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French Defense: McCutcheon Variation

3.0K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
Black Expected Score50.4%Range (90% confident): 48.9% – 51.9%Based on 3.0K games
0%50.4%100%
Range (90% confident): 48.9% – 51.9%
Outcome Distribution
48.2%4.5%47.4%
Win
Draw
Loss
4...Bb4
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation
Analyzen=3.0K
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.5%

What is the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation expected score for Black?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 50.4% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 48.9% and 51.9%), based on 3.0K Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 57% → 47%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 57.4% win rate (90 games)
  • 1000-1199: 40.9% win rate (100 games)
  • 1200-1399: 44.3% win rate (160 games)
  • 1400-1599: 49.6% win rate (169 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.3% win rate (280 games)
  • 1800-1999: 47.6% win rate (523 games)
  • 2000-2199: 51.0% win rate (885 games)
  • 2200-2499: 44.3% win rate (650 games)
  • 2500+: 46.6% win rate (122 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in Blitz (49%), worst in UltraBullet (20%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 20.0% win rate (1 games)
  • Bullet: 46.9% win rate (900 games)
  • Blitz: 49.0% win rate (1,707 games)
  • Rapid: 48.1% win rate (355 games)
  • Classical: 37.1% win rate (16 games)

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

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: 59.6% expected score (9 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 56.4% expected score (53 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 63.6% expected score (28 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 24.4% expected score (18 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 36.1% expected score (38 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 55.8% expected score (42 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 64.6% expected score (26 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (71 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 40.9% expected score (59 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 13.7% expected score (4 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 42.5% expected score (25 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 54.0% expected score (86 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (53 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 53.1% expected score (64 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (163 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 43.4% expected score (51 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (135 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (341 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 42.4% expected score (44 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (211 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (619 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 62.7% expected score (54 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 45.5% expected score (308 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (318 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 44.2% expected score (24 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.7% expected score (104 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (18 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: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation
47.7%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation
43.0%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation
54.8%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Wolf Gambit
49.7%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation
45.9%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation
49.7%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Janowski Variation
53.4%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Tartakower Variation
51.0%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation
52.9%
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation
45.2%
Analyze French Defense: McCutcheon Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation win rate?

The French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 47.4% (90% CI: 45.9%-48.9%) win rate for white, based on 3.0K rated games from Lichess.

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

The French Defense: McCutcheon Variation performs best at 1000-1199 Elo with a 56.7% win rate for white (100 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (49.4%) outperforms Rapid (47.5%) by 1.9%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation?

The French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 56.7% (90% CI: 48.5%-64.6%) win rate for white, based on 100 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 50.5% (90% CI: 44.0%-56.9%) win rate for white, based on 160 Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 5.3% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 39.2%-51.7%) win rate for white, based on 169 Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 5.0% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 47.1% (90% CI: 42.2%-52.0%) win rate for white, based on 280 Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 43.2%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 523 Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 42.8%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 885 Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 48.9% (90% CI: 45.7%-52.1%) win rate for white, based on 650 Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 6.8% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 51.4% (90% CI: 44.0%-58.8%) win rate for white, based on 122 Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 2.0% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 49.4% (90% CI: 46.7%-52.2%) win rate for white (900 Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.7%.

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

In Blitz games, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 46.1% (90% CI: 44.1%-48.1%) win rate for white (1.7K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.9%.

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

In Rapid games, the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation has a 47.5% (90% CI: 43.2%-51.9%) win rate for white (355 Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.3%.

Is the French Defense: McCutcheon Variation a good opening?

The French Defense: McCutcheon Variation is statistically balanced with a 47.4% (90% CI: 45.9%-48.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1000-1199 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.