French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
20,321 games: White 53.9% / Draw 4.4% / Black 41.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 8,6228,622 | ||
| 4,5724,572 | ||
| 3,5343,534 | ||
| 1,1201,120 | ||
| 1,0721,072 | ||
| 870870 | ||
| 140140 | ||
| 122122 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.95 White is better
Best play: 7. Qg4 Bf8 8. Nf3 c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Be2 Bc6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Tartakower 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 Nfd7 (6 moves).
In 20,321 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.9%, Black 41.7% and 4.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Qg4, in 42% of those games.
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: McCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation
The most played answer, 7. Qg4, also scores best for White: 59.8%, with White winning 57.7% and Black 38.2% of 8,622 games. Of the main answers, 7. Nf3 scores lowest: 50.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. Qg4.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation (C12)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-mccutcheon-variation-tartakower-variation