1. e2e4  1... e7e6  2. d2d4  2... d7d5  3. b1c3  3... f8b4 [%cal df8b4][%c_arrow f8b4;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false] The French Winawer is always fun to watch when played in the elite. This controversial variation, which has fanatical supporters, was played in the famous first game of the match between Capablanca and Alekhine, ending in victory for Black and meaning that Capablanca no longer played the king's pawn in the match. 4. e4e5  4... c7c5  5. a2a3  5... b4c3  6. b2c3  6... g8e7  7. d1g4  7... d8c7  8. f1d3 A dangerous move and a viable alternative to the more popular 8.Qxg7. I remember seeing some beautiful victories by Judit Polgar in this line when I was a teenager in the 90s. This move is the one recommended by GM Negi in his excellent book collection with a repertoire for White. 8... c7a5 I didn't know this move. 8...cxd4 and 8...c4 are usually played. 9. c1d2  9... c5c4  10. d3e2 A typical French Winawer position with its slow game character, without an immediate attack for anyone and in which White always seems to have an advantage. 10... h8g8 [%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Interesting;persistent;true] 11. a3a4 [%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A thematic and useful move, gaining space and opening the diagonal for a future Bc1-a3 maneuver. It's important to play it before Black can place the queen on a4. 11... b8c6 A new move. 12. g1f3 [%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] The computer is very critical of this development. White has several alternative plans. 12... c8d7  13. e1g1  13... h7h6 [%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Preventing a knight move to g5. 14. f1b1  14... e8c8  15. b1b5  15... a5c7 White has no time to play the desirable Bc1-a3 because Black is playing …f7-f6. 16. g4f4  16... g7g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Rapport is not the type of player that is afraid of sacrificing pawns. 17. f4f7  17... e7f5  18. g2g4  18... d8f8  19. f7h5  19... d7e8  20. h5h3  20... h6h5 [%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 21. f3g5  21... h5g4  22. e2g4  22... c7e7  23. f2f4 The knight is secured on g5 and White is holding the position, dangerous as it is. 23... g8h8  24. h3g2  24... c6d8 [%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Preparing …Nf7 to exchange the important white knight. 25. b5b1  25... e8g6  26. b1f1  26... c8b8 It's always useful to hide the king. 27. d2c1 [%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Finally the bishop is going to a3. 27... f8g8  28. g1f2 [%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The king tries to hide, but this move loses a pawn. 28... f5h4 [%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 29. g2g3  29... g6c2 Black regains the pawn and the bishop acquires a powerful square on d3, with a clear advantage. 30. f2e1  30... c2d3  31. f1g1  31... b8a8  32. g3f2  32... h4f5  33. c1a3  33... e7d7  34. g4d1  34... d8c6  35. e1d2  35... g8g6  36. d2c1  36... d7c7  37. h2h3 The moves on both sides are a bit mysterious: the position is difficult to play. Rapport now initiates a fantastic plan. 37... c7a5  38. f2d2  38... b7b5 [%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] The beginning of a fantastic sequence. 39. a4b5  39... h8b8 [%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The justification of the previous move. 40. a3b2  40... a5b5 The opening of the b-file brings near-fatal consequences to White's position. The king is in big danger. 41. d1a4  41... b5b7  42. c1d1 [%c_effect d1;square;d1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 42... c6a5  43. b2a3  43... b7h7 [%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] It's always nice to place a queen in an attacked square, but this move is pretty and wrong. 44. a3b4 [%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This move wins material. Black's queenside has been left undefended. 44... h7h5  45. d1c1  45... b8b4 The only practical chance. 46. c3b4  46... f5d4  47. c1b2 [%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 47... a5b3  48. a4b3 [%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 48... d4b3  49. d2f2  49... d5d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 50. a1a3  50... h5e2  51. f2e2  51... d3e2  52. a3b3 A solid move. There are alternatives, but this is good enough. 52... c4b3  53. b2b3  53... a8b7  54. g5f3 [%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 54... g6h6  55. f3d4  55... h6h3  56. b3b2  56... h3h2  57. b2c3  57... h2h3  58. c3c2  58... h3h2  59. g1g7  59... b7b6  60. d4e2  60... h2e2  61. c2d3  61... e2f2  62. d3e3  62... f2b2  63. g7g6  63... b2b3  64. e3f2  64... b3b4  65. g6e6 The rook endgame is easily winning since the pawns are unstoppable. 65... b6c5  66. f2f3  66... a7a5  67. e6a6  67... a5a4  68. e5e6  68... c5d5  69. f4f5 