The French Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves 1. This is most commonly followed by 2. Black intending. c5 at a later stage. The French Tarrasch Variation Pdf' title='The French Tarrasch Variation Pdf' />Download Update. Star Update. Star. Download the. free trial version below to get started. Software Update For Blackberry 9930 on this page. Double click the downloaded file. Update. Star is compatible with Windows platforms. Update. Star has been tested to meet all of the technical requirements to be compatible with. Windows 1. 0, 8. 1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2. Windows. XP, 3. 2 bit and 6. Simply double click the downloaded file to install it. Update. Star Free and Update. IM John Watson analyzes the French Defense Tarrasch Variation 3. Qxd5, 10. a6 11 Re1 C07 and more. Includes pgn, cbv and pdf downloads of recent games. The Dutch Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves 1. Blacks 1. f5 stakes a serious claim to the e4square and envisions an attack in the. Star Premium come with the same installer. Update. Star includes support for many languages such as English, German, French, Italian, Hungarian, Russian and many more. You can choose your language settings from within the program. The French Defense in the hands of super GMs, by John Watson. As promised, Im going to pay more attention to 3. Tarrasch. Then Ill look into some French Defenses played by super GMs at the St Louis Showdown tournament, followed by two games with 3. There are G2. 0 and G1. Download PGN of November 1. French games Previous Update Tarrasch Variation with 3. Qe. 7 C0. 9In the Tarrasch with 3 Nd. Ngf. 3 Nc. 6 5 exd. Bb. 5, we previously discussed one game with the maneuver 6. Qe. 7 7 Be. 2 Qc. The French Tarrasch Variation Pdf' title='The French Tarrasch Variation Pdf' />Here White played the natural 8 0 0 in Mamedov, R Harikrishna, P, Antalya 2. Black had no problems after 8. Nf. 6 9 Bb. 5 cxd. Adams, M Nikolaidis, I, Hersonissos 2. After 8. Bxc. 5 9 Nb. Bb. 6 other moves are playable, capturing the d pawn is critical. The French Tarrasch Variation Pdf' title='The French Tarrasch Variation Pdf' />Adams played slowly and the game was soon even, but he displayed superior technique and ground down his opponent. Tarrasch Variation with 3. Qxd. 5, 6. Qd. 7 C0. The 4 exd. 5 Qxd. Black, although White keeps finding new ways to pose problems. In Karjakin, S Caruana, F, Paris 2. Ngf. 3 cxd. 4 6 Bc. Black played the fashionable 6. Qd. 7, and White showed that this neednt transpose to 6. Qc. 7 by playing 7 0 0 Nf. Nb. 3 Nc. 6 9 Nbxd. Nxd. 4 1. 0 Nxd. 4 a. Bg. 5 As explained in the notes, this is not as easily played versus 6. Qd. 6. In the game, both sides played natural moves, but White missed a couple of very promising tactical opportunities and Black came out with the advantage. Winawer Main with 7 h. Qc. 7 C1. 8In his showdown match versus Dominguez Perez in St Louis, Wesley So credited the French with helping to turn his fortunes around after having struggled with 1 e. Dominguez Perez, R So, W 8. G1. 0, St Louis 2. Bb. 4 4 e. 5 c. 5 5 a. Bxc. 3 6 bxc. 3 Ne. Qc. 7 8 h. 5 h. 6 9 Rb. This extremely rare move, used by Leko, sidesteps loads of theory. In their 1. 0 minute game, Black equalized and eventually won, while in the 5 minute game Black chose an inferior line and should have come out worse, but held the draw. The openings were both played at a high level, and the games themselves were impressive considering the time controls with no increment or delay. Steinitz 4 e. 5 Nfd. Ne. 2 C1. 1The same pair contested three games with the Steinitz Variation, this time one Game2. Game1. 0s. Each began 3 Nc. Nf. 6 4 e. 5 Nfd. Nf. 3 Nc. 6 7 Be. Qd. 2 b. 5 9 dxc. Bxc. 5 1. 0 Ne. 2 Dominguez Perez, R So, W G2. St Louis 2. 01. 7, was part of the G2. Qb. 6 1. 1 Bxc. 5 Nxc. Ned. 4, which looks favorable for White with his better bishop, but neednt be due to Blacks control of e. The practical chances remain with the first player, however, and he finally gained the point. In the Game 1. 0 rounds, Dominguez Perez, R So, W G1. St Louis 2. 01. 7, saw 1. White chose 1. 1 Ned. After 1. 1. Qb. 6, 1. Black seems pretty comfortable in these lines. Rubinstein Variation 7 g. C1. 0White is having trouble making progress against the Rubinstein Variation. A few strong players including Vachier Lagrave have played 3. Nxe. 4 Nd. 7 5 Nf. Ngf. 6 6 Nxf. 6 Nxf. Bb. 5 Bd. 7 9 a. We have seen that Georg Meier is a superb handler of the Rubinstein Variation, and in Nepomniachtchi, I Meier, G Hersonissos 2. But that took a big effort, and White eventually found an unusual way to win. Fort Knox Variation 8 Ng. C1. 0We havent talked much about the Fort Knox Variation, but in Nepomniachtchi, I Duda, D Hersonissos 2. Black tries out an idea of Jobavas that we havent seen yet on Chess. Publishing 3. dxe. Nxe. 4 Bd. 7 5 Nf. Bc. 6 6 Bd. 3 Nd. Ngf. 6 8 Ng. 3 g. I like this move, which gives Black more activity and central influence than the usual lines, although I have to admit that Whites space advantage gives him the better game regardless. ClassicalTarrasch Variation 5 f. Nf. 3 Be. 7 7 Ne. Nc. 6 8 c. 3 C1. An important hybrid line of the Classical and Tarrasch Variations goes 3 Nc. Nf. 6 4 e. 5 Nfd. Nf. 3 Be. 7 7 Ne. Nc. 6 8 c. 3, which can also arise via orders such as 5 Nce. Tarrasch by means of 3 Nd. Nf. 6 4 e. 5 Nfd. Nc. 6 7 Ndf. 3 Be. Ne. 2. Now upon 8. Qb. 6, 9 a. 3 reaches a well established but still controversial position In Ponomariov, R Dvirnyy, D Hersonissos 2. White played the enterprising and I think fully sound sacrifice 1. Black may be able to defend and escape with equality, but that takes precision, and in the game Ponomariov gets a clear advantage, only to completely throw it away, and then recover by sheer good fortune. A wild game. Till next month, John Previous Update Please post you queries on the French Forum, or subscribers can write to me at johnwatsonchesspublishing.