Fed up with French defense exchange variation, help?

Good morning guys,

 

First of all, even though I play here since a few years, this is my first post and I learnt a lot through your answers! So thank you!

 

I use to play the french defense vs e4 in 10 min blitz. However, since my level is quite low (1400ish), I often got this issue:

And I find this position boring as hell. I tried c5, Be6, c6 (with the idea of bringing Nb8 to Nd7 then Nf8 to protect h7 and unpin the common pinned Nf6), Nc6, Bg4. 

And I can't any of those moves interesting. I don't see a continuation where black get better than draw in those exchange variations. 

Could you guys propose some lines/ideas that would make this variation enjoyable? I like to play the french after all. If not, do you have any idea what to learn as opening to have a safe opening but avoiding draws on move 4?

 

Thanks!

"And I find this position boring..."

Are you serious?  You have complete equality, an open position, and piece activity.  

You have a vast majority of moves to choose from.  

"Are you serious?" 

 

Yes, and I think I explained why. I don't think that I'm right but I'd like to know why. Find below a few examples that happens all the time : 

 

 

I play the French myself and I think many people playing this Opening don‘t like the exchange variation, because it’s a whole different Pawn structure than in all the other variations and it’s so symmetrical and boring and drawish.
I always try to create imbalances to get some counterplay, making the game more interesting, typical for the French.
Castling queenside with black is an interesting way to do that, I think.
Positions like in the following line are highly imbalanced:
[Site "Chess.com iPhone"]
[Date "01/07/2018 10:50AM"]
[White "CobRaChess95 (0)"]
[Black "Computer (Niveau 3) (0)"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Bd6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.Nbd2 Nge7 9.O-O f6 10.Re1 Qd7 11.b3 O-O-O

I think he is....but you are quite right though which is perhaps why it is infrequent visitor to the games of GM's and other such higher chess mortals.

If you look at his larger post, he finishes it with..."but I don't feel in control and feel like I have to exchange everything and don't like that. I'd like to have the option of NOT exchanging and keeping counter-attacks opportunities"...which in my mind suggests that his problem is not so much of an opening problem but more of an assessment and planning issue. 

In another words he sits down to play a (semi) closed position but loses his way once the position is opened up. The fact he believes his only option is to exchange off pieces seems to further support this.

Rather than seeking just moves, if your a French Defence player maybe looking deeper into the plans around the exchange might help. If that is not to your taste then why not look at Qxd5? Even noted French Defence player GM Gurevich (2590 Elo) have tried it

8O) 

 

 

 well, the exchange variation is boring. no getting around it.

In diagram 2, why white moved 9.Re1? There was strong move, 9.Bxh7+, Kxh7 10. Ng5+ and then 11.Qxg4. Well there are lots of weak/bad moves from both sides! 

I'm always confused when lower rated players complain about draws.  When I was 1400-1600, less than 10% of my games ended in draws, and most were saving bad positions, not equal openings into equal middlegames into equal endgames.  Looking at your stats, you are similar, with 10 draws in 200+ rapid games.  The drawing problem is clearly overstated.

That said, if it's simply disliking the position, there is an easy way to create an imbalance: castle opposite sides.  If White castles kingside, play Nc6, Be6/f5/g4. Qd7 and 0-0-0.  Similarly, if White castles Queenside, you can Nf6, Be7/d6/b4 and 0-0.   You are now both playing on opposite sides of the board with focusing on attacking.

french exchange is not drawish at all...

Many topics about it, u can make some research and find good examples...

If everybody was playing exchange french, i can assure u that i would play french as black every time!

All great posts! The key idea for Black is to create imbalances to get "fighting chances".

this is what i play

 

Wow wow wow... Many people read me wrong! Come on guys, it's my 1st post, no need to be that aggressive... 

 

@SmithyQ and @poucin : I never said games are drawish, I said that "I can't find any interesting moves and don't see any continuation where black play more than a draw". That's totally different! As I mentioned, I'm low level and want to get opinions/ideas to understand what I don't so far!

 

@Cobrachess95 and @Hadron : Thanks guys! That's the kind of constructive posts I was looking for! 

 

@drmrboss : Interesting, in fact, it never happened to me. As said, I'm low level and misses a lot! You talked about a lot of bad moves, can you kindly detail them? Thanks for your insight on diagram 2!

 

Regards

On the same diagrem 2, (I didnot check detail of all your games). 4..... Nc6? (It is weak/illogical move, there is open centre, both kings are open, so king side pieces must be developed first to castle king side asap, so 4---Nf6!!  And . 7. ----Ngxe7, looks like a weak move as well, in that position king kt should be on f6 to protect the king. I think better move should be Qxe7+. followed by Nf6. ( The first mentioned 9.Bxh7 was playable cos of misplaced kt on e7, instead of f6 square)

Having problems with the Black side of the French Exchange?

 

http://charlottechesscenter.blogspot.com/2017/09/opening-preparation-french-defense.html

 

Problem Solved!

Serves you right for play that disgusting opening.

Hope people play that against you every game.

"Serves you right for play that disgusting opening.

Hope people play that against you every game."

 

@ko12ko12ko12 : Seriously? I mean, we play chess, is that necessary?

@ThrillerFan : Thanks a lot! Very interesting article

Other ideas?

All this was on Bd3, which had drawback to let d4 undefended (thus Nc6 or c5).

Better (probably) are 3.Nf3 and 3.c4 (white's turn to go for an IQP).

On 3.Nf3, u can try the same set up given in the first game :

Some games?

Of course white can play differently but it gives u some ideas...

Questions on a variation?

Just have a look of french defence specialists.

About Bb5 line :

In this game, Qxa4 was premature, so let's see a game with 0-0 instead :

White's play is not perfect but u see what i mean once again.

Black is not playing for a draw here...

I gave games where white played Bb5-c4 because it is probably the critical line, at least the direct way to use the pin.

I play the French a lot, and my opponents usually choose the exchange, but I dont find it boring,  especially in  blitz. You just have to develop your pieces and follow strategic chess principles , then the tactics happen.

 

 

 

 

Castling opposite of white is one potent way to handle the Exchange.

Here's an example from none other than the fourth World Champion, Alekhine: