Theoria
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French Defense

McCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation

C12tacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nc3Nf6
  4. 4.Bg5Bb4
  5. 5.e5h6
  6. 6.exf6hxg5
  7. 7.fxg7Rg8
  8. 8.h4gxh4
  9. 9.Qg4
39 games46%18%36%

A sharp McCutcheon French line in which White gives up the g5-bishop, then plays 8. h4 and 9. Qg4 to support the advanced pawn on g7.

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About the Grigoriev Variation

The Grigoriev Variation extends the forcing 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 line of the McCutcheon with 8. h4, opening the h-file at once, and after 8...gxh4 9. Qg4 the queen eyes the h4-pawn and backs up the pawn on g7. Material is level, White's g-pawns are doubled and Black's h-pawn is isolated. Black almost always continues 9...Qf6, and engines rate the position as balanced. It is rarely played.

Popular continuations