ECO C12 · French Defense

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bogoljubow Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 Qa5

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

8. Nge2+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bogoljubow Variation (C12), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Nge2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.368. Nge2 Bd7 9. O-O-O Nc6 10. a3 Bd6 11. d5 Ne5 12. Nd4 O-O-O
  2. +0.028. Bd3 Bd7 9. Nge2 Bc6 10. O-O Nd7 11. a3 Rg8 12. f3 Bd6
  3. −0.088. a3 Bxc3 9. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 10. bxc3 Ke7 11. Bd3 Rg8 12. g3 f5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bogoljubow Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Nge2 for White, continuing Bd7 9. O-O-O Nc6 10. a3 Bd6 11. d5 Ne5 12. Nd4 O-O-O. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 8. Bd3 (+0.02) and 8. a3 (−0.08).
Is the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bogoljubow Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.36: 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, Bogoljubow 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+).