French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Duras Variation

1.e4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 Kf8 9.Bc1

ECO C12

The French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Duras Variation is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 Kf8 9.Bc1.

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

The defining move Bc1 is chosen by White on move 9.

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.