If you go into the game looking at his rating, it won't matter what you play.  If you go into the game knowing that he's playing an inferior line, you will have a chance.   

But remember, in order to win you have to play well.  That's just as true for him.  In your case, you will know that he's playing a line that is probably not great.

I have had some tremendous successes against the French Exchange when White castles queenside. I simply attack the Q-side and keep an eye out for tactics.   

Nobody 500 points above me has ever played the White side of the French Exchange against me, so I don't know what sort of success I'd have.  But I would like my chances.  (I've only had the privilege of playing someone that good a few times anyway.)

Castling opposite sides is one of two main ways to unbalance the position in the Exchange (the other being to play c2-c4).  It may not objectively give an edge, but it's also the kind of thing that an attacker would feel at home in.

There's also a chance he could be conning you, he might say he's going to play one thing and then plays another!

casper wrote on 05/15/08 at 13:30:16:


I don't know who he is, but I hope you beat this jerk.  Give you a chance, indeed!