Dan Heisman's Improve Your Chess
'Dull' Exchange Variation of the French
National Master Dan Heisman is a name that is synonymous with excellence in chess coaching and teaching. Dan authors the award-winning Novice Nook column (winner of three Chess Journalists of America "Best Instruction" awards), aimed at improving adults, for chesscafe.com that are clearly written and offer very practical advice and tips on how to improve your game . In the new Improve Your Chess series, Dan provides instruction by reviewing amateur games played on ICC and showing where the players went wrong and how to improve.
Today's show: Black plays John Watson's "Castle Opposite Sides" defense to the Exchange Variation of the French and a "throw the kitchen sink" at the opponent's king race ensues. White seems to get in first but the attack and defense for both sides is tricky and difficult. Both sides make understandable mistakes as the advantage shifts back and forth. Finally Black misses a key queen move which both defends and attacks - and should win - and instead falls under an immediate White attack which puts the game away.