Thanks you for the game, which I very much enjoyed playing through. Black's exchange sac on f3 is very thematic in the Tarrasch with 3...Nf6, but your game is a strong indication that it is insufficient in the precise variation that occurred.

A few points in your notes that should be cleared up:

2...d5 is just the normal move of the French; not the "Advanced Steinitz Variation", which is not a term in general use.

In matches between Karpov and Korchnoi, it was the latter who played the French, which the former met with 3 Nd2.

11...0-0 is also a grandmaster move, in the sense that it has been played by grandmasters.

18 Bc2 is definitely not an innovation; there is a game in Megabase with it: Polak,Petr (2140) - Sedlacek,Tomas (2205) CZE-chT2 0405 Czechia, 2004; it is also the top choice of Fritz 11.

Once again thank you for an interesting game which was well played on the white side!

nthnlshaff,

Thank you for the supportive comment.  I appreciate it and forgot to thank you earlier.

Your humble instructor,  Sam

Jamesjddongchess,

You have several interesting questions, so I will take them in order:

1)  I noticed that you played Nc2 against JonnyJupiter as well, now I will play it after some confirmation from you!

I never played Nc2 in this game, so I do not know what move you are referring to!

2) Also, what are the other reasons that white plays Nf3 instead of 0-0 at move 10?   If white plays Nf3, is Bb4 a threat at all?

According to theory, the two moves 10. Nf3 and 10. 0-0 are considered equal, but I do not like the threat of 10. .. Bb4+!  White still has the advantage, but the main line involves a double pawn sac which is quite complicated over the board.  So since I do not want to allow 10. .. Bb4+! 11. Bd2 ,  I recommend to my students 10. 0-0 as being a superior move.

3)  Also, what was the "slip"?

The first non-GM move that white made was the slip 11. .. 0-0?! rather than the corect 11. .. Qc7! which is much stronger.  Jonny had been assiduously following the main  line of the Tarrasch closed until this "slip."  I believe that it was not a "slip" at all, but that he was setting a trap!  I think that he was angling for the white move 17. de5 ?! which leads to a black victory unless white finds an improvement over known theory.  This "slip" was deliberate to get into a pet line and spring a well-prepared trap!

4)  One more thing, on move 16, is g6 a good move for black as well as e5?

16. .. g6?! is not as strong as e5, so I did not look at it.  I expected 16. .. e5! and was studying that line.  My game notes have nothing about g6.  Sorry!

Your humble instructor,  Sam

A game of very high standard  (no comments on the "comments")

I don't know a whole lot about "theory" qualifications, but it seems to me that calling this an improvement of "known-theory" seems to be a bit of an exaggeration.  Am I being unfair?

Which database you referring to? 

[COMMENT DELETED]

Thanks for the article.

I was just picking with ya!  It was a very good move!  :-)

Philip_Lu,

After 17. .. Kh8! , the f3 pawn has to be protected since the discovered attack B:h2+ no longer works!  This T.N. was generated out of desperation since 18. Bb5 ? lost so quickly!

Your humble instructor,  Sam

 

PoliticalMusic ,

I loved your comment about "Bobby Fischer to Fischer-Price" !  It was very good.  Please keep them coming in future blogs.

I apologize for calling my "weak move" brilliant , but I was trying to defend myself against the criticism of the Chess.com computer!

Sorry,

Your Humble Instructor, Sam

good

It WAS a brilliant move, though, practically sealing the win.

Yeah sam, calling your own moves Brilliant... Not a good look.

"!!! This brilliant move wins a piece in all variations, but does Chess.com criticize it as weak? Of course."

The frustration of correspondence chess.  Your opponent went from Bobby Fischer to Fisher Price as soon as he got out of book.

why bc2? was the bishop under attack?