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French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack

30K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

51.7%

45%60%
Floor51.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 52.1%.

Measured over 30K 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 8.7 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 30K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
30K
Best context
58.4% at 2200-2499 Rapid
Worst context
47.6% at 1600-1799 Bullet
Average game length
39 moves
Games that end decisively
91.3%
Draws
8.7%

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

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.3% · Classical best · Bullet 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: 41.4% at 0-999, 53.8% 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, Bullet: 8.9% expected score (7 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 73.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.4% expected score (28 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (14 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 45.7% expected score (10 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (105 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 57.8% expected score (69 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 62.7% expected score (30 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.7% expected score (381 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 58.9% expected score (269 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 68.2% expected score (81 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 59.1% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (919 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (985 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 61.9% expected score (201 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (15 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 38.9% expected score (3 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (2,081 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (2,683 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 55.1% expected score (461 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 61.8% expected score (54 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.6% expected score (3,684 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (4,058 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 55.2% expected score (775 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 68.1% expected score (54 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 34.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (5,622 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.3% expected score (3,256 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 58.4% expected score (549 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 80.5% expected score (28 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.9% expected score (2,416 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.1% expected score (646 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 61.7% expected score (54 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 46.3% expected score (12 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: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack scores 51.7% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 51.2% and 52.1% — from 30K 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
30K+ 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: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate?

Playing the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack, White wins 47.3%, draws 8.7% and loses 44.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.7%. It rests on 30K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack perform best?

The French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack performs best for White at 1400-1599, with an Expected Score of 56.9% (739 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 52.3% in Blitz (12K games) against 57.4% in Rapid (2.2K games).

How sharp is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack?

The French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack has a sharpness score of 91.3 (decisive), meaning 91.3% of games end decisively. Average game length is 39 moves.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 49.6%, draws 6.5% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 205 Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 54.2%, draws 5.3% and loses 40.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.9%. It rests on 739 Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 47.6%, draws 6.2% and loses 46.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.7%. It rests on 2.1K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 47.5%, draws 6.5% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.8%. It rests on 5.3K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 46.4%, draws 7.8% and loses 45.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 8.6K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 47.3%, draws 9.4% and loses 43.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 9.5K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 47.2%, draws 16.1% and loses 36.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.3%. It rests on 3.1K Lichess games, which average 45 moves.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 46.6%, draws 7.1% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 15K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 47.3%, draws 10.1% and loses 42.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.3%. It rests on 12K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 51.4%, draws 12.0% and loses 36.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.4%. It rests on 2.2K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 54.9%, draws 20.5% and loses 24.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 65.2%. It rests on 167 Lichess games.

Is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack a good opening?

The French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 47.3% of its games and loses 44.0%. It performs best at 1400-1599. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.