How do I get better at this variation ?

bump

bump

I've looked at both lines, but I prefer to avoid Be7 because of the initiative White gets in the Alekhine-Chatard (not saying it's the best, but don't like playing against it)

 It seams a very sharp line. You gotta be an attacking player with very good tactical skills to play this line. Firstly you should check if this fits your playing style.

Yes, but I enjoy playing it, it's just how do I learn it?

In fast time controls, I exclusivly play 4. ... Bb4 and enter the MacCutcheon.. usually trips up lower and often.. higher rated players as the lines can get quite sharp!

https://www.chess.com/opening/eco/C12_French_Defense_Classical_MacCutcheon_Variation

Why not? Just don't take the pawn.  You're throwing the baby out with the bathwater if you are thinking about playing a ..dxe variation because of the Alekhine-Chatard, IMO.

Appreciated man, but is there no one that has an answer to my question?

Two solutions:

1) Allow the Alekhine-Chatard Attack, but don't accept it.  Play 6...c5!  The key thing to remember is that then 7.Bxe7 must be answered by 7...Kxe7!  But with correct Defense, Black has very few issues equalizing.

2) Play my favorite, the MacCutcheon.  The main line runs 4...Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5 and Black is fine.

Right here on Chess.com:

Rubinstein Variation and gxf6

https://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/rubinstein-variation-and-gxf6

Please guys, I'm not looking to change my opening line.

I sincerely like playing this line, and I DO NOT want another line.

Thanks guys (especially ThrillerFan) for suggesting them, but can someone please talk about this line? Is there no book on this?

bump

Of course there are books and DVDs on this. However, the variation is mostly reached via a different move order: 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Bg5 Be7 6 Bxf6 gxf6 and this is called Burn variation. Maybe that is why you can't find enough material. I would recommend to study any opening first by looking at as many annotated games as you can get. E.g. Morozevich played the variation for some time. EDIT sometimes the variation is also called Burn-Morozevich variation.

Also there is a chessbase DVD by Nigel Davies "1e6 a solid repertoire" that deals with the Burn variation against e4.

Thanks a lot!

Does anyone know where i can find some annotated games?

S.Williams made a video on it on chess.com

https://www.chess.com/video/player/why-simon-loves-the-french-the-classical-variation

Thanks poucin!

If anyone else has any resources, then please post them here.

This is pretty much the main line of the classical French with Bg5 nowadays, weird how people are saying not to play it.

Exactly!

I'm confused as to why it has so little attention despite so many gm games in it.

bump