I find the french opening really hard to play. I always end up having my pawns overextended and vunerable.

I have tried the exchange variation, but it is boring. I found the tarasch to theoretical, and couldn't remember all the variations. i also used to play the advance, but that didn't work out, because i always overexxtended my pawns.

Are there any people who could suggest a good line of the french for white. If so, I would quite like to play a couple of games in the french against you.

Thanks, Chessy

I play the french

Dear friend,

I like the humour of the title. Currently Black attacks the pawn chain from the front with moves like...f6.So White's task has become a little more complex.So what can one do?There is an old book, Four Gambits to beat the French by T.D.Harding.Check Watson's review of the book on TWIC. If you still like it, you may borrow from the local library or buy from a second hand book shop, if it is not available. Also,visit chesspublishing.com forum.It's free.you would find like-minded friends who have more suggestions.

Best.

thanks, would anyone be able to play a few takeback games, so we could learn more about the opening.

join the french fanatics group on the site! And learn it from both sides! There are many variations in the forums in this group! I have played the french for many years and very rarely from the white side (Generally go for the exchange line).

Maybe this will help you. A good idea/plan is needed in games depending on openings, but also good play is needed to put these plans into practice! Maybe this is a problem (Im not basing this on your rating as i havent checked)

~1750.

I have already joined the groups.

What you need is an intro to the french so you can understand the positons as black and white. I think by far the best way to do this is to get a book about it that explains the ideas. Because overextending can happen in the french, but it's still a good strategy for white and you might not know how to handle white's center correctly if you get crushed. It's pretty hard not to advance the center in the french, besisdes the exchange variation, but instead of chickening out just try to understand the positions better with a book by a strong player on it. The positions in the french are actually pretty interesting but the thing is they're not so easy to understand.

I could try to explain the french as I know it pretty well, but I really think it's worth buying a book on it who could explain things much better than I could if you're struglling rather than just look only for free ways.

I see what you mean, but i could not afford to do that for the carro, the sicillian and all other openings.

1. d4 !! I never have to ever play against the french.

Play the exchange... e4 e6 d4 d5 exd5 exd5 then play c4... its  gr8

the french definitely isn't for everyone.  i played it for quite a while, and have similar feelings.  certain variations are fun, others are not lol.  it's an odd opening.  still played at the GM level, though. 

ELubas, what book would you reccomend?

skwerly, could you give a recomended line, otherwise i will go for the KIA

Well, honestly I'm not sure, because I have play the french, which gives you a full repertoire, but as it didn't explain things in too much detail I had to try to figure that stuff out on my own. But I think a "starting out" (you know what those are right?) book for the french would probably be pretty good.

And chessy, I think the french would be more important to learn against than the caro for example because of the abstract ideas. The strategy of white and black in the french is drastically different than in most openings. Most other openings are more "straightforward" to play against. I mean with the sicilian you know you'll probably be able to attack on the kingside but in the french the center is all closed and you have to worry about black's pawn breaks. Neil Mcdonald's "how to play against e4" I have read a bit that my friend has and it not only gives a repertoire but explains the moves nicely. Although that book is a little biased for the black side, it still says what white wants to do and when you know black's plans that certainly makes things easier.

you want me to get a beginngers book on the french?

If you want a sharp line against the lines of the french than 3.nc3 is your best try.

If black goes for the winawer you can go into the mainlines with Qg4 or h4 or nf3 if you want a more positional game. You could also try something like alekhine gambit.

There is also the option of playing the steiner variation with 2.c4 after 2...d5 then cxd5 exd5 Qb3 with good chances of an attack.

If the classical variation than you can choose the steinitz variation(4.e5) or go for the alekhine-chartar(this is probably spelt incorrectly) attack

You'll do fine against the french if you understand the pawn structure and timing. It is usually a good idea to launch a kingside attack after stabalising your center. (if you manage to blockade black's center after say f6 exf6 with f4 and blockading the e pawn with the knight you will usually have an edge)

I have quite a few books on the french and have played both sides of it for decades. My favorite books on the french are by Watson and a recent purchase by Moskalenko. I recommend you play 3 Nc3 and be prepared for 3...Bb4 ( winawer ) and 3... Nf6 ( classical ) as these are the two most popular moves for black.

 i know eh

d4 practically guarentees that white gets a small edge(especially in the queen's gambit/slav/semi-slav variations.

ugh. I loathe the french opening.