The McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation is a variation of the French Defense, catalogued as ECO C12. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and d5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after five moves. White has doubled pawns on the d-file.
On the French Defense generally: A solid defense where Black builds a strong pawn chain. Leads to strategic middlegames with clear plans.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
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The McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C12.
The McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation is ECO C12. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the French Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 at +0.10 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and d5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. White has doubled pawns on the d-file.