Andrew Soltis - The Fighting French - Chess Digest (1993).pdf

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Copyright ©1993 Andrew Soltis

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0-87568-238-3

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tapes , mechanical photocopying, rec ording or otherwise without prior and current permission from the publisher. ,

Authors: Andrew Soltis Computer Typesetting: Elaine Smith Cover: Elaine Smith

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Table of Contents

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Illustrative Games Boleslavsky-Ufimtsev, Omsk 1942 Estrin-Nikitin, USSR 1957 Kaplan-Bronstein, Hasting 1975-76 CHAPTER ONE Alternatives to 6 Bxf6 1 e4, e6 2 d4. d5 3 Nc6,. Nf3 4 B g5. dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 (a) 6 Nc3 (b) 6 Nxf6ch (c) 6 B d3 {d) 6 Ng3 (NOTE: 6 B xf6 will be the main line and covered in Chapter Two) Illustrative Games (1) Najdorf-Guimard, Mar del Plata 1945 (2) Margoulis-Kniajer, 19 1 1 CHAPTER TWO Seventh Move Choices 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6! W7�!

007� (c) 7 Qd2

007� (e) 7 Bc4 (f) 7 Ne2

CHAPTER THREE The Sharp 7 ... f5 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 B g5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, B e7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5 (a) 8 Ned2 (b) 8 Ng3 (NOTE: 8 Nc3 in next chapter)

Page 5 5 5 8 10 15

16 17 19 20

21 23 26

n � 31 � 36 37 38

40 41

4

The Fighting French

Illustrative Game (3) V. Ivanov-Danielian, Moscow 199 1

44 44

CHAPTER FOUR Main Line 7 ... f5 8 Nc3 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5 8 Nc3, B f6 9 Qd2, c5 (a) 10 0-0-0 (b) 10 dxc5 (c) 10 Bb5ch (d) 10 d5! Illustrative Games (4) Liberzon-Botvinnik, Moscow Team Ch 1966 (5) Sax-Andersson, Reggio Emilia 1988-89

46

CHAPTER FIVE The Old Main Line I 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, b6 (a) 8 g3 (b) 8 B d3 (c) 8 Bb5ch (d) 8 c4 (NOTE: The Main line 8 Bc4 in final chapter) Illustrative Games (6) Hellers-Andersson, Haninge 1989 (7) Ernst-B arges, Tallinn 1989 (8) Bagasic-Padevsky, Sofia 1979 (9) Byshev-Boleslavsky, Soviet Ch. 1956 ( 10) Izvozchikov-Vekshankov, Moscow 1977

62

CHAPTER SIX The Old Main Line II 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, b6 8 Bc4 Illustrative Games (1 1) Klovan-Petrosian, Soviet Ch. 1975 (12) Ljubojevic-M. Furevich, Amsterdam 199 1

87

48 50 51 53 55 58

63 64 67 69

71 74 78 81 84

92 92 96

Introduction: The Fighting French

5

INTRODUCTION There are many ways of counterattacking after 1 e4, and in recent years the preference has been for such naturally aggressive openings as the Sicilian, Pirc and Modern Defenses, and the Winawer Variation of the French. But there are several fighting defenses that are out of fashion and forgotten simply because ... they are unfashionable. One that deserves more attention, particularly in the ranks of amateur and aspiring players, is the Burn Variation of the French. Amos Bum's intention when he began experimenting with 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4! ? a century ago was to find an improved version of the Rubinstein French (3...dxe4). by luring White's Bishop at move four to

gS, Black was able to force either a retreat at move six or an exchange of minor pieces that eases Black's game. The Burn Variation is a relatively simple variation to play since after gxf6 Black knows he will most likely post his Queen at c7 and cas­ tle Queenside. This appeals to players who like the French Defense but don't want the constant obligation of defense. Instead, with a half-open g­ file and control of long diagonals ranging from b7 to g2 and c7 to h2, Black has reason to be aggressive. Suddenly, it's the Fighting French. .••

BOLESLAVSKY -UFIMTSEV Omsk

1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3

1942 e6 dS dxe4

The Burn is sometimes called the Delayed Rubinstein Variation and in this case we get a true Rubinstein. But this game bears a close re­ semblance to the Burn line that we recommend, except that it is a Knight, not a Bishop that White surrenders on f6.

4 Nxe4 5 Nxf6ch 6 Nf3 7 Bb5ch 8 Bc4

Nf6 gxf6! ? b6 c6 Ba6?!

6

The Fighting French: Introduction

9 Bb3?

With the simple 9 Bxa6 White obtains a fine game. Generally it is White who wants to exchange off these Bishops because of the vari ous light-squares that he can later exploit (a6, for example). Here White has a curious idea of preparing d4-d5 with a B ishop on b3 - and with Kingside castling. But in the main lines of the 6 gxf6 Bum Variation, White's King is much better placed on the Queenside. .•.

9... 10 c4 1 1 0-0?! 12 Qe2

Qc7 Nd7 0-0-0 Bd6

Introduction: The Fighting French

7

The opening so far may not seem much like a Bum Variation, but the diagram reveals certain similarities: Black castles Queenside in both cases and prepares to use the g­ file. His Queen, with the help of his Bishop, can attack h2. And he can open the center with c6-cS. •••

13 a4 14 aS 15 axb6 16 Be3 17 dxcS 18 Bd l

Rhg8 cS Qxb6 Bb7! NxcS Rg4!

This is a good way to double Rooks (compared with 18. . Rg6 19 Nh4). Black i s beginning to think ambitiously, with sacrifices looming on g2 or, after g2-g3, on g3. .

19 Qd2 20 QaS

Ne4! Rdg8!

The first of a series of wonderful shots. Rxg2ch 22 Khl, Nxflch ! ! 23 Bxf2, Rxh2 mate.

21 Net 22 Nxg2

It

Rxg2ch! Nd2!

is based on 21 Bxb6,

8

The Fighting French : Introduction

Another hammer blow which clears the long diagonal: Now 23 Bxb6, Rxg2ch 24 Kh1, Rxh2ch 25 Kg1, Rh1 mate. White has no way of slowing the attack ... except to block the b7g2 diagonal with the feeble: Bxd5 23 QdS! ? Qxb2 24 cxdS 25 Bxd2 Qxa1 Bxh2ch! 26 Bf3 White resigns. While Black has chances to open the center favorably with c6c5 and sometimes even e6-e5, White looks towards the d4-d5 break. Since all these moves may lead to the exchange of White's d-pawn, the prime difference lies in timing. White wants d4-d5 when Black is unpre­ pared for it, such as when the long diagonal is vulnerable or Black is un­ castled. ...

..•

For example:

ESTRIN-NIKITIN U.S.S.R. 1 957 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4

e6 d5 Nf6 dxe4 Be7

9

Introduction: The Fighting French

This is the preferred form of the Bum Variation we recommend. White should take on f6 if he has any hope of advantage, after which 6 gxf6! ? significantly sharpens the position. •.•

gxf6 fS c6?

6 Bxf6 7 g3 8 Nc3

This and Black's next move are too passive, although for many years they were routinely- and successfully- played by masters (e.g. 9 Bg2, b6 10 Nge2, Bbl 11 Nf4, Qd6 followed by . . Ndl and . 0-0-0). .

.

.

The intent of 8 c6 is, of course, to stop d4-d5. The drawback? It doesn't do what it is intended to do. ...

9 Bg 2 10 dS!

b6

The advance is structurally bad for Black since it exposes his e6pawn to attack and the f7 square behind it. Black cannot afford the crip­ pled pawn structure that results from 10 exd5 1 1 NxdS or the loss of material after ll cxdS 1 2 BxdS. ...

-

...

Now White obtains a wonderful outpost square at d4 and targets at c6 and e6. 10

•••

Bb7

10

The Fighting French : Introduction

1 1 dxe6 12 Rxd1 1 3 NbS! 14 Nd4!

Qxd 1 ch fxe6 Na6

Rolf Schwarz points out the inferior variation 14 Nd6ch, Bxd6 1 S Rxd6, Ke7 and now 16 Bxc6, Kxd6 17 Bxb7 ends u p favoring Black after 17 Rab8 18 Bxa6, bS! 19 c4 (else .Rb6), bxc4 20 Bxc4, Rxb2 21 Kfl, Rc8. •••

..

14... 1 S Nxe6 1 6 Ne2 17 N6d4

Bf6 Bxb2 Ke7

This assures White of winning at least a pawn, as both fS and c6 now hang.

17 18 Nxc6 19 Rd6ch ! 20 Rxc6 21 Bf3 22 0-0 ••.

Kf6 Bxc6 Kg7 Rhe8 Rad8

A little late to be castling, but perfectly OK here. The Bishops of opposite color will only be significant if B lack can mount as much pressure against c2 and a2 as White can against fS and h7.

22 23 Nf4 24 NdS ••.

Re7 Kh8 Red7?

This shortens what was virtually a lost game anyway. After 24 Rt7 25 a4!, Nc5 25 aS White makes obvious progress. •..

But now White has a winning combination that leaves him three pawns up.

Introduction: The Fighting French

25 Nxb6! 26 Rxb6 27 Rxa6 28 Kg2! 29 hxg3

11

axb6 Bd4 f4 fxg3 Resigns

On the other hand, Black has certain natural strength, beginning with his dark-squared Bishop. White loses some of his control over the dark squares because of the exchange of his Bishop on f6. If he allows his strong point at d4 to collapse early on, White may be headed towards a dark-square disaster. Case in point:

KAPLA N-BRONSTEIN Hastings 1975-76 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3

e6 d5 Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6

The Fighting French : Introduction

12

7

Nd7

•••

The most active plan here is 7 f5 followed by attacking the d­ pawn with Bf6. A reasonable alternative, 7 b6, is explored towards the end of this book. Too passive is the third natural idea 7 c6. ...

•••

..•

..•

The text carr ies with it a number of ideas such as the shift of the Knight to f8 and then g6 followed by Kingside castling . Bronstein has a different idea. ,

8 Qd2 9 dS

cS fS! ?

A similar position (8 Bc4, c5 9 d5) i s known to result in a Black disadvantage following 9 Nb6 10 BbSch, Bd7 1 1 Bxd7ch, Qxd7 12 d6! . •••

Black's sharper ninth move should now be answered by 10 Nc3, eS 1 1 0-0·

0. 10 dxe6? 1 1 exd7ch

fxe4! Qxd7!

Introduction: The Fighting French

13

I n th e endgame, Black's Bishops more than compensate for weak squares

any

.

12 Qc3 l3 Nd2 14 0-0-0! 15 Nxe4 16 Nd2

0-0 QfS Qxf2 Qf4ch

This turns out to be a fatal pin, from which White never recovers.

16... 17 Ret 18 Bd3 19 Refl 20 h3

Bg4 Bg5 Rae8 Qe3 Be2!

Now 21 Bxe2, Qxc3 and 22 ... Rxe2 would win in the same man­ ner as the game.

21 Rf5 22 Bxe2 23 bxc3 24 Rd5

Bh6 Qxc3 Rxe2 Rxd2!

Leading to what is usually (and mistakenly) called "Zugzwang".

14

The Fighting French: Introduction

2 5 Rxd2 26 Rdl

Rd8 c4!

White resigns When he runs out of pawns moves, White will have to move his King and loses a Rook. A devastating illustration of the White's vulner­ ability on the dark squares. In our analysis of specific lines, we'll consider the Fighting French in this sequence:

Chapter One: Alternatives to 6 Bxf6 Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 f5 Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5 Chapter Five: The Old 7 b6 Chapter Six: Main Line 7 b6 ...

...

...

...

Chapter One: The Fighting French

15

CHAPTER ONE Alternatives To 6 Bxf6 A major advantage of the B um Variation is that it is relatively forcing once White has played 4 Bg5. Black can lead matters into our main lines of Chapters Four and Six because diversions by White generally lead to quick equality or to complex, double-edged positions in which Black's chances are no worse than White's. e6 1 e4

d5 Nf6 dxe4 This was Burn's improvement over Akiba Rubinstein's favorite capture, dxe4 at move three. The Rubinstein line can transpose into the Bum - but only if White cooperates (3 . dxe4 4 Nxe4, Nf6 and now instead of 5 Nxf6ch!, 5 Bg5 transposes). 5 Nxe4 Too cooperative is 5 Bxf6 after which 5 Qxf6 6 Nxe4, Qh6 is one good continuation. However we prefer something more consistent with subsequent chapters: 5 gxf6 6 Nxe4, f5! 7 Ng3, c5 or 7 Nc3, Bg7 ! as in Illustrative Game 1 and 7 Nc5?, b6 as in Game 2. 5... Be7 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5

••.

..

.••

...

By unpinning the Knight, Black makes a threat and forces White into either a retreat, or a dubious sacrifice or exchange of pieces. We'll consider (a) 6 Nc3, (b) 6 Nxf6ch, (c) 6 Bd3, (d) Ng3 and, or course, 6 Bxf6, our main line.

16

The Fighting French

(a) 6 Nc3 6Nc3 This strange move has one goal, to avoid an exchange of pieces, but little else to recommend it. The Knight is misplaced on c3, denying White the opportunity to support his center with c2-c3. Unless White can use the Knight to raid the Queenside with NbS later on - or support a well-timed d4-dS - Black should have no difftculty in equalizing.

6

..•

0-0

B lack could also play 6... cS 7 dxcS, QaS immediately. 7Nf3

Nbd7

This prepares 8... cS and if 9 dxcS, then 9 ... NxcS. On the natural 8 Bd3, cS 9 Qe2 or 9 0-0, Black can respond 9 c xd4 10 Nxd4, NcS with a good game. .•.

8 Be2

cS!

After this, Black has few problems . White's usual lead in devel­ opment in the French does not exist here, thanks to White's sixth move. Note that 9 dS,NxdS! costs White a pawn (10 Bxe 7, Nxel). 9 0-0 10 Qd2

b6 Bb7

We are following Botvinnik-Rauzer, Soviet Championship 1929, which led to a draw after 11 Rad1, NdS!? 12 Ne4, h6 13 Bxe7, Qxe7 14 c4, NSf6 15 Nc3 (adhering to his sixth move policy), Rad8! 16 dS, exdS 1 7 cxdS, Qd6. White's dS-pawn is as much as weakness as it is a strength. Since 6 Nc3 loses time, we turn our attention to . ..

Chapter One: The Fighting French

17

(b)

6 Nxf6ch (After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7) 6 Nxf6ch This natural-looking move is faulty because it leads to an ex­ change of too many minor pieces.

6

.••

Bxf6

Now 7 Be3?!, c5 would only help Black out. 7 Bxf6

Qxf6!

True, White's slight spatial edge remains - as does the trouble­ some Bishop at c8. But with an e xtra pair of pieces off the board, Black's defensive chores are eased considerably. (There is no compensation for the doubled pawns after 7 gxf6, as there is after 6 Bxf6, gxf6). ...

8 Nf3 An exampl e of how q ui ckly White can get the worst of it was Mecking-Petrosian, San Antonio 1972: 8 c3, 0-0 9 Bd3, Nc6! 10 Qh5, g6 1 1 Qf3, Qg7! 12 Ne2, e5 13 d5, Ne7 14 0-0, f5 with excellent pros­ pects (15 Bc4, Kh8 16 Radl, f4! and ... Nf5-d6).

8...

0-0

T he Fighting French

18

9 c3 This tries to solve the problem of the d-pawn before Black pres­ sures it with Rd8 and c7-c5. After 9 Bd3, c5! Black may even end up with an edge (10 dxc5, Qxb2 or 10 0-0, cxd4 1 1 Nxd4 and then 1 1 Rd8!). ...

...

.. .

9 ...

Nd7

And Black will equalize with e6-e5. Efforts to prevent that, such as 10 Qe2, c5, lead to little. Since White is losing the race for development in some of these variations, we will now examine a developing move:

19

Chapter One: The Fighting French

(c) 6 Bd3?! (Af ter 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7) 6 Bd3?! This move has some tricky tactical possibilities, such as the sim­ ple trap 6 Qxd4?? 7 BbSch and desperado possibilities after 6 Nxe4 7 Bxe7, Nxf2. But simple moves give Black at least equality. ...

...

6 ... 7 Bxe7

Nxe4

The only move to avoid losing a piece.

Now 7 Nxf2 8 Bxd8, Nxd 1 is attractive, but 9 Bxc7!, Nxb2 10 Be2 should work out well for White. Better is... 7... Qxe7! Qb4ch 8 Bxe4 Why not? White's compensation is not visible after 9. Qxb2. The best White can do is. 9 c3 Qxb2 c6 10 Ne2 And Black's Queen will re-emerge by way of Qa3-d6. Black has an extra pawn and White has little to show for it. Finally, before moving on to our main line, we'll consider one other retreat: •..

..

..•

20

The Fighting French

(d) 6 Ng3 (After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7) 6 Ng3 The Knight is not particularly well placed here, but at least its better than on c3.

6...

Nbd7

Black needs the liberation of his Queenside pieces that provides. Again 6 . c5 7 dxcS, QaSch is possible. .

.••

c7-c5

.

7 Nf3 8 Bd3

cS

Or 8 dxcS, QaSch 9 Qd2, Qxd2ch 10 Nxd2, NxcS with a level endgame, as in Canai-Samisch, Karlsbad 1929.

8

.••

0-0

Black can also achieve good play with 8 ...cxd4 and 9 Nxd4, NcS, is simple enough. b6 9 0-0 Bb7 1 0 Qe2 With rough equality, e.g. 11 Rad 1, Qc7 and 12 ...Rad8 (not 12 Nf5?, exf5 12 Qxe7, Rae8). but the

text

Chapter One: The Fighting French

21

ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES (1) NAJDORF-GUIMARD Mar del Plata 1 945 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Bxf6?! 6 Nxe4 7 Nc3

e6 d5 Nf6 dxe4 gxf6 f5!

7...

Bg7

Not 7 c5? because then White's last move is justified by 8 d5. the Bishop placed at g7 Black is virtually a tempo ahead of the posi With tion reached via 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5 8 Nc3, Bf6 and ana­ lyzed in Chapter Four. ...

­

8 Nf3 9 Bb5ch 10 Qd3 1 1 Nxd4 12 0-0-0

c5 Bd7 cxd4 0-0

22

The Fighting French

The lines are drawn: Kings on opposite wings and minor pieces ready to invade. Black now finds an easy road to equality despite allowing White to plant a Knight on d6. 12 Bxb5! 13 Ndxb5 Nc6 14 Qg3? Qb6 Rad8 1 5 Rhe1 1 6 Nd6 Nb4 17 Nc4 ••.

White sees that he's in trouble on the b2 square, which can be exposed by 17 Re2, Nxa2ch ! or 17 Kb 1, NdS!.

17 1 8 Na3 19 Rxd1 20 Kb1 •.•

Qa6 Rxd1ch ReS h6!

Black can sacrifice on c3 whenever he wants - so he safeguards his King position a bit first. To avert 21 Rxc3, White now gives up a pawn (21 NabS, Nxa2 22 Nxa2, Qxb5). .••

21 NabS 22 Rd3 23 Nxc3 24 f4 25 Qf2

Nxa2! Nxc3ch Qc6 bS b4

Chapter One: The Fighting French

26 Nd 1 27 Ne3

23

aS a4

The easiest way to destroy White's remaining strength on the dark squares is 28 ... a3 followed by getting the Queen to the g7 -b2 diagonal.

a3! 28 Qd2 29 Qxb4 axb2 30 Rb3 Qa6! 31 Ra3 Qe2 Rxc2 ! 32 Qd6 White resigns. It's over because of 33 Nxc2, Qflch 34 Kbl, bl(Q) mate.

((2) MARGOULIS-KNIAJER 1911 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Bxf6?! 6 Nxe4 7 Nc5?

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4 gxf6 fS

-t-t B

The Fighting French

24

The maneuver of the Knight via c5 to bj has been tried - even by Bobby Fischer - in the Caro-Kann after 1 e4, c6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, dxe4 4 Nxe4, Bf5 5 Nc5. But here it only gives Black a free tempo that he can really use. Besides, the Knight will not be well placed on b3.

7... 8 Nb3 9 Nf3 10 Bb5

b6 Bb7 Nd7

A typical idea, tempting Black to block his Bishop's diagonal with 10 c6. Black's next move is a better way of meeting 1 1 Ne5, since it would be met by 1 1 Qb4ch. .•.

•••

1 0... 1 1 c3 12 0-0?

Qe7! 0-0-0

An instructive error. Here the King is an obvious target at g1, while White's own attacking prospects (a2-a4-a5) never get rolling. As the game goes 13 a4 would have been met by 13 Ne5, as Black later plays. ..•

12... 13 Nbd2 14 Be2

RgS Bh6 Ne5!

Chapter One: The Fighting French

25

Despite White's last two defensive steps, Black can play sacrifi­ cally. Now, clearly 15 Nxe5, Rxg2ch will get White mated, so 15 g3 is necessary. Perhaps White only counted on 15 dxe5, Bxd2.

15 dxe5? 16 Qe1 17 Kxg2 18Kh 1

Rxd2! Rxg2ch! Qg5ch Rxe2!

The point of the combination. White cannot sufficiently defend the f3-Knight now.

19 Qxe2 White resigns.

Qg4

Black will emerge with a Queen and Bishop against two Rooks.

26

The Fighting French

CHAPTER TWO Seventh Move Choices Few experienced players are going to diverge from our main line, at least un til the seventh move. The Fighting French really begins after 6 ...gxf6. e6 1 e4 2 d4 dS 3 Nc3 Nf6 dxe4 4 BgS 5 Nxe4 Be7 6 Bxf6 gxf6! The recapture with the B ishop on f6 also comes into fashion periodically (during the early 1960s and again in the late 1980s) but the text is more ambitious.

Following the doctrine of "Knights before Bishops!" theory has endorsed 7 Nf3 as White's best move here. And it stands to reason: White hasn't decided yet whether to put his 0-Bishop at c4 or d3 or g2 or to provoke a response with BbSch . Also, he may put his Queen at d2 or e2, depending on circumstances. But there is no reason to make that decision here. Nevertheless, some alternatives to 7 Nf3 have been tried - and at the highest level. We'll examine them here. They include: (a) 7 g4?!; (b) 7 g 3; (3) 7 Qd2; (d) 7 c 3; (e) 7 Bd4; (7) Ne2 -

Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices

(a)

7

27

g4?!

7 g4?! The Russian theoretician A. Suetin called this an "extravagant continuation." The idea behind this is to get the benefits of 7 g3, with additional restraining impact (directed against .f6-f5). ..

7

•••

Bd7!

Better here than 7 ... b6 since on c6 the Bishop will be protected and he will be the player who will threaten the win of material along the long diagonal. In contrast, 7 b6 8 Bg2 sets up a threat of 9 Nxf6ch and 10 Bxb7. •••

(Although, it should be noted that Black is perfectly all right after 8. . c6 9 Ng3, Bbl 10 Qd2, Ndl 1 1 Qh6, Bf8 12 Qh5, Qcl 13 Nle2, Bgl and . Nj8-g6 - as in Pantaleev-Padevsky, Bulgaria 1968). .

.

.

8 Ng3 Continuing in the restrictive manner of his seventh move. After 8 Bg2, Bc6 Black threatens 9 . f5 which is not easily met (9 Qe2, Qxd4). Better is 8 Nf3. ..

8...

Bc6

Now 9 f3!?, hS 10 gxh5, fS 1 1 Qd2, BgS 12 Qc3, f4 and Black's advantage is apparent (Hector-Pytel, Nantes 1987) .

28

The Fighting French

(b) 7

g3

(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6) 7 g3

This has the endorsement of Bobby Fischer, who played it in a 197 1 candidates match game against Tigran Petrosian. The Bishop stands well on this diagonal if White can push his d-pawn one square. And it fits in perfectly if Black had intended an immediate Queenside fianchetto (7 . b6?! 8 Bg2, Bb7 9 Nxf6ch and 10 Bxb7). .

.

7

•••

f5

This is consistent with our main line. The altemative of 7 Bd7 and 8 Bc6 has been under a cloud since Fischer-Minev, Havana 1966: 7 Bd7 8 Nf3! , Bc6 9 Qe2, fS?! 10 Ned2, Bf6 1 1 c3 and now the hole at eS began to count. ...

•••

...

8 Nc3 In this situation, White does not have the choice of 8 Ng3 or 8 Ned2 that he does after 7 Nf3.

8... 9 Nge2

Bf6

29

Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices

This was Fischer's preference. The other Knight move is faulty because of 9 Nf3, cS! (also good is 9 .Nc6 and if 10 Ne2, then JO e5) 10 dS, Bxc3ch!. ..

...

If White has to play 1 0 dxcS Black should equalize easily with 10 Qa5ch, e.g. 1 1 Qd2, Bd7 12 Nd4, QxcS (although in Psakhis-King, Dortmund 1989 Black lost the 13 0-0-0, Bxd4 14 Qxd4, Qxd4 15 Rxd4, Nc6 16 Rh4 endgame) •••

9

•.•

Nc6!

Here 9 c5 would allow 10 dS strongly. The text forces White's hand since he has no other way of defending d4. •••

10 d5

exdS

1 1 NxdS After 11 QxdS Black is supposed to eq ual ize after giving up his dark-squared Bishop, either from 1 1 ... Qxd5 12 NxdS, Bxb2! 13 Nxc7ch, Kd8 14 Rb1, Kxc7 or 1 1 .Bxc3ch 12 Nxc3, Qe7ch. ..

However, 1 1 ...Be6, which involves a pawn sacrifice (12 Qb5, 0-0 13 Qxb7, Na5) looks more hopeful.

1 1 ... 12 Bg2

Bxb2! 0-0

30

The Fighting French

We are following Fischer-Petrosian, Candidates 1971 in which Fischer offered the Exchange because of the sterility of 13 Rb1 , Bg7 14 00, Ne7. But 13 0-0, Bxa114 Qxa1 offers White promising chances. In the game cited, after 13 0-0, Bh8?! 14 Nef4, Ne5 15 Qh5 and Rad1 Fischer obtained some compensation. However, B lack's 13th move looks suspicious. With 13 Be5 and 14 Rb1, Na5 White has a harder time proving his pawn sacrifice was justified. In Bellon-Marovic, Medina del Campo 1990, Black stood well after 15 Qe1 , c6 16 Rd 1, ReS 17 Ndf4, Qc7 18 Nh5, Nc4 although he later got into tactical trouble and lost. .•.

Turning now to a more aggressive Queen move at the seventh tum:

Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices

(c)

7

31

Qd2

(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe 4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6) 7 Qd2 The Queen is positioned here to penetrate the Kingside at h6. But experience has shown that the Queen may be more useful at e2 in support of an exchange of Bishops (Ba6) after Black fianchettoes on b7. Therefore, to exploit White's last move Black should continue:

7

•••

b6

One important difference here is that 7 .. fS 8 Nc3, Bf6 allows 9 dS, since 9...B xc3 10 Qxc3 and White's Queen attacks the h8-Rook. This means Black may have to take time out for 8 c6 and if that is true, then his middlegame is not going to be as active as he would like. .

...

-

Nevertheless, 8. c6 used to prove perfectly adequate (e.g. 9 g3, b6 10 Bg2, Bb7 1 1 0-0-0, Nd 7 12 Nh3!?) and now instead of 12 ... Qc7 13 Qe2, Nf6 14 Rhe1 a s i n Euwe-Flohr, match 1932, Suetin recommends 12 ... Nf6 and 13 ... Qd6 with sufficient chances. ..

32

The Fighting French

Now 8 0-0-0, Bb7 hits the White Knight in an awkward way. After 9 Qe3, fS! 10 Nc3, c6 1 1 Nf3, Nd7 Black obtains excellent chances after ... Qc7 and Queenside castling . For example, 12 Bd3, Qc7 13 Kb1 , f4 14 Qe2, 0-0-0 15 Rhe1, Rdg8! 16 NeS, NxeS 17 dxeS, Rxg2 18 Qf3, RgS 19 Qxf4 and in Aronin­ Krogius, U.S.S.R. 1958, Black found eq uality after 19 ... f6! 20 Qc4, RxeS.

8 BbSch This is a common finesse, designed to provoke 8 ... c6 and block the Bishop's b7-f3 diagonal. It is too late to try 8 Bc4, with the idea of 9 dS, because Black controls that square immediately with 8 ... Bb7. A better way of achieving that push is 8 Be2, Bb7 9 Bf3. However, then Black preserves his two Bishops as the expense of piece activity with 9 ... c6!. White has not been able to demonstrate any superiority in such positions, mainly because he doesn't have a good square for his g1 - Knight . For example, 10 Nh3, Qc7 1 1 0-0-0, Nd7 12 BhS (so that 12 ... 0-0-0? 13 Bxj7), c5! 13 Rhe1 , cxd4 14 Nf4, 0-0! and Black stood well in L. Bronstein-Fiorito, Buenos Aires 1990.

8... 9 Bc4 10 0-0-0

c6 Bb7

Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices

33

Because White cannot continue Ba6xb7 - as he would in the comparable variation 7 Nf3, b6 8 Bc4, Bb7 9 Qe2, 0-0 10 0-0-0 - B lack should be able to castle Queenside without much risk and eventually liberate his game with .. c6-c5. .

In one recent example, Renet-Andersson, Cannes 1989, Black tried the more adventursome 10 b5! ? and then 11 Be2, Nd7 12 Nf3, Qc7 13 Rhe1, 0-0-0 in preparation for 14 ... a6 and 15 ... c5. •..

White tried to subvert that continuation with 14 Qh6, but was repulsed by 14 ... Rdg8 15 g3, fS! 16 Ned2, Bf8 and 17 ...h5. Usually, a better method of testing Black's idea is c2-c4, although 14 c4, bxc4 15 Bxc4, cS can get mutually sticky o n the c-file.

34

The Fighting French

(d) 7 c3 (After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, cS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6) 7 c3 The pawn move is solid but rather uninspired. In return for making d4 rock solid White gives up the opportunity at least temporarily - of changing the position dynamically by d4-d5! . -

7

•••

fS!

Once again Black activates his pieces with this move. It is effective here even though the attack on the d-pawn with 8 Bf6 is not his intended follow-up. •.•

8 Ng3 Since c3 is now occupied, this is White's best bet. His other Knight can be used to occupy eS.

8...

cS

Immediately exploiting White's inability to respond 9 dS.

9 BbSch

35

Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices

With this, White seeks rapid mobilization of his Kingside. After 9 Nf3 Black should avoid the pinning 9 Nc6 10 BbS in favor of 9 . Qb6 ! . ...

9 10 Bxd7ch ••.

..

Bd7

There is nothing at all in the endgame of 10 Qa4, BxbS 1 1 QxbSch, Qd7 12 Qxd7ch.

10... 1 1 Nf3

Qxd7 Nc6

Now if White accepts the isolated d-pawn (12 0-0, cxd4 13 cxd4, Rd8) Black stands at least equal, and probably holds a slight edge . But liquidating the d-pawn leads to an equal endgame.

12 dxcS 13 Rxd1

Qxd lch BxcS

And in Ljubojevic-Lautier, Manila 1990 White had to play carefully to avoid disadvantage (14 0-0, Rd8 15 Rxd8ch, Kxd8! 16 Rd1ch, Ke7) because of his centralized King and Bishop. White's Knights have little scope in such a position.

36

The Fighting French

(e) 7 Bc4 (After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6) 7 Bc4

This prepares to push the d-pawn, a thematic plan once Black has doubled his f-pawns because d4-d5/ exd5 would leave his pawns in three islands. b6! 7 ... ••.

Here this move appears most accurate and leads directly into our later chapters. It is probably a little too risky to play 7 f5 8 Ng3 here because of results such as 8 c5 9 dS or 8 Rg8 9 Nf3, Nd7 10 Qe2, Nb6 1 1 Bb3, NdS 12 0-0-0, Nf4?! 13 Qd2 and Rhe1 (Minasian-Savchenko, Belgrad 1989). 8 Nf3 ...

•••

•..

This transposes into Chapter Six, which is not quite as comfortable for Black as other main lines - but safe enough to be a favorite of players like Tigran Petrosian and Salo Flohr. White would love to play 8 dS but this walks into the pinning 8 Bb7 ! . ••.

Now that we've considered almost all the good moves, there i s at least one dubious one that you may encounter:

Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices

37

(0 7 Ne2?! (After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe 4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6) 7 Ne2 ?! There is little to recommend this move, which aims at bringing the Knight to f4, a square on which it will become vulnerable.

7

•••

b6

The immediate 7 f5 is also good, but Black might as well wait until White has moved the e2-Knight that currently defends his d-pawn. ••.

8 Nf4

fS

And here 7 ... Bb7 is also reasonable.

9 Ng3 10 Qf3

Qd6! Nc6

Each Black move comes with tempo. We are following Zagory­ ansky-Uftmtsev, Moscow 1949 which even led to a Black edge after 1 1 00-0, Bb7 (since 12 d5 allows 12. . . Na5!).

38

The Fighting French

CHAPTER THREE The Sharp 7 ...f5 What has turned the quiet Bum Variation that was a favorite of Salo Flohr in the 1930s into the aggressive weapon of the last several years is the more antagonistic attitude towards the White center. Instead of sitting back and waiting for White to open the position inaccurately, Black decides that his Bishops should play a role in the early middlegame. Characteristic of this attitude is Black's willingness to strike with f6-f5. Yes, this move partially surrenders control of eS to White's minor pieces. But this tends to be balanced by the benefits that accrue to Black's minor pieces, principally his B ishops. •••

1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4

e6 d5 Nf6 dxe4

The Knight assumes such a fine square here that it is natural for B lack to begin considering means of ousting it. Note that the Knight does not have such wonderful retreat squares, as we discover later in this chapter.

5... 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3

Be7 gxf6

Besides 7 . b6 and 7 f5 B lack has also tried quiet strategies such as 7 Nd7 8 Qd2, Nf8! ? with some success. Black can then develop con­ servatively with Bd7 and castle Queenside without b7 b6. ..

•••

•••

.••

•••

-

For example, 9 0-0-0, c6 10 Bc4, h5 1 1 h4, Qc7 12 Rhe1 , Bd7 13 NcS and Benjamin-Seirawan, U.S. Championship 1991 was drawn at this point, although one wonders what would have happened in a real game.

Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 f5 ..•

7

•••

39

rs

The most enterprising move at Black's disposal. Black clears away one annoying minor piece from e4, but at the risk that eS will later be oc­ cupied. Here the most popular retreat is 8 Nc3, and we'll examine it in greater detail in the next chapter. The choice of retreat square is so impor­ tant to White's middlegame plan, that it's worth considering the alterna­ tives in some detail here. They include 8 Ned2 and 8 Ng3. There doesn't seem to be much experience with 8 NcS!?, perhaps for the same reasons that led White into trouble after 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4 5 Bxf6?!, gxf6 6 Nxe4, fS 7 NcS?! in Chapter One. One difference is that in our current position, 8 NcS, b6 9 Nd3 is possible, since the d4-pawn is protected. But 9 Bb7 is fine as long as Black doesn't fall for 10 NdeS, Nd7 ? 1 1 BbS. .••

40

The Fighting French

(a) 8 Ned2 8 Ned2 From here the Knight is headed to c4 and then eS. The other Knight, at f3, is not used to occupy eS but to support d4. 8 ...

c5!

Better than 8 ...Bf6 9 Nc4, which fits in nicely with White's plan. Also 8 .. b6 allows the useful finesse of 9 BbSch ! , so that 9. c6 1 0 Bd3 closes Black's b7-d5 diagonal and 9 ...Bd7 10 Bd3 misplaces the Bishop. 9 Bb5ch Bd7 10 Qe2 cxd4 Now 1 1 NeS, Qc7! is quite comfortable for Black (12 Ndf3?, Qa5 or 12 0-0-0, Bxb5 13 Qxb5ch, Nc6 14 f4, ReB 15 Ndf3, 0-0 with a fine game for Black in Vitolinsh-Atlas, U.S.S.R. 1989). .

..

11 Bxd7ch Since Black's King is headed to the Kingside, 11 0-0-0 is appeal­ ing (and if 1l. .. Qa5 then 12 Qe5!) . But 11 ... Nc6 appears more than ade­ quate Qxd7 1 1...

12 QeS! ? 0-0 The position is quite even, according to GM Boris Gelfand and the Soviet Master V. Atlas.

Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 . f5 ..

41

(b) 8 Ng3 (After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5) 8 Ng3

This retreat was given an exclamation point by Nigel Short in his 1990 book on the French Defense. The Knight goes to this square in com­ parable positions of the Caro-Kann Defense. Here the move carries some additional logic, since on g3 the Knight will block the half-open g-file and also be able to jump into duty at hS once Black plays ... Bf6. There is also the little matter of Nxf5 after a sacrificial advance of the White d-pawn. See next note.

8 ...

cS!?

Much more aggressive than 8 Nd7 and 8 c6, which were once routinely played. ...

...

The text, which has a long history - having been tested in the Tchigorin-Salwe Match of 19 10 - was regarded as dubious until recently because of:

9 Bb5ch

The Fighting French

42

Now 9 ... Nc6 10 c3, cxd4 1 1 Nxd4 leaves Black will weak pawns on both wings. (But White can't be too quick to exploit those pawns, e.g. 10 0-0, cxd4?! 11 Nxd4, Bd7 12 Nxc6, bxc613 Bc4, h5 14 Nxh5?!, Qc7 15 Qf3, Rb8 1 6 Ng3, Bf6 17 Rfe1, Bxb2 and Black even won in Espig-Pribyl, Erevan 1982) . 9... 10 Bxd7ch

Bd7 Qxd7

Not 10 Nxd7 because of 11 d5! (ll. . . Qb6 12 Qe2). The Black Queen is vulnerable on d7 to attack from Ne5, but first White must deal with the problem on d4. •••

1 1 d5?!

This is supposed to refute Black's play. Clearly, 11 dxc5 is not much of a threat to Black, who can equalize with any of several moves (ll. . . Bxc5; 1l...Nc6; ll ... Qb5!?). For example, 1 1 dxc5, Nc6 12 Qe2, 0-0-0 or 12 Qxd7ch, Kxd7 13 c3, aS! and the endgame can even favor B lack because his Rooks and minor pieces have greater activity (14 Ke2, Rhg8 15 Rhd1, Kc7 16 Kf1, Bxc5 as in Ciemniak-Danielian, U.S.S.R. 1991). 1 1... 12 Qd3

exd5 Nc6

Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 rs

43

...

Trying to hold onto the temporarily sacrificed pawn is much too risky (12.../4 13 Nh5), since the holes at fS, g7 and eS are more easily exploited. 13 0-0-0 We are following Shabalov-Savchenko, Tbilisi 1989 which lead to a sizable White superiority after 13 ...f4 14 NhS, Qg4? 15 QxdS, Rd8 16 QfS!, QxfS 17 Ng7ch and 18 NxfS. In retrospect 13 0-0 may be best although 13 f4 14 Ne2 (not 14 Nh5, Qg4), Rg8 1 5 Nxf4, Qg4 can hardly be palatable to White. ,

..•

13 f4 Black's intent with this move should be to surrender the pawn and achieve material equality in a middlegame in which Black has the better center. 14Nh5 .••

14

•••

0-0-0!

This neatly turns the tables. White regains the f-pawn, but finds himself with an inferior King position (... Nb4 and ... Qa4). Opinion about this position was altered by Illustrative Game 3.

44

The Fighting French

ILLUSTRATIVE GAME (3) V. IVANOV-DANIELIAN Moscow 1 991 1 e4

e6

2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3 8 Ng3

d5 Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6 rs cS

Another version of the temporary sacrifice of the d-pawn is 9 c3, a6!? and then 10 dS, exdS 1 1 Bd3. After 1 1 f4 12 Qa4ch, Nc6 13 Qxf4 B lack equalized with 13 ...Bd6 14 Qh6, Be6 in Sax-Andersson, Rome 1986. .••

9 Bb5ch 10 Bxd7ch 11 dS?! 12 Qd3

Bd7 Qxd7 exdS Nc6

Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 ... fS

4S

Black needs to castle and safeguard his d-pawn . After 12 ...f4 13 NbS, Nc6 14 Nxf4 White stands OK. Now on 13 QxfS Black responds 13...Qe6ch! and stands better.

13 0-0-0?! 14 NbS 15 Nxf4

f4 0-0-0 ! Nb4

Now 16 Qd2 allows Black to grab the a-pawn with impunity.

16 Qa3 17 Ne5 18 Qh3ch

c4! Qc7 Kb8

Black is better now after 19 Qf5!, c3 or 19...Qa5. But White is gearing up for a blunder that ends the game immediately.

19 Rhe1 20 QfS??

Bg5 !

White was clearly in trouble after 20 g3, c3 and now 21 QfS, cxb2ch 22 Kxb2, d4! (and 23 Nxj7, Bf6!) or 21 b3, Nxa2ch 22 Kb1 , Nb4. Now he drops a piece. 20... f6! White resigns. Surprisingly, it is on the Kingside that White loses.

46

The Fighting French

CHAPTER FOUR Main Line 7

...

f5

Of the four reasonable Knight moves that follow 7...f5, the one that appears far more often than all the rest is 8 Nc3. The Knight watches the crucial dS square from here. It also may, after Black castles Queenside and/or advances his c-pawn to cS, go to bS with effect. 1 e4 e6 2 d4 dS Nf6 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 dxe4 5 Nxe4 Be7 6 Bxf6 gxf6 fS 7 N f3 8 Nc3 "Correct! ," wrote Mikhail Botvinnik, pointing out how White can now meet the intended 8 ... c5 with 9 dS.

8... Bf6 B lack wastes no time in attacking the d4-pawn, which, thanks to White's last move, cannot be defended by 9 c3. (However, since the Knight is somewhat misplaced at c3 B lack may also be able to equalize with 8.. . c6 9 g3, Nd7 and Queenside castling.) 9 Qd2

Chapter Four: Main Line 7...f5

47

This enables White to answer 9. . Nc6 with 10 0-0-0 or 1 0 Bb5. On the other hand, 9 Bc4 is questionable because of 9...Nc6. If 10 d5, then 10...Na5! with no major problems ( 1 1 Be2, Bxc3ch; 11 Bb5ch, c6). In answer to 9. Nc6 White may have to concede his error and play 10 Bb5 after which 10 Qd6 1 1 Qd2, Bd7 was played in Rohde­ Speelman, London 1 984 and led to equality after 12 Qh6, Qe7 13 0-0-0, 0-0-0 14 Rhe1, Nb4! 15 Kb 1, Bxb5 and 16...a6/1 7 ... Rd6. In Shakhmatny Bulletin, Lepeshkin and Vasiliev mention 10 ... 0-0 11 Bxc6, bxc6 as an alternative. Black seems to get just enough play from the b-file after 1 2 Na4, Rb8 13 b3, Rb4 (14 c3, Rxa4! 15 bxa4, Ba6). 9... c5!? The 9...Nc6 move that worked in the last note turns out wretch­ edly here because of 10 Bb5, threatening 1 1 Bxc6ch, bxc6 12 Na4 and 13 b3 with a big positional edge. White stands comfortably well after 10 Bb5, Bd7 1 1 0-0-0. Black does have a major alternative to 9 . c5 in the form of the quiet 9 0-0. This allows White to train his sights on the Kingside, as in Gipslis-Chernin, St. John 1 988, where he played 10 g4!?, fxg4 11 Rg1 , e5 (ll...Kh8 12 Bd3!, Rg8 13 Qh6, Rg7 14 Rxg4 with advantage) 12 Bd3, Bg7 13 dxe5, Kh8 14 0-0-0, f5! and obtained unclear attacking chances (not 14. .. g:if3 ? ? 15 Rxg7). .

..

...

..

...

White now has several choices: allowing the liquidation of his pawn on d4, such as with 10 0-0-0 or 10 dxc5, or forcing matters with 10 Bb5ch and 10 d5.

48

The Fighting French

(a) 10 0-0-0 10 0-0-0 This is the soundest move, but because of the possible Queen trade at move 1 1 , it is less ambitious than the alternatives.

1 0... 1 1 Nxd4

cxd4

Here the endgame resulting from 1 1. . Bxd4 12 Qxd4, Qxd4 13 Rxd4, Bd7 is fairly equal, but White's chances must be considered just a little bit preferable. .

1 1 ...

Nc6

Now 12 Nxc6, Qxd2ch leaves Black w i th a weak, isolated c­ pawn, but the dark-squared Bishop is ample compensation. White does

better in a m iddlegame in which Black can be mated.

12 Bb5 13 Nxf5!?

Bd7

Given an exclamation point when introduced, this is now seen to lead only to equal play. exf5 13... 14 Qd6!

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5 •••

49

Threatening to overwhelm Black with 1 5 Rhe1ch, Be7 16 Nd5. The immediate 14 Rhe1ch, Be6 leads nowhere. Be5! 14...

This was Liberzon-Botvinnik, Moscow 1966 (Illustrative Game 4). White has a dangerous-looking attack, but accurate defense leads to a position that is at least equal for Black. Since the Liberzon game was widely analyzed, attempts at strengthening White's play via conventional means naturally followed. One natural attempt is the voluntary liquidation of the center:

so

The Fighting French

(b)

10

dxc5

(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, fS 8 Nc3, Bf6 9 Qd2, cS) 10 dxcS This invites Black into an endgame - but one in which White is a bit better off than usual in the B urn Variation. 10... Nd7 After 10 ... Qxd2ch 1 1 Nxd2, Nd7 12 Na4 or 12 NbS retains a slight edge for White. 1 1 BbS White can inflict some damage on B lack's pawns with 11 c6, bxc6, but after a later Rb8, the enemy gets plenty of counterplay along the b-file. The text is an attempt to keep the extra pawn. •••

1 1 ... 0-0!? Now 12 Rd1 would transpose into Fernandez-Armas, Santa Catalina 1987, which allowed Black simple equality after 12 NxcS (13 Qf4, Qe 7 14 0-0, a6!). 12 c6 bxc6 13 Bxc6 Rb8 And Black has good play according to Suetin, in his 1982 mono­ graph on the French Defense. Suetin gave no further analysis, but we can imagine Black enjoying himself after 14 Rb1 ?, Rxb2! or 14 Qcl , Qc7 or 14 Na4, Qc7ch If White is going to put his Bishop at bS, then it makes more sense to do it at move 10: •••

.

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5

51

.•.

(c)

10

Bb5ch

(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe 4

5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, fS 8 Nc3, Bf6 9 Qd2, cS) lO BbSch The Bishop check is almost an automatic reaction in some Bum Variation lines when Black advances his c-pawn (when c7-c6 is not pos­ sible). ...

10...

Bd7

Yes, lO Ke7?! has been tried, but after l l dS, a6 12 Be2 Black has nothing to show for his extravagant l Oth move. And Botvinnik even suggested 10 Kf8, but said it could only help White. •••

•..

11 dxcS! This is the only way to try for an advantage. After ll Bxd7ch, Nxd7 (or l l . . . Qxdl 12 d5, e5!) B lack's Queen comes out to aS preparing 0-0-0 and approximate equality. For example, 12 0-0-0, QaS! 13 Kb l , 00-0 14 Qh6, Rhg8 and Black soon got the upper hand in Sax-Andersson, Reggio Emma 1988-89. See Illustrative Game 5. •••

l l ... 12 Bxd7ch

a6 Nxd7

52

The Fighting French

This position has occurred more than once in the games of Swed­ ish GM Ulf Andersson . After 1 3 0-0-0, Qc7 14 Qd6 (or 14 Na4, transpos­ ing into the main line), ReS 15 NdS!? the game A. Sokolov-Andersson, Brussels 1 988 was instantly drawn (15... Qxc5 16 Nxf6ch, Nxf6 1 7 Qxc5 draw).

1 3 Na4

With this White watches the Queenside hole created by Black's 1 1 th move and makes it harder for Black to recover his temporarily sacri­ ficed pawn. However, the positio n quickly liquidates with ...

1 3... 14 0-0-0

Qc7 NxcS!

And in Wedberg-Andersson, Haininge 1 988 Black reached equality after 15 NxcS, QxcS 16 Qd7ch, Kf8 17 Qd6ch (nothing better), Qxd6 18 Rxd6, Rg8 19 g3, Ke7.

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5 .••

(d)

53

10 dS !

(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5 8 Nc3, Bf6 9 Qd2, c5) 10 dS!

This now stands as the only bid by White for an advantage. Now Botvinnik and Suetin have suggested 10 ... e5 and a s ub seq uen t ... e4, but this has not been sufficiently tested.

0-0

10...

White's l Oth move is based on lO. . exdS 1 1 0-0-0 and the pawn is returned favorably after l l ... Qb6 12 BbSch, or 1 1 NxdS, Bxb2 12 Rb1 or even 1 1 Qe3ch! ? (ll. . . Be6 12 Qxc5, Nd7 1 3 Bb5, ReB 14 Qe3 and Nd4, Arnason-Skembris, Thessalonlki 1988). .

1 1 0-0-0

eS

Here ll . . QaS and 12 Rd8 would work well if White con ti n ued 12 dxe6 (hoping for 12 .. .fxe6 13 Bc4), 12 . . .Bxe6! followed by 13 ... Rd8 or 13 ... Bxc3. That creates problems for White in terms of King safety . .

•••

However, White does much better w ith 12 Kb1 ! , since 12 ... Rd8 allows 13 Ne4, Qxd2 14 Nxf6ch and the endgame is bad after 12 ... Bxc3 13 Qxc3, Qxc3 1 4 bxc3, Rd8 15 bc4.

54

The Fighting French

12 h4

not fear

This controls gS, so that White can move his Knight from f3 and BxgS.

•••

12

Nd7

•..

Also reasonable is 12 ... a6 and 13 b5. Black's play should be on the Queenside. He would like to play e5-e4 at some point followed by NeS, but Nb6 makes more sense. .••

•••

...

•••

Now 13 d6, Nb6 14 Qe3, e4 gives Black reasonable chances.

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 ...f5

55

ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES (4) LIBERZON-BOTVINNIK Moscow Team Championship 1 966 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6 rs

Botvinnik's comment was: " This move is rejected by theory but, perhaps, without sufficient foundation. "

8 Nc3 9 Qd2 10 0-0-0 1 1 Nxd4 12 BbS

Bf6 cS cxd4 Nc6

Now 12 ...Bxd4 would be met by 13 Bxc6ch!, bxc6 14 Qxd4, Qxd4 15 Rxd4 with a slight edge for White because of the possibility of

56

The Fighting French

his planting a Knight on cS, dominating the remaining Bis h op , in the e nd ­ game.

1 2... 13 NxfS! 14 Qd6

Bd7 exfS BeS

After the more natural 14 ...Be7 1 5 Rhel Black finds it harder to unravel his pieces (15. . . Be6 1 6 Bxc6ch; 15. . . Kj8 16 Qxdl). The point of 14...Be5 is revealed by B lack's next move.

15 Rhel

QgS c h !

This is a risky but necessary means o f getting the King to safety. Black has no problems after 16 Qd2, Qxd2ch 17 Rxd2, 0-0-0! (18 Bxc6, Bf4) or 1 6 Rd2, 0-0-0 17 RxeS, Be6!.

16 Kbl 17 RxeS!

0-0-0

His idea is 17...Nxe5 18 NdS! and White mates.

1 7... 1 8 QcS 19 Nxdl 20 Nc3

Be6 ! Rxdlch RdS Qxg2

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 .fS ..

57

Now everything is protected and Black threatens a last rank mate. The crisis is over. 21 Ret 22 Bxc6 23 QeSch

Kb8 Qxc6

Simpler, according to Botvinnik, was 23 Qxc6, although White's chances of winning such an endgame are slim. 23... 24 Qxc7 ch 25 Ne2!

Qc7 Kxc7

This secures the second rank (25. . . Rd2 26 Kcl) and g-file (25 . . Rg8 26 Rgl ) . Botvinnik notes that while Black cannot correct his Kingside pawn structure, his active King gives him at least equality. .

25 ... 26 Rgl 27 f3 28 Nxgl

Rg8 Rg4! Rxglch Kd6

Because of the weakness at f3, White cannot free both his King and Knight. 29 b3

KeS

58

The Fighting French

Kcl 31 Kd2 32 a3 33 Kd3 Draw 30

BdS bS f4

Botvinnik made the Winawer Variation (3 Bb4) famous. But here, in one of the last times, he played the French Defense, he preferred the Bum. . . .

(5) SAX-ANDERSSON Reggio Emilia 1988-89 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 BgS 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3 8 Nc3 9 Qd2 10 Bb5ch 11 Bxd7ch

12 0-0-0

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6 rs Bf6 c5 Bd7 Nxd7

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 ... f5

59

More enterprising is 12 d5 and if 12 e5, then the positional treatment of 13 0-0 and 14 Rad 1 as in Ivanovic-Lautier, Berlin 1989. ..•

12... 13 Kb 1 14 Qh6 1 5 g3 16 Qf4

Qa5 0-0-0! Rhg8 Bg7

And not 16 Qxh7, Nf6 1 7 Qh4, Ng4. 16 ... 17 Nxd4 18 Rd2 19 Qh4 20 Qxf6

cxd4 a6 Qe5 ! Qf6 Nxf6

B lack has excellent chances on the dark squares and can attack f2 and g3 with his Knight and h-pawn. 21 f3 22 Rd3 23 Nde2 24 cxd3

h5 h4 Rxd3 Rh8

60

The Fighting French

The threat of 2S ... hxg3 26 Nxg3, Rh3 and Bh6-f4 forces new concessions. B lack has serious winning chances now, so White begins to liquidate pawns. •••

25 Rgl 26 hxg3 27 g4! 28 fxg4 29 Kcl

hxg3 Rh2 fxg4 Kd7 NdS!

Now 30 NxdS, Rxe2 surrenders the seventh rank. Black also has a nice Knight maneuver in mind. 30 Kdl 31 Kd2 32 gS 33 Rfl 34 Ne4 3S b3 36 Rf3 37 Ng3 38 Rf4 39 Re4 40 Nxe2

Ne3ch Ng2 Nh4 NfS Bd4 Ke7 Bb6 Nd4 Rg2 Nxe2 RxgS

The final stage, promoting the f-pawn while attacking the Queen­ side pawns, is fairly straightforward.

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 fS ..•

41 Kdl 42 Rc4 43 Nc3 44 a4 45 Ke2 46 Kf3 47 Ke3 48 Ne2 49 Rxb4 SO d4 51 Ncl White resigns.

BcS Bd6 rs Rglch Rg2ch Rb2 Rxb3 Rb4! Bxb4 Bd6

61

The Fighting French

62

CHAPTER FIVE

The Old Main Line I The sharp positions that arise after 7 rs and an attack on the d4pawn with c7-c5 are not to everyone's taste, even to the taste of everyone who plays the French Defense. In this chapter and the next, we'll examine the more solid system involving a Queenside fianchetto in connection with c7-c6 and Qc7. ••.

••.

••.

.••

1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6 b6

This modest move was once the clear favorite of defenders as Black. In recent years it has been championed by Ulf Andersson, and in the past by Tigran Petrosian. White's choices here are limited mainly to a decision on how to use his fl-bishop. They include: (a) 8 g3, (b) 8 Bd3 (c) 8 BbSch?!, (d) 8 c4 and the main line 8 Bc4, which we'll examined in the final chapter. ,

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

63

(a) 8 g3 8 g3

White decides to answer a fianchetto with a fianchetto. This may lead into positions similar to (b) in Chapter Two, but Black can exploit the addition of Nf3 by White by playing: 8... 9 Qe2

Bb7 QdS!

Now the e4 Knight is attacked and cannot retreat to c3 because then its brother would hang on f3. White's hand is forced. 10 Ned2 Nc6!? 0-0-0 1 1 c3 This is a fine illustration of the forceful play Black's position is capable of. B u t to make his lead in development work he needs to open the position and this means e6-eS. •••

12 Bg2 13 0-0

QhS eS

We are following Hellers-Andersson, Haninge 1989 which of­ fered equal chances after 14 Rad 1, exd4! 15 Nxd4, Qxe2 despite the dou­ bled f-pawns. See Illustrative Game 6.

64

The Fighting French

(b) 8 Bd3 (After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, b6) 8 Bd3

This Bishop is not badly placed here, it's just not as ambitiously posted as in similar lines when it appears on c4 and watches the dS square. White will most likely continue Qe2 and plan to exchange off Bishops later on with Ba6.

8... 9 Qe2

Bb7 c6

Why should Black spend a tempo on this move? Because it is so useful that it is hard to dispense with in these positions - and also because the other natural move, 9 Nd7, allows White to carry out a plan with 10 Ba6!, weakening the light squares. •••

10 0-0-0

Castling Kingside, and retaining the option of advancing the Queenside pawns, has never proven particularly successful for White. For example, 10 0-0, Nd7 II a4, Qc7 1 2 aS and now 12 bxa5 13 c4, cS 1 4 dS!?, exdS 15 cxdS, BxdS 16 Nc3, Be6 and Black survived the •..

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

65

White attack in Maus-Landenberke, Budapest 1990 (1 7 Be4, Rd8 1 8 Nh4, Ne5 1 9 f4, Bc4 20 Qh5, Bxj1 21 Rxf1, Ng6 w i th an eventual draw) . 10

•••

Nd7

This may also be delayed in favor of 10 ... Qc7 ! so that 1 1 Ba6 is avoided for another move.

1 1 Kb 1

At one time it was thought that White should trade off a pair of Bishops here with 1 1 Ba6 to reduce Black's counterplay and soften up the light-colored squares. However, l l ...Bxa6 12 Qxa6, Qc7 sets up a threat of 13 ... b5! and 14 ... Nb8, trapping the Queen. After 13 Qe2, 0-0-0 14 Kb1 Black gets excellent chances from 14 ...f5! 15 Ned2, Bf6, e.g. 16 Nc4, b5! 17 Nce5, NxeS 18 Nxe5, Rd5 19 c4, bxc4 20 Nxc4, c5 (de Firmlan-Andersson, Reggio Emilia 1990). 1 1 ...

Qc7

The position now closely resembles our main line, in Chapter Six, except that White's Bishop lies on d3 rather than c4. The most significant difference is that in this position White can play: 12 c4

66

The Fighting French

With 12 Rhe1 we get positions resembling those in Chapter Six. 12

0-0-0

.•.

Now 13 d5 is a sound sacrifice (13... cxd5 14 cxd5, Bxd5 ? 15 Rcl, Nc5 16 b4 or 14 .... exd5 15 Rcl, Nc5 16 Ng3). It is best declined with 13 Ne5!, e.g. 14 dxe6, Nxd3 15 Rxd3, Rxd3 16 Qxd3, fxe6 with two excellent Bishops, or 14 Nxe5, fxeS 15 dxe6, f5! See also Illustrative Game 7 . •••

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

67

(c) 8 Bb5ch? ! (Af ter 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, b6) 8 Bb5ch?!

This is an overfinesse here, giving Black a move he would most likely play without provocation. It amounts, in most cases, to a loss of tempo for White. 8... 9 Bc4

c6 Qc7

68

The Fighting French

1 0 Qd2

White seems concerned that 10 Qe2, Qf4! ? prevents Queenside castling. If, instead, Black continues 10 ...Nd7 we reach standard positions with an extra move for B lack. A cautionary tale for White would run 10 Qe2, B b7 1 1 g3?! (useful later, but premature here), Nd7 and now 12 Ba6? was played in Holaszek-Magnusson, Skopie 1972 - but after 12 B x a6 ! 13 Qxa6, f5 14 Nc3, b5! White realized his Queen was trapped. He desperately tried 15 Ne5, Nb8 16 Nxb5, but after 16 Qxe5ch ! he resigned. ..•

•••

If White's intention is to castle Kingside, he runs the usual risks as seen in Illustrative Game 8. 10 . . . 1 1 0-0-0 12 Kb1

Nd7 Bb7 0-0-0

1 3 Qe2

This is a concession that White has lost his way. If White is going to justify his play so far, he should at least keep Qh6 in mind. After 13 Rhe 1 , Rhg8 1 4 g3 Black should avoid 14 c5? 1 5 d 5 in favor of 14 . .Ne5. See also Byvshev-Boleslavsky, U.S.S.R. Championship 1 956, (Illustrative Game 9) •••

.

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

69

(d) 8 c4 (Mter 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 B gS, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 NO, b6) 8 c4

This is a relatively new try, having received attention when used in the final Soviet Championship. In the game Minasian-Dreev, Moscow 1991 White obtained excellent chances after B lack accepted his challenge and played 8 Bb4ch 8 Nc3, cS 10 Bd3!, Bb7 11 0-0, cxd4 12 Nxe4. ••.

8 ...

Bb7

But this makes more sense. Now on 9 Bd3, c6 10 Qe2 we will have transposed back into line (b) above. 9 Nc3

For once, this retreat does not block White's c-pawn. 9

•••

fS

Even though this attacks only a "phantom Knight" on e4, it is the best way of bringing pressure to bear on d4. Now 10 Bd3, Nc6 11 dS, Nb4 is one way of continuing.

70

The Fighting French

10 d5 1 1 Qd2

Bf6 c6

This liquidates the d5-point by force and gives B lack an excellent game, as illustrated by 12 0-0-0, cxd5 13 cxd5, 0-0 14 dxe6, Qxd2ch 15 Rxd2, fxe6 16 Bc4, Bxf3!. In Kindermann-Knaak, Baden-Baden 1992, Black got the up­ per hand after 12 ... 0-0 13 g4!?, cxd5 14 gxf5!, Kh8 because White tried 15 Rg1?, Nd7 1 6 cxd5, BxdS 1 7 NxdS, exdS and 18...Rc8ch instead of the more positional minded 1 5 B g2! .

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

71

ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES (6) HELLERS-ANDERSSON Haninge 1989 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6

e6 d5 Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6

7 Nf3 8 g3

b6 Bb7

Compare with 7 g3, b6 8 Bg2 and now 8 Bb7 9 Nxf6ch and 10 .••

Bxb7. 9 Qe2

10 Ned2 1 1 c3 12 Bg2 13 0-0

Qd5 Nc6 0-0-0 Qh5 e5

72

The Fighting French

Without having to face this move, White can make trouble with b2-b4-b5. 1 4 Rad 1 1 5 Nxd4 16 Nxe2 17 h4?!

exd4 Qxe2 hS

White needs to get his Knights moving (1 7 Nf4, Ne5 1 8 Bxb 7ch followed by Kg2 and Nf3-d4). 1 7... 18 Nd4 1 9 Nf5

NeS BcS Ba6!

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

73

Now 20 Rfe1, Nd3 takes White apart. He must begin to shed rnaterial. 20 c4 21 Ne4 22 Rxd8ch 23 Ra1 !? 24 Ng7 25 Ng5

Bb4 Bxc4 Rxd8 Be6 f5! Rd2

Correctly evaluating the Rook-on-the-seventh's value. 26 N5xe6 27 Re1 28 Nxe6 29 Re3 30 Nf8

fxe6 Bd6 Nd3 Nxf2

Playing for tricks (30... Bxf8 31 ReSch, Rd8 32 Rxd8ch, Kxd8 33 Kxf2) in a lost position. 30...

Ne4

31 Bxe4 32 Bxf5ch White resigns.

Bc5! Kb7

74

The Fighting French

(7) ERNST-BORGES Tallinn 1 989 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6 b6

8 Bd3 9 Qe2 10 0-0-0 1 1 Kb1 1 2 c4

Bb7 Nd7 c6 Qc7 0-0-0

In this familiar position 13 d5?, NeS is known to be excellent for Black but. .. Nf8?! 13 dS B lack appears unaware of it. Alternatives such as 13 e5 14 Ng3 and NfS or 14 Nc3 only help White. ...

14 15 16 17

dxe6 g3 Nc3 Qc2

Nxe6!? Kb8 Bb4

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

17...

75

Bxc3

Black makes sure there will not be a Knight headed into b5 or d5 after he advances his c-pawn. Against the immediate 17 c5 White might have sacrificed a pawn with 18 Nd5, Bxd5 19 exd5, Rxd5 20 Be4. . .•

18 Qxc3 19 Qxf6 20 Bc2 ! 21 Rxd8ch 22 Ret

c5! Nf4 Bxf3 Rxd8

76

The Fighting French

To keep his extra piece, Black comes up with a fine idea, which however, gives White compensation nonetheless. 22... 23 Re7 24 Qxf7 25 Qxh7

Ng2! Qd6 Bc6 Qf6?

White's compensation would be evident even after the superior 25 ... Qd2 26 a3, Net 27 Be4!, Bxe4 28 Qxe4, Qd3ch 29 Qxd3, Nxd3 30 f4 and the pawns are ready to march. 26 Rxa7 27 Re7 28 Rxe8ch 29 Qe4 30 Qe2 3t h4

Qd6 ReS Bxe8 Bc6 Qf6

Black is worse, but defense is possible (not 3l ... Qf3 32 Qxf3, Bxf3 33 Bg6). However, he has to find a way of making his Knight work. 31. .. 32 Qe8ch 33 a3 34 Qe2 35 Qe8 36 Qe2 37 Qd2 38 Bg6 39 Bd3

Bf3 Kc7 Bc6 Bf3 Bc6 Bf3 QeS Qe6 Net

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

77

The Knight re-emerges after 1 7 moves behind enemy lines. Kb7 40 Qf4ch 41 QfS Qc6 Ka6? 42 Ka2 Now Black begins to lose control. After 42 ... Nxd3 he retains drawing chances. Qa4 43 Bbl Qdl 44 Qf4 Be2 45 Qe3 46 Qe4 Bf3 Qc l 47 Qe8 Nc2? 48 Qe6 Ka7 49 Qc8ch Or 49 ... Bb7 SO Qe8 and there is no perpetual check (50. . . Nb4ch 51 axb4, Qxc4ch 52 b3 and White wins). SO Qd7ch 51 Qe8ch Black resigns

Kb8

The Bishop falls after 52 Qf7ch . Black made too many mistakes. See above notes.

78

The Fighting French

(8) BAGASIC-PADEVSKY Sofia 1979 1 d4 2 e4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3 8 Bb5ch?! 9 Bd3 1 0 0-0 1 1 Qe2

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6 b6 c6 Nd7 Bb7

B lack now begins an unusual strategy of Kingside castling. 1 1... 12 Ba6 13 Qxa6 14 Qe2

In view of the threat of 14 ... b5! 14... 15 c4 1 6 Nc3

0-0!? Bxa6 Qc7

and

15 Nb8. .•.

Kh8 fS Bf6

Chapter Five: The

17 Rfe1 18 Qc2 19 Rad l 20 a4

Old Main Line

I

79

Rfe8 Rad8 a6

Who has benefited from the exchange of Bishops? With Black's King on the other wing, it might seem that he has. But White is the player who can open the position (with d4-d5). 20 ... 21 Re3 22 Rdel 23 h3 24 Qe2 2S d5

Qf4 Qb8 aS Qc8 Rg8

White might have swung his e3-Rook to the Kingside before this break. 25... 26 cxd5 27 NeS 28 Rg3 29 Rxg7 30 Nc4?

cxdS NcS! Rg7 Qc7 Kxg7 Bxc3!

The Fighting French

This rapidly turns the tables as White cannot save the d-pawn. 31 d6 32 bxc3 33 f3 34 Kh2 35 Ne5 36 f4?

Qc6 Ne4 QcSch Nxd6 Qxc3

And after this, White loses a second pawn and then the Exchange. 36... 37 Rb1 38 Kg1 39 Nd3? 40 Ncl 41 Kh2 White resigns.

Ne4 Qg3ch Qxf4 Qd2 Qd4ch Nc3

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

81

(9) BYSHEV -BOLESLA VSKY Soviet Championship, Leningrad 1956 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4

Harry Golombek's comment in British Chess Magazine was: "A line rather better than its reputation and one that seems to assure Black full equality" . 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3 8 BbSch?! 9 Bc4

Be7 gxf6 b6 c6

It's surprising how often this over-finesse is played by good players. 9... 10 Qd2 1 1 0-0-0 12 Kb 1 13 Qe2?!

Qc7 Nd7 Bb7 0-0-0

82

The Fighting French

White has, in effect, lost two tempi, one with his Bishop at move eight and now with his Queen. Among other things, this allows Black to avoid the exchange of light-squared Bishops with his next move. 13... 14 Rhe1 15 g3 16 Nc3 17 a3 18 h3 19 Na2!

Kb8 Rhg8 fS! Bf6 Rg4 Rg7?! R7g8

Now Black has returned one of those tempi, but that may not matter much here. Now 20 Nb4, cS is fine for B lack, so White prepares for it. 20 c3 21 Nb4 22 gxb4

hS h4!

On 22 Nxh4 B lack has a strong 22 ... f4. 22... 23 hS 24 Nd2 25 Nd3 26 NeS

Rh8 Qf4! cS Qc7 NxeS

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

83

27 dxeS

27... 28 Bd3 29 Bc4 30 Bb5 31 Nf3

BgS! Bf4 Rd7 RdS Rfd8?

Black regards the forward h-pawn as so weak that he can take it any time. Now was the time: After 3t . .. Rxh5, he could work against the various weaknesses (h3, e5, f3) with good winning chances . Black thinks he has a draw in hand - until it's too late. 32 Bc4! 33 Rxdt 34 Qxd t 35 Be2 36 Kat

Rxdtch Rxdtch a6?! Ka7 Qc6?

Last chance to regain his pawn with 36 ... Bxf3. Black apparently counted on playing 37 ...Qe4 next, but then saw that it could be met by 38 NgS, QxeS 39 h6!, Qh8 40 Qd7 with a winning penetration. 37 h4! 38 Qd6! 39 exd6

Qc7 Qxd6 Bxd6

84

The Fighting French

The point of White's 38th was that 39...Bxf3 allows 40 d7!, Bc7 41 Bxf3 and the h-pawn races on. 40 Ng5 41 Nxt7 Black resigns

Bf8

Since 42 h6, h6 43 h7 and 44 h8(Q) cannot be stopped. See notes for Black improvements.

(1 0) IZVOZCHIKOV-VEKSHENKOV Moscow 1977 This game begins looking like anything but a French. 1 d4 2 Nc3 3 Bg5 4 e4

Nf6 dS e6 dxe4

5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3 8 Bb5ch

Be7 gxf6 b6 c6

But voila!

Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I

9 Bc4 10 Qe2 11 0-0-0 12 Kb1 13 Rhe1

85

Bb7 Qc7 Nd7 0-0-0 Rhg8

The point of this move is manifold. Black wants to remove gS as a square for the e4 Knight after his next move. He also wants to exchange off his h-pawn on g3. And there was no better square for this Rook. -

14 g3 15 Nc3 16 Qe3 17 Ngl

fS Bf6 Kb8 bS

Seeing White prepare a vise-grip on eS (18 f4 and 19 N.f3/20 Ne5), Black begins action on the other wing. 18 Bfl

19 f4 20 Nce2 21 Nf3 22 dxcS

Nb6 b4 cS Be4! Nc4

86

The Fighting French

23 Qb3 24 Ned4 25 a3?

Qxc5 Nb6

This opens the wrong side of the board at the wrong time for the wrong pieces. 25... 26 Qxa3 27 bxa3 28 Be2 29 Nb5 White resigns.

bxa3 Qxa3 Rd7 Na4 Rb7

Chapter

Six: The Old

Main

Line II

87

CHAPTER SIX The Old Main Line II Finally, the main 7 b6 system, which Alexander Alekhine - at the peak of his strength - brought into brief fashion in the early 1 930s . It's greatest strengths are its solidity and the simplic ity of Black's development: he's going to play ... Bb7, ... c7-c6, ... Qc7 and then ... Nd7 and 0-0-0 al­ most regardless of White does. •.•

...

But what should White do? Let's see his best try: 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4 Be7

If Black is concerned about the doubled f-pawns, he can of course, play S ... Nbd7 and recapture on f6 with a piece. But that's a different story. With 5 ... Be7 and 6 ... gxf6 he is announcing his interest in sharpening the middlegame. 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3 8 Bc4

gxf6 b6

88

The Fighting French

Remember, this position could also have come abut via 7 Bc4 which discourages 7 ...f5 - and then 7 ...b6 8 Nf3! (8 d5 ?, Bbl) . So even if you prefer meeting 7 Nf3 with 7 ... f5, you may end up with the text position because of the 7 Bc4 transposition possibility. 8... 9 Qe2 10 0-0-0!

Bb7 c6

Only this way can White bid for initiative. The quiet 1 0 0-0 policy leaves Black with a choice between the aggressive 10 ... Qc7 followed by ...Nd7 and . . 0-0-0, and the Knight maneuver to g6, e.g. 1 0... Nd7 1 1 Rfe1, Nf8 12 Qe3, Ng6 13 Qh6, Bf8 14 Qh3, Be7 and now 15 Qh6, Bf8 was the way Vasiukov-Minev, Varna 1971 was agreed drawn. .

The Knight maneuver is effective when Black is not threatened in the center. 10 ...

Qc7

More exact than 10 . .. Nd7, which allows White the immediate 1 1 Ba6. Then 1 l ...Bxa6 1 2 Qxa6, Qc7 1 3 Qe2, f5 1 4 Ng3 favors White slightly (14. . . Qf4ch 15 Kb1 , 0-0-0 16 d5!, cxd5 17 Nxf5 as in Spassky­ Dankert, Munich 1979). With 10 ... Qc7 Black leaves White without an obvious method of continuing . The choice is usually between a final developing move (11 Rhe l ) and the prophylactic 11 Kb l . 1 1 Kb1

A standard move, which secures the King from Queen checks at f4 and defends the a2 pawn against ... Qa5. With 1 1 Rhe1 we will prob­ ably transpose into our main line below. -

An old idea of Leonid Shamkovich's is 1 1 Nfd2, clearing the Queen's way to the Kingside. Shamkovich's analysis leads to a slight White advantage after 1 1 ... Nd7 12 Qh5, Nf8 13 f4, f5 14 Ng5, Bxg5 15 QxgS, Qe7 16 h4.

Chapter Six: The Old Main Line II

89

But another old analysis that g ave 11 ... (5 12 Ng3, Nd7 13 Rhe1 as favoring White doesn't check out. After 13 Nf8 14 Nf3, b5! 15 Bb3, Ng6 Black obtains counterplay (Spassky-HotTman, Salamanca 1991 16 Ne5, Nf4 1 7 Qd2, Rg8!) . ...

-

With 1 1 Rhe1 , Nd7 12 Kb 1 we transpose into out main line. A different idea is 12 Nc3, instead of 12 Kb1, with the tactical trick that 12 ... 0-0-0 can then be met by 13 d5! , cxd5 14 Nxd5, Bxd5 15 Bxd5, exd5 16 Qxe7. See Illustrative Game 12.

11 ...

N d7

12 Rhe1

Here again there's the 12 Ba6? trap sprung by 12 ...Bxa6 13 Qxa6, b5! and 1 4 ... Nb8. Another plan is preparation of the d4-pawn's advance. After 12 Bb3, 0-0-0 13 c4, Rhe8 1 4 d5 B lack equalizes with 14 ... Nc5 as a 1962 Korchnoi-Petrosian game shows.

12 ... 13 Ba6

0-0-0

Basically, this is a good plan because it e l im i n ate s the two-Bishop advantage and softens up the light squares.

The Fighting French

90

The decentralizing 13 Ng3 doesn't make much sense since 14 Nf5, Bf8 would accomplish little. After 13...Bd6 14 Ne4, Bf8! Black is the only one who has improved his position. A reasonable alternative is 13 g3, which safeguards the Kingside (not 13 Nfd2 now because of 13 ... Qxh2!). But after 13 ... Rhg8 (or even 13 . . h6) Black is ready to equalize with 14 f5 15 N-moves, Bf6. .

•••

13

Rhe8!

•.•

A major improvement over 13 Bxa6 14 Qxa6ch, Qb7, which favors White slightly (see Illustrative Game 1 1 ). •••

There were quite a few game pre - 1 980 that went 14 Kb8 15 Qe2, Rhg8 16 g3, f5 and led to relative equality after Black repositioned his Knight on e4. For example, 17 Nc3, Nf6 18 Ne5, Bd6 19 f4, Bxe5! 20 dxe5, Nd5 is a lifeless position headed straight for a draw. •••

Note that Black can also play 13 Nf8 first, as in Janovsky­ Savchenko, Moscow 1991 which saw equality after 14 Bxb7ch, Kxb7 15 g3, Ng6 16 c4, f5 ! 1 7 Nc3, Bf6 18 Rd3, Rd7 when the d-pawn has become a problem for White. ..•

Another relatively new idea is to put the h8-Rook directly on g8. The game Landa-Budnikov, St. Petersburg 1993, went 13 Rhg8 14 g3, f5! 15 Ned2, h5 and Black had considerable Kingside play. In fact, after .••

Chapter Six: The Old Main Line II

91

16 Bxb7ch, Kxb7 1 7 Nc4, h4 18 Rd3, hxg3 19 hxg3, b5! 20 Ne3, Bf6 and f5-f4 he soon had the upper hand and won a nice game.

.••

14 Bxb7ch

Kxb7

15 c4

Nf8

This is Korchnoi-Andersson, Reykjavik 1988. Black now mounted an attack on the d-pawn with 16 Qc2, f5! 17 Nc3, Bf6 18 Re3, Re7 and equalized ( 1 9 Red3, Ng6 20 d5, Red7 21 Qa4, Ne7).

92

The Fighting French

ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES (1 1 ) KLOV AN-PETROSIAN Soviet Championship, Erevan 1 975 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3 8 Bd3

e6 dS Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6 b6

This will transpose into our main line at move 1 3 , the only differ­ ence being that this Bishop will sit on d3 rather than c4 for the next four moves. 8... 9 Qe2

Bb7 Nd7

An interesting move order: Now 10 Ba6, Qc8 ! ? 11 Bxb7, Qxb7 places fbe Queen well. 10 0-0-0 1 1 Kbt

c6 Qc7

Chapter Six: The Old

Main Line

12 Rhe1 13 Ba6 14 Qxa6ch

II

93

0-0-0 Bxa6? Qb7

Against both this and 14 Kb8 White usually retreats the Queen e2 and prepare the opening of the center, ideally with c2-c4 and d4-d5. In fact, after 14 Kb8 he can play 15 c4 immediately, e.g . 15 ... Rhe8 1 6 Qa4, N f8 17 d 5 ! (Am. Rodriguez-Gonzalez Garcia, Mexico 1 992 ) . •••

to

••.

15 Qe2 16 g3 17 a3

Rhg8 Kb8 b5

A bold decision by Black, prompted in part by White's last move. Now on Nb6-c4, White will not be able to drive the Knight back with b2-b3 unless he's willing to sacrifice the a-pawn. •••

The way for White to punish b6-b5 is to occupy c5 and prove that his outpost is better than Black's . And White would like to push his c­ pawn two squares and thereby expose c6 as a weakness. •••

18 Rd3 19 Rcl 20 Nc5 21 Nd2 22 Ncb3

Ka8 Nb6 Qc7 Rd5 Rb8!

94

The Fighting French

This frightens White out of 23 c4 and gains some maneuvering time and room. 23 Nfl!? 24 Ne3 25 Rc3 26 fxe3

Nc4 Rdd8 Nxe3

White is free to raid the Kingside (Qh5) now that his d4 is rock solid. So B lack works the Queenside. 26 27 axb4 28 Rc4 29 Rfl 30 e4 31 Qxe4 .••

b4 Bxb4 RdS fS! fxe4 hS

This invites White's Queen on a Kingside raid. In the next several moves White seems to be about to win a pawn, but backs off when he can repeat the position. 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

Qh7 Qh8ch Qg7 Qg8ch QgS Qg8ch Qh7 Qe4

Rb7 Rb8 Rb7 Rd8 RdS Rd8 RdS

Refusing the draw. Now B lack toys with the idea of bringing his Queen and Rook to the a-file, then decides to blow open the d-file. 39 40 Rf3 41 Qd3 42 Ncl 43 b3 44 c3 •••

Qb6 QbS a6! cS Rbd7 BaS

Chapter Six: The Old Main Line

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95

Qb7! 45 Ra4 Not 45 Qxd3ch 46 Nxd3! and then 46 cxd4 47 c4, winning material because of the vulnerable aS-Bishop. ...

...

46 Qe4

cxd4

47 c4 48 Qxb7ch 49 h4

RgS Kxb7 ReS

50 Nd3

Re3!

51 Nc5ch

Kc8

And now 52 Rxe3, dxe3 53 Nxd7, e2 queens the pawn . As played, White wins the Exchange and two pawns - and can't stop the dpawn . Bel 52 Rfl 53 Nxd7 Kxd7 Kd 6 54 Rxtich KcS 55 Rxa6ch d3ch 56 Kc2? 57 Kdl Bc3! All of a sudden White is getting mated (58 Rc7ch, Kd4 59 Rd7ch, Ke5) .

58 Rfl

Re2

59 Ra8

Rb2

60 b4ch

Kxc4

White resigns.

96

The Fighting French

(1 2) LJUBOJEVIC-M. GUREVICH Amsterdam 1991 1 e4 2 d4 3 Nc3 4 Bg5 5 Nxe4 6 Bxf6 7 Nf3 8 Bc4 9 Qe2

a6 dS Nf6 dxe4 Be7 gxf6 b6 Bb7 Nd7

Employing the same move order as Petrosian in the previous game. 10 0-0-0 1 1 Rhe1 12 Nc3!?

c6 Qc7 Nf8

This discourages the d4-d5 sacrifice and brings the Knight to the useful g6 square. 13 Ba6 14 Qxa6 15 Qc4

Bxa6 Ng6 Qd7

Chapter Six: The Old Main Line

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97

Also 15 0-0-0 after which 16 g3 leads to a slight edge for White. Black has a different idea in mind - castling King side 'by hand" . •••

g3

hS

17 h4

bS

16

18 Qd3

Kf8!

1 9 Nd2

Rd8

20 Nb3

Kg7

21 Kb1

Bb4

22 Qf3

rs

23 Nc5!

Qc8

Or 23 B xc5 24 dxcS, Qc7 25 Rxd8 with a growing edge because the hS -pawn hangs in many variations. •..

24 a3!

BaS

25 b4

Bb6

26 Ne2

BxcS

27 dxcS

eS

28 Rd6!

Now B lack has weaknesses at c6, fS and h5, and to eliminate one of them, he ends up creating a dangerous passed d-pawn. 28...

Rxd6

29 cxd6

cS

98

The Fighting French

30 Qd5!

cxb4

31 axb4

Qc4

32 Qxc4

bxc4

33 Kb2

The c4 -pawn is doomed and the a7-pawn isn't much healthier. Black must go into a poor Knight-and pawn endgame. 33

.•

34 Kc3

Kf6 Rd8

35 Rd 1

Ke6

36 Kxc4

Rxd6

37 Rxd6ch

Kxd6

38 Nc3

Kc6?

The last try was 38 ... a6. Now White's Knight can land on f6, winning the fixed pawn at h5. 39 Nd5!

f4

40 Nf6

fxg3

41 fxg3

Ne7

42 Nxh5

Nd5

Knight and pawn endings are much like King and pawn endings in that there are few opportunities to obtain sufficient compensation for being a pawn down. Here Black has none. 43 Ng7

Nb6ch

44 Kb3

Kd5

45 h5

e4

46 h6

e3

47 NbS!

Black resigns. The Knight stops the e-pawn with 48 Nf4, after which the h-pawn can't be stopped. 15 0-0-0 is recommended. ...

NOTES