French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C12, part of the French Defense family. It goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e6. After 11 moves it is Black to move. After the last move White is 3 points ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
2. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
2... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
3. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
3... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
4. Bg5 – White plays the bishop to g5
4... Bb4 – Black plays the bishop to b4
5. e5 – White plays the pawn to e5
5... h6 – Black plays the pawn to h6
6. exf6 – White captures on f6 with the e-pawn
About the French Defense
Black answers 1.e4 with 1...e6 and then ...d5, attacking White's centre. Black accepts a little less space for a very solid position.
If White plays e5, pawn chains form: White attacks on the kingside, Black on the queenside.
Black hits the chain at its base with ...c5 and adds pressure with ...Nc6 and ...Qb6.
The light-squared bishop on c8 is often passive; Black may trade it or free it with ...b6 and ...Ba6.
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