what to play against the french ?

I like gambits and generally trench weasels decline them except for the alapin diemer

I like it better than attempts at monte carlo and pretty much anything else I've tried against francos especially because it's related and transpositional to the mieses carokann which I INSTANTLY started kicking butt with by ACCIDENT trying and failing to play the maroczy fantasy variation in the carokann.

again, especially in this line, planning Bc4 and breaking the inevitable pin most players try to pull off. once I looked at the winning stats winging it in this and just doing what comes natural, i haven't played anything but this and look forwards to facing the caros that used to drive me nuts now. the maroczy delays f3

I was ALREADY playing the blackmar diemer gambit before adopting the 2 sibling lines. I did terrible in the 3.Nc3 main line (I do terrible in fast Nc3/Nc6 lines) and am doing fine in the 3.f3 gedult variation, but that's me.

same "king's gambit" ideas... quick Nf3/Bc4 with plans to break ...Bg4 pins with Bxf7+ to generally take the bishop and black's knight after an Ne5+ follow up with Nxg4 or use the semi-open f file to pile pressure on f7 too

these lines lead to miniatures if you're a committed tactical player

learn the two knights french. only experienced french players know to neutralize all the traps and piece play.

here both qb6 and 0-0 is bad and black needs to play a6 and h6 usually to neutralize the piece play but few do

as to mainlines, the winawer is supposedly really strong, and some consider it best

In order from best to worst: 3. Nc3, Advance, Monte Carlo, KIA, Tarrasch, Two Knights, Exchange, and then everything else. As long as you understand one of these options you’ll be fine as White.

IMO if OP (U1000) finds an opponent who allows the Poisoned Pawn Winawer, he should be VERY scared. Also 7. Qg4 is apparently outdated, now 7. h4 is the accurate way to play against the Winawer, so there’s that.

 honestly the poisoned pawn scares me aswell

I don’t play it as either side. Tbf I haven’t played the White side of a Winawer since I stopped playing the Fingerslip, Kunin Double Pawn Gambit, but as Black I just play 6… Ne7 7… 0-0 and go from there if I’m not playing an Armenian Winawer or a 4… b6 Winawer.

i feel bad for you @Ethan_Brollier

Yeah is it any wonder why I gave up the French as a primary weapon in blitz? It’s rough out here (despite my winning record and shockingly good score against the Advance).

As a French Defence player I dislike facing 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4. We don't get the usual pawn chain and closed position we like.

Yeah the Monte Carlo sucks. The Exchange is bad enough, but at least it’s a free draw, but you still have to fight a bit to equalize in the Monte Carlo. What’s worse than the Monte Carlo is this line though: 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb4 Bd6 6. c4, where you actually have to know theory and a lot of nuance in this one weird line. If White has this prepped well, you’re in for a rough time as Black.

@Ethan_Brollier better off playing 4...c6 in that case

I’m slowly switching my repertoire over to the mainline Exchange French rather than 4… Nc6, because for some reason when I picked up the Exchange that was the line I started playing. I only recently learned it’s a sideline (and not a great one, at that).

As one that has played the French for over 27 years, and many games as White, I advise you against the garbage I am seeing recommended.

The gambits just don't work against the French. The only gambit that is sound is the Alekhine-Chatard Attack, which can only be played against the Classical. You'd need to know the Burn, McCutchen, Winawer, and Rubinstein as well.

The Two Knights is significantly weaker against the French than the Caro-Kann. Playing for "trickery" as he advised is not a good idea. It will teach you bad habits in chess rather than playing for a sound attack.

Against the French, a lot depends on your style of play against other openings. If you are an aggressive, main line type of player, like let's say you play the Open Sicilian and Ruy Lopez or Italian, I would suggest 3.Nc3, and against 3...Nf6, play the Steinitz (4.e5), and against the Winawer, do not play the 7.Qg4 lines. After 3...Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7, the move 7.h4 has a lot more sting and poison to it than 7.Qg4 does.

If you are a more positional player, like you play the c3-Sicilian as White, then go for the Advance Variation and study Nimzowitsch's theory of the Blockade - covered in certain French books, like Sveshnikov's books on the Advance French from 2007, or also in some middlegame books.

The only other line I would sugget for a change of pace is the King's Indian Attack. The KIA only really works if Black has blocked his Light-Squared Bishop behind the pawn chain. It works ok against the French and against the 2...e6 Sicilian. Against anything else, it's garbage!

Do not play the Tarrasch or Exchange - White gets nothing

No, 4...c6 is rarely a good move. Some may play it against 4.Nc3 instead of 4...Bb4, but otherwise, no.

After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5, you have:

A) 4.c4 - Best here is 4...Nf6, and after 5.Nc3, 5...Bb4

B) 4.Bd3 - Here a move like 4...c5 is good, and it gives you another option at the 3.Bd3 variation. Instead of taking on e4, play 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 c5 4.exd5 exd5, which is also 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 c5!

C) 4.Nf3 - Considered White's best, Black has a few options. One is the symmetrical 4...Nf6. White has been looking at 6.Qe2+ lines here. Still not very good, but Exchange advocates are trying!

There are dozens of sound gambits as white against the French.

Maybe play for another 27 years and you will encounter some of them