8. French Defense - WINAWER VARIATION

Currently in vogue is the variation of the French Defense known as the Winawer. It is an early foray of Black's King Bishop to the Queen-side of the board 3 . . . B-N5. Its popu­larity stems mainly from its use by world champion Botvinnik, whose constant and successful trials of it have attracted in­numerable devotees.

By its very nature, the move is suspect. For Black assumes an aggressive post for his Bishop on the third move. Early ag­gression is part and parcel of White's stock in trade. For Black, it is almost always a violation of the precepts of good strategy.

1. P-K4 P-K3
2. P-Q4 P-Q4
3. N-QB3 B-N5

The Winawer Variation. By pinning the Knight, Black ex­erts pressure on the center and attempts to maintain equilib­rium. Incidentally, Black threatens to capture White's King Pawn.

The one theoretical drawback of the move is that it practi­cally commits Black to the eventual exchange of Bishop for Knight. Since a Bishop is minutely better than a Knight, this may wind up in White's favor.

4 P-K5 . . . .

The sharpest continuation. White establishes a salient in Black's territory, risking its collapse by counter-blows. Center tension is relaxed and, in turn, White emphasizes his gain in terrain. Note, for instance, the great sweep of both of White's Bishops and of White's Queen—how easily they can operate on the King-side of the board.

On the other hand, White's Pawn structure is now more vulnerable than Black's. Black enjoys a natural break with . . . P-QB4.

The issue is drawn along these lines.

Alternatives with the idea of maintaining the center tension are tricky. They run as follows:

(1)        4 N-K2. This involves the sacrifice of a Pawn. 4 . . .
PxP; 5 P-QR3, B-K2; 6 NxP, N-QB3; 7 B-K3, N-B3; 8 KN-B3, O-O; 9 N-N3, P-QN3; 10 B-K2, B-N2; 11 O-O, Q-Q2; 12 Q-Q2, QR-Q1; 13 KR-Q1, Q-B1. White still retains a slight lead. This is from the fifth game of the match, Alekhine—Euwe, 1935.

(1a) 5 . . . BxNch; 6 NxB, P-KB4; 7 B-KB4, N-KB3; 8 Q-Q2, O-O; 9 O-O-O, N-R4; 10 B-B4, N-QB3; 11 P-B3, PxP; 12 PxP, NxB; 13 QxN. White's superior development and pros­pects of attack on the open King Knight file outweigh the Pawn minus.

(2)        4 P-QR3, BxNch; 5 PxB, PxP; 6 Q-N4, N-KB3; 7 QxNP,
R-Nl; 8 Q-R6, P-B4. Chances and counter-chances are rife.
The position is wide open, and White still has the lead.

White can also play 4 PxP and convert the opening into one similar to the Exchange Variation of the French. Because of the balanced Pawn position, however, the prospects of inject­ing vitality are slim, and this method can not be termed an at­tempt at refutation.

4 . . . . P-QB4

The usual and essential counter-threat. Failure to attack White's center, either now or later, results in a one-sided game, with all the play on White's side. Pointless moves by Black will permit White to build up with, say, B-Q3, P-KB4, N-KB3, P-KN4 and P-KB5, resulting in a powerful attack. Hence, Black must engage White in the center action to forestall any such contingency.

The counter-thrust, however, may be deferred. Instead of the text move, Black may continue with 4 . . . N-K2, first. The point is that White is threatening Q-N4, aiming at Black's King Knight Pawn. It isn't easy for Black to defend the Pawn, with­out incurring a weakness or resorting to a counter-combination. Consequently, 4 . . . N-K2 anticipates Q-N4. For Q-N4 would be meaningless, if Black could reply to it simply by castling. Q-N4 may be good if, in order to defend the King Knight Pawn, Black must move his King and so forfeit the privilege of castling, or if he must advance the King Knight Pawn and so perforate his King-side Pawn position.

But 4 ... N-K2 does not engage White in the center soon enough and consequently has other disadvantages. Against 4 . . . N-K2, the game might continue: 5 P-QR3, B-R4; 6 P-QN4, B-N3; 7 N-R4, B-Q2; 8 P-QB3, with a better game for White.

5 P-QR3 . . . .

It is important to "put the question" to the Bishop at the earliest convenient opportunity.

5 . . . .PxP

5 ... BxNch is also tenable, although, after 6 PxB, White's strong center and two Bishops should leave him with the advantage.

6 PxB PxN

7 Q-N4! . . . .

In effect, White is now playing a gambit, with a Pawn minus. Evidently, however, his prospects are superior. For White manages to win most of the games where Black tries to pin on to the Pawn, with 7 ... PxP.

On the other hand, 7 PxP is the game Em. Lasker—Ma-roczy, New York, 1924, which favored Black (and which White won!). This game continued: 7 ... Q-B2; 8 N-B3, N-K2; 9 B-Q3, N-N3; 10 O-O, N-Q2; 12 R-Kl, QxBP.

7 . . . . P-KN3

7 ... K-B1, forfeiting the privilege of castling, is hardly better. The text move leaves holes in Black's King-side Pawn structure.

8 N-B3 . . . .

Protecting the King Pawn and now threatening to recapture the Pawn minus.

8           . . . . Q-B2

White's superior development, plus his two Bishops, makes it imperative for Black to eye material advantages, even though he can hardly afford the time to acquire more material. A sorry state!

9           B·Q3 . . . .

Protecting the Queen Bishop Pawn, so that, if Black cap­tures . . . PxP, the Queen Bishop Pawn will be defended. Moreover, the Bishop is pointing in the direction of Black's King-side for future reference.

9 . . . . N-QB3

10 O-O . . . .

Black must continue his development. If he stops for, say, 9 ... PxP, then 10 BxP leaves Black's development lagging to a point where he will be unable to prevent some serious penetrations. White can open the position wide with P-QB4. Then the absence of Black's Bishop controlling the black squares will stick out like a sore thumb. Observe, particularly, that White can continue with P-N5, followed by B-R3, after which the Bishop enjoys a terrific sweep of the diagonal.

White can defend the King Pawn, if he so desires, by 10 Q-KB4. He prefers not to, for he rightly feels that Black will not have the time to go Pawn-grabbing. Therefore, he contin­ues his development.

10 KN-K2

11 R-Kl . . . .

You might inquire, however, why not 10 . . . NxKP? Black might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb. If 20 . . . NxKP; 11 NxN, QxN; 12 B-KB4, observe that both of White's Bishops are operating, that White's Queen is well posted, that White is castled and that Black hasn't a single piece out, other than his Queen. Given such a position, you know that White must have something, that it is up to you to find it. You will not necessarily be able to win on the following move, but you can continue to make it uncomfortable for Black to the point where he will be unable to put up resistance. One thing, how­ever, you must bear in mind. The basis of your advantage is the possibility of an attack. Hence, you must not swap Queens, unless, of course, you can win a piece in doing so. For your Queen is the most important piece in any brewing attack. Ex­periment with this position for some time and you will con­vince yourself how easy it is to bring matters to a head.

White defends the King Pawn. By the same reasoning as before, you might inquire, why defend the King Pawn, why not let it go? To begin with, your Rook defends the King Pawn not only for the sake of the Pawn but also because it operates well on the open King file. Moreover, as Black catches up in his development, the sacrifice of additional material is apt to be unsound.

11 B-Q2

Black is still intent on catching up his laggard development. Yes, he can toy with the tainted 11 . . . PxP; but after 12 QBxP, his defensive chores are more difficult and his means possibly inadequate under any circumstances.

12 PxP . . . .

Now White retrieves his Pawn in order to free his Queen Bishop for action.

White is for choice.

There is no safety for the Black Monarch on either wing. For instance, if 22 ... O-O, White infiltrates with 13 Q-N5, followed by 14 Q-R6, 15 N-N5 or 15 B-N5-B6. Black has no adequate defense.

A game Bogolyubov—Danielsson, Zoppot, 1935, continued as follows: 12 . . . O-O-O; 13 P-N5, N-QN1; 14 Q-N4, B-Kl; 15 B-N5, R-Q2; 16 RxP, Q-N3; 17 R-R8, Q-Ql; 28 N-Q4, P-RS; 19 B-B6, R-Nl; 20 P-N6, Resigns.

Conclusions

The Winawer Variation of the French Defense has enjoyed a measure of success in tournament practice. This is based not so much on its theoretical accuracy, but rather on its practical exponent, Mikhail Botvinnik, chess champion of the world.

This much can be said in its favor. The patterns which evolve are different and call for sharp play on White's part.

Chess Movie

THE SQUIRM WILL TURN

Stout heart does not a chessplayer make. But it saves many a game! Many a Black would throw in the towel with Ragozin's position at move 22. But not Ragozin! Out of nothing, he fabri­cates a mating net, and poor Lilienthal is enmeshed. The game was played in Moscow in 1944. It opens with: 1 P-K4, P-K3; 2 P-Q4, P-Q4; 3 N-QB3, B-N5; 4 P-K5, P-QB4 (see diagram No.1).

1

 There follows 5 P-QR3, BxNch; 6 PxB, N-K2; 7 N-B3, B-Q2. Lilienthal will try to capitalize his stronger center, his two Bish­ops and the greater terrain. Ragozin will pin on to the su­perior Pawn position. Each player will have his day in court, and judgment will be rendered under due process.

2

 Lilienthal plays 8 P-QR4. He hopes to de­coy Black forces to the mangy Pawn. The game con­tinues . . . Q-R4; 9 B-Q2, P-B5. The board has been rent in two. The King-side belongs to White; the Queen-side is Black's. And Black is ready to collect Pawnence! The isolat­ed Pawn is doomed.

3

 White prepares the en­try of his King Bishop with 10 P-N3, and Black fortifies himself with . . . B-B3. Then follows 11 B-R3, N-Q2; 12 O-O, N-QN3. Black is making assurance triply sure; the Queen Rook Pawn will not escape. That, however, is old stuff. What goes on the other side?

4

 White continues with 13 N-R4, and Black plays . . . NxP. Now White plays 14 P-B4, plan­ning a break-through on that wing, which Black checks with . . . P-KN3. Or does he? White follows through with 15 P-B5. He must make progress at all cost. Yet can this sacrifice be progress?

5

 Black captures IS . . . KPxP, and now comes the point. White plays 16 P-N4! There is no way for Black to prevent the opening of a file and a diagonal. Black hies himself to the other side of the board with 16 ... O-O-O, and there follows 17 PxP, PxP. One Pawn is com­ing home. Then what?

6

 There follows 18 NxP, NxN; 19 BxNch, K-Nl; 20 B-R3, OR-KB1. The atmosphere has cleared some­what. Black is a Pawn plus. Black's King Bishop Pawn, however, is an easy target, and White has all the play. If Black's King Bishop Pawn falls, White's King Pawn will assume a stellar role.

7

 White plays 21 K-Rl to get out of any counter checks. Black plays . . . KR-N1. Then follows 22 Q-R5, Q-B2; 23 R-B6?? (after 23 B-B4, Black could hardly survive). To all intents and appearances, White is pro­gressing rapidly. Is he not hammering away at Black's weaknesses?

8

 Now comes a surrepti­tious surprise. Black re­plies 23 . . . N-B4! White captures 24 PxN, and then continues . . . P-Q5ch. White interposes 25 R-B3, and there follows: 25 . . . P-B3; 26 P-K6. Even now, White appears reasonably happy. But he reckons with­out his host. He is soon rudely awakened.

9

 26 ... Q-K4 is the sockdolager. White can­not afford to swap Queens, nor can he afford not to! He plays 27 B-N4, and the game continues . . . P-B4; 28 B-R3, Q-K7. How the pic­ture has changed in a few short moves. A moment ago, Black was on the run. Now White barely manages to keep going.

10

White continues with IU 29 B-B4ch, and Black replies . . . K-Rl. Then White plays 30 R-KB1. Again, it seems that White is coming out on top. But Black puts an end to all conjecture with 30 . . . R-N5, cutting the com­munication between the Queen and Rook. Nought is to be done. White resigns.

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