French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation

Main line

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

1. 1.e4 What a great way to begin! The pawn marches up to e4, a light square right in the middle. Grabbing the center early gives your other pieces room to come out later. A bold, friendly first step into the game.
2. 1...e6 Black advances the pawn one square, controlling central space and preparing for future piece development.
3. 2.d4 This is a strong, principled move. By advancing your d-pawn two squares, you immediately establish a powerful pawn center with e4 and d4. This is the standard and best response against Black's French Defense (1...e6), opening lines for your pieces.
4. 2...d5 Black moves a pawn from its home square to the middle of the board. This is a strong start because it helps control the important middle squares.
5. 3.Nc3 You moved your knight from b1 to c3. This is a great developing move, bringing your knight out to help control the middle of the board!
6. 3...Nf6 Black develops the knight from g8 to f6, contesting the center and preparing for kingside castling.
7. 4.Bg5 You are moving your bishop from c1 to g5. This is a good developing move, getting a strong piece into the game.
8. 4...Bb4 Black moves their bishop from f8 to b4. This is a good developing move, getting a strong piece into the game.
9. 5.e5 Forward goes the pawn to e5, a dark square deep in Black's half. This brave pawn pushes ahead and helps you claim space in the center, which makes the board feel like your home court. Keep being adventurous!
10. 5...h6 Black moves a pawn from h7 to h6. It's a small step forward to make space for the rook or bishop later.
11. 6.Bd2 White moves their bishop from g5 back to d2. This keeps the bishop safe and ready for later moves.
12. 6...Bxc3 Black moves their bishop from b4 to c3. It takes the knight on that square! This is a good move because you remove a strong piece.

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Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Most played continuations (2000-2200 rating)

After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3:

• bxc3 — played 75.9% of the time (White wins 44.7%, draws 6.1%, Black wins 49.2%)
• Bxc3 — played 23% of the time (White wins 34.5%, draws 3.6%, Black wins 61.9%)
• exf6 — played 1.1% of the time (White wins 37.5%, draws 0%, Black wins 62.5%)

Related openings

• French Defense
• French Defense: Advance Variation
• French Defense: Winawer Variation
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation
• French Defense: Exchange Variation
• French Defense: Paulsen Variation

Frequently asked questions

Why play 4...Bb4 instead of defending the knight?

Because it changes the terms of the game. The main French lines give White a stable space advantage and Black a long, patient counterattack; the MacCutcheon forces matters immediately, and White must solve concrete problems from move five instead of building comfortably. Practically it is a way to avoid being slowly squeezed.

Who ends up with the worse structure?

Usually both, which is the point. The typical MacCutcheon position leaves each side with damaged pawns and compensating activity, so the assessment rests on piece play rather than on any structural rule of thumb. That makes it uncomfortable for opponents who navigate the French by structure alone.

Is the MacCutcheon suitable for club players?

Yes, with a caveat: it has less theory than the Winawer but demands more concrete calculation than the Classical. It suits a French player who has grown tired of defending and would rather set problems, and it is a poor fit for anyone who chose the French to keep the position under control.