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.