C12 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation
9/9
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Nf64.Bg5Bb45.exd5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation20k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
47%9.3k46%
33%6.6k50%
10%2.1k46%
4%78445%
3.6%71349%
1%19546%
0.3%6536%
0.2%3147%
0.1%1622%
0.1%1443%
Famous games in this line406 master games
Shirov, Alexei (2755) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2751)Firouzja, Alireza (2751) – Praggnanandhaa, R. (2749)Feygin, Michael (2546) – Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2696)Magem Badals, Jordi (2570) – Glek, Igor V (2670)Baklan, Vladimir (2614) – Radjabov, Teimour (2618)Kasimdzhanov, Rustam (2664) – Glek, Igor V (2566)Smeets, J. (2617) – Buhmann, R. (2612)Sokolov, Andrei (2580) – Kortschnoj, Viktor (2647)- Family
- French Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C12
- Line
- 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5
Keep exploring
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From the archives
In 1834 the city of Paris beat the city of London in a correspondence match opening with 1...e6, and the defense has carried the name ever since. Botvinnik and Korchnoi built careers on its cramped-then-counterpunch character: concede space, then break with ...c5 or ...f6 at the right moment.
Study this opening