1. e2e4  1... e7e6 I always get a smile on my face when I see the French Defense on the board. Who doesn't like to see the renegades and the underdogs having their moment of glory $2 Of all the great defenses against the king's pawn, none are bullied as much as the French, and I must confess that I'm also to blame for this. 2. d2d4  2... d7d5  3. e4e5 3.Nd2, 3.Nc3, and 3.e5 are all equally good for White. Just don't play 3.exd5. 3... c7c5  4. c2c3  4... b8c6  5. g1f3  5... c8d7  6. f1e2  6... f7f6  7. e1g1  7... f6e5  8. f3e5  8... c6e5  9. d4e5  9... d8c7 Erigaisi had this position in a few recent games. 10. f1e1  10... e8c8 Every opening variation where kings are castled to opposite sides is a crowd-pleaser. 11. e2f1  11... g8e7  12. a2a4 White prepares the development of the knight on a3. 12... e7f5  13. b1a3  13... c5c4 [%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The bishop is ready to go to c5. 14. g2g4 [%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] A new move. The weakening of the kingside is too high a price to dislodge the imposing black knight. 14... f5h6  15. c1g5  15... f8c5 [%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Erigaisi wastes no time moving the rook to e8. 16. a3c2 