One should pic an opening that one like the arising position most, not what other peaple think. Play thought some GM level Caro-Kann games and some GM level French games and see what kind of positions you would prefere.

For my own part of opening choises, I choosed Dragon by accident (my first opening book I read at library was a swedish translated version of "Chess openings" by Mike Basman where Dragon was feutered and I the first book I bought was "Opening repertour for attacking player" ,not to be recommended these days, where Dragon was feautered) but I realy liked the double edged positions that arose. When I became older I prefered more solid lines as both sides but instead of switching openings I was lazy on the black part and instead switched to more solid lines within both Dragon system as well as in my Dutch defence.

I've played both the Caro-Kann and the French.  I gave up the Caro-Kann after drawing two must-win games as Black against "A" players who played for the draw from the first move.  (The tournament situation would have dictated that they also play for the win.  Oh well. I guess ratings are more important to some than others.)* 

I have since learned some techniques to battle those "A" players, but the French has always given me more hope for a win in critical situations than the Caro.

I now have four openings in my repertoire, the Caro, the French, the Sicilian Taimanov and now the Scheveningen.  I haven't played the French or the Caro-Kann much in the last year or so.

*As an interesting aside, one of those players has become a published chess author!

Antillian wrote on 02/05/10 at 15:06:55:


I played the Caro Kann from beginner to about 1850. Switched to the French after that, and have been playing it ever since. Now hoping to reintroduce the CK into my repertoire so that I'll have two weapons against 1.e4.

Well I choose the Caro...but of course, I have no experience with the French, so my choice is irrelevant. 

But I have always had the impression that French players were typically persons who learnt that opening while still in pampers and latched on to it for the rest of their lives often playing it  exclusively.

On the other hand, persons were more likely to pick up the Caro-Kann later in their chess career and were more likely to combine it with another defence.

Are my impressions wrong?

I actually have experience with the QGA - via 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 e6 7.Nc3 Qd8 8.Bc4.

HoemberChess wrote on 02/03/10 at 12:12:40:


If that were the case I be much more enthusiastic. I love both positions with IQP's (White plays c2-c4) and with opposite castling (White does not).

I'd pick the French (wasn't an easy decision). For me at least, the French has more sting, even though I find it less safe than the CK. Also, I have more control over the nature of the middlegame.

If white players were somehow banned from playing 3.Nc3 against the French, this whole French vs. CK question would be much easier for me 

Since this a a forum for french everyone should say french. However I would say sicilian since at ameutur levels anti sicilians are common and in many lines black gets a position that looks either like a improved Caro Kann (advanced variation with a c5 played in one move) or improved French(advanced where bishop can move outside pawnchange or white has played pawn to f4 variation) depending an preference..

About French defence, some years ago at local club there was an interesting french game. The higher rated player was not in mood to either fight or play at all so he played the boring exchange variation. Althought the game eventuelly became a draw the lower rated player somehow managed to unbalance the postion and the position became sharp before all pieces got exchanged and draw agreed.