why do so many players lack creativity?

Personally, I play exchange french because I dont know an ounce of french theory

Learn from Hikaru!)
youtu.be/2ZDB-31-HGE

If money can't buy creativity, I guess I'll have to rent.

That's exactly why I do it, you come with all this preparation, "exd5", your preparation vanishes like magic.

Nah there is plenty of prep for the French Exchange, certainly ways to create imbalances to reduce drawing potentials.

Weird thing I have found is that if you play OTB peeps play all the 'normal' variations, the ones you don't need for on-line play.

French Defence is actually quite a rich opening. The problem I have with people playing the Exchange variation is that there are at least 3 or 4 other 2nd moves that are just as solid but people play the Exchange because it's a 'known draw' which it most definitely isn't - the evidence in the Opening Explorer.

@TheJeromeGambit said in #1:
> I DESPISE people who do this.
I despise people who play the french d. And here we are. Deal with the exchange variation.

Computers is the reason, all the creative stuff has been refuted and we left with a load of boring London systems and slavs

People who can't play real chess hate anything that wins.

Because of opening theory. Chess960 forces creativity from the first move.

@Prophiscient said in #19:
> Because of opening theory. Chess960 forces creativity from the first move.

Nah, Chess 960 doesn't stop me from playing my Beach Cafe theory 9 moves deep!