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Analyzer

French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation

9.7K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
White Expected Score48.0%Range (90% confident): 47.2% – 48.9%Based on 9.7K games
0%48.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 47.2% – 48.9%
Outcome Distribution
45.8%4.3%49.8%
Win
Draw
Loss
No position data
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation
n=9.7K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.3%

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 48.0% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 47.2% and 48.9%), based on 9.7K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 51% → 57%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 50.8% win rate (29 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.3% win rate (99 games)
  • 1200-1399: 44.5% win rate (265 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.4% win rate (535 games)
  • 1600-1799: 44.7% win rate (946 games)
  • 1800-1999: 44.6% win rate (2,382 games)
  • 2000-2199: 44.2% win rate (3,158 games)
  • 2200-2499: 47.1% win rate (1,825 games)
  • 2500+: 57.1% win rate (479 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (48%), worst in Blitz (45%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 48.0% win rate (2,709 games)
  • Blitz: 44.9% win rate (5,920 games)
  • Rapid: 45.8% win rate (1,036 games)
  • Classical: 45.0% win rate (53 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, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (8 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (17 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (67 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (15 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (45 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 45.5% expected score (153 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 44.0% expected score (65 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 36.5% expected score (80 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (296 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 54.3% expected score (150 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 45.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (218 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 45.7% expected score (535 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (178 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (15 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (511 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 45.2% expected score (1,594 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (258 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 54.9% expected score (19 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 44.2% expected score (711 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (2,172 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 45.6% expected score (268 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 38.3% expected score (7 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (773 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (962 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (90 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 60.3% expected score (345 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 60.0% expected score (129 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% 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%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate?

The French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 45.8% (90% CI: 45.0%-46.7%) win rate for white, based on 9.7K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation perform best?

The French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 57.1% win rate for white (479 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (48.0%) outperforms Classical (45.0%) by 3.0%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation?

The French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a sharpness score of 95.7 (very decisive), meaning 95.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 44.5% (90% CI: 39.5%-49.5%) win rate for white, based on 265 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 48.4% (90% CI: 44.8%-51.9%) win rate for white, based on 535 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.3% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 44.7% (90% CI: 42.0%-47.4%) win rate for white, based on 946 Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 44.6% (90% CI: 42.9%-46.3%) win rate for white, based on 2.4K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 44.2% (90% CI: 42.7%-45.7%) win rate for white, based on 3.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 47.1% (90% CI: 45.1%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 1.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 57.1% (90% CI: 53.4%-60.8%) win rate for white, based on 479 Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 6.3% draw rate.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 48.0% (90% CI: 46.4%-49.6%) win rate for white (2.7K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.6%.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 44.9% (90% CI: 43.8%-45.9%) win rate for white (5.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.0%.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation has a 45.8% (90% CI: 43.3%-48.4%) win rate for white (1.0K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.0%.

Is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation is slightly favors black with a 45.8% (90% CI: 45.0%-46.7%) 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.