French Defense with Dante Benez Page 1 More information on chess games, chess strategies and chess analysis can be found at http://MikeSeroveyOnChess.com.
Welcome to my French Defense (ECO C02) game with Dante Benez page! On this page I have included the moves (score) and analysis of my first game against Dante Benez facing the White side of the French Defense. I won this one in spite of the rating difference in his favor. [Event "Rhine Main November Open "] [Site "Rhine Main AFB, Frankfurt, Germany "] [Date "1985.11.17"] [Round "3"] [White "Mike Serovey (1499)"] [Black "Dante Benez (1991)"] [Result "1-0"] 1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nge7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O Rc8 9. Nbd2 Nb4 10. Nb3 Nxd3 11. Qxd3 Nf5 12. Bg5 f6 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Rfe1 Bb4 15. Qxf5 O-O 16. Rxe6 Rc6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Rxf6 Bxf5 19. Rxc6 bxc6 20. a3 Bd6 21. Rc1 Rf6 22. Na5 c5 23. dxc5 Bc7 24. Nb3 Be4 25. Nbd2 Bf4 26. Rc3 Bg6 27. c6 Bc7 28. b4 Kf8 29. Ne5 Be8 30. Nd7+ Bxd7 31. cxd7 Bd8 32. Re3 Be7 33. Nb3 Rc6 34. Nc5 Kf7 35. Rf3+ Kg7 36. g3 Rb6 37. Rd3 1-0 Rhine Main November Open Rhine Main AFB, Frankfurt, Germany 17 November 1985 Round 3 White: Mike Serovey (1499) Black: Dante Benez (1991)
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.Bd3 (Here Tim Smith recommends 6.Na3.) cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 (Tim Smith states that 7‌Nf5 is more accurate. He then gives 8.Bxf5 exf5 9.Nc3.) 8.O-O
1/7
French Defense after 8. O-O
Here I am hoping for the Milner-Barry Gambit. Black declines it. Tim Smith gives this move a ?! because he thinks that it is too early to castle. He likes the idea of leaving the Rook on the h file to support driving the h Pawn up the file. He recommends 8.Nc3 or 8.a3 as being better here.
Rc8?! (8…Ng6 or 8…Nc8 might be better.) 9.Nbd2 (9.Nc3 is better.) Nb4 10.Nb3 Nxd3 11.Qxd3 Nf5 (11…Qb6 threatening Bb5 may be more accurate.) 12.Bg5
French Defense after 12. Bg5
2/7
White’s setup is common in the gambit accepted lines. I usually like to play the dark-squared Bishop here.
12…f6? (Weakens the Kingside. 12…Be7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Rfc1 0-0 is about equal. TS) 13.exf6 gxf6 14.Rfe1! Bb4? 15.Qxf5
French Defense after 15. Qxf5
Instead of 14… Bb4? Black might have been better with 14…Ng7 15.Bh6 Kf7 but White is still better according to Tim Smith. Here I’m up a Knight and decide to complicate things. White’s threats include Bxf6 forking the Queen and Rook, followed by Ng5 (or Ne5) followed by Qf7#. If 15… Bxe1 then 16.Rxe1 and White still has the pin on the e Pawn. Black does get back the exchange but is still down material. If now 16… e5 then 17.Qxf6 Qxf6 18.Bxf6 O-O 19.Bxe5 and White is up a piece. If instead 16… O-O then 17.Rxe6 is still playable but not as good as in the actual game. The simple 15.Bd2 was better according to Tim Smith.
15… O-O ( Not 15…Fxg5?? 16. Nxg5 winning.) 16.Rxe6
3/7
French Defense after 16. Rxe6
On 16…BXe6 then 17.QXe6+ I’m still up material and have a more active position. On 17…Kh8 18.Bh6 should be OK. On 17…Kg7 18.Bh4 is interesting. On 17…Rf7 then 18.Ne5! White can hold after 16.Qg4 fxg5 17.Nxg5 Qf6 18.Qg3 Qf4 as per TS.
16…Rc6? (If instead 16…fxg5 then Tim Smith gives 17.Rg6+ hxg6 18.Qxg6+ with perpetual checks.)
French Defense, Advanced Variation after 16… Rc6?
4/7
17.Bxf6 Qxf6 (Tim Smith states, “Noting 18.Rxf6 Bxf5 but overlooking the forcing combination 18.Qg4+! Qg7 (else Rxf6 Bxg4 Rxf8 winning a rook) 19. Qxg7 Kxg7 20.Re7+ Rf7 21.Rxf7+ Kxf7 22. Ne5+ winning material)
French Defense, Advanced Variation after 17… Qxf6
18.Rxf6 Bxf5 19.Rxc6 bxc6 And I go into the endgame up 2 pawns.20.a3 (TS states, “Better was 20.Nc5 to avoid the idea 20…Bb1 21.a3 Rb8 attacking weak knight at b3 and b-pawn behind it.)
French Defense, Advanced Variation after 20. a3
5/7
20‌Bd6 21.Rc1 Rf6 22.Na5 c5 23.dxc5Bc7 24.Nb3 Be4 25.Nbd2 Bf4 26.Rc3 Bg6 27.c6 Bc7 28.b4 The passed C pawn ends up being the game winner for me.
French Defense, Advanced Variation after 28. b4
Kf8 29.Ne5 Be8 30.Nd7+Bxd7 31.cxd7 Bd8 32.Re3 Be7 33.Nb3Rc6 34.Nc5 Kf7 35.Rf3+ Kg7 36.g3 Rb6 37.Rd3 1-0
French Defense after 37. Rd3 (Final Position)
6/7
Back to the French Defense Page More information on chess games, chess strategies and chess analysis can be found at http://MikeSeroveyOnChess.com. Mike Serovey Mike Serovey has been playing in USCF rated chess tournaments since 1974 and is a USCF certified Local Tournament Director. Mike Serovey is also the owner and webmaster for Mike Serovey on Chess.
// More chess information can be found at... French Defense with Dante Benez Page 1
7/7 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)