How can the french opening be avoided?

Question

I'm really not good at the french when I'm with white, is there a good way to avoid it and get my opponent outside of their preparation?

Answer 1

I'm assuming that you are trying to avoid French-like positions, rather than avoiding the named opening - the latter is latter impossible after 1.e4 as most texts consider the French beginning as soon as black plays 1.e6.

In short, if you want to play 1.e4 regularly there is no way of avoiding the French Defence with a 'standard' opening. After 1.e4 e6, all sensible moves from White can be made to resemble some features of the French if Black wants to press the game in that direction.

To give some general advice: avoiding an opening by playing really unusual moves almost always results in objectively worse positions if your opponent plays correctly. Because of this, I'd recommend putting time into finding a response to the French that gives you a position that you feel more comfortable with. The Exchange variation is very different from the Advance, which is different again from the Classical and Winawer. With the number of different lines you should eventually be able to find something you at least don't feel too uncomfortable playing. Alternatively, a system-like approach with the King's Indian Attack (KIA) or similar could work if you don't want to learn lines that your opponent may be more familiar with.

Answer 2

Depends on your style. You may go with 2 c4 or 2 g3 would lead to very different positions

Answer 3

This is the most monotonous and annoying play you can imagine - it rarely gives rise to combinations of some interest. - Serafino Dubois

That's one of that really say about french opening. As you said you're playing as white, I'd like to Recommend you to go for 1. d4 (in french opening it starts with 1. e4 e6) and go for King's Indian Defence, It's really useful and I personally won 60% Matches with it. Otherwise if you for 1. e4 you have a less chance for French Opening, as there is High for King's Gambit [Source : My personal games]

Let's say that you get French Opening, then go for French Defense:Frankfurt Variation that is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Ng8 6.Be3 b6 It's really belived to be Advantage for white.

Anyways, It's Chess and Completely Depends upon How you play it.