My First Win Against a FIDE Master in Classical! Featuring Bd3 French

This is my first article for the site, and I’m proud that it’s going to be a self-analysis of my highest rated Classical time control game. This game was played against Hungarian FM Roland Margl on Lichess.org with a time control of 30+0, and was quite an interesting (and tough) game. I played my favorite anti-French defense weapon in the game, 3.Bd3, and even though I got a slightly worse position after some mistakes, I think the game shows a model example of how to never give up even when you know you are worse, and how to find resources in the worst of positions. Keep in mind most of this game was positional, not tactical, meaning that there won’t be any flashy sacrifices.

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/8wKh7nTu"] [Date "2020.10.24"] [White "flyingbishop97"] [Black "SchieberSpieler"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2176"] [BlackElo "2327"] [BlackTitle "FM"] [TimeControl "1800+0"] [Termination "Normal"] [Annotator "flyingbishop97"] [UTCDate "2020.11.15"] [UTCTime "22:54:22"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C00"] [Opening "French Defense: Schlechter Variation"] 1. e4 { Well, what did you expect? I love me some 1. e4. } 1... e6 { My opponent goes for the French Defense. I have mixed feelings about this opening. On the one hand, it’s a strong weapon, but on the other, it just doesn’t feel right, blocking in that c8-bishop. } 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3 { [#] My not so secret anti-French weapon. I love this line because it’s rare, but also dangerous, contrary to popular belief. It also takes most french players out of their comfort zone, and into mine. This is a good reference: <a href="https://www.chessable.com/tackle-the-french-a-practical-repertoire-with-3-bd3/course/38971/">https://www.chessable.com/tackle-the-french-a-practical-repertoire-with-3-bd3/course/38971/</a> } 3... dxe4 { [#] The main line. Black intends to follow up with…Nf6 and …c5, opening the position and activating his pieces. Black has other alternatives, like } (3... c5 { With a sort of Open-Tarrasch position. } 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 $10 { [#] Play can branch out in many ways here. }) (3... Nf6 { Most akin to a normal French defense position. } 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Ne2! { [#] A great improvement over the main line. White intends to play Nf4 and a future Qh5, starting an attack on the Black king after it has castled. } { [%cal Ge2f4,Gc2c3,Gd1h5] }) 4. Bxe4 Nf6 5. Bf3 { [#] The bishop may look weird here, but it does a vital job, and is essential to making this whole system work. With the bishop on f3, White restrains the movement of the already bad c8-bishop (it can’t move without dropping the b7-pawn), and makes it so that Black will have to make quite a few preparatory moves before that c8-bishop and a8-rook ever get into the game. } { [%cal Gg1e2,Ge1g1,Gh1f1,Gb1c3,Gc1e3] } 5... Nbd7!? { [#] I would argue that this move is the best response to 3.Bd3. Chess is all about advantages, and because of the awkward placement of the bishop on f3, it’s much easier for Black to grab the bishop pair, usually by …e5 and …Nxe5. …Nbd7 aims to do just that. Instead of playing into White’s hands with …c5 and …cxd4, Black aims for the very logical idea of …e5! (with …Bd6), taking advantage of the f3-bishop. } { [%cal Gf8d6,Ge6e5] } 6. Nc3 { I would like to quote ChessForLife (the author of the Bd3 French course) here: “This is stronger than the more common 6. Ne2. The point is that 6. Ne2 allows Black to equalize after …Bd6 and …e5 (with 6.Nc3 we have the option of disrupting this plan with Nb5).” } 6... c6 { [#] A very logical move. Black blocks the scope of our f3 bishop, making it look pretty silly on f3. This system with …c6 is one of the most annoying to face as White because most of the normal plans don’t work. Add this to the fact that Black has no real weaknesses, and you get just confusion and sadness as White. Black intends to complete development via …Bd6 and …0-0. } { [%cal Gf8d6,Ge8g8,Gh8f8] } 7. Nge2 { [#] The typical development scheme of this variation. The knight is coming to g3, and from there, e4. } 7... Bd6 8. O-O e5 { [#] This is quite an ambitious move. Black reasons that if he can open the center quickly, that f3 bishop can be taken advantage of much more quickly, and he will achieve equality. This pawn break also might make the pawn structure symmetrical, leaving White to wonder where his advantage is. That being said, this move is probably a bit premature as it weakens the f5 square, and might prove to be a tad bit too hasty with the king in the center. Ideas such as Ng3-f5 and d5! are on the cards. How would you respond if you were faced with this? Scroll down when you think you know the answer. } { [%cal Ge2g3,Gg3f5] } 9. Ng3! { Heading for f5. White reasons that if the pawn structure will get symmetrical, his much more active pieces will grant him an advantage. } { [%cal Gg3f5] } 9... O-O { [%csl Gd5][%cal Gd4d5] } 10. Nf5?! { [#] I don’t want to call this move hasty, but I guess it is. Without developing my pieces, I immediately wanted to go after the bishop because I saw it’s potential after a future …e5-e4. 2 games have reached this position after 9…0-0, and both saw 10.d5, blowing open the center. If I ever got this position again, I would have still gone for Nf5, only because of its aggressive tendencies. } (10. d5 cxd5 11. Nxd5 { [#] This is also a possibility, although personally I don’t like it. [%cal Gd5f6,Gf1e1,Gc2c4,Gc1g5] }) 10... Bc7 11. Bg5 { [#] I gotta develop my pieces man! At this point I wasn’t feeling super good because I realized that my pieces didn’t have a cohesive strategy, and they were just “there”. } { [%csl Gf5,Ge4][%cal Gc1g5,Gc3e4] } 11... h6 { [%cal Gh7h6] } 12. Bh4 { 12.Bxf6 is also possible, but after …Nxf6 all of my pieces have to retreat and black is steadily gaining an initiative. } (12. Bxf6 Nxf6) 12... exd4! { [#] Opening up the c7-bishop, and possibly hinting at some …Ne5 ideas. How would you respond to this? Think about it for a little bit, and scroll down when you think you know the answer. } { [%csl Gh2][%cal Gc7h2] } 13. Qxd4?! { [#] In hindsight, this move is quite suspicious because Black is now easily able to pick up the bishop pair and leave me in a world of hurt. I feared Nxd4 Ne5 though, where Black’s pieces would come to life. 13.Ne4 was an interesting idea, but I doubt it would do much good, although it would be much better than what I played in the game. } (13. Ne4 Be5 { [%cal Ge5f6] }) 13... Ne5! { [#] This move is the most natural, and best move. While simultaneously attacking my f3-bishop and f5-knight, Black threatens to trade queens. This was quite a bolt from the blue for me, and I’m not sure what I thought Black would have played before. I have a couple of options here, but NONE of them are good. } 14. Be4? { [#] I would say from a practical standpoint, this is the most human move. White keeps the pawn structure intact, and accepts that he will lose the bishop pair. The engines however state that this is completely lost, and give the following line after 15…Nxe4: } (14. Qxd8 Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 Bxd8 { [#] This was probably the lesser of the two evils. }) 14... Qxd4 { [#] } 15. Nxd4 Nxe4 { Black just grabs the bishop pair. } (15... g5 16. f4 gxh4 17. fxe5 Bxe5 {[#] With a better version of the game line. }) 16. Nxe4 g5?! { [#] At a first glance, with Bg3 …f5-f4 coming, White looks lost, as my pieces will be trapped. Luckily, I found a nice resource which still kinda keeps me in the game. What is this resource? When you think you know it, scroll down for the answer. } 17. f4! { [#] This move hits both the knight on e5, and the pawn on g5. Now follows a forced sequence: } 17... gxh4 18. fxe5 Bxe5 { [#] I think that this is a good place to stop. Let’s start with the pawn structure. White’s is quite solid, although being a pawn down. Black’s pawn structure is fine on the queenside, but completely wrecked on the kingside. Black is a pawn up though, and that should count for something. Next, the minor pieces. White has two very well placed knights in the center of the board which have lots of squares to jump to because of the weakened pawn structure. Black on the other hand has a powerful bishop pair, which in theory should be much, much stronger than the knights, but theory is not practice. Lastly, the rooks. White has a very active rook on f1 that could prove to be deadly, and his a1-rook is coming to d1 or e1. Black’s rooks aren’t active for the moment, but that could change after Rad8 and Rfe8. Overall though, Black is most definitely better here. } { [%csl Rh2,Gf2,Gf6,Gf7,Ba1][%cal Re5h8,Re5a1,Re5h2,Re5b8,Rc8h3,Ge4f2,Gd4f3,Gd4e2,Ge4d2,Ge4c3,Gd4b3,Ge4c5,Ge4d6,Ge4f6,Gd4f5,Bf1f8,Ba1d1,Bd1e1,Ba8d8,Bf8e8] } 19. c3! { [#] Simply reinforcing the knight. My logic was that any other move allows Black’s bishops to become freer, and the d4 knight is amazing. Why would I want to move it? } { [%csl Gc3,Gd4][%cal Gc2c3,Gc3d4] } 19... f5 { [#] Kicking the knight away from its active post. The engine also likes this move a lot, but I will have to disagree with it. By playing f5, Black locks in his c8-bishop as now it can’t move to g4, and has to instead sit on d7. This means that the a8-rook will take longer to get into the game, and I might procure an initiative. } { [%cal Gf5e4] } (19... h3 { This seems logical to me, trying to get rid of Black’s weaknesses. Black can continue with h6-h5-h4 next. }) 20. Nd2 { [#] I like this move a lot. White prepares Nd2-f3, Nc4, and Rae1. To be honest, Black’s bishop looks pretty silly on e5, as it doesn’t have any targets. } { [%cal Ga1e1,Gd2f3,Gd2c4] } 20... c5 { [#] Black keeps on kicking away White’s pieces, but he is getting dangerously behind in development, and leaving lots of key squares (such as e5 and d5) weak. } { [%csl Gd5,Gc4,Ge6] } 21. N4f3 { [%cal Gf3e5] } 21... Bf6 { [#] How can White now take advantage of some of the weakened squares in the center of the board? Scroll down when you think you know the answer. } 22. Nc4! { [#] In come the invaders! By playing …f5 and …c5, Black has weakened the d5 and e5 squares, both of which are amazing squares for the knights. Nc4 aims to take control of the e5-square. } { [%csl Ge5] } 22... Be6 { Black is getting his pieces out now, but White can start to build up an initiative with the knights. } { [%csl Ge6][%cal Ge6c4] } 23. Nd6 { [%cal Gd6b7] } 23... b6 24. Rfe1 { [#] Note how as White is developing, he is gaining tempi simultaneously. This move also supports the e5 square, and prepares possible Ne5 ideas. } { [%cal Ge1e6] } 24... Bd7 25. Ne5 { [#] Look at those knights! Black basically has to give up his bishop pair now. Other moves are just too passive: } 25... Bxe5 (25... Bc8 { [%cal Gc8f5] } 26. Rad1 { [#] with a practically much better position. } { [%cal Gd1d8,Ge1e8] }) 26. Rxe5 { [#] The weakness of the kingside pawns are going to be highlighted very soon. } { [%cal Ge5e7] } 26... Rf6 { Are we going to move our knight? Absolutely not! } { [%cal Gf6d6] } 27. Rd1 { [#] } { [%cal Gd1d6] } 27... Re6?! { [#] Black keeps trading pieces, but I don’t think this benefits him. By trading more pieces, the weakness of the kingside pawns really gets more highlighted, and the more weak squares the knight can infiltrate. } (27... h3 { [#] Perhaps this was better, trying to liquidate weaknesses. } 28. gxh3 { Material is equal, but I have doubled h-pawns. }) 28. Nc4 { [#] Again, I target the weak e5-square and support my rook. If my knight gets to e5, it will be an octopus. } 28... Rxe5 29. Nxe5 { [#] Clearly the knight leaves a much better impression than that bishop…} { [%cal Ge5d7] } 29... Be6 30. a3 { [#] Of course! In endgames, you want to place your pawns on the opposite color of the bishop, essentially making that bishop useless with no targets. } { [%cal Ga2a3] } 30... Re8 { Black is setting up some discoveries along the e-file. Because that bishop has no targets, this “threat” is actually not a threat at all. } { [%cal Ge8e4] } 31. Kf2?! { [#] Endgames require king activity. In hindsight though, this was a little hasty. Black now has a nice set of moves which net him an advantage. } (31. Ng6 { [#] This move was better, going to f4, and remembering that “loose pieces drop off”. } { [%cal Gg6f4] }) 31... h3 { [#] Finally this move! Me, being greedy, just snagged the material equality. Black though had a much better try which left me only hoping for a draw: } (31... Bb3 32. Re1 Kg7 { [#] When a trade of rooks will most likely occur. Black’s king will be more active in the resulting endgame, and white can only hope to draw. } { [%cal Gg7f6,Ge8e1] }) 32. gxh3 Kg7 { [#] Now we get into the technical phase of the endgame. Both sides just want to improve their pieces. } 33. Kf3 Kf6 34. Kf4 Rg8 { How should White anticipate a Rook penetration? When you think you know the answer, scroll down. }{ [%cal Gg8g2] } 35. Nf3! { [#] I liked this move a lot. The knight leaves its active post, but prepares to initiate a rook trade with Rg1 (or Rd2 if …Rg2), after which the game will be equal. } (35. Rd2 { Some people after the game suggested this move, but I think that after } 35... Rg1 { [#] Black is pressing and White has no active plan. }) 35... Rg2 36. Rd2 Rg7 { [#] This makes a lot of sense. As the higher rated player, my opponent wants to keep as many chances alive as possible. } (36... Rxd2 37. Nxd2 { [#] This was also possible, but Black has nothing in this equal position. If anything, only I can win because my knight can jump color complexes. }) 37. Rd6 { If I don’t get ideas, he shouldn’t either! By pinning the bishop, I severely limit the number of Black’s possible useful moves. } 37... Ke7? { [#] A huge mistake. Black vacates the e5 square, and this allows me to come in. I didn’t capitalize on this chance though, as I was tunnel-visioned, and had very little time. } (37... Rg2 { this would have been best. } 38. Rd2 Rxd2 39. Nxd2 { With the same endgame. }) 38. Rd1? { A howler…. The game is equal again. Instead, what should I have played in order to gain a sizeable advantage? Scroll down when you think you know the answer. } (38. Ke5! { [#] This would have given me an overwhelming position. } 38... Bb3 39. Nh4 { hitting the f5 pawn. } { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh4f5] } 39... Ke8 40. Ng6 { [#] We can stop here. All of Black’s pieces are scattered with no targets. }) 38... Bc8 39. Rg1 Rxg1 { Seeing nothing better, my opponent goes into the minor piece endgame. } 40. Nxg1 { [#] } 40... Kd6?! { Now, it is just a matter of maneuvering my knight to the best spot. Black can only shuffle. } 41. Ne2 Kd5 { What would you play here, or in other words, what move makes the most sense taking into account the principles of the endgame? When you think you know the answer, scroll down. } 42. b3! { [#] One last necessary move. Black’s king cannot be allowed to penetrate into our queenside. } 42... Ke6 43. c4 { [#] taking away d5. } { [%cal Gc4d5] } 43... a6 44. Nc3 { [#] This is what I mean. The knight has two targets, and it will get to one of them. } { [%csl Gd5,Ga4][%cal Gc3d5,Gc3a4] } 44... Bd7 { Stopping the fatal idea of Na4. Now, I will aim to get my knight to e3, attacking f5 and preparing some queenside action. } { [%cal Gd7a4] } 45. Nd5 { [#] } { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gd5b6] } 45... b5 46. Ne3 bxc4?! { Quite a mistake in my opinion. This move just leaves all of Black’s pawns free for the taking. } (46... b4 { [#] this was also possible, and was probably the better move, cementing the queenside pawn structure, allowing both sides to target both sets of pawns. } 47. axb4 cxb4 48. Nxf5 a5 { [#] The potential passed b-pawn can be very dangerous. }) 47. Nxc4 { [#] Now, it is just a matter of technique. Black has too many weaknesses. } { [%csl Gc5,Ga6] } 47... Kd5 { He had to do something. Note that 47…Kf6 18.Ne3! is just equal. White’s knight dominates the pawns. } { [%cal Ge6d5] } 48. Nb6+ Ke6 49. Nxd7 Kxd7 50. Kxf5 { [#] This endgame, while I am a pawn up, is not completely trivial. Black has ideas of …a5-a4 bxa4 …c4!, winning. } 50... Kd6 51. Ke4 { Seeing that going Kg6 didn’t work, I tried the other way. } (51. Kg6 { This is just a draw. } 51... a5 52. a4! { Stopping …a4 ideas. } 52... Kd5 53. h4 Kd4 54. Kxh6 Kc3 55. h5 Kxb3 56. Kg7 c4 57. h6 c3 58. h7 c2 59. h8=Q c1=Q { Both sides queen, and a perpetual should be in order. }) 51... a5?? { [#] A huge mistake. This allows zugzwang when my king can come and pick up the pawns using the opposition. } (51... h5 { This was a much better move, and while it is still shaky, Black is still in the game. } 52. h4 Kc6 53. Ke5 Kb5 54. Kd5 Kb6 55. Kd6 Kb5 56. Ke5 Kb6 57. Kf4 Kb5 58. Ke3 { No side can make progress. Draw. }) 52. Kd3?? { Another howler. We both had around 2 minutes here. Instead, what should I have played to obtain a completely winning position, no questions asked? When you think you know the answer, scroll down. } (52. a4 { [#] A very winning move. This fixes the queenside pawns, and Black’s king will eventually get outmaneuvered. }) 52... Kd5?? { [#] And in turn, my opponent blunders back. I again have this idea of a4. } (52... h5 { Would have been better, but after } 53. Kc3 Kd5 54. h4 a4 55. b4 Kc6 56. Kc4 cxb4 57. Kxb4 Kd6 58. Kxa4 Kc5 59. Ka5 Kc4 { [#] Would surprisingly be a draw. Black just barely held on! }) 53. h4 h5 54. h3?? { Another one! I should have left this tempo open, and played a4! for the billionth time. } (54. a4 { [#] This wins. }) 54... Kd6?? { [#] And of course, my opponent makes the last mistake, which I capitalize on. This allows me to force zugzwang. Better would have been } (54... Kc6 { keeping distant opposition. } 55. Ke4 Kd6 56. a4 Ke6 57. Kf4 Kf6 58. Ke3 Ke5 59. Kd3 Kd6 60. Kc2 Ke5 { [#] With a draw. }) 55. Kc4 a4?! { Black is just lost now. } (55... Kc6 { How can White win now? } 56. a4! { [#] Is the point. Whichever way Black goes, we will take the other way. }) 56. bxa4 Kc6 57. a5 Kd6 58. a6 Kc6 59. a7 Kb7 60. Kxc5 Kxa7 61. Kd5 Ka6 62. Ke5 Ka5 63. Kf5 Ka4 64. Kg5 Kxa3 65. Kxh5 Kb4 66. Kg6 Kc5 67. h5 Kd6 68. h6 { [#] This was a very nice win, my first over an FM in classical! } 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

My First Win Against a FIDE Master in Classical! Featuring Bd3 French