Tree path 8 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation › French Defense: McCutcheon Variation › Advance Variation
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation
Overview
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation (ECO C12) is a variation of French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 — 5 moves.
In 424,144 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.6%, Black 47.4% and 6.0% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…h6, in 96% of those games.
It branches into 6 named variations; the most played are French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation and French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation. In all, 8 named lines continue from it.
- ECO code
- C12
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Length
- 5 moves
- Direct variations
- 6
- Total in subtree
- 8
Generated from the data: the Lichess opening list and opening explorer. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
424,144 games · White 46.6% / Draw 6.0% / Black 47.4%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| h6 | 407,164 | |
| Bxc3+ | 14,760 | |
| Ne4 | 526 | |
| Nbd7 | 352 | |
| c5 | 286 | |
| h5 | 275 | |
| Be7 | 207 | |
| Nc6 | 196 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:01:21
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Variations (6)
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Janowski Variation
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation
Show all 8 sub-variations (full subtree)
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation 6 moves
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation 6 moves
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation 6 moves
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Janowski Variation 6 moves
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation 6 moves
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation 6 moves
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation 9 moves
- C12 French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation 8 moves