[Event "23rd Dubai Open-A 2023"] [Site "Dubai"] [Date "2023.05.29"] [Round "3.8"] [White "Erigaisi Arjun"] [Black "Romanov, Evgeny"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C18"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {This game was played at the 2023 Dubai Open. I have not played French Defense as black. But for added information, this game presented lots of ideas you would be interested using in your games. Let's find out.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:10] } e6 {[%emt 0:11:21]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Nc3 { [%emt 0:00:07]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 5. a3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qc7 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 7. Qg4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} f6 {[%emt 1:22:00] now supersedes 7... f5.} ({IF} 7... cxd4 8. Qxg7 Qxc3+ 9. Kd1 Qxa1 10. Qxh8 Kf8 11. Nf3 Nc6 12. Bd3 Nce7 13. Qxh7 Bd7 14. Ng5 Be8 15. Ke2 Qc3 16. Nxe6+ fxe6 17. Bh6+ Nxh6 18. Qxh6+ Kf7 19. Qf6+ Kg8 20. Qxe6+ Bf7 21. Qxe7) 8. Nf3 {[%emt 0:01:11]} Nc6 { [%emt 0:02:33]} (8... c4 $14) 9. Bb5 {[%emt 0:06:44]} ({Inferior is} 9. dxc5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Qxe5+ 11. Kd1 Qc7 $17) 9... Qf7 {[%emt 1:20:01]} 10. O-O { [%emt 0:18:02]} Nge7 {[%emt 0:01:52]} 11. a4 {[%emt 0:01:50] [#]} f5 $146 { [%emt 0:05:18] [#]} (11... Bd7 $14) ({Predecessor:} 11... c4 12. Ba3 Bd7 13. Rfe1 f5 14. Qh4 h6 15. Rab1 O-O-O 16. Qf4 g5 17. Qc1 g4) 12. Qh4 $1 {[%emt 0: 05:03]} c4 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 13. Ba3 {[%emt 0:02:07]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 14. Ng5 {[%emt 0:07:53]} Qg6 {[%emt 0:09:14]} 15. Rfb1 {[%emt 0:53:44]} Nc8 $1 { [%emt 0:10:52]} 16. f4 {[%emt 0:12:11]} (16. Nh3 $14 {should be considered.}) 16... h6 {[%emt 0:01:13]} 17. Nf3 {[%emt 0:02:17]} Nd8 {[%emt 0:03:12]} (17... a6 $11) 18. h3 {[%emt 0:02:32]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 19. Bd6 {[%emt 0:04:00]} ( {White should try} 19. Bxd7+ $16 Qxd7 20. a5) 19... Bxb5 {[%emt 0:06:01]} 20. axb5 {[%emt 0:02:14]} (20. Rxb5 $16 Rg8 21. Rc5) 20... Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:58]} ( 20... Nxd6 $11 {remains equal.} 21. exd6 Qf6) 21. Bb4 {[%emt 0:31:47]} Nf7 { [%emt 0:26:14]} 22. Qh5 {[%emt 0:03:15]} (22. g4 $18) 22... g5 {[%emt 0:09:41]} (22... Rg8 $16 {was necessary.}) 23. g4 {[%emt 0:01:43]} ({Weaker is} 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Qg6 Ne7 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 $14) 23... fxg4 {[%emt 0:00:47]} (23... Ne7 { keeps fighting.} 24. Bxe7 (24. fxg5 $2 {perishes.} hxg5 $19) 24... Qxe7) 24. Nh2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} ({Not} 24. hxg4 gxf4 25. Rf1 Rg8 $16) ({Less strong is} 24. Qxg4 Ne7 $14) 24... gxf4 {[%emt 0:05:47]} 25. Nxg4 $18 {[%emt 0:00:18]} ({ Less strong is} 25. hxg4 Nb6 $14) ({Not} 25. Qxg4 Ng5 26. Kh1 (26. Qxf4 $2 { too greedy.} Nxh3+ 27. Kh1 Nxf4 $19) 26... Qh7 27. Qxf4 Nxh3 $11) 25... Kd8 { [%emt 0:00:06]} 26. Nf6 {[%emt 0:02:24]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 27. h4 {[%emt 0: 00:21] Very dynamic play by Super GM Arjun Erigaisi. Lots of ideas shown here, to those 1. e4 player, this is an added knowledge to play against the French Defense. Fantastic Game. Thank you again for your support. Cheers...} *