Stigma wrote on 04/17/18 at 22:48:28:


Somehow I messed up or confused myself. I meant the Berg lines with ...Cxf6 and setup ...Dc7/...Ad6 instead of just straight ...0-0 with the...Ce4 ideas. I would play the former, and not the latter.

But then again, I would also rather play the ...Dxf6 lines instead of the ...Cxf6 with ...0-0/...Ce4 setup.

Simplest in my opinion though is just to go 3...c5 like above.

Leon_Trotsky wrote on 04/17/18 at 05:59:55:

Berg is an expert on the ...Nxf6 main lines, and he certainly covered that in his French book (Volume 3). Are you saying he also covered ...Qxf6 as a backup line?

Leon_Trotsky wrote on 04/17/18 at 05:59:55:



It's possible to force a .. Qxd5 position. So 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 (or Nc3) exd4 4. Nxe4 and now 4. .. Qd5.

That doesn't make it any good, but it's infrequent.

The main line in the sense of most often played is to hit the Queen with 5. Nc3 and now after 5. .. Bb4 it's a position that can also arise from the Winawer 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 Qxd5 and for that matter the sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Bb4

Leon_Trotsky wrote on 04/16/18 at 05:56:45:


My own reasoning for playing 3 Nd2 with White is that I don't feel especially comfortable with any line against the Winawer. Besides, sub 2400 level, in my experience, you get 3...Nf6 most of the time anyways - 3...c5 are fairly "un-French" positions. I'm also not convinced White's cause for an advantage is hopeless; after 4...ed5, there's a lot of positions where (in principle), White is playing for two results, while after 4...Qxd5, judging from what I've seen of the Ntirlis/Aaagard repertoire, Black has to be very precise to equalize. I don't think 4 Ngf3!? cd4 5 Nxd4 is so simple either.

It seems like everybody recommends the ...Qxd5 lines these days (or worry about them if they're playing White). I will probably take them up myself if I return to the French, though the rebel in me protests following the herd...

kylemeister wrote on 04/13/18 at 20:25:41:

I've seen large parts of the Französisch 1+2 discs, though in the 1st editions. If I recall correctly they demonstrated lots of typical French themes by going through and explaining insiprational games, some of them Luther's own, though without trying to present a coherent repertoire. I gather that's the job of the Luther/Jordan disc instead: Present a repertoire for Black.

Has anybody seen either of the Luther/Jordan discs? I'm especially interested in their recommendations against the Advance, where I've been on the lookout for something solid and good for years. According to the blurb they take sidelines seriously, which may mean in-depth treatment of the Exchange - it has been used a bit more on GM level lately.

Thanks everyone for the info, I will get Ntirlis & Aagaard book. Quick question on the Qxd5 lines, does black usually go 0-0-0 in them? Or is it based on what white does?

Mtal wrote on 04/13/18 at 18:48:50:


Not a French book (Luther's Chess Reformation).  He has done some French DVDs for ChessBase, albeit in German.

I play the c5/Qd5 variation as well and I would recommend Thomas Luther's book (QualityChess) which has a very detailed section on this variation from black's perspective.

Mtal wrote on 02/21/18 at 21:42:36:

• Reference Work - Playing the French by Jacob Aagaard and Nikolaos Ntirlis - I play the Tarrasch as White and can confess to you that the analysis and recommendations in this book are annoyingly effective: 'Acclaimed authors Ntirlis and Aagaard present a complete repertoire for Black based on 3.Nc3 Nf6 and 3.Nd2 c5 (4 exd5 Qxd5!). With many new discoveries and detailed explanations of positional and strategic motifs, this book is essential reading for those playing this complex opening with either colour.'

• Modern advocates to watch - Lenderman; Vitiugov; Wang Hao; Malathatko, V; Lupulescu, C and Tiviakov (Yes even Tiviakov)

• Instructive videos to watch from Black's point of view - Not many that I can recommend to be honest -
  However, GM Damien Lemos' - Crush White with the French Defense (I think 2016) was pretty good, and you might enjoy that, especially as the Tarrasch recommendation is very similiar  to what Aagaardd and Ntirlis give in their book.

Hope that helps.

Bye,

I'd recommend looking at 3...a6 first.  There are a few ideas in the "Dangerous Weapons" book that you might check out, though it's a bit dated now.  If 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 you reach positions very similar to 3...Nf6 and have avoided the lines with f2-f4.