Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Don't waste time in the French

For any long term readers if this blog, my views on the French Defence are pretty clear. "Bring it on" is what I say, as time and again, Black seems to sit back and get crushed by White.
Now I know this is a gross simplification of reality, and the French is quite a viable defence in the hands of an expert, but at the club/weekender level, my experience is that White has an easier time of it.
Here is a further data point to support my thesis. It comes from last weeks Blayney Open, and my opponent committed a number of sins in the opening, including moving the same piece twice (twice!), removing the tension from the centre, and surrendering the two bishops without compensation. After that I just aimed up on the kingside and went to work.

Press,S - Aich,A [C02]
Blayney Open, 12.09.2009

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Ne7 5.Nf3 Ng6 6.Bd3 Be7 7.g3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Nc3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nd7 11.h4 b6 12.Ng5 Ngf8 13.Ba3 h6 14.Nh3 Bb7 15.Qg4 g6 16.Nf4 Rg8 17.Bd6 f5 18.Qe2 Rc8 19.Rc1 Kf7 20.g4 Kg7 21.gxf5 gxf5 22.Kd2 Qe8 23.Rcg1+ Kh7 24.Rxg8 Kxg8 25.Rg1+ Kh7 26.Qf3 Qf7 27.Qg3 Rc6 (D)
28.Nxe6 Nxe6 29.Bxf5+ Kh8 30.Bxe6 Qh7 31.Bxd7 Rxd6 1-0

1 comment:

Paul said...

The French Defense (as Black) isn't for the faint-hearted. I play it and will continue to do so. It suits my personality and chess style.