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Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal

504K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

52.1%

45%60%
Floor52.0%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 52.3%.

Measured over 504K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

A strong choice for Black at this level and clock.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 504K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
504K
Best context
57.2% at 1600-1799 Classical
Worst context
44.6% at 2500+ Blitz
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
95.7%
Draws
4.3%

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.

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: 57.6% at 0-999, 47.2% 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: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (1,016 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (878 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 56.6% expected score (365 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 40.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 42.6% expected score (12 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (3,283 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (3,249 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.9% expected score (1,075 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 40.4% expected score (14 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 63.9% expected score (31 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.4% expected score (9,354 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (10,899 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (3,017 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 72.2% expected score (82 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 60.0% expected score (64 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.5% expected score (20,045 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (27,202 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 54.3% expected score (7,444 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 58.3% expected score (344 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 60.5% expected score (56 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (29,725 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (52,625 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (13,473 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 57.2% expected score (788 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.5% expected score (41 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (36,355 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.7% expected score (74,601 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.2% expected score (17,600 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 55.1% expected score (865 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (24 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (38,300 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.8% expected score (63,314 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (12,435 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 51.2% expected score (384 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (29,905 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (30,551 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (4,068 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 44.8% expected score (66 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 48.4% expected score (8,330 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 44.6% expected score (2,352 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 45.8% expected score (166 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 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%
Analyze Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal scores 52.1% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 52.0% and 52.3% — from 504K 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
504K+ 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 Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal win rate?

Playing the Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal, Black wins 49.9%, draws 4.3% and loses 45.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.1%. It rests on 504K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal performs best for Black at 1200-1399, with an Expected Score of 53.5% (23K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For Black, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 51.8% in Blitz (266K games) against 53.1% in Rapid (60K games).

How sharp is the Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal?

The Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal has a sharpness score of 95.7 (very decisive), meaning 95.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999, Black wins 52.6%, draws 3.0% and loses 44.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.1%. It rests on 2.3K Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, Black wins 51.9%, draws 2.2% and loses 45.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.0%. It rests on 7.6K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, Black wins 52.3%, draws 2.4% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 23K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, Black wins 51.4%, draws 2.9% and loses 45.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.8%. It rests on 55K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, Black wins 50.5%, draws 3.4% and loses 46.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 97K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, Black wins 50.6%, draws 4.2% and loses 45.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.7%. It rests on 129K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, Black wins 49.5%, draws 4.9% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 114K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, Black wins 47.1%, draws 6.3% and loses 46.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 65K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

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

At 2500+, Black wins 43.7%, draws 7.7% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.6%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

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

In UltraBullet, Black wins 55.4%, draws 1.5% and loses 43.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.1%. It rests on 236 Lichess games.

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

In Bullet, Black wins 50.6%, draws 3.1% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.2%. It rests on 176K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, Black wins 49.4%, draws 4.8% and loses 45.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.8%. It rests on 266K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, Black wins 50.3%, draws 5.5% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.1%. It rests on 60K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, Black wins 52.4%, draws 6.8% and loses 40.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.8%. It rests on 2.5K Lichess games.

Is the Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal a good opening?

The Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 49.9% of its games and loses 45.8%. It performs best at 1200-1399. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.