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King's Indian Attack: French Variation

808K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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3...Nc6
Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

46.3%

40%55%
Floor46.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 46.4%.

Measured over 808K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

Black comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.1 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 808K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
808K
Best context
54.3% at 1600-1799 Classical
Worst context
37.3% at 2000-2199 UltraBullet
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
95.9%
Draws
4.1%

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: 9.9% · UltraBullet best · Classical worst

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It falls away as the rating rises: 52.7% at 0-999, 45.2% 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, UltraBullet: 60.2% expected score (33 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (2,540 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (2,660 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (640 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 48.4% expected score (149 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (6,955 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (6,363 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (1,738 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 45.4% expected score (20 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 42.0% expected score (549 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.0% expected score (15,165 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (13,436 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (3,507 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (86 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 42.8% expected score (1,081 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 46.9% expected score (30,916 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.7% expected score (31,005 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (6,725 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 55.1% expected score (295 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 43.6% expected score (1,576 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (52,667 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.5% expected score (63,983 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (11,727 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 54.3% expected score (506 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 44.0% expected score (1,217 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (82,125 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.3% expected score (96,185 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (14,685 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 48.3% expected score (598 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 37.3% expected score (522 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (94,485 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (85,081 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (11,369 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 42.1% expected score (220 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 34.7% expected score (122 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 44.5% expected score (100,937 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 42.4% expected score (33,890 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 42.3% expected score (4,193 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 47.4% expected score (56 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 42.6% expected score (26,129 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.3% expected score (2,236 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 39.9% expected score (68 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
King's Indian Attack
51.3%
Variations (5)
King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense
50.0%
King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation
53.3%
King's Indian Attack: Yugoslav Variation
50.5%
King's Indian Attack: Keres Variation
51.7%
King's Indian Attack: Wahls Defense
50.0%
Analyze King's Indian Attack: French Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the King's Indian Attack: French Variation scores 46.3% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 46.2% and 46.4% — from 808K 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
808K+ 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 King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate?

Playing the King's Indian Attack: French Variation, Black wins 44.2%, draws 4.1% and loses 51.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.3%. It rests on 808K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the King's Indian Attack: French Variation perform best?

The King's Indian Attack: French Variation performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 50.4% (5.9K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the King's Indian Attack: French Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 46.9% in Blitz (335K games) against 48.0% in Rapid (55K games).

How sharp is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation?

The King's Indian Attack: French Variation has a sharpness score of 95.9 (very decisive), meaning 95.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 49.2%, draws 2.4% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.4%. It rests on 5.9K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 47.1%, draws 2.5% and loses 50.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.4%. It rests on 15K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 46.9%, draws 2.6% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.2%. It rests on 33K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 46.4%, draws 3.0% and loses 50.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.9%. It rests on 70K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 45.9%, draws 3.6% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.7%. It rests on 130K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 44.8%, draws 4.0% and loses 51.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.8%. It rests on 195K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 43.5%, draws 4.4% and loses 52.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.8%. It rests on 192K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 41.3%, draws 5.2% and loses 53.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 43.9%. It rests on 139K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 39.5%, draws 6.2% and loses 54.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.6%. It rests on 28K Lichess games, which average 42 moves.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 41.3%, draws 2.8% and loses 55.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.7%. It rests on 5.3K Lichess games.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 43.8%, draws 3.5% and loses 52.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.6%. It rests on 412K Lichess games.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 44.5%, draws 4.7% and loses 50.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.9%. It rests on 335K Lichess games.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 45.4%, draws 5.2% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.0%. It rests on 55K Lichess games.

What is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 46.8%, draws 7.2% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.4%. It rests on 1.8K Lichess games.

Is the King's Indian Attack: French Variation a good opening?

The King's Indian Attack: French Variation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 44.2% of its games and loses 51.7%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.