I agree that 4.Bd2 is worse than the main line for White.  Black will have done his homework for this one, so the pay-off in it being a surprise is nil.  I've seen IMs lose by trying this against lower rated players in the hopes of getting to fresh positions.

Bent Larsen once recommended 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qf3.  I think this is a bit silly, but his alternative idea, 4.ed5 ed5 5.Qf3 is quite interesting!  The opening books suggest that White only gets equality with best play, but the types of games you are likely to get will be wildly different from traditional Winawer games! (And even quite different from most French Exchange variations!)

Cheers!

Bibs wrote on 07/14/07 at 10:09:56:


I'm thinking that has been played by (Swedish GM) Jonny Hector.  He seems to have a general fondness for the move Qd3, playing it also in the Alekhine-Chatard attack and the Veresov ...

I got to say that all the lines other than 4 e5 aren't that great  for White. If you want an offbeat line with punch 5 qg4 or a3 bxc3 bc3 h4 would be worth a shout. Incidentally, Nigel Short has played both and I believe that he knows a thing or two about the French...........

Dont see the white attack really. Well in the Alburt perelshteyn & dzinzi book perhaps, but with adequate prep from black (check out an early Nh6 as in watson Play the french 3), its just a game. 
But this book, the best for this if you really do wanna play it. But wear your sceptical hat and consult other sources.

Its no more or less valid than anything else, so perhaps worth a punt.

Buy John Watson's new book, Dangerous Weapons. Plentry of food for thought therein. Qg4 may perchance appeal.

Yes, exchange is quite viable - check out some Short games. (with early a3). 

4Ne2 is nothing. 4Bd2 little going on either. Played 5Bd2 when was a kid, not much happening there (check Play French 3 among other sources).

Yes, as White, you have alternatives to main lines...

MnB gives Keres line in poisoned pawn line (Qc7) but some work is needed for other Black choices as oo-Winawer (to play the line as Black: plays Ne7 before c5 and castles after Qg4)

1. Exchange Winawer (4.exd5)

It's a good alternative and played for some decades by Tarrasch and Steinitz till Nimzowitsch improvement in the line in the 1920. 

I think some French players at club level didn't work the line...maybe because they believe in the wrong assessment "French exchange leads to positions difficult for a win"


2. Marocky/Alekhine gambit (4.Ne2)

Well, it's a gambit...and maybe you don't like to give a pawn early, but very interesting gambit and work can be limited 

3. Winawer gambit (4.a3)

I can't recommend it because Black can stay in main line with Ne7 declining the pawn offer

4. ?? gambit (4.Bd2)

Interesting way to avoid the obvious disavantage of doubled pawns in the Winawer. Usually the gambit is no better than the Winawer Exchange and Black can play 4...Ne7. But still interesting to play. One key game: Timman-Vaganian,Amsterdam 1986

4. Chiburdanize/Kuzmin (4.Qd3!?)

Like Marokzy gambit, interesting way to play and try to activate queen early. Some players will laugh and assess the move as dubious because there is common dogma of not developping queen early...but Chiburdanize was a world woman chapion and Kuzmin a good theorician for French, thus good to work.

5. Blitz variation (4.Qg4?!)

No,No ... don't use this old Alekhine's move! White will run in a bad poisoned pawn variation

6. ??? (4.Be3)

Game will transpose to Alapin gambit or Blackmar-Diemer gambit...if you are an addict to Blackmar-Diemer gambit you can use it, but i don't advice the system

Hi,

I am looking for a way to face the Winawer. Should I just spend countless hours studying the main line 
(1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5, 3.Nc3 Bb4, 4.e5 c5, 5. a3) or are there interesting alternatives that result in interesting play? I took a quick look at 5. Bd2 but it seems that if black knows what he is doing he gets nice play in the center. How about 5.Qg4? I took a look at 4. Ne2 and 4. Bd2 but I was not convinced...  Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Thanks.