Is the exchange French so bad?

LOL you only played without inaccuracies because you exchanged all the pieces off the board. That isn't exactly because the opening itself is lame, it's because the engine isn't going to penalize anyone for maintaining equality.

I play exchange with white because I most of the time prefer open positions.

here is a game i got earlier on
http://en.lichess.org/LbM7qZTq0lxb
i would find it very helpfull if other people could post exchange games so i can get some ideas etc thanks

Hey Eatchipss, Here's a (bad! (please don't look at the end)) game I just played. White tries to imbalance the position with immediate attack on d5. I think this is a good try from white for making the exchange a bit more exciting.* I was OK, until I captured wrong, but still held on OK until time trouble decided the matter for both of us.

http://en.lichess.org/Ge6zuo6o/black#1

*But if you want an imbalance and more exciting position, why not play a different line?

By the way, I play 5...Bb4 because I once checked Stockfish to see what the "correct" response was to 4.c4 . . . but I have no idea how this really helps matters for black.

There should be more to an opening system than just exchanges.

thanks timmothy that was intresting game, saw some nice ideas.
i play the french because i really enjoy the advanced variation and have goodish results from it, i enjoy the closed positions which black has to break free from

and here is another one
http://en.lichess.org/tkSUCXnz/black
untill he blundered seemed pretty equal

Eatchipss: have you seen this one? Here's a game between Nakamura and Simon Williams:

http://en.lichess.org/WT1HWYCr#73

It's interesting because Simon Williams seems to be a major exponent of the French. He has some video's available on YouTube. If you haven't already, take a look at his videos. They were helpful for me.

(I got the pgn from KingsCrusher's channel on YouTube see his analysis here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CJqf2Q_ADY
)

thanks timmothly that was really intresting game. Naka managed to spice that one up pretty well. it seems like if ur not scared of Isolated pawns then u can make some action from it.

In the exchange French, I go in for 4. Nc3 with the idea that if Black wants to keep things symmetrical, after 4. ...Nc6, there is the move Bb5 pinning the knight. Releasing the pin with Bd7 now hangs the e pawn, so more typical is either Nf6 or a6. The a6 lines now play a bit like a Spanish structure, but the key difference is that the pawns are locked up on d, rather than e, and the open e-file gives White a lot of pressure after castling. After Nf6, there is a3 which further prevents a symmetrical structure developing, and gives the bishop the option to retreat back to a2 later if needed. So generally from here it's something like 6. ...Bd7 blocking checks along the file, and from here it's a pretty open game with a lot of tactics available for both sides.

What's nice though is when players don't respond to Nc3 with Nc6 but rather Nf6. This is when there are chances to just play a quick Bg5 to put more pressure on the e pawn, and from here there's Qe2 for White sometimes with check, and a queenside castle coming. This line is always going to be pretty sharp.

These may not be the best ways to open from the exchange, but these Nc3 lines are what I enjoy about the exchange variation and I generally am quite happy with my game as White. I never feel as though Black has totally complete equalized after Nc3 because he has to accept some concessions to hang onto the weak e pawn in that he loses a completely balanced symmetrical position fairly early on and it's these imbalances that can help give White the ability to use his initiative for something other than just exchanging off more pieces. Though I'm sure somewhere out there the whole Nc3 line is invalidated. hahah