French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.exf6

ECO C12

The French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.exf6.

It is catalogued under code C12 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move exf6 is chosen by White on move 6.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the French with 3.Nc3 course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.