1. e2e4  1... e7e6 I have the feeling that the French is the chess defense with the most loyal fan-base. 2. d2d4  2... d7d5  3. b1c3  3... f8b4  4. e4e5  4... c7c5  5. a2a3  5... b4a5 I remember that this move was popular among Armenian chess players when I was in my twenties, but since then, it has lost some of its charm. 6. b2b4 [%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 6... c5d4  7. c3b5  7... a5c7  8. f2f4  8... c8d7 There is strategic tension between the bishops and the b5-knight in this position. White can capture the bishop on c7 or leave the knight to be captured by the other bishop. 9. g1f3  9... g8e7 It's better for Black to capture the knight straight away: 10. c1b2  10... e8g8 [%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is a serious mistake, as the king is subject to a deadly attack. 11. b5c7  11... d8c7  12. f1d3 White prepares the classic \"Greek gift,\" one of the most famous sacrificial tactical themes in chess. 12... e7f5  13. d1e2  13... a7a5 [%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This makes things even worse. 14. b4b5 Now the knight on b8 is also out of the game, and White can prepare the attack on the kingside. The typical \"French nightmare.\" 14... d7c8  15. f3d4  15... f5d4  16. b2d4  16... b8d7  17. e2e3  17... b7b6  18. e1g1  18... d7c5 Black, by a miracle, managed not to be checkmated, but the position is still a disaster. White can calmly build up the decisive onslaught on the kingside since there's no counterplay.