French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
16,626 games: White 45.4% / Draw 3.8% / Black 50.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 8,8818,881 | ||
| 3,9073,907 | ||
| 684684 | ||
| 644644 | ||
| 616616 | ||
| 500500 | ||
| 253253 | ||
| 210210 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
−1.17 Black is better
Best play: 2... Bxb4 3. c3 Be7 4. d4 d5 5. Nd2 c5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Ne2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit (ECO C00, Open Games) is a gambit in the French Defense, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. b4 (2 moves).
In 16,626 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.4%, Black 50.9% and 3.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 2…d5, in 53% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit, Pinova Gambit.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit
2…Bxb4 scores best for Black: 55.5%, with Black winning 53.9% and White 42.9% of 3,907 games. The most played answer, 2…d5, scores lowest: 53.4% in 8,881 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 2…Bxb4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit (C00)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-banzai-leong-gambit