Neither one is better than the other. They both have their own characteristics. The Caro-Kann is known to be very solid for black and with good play you can make draws or out play stronger players. The French is a counter attacking opening, Black goes after the d4 pawn and at some point will play f6 to attempt to further break down White's center. Both are completely viable. I played the Frech for 5 years I think its really good. The nice thing about the Caro-Kann is that the exchange variation isn't as dry as an exchange French though Black has a few exciting options to liven things up in that line as well.
Caro- Kann vs French Defense
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Google is your friend: there are pages upon pages of discussion on this topic already: https://www.google.com/search?q=french+caro+kann+site%3Awww.chess.com
Sometimes it comes down to trying a new opening to see if may fit your 'style' more, like shopping around. I found the Sicilian had an enormous amount of lines and theory with it; I felt like it was climbing Everest. I tried the French for a while and had quite a few successes with it, but I didn't really like the blocking in of black's light square B and the pawn structure was kind of immobile. I tried the CK after a good player recommended it and it fits my style more. A CK player has to be willing to be crammed in and defend strongly sometimes, but it seems like there are more line options that the French. The CK as a flank opening can be a bit of a surprise for white as well. The CK has a few tactical candies, but it's often fairly positional. I agree with the post from +MikeZeggelaar as well, nothing wrong with the French, you just need to try both on and see which one fits better for you.
I like the Caro-Kann. After I started playing it I actually stopped playing 1. e4.
I personally like the French
May 3, 2016
0
#8
pfren wrote:
O.P. rated 1200 (chess.com): he should not bother at all about openings.
Or should play 1... e5 and learn tactics.
Hm, I walked almost into 2100 without even looking what I was doing in some silly test, so I guess I'm entitled of giving an advice on the subject. It appears to me that open games are the best way to learn tactics, 1.e4 as white and 1...e5 as black in my opinion but I'm no expert on the subject.
Possibly helpful:
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Starting Out: The Caro-Kann by GM Joe Gallagher (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062050/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen45.pdf
Starting Out: The French by Byron Jacobs (2003)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626175039/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen48.pdf
Starting Out: Open Games by GM Glenn Flear (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626232452/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen134.pdf
Starting Out: Ruy Lopez by IM John Shaw (2003)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627024240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen53.pdf
I think you should give 1....a6 (miles) Black gets positions nothing like any other opening! It might even win who knows?
to andyquibler, I used to play 1.e4 e6 2.d4 a6 and got consitently good games. There is an advantage to playing 2...a6 instead of 1...a6; first, you don't show your hand until White shows his/hers. Second, 2.d4(?!) prevents White's d4 from protecting the e-pawn, so Black gets more or less what he/she wants (the point of ...a6 is to play ...b5 folllowed by ...Bb7 and attacking the e-pawn).
HEY EVERYONE....I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IS BETTER TO PLAY AGAINST WHITES E4....CARO KANN OR FRENCH DEFENSE...I GOT TIRED OF PLAYING SICILIAN...OR ANY OTHER OPENING I COULD PLAY WHICH IS GOOD?
MAYBE EVEN SCANDY?[SCANDINAVIAN DEFENSE
]
I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS....AM WEAK IN OPENINGS.....