French

Subscribervenda
Only Chess 21 Jan '15 14:39
  1. Subscribervenda
    Dave
    S.Yorks.England
    Joined
    18 Apr '10
    Moves
    83461
    21 Jan '15 14:39
    I like to play the french with black.
    With the advance variation the white pawn on e5 is always a thorn in my side as I don't like to castle kingside without my knight on f6.
    What do the masters do here?
    Not castle kingside or try to get rid of the e5 pawn somehow?
  2. Joined
    18 Feb '10
    Moves
    0
    21 Jan '15 14:521 edit
    Both! Don't even think about castling kingside - you''ll walk into Bxh7 tricks. Leave the king where it is and play c5, Nc6, Qb6 and then f6. One plan for Black is to deliberately block up the queenside with c4 (preferably after b4 by White) and then castle queenside.

    [edit] Here's an example by Petrosian. Funnily enough he doesn't play f6 in this game:
  3. Subscribervenda
    Dave
    S.Yorks.England
    Joined
    18 Apr '10
    Moves
    83461
    21 Jan '15 15:09
    Originally posted by Data Fly
    Both! Don't even think about castling kingside - you''ll walk into Bxh7 tricks. Leave the king where it is and play c5, Nc6, Qb6 and then f6. One plan for Black is to deliberately block up the queenside with c4 (preferably after b4 by White) and then castle queenside.

    [edit] Here's an example by Petrosian. Funnily enough he doesn't play f6 in this game: ...[text shortened]... Be3 Nb6 28. Bf1 Qg6 29. f4 Rc8 30. Qd2 Rc2 31. Bd3 Rxd2
    32. Bxg6 fxg6 33. Bxd2 gxh5 0-1
    [/pgn]
    Thanks.I've often wondered about c4 but not had the confidence to play it as all the theory I've seen seems to advocate putting pressure on the white d pawn, or even taking it.

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.I Agree