Alternative lines against the French?

Ok, I was hoping some of you afficianados of the French could explain some lines you don't like to face as black or maybe what white should do facing this line (themes and lines of attack). I play 1.e4 97% of the time so face the French fairly regularly.

I've never read any opening books and stopped using databases a few months back so am looking for some good ol' RHP help please. I especially hate facing this defence by black and some tips would be great because I've gone down this route a few times now;

1.e4 e6
2.d4 d6
3.Nc3 (best not to exchange here?) Bb4
4.e6 (any good alternative?) c4
5.a3 Bxc3
6.bxc3...

At this point I always find that my kingside pieces get tied up and it can get far too cramped, and trying to defend the doubled pawns is a problem I hate dealing with.

This is a game I played recently and went behind in the opening, it was only a couple of tactics that helped me win in the middlegame but I could easily have lost. So any help on this line would be appreciated and also some alternative lines to try?

Game 2252733

My advice: start playing this as black. You will get a better understanding of the type of problems for both sides, and you will probably encounter white players who who know how to deal with black's approach.

Originally posted by TheGambit
2.d4 d6
3.Nc3 (best not to exchange here?) Bb4
4.e6 (any good alternative?) c4
5.a3 Bxc3
6.bxc3...

At this point I always find that my kingside pieces get tied up and it can get far too cramped, and trying to defend the doubled pawns is a problem I hate dealing with.

This is a game I played recently and went behind in the opening, it was only a ...[text shortened]... on this line would be appreciated and also some alternative lines to try?

Game 2252733

Originally posted by tmetzler
Assuming you meant 2. d4 d5

Originally posted by TheGambit
Ok, I was hoping some of you afficianados of the French could explain some lines you don't like to face as black or maybe what white should do facing this line (themes and lines of attack). I play 1.e4 97% of the time so face the French fairly regularly.

I've never read any opening books and stopped using databases a few months back so am looking for s this line would be appreciated and also some alternative lines to try?

Game 2252733

Thanks for your comments Schumi, reading back I did indeed make a couple of mistakes in my annotation, I blame a late night last night!

I saw the Qg4 move in the first game tmetzler posted (what a battle that was), looks like a decent idea as black has to defend and keeps white's tempo, I knew I started to lose the plot around that time (early on I know). What is the general consensus, is the Winawer considered better than diverting down the Nd2, e5 route or is it just personal preference?

Originally posted by TheGambit
What is the general consensus, is the Winawer considered better than diverting down the Nd2, e5 route or is it just personal preference?

Originally posted by Schumi
Personal preference really. 3.Nc3 is a bit more attacking I suppose but you get a perfectly good game with either alternative. I like to see my opponents play 3.e5 as I find it easier to play against but that's probably because I have more practice against it.

Originally posted by Mephisto2
My advice: start playing this as black. You will get a better understanding of the type of problems for both sides, and you will probably encounter white players who who know how to deal with black's approach.

Originally posted by tmetzler
Assuming you meant 2. d4 [b]d5

Here is an assortment of RHP games with high-rated players as white that reached your final position 6.. black to move.

You'll probably find some good ideas in there.

Game Winner White Black
Game 247735 W Akizy Knightmare_NJ
Game 661930 W Akizy IronMan31
Game 808044 W Akizy Tequila
[gid]95542 ...[text shortened]... adevil perkovic
Game 643143 W SkipSlot calvs12
Game 1867640 B Zumdahl steppenwolf[/b]

Originally posted by WulebgrBlack already has equality--something white should not aim for, but if black desires to play for a win, the battle will be long and difficult.[/b]

Originally posted by Wulebgr
Are there some database search features at RHP that I've overlooked?

I usually play the advance variation as white, it can be tricky though, a good continuation for white is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6

This is a fairly common continuation and I play it as black sometimes because against 1.d5 I often play 1...e6 which can transpose into the french.

A bad move for white here is to pin the knight with 5.Bb5 because of a trap 5...Bd7 (sets the trap) 6.Nf3 (not taking the knight) Nxe5! revealing a discovered attack on the bishop, winning a pawn for black for 7.BxBd7 results in Nxd7 and 7.dxNe5 results in BXBb5.

White can head towards the paulsen attack. 5.Nf3 Qb6 This is the main line and some novice french players who follow it are likely to fall into a trap by white now, possibly winning the queen. 6.Bd3!? white seems to have made a mistake by blocking the queens support for his pawn chain, black will almost always trade pawns here and lead into the Milner-Barry Gambit. 6...c5xd4 7.c3xd4 Nxd4 (the proper response for black is Bd7, enabling castling and avoiding the trap) 8. NxNd4 now white wins the knight or the queen, if black takes with the queen, 8...Qxd4 black plays Bb5+ and wins the queen by discovered attack.

These are just acouple traps that are within the main line of the french advance variation that you should watch for.

If you are against the advance variation many play the Paulsen line, 3.Nc3, but this can be delt with using The Winawer Defence, 3...Bb4 which has no simple refute. Many players opt to avoid this line by playing The Tarrasch Variation, 3.Nd2 which avoids the pin and allows the c-pawn to gaurd the center. I have little experience with this variation but have heard it is solid. For more information and a basic walkthrough of the continuations see: http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/ftar-03b.htm

I hope this has been of some help to you, The French can be a hard defence to play against if you don't see the traps involved... if you find yourself beaten by it often, try to simplify.

Originally posted by TheGambit
Ok, I was hoping some of you afficianados of the French could explain some lines you don't like to face as black or maybe what white should do facing this line (themes and lines of attack). I play 1.e4 97% of the time so face the French fairly regularly.

I've never read any opening books and stopped using databases a few months back so am looking for s this line would be appreciated and also some alternative lines to try?

Game 2252733