OK, i don't have access to my valuable hand-written old notes now to see what i have against ...g6 in the Bd2 variation but what i can say for now is that "Old-Fashioned" McCutcheon players definately preffer ...Kf8 over ...g6! At least this is what i know because the first time i ever read about this fascination line was in the translated in Greek Capablanca's "Fundamentals" book (The Greek title was "Vasikes Arhes sto Skaki"), where he states clearly that after ...g6 (which, according to him, creates weaknesses in the K-side) White will play h4 targeting the g6 square with a Bishop at d3. So, the "old-fashioned" way to play the Mac is with ...Kf8!

Against Be3 this is a different story. There ..Kf8 is considered these days "half-refuted" and the reason is given to the recent Vitiugov book.

This is a thread to discuss Playing the French, Nikos's forthcoming book for Quality Chess.  Hopefully this thread will draw the same level of interest and high quality discussion as the thread on his Tarrasch book did.

I'll start us off with a question on the McCutcheon.   In the main line with Bd2, why recommend ..Kf8 as opposed to ..g6 and, if not simply preference, is there a particular line that makes ..g6 an inferior choice?  

Thanks.