1.e4
e6
The French Defense
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
Not 3.exd5? exd5 releasing the Bc8 to develop easily on f5
3...Bb4
The Winawer. The threat is dxe4 because the Nc3 is pinned
4.e5
So whie fixes the central pawn structure. Th result is that the Bc8 is "bad", trapped by its own pawns fixed on light squares.
4...c5
Attacked white's pawn chain at the base on d4
5.a3
Putting the question to black's good bishop.
5...Bxc3+
The alternatives 5...Ba4 and 5...cxd4 do not work well in practice
6.bxc3
Ne7
Usually with the idea of responding to Qg4xg7 with Rg8. The Ne7 hopes to develop later at f5
7.Qg4
Now that the dark squares are weakened (following the trade of Black's Bf8), white challenges the g7 pawn.
7...Kf8
More common is Qc7 or 0-0. Black defends g7 directly but how now to develop the Rh8?
8.h4
A typical manoeuver in the French, aiming for both h5 and Rh3-g3 or Rh3-f3
8...Qc7
The threat is cdx4 and Qc3+ winning the Ra1
9.Qd1
The queen has accomplished its task, weakening the black kingside and now returns to defend. Qd1 actually sacrifices the d4 pawn after cxd4 cxd4 Qc3+ Bd2, but white gets a huge lead in development in compensation.
9...cxd4
10.cxd4
Qc3+
11.Bd2
[11.Qd2
Qxa1
]
11...Qxd4
12.Nf3
White has sacrificed a pawn, but black's development is clearly lacking and the queen must move again.
12...Qe4+
13.Be2
b6
Probably best, with the idea of trading off the light-squared bishops with Ba6. Two months later, Nikolic reached the same position against Kasparov and tried Nbc6 with the following disastrous result. [13...Nbc6
14.h5
Nxe5
15.h6
gxh6
16.Bxh6+
Kg8
17.Rb1
N7g6
18.Rb4
Nxf3+
19.gxf3
Qe5
20.f4
Qc3+
21.Kf1
f5
22.Rb3
Qf6
23.c4
b6
24.cxd5
Bb7
25.Rd3
Re8
26.Rg1
b5
27.dxe6
Rxe6
28.Rd8+
Kf7
29.Rd7+
Re7
30.Rxb7
1-0 Kasparov,G-Nikolic,P/Paris 1994/CBM 43 ext (30)]
14.0-0
Ba6
15.c4
15.Bxa6 Nxa6 16.Re1 permits Qc4. INstead, white moves to blow open the middle of the board.
15...Nbc6
[15...dxc4
16.Ng5
Qb7
17.Bb4
(17.Bh5
g6
18.Ne4
Qxe4
19.Bf3
Qxh4
20.Bxa8
c3
) 17...Nbc6
18.Bh5!
g6
19.Qf3
Nxe5
20.Qf6+-
]
16.Ng5
Qxe5
[16...Qxh4
17.cxd5
Bxe2
18.Qxe2
exd5
when it's not clear how to proceed, though Garry obviouslyhad something in mind... perhaps f4 and Rac1]
17.Re1
Threatening Bh5
17...Qf6
Taking the queen off the line of fire on the e-file.
18.Bh5
g6
Forced, though every pawn move creates weaknesses, here the dark squares on f6 and especially h6
19.cxd5
exd5
[19...gxh5
20.dxc6
Nxc6
21.Re3
]
20.Bg4
h6
Diagram Trying to fill in the hole on h6, but Black had to try to prevent Ne6 with Bc8 [20...Kg7
21.Ne6+
fxe6
22.Rxe6
Be2
(22...Qb2
23.Qe1
Kf7
24.Rxc6
Nxc6
25.Qe6+
Kf8
(25...Kg7
26.Qd7+
Kf6
27.Qxc6+
) 26.Bh6+
) ]
21.Ne6+!
fxe6
22.Rxe6
Qf7
[22...Qb2
23.Qf3+
Ke8
24.Bc3
Qb3
25.Rae1
]
23.Qa4
Kasparov later favored Rc1
23...Bc4
[23...Bb7
24.Rae1
Rh7
But white has considerable pressure with Bc3 and Re3]
24.Rxc6
Nxc6
25.Qxc6
Re8
26.Bd7
Kg7
Giving back more material in the hope of freeing his pieces, especially the Rh8
27.Bc3+
But Kasparov gives no rest for the weary.
27...Kh7
28.h5
No rush to take either exchange. The attack rages on.
28...Rhf8
[28...gxh5
29.Bf5+
Kg8
30.Bg6
Qe6
31.Qxe8+
Qxe8
32.Bxe8
]
29.hxg6+
The rest is a beautiful example of the initiative, marked by white's powerful dark-squared bsihop and the win that comes once the white rook joins the attack.
29...Qxg6
30.Bxe8
Qxe8
31.Qd6
Qf7
32.Bd4
Re8
33.Rc1
Idea Rc3-h3
33...Re4
34.Be5
Rg4
35.Rc3
Rg6
36.Qd8
Rg8
37.Qh4
Rg5
38.f4
Rh5
[38...Rg8
39.Rh3
Qf8
40.Bd4
with Re3-e7 to follow.]
39.Qd8
1-0