robbie,
When you play against a person who seems to have put you in a bad position, try that the next time you play the French. In essence you are playing people against other people.
You can also analyze the game and see if the computer agreed that it was a good position or just something wacky.
Originally posted by Eladarlol, very cunning Mr Bond!
robbie,
When you play against a person who seems to have put you in a bad position, try that the next time you play the French. In essence you are playing people against other people.
You can also analyze the game and see if the computer agreed that it was a good position or just something wacky.
Originally posted by c guy1On the other hand, Game 5257994 did not go as well for White, however.
I've been playing (against the french with a lot of success lately)
1. e4 e6
2.d4 d5
3. Nc3...
Originally posted by irontigranThe French Defense is a counterattacking defense. Even more than the Sicilian, 1.e4 players reveal their fear of the French by adopting bizarre concessions, such as the exchange (60% online, I face this variation that gives Black equality on move 3) of the KIA.
i thought you didnt want to be on the defensive?
Originally posted by WulebgrThis, of course, is complete claptrap and you forgot the smiley. Bobby Fisher said e4 is "best by test" and I agree with him. All black attempts thereafter are for counterplay or equality. White always starts off on the front foot and the French is not "simply winning". 1. e4 has equally certainly not been bust as you would imply.
and 1...e6 is simply winning. 1.e4 is a nineteenth century move rooted in the hope that Black does not know how to defend.
Originally posted by Wulebgrmy dear sir, there is not a little controversy in this post, for example that 1...e6 is simply winning. yes it must have been said tounge in cheek, as were the other assertions that one plays 1.e4 in the hope that black does not know how to defend, for as you are aware in praxis black usually has some sort of favoured defence whether it be the French, Sicilian, Caro Kaan, whatever.
Against 1.e4, 1...e5 offers good chances for equality, 1...c5 gives good chances for counterplay, and 1...e6 is simply winning. 1.e4 is a nineteenth century move rooted in the hope that Black does not know how to defend.
i myself like to try the french defense sometimes against 1.e4 and it has consistently been the most difficult to play against. you are correct, the exchange variation should lead to easy equality for black, or so i understand it, the advance variation also plays into blacks hands i feel. the Kings Indian i thought while giving up the center may indeed favour white especially if he is prepared to sacrifice, as far as i understand it, but i have had very limited success myself, even being a piece up with good chances against higher rated players and still losing! as yet i still have not found a satisfactory way to deal with this.
it is an interesting observation that you make, that white players may indeed resort to some interesting twists and manoeuvrings, at the moment i am considering an idea of Josh Waitzkin from the chess master series, in the last section on annotated games, which to all intents and purposes seems to be a hybrid kings indian with the exchange variation, should prove to be interesting if nothing else.
Originally posted by buffalobillmy dear friend, i do believe he was jesting!
This, of course, is complete claptrap and you forgot the smiley. Bobby Fisher said e4 is "best by test" and I agree with him. All black attempts thereafter are for counterplay or equality. White always starts off on the front foot and the French is not "simply winning". 1. e4 has equally certainly not been bust as you would imply.
Originally posted by JanewayIt's the best way to learn an opening - play it.
i think i need to do a bit of reading but the french looks a good defence. I 'll give it a try and see what happens
A lot of players use it because they were fed up playing 1...e5
and falling for some trick based around the weak f7 square.
So rather than learn how to develop properly and cover f7
they trot out 1...e6.
(and fall for tricks on h7) 😉
It is however a solid opening and correctly played carries with it aggresion.
That is the key point to remember. Fight like a cornered rat.
Do not hid behind the e6 pawn making timid moves.
It is a delayed Scandinavian (1.e4 d5) so you will often meet 3.exd5
(the 'dull' exchange variaition) but don't relax in this position,
There are many ticks 'n' traps hiding here.
There are a number of ways to play Blasteroids against the French Defense:
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ed ed 4 c4
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 c4 de 4 Nc3
1 e4 e6 2 Nf3 d5 3 e5 c5 4 b4 (recommended by GM Nigel Davies in his Gambiteer I.)
I'm not saying that White gets an objective advantage in any of these variations, but if White is trying to create an open position early in the game, then these lines are probaby among his or her better options.
I used to answer 1. e4 with ...e5, but once I started to play the Sicilian I never looked back. It doesn't give White the option of playing drawishly, and best of all, it drives a lot of opponents nuts.
Once when I played 1...c5 in a skittle, White said, "Oh, you're going to play THAT way!" He had a loser's mind set right from the start.
The French is good, too. It's a tough nut to crack, but not completely defensive. Black will get his licks in later on, if he's patient.