French Defense / Tarrasch Variation

Game reviewed at the Dayton Chess Club on April 10^th, 2013. G/15, names removed. Game commentary and analysis by: M. Kellie

1. e4 e6 …signals a “French” defense

2. d4 d5

3. Nd2 …one of the main ‘branches’ for the white player against the French defense, known as the Tarrasch variation. Of course black has several good ‘branch’ options from this point…

3. …Nf6

4. e5 Nfd7

5. Bd3 c5

6. c3 Nc6

7. Ne2 cxd4

8. cxd4 Qb6

9. Nf3 f6 …IMO, a premature and risky venture at this stage…Bb4+ is much more commonly played here…

10. Nf4 …white goes for an all out attack with this choice of move at this juncture, risky and yet, much fun can be had in these types of lines…

10. …fxe5

11. Nxe5 Ncxe5

12. dxe5 Nxe5

13. Qh5+ Nf7 …black, now a pawn up, likely ‘feels’ good about his opening moves…BTW, these ‘book’ moves have been played numerous times throughout chess history!

14. Bxh7?! Bb4+ …white is going for broke and does not fear this check or future black responses; both sides are now into ‘rockem-sockem’ chess…very aggressive play by both sides!

15. Kf1 e5

16. Ng6 Bg4!?

17. Qh4?! Rxh7

18. Qxh7 O-O-O

Position look: Black is castled to apparent safety, has complete control of center, has a passed “d” pawn, active bishops, queen, and even his knight is placed ok. White only has two power pieces developed, the king is exposed, and rook development seems terrible. Most chess players and certainly computers would assess the position as completely in favor of black…however, as often occurs in chess, the ‘tables’ can turn or flip ‘on-a-dime’ when one can out ‘idea’ the opponent. The lesson that should be taken from what occurs in this game, it that even when down or ‘losing’, having a idea and not giving up can lead to amazing turn-arounds…

19. Qxg7 Qb5+

20. Kg1 Qe2

21. h3 Be6

22. Bh6 Bc5 …perhaps simply Nxh6 here wins! However, the black player ‘smells’ blood in the position and seeks a quick, tactical knockout…

23. Rf1 Kb8 …black seek to place his rook on the open “c” file…a ‘highway’ into the white position.

24. Kh2 Bd6?! …why not simply take the “f” pawn and have two passed center pawns? Black’s previous move and idea (to get and run down the open “c” file now ‘blinds’ him to better and stronger move continuations, such as …Bxf2…however, Bd6 is still potent in its threats to the white king!

25. Re1 Qxf2

26. Rhf1 …white starts to ‘breath’ a bit easier now.

26. …e4+

27. Bf4! Qc5

28. Bxd6+ Qxd6+

29. Kh1 Ng5

30. Rf6! Qg3!

31. Rc1! Bxh3!

32. Nf4! Rc8? …following up on his earlier idea, black fails to see his impending doom!

33. Rf8!! Bxg2+

34. Nxg2 Qh3+

35. Kg1 Nf3+ …both sides playing for the ‘knock-out’ punch (however, it has already been delivered on move 33…)