McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation
- 1.e4e6
- 2.d4d5
- 3.Nc3Nf6
- 4.Bg5Bb4
- 5.exd5
225 games
A quiet sideline of the McCutcheon French in which White trades on d5 instead of pushing 5. e5, usually leading to a symmetrical, balanced game.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Exchange Variation
Instead of the usual 5. e5, White releases the central tension with 5. exd5. Black most often recaptures 5...exd5, which gives a symmetrical Exchange-type structure where each side pins an enemy knight. The queen recapture 5...Qxd5 is the main alternative and has scored better for Black, while 5...Bxc3+ captures on c3 first. Engines rate the position as balanced, and Lichess results are nearly even.