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Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor

41K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score57.0%Range (90% confident): 56.6% – 57.4%Based on 41K games
0%57.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 56.6% – 57.4%
Outcome Distribution
55.3%3.3%41.4%
Win
Draw
Loss
4.f4
Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor
Analyzen=41K
Avg Length32 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.3%

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 57.0% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 56.6% and 57.4%), based on 41K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 10.6% · Classical best · Blitz worst

White Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~56%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 56.1% win rate (192 games)
  • 1000-1199: 57.6% win rate (720 games)
  • 1200-1399: 54.7% win rate (1,781 games)
  • 1400-1599: 54.4% win rate (4,214 games)
  • 1600-1799: 54.1% win rate (8,056 games)
  • 1800-1999: 54.9% win rate (11,584 games)
  • 2000-2199: 54.8% win rate (9,165 games)
  • 2200-2499: 59.9% win rate (4,559 games)
  • 2500+: 57.6% win rate (788 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (66%), worst in Blitz (55%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 57.3% win rate (36 games)
  • Bullet: 55.1% win rate (14,183 games)
  • Blitz: 55.1% win rate (21,761 games)
  • Rapid: 56.4% win rate (4,856 games)
  • Classical: 65.7% win rate (223 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, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 52.1% expected score (71 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 59.2% expected score (97 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 62.3% expected score (23 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 58.2% expected score (298 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 55.0% expected score (328 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 71.4% expected score (92 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 53.6% expected score (727 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 56.0% expected score (837 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 60.5% expected score (208 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 71.1% expected score (8 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (1,318 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 56.8% expected score (2,372 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 58.2% expected score (495 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 78.9% expected score (21 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 53.9% expected score (2,302 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 56.4% expected score (4,623 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 55.3% expected score (1,057 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 59.9% expected score (69 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 58.7% expected score (10 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 55.7% expected score (3,052 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 56.4% expected score (6,918 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 57.8% expected score (1,514 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 73.5% expected score (90 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 56.8% expected score (3,044 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 56.3% expected score (4,872 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 59.5% expected score (1,211 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 60.7% expected score (36 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 60.2% expected score (2,644 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 63.4% expected score (1,660 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 67.1% expected score (250 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 59.3% expected score (727 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 64.5% expected score (54 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 90.0% expected score (6 games)

Related Openings

Variations (4)
Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor, Lion's Cave
49.0%
Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor, Lion's Cave, Lion Claw Gambit
39.8%
Lion Defense: Bayonet Attack
56.6%
Lion Defense: Lion's Jaw
48.0%
Continuations (2)
Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor, Lion's Cave
49.0%
Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor, Lion's Cave, Lion Claw Gambit
39.8%
Analyze Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate?

The Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 55.3% (90% CI: 54.9%-55.7%) win rate for white, based on 41K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor perform best?

The Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor performs best at 2200-2499 Elo with a 59.9% win rate for white (4.6K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (65.7%) outperforms Bullet (55.1%) by 10.6%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor?

The Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a sharpness score of 96.7 (very decisive), meaning 96.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 56.1% (90% CI: 50.2%-61.9%) win rate for white, based on 192 Lichess games. Average game length is 25 moves with a 2.3% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 57.6% (90% CI: 54.6%-60.6%) win rate for white, based on 720 Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 1.5% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 54.7% (90% CI: 52.7%-56.6%) win rate for white, based on 1.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 1.8% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 54.4% (90% CI: 53.1%-55.6%) win rate for white, based on 4.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 54.1% (90% CI: 53.2%-55.0%) win rate for white, based on 8.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 54.9% (90% CI: 54.1%-55.6%) win rate for white, based on 12K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 54.8% (90% CI: 54.0%-55.7%) win rate for white, based on 9.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 59.9% (90% CI: 58.7%-61.1%) win rate for white, based on 4.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 57.6% (90% CI: 54.7%-60.4%) win rate for white, based on 788 Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 55.1% (90% CI: 54.4%-55.8%) win rate for white (14K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.3%.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 55.1% (90% CI: 54.6%-55.7%) win rate for white (22K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 56.4% (90% CI: 55.3%-57.6%) win rate for white (4.9K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.4%.

What is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor has a 65.7% (90% CI: 60.4%-70.8%) win rate for white (223 Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.6%.

Is the Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor a good opening?

The Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor is statistically favors white with a 55.3% (90% CI: 54.9%-55.7%) 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.