@Beakois
Watson's was by Cadogan Chess no?And yes Quality Chess books are awesome!
Which french defense book to buy?
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Thanks for the feedback!I think ill get the Moskalenko book...The Watson book has the advantage of tackling many lesser known lines,but there are 144 pages of the Winawer i dont think i will use,whereas the Moskalenko book focuses more on the Steinitz.
How To Play Against E4 by Neil Mc Donald. It's a french defense book. The book explains well the logical ideas behind the moves and provide good lines.
If you prefer to play the classical, then the books on the French by Lev Psakhis will serve you better than anything by John Watson.
I have books on the French by Watson , Suetin , Psakhis , Moskalenko , Uhlmann and likely one or two that slips my mind at the moment . I like the books by Watson and Moskalenko best . The lay out of the Psakhis book is awful and really hard to follow , especially compared to the others I mention . Uhlmann's book is more a collection of some of his best games and doesnt have the same text/instruction the others have but is very useful for any serious french devotee . The split between classical and winawer players hits me directly as my wife only plays the classical and I prefer the Winawer as black but do sometimes play the classical due to my work with her on it .... 
She says the Winawer is " too wild " for her and yet she likes to play the BDG as white ! Go figure !
Are there any books that give a good explanation and plan for Black in the Exchange French?
Most of the books and videos I have seen are kind of vague about specific plans and a concrete idea or strategy for the Exchange.
... the books on the French by Lev Psakhis ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626165904/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen55.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627101954/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen59.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627111552/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen69.pdf
How To Play Against E4 by Neil Mc Donald ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626174056/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen120.pdf
- Bump -
So, does anyone know of a book or video where they explain the Exchange French well with a distinct positional or move plan?
Don't get me wrong, I do know of Watson and most all the others saying that if, for example, White plays, 3. Nf3 they suggest something like 3. ...,Bd6.
That's not what I mean. What I mean is where they discuss where the pieces should be placed and some ideas of that plan.
Reb wrote:
I have books on the French by Watson , Suetin , Psakhis , Moskalenko , Uhlmann and likely one or two that slips my mind at the moment . I like the books by Watson and Moskalenko best . The lay out of the Psakhis book is awful and really hard to follow , especially compared to the others I mention . Uhlmann's book is more a collection of some of his best games and doesnt have the same text/instruction the others have but is very useful for any serious french devotee . The split between classical and winawer players hits me directly as my wife only plays the classical and I prefer the Winawer as black but do sometimes play the classical due to my work with her on it .... She says the Winawer is " too wild " for her and yet she likes to play the BDG as white ! Go figure !
I don't have Uhlmann's, but have books by the others and a few more. I agree that Psakhis's books are not well laid out. I like Watson's style, but his text is less helpful for those playing the Classical.
Moskalenko is excellent and has helped revive my interest in the MacCutcheon.
@Eyechess Im sure any goodfrench opening book has a french exchange repertoire(10-15 pages),there is just not enough theory worth studying in it.
Eyechess wrote:
Are there any books that give a good explanation and plan for Black in the Exchange French?
Most of the books and videos I have seen are kind of vague about specific plans and a concrete idea or strategy for the Exchange.
Yeah I think the reason they are vague is because they don't consider it very serious compared to other white responses.
I ended up learning how to play the Exchange French for the Black side by watching and reading idea's used on the white side lol.
Yeah I believe they give a lot more plans and idea's on the white side of the Exchange French.
Once you understand whites idea's and plans.
Usually you try to prevent them or give them problems with there plans on black side lol.
If I remember correctly white trys to have a plan of putting a knight on e5.
Which in some cases I have played the move f6 as black. Stopping that plan and than developed my knight to e7 square.
Obviously you want your dark bishop off f8 before you play Ne7.
I guess this is some vague idea's. However, yeah I haven't seen alot of Exchange Variation idea's for black either.
The position is symmetrical.
Which is a huge relief.
As long as you don't go crazy you should be some ok.
Eyechess wrote:
Are there any books that give a good explanation and plan for Black in the Exchange French?
Most of the books and videos I have seen are kind of vague about specific plans and a concrete idea or strategy for the Exchange.
Moskalenko's book does this.
Ziryab wrote:
Eyechess wrote:
Are there any books that give a good explanation and plan for Black in the Exchange French?
Most of the books and videos I have seen are kind of vague about specific plans and a concrete idea or strategy for the Exchange.
Moskalenko's book does this.
Is his coverage vague? or does he give idea's and plans for black?
X_PLAYER_J_X wrote:
Ziryab wrote:
Eyechess wrote:
Are there any books that give a good explanation and plan for Black in the Exchange French?
Most of the books and videos I have seen are kind of vague about specific plans and a concrete idea or strategy for the Exchange.
Moskalenko's book does this.
Is his coverage vague? or does he give idea's and plans for black?
Concrete.
Ideas, yes. Idea's, no.
I have also noted that the exchange french gets little coverage in my french books and Moskalenko gives it more than other authors that I have . There are some recent new books out on the french though that I know nothing about , one by Vatiuagov ? ( spelling ? )
Eyechess wrote:
Are there any books that give a good explanation and plan for Black in the Exchange French?
Most of the books and videos I have seen are kind of vague about specific plans and a concrete idea or strategy for the Exchange.
Try the Move By Move series. I know they have The Classical French: Move by Move (Everyman Chess). No idea what it covers if anything beyond the classical.
The French Defence Reloaded by Nikita Vitiugov
http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/2012/3/19/a-review-of-nikita-vitiugovs-the-french-defense-reloaded.html
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The french is my favourite opening,but I havent really studied a lot of theory in it.I have seen 3 books that have caught my eye and I'm pretty torn about which one to buy
1.Playing the French by Jacob Aagaard and Ntirlis
2.The Even More Flexible French by Viktor Moskalenko
3.Play the French 4th edition by John Watson
I prefer to play the Classical French(3.Nf6) compared to the Winawer and I'm fine with either the McCutcheon or the Classical Variation against 4.Bg5.Against the Tarrasch i have no preference between 3.Nf6 and 3.c5.
Im around 1750 FIDE i believe(1958 classical on lichess.org).