Library/Openings/French Defense/McCutcheon Variation/Chigorin Variation ECO C12
Opening· 11 plies

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C12), reached after 11 half-moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6.

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation ECO C12
87654321
abcdefgh
Black rook
Black knight
Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
White pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
White bishop
Black bishop
White pawn
White knight
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White queen
White king
White bishop
White knight
White rook
11/11
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
  11. 6.
Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C12. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 11 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6.

It belongs to the French Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the McCutcheon Variation → Chigorin Variation line). The immediate parent line is French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, transitioned via 6.exf6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bg5 Bb4, 5.e5 h6, 6.exf6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.