[Event "4NCL Online Division 3"] [Site "Lichess Online"] [Date "2024.02.06"] [Round "2.52"] [White "Strong, Chris M"] [Black "Banerjee, Supratit"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C10"] [WhiteElo "1807"] [BlackElo "2107"] [Annotator "Donnelly,MJ"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2024.02.06"] [SourceVersionDate "2008.05.10"] [WhiteTeam "Wells Hartbreakers 1"] [BlackTeam "Lenzie Basilisks"] {[%evp 0,48,25,31,41,34,48,24,37,44,47,47,58,53,40,43,27,28,58,39,17,12,51,30,51,-22,-22,-22,-6,-80,-78,-115,-95,-152,-152,-191,-194,-193,-190,-221,-220,-224,-224,-227,-214,-242,-225,-283,-258,-592,-617]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 {The Tarrasch variation which is quieter than the hugely popular} (3. Nc3 {which by exerting pressure on d5 but allowing the pin Bb4 leads to much more complex play.}) 3... dxe4 {A move that has seen bouts of popularity as opposed ot the more frequently played moves} (3... Nf6) ({and} 3... c5 {Exchanging on e4 seeks to follow up with minor piece exchanges thus freeing Black's sometimes constricted position-noting tha the Bc8 has been blocked in on move one.}) 4. Nxe4 (4. Ne2 {is not often played as after} Nf6 5. g3 Nc6 {Hietanen-Westerinen, FIN-ch corr. 1962} ({or} 5... c5 {Llorento Gonzalez-Henke, LSS e-mail 2009 and Black has a very good game in each case.})) 4... Nd7 (4... Bd7 {is another very popular line attempting to solve the queen's bishop problem rapidly via for example.} 5. Nf3 Bc6) 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 {Trying to retain more minor pieces on the board is equally valid as the immediate exchange with} (6. Nxf6+) 6... Nxe4 7. Bxe4 Nf6 8. Bd3 c5 9. c3 (9. dxc5 {is the main alternative but again Black solves the queen's bishop issue after} Bxc5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bg5 b6 12. Qe2 Bb7 {Anand-Gelfand, Amber-rapid Monte Carlo 2007.}) 9... cxd4 10. cxd4 Bd6 {More uncommon than} (10... Bb4+ {which looks an easier way to achieve an equal position after} 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 {Smith-Meir, Titled Tuesday intern op Chess.com blitz 2016 as Black will no longer be troubled by the pin Bg5.}) 11. O-O O-O (11... h6 {loses time in preventing Bg5 and White has an easier game after} 12. Ne5 {Reinemann-Jentsch, GER-ch Seniors Dresden 2012.}) (11... Bd7 {is as playable as castling and was used by Black in an earlier game to the main game (Gazis-Banerjee, Daventry 4NCL op-A 2023) and went on to win after} 12. Bg5 Bc6 13. Ne5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qd5 15. f3 Qxe5 16. Bh4 Rd8 17. Rf2 Qe3 {0:1.}) 12. Bc2 {Lineing up the queen and bishop on the b1-h7 digonal with mating threats in conjunction with Bg5.} h6 {Good timing to take the sting out of White's plan. Older games have also seen this idea defused by} (12... b6 13. Bg5 Ba6 14. Re1 Rc8 {as in Colle-Thomas, Scarborough Tm 1927 and Colle-Sergeant, Hastings 1928/29.}) 13. Qd3 {Alternatives are also not challenging for Black. For example,} (13. Ne5 {Smirin-Kharitonov, URS Club Cup 2nd group Podolsk 1990.}) (13. Qe2 {Riumin-Capablanca, Moscow International 1936.}) 13... b6 {Somewhat better than} (13... Qa5 {as White can develop with gain of time by} 14. Bd2 {Presdein-Ponomariov, Vitebsk op 2006.}) 14. b3 {Developing the bishop on the long diagonal, possible with a view to d5 and Bxf6, is met simply by Black completing development. Instead Bd2 looks a safer choice.} Bb7 15. Re1 {White is beginning to struggle somewhat as} (15. Bb2 {can be met in similar fashion to the main game with} Bxf3 16. Qxf3 (16. gxf3 Qc7 17. d5 Bxh2+ 18. Kg2 Be5) 16... Bxh2+ 17. Kxh2 Qc7+ {and Black is much better.}) 15... Rc8 16. Bb2 $2 (16. Ne5 {is not much better as Black may play} Qc7 17. Bd1 (17. Bb1 Qxc1 $19) 17... Rfd8 {with very strong threats.}) 16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 (17. Qxf3 Rxc2 $19) 17... Bxh2+ 18. Kxh2 Qc7+ 19. Kg2 Qxc2 20. Qxc2 Rxc2 {Black is easily winning here with an extra pawn and White's king's-side pawn structure damaged not to mention a rook on the seventh.} 21. Rab1 Rfc8 {Black finishes the game simply and very efficiently.} 22. Kf1 Nd5 23. Rec1 Kh7 $5 {threatening even to advance to f5 then f4 when White is completely tied up.} (23... Rxc1+ 24. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 25. Bxc1 {perhaps gives White some hope with a bishop versus a knight in an ending a pawn down.}) 24. Ke1 {White has no useful moves and the game ends abruptly.} Rxb2 (24... Rxb2 25. Rxb2 (25. Rxc8 {would have been check if Black has not avoided this by Kh7. White would then have snatched an undeserved victory.}) 25... Rxc1+ {This game and the variations cited are good examples of the resiliance of the French Defence.}) 0-1