Caissa Codex
C12

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation

Chess diagram: French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation after 6…Bxc3

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Statistics from Lichess

150,835 games: White 46.7% / Draw 7.0% / Black 46.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
118,558119K
31,40631K
763763
4343
2525
2323
77
44

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.53 White is slightly better

Best play: 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 Kf8 9. h4 c5 10. Bd3 Nxd2 11. Kxd2 Nc6

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

Overview

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker 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. Bd2 Bxc3 (6 moves).

In 150,835 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.7%, Black 46.3% and 7.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. bxc3, in 79% of those games.

It continues into one named variation.

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How to play against the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation

The most played answer, 7. bxc3, also scores best for White: 51.8%, with White winning 48.2% and Black 44.7% of 119K games. Of the main answers, 7. Bxc3 scores lowest: 44.3%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. bxc3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White'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)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5…h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3, the position after French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation (C12)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-mccutcheon-variation-lasker-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-mccutcheon-variation-lasker-variation