ECO C12 · French Defense

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5. e5+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation (C12), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. e5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.375. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6 9. Nf3 c5
  2. +0.115. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 Bxc3 8. Qxc3 Nc6 9. Nf3 b6
  3. −0.095. Bd3 dxe4 6. Bxe4 c5 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. e5 for White, continuing h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6 9. Nf3 c5. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 5. exd5 (+0.11) and 5. Bd3 (−0.09).
Is the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation?
C12. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).