Does French Defense: Morphy Gambit work for White at All Ratings?
Snapshot
At All Ratings, French Defense: Morphy Gambit gives White a -19.5% minimum advantage (90% confidence). This gambit underperforms at this level.
French Defense: Morphy Gambit
White GambitSource Lichess
View As
Tough Sell-20%All Ratings
Minimum Advantage-19.5%
White loses more often than wins at this level
Rating TrendPeak: -18.7% at 0-999
Win%40.1%
Games2.1K
Breakpoint (Overall)0-999
3.Nh3
French Defense: Morphy GambitWhite Gambit
Rating
Time Control
| Rating | Min Adv | White Win | Draw | White Loss | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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?
The French Defense: Morphy Gambit breaks at 0-999 overall (all time controls)—the first rating bracket where White no longer statistically wins more than loses. Below this rating, the gambit is viable for White. Note: breakpoints vary by time control—use the filters above for specific data.
What is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit win rate?
The French Defense: Morphy Gambit has a 40.1% (90% CI: 38.4%-41.9%) win rate for White overall, with a 3.7% draw rate and 56.1% loss rate. This is based on 2.1K games from Lichess.
What is the best rating to play the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?
The French Defense: Morphy Gambit performs best at 0-999, where White has a minimum advantage of +-18.7%. This means we're 90% confident White wins at least -18.7 percentage points more than they lose at this rating.
Is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit better in blitz or rapid?
Blitz (+-16.3% edge) outperforms Bullet (+-36.1% edge) by 19.8 percentage points. Faster time controls typically favor gambits because opponents have less time to find accurate defenses.
Does the French Defense: Morphy Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?
Yes, significantly. Breakpoints by time control: Bullet: 0-999, Blitz: 0-999, Rapid: 0-999, Classical: Never. "Never" means the gambit remains viable through all rating brackets in that time control. Faster time controls typically extend viability.
How sharp is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?
The French Defense: Morphy Gambit is extremely sharp with only 3.7% draws—96.3% of games end decisively. This makes it an excellent choice when you need to play for a win rather than accept a draw.
Should I play the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?
If you're below 0-999 overall, the French Defense: Morphy Gambit is statistically favorable for White. Above that rating, opponents defend better and the gambit's edge disappears. Consider your typical opponents' level and the time control—faster games extend the gambit's viability.
How do I defend against the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?
As Black, the French Defense: Morphy Gambit becomes easier to defend at 0-999 and above. Key principles: accept the material but develop quickly, castle early, trade pieces to reduce attacking potential, and return material at the right moment to neutralize the initiative. In faster time controls, the gambit is harder to defend—consider declining or transposing if you're not prepared.
How reliable is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit data?
This analysis is based on 2.1K games from Lichess. All statistics include 90% confidence intervals. Generally, 300+ games provide statistically meaningful results. Rating-specific and time-control-specific breakdowns have their own sample sizes shown in the table above.