I,ve almost stopped playing the French due to the stat you cited... 1 out of 10 is not the exchange var. At my level (pretty low) if my opponent wins its usually because I'm so bored I loose concentration and blunder in a position I know well.
Now... partially because of my skill level I play the Center Counter Defense ... knowing I will never reach a skill level where my opening choice will effect my rating or my ability to win a game.
@pcalugaru
By centre counter defense you mean the scandinavian? I tried that but it resembles the caro unless i play some exotic gambit. Plus i don't like moving my queen so many times.
The exchange french is a headache.
Here is an example of what I mean, I did make some blunders in this game but the basic setup is there after about move 14
Based on games of the French Defense expert GM Yury Shulman:
If your opponent plays Nf3, you play the Nge7 setup.
If he plays the Nge2 setup, you play Nf6.
I've been playing the Caro Kann for 2-3 years (not only here but on other accounts and websites) with great results. I've tried the last months to switch just for fun from the Caro to the French and every time or at least 7/10 times, I face the exchange french. It is so boring, french players how do you deal with that and what are the plans
The exchange Variation is the easiest variation of all. You are basically given a draw from the word go. 99% of players that play the Exchange are rated under 2000 over the board. The way to get a leg up on these fools is to study your minor piece endings. 95 percent of exchange French games wind up being (white listed first) N vs N, NN vs NN, BN vs NN, or NN vs BN. Master Your minor piece endings and you'll beat the exchange variation!
@Perkons22
Thanks for the answer i found some videos about it, and yeah opposite side castling seems good as the option with a quick c5 leads to isolated queen's pawn which i don't like
@A_Proud_Zionist
Thanks for the answer, i found some videos which explain that on nf3 i play ne7 etc.
@ThrillerFan
Well even in those endgames if the pawn structures are symmetrical the game is drawish, but thanks for the advice
@ThrillerFan
Well even in those endgames if the pawn structures are symmetrical the game is drawish, but thanks for the advice
If White is 1800, the chances he knows anything about endings is slim to none. Occasionally I draw those positions, but the vast majority are wins.
If a 2400 wants to play the exchange variation and draw, I have zero objection to drawing anybody 2400+.
Ju beat Firouzja with the Exchange Variation at Tata Steel Masters 2024.
@ThrillerFan
Ok thanks i will check the endgames then 😁
Ju beat Firouzja with the Exchange Variation at Tata Steel Masters 2024.
Likely Ju was going for a draw and Firouzja was trying too aggressively to win and ended up losing. It would say more in favour of the French Exchange if a high rated player used it to beat a good player that was rated a little lower than them, which is a bit ironic.
@ThrillerFan
Well even in those endgames if the pawn structures are symmetrical the game is drawish, but thanks for the advice
If White is 1800, the chances he knows anything about endings is slim to none. Occasionally I draw those positions, but the vast majority are wins.
If a 2400 wants to play the exchange variation and draw, I have zero objection to drawing anybody 2400+.
Aren't you in the 1800s yourself ThrillerFan, at least in some rating scales? Just checked the last blitz game you lost in and it was to someone rated in the 1800s, computer says you were level until the endgame where you suddenly lost an even position.
1) e4 e6 2) d4 d5 3) exd5 exd5 we have obtained a symmetrical position with for White one more tempo and IMO it is ridiculous to believe Black will play a winning position. The position is not really weaker for White than playing a Petrov Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5) but if in the Petrov Defense Black seeks to win at all costs, "Black especially risks losing".
In short If our opponent is much weaker than us we'll play "wilder variants" like 3)...c5 or a variant with an o-o-o but if he's of the same strength or more we have to take him seriously and not venture into "doubtful variations", he has White in an equal position with one more tempo it's up to him to do the job at some point because "we're not going to cry" if the game ends in a draw.
4) Nc3 the real variant which poses problems for us (and which is notably played by the bot Josh 12 years old from the chessmaster program) is 4) c4 4)...Nf6 5) Nf3 Bb4 it's a transposition of 1) e4 e6 2) d4 d5 3) Nc3 Bb4 4) exd5 exd5 5) Nf3 Nf6 6) Be2 if 6) Bd3 Qe7+ can annoy 6)...Ne4 if it continues with 7) a3 Nxc3 and for ex. 8) Qd2 Nxe2 9) axb4 Nxc1 7) o-o if 7) Bd2 Nxd2 and Black will play an open position with Bishop's pair 7)...Nxc3 8) bxc3 Bxc3 9) Rb1 o-o Black will play a position with one more pawn, the opening is not a bad point for Black but obviously if White is strong "nothing will be easy or simple".
I've been playing the Caro Kann for 2-3 years (not only here but on other accounts and websites) with great results. I've tried the last months to switch just for fun from the Caro to the French and every time or at least 7/10 times, I face the exchange french. It is so boring, french players how do you deal with that and what are the plans