u/Frankerian

I am interested in the experience and views of my betters who play the Tarrasch against the French. In the main line with Nf6 e5 Nd7 Bd3 c5 c3 Nc6 Ne2, after cxd cxd one often gets f6 where Nf4 creates a fun game for White (or can do so). It seems that Vysochin (2550) has made this Nf4 line playable even in the Qb6 lines where one has played Nf3 as White - so: e4 e6 d4 d5 Nd2 Nf6 e5 Nd7 Bd3 c5 c3 Nc6 Ne2 Qb6 Nf3 cxd cxd f6 - here still play Nf4!? One gets good play with Qh5 stuff and the e pawn looks like a good gambit. Interestingly one must apparently play Kf1 in response to any check on b4. Does anyone do this and like this as White? Check for example Vysochin v Socko 2002 and Vysochin v Hassan 2003 (both opponents 2300+) The reason I am intrigued is that Black obviously wants exf6 and I am not too keen on the isolated pawn situations that arise for White.

In the Scotch gambit, in the main line with Nf6 e5 d5 Bb5, one very rarely encounters Nd7 instead of Ne4. But engines like Black in all continuations (0-0, Bxc6 or Bf4). Anyone aware of good discussions or videos on this line online? And why it’s not played more often? Since White doesn’t get much good play gambiting the e pawn, it seems Bf4 may be best, but I see only one 2200+ game with Bf4 on Chessbase database.