1.e4
e6
The French Defense
2.d4
Taking the center
2...d5
The immediate Frech counter in the center
3.Nc3
Avoiding 3.exd5 exd5 freeing Black's Bc8 from its prison.
3...Bb4
The Winawer variation. Black's threat is dxe4
4.e5
sealing the central pawn structure.
4...c5
Attacking the white pawn chain at its d4-base.
5.a3
Putting the question tothe Bb4 now that its retreat has been blocked.
5...Bxc3+
6.bxc3
White has doubled c-pawns but in compensation, a strong central pawn chain and the two bishops.
6...Ne7
The main line, preparing a response to Qg4
7.Qg4
Attacking the g7-pawn now that the Bf8 has left the board.
7...Qc7
Yes indeed, the main line of the French Defense is a gambit! [7...0-0
8.Bd3
(8.Bh6
Nf5!
) 8...c4?
9.Bh6
]
8.Qxg7
Rg8
9.Qxh7
Up two pawns, but only for a moment.
9...cxd4
With two threats, Qxc3+ and Qxe5+
10.Ne2
Covering both threats (...Qxe5 Bf4!)
10...Nbc6
11.f4
dxc3
Black has recovered his material, but white usually regains a material edge with 12.Qd3
12.h4!?
Bd7
13.Rh3
Novelty The idea is to recover the c3-pawn with Rh1-h3, but the idea is successfully met and never again repeated. [13.h5
0-0-0
14.Qd3
Nf5
(14...d4
15.h6
Rg6
16.h7
Rh8
17.Nxd4
Nxd4
18.Qxd4
Nf5
19.Qxa7
Qc6
20.Be3
Qe4
21.Rh3
Rh6
22.0-0-0
Rxh3
23.Bb6
Qxf4+
24.Kb1
Qa4
25.Qxa4
Bxa4
26.gxh3
Bc6
27.Rd8+
1-0 Carleton,J-Sowray,P/London 1978/MCD (27)) 15.Rb1
d4
16.Rg1
Nh6
17.Nxd4
Nxd4
18.Qxd4
Bb5
19.Qxa7
Bxf1
20.Rxf1
Rxg2
21.Rf3
Qc6
22.Qa8+
Kc7
23.Rxb7+
1-0 Anderson,J-Player,E/Scarborough 2001/CBM 83 ext (23)]
13...0-0-0
14.Rxc3
Nf5
Cutting off the retreat of the Qh7
15.Qh5
Diagram [15.Qxf7?
d4
16.Rd3
Rh8
With the threat of Rdf8 and a queen trap]
15...d4
Opening the d5-square for his pieces, and forcing the retreat of the Rc3 to an awkward square.
16.Rd3
[16.Rh3
Be8
with the initiative]
16...Nce7
idea Nd5
17.Bb2
Nd5
[17...Qxc2??
18.Rc1
]
18.Rc1
[18.Bxd4
Nxf4
19.Nxf4
Nxd4
20.Rxd4
Qc3+
]
18...Bc6
19.g3
Rh8
20.Qg4
Qa5+
21.Kf2
Nde3
Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn.
22.Qh3
Qd5
23.Nxd4
[23.Bxd4
Qf3+
24.Ke1
(24.Kg1
Rxh4-+
) 24...Rxd4
25.Nxd4
Nxd4
26.Rxd4
Ng4-+
]
23...Nxd4
24.Kxe3
[24.Rxd4
Qf3+
25.Ke1
(25.Kg1
Rdg8-+
) 25...Ng4-+
; 24.Bxd4
Qf3+
25.Kg1
(25.Ke1
Rxd4
26.Rxd4
Ng4
) 25...Rxd4
26.Rxd4
Rg8-+
; 24.Rxe3
Nf5
25.Rd3
Qc5+
26.Ke1
(26.Ke2
Rxd3
27.cxd3
Qe3+
28.Kd1
Nxg3
) 26...Rxd3
27.cxd3
Qe3+
28.Be2
Rg8-+
]
24...Qf3+
25.Kd2
Qf2+
26.Kc3
[26.Be2
Qxe2+
]
26...Rd5
[26...Be4
]
27.Rxd4
Rxd4
28.Bd3
[28.Kb3
Rd2
keeping the king from hiding on a2]
28...Rhd8
29.h5
R8d5
30.a4
[30.h6
Ba4-+
]
30...Rc5+
[30...Bxa4
]
31.Kb3
Bd5+
32.Ka3
Rxd3+
33.cxd3
Rxc1
[33...Rxc1
34.Bxc1
Qa2+
35.Kb4
Qb3+
36.Ka5
Qb6#
]
34.Bxc1
Qa2+
35.Kb4
Qb3+
36.Kc5
[36.Ka5
Qb6#
]
36...Qb6#
0-1