Smyslov_Fan wrote on 03/04/15 at 13:39:35:


Black's usual plan of piling up on the d4 pawn is a straightforward idea to play which seizes the initiative unless White finds a good way, sacrificing it perhaps, to counter this pressure. 

The Kings Indian Attack with 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Qe2 or 3. Nd2 has the advantage of giving White a template for the next ten or more moves, even if a somewhat stereotyped one. But we are talking about players under 1600.

kylemeister wrote on 02/16/14 at 20:28:08:

kylemeister, do you have any other prognostications?

I basically feel that recommending an improving player take up the Exchange French is a little like recommending that he play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.d3 d6...

I hate how these threads always devolve into discussing the merits of the Exchange.

I think that below 1600, the exchange french is more likely to result in drawish positions than for people higher rated than this. Beginners don't try different approaches or alternatives. The play straightforward: they see an open files and put their rooks there, so major pieces are going to be retired from the board in the early middlegame, and the symmetrical structure dictates the rest of the game.

Before I started to study carefully the exchange as Black, a lot of my games in that line ended in BvK endgames (or BvB or NvN) with that symmetrical pawns. Theoretically drawish? Of course. A draw? Well, plenty of errors by both sides to make a draw less often than two strong people would got from that positions statistically, for sure !

Lately, lots of people (even below 1600) are playing againt french that 3.c4 lines, with an isolani complex battle arising. And las time I get 3.Nc3 in a "long" OTB game... well I don't remember when it was 

Lately I am facing (I'm 1800 FIDE playing vs a 1700-2100 FIDE opposition; very hard for me I have to admit):

- 40% 3.Nd2
- 30% exchange
- 20% Advance Variation, usually 6.a3 vs my 5...Bd7
- 10% rest of options (very few Nc3, and very few KIA surprisingly)

Salut,

I know this match didnt involve anyone under 1600, but Nigel Short's tweet made me laugh and reminded me of this thread...

Nigel Short @nigelshortchess  ·  Mar 1

"My opponent of today (M.Heidrich) discovered that 3.exd5 is not a guaranteed draw in the French Defence #worldsenileteamch"

Nothing beats 3.Nd2 in terms of simplicity+theoretical challenging line.

-> 3...a6, 3...h6 and such stuff: go 4.Bd3 and 5.Qe2 and in general wait for ...Nf6 in order to play e5+f4.

-> 3...Nf6 4.e5 and 5.Bd3 + Ne2 + Ndf3 and if ...f6 simply take it. 

-> 3...c5 4.Ngf3 and if 4...cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bb5 with the idea to play Bxc6 + c4 and if allowed Qa4 next 

Is there really need to learn more than that? No! Is it challenging? Yes!

NO MORE FRENCH EXCHANGE PLEASE 

Returning to the subject matter ('What is the best variation against the French Defence for someone rated under 1600?'), I would say the Exchange Variation is the easiest (although I'd recommend 4.Nf3 as it has a tiny bit more sting than 4.c4, especially after 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4!), and the Milner-Barry could be good for a very aggressive young player, but the best one is probably 3.Nd2 - it's about as safe as you can get with enough flexibility to get positions you like, especially against 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 which is the main continuation at club level from my experience. 

3.Nc3 is also good, but I think 3...Bb4 4.Nge2 is as recommendable an Anti-Winawer for club players as 4.exd5. Some will argue that it's a pawn sacrifice, but it's very instructive to learn how to play when Black hangs on to the pawn for grim death. And against 3...Nf6, I'd recommend either 4.Bg5 or 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nf3, though in the case of the latter move order one could argue that the Two Knights Move Order (1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3) could be used as a means of dodging the Winawer.

I have recommended the approach given in 'The Fighting French' to sub-1600 players before, and it is a reasonable shortcut.

chandrashekharkoravi wrote on 09/23/14 at 05:56:12:


This looks really easy and fun for either side.