French Defence: 3.Nf3 or 3.Nd2?

badivan1

Only Chess

30 Aug 07

badivan1

Joined: 18 Apr 06
Moves: 31699

30 Aug 07

After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5, would you play 3.Nf3 or 3.Nd2 and why?

Wulebgr

Angler

River City

Joined: 08 Dec 04
Moves: 16907

30 Aug 07

Originally posted by badivan1
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5, would you play 3.Nf3 or 3.Nd2 and why?

3.Nd2 is more flexible, but if the French player knows his or her stuff is slightly less dangerous.

I play both.

~~Dutch Defense~~

Stealer of Souls

Waiting for You

Joined: 16 Feb 07
Moves: 119052

30 Aug 07

Originally posted by badivan1
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5, would you play 3.Nf3 or 3.Nd2 and why?

3.Nd2

Korch

Chess Warrior

Riga

Joined: 05 Jan 05
Moves: 24932

30 Aug 07

I prefer 3.Nc3

blueuaway2

Joined: 30 Apr 07
Moves: 14091

30 Aug 07

Nc3 is sharper ..... ( read that in a book ^^ )

zebano

127.0.0.1

Joined: 27 Oct 05
Moves: 158564

30 Aug 07

Originally posted by badivan1
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5, would you play 3.Nf3 or 3.Nd2 and why?

I assume you mean 3. Nc3. I used to fear 3. Nd2 but after some simple research I am actually more confidant playing against that than against 3. Nc3.

gaychessplayer

Joined: 22 Aug 06
Moves: 359

30 Aug 07

Originally posted by badivan1
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5, would you play 3.Nf3 or 3.Nd2 and why?

Doesn't 3 Nf3 just drop a pawn and cost a tempo?

Wulebgr

Angler

River City

Joined: 08 Dec 04
Moves: 16907

30 Aug 07

Originally posted by zebano
I assume you mean 3. Nc3.

I did too. It seems that I didn't even read the post. 3.Nf3 is pure foolishness.

gaychessplayer

Joined: 22 Aug 06
Moves: 359

30 Aug 07

Originally posted by Wulebgr
I did too. It seems that I didn't even read the post. 3.Nf3 is pure foolishness.

3 Nf3 against the Caro-Kann:

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nf3 de 4 Ng5 (The Ulysses Gambit)

MoneyMaker7

Joined: 01 Nov 06
Moves: 13406

30 Aug 07

1 edit

Nc3 is sharper? I wouldn't know about that. I used to think Nd2 was completely weird too but it's about keeping more defenders on d4 by Ndf2 and Ne2 and some other ideas. Also, it avoids the pin by Bb4. I would say both are good

AThousandYoung

1st Dan TKD Kukkiwon

tinyurl.com/2te6yzdu

Joined: 23 Aug 04
Moves: 26754

30 Aug 07

3. e5

gaychessplayer

Joined: 22 Aug 06
Moves: 359

31 Aug 07

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
3. e5

Yes, I like 3 e5! There are sharp variations like the Milner-Barry Gambit that give White a big initiative at the cost of a pawn or two:

3...c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 Nf3 Qb6 6 Bd3 cd 7 cd Bd7 8 Nc3 Nd4 9 Nd4 Qd4 10 O-O Qe5 11 Re1 Qb8 12 Nd5

badivan1

Joined: 18 Apr 06
Moves: 31699

31 Aug 07

Originally posted by zebano
I assume you mean 3. Nc3. I used to fear 3. Nd2 but after some simple research I am actually more confidant playing against that than against 3. Nc3.

Um, yeah, I meant 3.Nc3.

castlerook

Joined: 31 May 06
Moves: 867

31 Aug 07

Originally posted by MoneyMaker7
Nc3 is sharper? I wouldn't know about that. I used to think Nd2 was completely weird too but it's about keeping more defenders on d4 by Ndf2 and Ne2 and some other ideas. Also, it avoids the pin by Bb4. I would say both are good

I would agree that Nc3 is sharper, particularly if Black plays the Winawer (3... Bb4)

gaychessplayer

Joined: 22 Aug 06
Moves: 359

31 Aug 07

Originally posted by castlerook
I would agree that Nc3 is sharper, particularly if Black plays the Winawer (3... Bb4)

3 Nc3 was almost the "automatic" response to the French until the 1970's when Karpov started playing 3 Nd2. Then 3 Nd2 was all the rage for quite some time.