1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Qc7 10. Ne2 dxc3 11. f4 Nbc6 12. Qd3 d4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bd7 15. a4?!

15. Rg1 is the main line.

15... Nf5 16. Qf2 Qc6 17. Rg1 O-O-O?!

17... Qe4+ 18. Qe2 Qb4 E. Berg, The French Defence 2 (Quality Chess 2013), p. 116.

18. Bd3 Qd5 19. Qxa7!?

The usual move is 19. Ra3, when 19... Kb8 20. Rxc3 Bxa4 21. Ra3 is evaluated as fine for Black by both Watson ChessPublishing.com, May 2011 and Berg pp. 132-6.

19. Ba3 Bc6 20. Bb4 Nd4 21. Bxc3 Qc5 22. Bxd4 Qxd4 with full compensation for the pawn, per both Watson and Berg.

19... Nh4?!

An over-the-board novelty; better 19... Rxg2, which Berg analyses to a forced draw.

20. Ra3?!

With the benefit of engines, the best line is the less-than-obvious 20. Ba3! Bc6 (20... Nxg2+? 21. Rxg2 Qxg2 22. Qa8+ Kc7 23. Qa5+ Kc8 24. O-O-O) 21. O-O-O Nf3!! (only move) 22. Bb5!.

20... Nxg2+ 21. Rxg2?

21. Kf2 Bc6 (best) leads to a forced draw after 22. Be2 Nxf4 23. Rxg8 Nh3+ 24. Ke1 Rxg8 25. Qa8+ Kd7 26. Qxg8 Qh1+ 27. Bf1 Qe4+ with a perpetual.

21... Qxg2 22. Rxc3+ Bc6 23. Be3 Qh1+ 24. Ke2 Rg2+ 25. Bf2 Rxh2 26. Qe3 Rg8?

The rook is needed on d8, where the threat of mate on d1 would prevent White's next move. Instead 26... Rh3 is crushing.

27. Be4!

The win is gone and with it any advantage.

27... Rxf2+ 28. Kxf2 Qg1+ 29. Ke2 Qxe3+ 30. Rxe3 Bxa4 31. Ra3 Bb5+ 32. Kf2 Kc7 33. Rg3 Rxg3 34. Kxg3 Bc6 35. Bh7 Kd7 36. Kh4 Ke7 37. Kg5 b6 38. Bd3 Bb7 39. Bh7 Bc6 40. Bd3 Bb7 41. Kh4 f6 42. Kg3 fxe5 43. fxe5 Bc6 44. Kf4 Bg2 45. Ke3 Kd7 46. Kd4 Bh3 47. Bb5+ Kc7 48. c3 Bg4 49. Ba4

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Annotator(s): Seán Coffey, The New Winawer Report, issue 19, July 2014 (on which the notes above are based).

Source(s): Tournament web site.

Event information: Tournament report.