When your opponent has an impressive pawn phalanx, try to lure it forward.
Wei Yi White
Bedri Sadiku Black
Baku 2016
French Defense, Tarrasch Variation C03
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘d2 a6 4 ♘gf3 c5 5 exd5 exd5 6 ♗e2
This looks modest but White wants to develop quickly and avoid 6 ♗d3 c4.
6...♘c6 7 0-0 c4
Black loses more time with this space grab, but 7...cxd4 8 ♖e1 ♗e7 9 ♘b3 and ♘bxd4 is no better.
8 b3 b5 9 ♖e1 ♗e7
Now 10 ♘f1 ♘f6 and 11...0-0 is relatively harmless.
10 a4!
Black’s queenside pawns will be over-extended if nudged further. After 10...♗b7 11 ♖b1! White threatens 12 bxc4 dxc4 13 ♘xc4! bxc4 14 ♖xb7.
For example, 10...c3 11 ♘f1 b4. But 12 ♘e3 or 12 ♘g3 (and ♘f5) are nice for White.
10...c3? 11 axb5!
This is better than 11 ♘f1 b4 12 ♘g3. White gets two pawns and a withering attack for his knight.
11...cxd2 12 ♗xd2 ♘b8 13 bxa6 ♗xa6 14 ♗b5+!
Now 14...♘d7 15 ♗xa6 is clearly lost and 14...♗xb5 15 ♖xa8 is less so.
14...♔f8 15 ♘e5! ♕d6 16 ♕h5
No defense: 16...♕e6 17 ♘d7+! or 16...♕f6 17 ♗g5 (17…♕f5 18 ♖e3 followed by 19 ♖f3).
16...g6 17 ♗h6+ ♘xh6 18 ♕xh6+ ♔g8 19 ♗e8! resigns.
It’s ♗xf7 mate or loss of the queen.
Vladimir Dimitrov White
Nebosja Nikolic Black
Groningen 1985
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘d2 c5 4 ♘gf3 a6 5 exd5 exd5 6 ♗e2 ♘f6 7 0-0 c4 8 b3 b5 9 a4 c3 10 axb5 cxd2 11 ♗xd2 ♗b7? 12 bxa6 ♗xa6 13 ♗xa6! ♘xa6 14 ♕e2+ ♕e7 15 ♘e5! ♕e6 16 ♕b5+ ♘d7 17 ♖fe1! ♗e7 18 ♘c6 ♘c7 19 ♖xa8+ ♘xa8 20 ♖xe6 fxe6 21 ♘e5 ♘ab6 22 ♗a5 resigns.
Question 408: Why not 13...♖xa6 ?