This a desperate request of help (I know it's quite a common problem)
I hate to play the french.
1.e4, e6 2.d4, d5 gives myself the creeps.
For some reason I really feel unconfortable everytime this line occurs in my games and I've achieved a really horrible score against it.
So my question to more experienced players is: how do I work this out?
Should I try some other line against 1. ... e6 (if so which line, is there a good or playable one?), or should I simply accept the fact I've got to study deeper a line I really detest?
I think it also depends on what type of game you're looking for. If you play 1. e4 because you like open, tactical games, you might consider the Alapin-Diemer Gambit (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3). It's a good way to confuse your opponents. :)
--Fromper
The first game I finished here was a French. White lost quickly--no wonder players hate the French.
Of course, this particular game again an opponent with a penchant for giving away pieces is unrepresentative.
The French immediately blunts attacks against f7, while offering many counter-attacking chances when White goes astray.
Lol. What did french people do to you?
Just joking! In fact i think Thierry Henry was the best ever player in the English premiership ( football ). And he was French.
We do hate the english
You should try the King's Indian attack...easy to learn and deter from traditionnal french positions
If what you hate the most in the french are closed pawn chains or all those deeply studied lines with ...Bb4 and Bg5, you can easily avoid them in fact still having an active position. I suppose you would like to open the position, sort of. Then you can play the exchange variation 3. ed5 ed5 with the following c4, which is quite agressive and often works decisively if black's not ready. It’s a good idea to include first 4. Nf3 and see where he puts his next piece. Advancing c4 is the best after 4. Nf3 Bd6 (which is quite a common way to play for Black). C4 is not good if he playes 4... Nc6 but then 5. Bb5 gives you a small edge. Developing your light square bishop on d3 is not a productive idea too. Then you can postpone a bit with advancing your c-pawn until you see what is better c4, or c3. Generally speaking, the exchange variation has enough poison for black, this is not a hahrmless line at all. Still you are supposed, as usual, to learn a bit of lines there until you master it to secure at least a small plus in every game.
What did you think it was?
I also practiced for years 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 inviting for 3…d4. White is better after 4. Ne2 c5 5. c3 Nc6 ( 5... d3?? 6. Nf4 c4 7. Qa4 ) Nc6?! 6. cd4 cd4 7. Qa4 Bc5 8. b4! The only disadvantage of this approach is that playing 3... Nf6 black can return to usual French lines. Anyway I would say that after 4. e5 Nfd7 ( 4... Ne4!? 5. Ne2! Ng5!? 6. Nfg1! ) 5. d4 c5 6. dc5 Bc5 7. Bd3 white is a bit better ( 7...Qb6?! 8. 0-0 Qb2? 9. Nb5! will cause a big disappointment for black)
Another good recommendation. 2. Qe2 is rich in content and without closed pawn chains.
What about 3. ... Bb4, pinning the c3 knight?
3. e5 is the Advance variation, and it's the most common line of the French at intermediate levels, so most French players know that line better than any other possible line. People play this against me all the time, thinking that because they've forced a particular variation, they're limiting my options. They're right that I don't have the choice of going into the Classical, Rubenstein, or Winawer variations, but I know this line better than any other, so I do just fine in the Advance. It's sound, but I wouldn't play it as white unless you really know what you're doing.
And one general word of advice that applies to most normal French lines (including the Advance): Never play Bb5 as white. That bishop is usually best placed at d3. Putting it on b5 gives black a reason to put his bad bishop on d7. The fact that the c8 bishop is blocked in is black's biggest weakness in the French, so by giving black a reason to put it on d7, you're giving that worthless bishop a purpose. Not only that, but this often leads to black trading his bad bishop for white's good one.
It's not pinning yet (with pawn on d2 ), but are right 3... Bb4 is another (of really many) option for black. I personally prefer 4. e5 and 5.a3 after that. However I like an immidiate 4. a3 Bc3 5. dc3 as well
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