1.e4
e6
The French Defence can leave black with a cramped position and a bad
light squared bishop but is great to get to the middle game. Also, some
say that the black pawn structure can be better for endings.
2.d4
d5
3.Nd2
The Tarrasch Variation. The Winawar 3 Nc3 Bb4 is my favourite where I am happy to play white or black as it can get very messy.
3...Nf6
The most popular move is 3...c5 which I may have played on the odd occasion but I am unsure of the right moves. The move played speaks for itself and practically dictates the next few moves of black saving clock time.
4.e5
Nfd7
5.f4
So white invests in reinforcing the centre. A move I am fond of as white in a lot of my games but through experience I know that it does cause weaknesses especially the g1-a7 diagonal.
5...c5
Strike out at pawn break number one.
6.c3
Nc6
Standard French set up.
7.Ndf3
The best choice. The alternative Ngf3 leaves the knight on d2 looking sad and after 7...a5 black has no problems.
7...cxd4
8.cxd4
This is personal preference and I am already considering going all in with a sac.
8...Bb4+
This idea is generally deemed to be a bad move, however, in practice over the board it is not always easy to exploit. Developing a piece with check cannot be all bad surely?
9.Kf2
The right move leaving the Bishop check in the wilderness. But the king needs shelter.
9...f6
The second pawn break for black but white is solid enough.
10.Be3
Not sure about this move, developing a piece and reinforcing d4 is not a bad idea but priority should be king safety.
10...0-0
Keeping my options open on whether to take on e5 pawn or block the position with a future f5.
11.Bd3
White plays a standard move. Perhaps a3 was more accurate forcing Black to find a square for his Bishop.
11...fxe5
This has to be right and plays itself almost. There are two other choices with this pawn, it could stay on f6 or block the position with f5 but I was eyeing the slightly exposed white king.
12.fxe5
Again, standard stuff against the French. A position is reached where if white untangles himself he would have a very good position. So Black needs to play actively.
12...Ndxe5
All in. A knight sacrifice quite common in the French and instigated by the Bb4+ exposing the king earlier.
13.dxe5
Nxe5
The position is unclear and impossible to correctly predict even a few moves ahead. So what considerations did I analyse to justify the
sacrifice:
I get two centralised passed pawns for the piece.
14.Ke2
Practically the best move according to Fritz but difficult to find and harder to play. I decide to play for the dark squares knowing that f4 had weakened the long diagonal mentioned.
14...Ng4
15.Qb3
another good fighting move. On 15 Bd2 Qb6 or 15 Bd4 e5 black retains a good attacking position.
15...Nxe3
It makes sense swapping off whites protective dark squared bishop and bringing the king further to the centre.
16.Kxe3
Qd6
Dark square control. Protects the bishop, eyes the f4 square and also helps prepare e5 and Be6 whereby this bishop (e6) would also be protected in the event of a pawn move d4 hitting whites queen.
17.Rd1
Another top move, white now hopes for 17 .... e5 18 Be4! with good play.
17...Kh8
This may not look like an aggressive move but releases the centre pawns to march by unpinning the centre pawns. Also, there will be no taking on h7 with check by the white bishop.
18.Bb1
Whites game plan is to stop blacks pawn push, this certainly does that but there are other priorities too.
18...Bd7
at last the French 'Bad Bishop' moves, connecting rooks and looking to hit on the diagonal.
19.a3
trying to kick the bishop, again a king move was slightly better but it is difficult to make a fourth king move when undeveloped.
19...Qf4+
invading the dark squares.
20.Ke2
Bc5
The position is very difficult to defend and with clocks ticking it is difficult to find the right moves.
21.Qd3
(The alternative Nh3 is best met by Qg4 threatening the pawn on g2 and Ba4 among other things). The played move Qd3 is very tempting, it stops a black bishop check, brings the queen closer to the defence of the king and threatens mate all of a sudden on h7. In normal circumstances it would be an excellent multi purpose move.
However,
21...Bb5
0-1