I like to play attacking/tactical style games, and strangely also positional games if it presents itself.  I am actually a pretty strong player.  Have been told probably about 17-1800 player.  But, I really have no sound opening reportoire for white(other than if the other player happens to play sicilian).  But, the french is the only opening that really gives me problems.  So what are some resources or opening lines that I might look into studying? 

 

Thanks for any help. 

I love playing against the French. It strongpoints f7 but blocks in the QB. Handled by an expert of course, it's solid. The way I play it is the Tarrasch Variation. Although this applies a positional approach early on, it avoids the Winawer and Classical variations. Because I am aggressive, I tend to play an early f4 and look for direct mating attacks in the middle game. It is the opening to play bishop sacrifices against, so if you like tactics, you should get great results.

Yes, that does help and sounds very suitable.    thank you for the suggestion. 

I know of a 15-minute tutorial on the French & Sicilian Defenses. That should give you some idea what your options are and how to play it.

nice

gpoo

alexa wrote: gpoo

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gooloo!!

3. nc3 is the theoretically the most critical test of the french.  I would suggest either that or the tarrasch as described above.

Against the french, I like to blitz them with my pawns!

It worked for the Germans. 

erikido23 wrote:

"I like to play attacking/tactical style games, and strangely also positional games if it presents itself."

So you're saying you good at all kinds of chess as most games will usually fall into one of these two categories

  I am actually a pretty strong player. 

Well Done! 

 Have been told probably about 17-1800 player.  But, I really have no sound opening reportoire for white(other than if the other player happens to play sicilian). 

So you're really good even without knowing any book openings, you must be amazing!! 

 But, the french is the only opening that really gives me problems.

But hang on, the french is the ONLY opening that really troubles you?  You can play effectively against ANY other defense?? Your thematic chess knowledge must be awesome...... 

  So what are some resources or opening lines that I might look into studying? 

 

Thanks for any help. 

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Gestalt wrote: erikido23 wrote:

"I like to play attacking/tactical style games, and strangely also positional games if it presents itself."

So you're saying you good at all kinds of chess as most games will usually fall into one of these two categories

  I am actually a pretty strong player. 

Well Done! 

 Have been told probably about 17-1800 player.  But, I really have no sound opening reportoire for white(other than if the other player happens to play sicilian). 

So you're really good even without knowing any book openings, you must be amazing!! 

 But, the french is the only opening that really gives me problems.

But hang on, the french is the ONLY opening that really troubles you?  You can play effectively against ANY other defense?? Your thematic chess knowledge must be awesome...... 

  So what are some resources or opening lines that I might look into studying? 

 

Thanks for any help. 

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I said thanks for any help.  So no thanks to you for your uselessness

Don't mind Thomas aka Gestalty. He's only a 1500 player at best which makes his contribution even less worthy of answering. But just in case he really wants to know what opening to use I'd suggest the big one on the front of his face by sticking a sock in it. Most chess players aren't as unruly as he is. I think that the suggestions by mxdplay4 are good.

ChessDweeb wrote: Don't mind Thomas aka Gestalty. He's only a 1500 player at best which makes his contribution even less worthy of answering. But just in case he really wants to know what opening to use I'd suggest the big one on the front of his face by sticking a sock in it. Most chess players aren't as unruly as he is. I think that the suggestions by mxdplay4 are good.

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Yeah, I did look at his profile and saw that 1530 rating.  Was in the process of offering a game.  I love crushing loudmouths like that.  Unfortunately he isn't accepting games at the moment. 

Even Fischer stumbled against the french though he thought the defense to be "unsound". 3Nc3 and 3Nd2 must be the most popular against the french, try them both on for size.

Actually the advance and the exchange are the most "popular". I would never play these myself as white though, they prose black no problems. Still, if you play the french those will be the ones you see the most, especially for patzers like us.

ericmittens wrote: Actually the advance and the exchange are the most "popular". I would never play these myself as white though, they prose black no problems. Still, if you play the french those will be the ones you see the most, especially for patzers like us.

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The exchange variation often indicates white is playing for a draw, since heavy piece exchanges often follow down the e file. The advance is currently(?) in vogue. However, the original question I was trying to answer was what to play against the French, not for it. In this respect, you actually confirm what I say in as much as the casual Frech player will know what to do against the advance variation better than the Tarrasch. But I think your point is correct.

I just checked chess assistant with more than 2 million games and whites 3rd move against french breaks down like this . 3Nc3- 55,333     3Nd2- 38,128  3e5- 20,374  and  3exd5- 13,913  ......... perhaps you have different from some other source?  I play a lot otb and I see both 3Nd2 and 3Nc3 much more often than the advance or the exchange and chess assistant's numbers also supports my statement about which is more popular. Your source(s)  eric? 

Question for Reb. What happened with the line below, played by  Karpov v Korchnoi in 1978 twice in the world title series?

Just my own experience, and I've talked to some other Frenchie's and they back me up.Those games in your database are probably from master level or higher. The advance is seen more often in games with players between 1500-2000 in rating like me! :)

 

And there are some neat videos on the reti gambit at www.videochess.net though I've never played against it. 

mxd, you mean what result or next move? I think all the french games in that match were drawn and on the Q check 6......Be7 is normal.