To blunt the french.

Lets not be silly here, the best way to blunt the french is through the exchange variation. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3

This avoids any strength that the french may have had, now it is a matter of move order, if black doesn't play Bd3 and plays Nf3 instead, white can win with Bg4. It is slow and painful be assured, but white can win.

Therefore, if everyone plays the exchange variation against the french then eventually people will stop playing it because they will never win against you if you know how to win or draw in the exchange variation.

The point is not to win with white against the french, but to win as black against a french player. Make sence?

Here is a good link:
http://jimwestonchess.blogspot.com/2007/01/french-defense-exchange-variation.html

I'm not so sure. To begin with, this is pretty weak for White, treating the French as something so terrifying that he has to trade into an allegedly drawish middlegame which is actually anything but - all Black has to do is avoid symmetry and White has his work cut out.

Lastly, I can't help wondering about the idea of blunting the French - Winawer aside, the French is arguably already a blunt, cudgel-like opening, and anyone looking to shake FD players up is probably better advised to look at sharp, open lines like the Reti Gambit.

To blunt the French.
1. e4 e6
2. Qe2
Job done.

I've only just started the french! 😲

Stop scaring me!:'(

Don't play e5 as I'm having terrific fun killing the d4 pawn!

Especially against those who don't want to play c3!

Originally posted by English Tal
To blunt the French.
1. e4 e6
2. Qe2
Job done.

1. e4 e6
2. Qe2 c5

Originally posted by Diet Coke
1. e4 e6
2. Qe2 c5

If you wanted a move for white against the french that loses whites opening advantage in one move then Qe2 is refuted by c5 as it looks f'ing stupid now.

Or was a kingside fianchetto part of your master plan?

Originally posted by Diet Coke
If you wanted a move for white against the french that loses whites opening advantage in one move then Qe2 is refuted by c5 as it looks f'ing stupid now.

Or was a kingside fianchetto part of your master plan?

Originally posted by cmsMaster
It's never a good idea to say that an opening is done after 2 moves. I've heard plenty of people say 3...d6 after I talk about the KG and expect me to go...oh man, that destroys all of white's chances!! I'm done!

2...c5 may be tough, but it really doesn't seem to be something that I'm too worried about - and I can't recall seeing it in practical play.

Originally posted by Diet Coke
You obviously haven't played many practical players.

I just checked my database and guess what the most popular reply to Qe2 is?

Funnily enough e5 seems pretty successful too.

Originally posted by cmsMaster
At top level that's the most popular reply - at my level it isn't.

I looked up some lines, nothing too bad for white - one involves a pawn sac which seems to give an equal position.


[Event "Blitz:3'"]
[Site "ha"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "New game"]
[Black "Fritz 9"]
[Result "*"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[TimeControl "180"]

{24MB, B ...[text shortened]... so include NorthernLad's idea of 2...c5 3.b3!? followed by 4.Bb2 and 5.f4.

Originally posted by Diet Coke
Isn't that what black aims to do?

Surprise value is ok.

But this won't, or shouldn't, work on CC.