What's your favorite way to crack the French Defense?

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BattleManager

I think white has some interesting options against 3...c5. I think the best is to first play 4.Ngf3 because it leaves more options open for both sides. But of course, many times 4.exd5 and 4.Ngf3 transpose. Here is pretty much all i know about 3.Nd2 c5.

 



BattleManager
melvinbluestone wrote:

4...Nf6 is an alternative for black. Interesting is the line 5.e5 Ne4 6.Bd3 f5!?

 

Yeah, it's also an alternative with the concrete idea of playing 5...Ne4. White can also play 5.exd5 which should transpose to other lines after either 5...exd5 or 5...Qxd5. After the independent 5...Nxd5 play can actually transpose to the line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.N2f3 after 6.Nb3 cxd4 7.Nbxd4.




BattleManager
melvinbluestone wrote:

I've played 5...Nxd5 a number of times to avoid the IQP after 5...exd5. Then, instead of exchanging on d4 after 6.Nb3, black can try 6...Nd7. The line shown is one continuation, with lots of freedom for black's pieces. The few times I've tried this in blitz, I've killed! Also, see Hennigan Michael vs Short Nigel D ........

 

Yeah, i don't know much about that line but i think i read on Tzermiadianos book that meeting Nd7 with g3 and Bg2 and a later c4 is slightly better than placing the bishop on e2. Also, you say that you play this line to avoid the IQP but that's not really compatible with the line after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 because now if you want to avoid the IQP you can play 4.Qxd5 which is more compatible with 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4(if white played 5.exd5 Qxd5 would transpose to the main line).

ponz111

My favorite way is 1. e4  e6  2. Qe2   I do not really know if it is 100% sound but I get good results with it and it can be very interesting.

Ziryab

The only sound way to crack the French Defense is to play sound positional chess with the hope of reaching a favorable endgame.

Here's my most instructive loss:


 

Bobcat

e4 is whith-out a doubt the best opening move for white.
e6 ditto for black.

Cool

superpejo

i play the chatard alekhine attack and the tarrasch variation

DrFrank124c

I believe the best way to win in chess in general is not by memorizing openings but by the thought process you use. Black plays the French because he is familiar with the complications of this opening. White can nullify all of Black's book knowledge in this opening by playing  the Exchange Variation: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5. This opens up the game and it becomes a free for all for tacticians.

Grobzilla

1. d4. Seriously.

Pink-Beret
Pink-Beret

Just figer it out how to prevent it

DrFrank124c
pfren wrote:

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 opens up the bedroom door, where someone can have a good sleep.

I'm not an IM just an I'm. As an IM you have memorized all of the book moves. I have a life and choose not to memorize book and I choose not to play on your terms. I play tactically and I hope it does open the bedroom door so that while you're asleep I can jump on that pretty girl you're sleeping with.

Pink-Beret
pfren wrote:
Super-Blitz wrote:

Just figer it out how to prevent it

I'd rather find a sure way to PROVOKE it, not prevent it.

3...e6 is a clear sign that Black has no clue about what he's playing, and of course the proper reaction can be 4.Nf3, 4.c3 or 4.Bd3, but surely enough not the nonsensical 5.a3.

5.Bb5+ is even more nonsensical, but we have already gone too far...

For move three, I just forgot that I had started to play 3...Bf5 instead of 3...e5, a new variation that I learnt. and in a video It was suggested for limiting the moves for black we should play a and b pawns. 

ponz111

Play  1. e4  e6  2. Qe2  [that is what I am currently playing]

SmyslovFan

As an avid francophile, I think the three best tries for white are:

 a) the Advance French. This is especially true if your name is Sveshnikov

b) The Steinitz Variation. This has been very popular among strong players in recent years and was heavily analysed by Khalifman.

c) The Alekhin-Chatard Attack, which Kasparov famously used to defeat Korchnoi.

Doggy_Style
gambitlover wrote:

1.e4 e6 2.Bb5 prevents Black to play his French d5 move

.... and after 2. .... Qg5?

MSC157

How? Like this! ;)



SmyslovFan

1.e4 e6 2.Bb5?! is clever, but Black is already equal after 2...a6! ..a6 is a useful move anyway, and White's B is not well placed on b5. Also, Black could play 2...c5! and reach a good Sicilian position. A third option is to play 2...c6!? 3.Ba4 d5 and Black has a nice triangle pawn structure with a gain of two tempi. It's not winning for black, but it's at least equal.

SmyslovFan
MSC157 wrote:

How? Like this! ;)

 




9.Nb5 looks really difficult to meet.  I'm pretty sure 8...c5? is an old, well-known mistake even with h6 tossed in.

XF11

I like 2Qe2 with the transition do king's Indian attack. This creates unusual position and if black plays exactly white gets a dangerous attack on the king. This style of play and the Sicilian.That's how Bobby Fischer played in his young years. Same time, someone also has experience?Smile