Beating the French Defence

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30th July 2008, 11:52am
#1
by Gambitking
State line United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 601

I've noticed that on some of these boards you guys have had trouble beating the French defence. I hope that this game might help you do that a little better. Just don't be afraid to sacrifice if the time comes... Tell me what you think.

The Gambit King

30th July 2008, 11:56am
#2
by BirdBrain
KY United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 1810

This isn't normal French territory.  He would have played 2...d5 if it was the French.

30th July 2008, 12:47pm
#3
by Gambitking
State line United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 601

BirdBrain wrote:

This isn't normal French territory.  He would have played 2...d5 if it was the French.


Yeah you're right. Is there a name for this version of the opening, or is it just a weak move, or what?

The Gambit King

P. S.: And Amnesiac I did end up sacrificing a knight (it could have been a bishop, but I thought the knight was a better piece to sacrifice) although it was probably unsound and definitely not the 'classic bishop sacrifice' that you might have expected...

30th July 2008, 12:52pm
#4
by aldoh
Netherlands
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 45

Yeah, 2...d5 was the way to go. (although 2...c5?! is an alternative) Very bad game. I don't think this will help me beating the French....

30th July 2008, 01:07pm
#5
by BasicLvrCH8r
Kansas United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 1605

You played well, but I think a more appropriate title would be How to Beat Patzer Openings, because he did not play the French correctly at all.

30th July 2008, 01:13pm
#6
by Loomis
Durham, NC United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 3138

This is actually a general strategy for  beating any opening: Get a weak player to play it against you. :-)

30th July 2008, 01:38pm
#7
by Gambitking
State line United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 601

LOL my bad :P

30th July 2008, 02:48pm
#8
by Bonsai
United Kingdom
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 79

Dear Gambitking

1. e4 e6              is the french defense

1. e4 e6   2. d4    is the normal french defense

As far as I can see anything else is a variation

although 2 ....... d5 may be a popular response, it is not however the french defense, it is a variation of the french.

To answer your question  2 .......d6 - Has anyone seen this move before? I haven't! -  I have not only seen it, I play it on a regular basis

With kind regards, Bonsai.

30th July 2008, 04:09pm
#9
by Gambitking
State line United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 601

You're right, Bonsai, but I still haven't seen that particular variation of the French much... LOL

The Gambit King

12th August 2009, 03:45pm
#10
by NM Reb
Lisbon Portugal
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 4220

This opening looks like someone wasnt sure how the french goes nor the pirc so just played the first moves of both and hoped for the best......  actually its called the lengfellner system, believe it or not .

25th September 2009, 05:42am
#11
by e4forme
Tennessee United States
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 2379

I believe him...

 

"I have never in my life played the French Defence, which is the dullest of all openings."... Steinitz

25th September 2009, 05:56am
#12
by nuclearturkey
International
Member Since: Aug 2009
Member Points: 785
e4forme wrote:

I believe him...

 

"I have never in my life played the French Defence, which is the dullest of all openings."... Steinitz


In most openings one can choose to play dynamic lines, the French is no different.. You might want to update your views on theory by say 100 years.. Wink

25th September 2009, 07:01am
#13
by e4forme
Tennessee United States
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 2379

lol.... That's ok, I live in my own little world! But hey, they know me here!

I can't help it if I like an open tactical game. How does Black Open the Game by Force to Revel in Tactical Play?

BTW... I do have an original copy of the "Modern Chess Instructor", so I am as modern as I need to be!

25th September 2009, 08:00am
#14
by nuclearturkey
International
Member Since: Aug 2009
Member Points: 785
e4forme wrote:

lol.... That's ok, I live in my own little world! But hey, they know me here!

I can't help it if I like an open tactical game. How does Black Open the Game by Force to Revel in Tactical Play?

BTW... I do have an original copy of the "Modern Chess Instructor", so I am as modern as I need to be!


Ok, I'll admit it's not the best choice if you want tactics on the Sicilian Dragon scale. I guess we just both have different definitions of what is "dynamic", or "dull". Btw, I was kind of joking about updating your theory by that much. I'm not saying I'm anywhere near the 21st Century myself! lol For all us non-Masters I guess it doesn't matter all that much anyway to be completely up to date on all the details..

26th September 2009, 05:35pm
#15
by Gambitking
State line United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 601
[COMMENT DELETED]
26th September 2009, 05:54pm
#16
by erikido23
United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 982

From seeing it for the first time..My initial reaction was why would white take on d7?  That seems like the beginning of the end.  I would just play n-f3 and if dxe white is still up a pawn with a structural weakness on an open file for black (which also happens to block his light squared bishop)and little compensation as far as I can see.

If instead of dxe black plays q-e7 then simply b-c4 with a clear plus it seems to me

26th September 2009, 06:23pm
#17
by Gambitking
State line United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 601
[COMMENT DELETED]
26th September 2009, 06:24pm
#18
by Gambitking
State line United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 601

Sorry for all the deleted comments, guys... for some reason, though, my chess diagram was showing up wrong and wrecking the display... so I'm going to go back and generate it all over again LOL... here is the first game:

The Gambit King

26th September 2009, 07:25pm
#19
by Gambitking
State line United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 601

Erikido, to answer your comments, just plug the position into a greedy computer! LOL it will always take the pawn... no, but seriously, the 'Main Line' (most worrisome for Black) is the one where White takes the two-pawn sacrifice, since 'The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it'... However, interesting characters like you might come along every once in a while and play something different, so...

The Gambit King

26th September 2009, 07:43pm
#20
by erikido23
United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 982
Gambitking wrote:

Erikido, to answer your comments, just plug the position into a greedy computer! LOL it will always take the pawn... no, but seriously, the 'Main Line' (most worrisome for Black) is the one where White takes the two-pawn sacrifice, since 'The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it'... However, interesting characters like you might come along every once in a while and play something different, so...

The Gambit King


 interesting-and thanks for the game.

I have no "assistance".  So I may be missing something. But, isn't 4. n-g5 very difficult for black to meet and seems to my quite feeble brain to be an improvement?   D5 seemed like an open invitation to black

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