9. French Defense - TARRASCH VARIATION

There is another way of treating the French Defense. It is to play N-Q2 on White's third move. This method may well be labeled Tarrasch's line, after its leading exponent of several decades ago. Even today, however, the line is in vogue.

While the Classical and Winawer Variations lead to aca­demic pluses for White, they are beset with practical problems. In the Classical, for instance, White is compelled to lock the center comparatively early and absorb pummeling blows in his own mid-section. In the Winawer, White must submit to an annoying, even though innocuous pin. By maintaining a fluid center and avoiding the pin, the Tarrasch aims to retain the good features of the other variations and discard the bad ones.

This line arises as follows:

1. P-K4 P-K3
2. P-Q4 P-Q4
3. N-Q2 . . . .

The Tarrasch. White protects his King Pawn via N-Q2, in­stead of N-QB3, averts the annoying pin 3 ... B-N5 and keeps open the fortifying move of P-QB3, in the event it is necessary.

Its main drawback is that the Knight at Q2 fails to exert pressure on Black's Queen Pawn, which, in turn, gives Black more leeway than in the other variations. The temporary blockade of White's Queen Bishop is of minor significance. In many variations the Queen Bishop does not take an active part in the early play; in others, the Knight clears the path when necessary.

3 . . . . P-QB4

Because White's Queen Knight is not bearing down on Black's Queen Pawn and because White's Queen is also ob­structed in its view of the Queen file, Black can afford to in­tensify the center tension with the text move. If White's Queen Knight were at B3, Black's Queen Pawn would become a com­paratively easy target.

Another way for Black is 3 ... N-KB3, as in the Clas­sical. This line might pursue the following course, taken from a game Alekhine-Capablanca, AVRO, 1938: 4 P-K5, KN-Q2; 5 B-Q3, P-QB4; 6 P-QB3, N-QB3; 7 N-K2, Q-N3; 8 N-B3, PxP; 9 PxP, B-N5ch; 10 K-B1, B-K2; 11 P-QR3, N-B1; 12 P-QN4, B-Q2; 13 B-K3, N-Ql; 14 N-B3, P-QR4; 15 N-R4, Q-R2; 16 P-N5, P-N3; 17 P-N3, P-B4; 18 K-N2, with a far superior game for White. Observe the cluster of Black men in the center and the disunity of Black's forces.

Note also that White locks the center with 4 P-K5, as in the Classical. The main difference, however, between this line and the Classical is that White has the move P-QB3 in reserve to fortify his center. Consequently, White is able to maintain the center with Pawns and utilize his pieces for advantage in other directions.

A somewhat irregular try for Black is 3 ... N-QB3. Then might follow 4 KN-B3, N-B3; 5 P-K5, N-Q2, with advantage for White. Here again, White takes the rigid center, since Black is unable to crack down upon it with the usual . . . P-QB4, at least until he makes adequate preparations. 

4 KPxP . . . .

The point of this move is to leave Black a comparative choice of evils. 4 KN-B3 is also good, but more complicated.

4 . . . . KPxP

This results in an isolated Pawn for Black. After 4 ... QxP, however, White continues in gambit fashion with KN-B3 and gains the lead in development. If then, for example, 5 ... PxP; 6 B-B4, followed by 7 O-O; 8 Q-K2; 9 N-N3; and, if necessary, 10 R-Ql and the recovery of the Pawn with a powerful position. Should Black attempt to hold the Pawn with . . . P-K4, he will fail. For his King Pawn as well as his King will become exposed.

Black, of course, need not accept the gambit Pawn. The game might be played as follows: 4 , . . QxP; 5 KN-B3, N-QB3; 6 B-B4, Q-Ql; 7 N-N3. But it is clear that White gains a substantial lead in development.

5 B-N5ch . . . .

Usually a check of this nature is to be discounted. For White's Bishop is better deployed in some attack, rather than a positional pin.

Here there is a point to the check. Since Black is going to be left with an isolated Queen Pawn, White has already established his advantage. Now he does not mind swapping: the more he swaps, the less opportunity will there be for Black of gaining compensation for the defect in his Pawn structure.

White has no intention, of course, of an immediate swap which reinforces the isolani. Nor does he intend to trade Bishop for Knight, without some gain in return.

1.  . . . . N-B3
2.  Q-K2ch . . . .

Pursuing the plan of leading to an endgame in which Black suffers from an isolated Queen Pawn.

6           .... Q-K2

Practically forced. If 6 ... B-K2; 7 PxP and White can maintain the Pawn plus. If 6 ... B-K3; 7 KN-B3, and White threatens 8 PxP, followed by 9 N-N3 and 10 QN-Q4, with terrific pressure against Black's Queen Knight and Queen Bishop. Black will experience difficulty warding this off.

7           PxP QxQch

Otherwise, White will defend and retain the extra Pawn.

8           NxQ       BxP

Now White enjoys a handsome lead in development. This, plus Black's isolated Pawn rules in White's favor. The only thing that might be said for Black is that he experiences more freedom than is usual for Black.

9 N-QN3 B-N3

10 QN-Q4 ....

A game Euwe—Botvinnik, World's Championship, The Hague, 1948, continued with 10 B-Q2 and resulted in a draw, after particularly alert defense on the part of Botvinnik.

The text move is consonant with the theme of White's opening play, which is pressure, direct or otherwise, against Black's Queen Pawn. Euwe's 10 B-Q2 appears to be too la­bored.

White is for choice. He might continue with 11 B-KB4, followed by 12 O-O-O, and then pile up on Black's Queen Pawn. This he can do by doubling Rooks on the Queen file and/or swinging his King Bishop to QN3.

Conclusions

In the main variation, the Black side of the Tarrasch leaves much to be desired by Black. Saddled with an isolated Pawn in what is virtually an endgame, the prospects are decidely uninviting even though Black may be able to eke out a draw.

Unless some way can be found to bolster Black's play in the main or subsidiary lines, the Tarrasch will compel masters to shy away from the French. The spectacle of the isolani, however, should not instill fear in others than masters.

Chess Movie

CAPA COMES A CROPPER

Weakness will out. It will assert itself in the remotest corners of the board, far removed from the intrinsic defect. Thus Capablanca's weak Queen Bishop Pawn makes him fall prey to Keres' King-side assault on the other wing at the fab­ulous AVRO Tournament of 1938. The game begins with: 1 P-K4, P-K3; 2 P-Q4, P-Q4; 3 N-Q2, P-QB4; 4 KPxP, KPxP (see diagram No. 1).

There follows 5 KN-I B3, N-QB3; 6 B-N5, Q-K2ch. Capablanca

1

(Black) wishes to swap Queens. Even he has a healthy respect for Keres' flamboyant nature. But the wily Keres will not swap. 7 B-K2 is the move. True, the Queen Pawn is inadequately defended. That doesn't mat­ter. Capa plays 7 . . . PxP.

2

 Keres plays 8 O-O, and Capa replies . . . Q-B2. He will not leave his Queen in the crossfire of a White Rook at King square. The game continues 9 N-N3, B-Q3; 10 QNxP, and White has retrieved his Pawn. The threat is now N-N5. Capa parries: 10 . . . P-QR3. Then comes 11 P-QN3, KN-K2.

3

Keres now usurps the long diagonal with 12 B-N2, and the game continues . . . O-O; 13 NxN. Keres consolidates Black's Pawns, only to create a target in the new cluster. There fol­lows . . . PxN; 14 P-B4, B-K3; 15 Q-B2, PxP; 16 BxBP, BxB; 17 QxB. The QP has be­come an isolated BP.

4

Capa seeks scope for his men and plays 17 . . . KR-N1. There follows 18 P-KR3, R-N4; 19 QR-B1, R-QB1. Capa believes in over-protection of weak spots. Now comes 20 KR-Q1, N-N3; 21 N-Q4. The target is under fire and requires additional sup­port. A good Pawn is at stake.

5

 Capa defends with 21 . . . R-N3, and then comes a bombastic sur­prise with 22 N-K6. The Knight is immune, and it is headed for the Black King. Capa replies . . . Q-Nl, and there follows 23 N-N5, R-N2; 24 Q-KN4. The scene of com­bat has changed. Keres is fo­cusing his attention on the King.

6

 Capa continues 24 . . . B-B5, and Keres replies 25 R-B4. Capa's Rook again pops up with . . . R-N4. In the background is the isolated Pawn, for future ref­erence if need be. At hand is a concealed sockdolager, 26 NxBP! Now the barrier to the monarch is broken down. Soon the men will penetrate.

7

Capa plays 26 ... R-Kl, and Keres follows with 27 P-N3. Capa continues . . . Q-B1, and a general exchange ensues: 28 RxB, QxQ; 29 RxQ, KxN. Oddly enough, the isolated Pawn is to blame for Black's loss on the other wing. And it still remains to be attacked. But first, Keres can pick up another Pawn.

8

 Keres plays 30 R-Q7ch, and Capa interposes . . . R-K2. Keres swaps Rooks: 31 RxRch, KxR, and then he swipes the second Pawn: 32 BxP. The rest is the law of inertia. Capa in motion cannot stop; otherwise he might resign. For two Pawns minus is not a death warrant. It is death.

9

 Now come the feeble gestures. Capa plays 32 . . . R-QR4, and Keres defends with 33 P-QR4. Capa replies with . . . R-QB4, and Keres with 34 R-N4. Capa continues: 34 . . . K-K3. To the bitter end, the spectators expect a miracle from the for­mer world champion. It is not to be.

10

Keres gets down to I w business. The mopping-up operation was a suc­cess. Now for the finishing touches. 35 K-N2 is the move. Capa replies . . . P-KR4. There follows 36 R-QB4, RxR; 37 PxR, K-Q3; 38 P-B4, and the invincible Cuban re­signs. And the isolated Pawn is still there!

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