French Defense

Sometimes when i play french defense i wind up in a cramped position...

So what can i do to relieve the pressure/do another variation?

Perhaps you should read up on the French Defense Advance Variation. I don't think it's considered white's strongest line, and it must be so for a reason. Do you have access to the free online DB (Games Explorer) they have here? If so I recommend it. (You probably do because I see that you have a platinum queen describing your membership level.)

If not, choose some random online DB.

Go in that variation, explore it. Play through whatever the most common line is. Find some games where white wins, some where black wins, some draws. Find some games with a famous player for white (high-rated famous player, like Anand, Kasparov, Karpov, Shirov, Polgar). Find some with a famous player for black (Korchnoi). This is a good way to learn a subvariation of any opening at all.

Thanks alot, ill do that, i usually skip the DB cause i want to play correspondent chess like its a real life game by not using assistance.., but theres no harm in looking at it without using it in the game

Well, I can't change how you feel about it, but let me try to make a convincing argument on the other side.

For me: Playing correspondence (turn-based on this site) is 100% about getting better in OTB chess. In other words, I'm not particularly interested in joining a correspondence tournament or anything. I've always believed that learning something in-game is the right time to do it. So let's say you play the Caro-Kann, like me, and you're interested in the following position, reached in the Panov.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6
6.Nf3 Bb4 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 o-o 9.o-o

It's a pretty fundamental IQP position. It's also reachable via the QGD Tarrasch, or from the Nimzo-Indian. So not only is it important for many openings as a 1.d4 player (as I am), but it's just good to learn about IQP positions.

So I did exactly what I described to you, and I expanded on my previous opening theory (which concentrated pretty much on 9...b6) to include many other moves, lines, and ideas. I recalled that information during later OTB games, because it stuck better, because the learning occurred in-game, at the right time.

I recommend it.

Thanks alot, sounds like a smart thing to do and a great way to expand your opening knowledge!

Thanks once again for taking the time to help me.