Wow, I really needed a thread like this! I like to play the French as well but, for some reason, people seem to love to play 3. exd5 which sort of ruins the fun, in my opinion. I often find myself losing (as black), just because of trying some random shady stuff after 3...exd5, just to liven things up, playing an online blitz game where it's not that important whether I win or not :)
I hope this will become one of "Today's Hot Topics" so that we might benefit from it! :D
Recapture on d5 with Queen and not pawn, creating a structural imbalance right away (d4 pawn vs. e6 pawn). If your Q is attacked, retreat to d8 and start playing typical Burn variation moves like ..Nf6 ..b6 ..Bb7 .. c6 .. Qc7 ..Nbd7 etc. Objectively White can get += rather easily if he knows the correct plan, but I'm assuming that is a sacrifice you're willing to make.
I agree with melvinbluestone, in that it is upon white to go for something better than a draw. Not losing should be first on the agenda for black. And if chances arise, try to play for a win. So in that sense, the French Exchange is not bad for black at all, because mission goal no. 1 can be achieved with relative ease. Of course, everything in chess is very "relative", as we all know too well... 
Recapture on d5 with Queen and not pawn, creating a structural imbalance right away (d4 pawn vs. e6 pawn). If your Q is attacked, retreat to d8 and start playing typical Burn variation moves like ..Nf6 ..b6 ..Bb7 .. c6 .. Qc7 ..Nbd7 etc. Objectively White can get += rather easily if he knows the correct plan, but I'm assuming that is a sacrifice you're willing to make.
What do you think of 3... Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qa5, trying to set up something Scandinavian- or Caro-Kann -like set up with 5...c6 retreating the Queen to c7 instead, and then just develop with simple moves like ...Nf6 ...Bd6 ...Nd7 ...0-0 etc.
Recapture on d5 with Queen and not pawn, creating a structural imbalance right away (d4 pawn vs. e6 pawn). If your Q is attacked, retreat to d8 and start playing typical Burn variation moves like ..Nf6 ..b6 ..Bb7 .. c6 .. Qc7 ..Nbd7 etc. Objectively White can get += rather easily if he knows the correct plan, but I'm assuming that is a sacrifice you're willing to make.
What do you think of 3... Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qa5, trying to set up something Scandinavian- or Caro-Kann -like set up with 5...c6 retreating the Queen to c7 instead, and then just develop with simple moves like ...Nf6 ...Bd6 ...Nd7 ...0-0 etc.
Because Black needs to develop the QB somehow. Since Black already has ..e6 in, he probably will have to play ..b6 and this would interfere with a Q on a5.
That aside, 4.Nc3 blocking the c pawn is not a given. I actually feel the best path for a White advantage against 3..Qxd5 is 4.Nf3, intending Be2, O-O and c4. White acheives a big pawn center and can expand on the Qside with a4-a5 in the event Black tries to castle there. He can also play to take over the dark squares with moves such as c4-c5, g3, Bf4, Ne5. I play a similiar scheme against the ..Qxd5 Scandinavian and here it makes even more sense because Black is committed to ...e6 so there is not any ..Bg4/..Bf5.
Thanks! I'm really glad this topic happened; I'm way too lazy to realize the idea of studying up on this on my own, and I want to play the French, so, cheers to all of you!
Also, I've watched some of your YouTube videos in the past. They helped me out back then and you're helping me out now - maybe I should pay your channel another visit... Are you still active on YouTube?
(I just hope you haven't succumbed to uploading nothing but daily blitz games like all the other chess channels on YouTube )
I love the French opening in general, but in any variation where white exchanges on d5, either immediately or later on, I find that all the life drains from the position and I am no longer able to play for a win. I know the exchange variation isn't exactly threatening but it is extremely drawish. I am seriously considering switching to the e6 sicilian variations. Any ideas?