Tree path 9 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, Dr. Olland Variation
- Chess Codex
- French Defense C00
- Normal Variation C00
- French Defense C00
- Paulsen Variation C10
- French Defense: Classical Variation C11
- French Defense: Classical Variation C11
- French Defense: McCutcheon Variation C12
- Advance Variation C12
- French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation C12 you are here
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation
Overview
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C12.
The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.
Play reaches this position via 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bc1, after 11 plies of opening development.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation, part of the broader French Defense system.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- C12
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 11
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
17,910 games · White 53.5% / Draw 5.4% / Black 41.1%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Ne4 | 14,309 | |
| Bxc3+ | 2,289 | |
| Nfd7 | 1,259 | |
| Ng8 | 40 | |
| c5 | 8 | |
| Nh7 | 2 | |
| Bf8 | 1 | |
| g5 | 1 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:27:27
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Submissions are reviewed before publishing.