French opening

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Avrmia

I hate French opening ( e4 e6  d4 d5) . Every time I play it I get into bad positions. I cannot remember any blitz game or 1h game in which I won in French.

Can anybody suggest me anything to avoid this opening, perhaps a gambit ? I would also like to give me a link to a site or anything free where I can learn it.

PS  I am an e4 player .

Thanks

benedictus

I suggest you study the French rather than run away from it...

However, if you insist on finding an anti-French rather than going along with what you're supposed to do, maybe you could try: 1. e4 e6 2. c4. I haven't tried this out yet because I haven't analyzed it enough, but I doubt a French player will know what to do against it.

aansel

2. c4 is an interesting try. I play the Wing Gambit  2. Nf3, d5 3 e5 c5 4 b4 and have had great results over the years with it--another try is 2 .b3

benedictus

Here's my analysis so far for one variation that black might try against 2. c4

nikolinv

Try exchange variation:

French players love closed variations, you are in advantage!
Avrmia

Yes nikolinv, i was thinking at this variation too. Still, I dont really know how to develop my qeen side. I don't think is good to play Nc3 because it completely closes my Q side and the d4 pawn may become a weekness.

Would      Re1 Nbd2 Nf1 Ng3 c3 Bb2/Bf4/Bg5 b4      be a good plan ?

Or should I break the center with a move like c4 and then Nc3 ? Then Be3 and attack on the c file ?

nikolinv
Avrmia wrote:

Still, I dont really know how to develop my qeen side.


Well, you dont develop at all!!! Only king side is significant, queen side is not important. There is example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at article:

http://www.chess.com/article/view/beating-the-exchange-french

this is very good!

CarlMI

Does black play the Winawer 3. ... Bb4 or the Classical 3. ... Nf6?  If the former try 4. Ne2, Alekhine Gambit, the latter try Alekhine-Chartard Attack (4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 ...) both give attacking positions and are closer to what you want with e4.  If you cannot handle the French consider the KIA (2. d3 ...) or to be really different go for the Diemer-Duhm Gambit, 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 .... more information is given here:

(http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/doc/games/chess/ddg/)

For those advocating 2. c4 ... I refer you to:

http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1173936704.shtml

RobertPaulson13

in the c4 variton 1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.exd5 5.nf6!

CarlMI

I don't think 4... Nf6 rates an ! but white also errs in 3. cxd5.. 3. exd5 is the better move in this line.

skunkape
humm ...
benedictus

I'm currently in a game in which I used 2. c4 against the French. I'll give you the results when the game is done.

justjoshin

black's problem in the opening is his light squared bishop, as it's trapped behind the pawn wall, if you can keep it hemmed in for most of the game, you should have a better position. black will try to trade it away, or open a line for it.

i have been playing the french a bit recently as black. there are a few variations on the french, i like the classical (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 ) as white, but most seem to be using the advance variation (playing into some of blacks plans ... namely f7-6). the exchange is ok, but you are removing blacks problem for him (opening up the diagonal for his bishop).

nikolinv

@446919

look at  Joshua Waitzkin vs Aviv Friedman or even better this game in CM9000. This is Josh's words. 

CarlMI

Looks like White misplayed an exchange French rather than trying somethink new, like 2. c4 or 3. c4

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