Chess Openings: Learn to Play the French Defense Against the Exchange Variation

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Chess Openings: Learn to Play the French Defense Against the Exchange Variation
There are many good chess openings for black against e4, one of the very best being the French Defense. Some might wonder why the French Defense is so popular? Well, first off, it is a very hard chess opening to play against. The French Defense has been played by many of the top grandmasters and world chess champions for decades now. It has good chess strategy, chess moves, chess ideas, chess principles, chess theory, chess tricks, and chess traps. The French Defense is easily a top tier chess opening for black. In today's video, we cover how to play the French Defense against the Exchange Variation. Usually, if white plays the exchange variation, it shows that they are somewhat afraid of the main lines of the French. The exchange variation usually leads to a very drawish game, with 47% of the games ending in draws! However, what do we play against the Exchange Variation if we are trying to use the French to win games? In today's video, we cover some tips and tricks to help you play aggressive chess and win games fast. There is a ton of chess opening theory with the French Defense, and white may try to escape this with the Exchange Variation, but as we shall see, black still has some great chess no matter what white tries to play. The French Defense is a good chess opening for beginners and intermediate chess players as it is a top tier chess opening that can be played to help you win games fast. We hope you enjoy learning how to play the French Defense against the Exchange Variation!
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[@alancoe1002]

I go through phases of playing 1...e6 against everything. I've never had the Exchange played against me, which means I am unprepared for it. I could see somebody with middlegame skills wanting to take a French player out of book, assuming that even French players don't much want to spend much time on these lines. But, remember what people said about Lasker's sub-prime variations that they couldn't beat: "It's no easy matter to play against Lasker's bad moves". Beware of what bores you. Thanks, Solomon.

[@TheChessGiant]

"Beware of what bores you." This is a quote I'm not even gonna lie.

[@someguyontheinternet7628]

I'm a French defender for ten years. Play a mental trick on yourself and look forward to the exchange. Tell yourself this is what you want and get excited when you see it. It really is good for black. Instant equality really. If know the basic principles you absolutely have the edge.

[@TheChessGiant]

Love it! That's a great approach.

[@AaronRinggenberg]

I need to do this. I've gotten so bored by exchange variation players that I had started pre-moving the next couple moves (like Nf6 and Be6). I've been trying to inject excitement/imbalance into the position with c5 (vs the solid but passive c6) but I like this video's suggestion of long castling much more.

[@someguyontheinternet7628]

@@AaronRinggenberg Tell yourself that white is throwing their hands up and asking you to take over. If you master the simple tactics of the exchange there is no reason to ever give up the French.

[@drakehopkins5931]

really enjoying french defence honestly, i would rather prefer my opponent not to exchange though

[@TheChessGiant]

That's awesome, it is a great chess opening system for black. And I wholeheartedly agree, the Exchange is the most boring avenue white can take.

[@joelcollander1973]

Exactly, the french is great but the exchange is annoying

[@IlluminatiM06]

Exchange French is one of the crimes in chess

[@getnoobed6203]

I agree

[@unathorizdwatermelon]

Awesome video, super well explained. You did a great job of covering lines in a way that I could easily follow. Subscribed!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. Always feel free to let me know any other chess openings you'd want to see covered on the channel, or just any chess related questions you have in general. Here to help!

[@matthewgrasso7167]

I love the French defense and hate facing the exchange due to boredom, thanks for this! As white, if I’m playing someone with a higher rating I will frequently play the exchange variation since I’m cool with a draw and sometimes black blunders (probably out of boredom in hopes of making it interesting)

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Matthew, no problem! Glad you enjoyed it. And same here! Ya the exchange variation is SO drawish that I'll play it as white against higher rated players and put the pressure on them to do something crazy and maybe overextended their position or make a mistake in the process. Hard to draw water from a stone.

[@DexterMorphy]

after b5 Na5 Qa4 b6 White will play Nb3 to open up on the queen side not yet because of Bxf3 but after the move Ne5..etc.. the Queenside castle is very risky but the games are fun.

[@mikethomas6566]

Thanks for the lines! Don’t know why French exchange gets such a bad rap. It’s just a more open style of play than the other French defenses. As black, take advantage and don’t be afraid to be creative

[@miksu.8553]

I think people dislike it, because it has such a high draw rate, due to similiar structure etc.

[@shrimank9780]

Very informative

[@skyeruddell3196]

Appreciate you sharing this great video!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks for watching! Let me know if there are any other chess openings you'd want to see covered on this channel.

[@edouardlorge4059]

old style chess content, my favourite

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you my guy 🙏🏼🤝

[@thecalguy]

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro to exchange french 0:44 - 4. c4 variation 3:54 - Standard variation 4:53 - Gothamchess variation 8:34 - Outro

[@davidmatos5773]

Great video! I liked it so much! Thank you! I think the hardest (for black) variation to play against the French Defense is the King's Indian Attack. Do you have some "tip" to play against King's Indian Attack as Black (French)? I'm a French Defense player... thanks!

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey David! Thanks brotha I'm glad you enjoyed it! Ya this is a great video idea - I will add this to the list! Thanks for sharing, hopefully I can get this out sooner rather than later!

[@ShadowCider]

I'd like to say I'm decent with the French. However in that, the exchange variation is what I get 90% of the time when I play the French and I usually lose if I don't draw. That's mostly online though. But last night at my chess tournament they played the exchange variation and so, like normal, I lost. I almost drew it though, lasted to move 63 with my king against their king, rook, and a pawn. Still lost though. So now I'm doubling down on mastering the exchange variation

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey! For sure, good on you for trying to improve your game against the Exchange Variation. Hopefully this video is a good start. Do you feel pretty comfortable in the other French Defense lines?

[@ggelosstavrou9117]

At 7:32 why not N1h2?

[@TheChessGiant]

That is a good question!! I have looked at it to see if there's some way to take advantage of it but it looks like a solid option to me!

[@ggelosstavrou9117]

@@TheChessGiant same

[@dedbabay01]

👍

[@claytonbenignus4688]

I loathe the French Exchange Variation.

[@prakasavigraha6104]

Your method of reviewing the line after having explained it, helps me a lot. Otherwise I lose the sequence with the details. No one else does this and so I really appreciate it. Cheers Solomon.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you Prakasa! We should be dropping a video on the Advanced Variation later this week!

[@judahslion5611]

I always take with queen on d5 and force a Scandi transposition if they play the ridiculously boring exchange french. It catches many off guard.

[@alancoe1002]

That's very interesting. I like the Scandi, yet, I didn't see that. Thanks!

[@TheChessGiant]

Interesting! I'll have to look into that!

[@judahslion5611]

@@alancoe1002 No problem. 🙂

[@DexterMorphy]

Also after Bd6 you need a good line in case of c4! then Bb4 will lose a tempo

[@arshanalam6186]

Yes thank you so much

[@TheChessGiant]

Of course!

[@diptanuchakraborty2397]

Love your analysis

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you Diptanu! Appreciate it man.

[@remcoterharmsel3147]

a true french defense would be resigning...

[@TheChessGiant]

savage 😂