Sunday, December 17, 2006

Chess: Understanding the French Defense (Transpositionally) Part II

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 e6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Bg5 h6 5 Bxf6 Qxf6
6 e4 Bb4 7 Bd3 O-O 8 O-O Bxc3 9 bxc3 c5
10 Re1 Nc6 11 Rb1 cxd4 12 exd5 exd5
13 Nxd4 Line





What's the game plan for White?

* Aim for an e2-e4 thrust and then capture
on d5. The idea is to isolate and weaken that
point.

What's the game plan for Black?



* Contest for e4 and then attack d4 through
... c7-c5.



1 d4



1 ... d5



1 ... Nc6

2 Nc3



It's all about e4.

2 ... e6



Bolsters d5, although at the c8 bishop's expense.

2 ... Nf6
2 ... f5
2 ... Bf5
2 ... c6
2 ... g6
2 ... Nc6
2 ... Nc6
2 ... c5
2 ... e5


3 Nf3



3 e4
3 Bf4
3 Qd3


3 ... Nf6



3 ... c5
3 ... Bb4
3 ... Nc6


4 Bg5



Eliminating the knight's e4 influence by pinning it
to the Queen.

4 e3
4 Qd3


4 ... h6



But Black immediately prompts a resolution of
the f6 pin.

4 ... Be7
4 ... Bb4
4 ... c6
4 ... Nbd7


5 Bxf6



That's one less competitor for e4.

5 Bh4
5 Bf4


5 ... Qxf6



5 ... gxf6

6 e4



And the key maneuver is realized!

6 e3
6 Qd3
6 a3


6 ... Bb4



Pinning the knight in order to negate its e4 influence.
Now 7 ... dxe4 is threatened.

6 ... c6
6 ... dxe4


7 Bd3



Support for the focal point.

7 e5
7 Bb5+


7 ... O-O



7 ... dxe4
7 ... c5


8 O-O



8 e5
8 Qd2
8 a3


8 ... Bxc3



Saddling White with double pawns.

8 ... c5
8 ... Qd8


9 bxc3



9 e5

9 ... c5



The attack on d4 is a critical theme for
the defense.


9 ... dxe4
9 ... Qf4


10 Re1



Assuming a more active post.

10 Qd2
10 e5
10 Qc1


10 ... Nc6



Mobilization towards d4/e5.

10 ... c4
10 ... b6


11 Rb1



Taking aim at the b7 pawn, just in case Black is
mindless enough to remove its c8 protector.

11 e5
11 Qc1
11 Bb5


11 ... cxd4



11 ... c4
11 ... Rb8
11 ... b6
11 ... Rd8


12 exd5



12 e5
12 cxd4


12 ... exd5



13 Nxd4



Centralizing the knight for the middle game.

13 cxd4

By ChessCoach@care2.com




















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