I thought that 3.Nd2 c5! 4.exd5 Qxd5! is the "problem" for a White player of the Tarrasch variation today. So, why not try it for Black? The theory is much less than 3...Nf6 and the whole line is probably more sound (i have the feeling, that is backed up by some analysis, that the "Salto Mortale" variation gives White an edge after 3..Nf6)

And please don't play 3.exd5 Qxd5? because after c4 (now or after Nf3) White has a healthy +/= (close to +/-). After 3...exd5 Black's winning chances are not that bad.

If you have problems in the exchange against weaker players, try 3..Qxd5. It isnt that much worse than the Qxd5 line in the Tarrasch (the one with c5) and imo also not worse than the scandinavian as you have an immedate Bb4 available on Nc3, but that may be because I have little respect for that opening. 

Still I wouldnt recommend using it as your mainstay as 3..exd5 equalises on the spot.

rukh wrote on 03/16/11 at 10:18:40:

Not that I'm aware of. Playing through a dozen of games should be a good start though, assuming that you have a database.

MNb wrote on 03/15/11 at 17:42:20:


I've been playing online this queenside castling in the Exchange, starting like Uhlmann in his Winning with the French, but my attack is usually slower than white's unless he plays something bad like h3 or Bg5. Are there other good sources? There's also a game in The Flexible French on this line, but there black exchanges the light square bishops and the queens.

cf books - have you got either the Psakhis series (Batsford), or Pedersen for Gambit? Fractionally old now perhaps but useful comprehensive overviews. Especially if you're choosing lines.
(chesspub great to supplement of course.).

I think 3..Nf6 might be a tiny problem if you're really after winning chances vs very deep preparation. Think thats basically why stuff like 3..Be7 etc started to appear

Suspect that the really deep/random Qc7 stuff might be the best try. 10.. Bd6 might just about be analysed out.

As for 3 Nc3, I'd just try and have a few options for safeties sake. I don't really 'like' the classical much myself but thats feel based not anything concrete.
(Bxe7, f4 and an eventual o-o does seem fairly easy/safe for white to play and not utterly harmless.).

I'm taking up the French again after 10 years off or so, at least as a backup to the Sicilian but possibly as my main defence to 1.e4.  I have the following resources: Mastering the French by McDonald and that other guy, Play the French 3 by Watson, The Flexible French and Wonderful Winawer by Moskalenko, and Ziegler's DVD.  

I'm just hoping you experts can give me some advice for choosing lines.  I'll probably play the Winawer and am thinking of the Black Queen's Blues; a long time ago I played either 7...0-0 or the Poisoned Pawn.  I'm also open to playing the Classical along the lines of Ziegler's DVD; any opinions?

Against the Advance either 5...Bd7, 5...Nge7, or 5...Qb6 all seem perfectly viable to me; I'll just play each one and decide from there.

So far in casual and blitz games, I'm having the most trouble meeting the Tarrasch.  In the line with 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3, any pointers on which variation Black should choose?  10...Bd6, 10...Qc7, Watson's old early ...Qb6, something else?  Ziegler's lines all seem slightly better for White with not a lot of winning chances for Black.  Checking The Flexible French, I thought Moskalenko glossed over some of White's best moves that are recommended in the old Chess Advantage in Black and White by Kaufmann.  I know Simon Williams advocates this system as Black, maybe I'll get his DVDs.

Of course, against the Tarrasch there's also 3...c5, 3...Be7, etc., but I'd like to make 3...Nf6 work.  

The Exchange is a perennial problem against weaker players; maybe I'll just stick to the Sicilian when I face them...

Any other theoretical sources I should get (Vitiugov)?Thanks in advance!