The MacCutcheon Variation is one of the sharpest and most exciting variations in the French. In this variation, the second player ignores White’s threat of e4-e5 and instead plays 4… Bb4. The mainline continues: 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4. At this point, Black may play 8…g6, which weakens the kingside dark squares but keeps the option of castling queenside, or 8…Kf8.
The MacCutcheon Variation is one of the sharpest and most exciting variations in the French. In this variation, the second player ignores White’s threat of e4-e5 and instead plays 4… Bb4. The mainline continues: 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4. At this point, Black may play 8…g6, which weakens the kingside dark squares but keeps the option of castling queenside, or 8…Kf8. The MacCutcheon Variation is named for John Lindsay MacCutcheon of Philadelphia (1857–1905), who brought the variation to public attention when he used it to defeat the World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz in a simultaneous exhibition in Manhattan, New York is held in 1885. Here Bryan shows you have to execute the MacCutcheon and deal with the various variations that arise.
Content: 120 minutes of instruction and analysis in a series of 6 lectures. PGN Included.
Recommended for: Intermediate Players.
Users rated this series: 4.08 out of 5
GM Bryan Smith grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and currently splits his time between Novi Sad, Serbia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Some of his accomplishments include first place in the 2008 National Chess Congress, 2009 National Chess Congress, 2010 Philadelphia International, and 2011 Limpedea Cup. He was on the national champion UMBC chess team from 1999 to 2001 and became a GM in 2013. Bryan is the first-ever Grandmaster from Alaska!
VOLUME I
- Part I
Belavenets vs. Chistiakov
Run Time: 00:39:41 - Part II
Brendel vs Glek
Run Time: 00:20:40 - Part III
Belov vs. Alavkin
Run Time: 00:54:48
VOLUME II
- Part IV
Stukopin vs. Nakamura
Run Time: 00:33:56 - Part V
Hungaski Smith
Run Time: 00:31:16 - Part VI
de Firmian vs. Nakamura
Run Time: 00:47:20
