The McCutcheon Variation, Lasker 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. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e5, Black on d5). Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move after eight moves. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s a-file pawn is isolated; White has the bishop pair.
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.
See all 115 French Defense variations →
The McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C12.
The McCutcheon Variation, Lasker 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. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6 at +0.41 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e5, Black on d5). Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s a-file pawn is isolated; White has the bishop pair.