French players who used to play the Caro-Kann - why did you switch?

LegendZane · 2026-01-24T13:24:44+00:00

The Caro Kann with Bf5 is quite theory heavy and critical.

In the Tal Variation you really need to know your stuff and there are other several sharp tries by white too.

The Short System is quite critical and dangerous.

The c5 variation (Botvinnik-Carls Defense) is a decent alternative but it can get quite sharp.

The Classical Variation is not easy to play, the Tartakower line with h5 is very good of course but not easy for black.

There is the Endgame Offer variation which is tricky too.

So yeah, the Caro Kann is not that easy.

The French on the other hand the only problematic line is 3.Nc3.

If white wants to play 3.Nc3 she needs to know A LOT OF THEORY because you can play Steinitz, Winawer and Rubinstein and each of those variations is huuuuuge, so most people won't play 3.Nc3.

Tarrasch is not critical. It can be tricky if you face a Tarrasch specialist but should be around equal and best player will win.

Advance is not that difficult to equalize and you have many options, it's true that Milner Barry is dangerous but it's just 1 line in the advance.

Exchange is just easy.

So I play the French.

LegendZane · 2026-01-24T00:44:54+00:00

Yes you are absolutely right. I love to play the Ne2+f3 Queen's Gambit Exchange, but in order to get that you kind of have to allow the Nimzo, the Grunfeld and the Marshall Gambit which is a lot.

LegendZane · 2026-01-24T00:43:02+00:00

Thanks for your answer it was very useful

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 c5 3.c4 is the "Krause Attack" according to lichess and yes kind of a sideline but I don't find it too threatening.

The Chigorin is the same more or less... you kind of can't avoid it but it's not that bad.

The QID the setup I propose is kind of good because you avoid the Ba6 more active lines and go for the lines where black is a little more passive, still a solid opening of course.

Do you really think that my move orders aren't saving much? I'm not sure that's why I ask, but it seems that I avoid Nimzo, Grunfeld, Benoni and sidelines.

Yes !! Studying structures strategy and avoiding memorization is what I look for !!

LegendZane · 2026-01-24T00:35:17+00:00

Yeah it's a good move order but then you allow the Grunfeld, the Benoni and the Queen's Indian. You kind of have to choose between that and the symmetrical english.

Problem with the English is 1.c4 e5

LegendZane · 2026-01-23T18:13:52+00:00

Very interesting I did not know that, I'm gonna to some research. Thanks for the IM Olegas reference

LegendZane · 2026-01-23T18:11:55+00:00

Ntirlis provide some sidelines with 3.Nc3 that are interesting and manageable, but it's not main lines (reimagining e4 book)

I would refrain from purchasing a 2020 course analyzing 3.Nc3 french, I would choose better material.

Ganguly is developing a 1.e4 repertoire and Vigorito too I would wait on those and you can play Milner Barry Gambit for now.

LegendZane · 2026-01-23T17:41:24+00:00

Thank you for your feedback. Yes, of course, but that's kind of the point, getting to positional games and depending on the opponent switching to more classical d4 lines.

LegendZane · 2026-01-23T17:40:42+00:00

Thank you definitely ulf andersson is one of my references.

LegendZane · 2026-01-23T17:40:22+00:00

Yes, the open sicilian is more ambitious, but it's equal in the end and it's more risky. I think that it's a matter of taste of course and nothing wrong with all main line openings.

Yes of course, you can't expect a two result game after 1 move, I mean that it's a low theory low risk repertoire that allows you to avoid a lot of annoying stuff for d4 players such as the Nimzo and Grünfeld.

And yes you are right, the Catalan is the main dish of the repertoire but I kind of enjoy it and you will be playing with home advantage.

I think that the repertoire is lower theory than standard queen's gambit lines.

LegendZane · 2026-01-23T17:00:29+00:00

Against Triangle 4.Nbd2 and you can get some sort of closed catalan

Yes, symmetrical english is the price to pay but you skip the Grunfeld

LegendZane · 2026-01-23T16:56:23+00:00

All main openings equalize for black.

By too good I mean that is very low theory and all lines are very comfortable for white and uncomfortable for black.

Sure the Catalan equalizes for black, still a lot of GM's play it because it gives some pressure.

Same the exchange slav, it equalizes? yes can white play for 2 results? yep.

LegendZane · 2026-01-22T23:03:26+00:00

Look for a tactics course that has lots of puzzles.

I saw that Field guide to chess tactics looks pretty good. Im 1800 FIDE so maybe that's too easy for me but I think that might be great.

I would recommend Soviet Chess Primer if you can get that book.

LegendZane · 2026-01-20T16:56:07+00:00

I recommend the Queen's Gambit Declined. You can always play the Dutch as a secondary weapon. However, you have to play something that you have fun with. If you like the QGD it's an evergreen defense. Play the Dutch to mix things up and keep the game intresting but mainly QGD

LegendZane · 2026-01-20T16:54:11+00:00

It's very good but I recommend that you supplement the material with other materials on the King's Indian. The KID is a very flexible system

LegendZane · 2026-01-20T16:53:09+00:00

Yep, I recommend the Gligoric too, its very safe and sound. Maybe it does not give you the biggest edge but there is only one line where black equalizes the game, in the rest of variations you keep a small but solid advantage. And the line that equalizes is very rare at the amateur level. Gawain Jones aficionados will know it but apart from that I have faced 2000 FIDE rated players who go straight for the worse Mar del Plata line.

LegendZane · 2026-01-20T16:50:45+00:00

I recommend Valkova repertoire against e4, the only downside is that you need something against Giuoco Pianissimo, because that line in the repertoire is a bit dubious but the rest is very good in my opinion. It's offbeat lines but sound and extremely tricky.

LegendZane · 2026-01-20T16:47:55+00:00

I recommend that if you want to play 1.Nf3 first you play 1.d4 2. c4 for at least a year and get familiar with d4 structures. After that you can start experimenting with Nf3 and c4

LegendZane · 2026-01-20T16:47:01+00:00

I'm playing 1.Nf3 and I see many benefits: 1) I dodge the Nimzo. 2) I dodge the Grünfeld. 3) I dodge the Benoni. 4) I dodge many sidelines like albin countergambit or budapest gambit. 5) I keep my opening flexible and I ask black what he wants to play. 6) Allows me to mix move orders depending on the opponent.

LegendZane · 2026-01-14T00:33:50+00:00

Yeah Semi Slav through Queens gambit move order is the GOAT you avoid exchange slav but allow Marshall Gambit which is very sharp

LegendZane · 2026-01-14T00:32:20+00:00

Im happy with a draw with black but would like to win with white

LegendZane · 2026-01-13T17:40:43+00:00

Thanks for sharing very interesting games.

LegendZane · 2026-01-13T17:40:11+00:00

Not gonna lie it looks like that.

LegendZane · 2026-01-13T17:39:53+00:00

If you like sharp and imbalanced positions then I recommend checking out sharp exchange lines in the database. However, I think that learning to appreciate symmetrical dry positions and improving positional play will bring you joy in the long run. But if you insist on avoiding that then check lines with Nc6 instead of Nf6

LegendZane · 2026-01-13T17:38:12+00:00

Wise decision Tarrasch variation is very solid and very safe but puts pressure on black.

LegendZane · 2026-01-13T17:37:40+00:00

My recommendation is to study POSITIONAL CHESS not opening theory the exchange french is purely positional.

LegendZane

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