Can't be answered simply, bishop ... there are four major choices for White in the French and Black's continuations are different in each case: a) Exchange (after 2.d4 d5 3.exd), b) Advance (after 2.d4 d5 3.e5), c) the Tarrasch (2.d4 d5 3.Nd2), and d) the Main Line (2.d4 d5 3.Nc3). Check out the Wiki article for more details on each: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Defence.
Good luck with the French.
My experience from the black side of the french defense is exchange leads to a draw, advance tends to lead to a black win, the tarrasch and main line lead to strong positions for white against black's usualy undefended kingside.
okay so... if ima play the french d, advance it?
how can an opening decide how the game goes? (as in exchange leads to draw)
When I say advance variation I mean that white will play e5 on move number 3 after 1.34 e6 2. d4 d5, white not black has to choose the advance variation. The exchange variation is the most drawish of the french lines as white no longer has a strong kingside attack in the middle game and black no longer has a strong queen side attack in the middle game, exchanging removes all the pressure from the position.
I stopped playing the frence as black has no control over what variation is played, white dictates almost the entire opening.
whats a good continuation for the french?