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French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation

5.1M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score50.2%Range (90% confident): 50.2% – 50.2%Based on 5.1M games
0%50.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.2% – 50.2%
Outcome Distribution
48.6%3.2%48.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
2.f4
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation
Analyzen=5.1M
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.2%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 50.2% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.2% and 50.2%), based on 5.1M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 46% → 52%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 46.1% win rate (100,421 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.2% win rate (208,629 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.5% win rate (456,554 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.6% win rate (904,816 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.7% win rate (1,423,435 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.5% win rate (1,347,245 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.8% win rate (529,420 games)
  • 2200-2499: 50.0% win rate (109,751 games)
  • 2500+: 52.3% win rate (8,188 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (49%), worst in UltraBullet (44%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 43.8% win rate (13,206 games)
  • Bullet: 48.9% win rate (1,812,916 games)
  • Blitz: 48.6% win rate (2,707,917 games)
  • Rapid: 47.7% win rate (538,642 games)
  • Classical: 46.4% win rate (15,778 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: 30.4% expected score (663 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (33,858 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (48,079 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 46.8% expected score (17,624 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 35.4% expected score (197 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 38.6% expected score (1,151 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (83,871 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (98,949 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (24,073 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 43.7% expected score (585 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 44.5% expected score (2,906 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (186,737 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.1% expected score (223,286 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.2% expected score (42,210 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 48.4% expected score (1,415 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 43.3% expected score (4,113 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (313,919 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (495,689 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (88,066 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 46.8% expected score (3,029 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.3% expected score (3,575 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (441,293 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (819,666 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.1% expected score (152,809 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 49.8% expected score (6,092 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 47.8% expected score (630 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (435,721 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (743,520 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.1% expected score (163,466 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (3,908 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.0% expected score (117 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (235,709 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (245,734 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (47,344 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 50.2% expected score (516 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 55.7% expected score (51 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (74,802 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.6% expected score (31,833 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 52.0% expected score (3,029 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 60.7% expected score (36 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (7,006 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 58.6% expected score (1,161 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 54.5% expected score (21 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: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit
47.3%
Analyze French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation win rate?

The French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 5.1M rated games from Lichess.

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

The French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.3% win rate for white (8.2K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (48.9%) outperforms UltraBullet (43.8%) by 5.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation?

The French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a sharpness score of 96.8 (very decisive), meaning 96.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 46.1% (90% CI: 45.8%-46.3%) win rate for white, based on 100K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.2% (90% CI: 48.0%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 209K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 457K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 905K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.7%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 1.4M Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 48.4%-48.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.3M Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.8% (90% CI: 48.7%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 529K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.0% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 50.0% (90% CI: 49.8%-50.3%) win rate for white, based on 110K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 52.3% (90% CI: 51.4%-53.2%) win rate for white, based on 8.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.1% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 43.8% (90% CI: 43.0%-44.5%) win rate for white (13K Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.8%.

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

In Bullet games, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.9% (90% CI: 48.8%-48.9%) win rate for white (1.8M Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.2%.

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

In Blitz games, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.7%) win rate for white (2.7M Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

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

In Rapid games, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 47.6%-47.8%) win rate for white (539K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.3%.

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

In Classical games, the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation has a 46.4% (90% CI: 45.7%-47.0%) win rate for white (16K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.8%.

Is the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation is statistically balanced with a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.6%) 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.