Facing the french

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Avatar of I_PLAYLIKE_CARUANA

See I am a d4 player and I play queens gambit and catalan and I have fm Daniel barrish D4 and gm srinath narayan catalan course  

But recently I was liking the Spanish so much that I decided to play e4 also and be both e4 and d4 player but it comes with lot of pain

I like to fight in main line so choosing open sicilian against the Sicilian, panov against the caro and of course Spanish against e5 and nm logozar course to cover the sideline this all was not problem

But most people like 3.nc3 against French I like KIA against French as French is the only opening in which I don't want to be in mainline 

So any advise for me which variation is best for white and what do u think of fischer system against the French (e4, d3, nbd2, nf3, g3, bg2, O-O)one of my favorite against the French only but

Note-Dont write trash that I should not prepare opening or any ratings or what would be better for me to focus on 

I know where I have to focus so your advise should only be against French and what should be white's best chance against it 

I already have a better coach than you to advice what should I focus on and this forum is only for people who want to give advise on the topic mentioned ( facing the french) 

Avatar of Steven-ODonoghue

Both apporaches are entirely sound, but objectively 3.Nc3 is simply a better move than 2.d3 (KIA). You shouldn't let that bother you though.

I would reccommend playing both in online games, to see which line you score better results with, and which line leads to positions that you prefer playing and feel comfortable in and then adding it to your main repertoire.

By the way, all French players are used to facing 3.Nc3, because it is the main line, whereas I know alot of French players who HATE facing the KIA (I used to be one of them.) which is just something to keep in mind.

Avatar of I_PLAYLIKE_CARUANA

Yeah I already have tried it and I had lot better results in kia and sometime I crushed my opponent untill move 30 either checkmate, material advantage or very rich positional advantage as my pieces were on lot more good square and opponent is cramped for space

And 3.nc3 is main line but I think this is the only mainline go deep inside

 

 

Avatar of ThrillerFan

The KIA is OK if you are ok with a complicated but equal game.

It is stronger than the Exchange or Tarrasch - very Easy equality for Black.

It is weaker than 3.Nc3 (the biggest test of the French) and 3.e5 with a slight advantage.

 

Some things to know as White in the main line:

 

After 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 c5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.Re1 b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 b4 12.N1h2 Ba6, White has a critical decision to make.

 

A) 13.Bf4, the main line, Black has only 1 good option - 13...a4! And here White MUST play 14.a3 bxa3 15.bxa3 or else White is worse after 14...a3! With an advantage to Black.

 

B) 13.Ng4 allows 2 responses by Black.  13...a4 is OK here, but the Bishop still on c1 makes the breakthru a little harder for Black.  But Black does have, with no Knight on h2, the move 13...Nd4! And here White MUST take on d4, which leaves his c2-weakness exposed vs Black's doubled pawns.  If he is ores the Knight on d4, Black has ...Nf5 and White's attack is dead.  He cannot advance his pawns.  The Knight covers the weak h6 and g7 squares.  It prevents g4 (h4 hangs) and attacks g3 in the event that the sacrificial attack eventually works.

 

C) The third option is 13.Ng5, but now Uhlmann's 13...Qe8! Is strong.  I think it was Lau he played it against.  Idea is if 14.Qh5 h6, the Knight must go away and Black will soon play ...f5, where en passant is not possible because the Queen on h5 hangs, and retreating moves are bad, and so the Queen trade is virtually forced.

 

So if Black knows what he is doing, you will have a hard time winning.

Avatar of I_PLAYLIKE_CARUANA

Ya I don't think kia as opening is very good but against french  it works well and the legend Bobby fischee had played a miniature after miniature in this opening and ya thnx for the mainline

Avatar of sndeww

@thrillerfan where do you usually get your stuff from? Books, or-?

Avatar of I_PLAYLIKE_CARUANA

No it is also mentioned in chessable