GM INO SADORRA AND THE FRENCH DEFENSE- PART I

( Photo from the UT Dallas website )


Newly minted GM Julio Catalino Sadorra is a French Defense devotee
although he also uses the Sicilian Defense from time to time. In the
recently concluded UT Dallas Grandmaster Invitational, he used the
French Defense thrice ( 1 win,1 loss, 1 draw). Let us watch his
impressive handling of the French Defense in a win against Bulgarian
GM Dejan Bojkov.


[Event "UT Dallas Grandmaster Invitational Underwritten by Turner Construction"]
[Site "Richardson"]
[Date "2011.03.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Black "Sadorra, Julio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "2523"]
[WhiteTitle "GM"]
[BlackELO "2475"]
[BlackTitle "IM"]
[Source "MonRoi"]


FRENCH DEFENSE- Tarrash Variation


1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7




This the Morozevich variation of the French Tarrash made popular
by GM Alexander Morozevich. This line was recommended by GM
Nikita Vitiugov in his 2010 book " The French Defense - A Complete
Black Repertoire ". Quoting GM Vitiugov:

" It is considered that after 3. Nd2, Black has two basic
possibilities at his disposal, 3... c5 and 3... Nf6. Lately,
however, a variation, which used to be regarded as a sideline,
3... Be7 became very popular. The point is that White cannot
create any real threats in the next few moves (This should not
be surprising, since the game is just beginning..) and Black
develops his Bishop to a reliable although not necessary permanent,
position. He is simply willing to see his opponent's next move ".


4.e5 c5 5.Qg4 g6

In the 9th round of the same tournament, Ino's team mate IM Salvijus
Bercys played the main move 5...Kf8 against GM Bojkov. The game
continued with 6.Ndf3 Nc6 7.Bd3 f6 8.c3 cxd4 9.cxd4 Qc7 10.Ne2 fxe5
11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Qf4 Bf6 13.O-O! Ke8 14.Qg3 Nh6 15.Bf4 Nhf7
16.Rac1 Qd6 17.dxe5 Bxe5 18.Rfe1 g5 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.f4! Qxb2
21.fxg5 Qb6 22.Kh1 Bd7 23.g6 1-0


6.dxc5 Nh6!?




This is a novelty. More common is 6... Nd7. In the game Adams 2716
vs. Short 2697 Sarajevo Bosnia 1999, Black played the surprising
6...f5 but after 7.Qg3 Nd7 8.Bb5 Qa5 9. Bxd7 Bxd7 10.c3 Qxc5
11.Ne2 Bd8 12.Nb3 Qe7 13.h4! and White went on to win in 39 moves.


7.Qf4 g5 8.Qa4 Bd7 9.Bb5 Nc6 10.Ndf3 a6 11.Bxc6 Bxc6
12.Qb4 a5 13.Qd2 d4 14.h4 Nf5 15.hxg5 Bxc5 16.Ne2?!

White could have maintain his advantage with 16.Qd3 Qb6 17. Qb3!


16...Qb6! 17.Nf4 Bb4 18.c3 dxc3 19.bxc3 Rd8 20.Qb2 Bxf3




GM Sadorra has played vigorously and managed to hold his head
aboved water in a complicated position. Who will be the first
to blink?


21.O-O?

White blinks first. 21.gxf3 is the only move to maintain the
balance. Then if 21...Qd4 22.Bd2 Qxe5 23.Ne2. Now the advantage
has shifted to Black who played the rest of the game flawlessly
never allowing White any counter-play.


21...Rg8! 22.gxf3 Rxg5 23.Ng2 Rg6 24.cxb4 Nh4 25.Bf4?




The final blunder. White could have provide stiffer resistance by
25.Kh1 Nxg2 26.Rg1


Nxg2 26.Bh2 Ne1 27.Kh1 Qc6!

0-1

Replay the game below.