A tactical jewel of a game in the French

Hi everyone! Games that are both fascinating and instructive, what better way to learn chess? Let's continue to explore them together.

Now, we all end up in such positions. Tactics are about to explode on the board for both sides, and it's up to us to find the best move. In a limited time, too. But how good are we at that?

GM Maurice Ashley could be our role model. Not only at outright brilliant tactics, but also at "commonplace" tactics! Which is what matters in our games, doesn't it?

Maurice Ashley (2435) – Alexander Shabalov (2590), New York, 1993

Oh, and yes: Maurice crushed an opponent who's 155 points higher rated in only 22 moves.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4

The Monte Carlo Variation, which is pretty open and dynamic – not characteristic of the typical French Defense at all. Sort of an anti-French for White.

4...Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 c5!?

Showing that Black does not mind a double-edged game. Who will come out on top?

7. Nge2 Nc6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. dxc5 Bg4

The first pin. Things are getting hotter. You may agree this is nowhere near the typical French positions!

10. O-O Bxc3?! White has castled, Black has not – and is also giving up his bishop voluntarily. All of this may tell soon.

11. bxc3 Nxc3

Black is trying to exploit the pin. It's getting tactical. Whatever else we may learn or study, it's this kind of positions that decides 95% of our games. What would you play here?

12. Qc2! The only good move, retaining an advantage. White sidesteps Black's queen's line and so avoids exchanges. Now Black has to save a piece.

12...Bxe2 13. Re1!

The second pin. Now you see Black should have castled earlier! White is in no hurry to take the piece back. Now Black has two pieces in trouble!

13...Qd4 Defending the knight.

14. Bb2

Pin number three. I think Black sure wished he had castled before.

14...O-O-O 15. Bf5+ Kc7?

Who would think this loses, unlike 15...Kb8? Not even asking to find the difference – this is incredible. Just wait a couple more moves.

16. Bxc3 Bd3 17. Qc1!

The point is, after the Black queen retreats, Qf4+ will catch the Black king on c7 – there is no safe ...Ka8!

17...Qc4 You would think that 18. Qf4+ is covered now, but this is why we are not GMs.

18. Re4!!

An incredible interference! All White needs is access to f4 for his queen. If Black takes this with the bishop, 19. Qf4+ ends the game.

18...Nd4 Black had to save his queen, so self-pinning the knight. So this is the fourth pin in the game.

19. Qf4+ Kc6 20. Bxd4 Rd5

Trying to defend. What a position! There is a pin and a discovery going on right now.

21. Bxg7 Qxc5 Had to save his queen, but... 22. Rc1!

One final pin. Black resigned here.

Masterful, isn't it? And here is the full study of masters' Monte Carlo games. I also analyse my own Monte Carlo games.

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