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Sicilian Defense: French Variation

7.1M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score50.7%Range (90% confident): 50.7% – 50.7%Based on 7.1M games
0%50.7%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.7% – 50.7%
Outcome Distribution
48.9%3.6%47.5%
Win
Draw
Loss
2...e6
Sicilian Defense: French Variation
Analyzen=7.1M
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.6%

What is the Sicilian Defense: French Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 50.7% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 50.7% and 50.7%), based on 7.1M Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

How to Beat This (Move 3)

Best: 3...Qc7 · Black wins: 52.7% · n=2.3M

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 53% → 41%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 52.6% win rate (160,738 games)
  • 1000-1199: 50.9% win rate (461,270 games)
  • 1200-1399: 50.3% win rate (968,003 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.0% win rate (1,449,457 games)
  • 1600-1799: 49.0% win rate (1,584,520 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.1% win rate (1,297,039 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.7% win rate (717,113 games)
  • 2200-2499: 44.2% win rate (366,106 games)
  • 2500+: 40.9% win rate (61,242 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (53%), worst in Blitz (48%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 53.0% win rate (17,875 games)
  • Bullet: 49.7% win rate (2,587,876 games)
  • Blitz: 48.3% win rate (3,550,696 games)
  • Rapid: 48.6% win rate (879,059 games)
  • Classical: 50.5% win rate (29,982 games)

Black% 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: 57.6% expected score (509 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 54.9% expected score (68,963 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (70,313 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 53.9% expected score (20,791 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 55.8% expected score (162 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.6% expected score (1,690 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (185,547 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (217,005 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.9% expected score (56,307 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 58.1% expected score (721 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 55.8% expected score (3,695 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (334,546 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (498,751 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (128,097 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.2% expected score (2,914 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 57.6% expected score (5,127 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.1% expected score (469,062 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (757,973 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (208,881 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 55.6% expected score (8,414 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.3% expected score (4,017 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (517,748 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.6% expected score (821,810 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (229,946 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 53.0% expected score (10,999 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 48.0% expected score (2,142 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (466,723 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (658,995 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (163,933 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 51.7% expected score (5,246 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 47.8% expected score (550 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (305,224 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (353,300 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 49.2% expected score (56,784 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 47.2% expected score (1,255 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 44.4% expected score (141 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (196,090 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.0% expected score (155,992 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 44.8% expected score (13,636 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 41.4% expected score (247 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.6% expected score (43,973 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.9% expected score (16,557 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 38.1% expected score (684 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 38.2% expected score (24 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Sicilian Defense
48.5%
Variations (5)
Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack
47.2%
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian
48.5%
Sicilian Defense: Closed
49.8%
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
50.2%
Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack
48.6%
Continuations (3)
Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open
48.1%
Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal
45.8%
Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Westerinen Attack
48.3%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: French Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: French Variation win rate?

The Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.5%-47.5%) win rate for white, based on 7.1M rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: French Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 51.9% win rate for white (61K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (47.8%) outperforms Classical (43.7%) by 4.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: French Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a sharpness score of 96.4 (very decisive), meaning 96.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 44.9% (90% CI: 44.7%-45.1%) win rate for white, based on 161K Lichess games. Average game length is 26 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 46.6% (90% CI: 46.5%-46.7%) win rate for white, based on 461K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.0%) win rate for white, based on 968K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.8% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.0%) win rate for white, based on 1.4M Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.1% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 47.4% (90% CI: 47.3%-47.5%) win rate for white, based on 1.6M Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 47.8%-47.9%) win rate for white, based on 1.3M Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 717K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 50.2% (90% CI: 50.1%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 366K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.5% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 51.9% (90% CI: 51.6%-52.3%) win rate for white, based on 61K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 7.1% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 45.8% (90% CI: 45.1%-46.4%) win rate for white (18K Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.2%.

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

In Bullet games, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 47.8%-47.9%) win rate for white (2.6M Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.5%.

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

In Blitz games, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.5%-47.6%) win rate for white (3.6M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.1%.

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

In Rapid games, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 46.7% (90% CI: 46.6%-46.8%) win rate for white (879K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.7%.

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

In Classical games, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 43.7% (90% CI: 43.3%-44.2%) win rate for white (30K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

Is the Sicilian Defense: French Variation a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: French Variation is statistically balanced with a 47.5% (90% CI: 47.5%-47.5%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.