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French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack

31K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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5.Qg4
Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

54.1%

45%60%
Floor53.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 54.6%.

Measured over 31K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 31K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
31K
Best context
61.4% at 2200-2499 Blitz
Worst context
46.4% at 1800-1999 Rapid
Average game length
32 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

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 10.6% · 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: 48.0% at 0-999, 62.3% 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: 43.9% expected score (23 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 57.6% expected score (25 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 42.6% expected score (12 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 37.6% expected score (63 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.2% expected score (77 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 62.2% expected score (19 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 44.8% expected score (143 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (272 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 61.5% expected score (55 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.6% expected score (683 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.7% expected score (871 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.9% expected score (174 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 35.7% expected score (9 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (1,384 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (2,107 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.8% expected score (496 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 49.1% expected score (53 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 54.6% expected score (2,352 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (5,267 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 46.4% expected score (1,023 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 43.2% expected score (57 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 36.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 54.9% expected score (2,976 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.3% expected score (5,133 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.7% expected score (781 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 42.0% expected score (36 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 56.5% expected score (2,934 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 61.4% expected score (3,218 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 60.0% expected score (229 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 57.7% expected score (712 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.5% expected score (220 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 71.8% expected score (10 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: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack scores 54.1% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 53.7% and 54.6% — from 31K 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
31K+ 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: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack win rate?

Playing the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack, White wins 52.6%, draws 3.0% and loses 44.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.1%. It rests on 31K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack perform best?

The French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack performs best for White at 2200-2499, with an Expected Score of 59.1% (6.4K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 54.5% in Blitz (17K games) against 50.6% in Rapid (2.8K games).

How sharp is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack?

The French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack has a sharpness score of 97.0 (very decisive), meaning 97.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

What is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 47.4%, draws 2.2% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.5%. It rests on 160 Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 51.2%, draws 1.4% and loses 47.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 472 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 49.9%, draws 2.3% and loses 47.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.0%. It rests on 1.7K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 49.2%, draws 2.0% and loses 48.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 4.0K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 50.4%, draws 3.1% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 8.7K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 53.4%, draws 3.0% and loses 43.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.9%. It rests on 8.9K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 57.2%, draws 3.8% and loses 39.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.1%. It rests on 6.4K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 55.9%, draws 3.9% and loses 40.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.9%. It rests on 942 Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 53.5%, draws 2.1% and loses 44.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.6%. It rests on 11K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 52.8%, draws 3.3% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.5%. It rests on 17K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 48.3%, draws 4.6% and loses 47.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 2.8K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 42.9%, draws 3.5% and loses 53.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.6%. It rests on 156 Lichess games.

Is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack a good opening?

The French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 52.6% of its games and loses 44.4%. It performs best at 2200-2499. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.