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French Defense: Perseus Gambit

617K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

48.5%

45%55%
Floor48.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 48.6%.

Measured over 617K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 617K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
617K
Best context
56.8% at 2000-2199 UltraBullet
Worst context
32.7% at 1400-1599 Classical
Average game length
31 moves
Games that end decisively
97.0%
Draws
3.0%

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.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Gambit BreakpointWhite

Peak: +5.0% · Breakpoint: 0-999

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 12.6% · Bullet best · Classical worst

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: 45.7% at 0-999, 55.5% 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, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (279 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 48.2% expected score (12,477 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 45.9% expected score (14,069 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 42.7% expected score (6,978 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 45.8% expected score (69 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 48.7% expected score (947 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (25,241 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.0% expected score (17,227 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 45.2% expected score (6,790 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 45.1% expected score (183 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 46.5% expected score (2,181 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (43,244 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (24,262 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (7,791 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 43.0% expected score (297 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 43.7% expected score (2,984 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (68,204 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 46.7% expected score (35,781 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 42.3% expected score (8,517 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 32.7% expected score (512 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.5% expected score (2,217 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (78,072 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.4% expected score (45,070 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 45.3% expected score (7,312 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 37.2% expected score (279 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 55.7% expected score (1,190 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (71,278 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (38,295 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 45.0% expected score (5,352 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 36.1% expected score (110 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 56.8% expected score (519 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (44,668 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.3% expected score (14,026 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 46.0% expected score (1,463 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 39.7% expected score (13 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 52.2% expected score (230 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (23,103 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 47.4% expected score (1,847 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 45.0% expected score (139 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 32.8% expected score (13 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 53.9% expected score (3,530 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.9% expected score (42 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 78.6% expected score (2 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: Perseus Gambit PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the French Defense: Perseus Gambit scores 48.5% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 48.3% and 48.6% — from 617K 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
617K+ 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: Perseus Gambit win rate?

Playing the French Defense: Perseus Gambit, White wins 46.9%, draws 3.0% and loses 50.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.5%. It rests on 617K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the French Defense: Perseus Gambit perform best?

The French Defense: Perseus Gambit performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 53.9% (3.6K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the French Defense: Perseus Gambit scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 47.0% in Blitz (191K games) against 44.4% in Rapid (44K games).

How sharp is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit?

The French Defense: Perseus Gambit has a sharpness score of 97.0 (very decisive), meaning 97.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 31 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 44.5%, draws 3.2% and loses 52.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 34K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 47.1%, draws 2.6% and loses 50.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 50K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 47.4%, draws 2.4% and loses 50.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.6%. It rests on 78K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 46.5%, draws 2.5% and loses 51.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.8%. It rests on 116K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 47.2%, draws 3.0% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.7%. It rests on 133K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 46.9%, draws 3.4% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.6%. It rests on 116K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 47.1%, draws 3.7% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.0%. It rests on 61K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 48.2%, draws 4.2% and loses 47.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 51.3%, draws 5.2% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.9%. It rests on 3.6K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 47.4%, draws 1.5% and loses 51.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.2%. It rests on 11K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 48.5%, draws 2.6% and loses 49.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.8%. It rests on 370K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 45.1%, draws 3.7% and loses 51.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.0%. It rests on 191K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 42.2%, draws 4.3% and loses 53.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.4%. It rests on 44K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 35.9%, draws 4.3% and loses 59.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.1%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games.

Is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit a good opening?

The French Defense: Perseus Gambit is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 46.9% of its games and loses 50.0%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.