Master game · French Defense

Caruana,F vs Akobian,V, 2018

ch-USA 2018. A French Defense game with annotated key positions you can drill.

White
Caruana,F (2804)
Black
Akobian,V (2647)
Event
ch-USA 2018
Date
2018
Opening
C11 French Defense
Result
1-0

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Show full PGN as text
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 b6 9. Bb5 Qc7 10. O-O-O a6 11. Bxc6 Qxc6 12. f5 c4 13. f6 gxf6 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Rhf1 b5 16. Qf2 b4 17. Ne2 b3 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. Qxf7+ Kd8 20. dxe5 bxa2 21. Kd2 Rf8 22. Qxh7 Rxf1 23. Rxf1 d4 24. Qg8+ Kc7 25. Nxd4 Qd5 26. Qxe6 Qa5+ 27. c3 Nxe5 28. Rf7+ Nxf7 29. Bf4+ Kb7 30. Qxf7+ 1-0

Key positions

The masters found these critical moments. Drill them in spaced repetition to internalise the ideas.

r . b . k . . r
. . . n . p . p
p . q . p b . .
. . . p . . . .
. . p P . . . .
. p . . B N . .
P P P . N Q P P
. . K R . R . .
18. Ne5!
r . b . k . . r
. . . n . p . p
p . q . p . . .
. . . p b . . .
. . p P . . . .
. p . . B . . .
P P P . N Q P P
. . K R . R . .
19. Qxf7+!
r . b k . . . r
. . . n . Q . p
p . q . p . . .
. . . p P . . .
. . p . . . . .
. . . . B . . .
p P P . N . P P
. . K R . R . .
21. Kd2!
r . b . . . Q .
. . k n . . . .
p . q . p . . .
. . . . P . . .
. . p p . . . .
. . . . B . . .
p P P K N . P P
. . . . . R . .
25. Nxd4!
r . b . . . Q .
. . k n . . . .
p . . . p . . .
. . . q P . . .
. . p N . . . .
. . . . B . . .
p P P K . . P P
. . . . . R . .
26. Qxe6!
r . b . . . . .
. k . . . n . .
p . . . Q . . .
q . . . . . . .
. . p N . B . .
. . P . . . . .
p P . K . . P P
. . . . . . . .
30. Qxf7+!

Drill the key positions in spaced repetition

This game's critical moments are part of the French Defense repertoire on DawnChess. FSRS-6 spaced repetition makes them stick. Free to use.

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