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by Eric C. Johnson
Wolensky, J (1400) - Johnson, K. (1400):
French Defense
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4!?
White has quite a variety of plans against the French Defense -- 3. Nc3 (or 3. Nd2)
maintains the central tension a bit longer, while 3. e5 grabs space at the cost of a
non-developing move. These choices all seek to maintain White's slight advantage in the center.
The Exchange Variation (3. exd5) has a poor reputation, partly because it is seen as one of those openings where one side is trying to make a draw through simplification.
The move 4. c4!? is an attempt to breathe some new life into the Exchange Variation.
White is willing to accept an isolated d-pawn in return for open lines and easy
development. For this reason, we recommend this line of play against the French as part of our opening repertoire for scholastic players (see www.geocities.com/allentownchess/opening.html).
GM Maurice Ashley has played many games with 4. c4!? (we might even call the line the "Ashley Variation"), so this line has been played at higher levels.
4. ... Bb4+ 5. Nc3 Ne7
Black has a fundamental choice about where to develop his king's bishop. He can play Bb4 and aim to reduce White's attacking potential through immediate exchanges. This plan is a bit risky:
Ashley-Shabalov (1993) continued 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 c5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. dxc5 Bg4 10. 0-0 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxc3 12. Qc2 Bxe2 13. Re1 Qd4 14. Bb2 0-0-0 15. Bf5+ Kc7 16. Bxc3 Bd3 17. Qc1 Qc4 18. Re4 Nd4 19. Qf4+ Kc6 20. Bxd4 Rd5 21. Bxg7 Qxc5 22. Rc1 1-0
A more steady approach is to develop with Be7, defend the kingside, and slowly try to exploit White's isolated center pawn:
Ashley-Granda Zuniga (1997) went 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Nge2 Be6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Be3 g6 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Rac1 Qd7 13. Rfd1 Rad8 14. Bb5 a6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Qc2 Qg4 18. Ng3 Bd6 19. f3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qxf3 21.Nf1 Rxe3 22. Nxe3 Qxe3+ 23. Kh1 Bf4 24. Rf1 Rxd4 25. Rce1 Qh3 26. Rf2 Qd7 27.Qe2 Qd5+ 28. Qf3 Bd6 29. Ref1 f5 30. Rc2 Re4 31. b3 Kf7 32. Qg2 Rh4 33. Qxd5+ cxd5 34. Rff2 a5 35. Rc6 a4 37. bxa4 Rxa4 38. Rfc2 Ke6 39. Kg2 Kd7 40. Rb3 Kc6 41. Rcb2 Bc7 42. Re3 c4 43. Re6+ Bd6 0-1
6. a3!?
Spending a whole move to gain the bishop pair. If Black had played the steadier 5. ...Nf6, then 6. ... Be7!? would be an option here.
6. ... Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Bf5 8. Qb3 b6 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Qxd5 Nxd5 11. c4 Nf6
In chess, we must constantly compare the plusses and minuses of our position against those of our opponent.
By choosing 4. c4!?, White opted for a wide-open game where he would have a slight
structural weakness (i.e., an isolated d-pawn) in return for a wide-open game with easy development and some attacking chances.
White has an interest in keeping the pieces on the board -- most simplified positions will favor Black.
After 6. a3!?, he traded in some of that development time to gain the bishop pair.
Perhaps that is what motivated him to allow the trade of queens with 9. cxd5 and 10.
Qxd5, even though most trades will favor the side with the structural advantage.
White's "hanging pawns" on c4 and d4 control a large number of central squares, but they will also need constant attention.
12. g3 Nbd7 13. Bg2 Be4 14. Nf3 0-0 15. 0-0 Bd3 16. Ne5?!
A very instructive counting error. Instead, Fritz thinks 16. Rd1!? Be2 (if 16. .. Bxc4 then 17. Ne5!) 17. Rd2 is equal.
16. ... Bxf1 17. Nxd7?! (if 17. Bxa8 then Bxc4! snags a free pawn, and 17. Kxf1 stays an Exchange down) Bxg2 18. Nxf8?
Bad decision -- White stays a piece down for no compensation, effectively ending the
game. At least after 18. Nxf6+ (the power of check!) gxf6 19. Kxg2 the damage is
limited to just an Exchange.
18. ... Bc6
Black will soon be up a piece -- he should win easily. The winning plan is very
straightforward:
* Activate his pieces
* Eliminate any counterplay
* Bring his King to the center
* Trade pieces, not pawns
The rest of the game is instructive because Black breaks each one of these rules in swift succession! For example: Right at the start, 18. ... Bf3! keeps a better grip on things.
19. d5 Bb7 20. Bf4 Rxf8?!
Better would be 20. ... Kxf8, bringing the King into the game. But why let White have
any fun at all -- after 20. ... Rc8!?, that Nf8 still isn't going anywhere!
Remember, the keys to converting winning endings are activating our own pieces and
stopping our opponent from getting any counterplay. Don't rush!
21. Bxc7 Rc8 22. d6 Bc6
Black is still winning easily. The key here is to maintain the blockade on the d7-square, avoid giving the opponent any more counterplay (!), and to activate the King.
23. Re1 Re8 24. Rc1 Bd7 25. a4 Re6 26. a5 bxa5?! 27. c5
Now things are really getting dicey -- White has a pair of connected passed pawns.
Still, so long as Black keeps the blockade and brings his King to the center, he should win.
27. ... a4? (27. ... Bc6 was a must!) 28. c6 a3?? (28. ... Bc8! still left Black on top, though the margin keeps getting smaller. Now White really is winning!) 29. cxd7 Nxd7 30. Ra1 Re4 31. Rxa3 h6 32. Rxa7 Re8 33. Ba5 Nf6 34. d7 Nxd7 35. Rxd7 Re1+ (we'll assume time pressure affected the finish) 36. Kg2?! Ra1 and Black Resigns 1-0
A spirited comeback by Mr. Wolensky (with the aid of his opponent's time pressure, no doubt!). However, careful study of Black's errors after move 18 will help all players in the 1200-1600 rating range.
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