1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
Bb4
The French Winawer. Black threatens immediately to win a pawn with dxe4
4.e5
The best and most accurate response.
4...c5
Attacking the white pawn chain at its weakest point, the base.
5.a3
Challenging the dark-squared bishop. dxe4 and Ba5 do not fare well , but that's a story for another day.
5...Bxc3+
6.bxc3
White has secured the center at the cost of weakened c-pawns. The absence of the dark-squared bishop has weakened the black kingside... and the e5-pawn and the weak black g-pawn often emboldens white into playing Qg4
6...Ne7
Preparing for 7. Qg4 with Qc7 8.Qxg7 Rg8 with counterplay that is, in my opinion, not sufficient for the pawn.
7.a4
White tries a different path, restraining black's Qa5-a4 counterplay and providing a strong square on a3 for white's dark-squared bishop.
7...Qa5
8.Qd2
Defending the c-pawn and reserving the possibility of Ba3
8...Nbc6
9.Nf3
c4
Not a recommended move. Black releases all of the tension in the center and gives white an unimpeded attack on the kingside and the possibility of Ba3-d6
10.g3
Simple development, aiming for Bg2, 0-0, and f4
10...0-0
The black king makes for quite a target, though at least black will not have to deal with Bd3. Check out Black's awful light-squared bishop!
11.Bg2
f6
Attacking the chain at the head... needed, but not often a good idea.
12.exf6
Corrct response... note now the weakness of black's backward and isolated e-pawn.
12...Rxf6
13.0-0
Bd7
14.Ba3
Re8
Not Qxa4 Bxe7+-
15.Nh4
Preparinf f4
15...Nc8
16.f4
And white can follow with Nf3-e5
16...N6e7
17.Rfb1
Or just Rfe1
17...Qc7
18.a5
Bc6
19.Nf3
Ng6
20.Ne5
Nce7
[20...Nxe5
21.fxe5
Rf7
22.Rf1
Rxf1+
23.Rxf1
Qxa5
24.Bb4
Qc7
25.Qf4
with the idea of Qf8 +-]
21.Bc5
a6
22.Ng4
Rf7
23.Re1
Nf5
24.Re2
Nimzovitch: Identify the weakness (e6); fix it; attack it with your pieces (the rooks)... and then and only then, attack it with a pawn (f4-f5)
24...h6
25.Rae1
Qc8
26.Bf3
Kh7
27.Rf1
Qc7
28.Qe1
Nf8
29.Ne5
Rf6
30.g4
Nd6
31.Qg3
Nf7
Diagram
32.g5
The easiest path to the win. The rook is trapped.
32...Nxe5
33.gxf6
Nxf3+
34.Rxf3
gxf6
35.f5
And Nimzovitch still leads the way.
35...Qxg3+
36.Rxg3
e5
37.Reg2
Nd7
Stopping the immediate mate
38.Rg7+
Kh8
39.R7g6
But the mating net remains.
39...Kh7
40.Ba3
exd4
41.Bc1
There's no acceptable way to prevent Rxh6# 1-0