Chess: Understanding the French Defense (Winawer Variation) Part I

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e5 c5 5 a3 Bxc3+
6 bxc3 Nc6 7 Qg4 Nge7 8 Qxg7 Rg8 9 Qxh7 cxd4
10 cxd4 Nxd4 11 Qd3 Qa5+ 12 Bd2 Qa4 13 Rc1 Bd7
14 Ne2 Nxe2 15 Bxe2 Rxg2 16 h4 Line



What's the game plan for White?

* Restrict Black's game in the center by
adopting the d4-e5 pawn formation.
* Attack Black's kingside by placing the
Queen on g4. The g7 pawn is the prime
target.
* Respond accordingly to Black's counter-
play in the center and on the queenside.

What's the game plan for Black?

* Mobilize the g8 knight to e7 in preparation
for the Queen invasion on g7.
* Pressurize White's d4 pawn beginning with
... c5 followed by ... Nc6. The idea is to attack
the d4-e5 pawn formation at its base, thus
weakening White's central grip.
* Activate the Queen to a4 via the a5-d8
diagonal. From that square, she can help
pressurize White's d4 and c2.

Also available:
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
(King's Indian Attack)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/04/chess-understanding-french-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
(Exchange Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-french_115663846957406107.html
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
(Steinitz Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-french_115663318161522094.html
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
(Classical Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-french_115663144978010132.html
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
(Advance Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-french_115663038832365852.html
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-french-defense_26.html
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
(MacCutcheon Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-french-defense_25.html
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
(Tarrasch Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-french-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the French Defense
(Milner Barry Gambit)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-french-defense.html

1 e4



1 ... e6



2 d4



2 ... d5



It's all about controlling the center!

3 Nc3



Since the e4 pawn was threatened by 3 ... dxe4,
the knight comes out to protect it.

3 ... Bb4



A pinning move that renews the threat of
4 ... dxe4. However, the bishop's kingside
absence leaves the g7 pawn open to attack.

4 e5



The pawn evades capture by gaining space
and cramping Black's game. Thanks to this
advance, White now has some say on Black's
d6 and f6 squares.


4 exd5
4 Nge2
4 a3
4 Bd3
4 Bd2
4 Qd3
4 Qg4
4 f3
4 Be3

4 ... c5



Attacking the base of White's central formation
and opening up the a5-d8 diagonal for the Queen.

4 ... Ne7
4 ... b6
4 ... Qd7
4 ... f6
4 ... Nc6

5 a3



White immediately attends to the pin on c3
before Black exploits it for his d4 offensive.

5 Bd2
5 Qg4
5 dxc5
5 Nf3

5 ... Bxc3+



Exchange is no robbery!

5 ... Ba5
5 ... cxd4

6 bxc3



6 ... Nc6



More pressure on d4.

6 ... Qc7
6 ... Ne7
6 ... Qa5
6 ... Bd7
6 ... f5
6 ... cxd4
6 ... c4

7 Qg4



Taking advantage of the weakened g7 pawn.

7 Nf3

7 ... Nge7



Kingside mobilization at the expense of two pawns.
If 7 ... g6, White has 8 Nf3, with h4 in mind.

7 ... g6

8 Qxg7



8 ... Rg8



The rook can now exploit the half open g-file for
counterplay against White's kingside.

9 Qxh7



9 ... cxd4



10 cxd4



10 f4

10 ... Nxd4



Black strikes back in the center!

10 ... Qc7

11 Qd3



Promptly questioning the knight's menacing
d4 presence.

11 ... Qa5+



En route to a4, at the White King's expense.

11 ... Nef5

12 Bd2



12 ... Qa4



Preventing White from capturing the knight
on d4 and threatening 13 ... Nxc2+

13 Rc1



So that Black doesn't play 13 ... Nxc2+.

13 ... Bd7



Envious of b5, where it can fire down at White's Queen.

14 Ne2



The knight on d4 is now doubly assailed, so Black trades
it off with:

14 ... Nxe2



15 Bxe2



15 ... Rxg2




Thus, Black gets his second pawn back.

16 h4



By ChessCoach@care2.com

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Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense (Sozin Variation) Part I

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6
6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 Be7 8 Be3 0-0 9 Bb3 a6 10 f4 Nxd4
11 Bxd4 b5 12 e5 dxe5 13 fxe5 Nd7 14 Ne4 Bb7
15 Nd6 Bxd6 16 exd6 Line



Also available:
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Najdorf Variation) Part I
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part II
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicili_115316520058364198.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part III
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-najdorf.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part IV
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-najdorf_17.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part V
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_23.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Accelerated Fianchetto)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Keres Attack) Part I
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian.html
Chess: Understanding the Smith Morra Gambit
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-smith-morra-gambit.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Richter
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian-richter.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Sveshnikov Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Dragon
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-sicilian-dragon.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Löwenthal Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_23.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_22.html

1 e4



Controls d5 and f5 plus opens up a diagonal for
the Queen and f1 bishop.

1 ... c5



The d4 and b4 squares are covered and a5-d8
becomes available to the Queen.

2 Nf3



Development and preparation for d4. White wants
to challenge Black's hold on that square.

2 ... d6



Shielding e5 from a prospective e4-e5.
Please remember, the acquisition of e5
is a critical theme for the defense.
This move also opens up a diagonal for
the c8 bishop.

3 d4



3 ... cxd4



By exchanging his c-pawn for White's d-pawn,
Black guarantees pressure down the half open
c-file and chances to mold his central pawn
majority into a strong center.

4 Nxd4



And White gets a developmental lead,
an edge in space and the half open d-file.

4 ... Nf6



Mobilization with attack.

5 Nc3




Protecting the e4 pawn.

5 ... Nc6



The e5 and d4 squares come into the knight's view.

6 Bc4



Initiating the Sozin Variation of the
Sicilian Defense.

The bishop hopes to see action along
the a2-g8 diagonal. It also enables
rapid kingside castling.

6 ... e6



Killing too many birds with one stone:

(i) Facilitates development of f8 bishop to e7
(ii) Neutralizes White's control of d5 and f5
(iii) Limits scope of c4 bishop.
(iv) Enables an eventual d5 break

From now on, Whites needs to be on the
lookout for ... Nxe4. The idea is to execute
a d5 break, after White recaptures on e4
with Nxe4. Thus, not only does Black win
his material back, but he also frees his
game.


6 ... Qb6
6 ... Bd7
6 ... e5
6 ... Na5
6 ... g6
6 ... a6
6 ... Qc7
6 ... Qa5

7 0-0



Since Black's King is still in the center of the board,
White is not yet seriously worried about ... Nxe4.

7 Be3
7 Bb3
7 a3
7 Bg5
7 Nb3

7 ... Be7



7 ... a6

8 Be3



Reinforcing the d4 knight's position and completing
queenside development.

8 Bb3
8 a3
8 Kh1
8 Re1

8 ... 0-0



9 Bb3



Avoiding the ... Nxe4 combination, now that the Black
King is away from the center. Dubious is 9 f4 because
of 9 ... d5 10 exd5 exd5 11 Be2 Re8, with a small
advantage to Black.

9 Kh1
9 Qe2
9 f3
9 f4
9 a4

9 ... a6



Some queenside action is in the air!

Other options are:

(A) 9 ... Na5



Attacking the b3 bishop.

10 f4



Preparing for e4-e5.

10 ... b6



Making way for the c8 bishop.

10 ... Qc7
10 ... a6
10 ... Bd7
10 ... Nxb3

11 e5



11 Qd3

11 ... Ne8



11 ... Nd7 allows 12 Bxe6 followed by 13 Nxe6.

11 ... dxe5

12 Qg4



The queen eyes g7 and e6.

12 f5

12 ... Nxb3



Before the bishop becomes a menace.

13 axb3 Bb7



14 Rad1



(B) 9 ... Bd7



10 Qe2



Making room on d1 for the a1 rook.

10 f4
10 Ndb5

10 ... Nxd4



Vacating c6 for the d7 bishop

10 ... Qa5

11 Bxd4 Bc6



The bishop has better scope on this square.

12 Rad1 Qa5



Eliminating all possibility of contact with the d1 rook
and assuming a more active position. Please observe
how the Queen has a sweeping view of the fifth rank.

13 f4



13 ... e5



Fighting for e5!

14 fxe5



14 Be3

14 ... dxe5



15 Be3



(C) 9 ... Nxd4



10 Bxd4 b5



10 ... Bd7
10 ... b6

11 Nxb5

11 a3

11 ... Ba6



12 c4 Bxb5



13 cxb5 Nxe4



14 Qg4



14 ... Nf6



15 Qe2



Back to

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6
6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 Be7 8 Be3 0-0 9 Bb3 a6



10 f4



Preparing for an e4-e5 advance.

10 a4

10 ... Nxd4



Blacks wants to advance 10 ... b5, but that would leave
the c6 knight exposed to 11 Nxc6. So, he trades it off
before initiating queenside action.

10 ... Qc7
10 ... Na5
10 ... Bd7
10 ... d5

11 Bxd4 b5



12 e5



Answering Black's queenside demonstration with
a strike in the center!

12 Qf5
12 Qe1

Fischer-Spassky, match (4) ran as follows:

12 a3



12 ... Bb7



13 Qd3



13 ... a5!



14 e5



14 ... dxe5




15 fxe5



15 ... Nd7



16 Nxb5 Nc5



With compensation for Black.

Back to

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6
6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 Be7 8 Be3 0-0 9 Bb3 a6 10 f4 Nxd4
11 Bxd4 b5 12 e5



12 ... dxe5



13 fxe5 Nd7



13 ... Ne8

14 Ne4



14 Qh5
14 Qg4

14 ... Bb7



15 Nd6



15 Qg4

15 ... Bxd6



16 exd6



By ChessCoach@care2.com

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