TrueEloPlay what wins.
Analyzer

French Defense: Steinitz Variation

384K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score49.2%Range (90% confident): 49.1% – 49.3%Based on 384K games
0%49.2%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.1% – 49.3%
Outcome Distribution
46.6%5.2%48.2%
Win
Draw
Loss
6.Ne2
French Defense: Steinitz Variation
Analyzen=384K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate5.2%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 49.2% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 49.1% and 49.3%), based on 384K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 47% → 40%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 46.6% win rate (392 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.0% win rate (1,858 games)
  • 1200-1399: 44.7% win rate (6,601 games)
  • 1400-1599: 45.5% win rate (20,531 games)
  • 1600-1799: 45.5% win rate (53,237 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.1% win rate (105,276 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.2% win rate (109,482 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.6% win rate (67,386 games)
  • 2500+: 39.6% win rate (19,346 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (53%), worst in Rapid (46%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 52.9% win rate (387 games)
  • Bullet: 46.8% win rate (166,233 games)
  • Blitz: 46.5% win rate (186,159 games)
  • Rapid: 45.5% win rate (30,065 games)
  • Classical: 46.0% win rate (1,265 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: 41.5% expected score (210 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (136 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 57.4% expected score (46 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 27.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.8% expected score (1,032 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.8% expected score (682 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (138 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 42.3% expected score (31 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 45.1% expected score (3,333 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 46.3% expected score (2,744 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 46.9% expected score (481 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (12 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (136 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (8,661 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (9,925 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (1,755 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 59.1% expected score (54 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 61.5% expected score (99 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.1% expected score (19,557 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 46.6% expected score (28,332 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (4,942 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 43.9% expected score (307 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 47.8% expected score (66 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (34,617 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (59,905 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.0% expected score (10,131 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.5% expected score (557 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 60.6% expected score (41 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (44,888 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.7% expected score (55,004 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (9,328 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 52.3% expected score (221 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 61.8% expected score (7 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (39,353 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.0% expected score (25,447 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (2,515 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 60.7% expected score (64 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.5% expected score (14,582 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 55.4% expected score (3,984 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 54.9% expected score (729 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 71.8% expected score (49 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%
Continuations (3)
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation
48.0%
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Bradford Attack Variation
56.4%
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack
52.6%
Analyze French Defense: Steinitz Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation win rate?

The French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 46.6% (90% CI: 46.5%-46.7%) win rate for white, based on 384K rated games from Lichess.

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

The French Defense: Steinitz Variation performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 49.6% win rate for white (67K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

UltraBullet (52.9%) outperforms Classical (46.0%) by 6.9%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation?

The French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a sharpness score of 94.8 (decisive), meaning 94.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 46.6% (90% CI: 42.5%-50.8%) win rate for white, based on 392 Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 1.4% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 45.1%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 1.9K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 2.0% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 44.7% (90% CI: 43.7%-45.8%) win rate for white, based on 6.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 1.8% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 45.0%-46.1%) win rate for white, based on 21K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 45.1%-45.8%) win rate for white, based on 53K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.0% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 46.1% (90% CI: 45.9%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 105K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 47.2% (90% CI: 47.0%-47.5%) win rate for white, based on 109K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 49.6% (90% CI: 49.3%-50.0%) win rate for white, based on 67K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 39.6% (90% CI: 39.1%-40.2%) win rate for white, based on 19K Lichess games. Average game length is 46 moves with a 30.2% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 52.9% (90% CI: 48.7%-57.0%) win rate for white (387 Lichess games). Draw rate is 0.6%.

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

In Bullet games, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 46.6%-47.0%) win rate for white (166K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

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

In Blitz games, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 46.5% (90% CI: 46.3%-46.7%) win rate for white (186K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.2%.

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

In Rapid games, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 45.0%-46.0%) win rate for white (30K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.8%.

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

In Classical games, the French Defense: Steinitz Variation has a 46.0% (90% CI: 43.7%-48.3%) win rate for white (1.3K Lichess games). Draw rate is 9.5%.

Is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: Steinitz Variation is statistically balanced with a 46.6% (90% CI: 46.5%-46.7%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2200-2499 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.