Exchange Variation of the French Defense (for Black)
In this video/article I am discussing ideas and plans for Black in the Exchange variation of the French defense. Mainly for those who are trying to find a way to avoid well-known drawish lines which White has at their disposal.
Since my focus is on the strategies to avoid drawish lines, I am NOT discussing those more ambitious ways of White - 4. c4, for example.
Along with other negative attributes associated with the variation, it is also a crime against chess principles: on the third move (3. exd5) white is helping black to get more active pieces, while at the same time they are ruining own chance of gaining space advantage and better center control.
My approach is possibly too harsh towards those with white pieces going for the Exchange French, cause not only that white can choose 4. c4 and still show some will to fight, there is also a strategic reason behind the shameful 3. exd5 - white wants a tempo right after black recaptures on d5 (3...exd5), while in case of 3. e5 for example, Black is the one who has an option to grab the initiative.
Regardless of that, if someone tells you to play it, just know one thing - that's a terrible advice, and can not come from anyone who knows chess and wants best for you.
Even when they want to get a draw by killing the game that is - at least to say - a cowardish way to do it.
After only ten moves going through the main line of the variation, we see that the pawn structure is symmetrical, and the pieces are slowly coming off the board. Straight to the point: in order to avoid that, your task is - basically - to create imbalances or tear down the symmetry!
It means:
(1) If White develops with Nf3, Black should respond by Ne7, and in case of Ne2, we develop on f6.
(2) If White puts the pawn on c3, we don't do the same, but put the knight on c6 - which is not perfect, but it breaks the poisonous symmetry that white speilled on the board. Then, if white puts the knight on c3, we advance the pawn to c6.
(3) When white castles kingside, we can castle queenside, with a violent pawn storms coming. However, white's extra tempo in that case may be critical, so we need to be careful when making such decision.
(4) Finally, we'd like to change the pawn structure. Sometimes that's done by playing c5, which produces an IQP situation, and may be a bit dubious, while the other way is by trading pieces, usually our knight - by taking it to the e4, and recapturing with the d5-pawn. And what a relief when you see that the pawn structure changes!
When it comes to trading pieces, a good tip for black is to try to trade the LS bishops, by moving to f5 with a help of the e7-knight. If we don't have enough support for getting the bishop to f5, we can try using the moves like Be6, Qd7 and then Bf5. And the last resort, maneouvre Bg4-h5-g6.
Next thing to know is related with question of how to develop the queen. Both sides prefer their queen being developed on the kingside, but only when it doesn't come with the repercussions.
If we play Ne7 before white g1-knight develops, White can safely play Qf3 or (even better) Qh5! That queen controls the important f5-square as well as adding annoying pressure to such squares as d5, f7 and h7, and there is no easy way for us to chase the queen away.
The same works for Black: if you get your queen out to h4 (or f6), withouth White being able to chase her away with the Nf3, we already have an accomplishment.
Most of these elements can be seen in the game Mikhail Tal vs Viktor Korchnoi (Tal said it was the only time in his life he has played for a draw as White!). Despite of the terrible middlegame position he ended up in, Tal managed to pull out half of the point. Nontheless it shows how Black can navigate their pieces in order to create an initiative. To see the game, check the Youtube video: Exchange variation of the French Defense - for Black.
