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French Defense: Morphy Gambit

White Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−19.5%

White isn't shown winning more often than losing at this level

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −18.7% at 0-999
0-9991800-1999
Win%40.1%
Games2.1K
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does French Defense: Morphy Gambit work for White at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, French Defense: Morphy Gambit keeps White's wins running −19.5% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 2.1K Lichess games. The games don't show this gambit paying at this level. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstWhite WinDrawWhite LossGames
0-999−18.7%41.4%4.3%54.3%800
1000-1199−25.2%39.5%3.4%57.2%461
1200-1399−23.0%41.0%3.6%55.3%341
1400-1599−30.4%37.5%4.1%58.3%277
1600-1799−34.6%38.1%3.8%58.2%118
1800-1999−38.3%37.6%2.6%59.8%93
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for White on the opening stats page
Analyze French Defense: Morphy Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit sound?

Not shown to be. White does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 0-999, is −18.7%.

What is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit win rate?

White wins 40.1% of French Defense: Morphy Gambit games, draws 3.7% and loses 56.1%. That rests on 2.1K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?

No rating in these games shows it paying. White's Edge at worst is highest at 0-999: −18.7%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

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

Blitz. For White, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −16.3% in Blitz (943 games) and −21.7% in Rapid (769 games). In neither do the games show White winning more than losing.

Does the French Defense: Morphy Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?

No. The first rating where the games do not show White coming out ahead is 0-999 in Bullet, 0-999 in Blitz and 0-999 in Rapid.

How sharp is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?

The French Defense: Morphy Gambit is extremely sharp: 3.7% of its games are drawn, so 96.3% end with a winner.

Should I play the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?

Not for the results: White does not come out ahead at any rating we can see.

How do I defend against the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?

As Black, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. White does not come out ahead with it at any rating we can see.

How reliable is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit data?

This rests on 2.1K games from Lichess. Every figure carries the range it is in, 90% confident, and the table above shows how many games sit behind each rating and each clock — the fewer there are, the wider that range.