French Defense

Does anyone recommend playing this opening (1.e4 e6)?

Originally posted by Dutch Defense
Does anyone recommend playing this opening (1.e4 e6)?

It's a fine opening for black. Every world champion and all master and above players have made it part of their repertoire.

Did I spell repertoire right?

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Did I spell repertoire right?

I don't know. 🙄

Originally posted by Dutch Defense
Does anyone recommend playing this opening (1.e4 e6)?

If you want some advice or some possible lines to see if you like it, see User 193748. He should be able to tell you what you need to know/look out for.

It`s not bad opening for black.

Originally posted by Korch
It`s not bad opening for black.

Do you know of some lines?

Originally posted by Dutch Defense
Do you know of some lines?

Of course - I`m playing French OTB sometimes 🙂

Which of lines do you want to know?

Originally posted by Korch
Of course - I`m playing French OTB sometimes 🙂

Which of lines do you want to know?

For now, I just want to know the Advanced Variation and Wineaver Variation.

Originally posted by Korch
Of course - I`m playing French OTB sometimes 🙂

Which of lines do you want to know?

I've been a bit afraid of the French Defense as it seems to be a very theory heavy opening - but mainly, I just don't know what to do with the queen's bishop, it just seems useless for so long?

I dont play Winaver because I`m playing Rubinstein (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4), but in Advance line (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5) I can recommend 2 plans

1) 3,....Ne7 with idea of 4....b6 and 5...Ba6 (exchanging dangerous white squared bishop)

2) 3....c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 (with idea of 5....Nge7 6...cxd4 7....Nf5)

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
It's a fine opening for black. Every world champion and all master and above players have made it part of their repertoire.

Did I spell repertoire right?

I agree it's a perfectly good opening, although it depends on your style of play. Personally, I find you often end up in positions which I wouldn't like to play either side of. Obviously, that doesn't mean they're bad (can't be bad for both sides), they just don't suit my style. Specifically, the centre often ends up totally locked and I never really know how to make progress or defend those type of positions. So I avoid it. But you may love it - give it a go.

I suspect one advantage of being a French defence guru is that, because the positions tend to have a character all their own, over time you will probably become more familiar with the style of play than your opponents (except the minority who also play the French regularly). I know you could say this about a lot of openings, but somehow, to me at least, it seems especially true of the French.

Incidentally, I don't think it's quite true that all world champs have played it (can't recall seeing it from Kasparov, for example, but you may know better) and it's certainly not true of all masters - I doubt you could say that about any reply to 1e4. But it does have a very respectable pedigree at the highest level.

Originally posted by Korch
1) 3,....Ne7 with idea of 4....b6 and 5...Ba6 (exchanging dangerous white squared bishop)

That's an original plan. However, I prefer the famous second plan, hitting on d4 square via c5, Nc6, Qb6, Ne2 and Nf4 etc...

I would recommend the defense, there is much to learn and it is solid enough for GM's to play it.

Deciding where to put the Ng7 often seems important because it can go to numerous places (f6, g6, f5 etc). Also, chosing when to spend time on your Bc8 and when to use time for other projects is important.

Originally posted by Exuma
I've been a bit afraid of the French Defense as it seems to be a very theory heavy opening - but mainly, I just don't know what to do with the queen's bishop, it just seems useless for so long?

you usually trade it off by moving it to a6

Originally posted by Dutch Defense
Does anyone recommend playing this opening (1.e4 e6)?

Clan 24492

I can say that for me after playing the Sicilian for a quarter century, switching to the French was part of my overall scheme for improvement that now has me regularly winning Club events in my fair city.