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French Defense: Steiner Variation

1.9M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score52.4%Range (90% confident): 52.4% – 52.5%Based on 1.9M games
0%52.4%100%
Range (90% confident): 52.4% – 52.5%
Outcome Distribution
50.4%4.0%45.6%
Win
Draw
Loss
2.c4
French Defense: Steiner Variation
Analyzen=1.9M
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.0%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 52.4% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 52.4% and 52.5%), based on 1.9M Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.2% · Bullet best · UltraBullet worst

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 46% → 52%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 45.9% win rate (28,875 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.5% win rate (56,595 games)
  • 1200-1399: 49.8% win rate (117,529 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.3% win rate (238,992 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.3% win rate (410,069 games)
  • 1800-1999: 50.5% win rate (525,471 games)
  • 2000-2199: 50.7% win rate (385,137 games)
  • 2200-2499: 51.1% win rate (162,437 games)
  • 2500+: 52.1% win rate (19,974 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (51%), worst in UltraBullet (42%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 42.4% win rate (4,383 games)
  • Bullet: 50.6% win rate (775,436 games)
  • Blitz: 50.5% win rate (922,722 games)
  • Rapid: 49.9% win rate (232,677 games)
  • Classical: 49.1% win rate (9,861 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: 42.8% expected score (47 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (6,850 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.7% expected score (15,269 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 47.0% expected score (6,636 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 47.3% expected score (73 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 39.2% expected score (128 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (16,525 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.6% expected score (28,874 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (10,798 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 48.2% expected score (270 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 37.8% expected score (502 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (39,645 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.6% expected score (57,446 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (19,146 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.8% expected score (790 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 43.3% expected score (970 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (84,921 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (116,404 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.9% expected score (34,750 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.3% expected score (1,947 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 43.4% expected score (1,596 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (136,570 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.3% expected score (213,279 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (55,535 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.1% expected score (3,089 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 42.2% expected score (840 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.1% expected score (185,241 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.8% expected score (272,308 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (64,297 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 54.1% expected score (2,785 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.0% expected score (184 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.4% expected score (178,091 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (170,322 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.8% expected score (35,742 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 54.1% expected score (798 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 57.0% expected score (106 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.3% expected score (109,423 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.9% expected score (47,149 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.4% expected score (5,652 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 57.4% expected score (107 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 41.3% expected score (10 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.0% expected score (18,170 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.3% expected score (1,671 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 67.2% expected score (121 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (2 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%
Analyze French Defense: Steiner Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: Steiner Variation win rate?

The French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 50.4% (90% CI: 50.4%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 1.9M rated games from Lichess.

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

The French Defense: Steiner Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.1% win rate for white (20K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (50.6%) outperforms UltraBullet (42.4%) by 8.2%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the French Defense: Steiner Variation?

The French Defense: Steiner Variation has a sharpness score of 96.0 (very decisive), meaning 96.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 45.9% (90% CI: 45.5%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 29K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 49.5% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.8%) win rate for white, based on 57K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 49.8% (90% CI: 49.6%-50.1%) win rate for white, based on 118K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 50.3% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.5%) win rate for white, based on 239K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 50.3% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 410K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 50.5% (90% CI: 50.4%-50.6%) win rate for white, based on 525K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.6%-50.9%) win rate for white, based on 385K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 51.1% (90% CI: 50.9%-51.3%) win rate for white, based on 162K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 52.1% (90% CI: 51.5%-52.7%) win rate for white, based on 20K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 6.7% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 42.4% (90% CI: 41.2%-43.6%) win rate for white (4.4K Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.3%.

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

In Bullet games, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 50.6% (90% CI: 50.5%-50.7%) win rate for white (775K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.0%.

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

In Blitz games, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 50.5% (90% CI: 50.4%-50.5%) win rate for white (923K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.5%.

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

In Rapid games, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 49.9% (90% CI: 49.8%-50.1%) win rate for white (233K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.3%.

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

In Classical games, the French Defense: Steiner Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 48.3%-50.0%) win rate for white (9.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.2%.

Is the French Defense: Steiner Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: Steiner Variation is statistically favors white with a 50.4% (90% CI: 50.4%-50.5%) 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.