ECO C12 · French Defense

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bc1

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

6… Ne4+0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation (C12), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bc1, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Ne4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.406… Ne4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. a3 Ba5 9. Ne2 c5 10. dxc5 Qc7 11. Qf4
  2. +0.466… Nfd7 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Nf3 c5 9. a3 Ba5 10. dxc5 Nc6 11. b4
  3. +0.966… Ng8 7. Qg4 g6 8. Bd2 h5 9. Qd1 a6 10. a3 Bf8 11. Bd3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bc1, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Ne4 for Black, continuing 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. a3 Ba5 9. Ne2 c5 10. dxc5 Qc7 11. Qf4. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 6… Nfd7 (+0.46) and 6… Ng8 (+0.96).
Is the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.40: 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, Dr. Olland 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+).