
Draw
Loss
2.Nf3
French Defense: Knight Variation
Analyzen=26M
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.9%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 50.3% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.3% and 50.3%), based on 26M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 48% → 51%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 48.1% win rate (1,302,920 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.0% win rate (2,450,786 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.7% win rate (3,927,076 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.2% win rate (5,246,207 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.1% win rate (5,533,809 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.8% win rate (4,320,234 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.2% win rate (1,995,325 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.5% win rate (719,160 games)
  • 2500+: 51.3% win rate (97,094 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~48%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 46.2% win rate (160,263 games)
  • Bullet: 48.2% win rate (10,134,303 games)
  • Blitz: 48.4% win rate (11,777,750 games)
  • Rapid: 48.3% win rate (3,412,088 games)
  • Classical: 47.2% win rate (108,207 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: 39.7% expected score (5,644 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (389,820 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (627,618 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.8% expected score (277,422 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 49.0% expected score (2,416 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 45.1% expected score (17,123 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (821,556 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (1,189,547 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (413,166 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.2% expected score (9,394 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 45.4% expected score (32,047 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (1,348,319 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.9% expected score (1,931,108 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (596,049 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.8% expected score (19,553 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 44.0% expected score (44,104 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (1,824,925 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (2,580,409 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (763,378 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 48.8% expected score (33,391 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.9% expected score (31,145 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (2,013,415 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (2,712,487 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (747,830 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (28,932 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 52.4% expected score (19,909 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (1,854,586 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (1,951,040 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (481,788 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.2% expected score (12,911 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 54.2% expected score (7,660 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (1,197,035 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.2% expected score (668,989 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (120,222 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 52.1% expected score (1,419 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 58.2% expected score (2,450 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (593,552 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.5% expected score (110,962 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.9% expected score (12,034 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 55.5% expected score (162 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 55.5% expected score (181 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (91,095 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.6% expected score (5,590 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 56.5% expected score (199 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 51.7% expected score (29 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%
Continuations (1)
French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva Gambit
51.4%
Analyze French Defense: Knight Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: Knight Variation win rate?

The French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 48.3%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 26M rated games from Lichess.

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

The French Defense: Knight Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 51.3% win rate for white (97K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Blitz (48.4%) outperforms UltraBullet (46.2%) by 2.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the French Defense: Knight Variation?

The French Defense: Knight Variation has a sharpness score of 96.1 (very decisive), meaning 96.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 1.3M Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 49.0% (90% CI: 48.9%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 2.5M Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 3.9M Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.2%) win rate for white, based on 5.2M Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 5.5M Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.0% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 47.8%-47.9%) win rate for white, based on 4.3M Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 2.0M Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.0% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 49.5% (90% CI: 49.4%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 719K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.5% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 51.3% (90% CI: 51.0%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 97K Lichess games. Average game length is 43 moves with a 7.4% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 46.2% (90% CI: 46.0%-46.4%) win rate for white (160K Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.6%.

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

In Bullet games, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 48.2%-48.2%) win rate for white (10M Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.0%.

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

In Blitz games, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.4% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.4%) win rate for white (12M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.4%.

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

In Rapid games, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 48.3%-48.4%) win rate for white (3.4M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

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

In Classical games, the French Defense: Knight Variation has a 47.2% (90% CI: 46.9%-47.4%) win rate for white (108K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.3%.

Is the French Defense: Knight Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: Knight Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.3% (90% CI: 48.3%-48.3%) 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.