Then, Francis, I suspect Tom Hanks might have to play the French Exchange to remain in character - if he were a player.Francis Fields wrote:I have trouble with the French and find that the exchange leads to what can only be described as a 'dull' position. Recently I have had a couple of games beginning 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 h6 . I have tried 7.Qh5 h6 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Qg5 but find the position difficult to play. MCO says 7. Be3 though in a recent game the bishop wasn't doing anything on that square!
Panov & Estrin Vol. 2 Semi-Open Games (1980) has - 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.ed... A rarely played continuation that leads to an equal game.
About your recently-favoured line, Tim Harding (The Classical French, 1991) gave... 6... h6?! This rare move cannot be recommended... 7.Qh5!? (Belavenets & Yudovich) is relatively unexplored...
Now think you mean 7... a6 in your post, above, not h6 as that has already been played.
Then Tim gives, 8.O-O O-O...
However, his main line goes... 7.Bxe7 This replay is simplest and guarantees some advantage...
(Regarding the sub-variation, he gives, 7.Be3 c5 8.Qg4...)