I am glad to see this game that we played many years ago continues to vex you. In truth, I do not recall if you emerged victorious. I did not maintain the careful records that you have, nor do I remember the result of this game. I do faintly remember that the game was played at the Berkeley City Club, on Durant, if I am not mistaken.
A few years before this game, I played a bunch of these French Winawers with my friend, Jeff Ely, who was a graduate student at the time. The games were played on the north side of the Berkeley campus at a cafe on Hearst. Other times we would play at Brewed Awakenings on Euclid. Anyhow, the idea to play the line with h2-h4 probably followed studying the game between Kasparov-Anand (1992). I remember examining that game with Jeff, since he, like you, enjoyed playing the French Defense.
I am impressed that you keep returning to this game, seeking a sort of analytical truth. Many of the games that we played against each other in those days included some quite unusual and lively positions. When I was white, we contested the French, and when you were white, a King's Indian. For this game, you offer many concrete variations that help explain what is happening and what we may have been considering.
You mention the flurry of captures starting on move 15. I wonder what compelled white (me) to part with my dark-squared bishop. That piece is often an important trump for white in a Winawer. I cannot say whether there was a concrete reason, or that I just didn't want to retreat. White allows a passed pawn on the h-file, in a position in which white will not be able to exert any influence on that part of the board. I don't know if that was well-considered, reckless, or merely an accident.
The position after 23 Kb2 does look favorable for white--the dark squares a7 and d6 are vulnerable (from black's point of view). Of course, black would quickly trade a rook for a knight landing on d6 (all else equal). Each side's pieces are not currently engaged, but the rook on a1 already declares ominous intent.
White must press forward and attack on the queenside, as your variations suggest. Otherwise, black will win by slowly but surely advancing the h pawn down the board.
In order to defend with black, we must decide what is white's primary threat and make sure we meet it. I think black would be happy if white tried to capture the f3 pawn. Doing so would just half open another file for a black rook. Is white threatening 23 c6? No, black wouldn't blunder the queen by 23...bxc6 Nxc6 check. What about 23 Rxa7? Black must make certain that does not succeed.
Presuming Rxa7 does not succeed in this exact position, how does white improve? Likely, the white queen must enter the queenside, via b1 or d3. Putting the queen on d2 and threatening Re1 doesn't seem in the spirit of the position. Once the queen and rook line up on a7, black has a huge problem. This may be one of those positions where the only defense is counterattack! I was first drawn to pushing the h-pawn with the idea of laterally defending on the 6th rank. But that seems too slow since it takes three moves (h6-h5, Rh8-h6, and then moving the bishop from e6).
My next idea is to make use of the rook in a different way: 23...Rh8-g8. If 24 Qb1 Rg1 25 Qa2 a6 26 Bxa6 then black has 26...Rxa1, neutralizing the attack. But what if white plays 26 b5 instead? If I were defending with black, I would be concerned. If black is getting ripped apart on the queenside, the black king may be forced to flee! I am eager to see how our game unfolded.
I'm sort of a hoarder when it comes to my old chess games - I've also got every copy of the old Berkeley Chess Club Bulletin, published by Kurt Jacobs from 1996 through about 1999, if I'm not mistaken. Lots of fun games and memories there.
I also had a sparring partner in the Winawer - my buddy Damon Mosk-Aoyama was fond of the variation that runs 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e5 c5 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 Ne7 7 a4 Qa5 8 Bd2 Nbc6 9 Nf3 Bd7 10 Bb5. I'd like to say I'm an expert in it after all the blitz games we played, but I'm still not sure I know the best tenth move for black.
I think this game was mostly over my head. My only real memory of it is being constantly surprised by your moves and trying to react as best I could, which went about as well as could be expected. I think your ideas about the position are pretty much right on - the 24 Qb1 idea is a real problem because both b5 and c6 are coming.
It's great to hear from you - I hope you and your family are well.
I recall that we played that line a lot around that time. In those games, white typically did not push the h-pawn, and instead castled kingside, so I think those positions may have been more conventional in some ways than the ones in this game. But I learned a lot about the French from those games.
Yes, it's interesting how that turned out. In my case, I was probably too lazy to try to properly learn new opening lines, so I mostly relied on the experience from playing those games and analyzing other games you played together. But I thought the French generally led to interesting positions, and was easier to play than the Sicilian, for example, because there was more of a margin for error in terms of remembering concrete lines.
Also - in regards to your giving up the dark squared bishop - the computer is a big fan, basically saying that it's the only way to keep the advantage. I agree that it feels a little strange, but apparently keeping the initiative is worth it.
My first idea for black would be to make a beeline for the Nd4 with one of the rooks, say Rdf8 Qb1 Rf4. I’m planning to take it no matter what you do, but after Qa2, I think black needs to play a6 first. I’m moderately optimistic that once black trades the N the white K will be sufficiently exposed that the position will be balanced.
Andy,
I am glad to see this game that we played many years ago continues to vex you. In truth, I do not recall if you emerged victorious. I did not maintain the careful records that you have, nor do I remember the result of this game. I do faintly remember that the game was played at the Berkeley City Club, on Durant, if I am not mistaken.
A few years before this game, I played a bunch of these French Winawers with my friend, Jeff Ely, who was a graduate student at the time. The games were played on the north side of the Berkeley campus at a cafe on Hearst. Other times we would play at Brewed Awakenings on Euclid. Anyhow, the idea to play the line with h2-h4 probably followed studying the game between Kasparov-Anand (1992). I remember examining that game with Jeff, since he, like you, enjoyed playing the French Defense.
I am impressed that you keep returning to this game, seeking a sort of analytical truth. Many of the games that we played against each other in those days included some quite unusual and lively positions. When I was white, we contested the French, and when you were white, a King's Indian. For this game, you offer many concrete variations that help explain what is happening and what we may have been considering.
You mention the flurry of captures starting on move 15. I wonder what compelled white (me) to part with my dark-squared bishop. That piece is often an important trump for white in a Winawer. I cannot say whether there was a concrete reason, or that I just didn't want to retreat. White allows a passed pawn on the h-file, in a position in which white will not be able to exert any influence on that part of the board. I don't know if that was well-considered, reckless, or merely an accident.
The position after 23 Kb2 does look favorable for white--the dark squares a7 and d6 are vulnerable (from black's point of view). Of course, black would quickly trade a rook for a knight landing on d6 (all else equal). Each side's pieces are not currently engaged, but the rook on a1 already declares ominous intent.
White must press forward and attack on the queenside, as your variations suggest. Otherwise, black will win by slowly but surely advancing the h pawn down the board.
In order to defend with black, we must decide what is white's primary threat and make sure we meet it. I think black would be happy if white tried to capture the f3 pawn. Doing so would just half open another file for a black rook. Is white threatening 23 c6? No, black wouldn't blunder the queen by 23...bxc6 Nxc6 check. What about 23 Rxa7? Black must make certain that does not succeed.
Presuming Rxa7 does not succeed in this exact position, how does white improve? Likely, the white queen must enter the queenside, via b1 or d3. Putting the queen on d2 and threatening Re1 doesn't seem in the spirit of the position. Once the queen and rook line up on a7, black has a huge problem. This may be one of those positions where the only defense is counterattack! I was first drawn to pushing the h-pawn with the idea of laterally defending on the 6th rank. But that seems too slow since it takes three moves (h6-h5, Rh8-h6, and then moving the bishop from e6).
My next idea is to make use of the rook in a different way: 23...Rh8-g8. If 24 Qb1 Rg1 25 Qa2 a6 26 Bxa6 then black has 26...Rxa1, neutralizing the attack. But what if white plays 26 b5 instead? If I were defending with black, I would be concerned. If black is getting ripped apart on the queenside, the black king may be forced to flee! I am eager to see how our game unfolded.
I'm sort of a hoarder when it comes to my old chess games - I've also got every copy of the old Berkeley Chess Club Bulletin, published by Kurt Jacobs from 1996 through about 1999, if I'm not mistaken. Lots of fun games and memories there.
I also had a sparring partner in the Winawer - my buddy Damon Mosk-Aoyama was fond of the variation that runs 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e5 c5 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 Ne7 7 a4 Qa5 8 Bd2 Nbc6 9 Nf3 Bd7 10 Bb5. I'd like to say I'm an expert in it after all the blitz games we played, but I'm still not sure I know the best tenth move for black.
I think this game was mostly over my head. My only real memory of it is being constantly surprised by your moves and trying to react as best I could, which went about as well as could be expected. I think your ideas about the position are pretty much right on - the 24 Qb1 idea is a real problem because both b5 and c6 are coming.
It's great to hear from you - I hope you and your family are well.
Andy
I recall that we played that line a lot around that time. In those games, white typically did not push the h-pawn, and instead castled kingside, so I think those positions may have been more conventional in some ways than the ones in this game. But I learned a lot about the French from those games.
Who would have thought, back in those days, that I would mostly abandon the French and you would adopt it with black?
Yes, it's interesting how that turned out. In my case, I was probably too lazy to try to properly learn new opening lines, so I mostly relied on the experience from playing those games and analyzing other games you played together. But I thought the French generally led to interesting positions, and was easier to play than the Sicilian, for example, because there was more of a margin for error in terms of remembering concrete lines.
Also - in regards to your giving up the dark squared bishop - the computer is a big fan, basically saying that it's the only way to keep the advantage. I agree that it feels a little strange, but apparently keeping the initiative is worth it.
My first idea for black would be to make a beeline for the Nd4 with one of the rooks, say Rdf8 Qb1 Rf4. I’m planning to take it no matter what you do, but after Qa2, I think black needs to play a6 first. I’m moderately optimistic that once black trades the N the white K will be sufficiently exposed that the position will be balanced.
Unlike me, you chose the right rook! That seems best to me as well, although the computer still says something like +2 for white.
Hello Andy!
I am unfamiliar with substack, so I will click 'post' to see if this comment does get posted posthaste.
It works!