C12

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation

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Statistics from Lichess

132,020 games: White 42.1% / Draw 5.8% / Black 52.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next move	Games	White / Draw / BlackW / D / B
	129,591130K
	1,2541,254
	1,0771,077
	8585
	77
	44
	11
	11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.21 The position is about equal

Best play: 6... hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8. a3 Bd6 9. h4 gxh4 10. Qh5 Qf6 11. Nb5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation (ECO C12, Open Games) is a variation of the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 (6 moves).

In 132,020 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.1%, Black 52.1% and 5.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…hxg5, in 98% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation.

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Description

Variations (1)

C12 McCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation 6…hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8. h4 gxh4 9. Qg4

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation (C12)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-mccutcheon-variation-chigorin-variation