"Now if we can only convince White that after d4 d5, he must play 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 e6 4.e4."
Oh, I would immediately give up my beloved Iljin-Zjenevsky! BTW, this line plays a role in my Black repertoire via 1.d4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 or Nf6.

Elspringer,

Now if we can only convince White that after d4 d5, he must play 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 e6 4.e4.  Maybe we can make a rule change somewhere?

Then again, that would mean that French players actually have to find a way to win in the Burn-Rubinstein lines, the Alekhin-Chatard, or (shudder) the MacCutcheon.

@Smyslov_fan
The only similarity you mention, is the isolated queen's pawn. But even this is superficial.
In the semi-Tarrasch of the QGD Black has his queen's bishop shut in and there is an open c-file.
In the Tarrasch of the QGD White fianchettoes his king's bishop and there is an open c-file.
In the Tarrasch of the French both central files are open.

OK, I have to admit, that there are two more similarities: the player with the IQP very often plays N-K5 and his opponent N-Q4.
But here it ends. In my opinion, two differences are essential: which file is open, e or c; whether the defender - who plays against the IQP - practices a king's fianchetto or not. These are facts, no matters of personal preference.

Still I would say, that 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 has more in common with:
The Petrov: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 and a quick c4.
The Danish Gambit Declined: 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4.

Confirmed e4 player, though I now dabble with d4 as well. I dont see why the french is so closed and less agressive than the sicilian. There are not many sharper variations than the Qg4 winawer around after all (dont see the sissy sicilian players sacrifice pawns on g7 and h7 or castle into Qg4 ). And in most closed positions it almost always gets blown open with some combination of f6 and c5.

Myself, I'm a 1. e4 player.  I prefer modest openings that don't require me to study a lot:  the Closed Sicilian, the Advance against the French and Caro, Bishop's against 1...e5, etc.  It's not a dazzling repetoire, but I have fun.

I have a theory why most French players are also 1. d4 players.  A lot of the d4 players I know struggle to find something they like against 1. e4.  If they play the French, many of the lines resemble queen's pawn games (like against the Tarrasch), and many of the other lines where White pushes e5 are unlike any other kind of chess.  Those kind of French positions are so distinctive and self-contained that once they master that kind of position, they don't have to learn any other kind of open or semi-open game.   

I guess the truth of this theory relies on the French being more "distinctive and self-contained" than other replies to 1. e4, which is an argument I'd be happy defending.

Some players with White try to avoid meeting their pet defences as black, and this could explain why some French defence players prefer to start with 1.d4.  

Having said the above, if you are goint to meet 1.d4 with 1...e6 as MNB claims he does to reach a Classical Dutch, you might as well be a lifetime French player, as your opponent might well play 2.e4. That's the inherent danger in limiting yourself to tranpositional move orders to mainline defences.

There is a humorous story of an agressive player who always Opened with the Sicilian Defence in response to 1.e4 and against the Bird's Opening 1.f4 he would, being true to his style meet this with the From's Gambit.
However one day he came up against a clever junior player, who played a clever trick on him. The junior opened with 1.f4 and sure enough the reply came back 1...e5 and with a wry smile the junior flashed out 2.e4 bypassing his opponents favorite Sicilian defence in favor of a chaotic Kings Gambit, which amusingly left his befuddled opponent 'Out Of Book'. Needless to say the Junior's clever ploy was soon rewarded by the full point.  

So the moral of that story is when preparing an Opening repertoire for either White or Black it is neccessary to be particularly cognizant of move order and tranpositional tricks.

Topster       

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Hmmm... I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

Or Franglais!

Salut!