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The French Defence

The French Defence

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my anti-french is the King's Indian Attack with 2. d3 and 3. Nd2.

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Originally posted by YUG0slav
my anti-french is the King's Indian Attack with 2. d3 and 3. Nd2.
KID is interesting, Reti Gambit is more exciting.

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and I would never play the french as black, since the sicilian is just so much more cuddly to me. And the french is nice and closed, which is more suited towards a 1. d4 player and not tactical 1.e4 me.

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Originally posted by Sicilian Smaug
Sounds a bit weak I think.
It's actually ok, I think the main lines give white a potentially better chance at an advantage, but considering how many people are aware of the system, black gets thrown off a lot.

examples of French KIA :
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044267

Game 2372036

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Originally posted by Sicilian Smaug
But that's the magician Fischer playing it. He could make any opening and defence look good. On the flip side, it can't be that weak if he'd consider playing it... your game was good.
He didn't use it often, and it's well known that he struggled greatly against the French.

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Originally posted by cmsMaster
2.b3 1-0.
Just a little optimistic :-), but I agree 2.b3 in underrated. But my point is that moves like 2.b3 are quite rare vs. the French. And others have mentioned the KIA, but it's not really an anti-French weapon as it is also played against the sicilian, caro, 1...e5, or via 1.Nf3.

If you play the Sicilian, you are likely to face the Alapin, the closed, the Grand Prix, Bb5 systems, the Smith Morra Gambit, all of which are exclusive to the Sicilian. If you play the French you might face the KIA and a few other second moves from time to time, but most of the time you'll be playing the French!! I love the open sicilian positions, but I seldom get them. I also love the Black side of the Ruy, but I seldom get that. When I play 1...e6, I get the French!
Scott

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Originally posted by YUG0slav
my anti-french is the King's Indian Attack with 2. d3 and 3. Nd2.
Check out my response to the French Defense: 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Be3!? It's called the Alapin Variation and there is a book written about the variation by Tim Sawyer.

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Viktor Korchnoi has been successfully employing the French for years (decades?).

Wolfgang Ulhmann has been being playing it exclusively against 1 e4 for at least 40 years, I believe.

Up and coming young superstar GM Varzun Akobian plays it all the time against 1 e4.

I believe that IM John Watson and Ulhmann himself have written treatises on the French.

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Originally posted by gaychessplayer
Viktor Korchnoi has been successfully employing the French for years (decades?).

Wolfgang Ulhmann has been being playing it exclusively against 1 e4 for at least 40 years, I believe.

Up and coming young superstar GM Varzun Akobian plays it all the time against 1 e4.

I believe that IM John Watson and Ulhmann himself have written treatises on the French.
I have John Watson's book 'Play the French' which is very good, but most of the moves and plans aren't explained enough for me 😛

Does anyone have any lines to recommend? In particular, I am wondering whether to play the Winiware or the Classical against 3.Nc3.

I think the Classical suits my style more but the Winaware looks interesting and exciting. Any thoughts?

Thanks 🙂

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As someone said on the front page...play the Alekhine's (sp?) Defence. Your friend says that you attack whites pawn center in the French....well you definantly do that here.
1.e4 2.Nf6
and the assult is on

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If you want french lines I can help you.
e4 e6 d4 d5 ? c5 is my line.and try to get Queen b6 and pawn to f6.

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Originally posted by skims
I have John Watson's book 'Play the French' which is very good, but most of the moves and plans aren't explained enough for me 😛

Does anyone have any lines to recommend? In particular, I am wondering whether to play the Winiware or the Classical against 3.Nc3.

I think the Classical suits my style more but the Winaware looks interesting and exciting. Any thoughts?

Thanks 🙂
That is more or less the "bible" for some players in the french defense clan. I don't own it so I can't comment on it more than to say that some people rant and rave about it.

Personally, the light square bishop is a monster if you can free it. That said, it's most important that you continue to play activly than to focus on freeing one piece. In many cases, after an f6/f5 break it is the only thign holding the base f your pawn structure and thus becomes very important in it's own right.

Winawer vrs. classical... Play them both and choose whichever one suits your style. I prefer the winawer, but you have to be willing to sacrafice the exchange in certain lines if you want to have winning chances.

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Originally posted by zebano
That is more or less the "bible" for some players in the french defense clan. I don't own it so I can't comment on it more than to say that some people rant and rave about it.

Personally, the light square bishop is a monster if you can free it. That said, it's most important that you continue to play activly than to focus on freeing one piece. In many case ...[text shortened]... be willing to sacrafice the exchange in certain lines if you want to have winning chances.
thanks zebano, my only problem with the winawer is that after the Bb4 move, the g7-pawn is a target, and often I find that Qg4 is played which is a real nuisance.

I also find it very difficult to develop my kingside pieces in most variations of the French, in particular after 3.Nc3.

Any suggestions?

Thanks 🙂