Do you see any way White can force a win immediately with the development of his Bishops? White has a broken pawn structue. Black doesn't. White can attack with his Queen on the Kingside and it's perhaps an easier game for White (Black mistakes could cost more than White mistakes), but the position is still theoretically equal with Black having a potentially stronger endgame. It's really up to White to use his initiative to force compensation for his structural weakness. Compare it to the Scheveningen Sicilian where Black has superior pawn structure, White has a lead in development, and Black's light-squared Bishop is blocked and will probably develop to b7. Except White can't easily castle Queenside and launch a Kingside pawn storm.
French Defense
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White wins 42.8%
Black wins 25.9%
Draws 31.3%
At the GM level, I think more players favor white in the French, but against non-master competition the French is all I play. The activity against white's pawn center compensates for the bad LSB, but black must get activity or white will slowly roll over black. It's a great counter-punch opening that can't be approached passively.
Why does Black block the bishop in the french. It seems pointless ti move a pawn one square and restrict yor own piece when you can move it two and not block anything in. Also, it looks bad in stats for Black.
Fritz says +=.
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=c18