The Annoying Exchange French
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Apr 14, 2018
0
#42
lol get rekt I play the exchange variation all the time because I know that people who play the French want these closed positions.
THE FRENCH: REVERSED BENONI!!!
I also find the exchange annoying against lower rated players. That and f4 scare me off the french
Apr 14, 2018
0
#46
When white plays the exchange, I castle queenside as black. Leads to fun games, often imbalanced, with good attacking options for black.
Two former World Champions (Capablanca and Alekhine) frequently did the same. See their Exchange French games for some instructive ideas on how to handle it.
haloguy11 wrote:
I have a question how do you play chess on this app?
Click play.
Doi.
Apr 15, 2018
0
#49
Note that the master games listed here for the French Exchange have some very good win percentages for White. I think I may play it the next time I'm White vs the French!
John Watson's Play the French, 4th Ed. says: "This is the Exchange Variation, which tends to produce a simpler game, or at least a less tactical one, than most other variations in the French Defence. Some players dismiss it as ‘drawish’; with only one open file, they reason, both sides will mindlessly exchange their heavy pieces and a sterile position will ensue. But there is a hole in this reasoning: in most cases where one side is fighting for a win, at least one rook doesn’t belong on the e-file; and in numerous lines, neither side’s rooks should be there. Why? Because there will be no points of penetration along the file; for example, squares like e2, e3 and e4 for White and e7, e6, and e5 for Black will customarily be covered two or three times by that side’s pawns, knights, and bishops. Moreover, only one such defender is really necessary. So if, for example, White doubles or triples along the e-file while Black is blithely mounting a kingside pawn storm (backed by his rooks and queen), the second player has every chance of winning. Furthermore, Black can always make the struggle unbalanced should he so choose. This has been pointed out and demonstrated by great players for at least 70 years. I might add that it’s rather silly to call any position in which every piece and all but two pawns remain on the board ‘drawish’. In fact, even very strong players hoping for a draw with White have had little success in trying to force one.At any rate, White’s main moves are:
12.1 4 Nf3
12.2 4 Bd3
12.3 4 c4
12.4 4 Bf4
I see I copied and pasted a note to myself from a previous discussion here (I didn't save the URL) and saved it in my French Defense folder:
From chess.com's Opening Explorer, I see master games are not drawish for a couple White 4th moves:
But 4 Nf3, by far the most common move, has not worked well for White:
Apr 15, 2018
0
#50
The French Exchange is drawish if both players want it to be. Tal played it against Korchnoi, the only time in his career he played for a draw with White, and escaped with a draw only because Korchnoi misplayed the winning attack on Tal’s king.
As a recent convert to the French, I have faced the Exchange twice and got superior positions against higher rated players both times. My impression is that 1. e4 players don’t like facing the French, and they think the Exchange will be easier than the main lines. But there is lots of play in this variation and White looks forward to an easy game at his peril.
Reading the post is actually a great case for always playing the exchange. If even a higher elo player finds it tough to break down against a lower elo player then why would not player always play the exchange and go for a line that is more comfirtable for black
I love it when people are really annoyed at a certain opening. it gives me the drive to study that (opening/defence) variation even more! seriously speaking though, the resulting (pawn) structure is what attracts me the most, less study time required if you knew the structure by heart. same is true with the other forum thread about scandinavian annoying people
JayeshSinhaChess wrote:
Reading the post is actually a great case for always playing the exchange. If even a higher elo player finds it tough to break down against a lower elo player then why would not player always play the exchange and go for a line that is more comfirtable for black
Exchange variation tend to be more drawish than other 3. Nc3 or e5 variations.
Once you understand more about opening, you will know which variations are drawish and which are complicated!
OP is 2300+., so you will understand what he means when you are closer to his level.
Apr 17, 2018
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#54
It's personally the response I have to play the most against on chess.com blitz.
That's sad in that I don't find it an interesting variation.
But not sad in the way that I have a good score against it.
But in OTB long games it's a different story, I did draw against a player much lower rated than me when he opted for the french exchange and kept finding and playing the most boring moves through out the game. Not so good in a short 6-round swiss weekend tournament.
still it's my only real defense against 1.e4
[COMMENT DELETED]
May 22, 2018
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#56
Good thing for white if black is higher rated is that black may become frustrated and weaken himself by teying to win. As long as white plays properly without trying to swap everyrhing off and knows about. Blacks more unbalcing options then white has good chances to take advantage of blacks desire to win
May 21, 2021
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#57
Old, but interesting thread. I like the line from garniktalavera!
How to keep this interesting against lines where white tries copycat play for a few more moves?
Oct 5, 2022
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#58
Damn French exchange games... it's so fun with the black to lead the play by over pressuring d4 until they break in the advanced version!
It was an interesting ride to read 10+ years of answers and comments in details on a question I had. Thanks for sharing.
In a sense it's annoying that there is no obvious conclusion! But it seems that following this read, my chess journey will be heading toward finding ways to opposite castle... when facing the exchange. I am sure I have something to learn in this. Not sure about the results, but at least I am unlocked for a while vs my initial google question.
Happy French games to everyone 
After Black's third move in the French Exchange, 14 pawns and all the pieces are still on the board. A little early to call it "drawish."
Exchange French gives no advantage for white so is not seen often at top level. In fact all French openings are not seen often at top level but maybe this is just taste and trends. Anyway, in the exchange variation play is very different to a Winawer or a classical, so any advantage is purely psychological. A strong player will just enjoy the relatively easy play that black gets and take a draw with no risk or play for a win.