[Event "Online Rapid (15 min)"] [Site "?"] [Date "2023.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "white"] [Black "igrac23"] [Result "0-1"] [PlyCount "38"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. e5 Nh6 {Knight is heading to f5. It is possible to go through e7 but didn't want to obstruct Bf8.} 4. Nf3 Be7 5. d4 Nf5 6. c3 {We may put questions what if white would play g2-g4 but such opening on kingside may be dangerous for himself. Most simplest way for black would be to retreat to h6 or to go to h4 etc. It is worth to say that in case of g2-g4 check with bishop on h4 is unclear for black because this bishop might get trapped on h4.} (6. g4 Bh4+ $6 7. Ke2 Nh6 8. g5) 6... b6 {Major plan for black is normally c7-c5 with pressure against d4. But here I considered that there was no need to attack point which was well defended by white pieces but to try to deal with major black's issue in such positions; development of Bc8. Directly, plan was to exchange this bishop via a6.} 7. b4 $6 {As analysis shows, it is almost impossible for white to efficiently avoid exchange of light square bishops via a6 which is most important plan for black (to get rid of weakest piece, to remove white's most dangerous piece).} (7. Bd3 Qd7 (7... a5 8. O-O Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6) (7... Ba6 $4 8. Bxa6 Nxa6 9. Qa4+ Qd7 10. Qxa6 $18) 8. O-O (8. Bc2 Ba6 {It is possible for white to avoid exchange on such way but now would be question how to castle?}) (8. Qe2 a5 {And black will again play Ba6.}) (8. b3 Ba6 9. c4 dxc4 10. bxc4 Nxd4) 8... Ba6) 7... c5 8. bxc5 (8. b5 $6 {This may look good preventing black's plan with Ba6 and somehow restricting development of Nb8, but just after a7-a6! black would be able build up strong activities on queen side.}) (8. Bd3 c4 $5 {One of possible continuations here (not the best).This move would throw away most of black's plans; there are no more Ba6 ideas, no more pressure against d4, no more option to open c file at certain moment etc... But there would be new plan of queen side castling and starting the action on kingside against white king which would most likely go to short castle. Black king would be perfectly safe on queen side, after a7-a6 it would be almost impossible for white to break on queen side by his two pawns (a and b pawn) and to open files towards black king.} (8... cxd4 $5)) (8. a3 c4 $5) 8... bxc5 9. Bb5+ $6 (9. Bd3 Qd7 (9... Qa5 10. O-O Ba6) 10. O-O Ba6) 9... Bd7 10. Qa4 $2 {Approach which I have seen in practice for years, mostly played by low rated players. Here should be mentioned that in French, most valuable piece is light square bishop; due to it's development on b1-h7 file and in cooperation with other pieces white in many cases gets strong initiative against black kingside. Hence white has to avoid exchange of this bishop. On the other side, the most problematic piece in black position in French is Bc8, (Not only French, this issue is of Bc8 is constantly present in Caro Kann, Queen Gambit etc.) and one of major goals for black is either to develop it in certain way or find way how to exchange it. It was not too late to try to get it back to d3 here.} Bxb5 11. Qxb5+ Qd7 12. Qxd7+ (12. Qd3 h5 $5 {Just one of many possible moves, maitaining strong knight on f5. May we notice now that in absence of light square bishop on b1-h7 diagonal, white is not so powerful on king side.}) 12... Kxd7 {Now we have endgame as a result of white's plan started with Bb5+. First, black can maintain pressure on white d4 pawn, white has no such motives in position. Second, now it is black who has 'better' bishop, white bishop is restricted somehow with own pawn chain and in deep/simplified endgame this may be source of lost position. Third, black is first one who will gain activity on open files of queen side. Fourth, due to absence of light square bishop, white has certain weakness on white squares (primairly e4, c4) which black may use later to install his pieces (knights, rooks).} 13. O-O $6 (13. g4 Nh4 14. Nxh4 Bxh4+ 15. Ke2) 13... cxd4 {I decided to press against d4 hence this move was logical. Otherwise white might take on c5 at some moment which would force me to go for new target (c3 pawn) but since this pawn may be advanced further I guess white would gain certain flexibility in defense.} 14. cxd4 Nc6 15. Rd1 Rhc8 {With direct threat taking on d4. After exchanges, bishop c1 would be left undefended.} 16. a3 $2 {Faced with positional troubles, white did not respond correctly. It was perhaps possible to play Na3-c2 in order to strenghten d4 point.} Rab8 $1 $19 {Of course, is was possible to take on d4 but this pawn would not run away. Using the fact that white didn't have any useful move here, I decided to bring my last piece in the game.} 17. g4 Nfxd4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Be3 $4 {Final mistake.} Nc2 {White resigned.} 0-1