BPaulsen wrote on 05/17/13 at 16:10:43:


I was hoping for more information than this.
The idea was to transfer the theory of the approach from the theoretician to the thematic player... black struggles? This is chess, black always struggles but when compared to other lines in this line black has pre-made, thematic cures.
I've been playing the French (almost exclusively) for the last 12 years and I still haven't been defeated in TC longer than swiss in this line.


MNb wrote on 05/17/13 at 17:09:33:


Agreed, maybe I will but the idea was to talk about the problematic queen move by looking at the PS as opposed to calculating line after line after line till you find the "one best move" you'd never find in a real game anyway.
I find it more beneficial.


dom wrote on 05/17/13 at 18:10:55:


I have Watson's book.
I have a collection of 32 books on the French but as I explained above the idea was to look at the structure in accordance to the plan(s).

In the future I plan to write about the structure of the exchanged line, specifically where black plays ...Bd6 | ...Ne7 and ...c6. I have played this line almost exclusively the past 12 years (about 50% of my French games are in the ex line!) and putting aside Blitz and Standard on-line games at 4am I haven't lost a single game in the ex line in my life and despite people's opinions of its alleged equality black wins more than white!
But yeah, I'll finish writing it in a few weeks or months... work keeps us busy

Quote:

Theory is good, practice is better.
You didn't consider 14.Bxa6 (more or less prevents Nb8-c6-a5) and the quite recent idea to play Bc8-d7-e8-g6.

A recap of white’s ideas and theoretical possibilities:

• White played 7.Qg4 which allowed black to play a successful 7...f5 and gain tempo on the queen.
• White then played the queen to g3 with the intention of pressuring the g-file but as demonstrated and proven, such pressure is of little realistic value.
• White had further space on the queenside but did not deploy his pieces accordingly.
• White played h4-h5 but suffered a cramped position once black answered with ...h6.
• White spent 2 tempi getting the queen to g3 but future plans of breaking black’s f5-pawn with a g2-g4 leaver or bringing the rook over by means of h4/Rh3-g3 require white to move the queen yet again.
• If white were to redeploy to the queenside or move the queen to allow for the mentioned breaks it’ll cost white 1-3 tempi (of queen moves) which means that as a whole white either spent or will spend 2-6 tempi on maneuvering his queen around. That is roughly half a pawn to two pawns worth of time! if it weren’t for the blocked centre, white would be completely lost!
• At the final diagram (diagram 3.0) white got to play all the logical moves and black has successfully countered all of them, bringing the game to a strategic standoff. 

Summary:
We have discussed white’s ideas and how black can thematically, strategically and efficiently parry all of them!
Closer inspection reveals the finer point to be made here - black’s ideas cannot be stopped by white. If we understand the underlying message here we understand that although black did not “refute” white’s 7.Qg4 by means of a winning tactical variation it is nonetheless a refutation by means of theory!   
White’s entire approach of 7.Qg4 is dubious, unsuccessful, structurally questionable, time inefficient and strategically incapable of providing white with anything substantial. If anything, black’s game is fairly thematic, simple and easily remembered and understood. in addition to that, black often has the upper hand in the endgame!


Should the Pawn Structure be the only consideration?

The answer to that is - of course not!

I would say that immediate tactics would take first priority. If there are no immediate tactics, then the strategic plan would probably be next. If a strategic plan wasn't apparent, then it might be a good time to consider the pawn structure. This is of course not guaranteed to produce a good move, but it's a reasonable approach to an unfamiliar position.

Let's ask the right questions then...

Q1) Did white have an immediate tactic to justify his play?
Q2) Did white's play follow a sound strategic plan?
Q3) Did white play according to his space occupation and with regard to his Pawn Structure?
Q4) Did white's approach allowed for tactical options?

Answers...

A1) No. Since the queen does not have a realistic or immediate threat against the g7-pawn and since it is black who gained tempo on the queen by 7...f5 white's 7.Qg4 does not fit the first consideration.
A2) No and yes, while white's plan is not "best" it is not losing either but since neither the first nor third considerations were properly planned the second consideration isn't justifiable either.
A3) No. If anything, white played with either complete disregard or at opposite ends of his space advantage. That is not to say that the moving of the queen was or is always bad if it is not where space is at its utmost but it is nonetheless not with accordance of the third consideration. 
A4) Allegedly, yes, white has threats and some are tactical and can lead to an advantageous attack. Nonetheless black's counter-play could neither be stopped or slowed down and its success is of at least equal measures. Therefore, the fourth consideration is to be questioned too. 


Conclusions:

Simple and solid - White's 7.Qg4 is dubious and can be "refuted" by means of theory. 

---

As a side note, I would also like to lightly talk about the advanced line.


The first structure we'll examine is taken from the advanced variation:

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.e5 c5

Now, omitting all pieces:

Diagram 4.0


Assuming this was an endgame position and assuming that the kings were at the starting place (e1 & e8). If it is white to move he wins by:

1. dxc5! Kd7 2. b4 Kc6 3. a4 b6 4. cxb6 Kxb6 5. g4

Therefore, when looking at Diagram 4.0 we can appreciate that if it were black to play (which in a real game, he is!) he must take care of the c5-pawn or capture on d4 first.

Assuming the same position only with white having played c3 and the bishops on board:

Diagram 5.0


1. dxc5 Bxc5 2. Ke2 Kd7 3. Be3 Kc6 4. a4 a5 5. f4 Bxe3 6. Kxe3 Kc5

The existence of the bishops made all the difference in the world, even if it were white who is to play!

With knights on the board, the game is slightly more complicated but it does bring to light the key-squares of the endgame!

Diagram 6.0


1. f4 (1. dxc5 Nxe5 2. b4 Nd3+ 3. Ke2 Nf4+ 4. Kf3 e5 5.g3 Nh3 6. Nd2 Ke7 7. a4 f5 8. Kg2 Ng5 9. Nf3 Nf7 10. h4 Kf6 11. Kf1 Nd8 12. Ke2 h6 13. h5 Ne6) 1... b5 2. Na3 a6 3. Nc2 h5 4. dxc5 Nxc5 5. Kd2 Kd7 6. Nd4 f6

Although this knight position was completely theoretical (due to the placement of the knights in relation to the root line) but it is important when looking at it from the Pawn Structure side.

Getting back to a real position:

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3

As trivial as it may seem we can now appreciate that the reason black can afford to play 4...Nc6 is because of his dark square bishop defending the c5-pawn.
Ok, that is indeed trivial but the underlying message, as seen in both the bishop and knight end-games is that it is not beneficial for white's endgame to capture the c5-pawn and that small fact is important.
On the other hand, it is beneficial for black's endgame to try and enforce it upon white!
Therefore, the game continues with:

4... Nc6

It is important to notice here that the rarely played plan of 4... Qb6 with the idea of ...Bd7-b5 (to exchange off the problematic bishop) is a valid option!

5. Nf3 Qb6

Adding more pressure against the d4-pawn.


Thoughts:
Black's "game" as it were, in the French Structure is thematic and principled. It is not without problems (namely, lines where black "had" to play both ...c5xd4 and ...f6xe5 and is therefore left with three pawn islands), nonetheless, it is extremely solid, productive and allows for deep counter play of both positional and tactical nature.
Understanding this structure is beneficial, interesting and surprisingly enough not well covered by theory!
It is my opinion that it is one of the best replies to 1. e4 and demands full respect and appreciation.