Tarrasch — Eckart Nuremberg 1889 French Defence
1. e2–e4 ...
This opening move makes an outlet for two pieces, the queen and light squared bishop. It does more than that.
It frees a square for the king and gives an extra one to the g1-knight. It is true that the knight is best developed at f3, but there are times when it is expedient to bring it to e2 — perhaps to reach f5 by way of g3. It is just as well to add to the knight's freedom of move- ment, if no lime is lost thereby. As to the king, there's no harm in letting him have a bit more breathing space too. Many a king has been smothered by a lack of consideration, or by carelessness.
Consider this case history, from a minor tournament: McGrouther-McCann. Dundee 1893. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nf5 Nge7 6.Nd6# (1-0).
And if this seems farfetched, here is another specimen, again in a minor tournament: Arnold-Böhm, Munich 1932 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ngf6 6.Nd6# (1-0).
1. ... e7–e6
Though less aggressive than 1...e5, this move does release two pieces and has the advan- tage of restricting White's choice of attack. White no longer has the whole range of Open Games at his disposal, and he is less able to steer the game into highly tactical chan- nels by adopting an opening such as the King's Gambit. The French Defence conceals a great deal of potential dy- namic energy and is a fine weapon against an over- enthusiastic attacking player. Black's position is not easily assaulted despite its cramped appearance.
2. d2–d4 ...
As strong as it is natural. Of this pawn formation, Staunton, in the nineteenth century, said, "It is generally advantageous for your pawns to occupy the middle of the board, because when there they greatly retard the movements of the oppos- ing forces. The e-pawn and the d pawn at their fourth squares are well posted, but it is not easy to maintain them in that position, and if you are driven to advance one of them, the power of both is much dimin- ished."
Black attacks the e-pawn while giving his queen more mobility. It is important to dispute control of the centre.
3. Nb1–d2 ...
White has two reasons for de- veloping the knight at d2:
• He wants to avoid the knight being pinned, as might occur after 3.Nc3.
• He is prepared, in the event of an attack on his d pawn by ...c5, to reply c3, supporting the centre.
Should pawns be exchanged on d4, he recaptures with the c-pawn and keeps a pawn in the centre It is true that his c1- bishop is blocked, but this con- dition is only temporary. Pieces can get out of each other's way.
3. ... Ng8–f6 (D) If followed up correctly, there is nothing wrong with this move. The idea is that by attacking the e4-pawn, Black aims to force this pawn forward to e5. As Staunton explained above, once White's two central pawns do not stand abreast, his whole central structure is weakened.
An alternative and equally good plan was to light for con- trol of the centre by 3...c5, in- cidentally permitting his queen the use of another diagonal
and access to the queenside.
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4. e4–e5 ...Why does White disregard Staunton's advice about keep- ing two pawns on the fourth rank? He knows that the pawn may be weaker at e5, but he weighs strengths and weak- nesses. At e5 the pawn drives the knight away from its most useful post and sends it off to another square where it inter- feres with the free movements of Black's other pieces.
Clearly, the value of this or any other move is arrived at by balancing the benefits it con- fers against any disadvantages that might accrue.
4. ... Nf6–d7 Just about the only move left. On 4...Ne4, White plays 5.Nxe4 dxe4 and then has the pleasant choice between 6.Bc4 and 6.Be3. In both cases White controls more space and has free develop- ment for his pieces Black, on
the other hand, has to worry about his pawn on e4, which is disconnected from the rest of his forces and extremely vul- nerable to attack.
5. Bf1–d3 (D)
White gets his kingside pieces rolling to facilitate early castling on that side.
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5. ... c7–c5Very good, as Black must not delay in trying to free his con- stricted position. The pawn move strikes at the centre and opens another path for Black's queen.
6. c2–c3 ...
Ready to reply to 6...cxd4 with 7.cxd4, and preserve the pawn-chain, which so cramps the enemy.
6. ... Nb8–c6 (D)
The knight develops with tempo, as the d-pawn is now twice attacked.
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7. Ng1–e2! ...One of those rare times when the knight belongs here instead of at f3. It is true that f3 should be occupied by a knight, and White will arrange to have one there. His plan is to swing the knight from d2 to f3, meanwhile freeing his c1-bishop.
7. ... Qd8–b6
Black puts more pressure on the white d-pawn, threatening to win it by 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 Nxd410.Nxd4Qxd4.
8. Nd2–f3 ...
A clever knight shift protects the pawn and clears the decks for the dark-squared bishop's appearance.
8. ... Bf8–e7 Another plausible move, but far too passive. Black's position is cramped by the chain of en- emy pawns on d4 and e5, and he should not allow this situa- tion to persist. He must try to break White's grip on the cen- tre to obtain more space for his
pieces. The correct continua- tion was 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 f6, virtually forcing 10.exf6 Nxf6. Then the problem with the d7- knight blocking in the c8- bishop has been resolved, and the disappearance of the c5- pawn means that Black has gained the d6-square for the development of his dark- squared bishop. If Black does not take the necessary liberat- ing action, then he is likely to be gradually squeezed to death. Such a fate befell even so great a player as Capab- lanca in his game with Alekhine at AVRO 1938. As a consequence of his inferior opening play, Capablanca was tied up so badly that he could not stir and that he resigned with nearly all his pieces still on the board.
9. O–O ...
The king must be spirited off to a safer spot before any violent action is undertaken. 9. ... O–O (D)
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Black is still playing mechani- cal chess, unconscious of pos- sible danger With this move he misses the last chance of strik- ing at the pawn chain by 9...f6.
10. Ne2–f4! ...
Definitely putting an end to any possibility of disturbing the line- up of pawns, as 10...f6 is re- futed by 11.Nxe6, while 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Bxh7+, un- covering an attack on the queen, is unthinkable.
10. ... Nc6–d8 Black recognizes at last that his pieces will remain impotent until he rids the board of White's annoying e-pawn. He therefore protects his own e- pawn so that he can enforce 11...f6 and break up White's pawn formation.
11. Qd1–c2 ...
Creating an obvious threat to the black h-pawn. The pro- found purpose of the move is to compel one of the pawns near the king to move forward. The advance of any pawn around the king loosens the defensive structure and results in a permanent weakening which can be exploited, while the pawn that made the for- ward step itself often becomes a target for direct attack.
11. ... f7–f5 What choice is there? If Black plays 11...h6 or 11...g6; he can
never afterward play ...f6 with- out making the g6-square vul- nerable to invasion by White's pieces or the focal point of a sacrificial attack that would demolish his kingside.
12. e5xf6 ...
This relaxes the hind on Black, but it opens up lines for an at- tack. Open lines favour the player whose development is superior and whose pieces en- joy greater mobility.
12. ... Nd7xf6 Not only to get the knight back into the game but also to de- fend his h-pawn, which again was threatened.
13. Nf3–g5 ...
Once more attacking the pawn, this time including a threat of 14.Bxh7+ Kh8 (14...Nxh7 15.Qxh7#) 15.Ng6#.
13. ... g7–g6 (D)
Forced, as 13...h6 saves the pawn but allows the mate.
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With the advance of the g- pawn, a target comes into view
at which White can direct his attack He can visualize a deci- sive blow, one that will wreck Black's entire defensive struc- ture!
14. Bd3xg6! ...
This sacrifice must be ac- cepted, as otherwise Black will be a pawn down with nothing to show for it but a shattered position. If he tries 14...h6, then 15.Bh7+ Kg7 16.Qg6+ Kh817.Qxh6, and the threat of mate by the knight as well as the danger of discovered check is too much to withstand.
14. ... h7xg6 One lone pawn remains of the three which surrounded the king, and even that one is not long for this world.
15. Qc2xg6+ ...
With this dramatic entrance on the scene, the queen, attended by her two knights, will quickly force sub-mission.
15. ... Kg8–h8 The only move.
16. Qg6–h6+ ...
Clearing the g6 square for the knight.
16. ... Kh8–g8 Interposing the knight instead allows mate on the move.
17. Nf4–g6 1-0 The threats of mate by 18.Qh8# or 18.Nxe7# cannot both be parried.