French Defense

French Defense

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c

Joined
02 Feb 06
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8557
26 Oct 06

Now that I've got the attention of every French player on this forum I have a question about this defense from the white perspective. How does the theory of 3.Nc3 compare to that of the Tarrasch? And which do you less like to face and/or have more trouble against?

a

cavanaugh park

Joined
27 Feb 05
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50881
26 Oct 06

Nc3 is best for white

c

Joined
02 Feb 06
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26 Oct 06

Originally posted by alexstclaire
Nc3 is best for white
I'm aware, but how much more theory is there on 3.Nc3?

Y

Joined
29 Jul 06
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2414
26 Oct 06

! please don't tell me that you're planning to ditch glorious Sicilian for the French?! Or maybe you just want to know how to deal with it as white...

c

Joined
02 Feb 06
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8557
26 Oct 06

Originally posted by YUG0slav
! please don't tell me that you're planning to ditch glorious Sicilian for the French?! Or maybe you just want to know how to deal with it as white...
Don't you read? I asked from the white perspective, I'm looking for ways to fight it, and I'm still using the Dragon.

Y

Joined
29 Jul 06
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2414
26 Oct 06

Originally posted by cmsMaster
Don't you read? I asked from the white perspective, I'm looking for ways to fight it, and I'm still using the Dragon.
my bad, read the first post wrong.

W
Angler

River City

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26 Oct 06

Originally posted by cmsMaster
Now that I've got the attention of every French player on this forum I have a question about this defense from the white perspective. How does the theory of 3.Nc3 compare to that of the Tarrasch? And which do you less like to face and/or have more trouble against?
There's more theory regarding Nc3, as black has several well-tested ways of meeting the move.

White more often gains the advantage with Nc3 than with Nd2, but there are reasons to advocate.

White immediately offers black equality with the exchange variation, but that's what I play as white.

M

Winnipeg

Joined
26 Oct 06
Moves
7116
27 Oct 06
1 edit

Originally posted by cmsMaster
Now that I've got the attention of every French player on this forum I have a question about this defense from the white perspective. How does the theory of 3.Nc3 compare to that of the Tarrasch? And which do you less like to face and/or have more trouble against?
3.Nc3 is putting more immediate pressure on black as a result of the knight's influence on the central squares d5 & e4. It's not a "better" move than 3.Nd2, just different in character. 3.Nd2 isn't putting any immediate pressure on black and the struggle in those games takes place in the middlegame.

Having said this, black has the option of turning either 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2 into the same opening: 3....dxe4 defining the Rubinstein variation. This is probably the best choice for a beginner who wants to keep the preparation down to a minimum.

1...c5!

Your Kingside

Joined
28 Sep 01
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40665
27 Oct 06

I think Nc3 is definitely better than Nd2. Not to mention it just looks better, aesthetically.

e

Joined
19 Nov 05
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3112
27 Oct 06

Originally posted by alexstclaire
Nc3 is best for white
Why not the advance?

m

Joined
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35068
27 Oct 06
1 edit

Originally posted by !~TONY~!
I think Nc3 is definitely better than Nd2. Not to mention it just looks better, aesthetically.
I prefer the Tarrasch. It's not really a matter of 'better'. I just prefer the types of position you get out of it. I've never been happy with the doubled c-pawn positions you get out of the Winawer.

At the top level it's pretty common, and scores about the same.

SS

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96595
27 Oct 06
1 edit

T

Joined
30 Sep 06
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27 Oct 06

Originally posted by alexstclaire
Nc3 is best for white
why?

SS

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27 Oct 06

T

Joined
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1085
27 Oct 06

Originally posted by Sicilian Smaug
I think Kasparov and other GMs have said that Nc3 is good for a win and Nd2 good for a draw. But I don't believe that's true at all for our level.
1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5
3.Nc3
1-0?

do you think that is true at any level?
It makes chess a complete waste of time is such crass statements are correct
Why not simply
1.e4
1-0
lets play gothic chess instead

🙂