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French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation

12K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

No move sequence recorded for this opening

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

49.4%

45%55%
Floor48.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 50.2%.

Measured over 12K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.6 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 12K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
12K
Best context
53.8% at 2000-2199 Bullet
Worst context
46.8% at 1600-1799 Blitz
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
95.4%
Draws
4.6%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It holds about the same all the way up, near 50.7%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999——
1000-1199—
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+———

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 44.4% expected score (34 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (169 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 53.5% expected score (142 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 55.5% expected score (54 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (249 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 46.6% expected score (159 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (3 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 44.0% expected score (73 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (299 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.4% expected score (248 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.9% expected score (122 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (367 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.8% expected score (193 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 53.5% expected score (13 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (277 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (512 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (179 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 55.7% expected score (16 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 48.2% expected score (647 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.4% expected score (1,387 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.7% expected score (204 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 41.3% expected score (10 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 53.8% expected score (927 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (2,436 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (252 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 65.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (1,368 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (1,215 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.9% expected score (93 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (351 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (115 games)

Related Openings

Parent
French Defense
45.7%
Variations (5)
French Defense: Knight Variation
48.3%
French Defense: Exchange Variation
47.7%
French Defense: Normal Variation
50.3%
French Defense: Advance Variation
48.0%
French Defense: Queen's Knight
48.5%
Continuations (10)
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation
47.7%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation
42.7%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation
55.0%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation
45.8%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Wolf Gambit
50.0%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation
48.8%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Janowski Variation
53.7%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation
52.0%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation
51.8%
French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation
49.5%

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation scores 49.4% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 48.7% and 50.2% — from 12K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
12K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate?

Playing the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation, White wins 47.1%, draws 4.6% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.4%. It rests on 12K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation perform best?

The French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation performs best for White at 1400-1599, with an Expected Score of 51.8% (696 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 48.9% in Blitz (6.7K games) against 49.8% in Rapid (1.5K games).

How sharp is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation?

The French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation has a sharpness score of 95.4 (very decisive), meaning 95.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 50.4%, draws 5.1% and loses 44.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 345 Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 47.7%, draws 2.9% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 465 Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 47.1%, draws 4.2% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 632 Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 49.5%, draws 4.5% and loses 45.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.8%. It rests on 696 Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 46.9%, draws 3.4% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.6%. It rests on 989 Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 46.0%, draws 3.9% and loses 50.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.0%. It rests on 2.2K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 47.0%, draws 4.9% and loses 48.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.5%. It rests on 3.6K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 47.1%, draws 5.2% and loses 47.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.7%. It rests on 2.7K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 47.4%, draws 7.6% and loses 45.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.2%. It rests on 466 Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 48.6%, draws 3.4% and loses 48.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 3.9K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 46.2%, draws 5.3% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.9%. It rests on 6.7K Lichess games.

What is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 47.5%, draws 4.7% and loses 47.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.8%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games.

Is the French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: MacCutcheon Variation is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 47.1% of its games and loses 48.3%. It performs best at 1400-1599. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.