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Sicilian Defense: French Variation

7.1M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score49.3%Range (90% confident): 49.3% – 49.4%Based on 7.1M games
0%49.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 49.3% – 49.4%
Outcome Distribution
47.5%3.6%48.9%
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 White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Sicilian Defense: French Variation has a 49.3% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 49.3% and 49.4%), based on 7.1M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 45% → 52%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 44.9% win rate (160,738 games)
  • 1000-1199: 46.6% win rate (461,270 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.9% win rate (968,003 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.9% win rate (1,449,457 games)
  • 1600-1799: 47.4% win rate (1,584,520 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.8% win rate (1,297,039 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.6% win rate (717,113 games)
  • 2200-2499: 50.2% win rate (366,106 games)
  • 2500+: 51.9% win rate (61,242 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (48%), worst in Classical (44%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 45.8% win rate (17,875 games)
  • Bullet: 47.8% win rate (2,587,876 games)
  • Blitz: 47.5% win rate (3,550,696 games)
  • Rapid: 46.7% win rate (879,059 games)
  • Classical: 43.7% win rate (29,982 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: 42.5% expected score (509 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 45.2% expected score (68,963 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (70,313 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 46.1% expected score (20,791 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 44.2% expected score (162 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.4% expected score (1,690 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (185,547 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.4% expected score (217,005 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.2% expected score (56,307 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 41.9% expected score (721 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 44.2% expected score (3,695 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (334,546 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.7% expected score (498,751 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (128,097 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 45.9% expected score (2,914 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (5,127 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (469,062 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (757,973 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (208,881 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 44.4% expected score (8,414 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.7% expected score (4,017 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (517,748 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.5% expected score (821,810 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (229,946 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 47.1% expected score (10,999 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 52.1% expected score (2,142 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (466,723 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (658,995 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (163,933 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 48.4% expected score (5,246 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 52.3% expected score (550 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (305,224 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (353,300 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (56,784 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 52.9% expected score (1,255 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 55.6% expected score (141 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (196,090 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (155,992 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.3% expected score (13,636 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 58.7% expected score (247 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.5% expected score (43,973 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 58.2% expected score (16,557 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 62.0% expected score (684 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 61.8% expected score (24 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Sicilian Defense
48.5%
Variations (5)
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon
45.7%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Exchange Variation
45.8%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind
48.8%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Breyer Variation
43.7%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Gurgenidze Variation
44.6%
Continuations (3)
Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal
45.8%
Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open
48.1%
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.