HOW TO BEAT THE FRENCH DEFENSE
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Feb 6, 2024
0
#22
Optimissed wrote:
There's a very good reason it isn't played by masters.
Very true... sort of.
This list of games under classical time control with both players >2500 is big. If we add rapid and blitz, it gets really huge...
What most top players employ is 3...dxe4 4.Bxe4 c5 5.Ne2 Nf6 6.Bf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Ne5 9.Nc3 a6! 10.,Qe2 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 e5! which engines evaluate as approximately equal, but the position is rich, with plenty of play for both sides. And the O.P. certainly does not need to know theory that far.
Perhaps there should be some light coverage of 3.Bd3 Nc6!? in that video, but again, it is just what a post-beginner should know, or even more than that.
If you can't beat them join them
Feb 6, 2024
0
#25
Mazetoskylo wrote:
I have briefly checked all your rapid games featuring the French (or something looking like a French), and guess what? There was no early ...Qb6 in any one of them. And none of them was an advance French, as some posters here were assuming.
damn i guess i did all that for nothing then
Feb 6, 2024
0
#26
Play the exchange. You may not enjoy it, but your opponent will most likely enjoy it even less.
Feb 6, 2024
0
#27
Yes, if you master sharp lines it will significantly increase your elo until you plateau to a certain point. After that learn solid openings to increase your elo further.
"HOW TO BEAT THE FRENCH DEFENSE"
Play the main line:
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1. Black plays Winawer:
Your main attack against the Winawer is Qg4.
I'm a simple thinker - I normally play Qxg7, Qxh7, Q back to g7, and I push Harry to become a queen. (Harriete?)
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2. Black plays main line:
h3 is to prevent Nc6 from getting to b4 and harass your d3 bishop - the highlight of your attack.
f4 is because d4 is falling anyway (you let it fall on purpose) but you can't let e5 fall since e5 is an even more important piece in your attack, hence why you need f2-f4.
Bd3 also blocks Black's entire "attack" after c7-c5, cxd4, because Black can't play d4-d3 later - your Bd3 prevents it.
You can also consider Rb1 in order to hold your queenside in one piece while freeing your c1 bishop to his attacking duties.
3. Black plays Rubinstein:
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The general rule of attacking the French Defence:
You neglect the d4 pawn - it's a liability, not an asset.
Sometimes it's better to develop the knight to h3 (maybe after pawn to h4 (h2-h4) - all situation-dependant), Nh3 is in order to allow a quick Qg4 or Qh5 later on, while still allowing yourself to 0-0, and still allowing Ng5 when needed, see Greek Gift.
One big plus after Qg4 (or Qh5, or h2-h4, which prepares Rh3 and h4-h5) is that Black's queen can't get to the kingside! Very important! Actually, sometimes it's better to play Nf3 not because of the d-pawn but only just to deprive Black from playing Qh4.
Play the Exchange var and wait till they blunder in-between naps. That's what people did when I played the French ...
French is too strong that even engines have winning chances with black against other engines. It's also Stockfish's best response against e4.
I have briefly checked all your rapid games featuring the French (or something looking like a French), and guess what? There was no early ...Qb6 in any one of them. And none of them was an advance French, as some posters here were assuming.
Anyway, I think that while your main concern should be the numerous tactical oversights you make in the game, to apply something simple, clear-cut and not so theoretical. Take for example the rather rare 3.Bd3 variation- I think the following video presents all you have to know abut it (or even, more than you could need right now).
https://youtu.be/vvgyBt3ZFYQ