I tried a speculative sacrifice for a sharp play, but it turned to be unsound in the end. The very last move is a blunder, though I doubt if I could resist much longer even after a correct move.

 

We are going to have to hear from our French experts on this one... but here's my take.  I generally prefer the exchange or 2.c4 against the French.  Another worthy move is 2.b3 which has more bite than Tilda Swanson as the White Witch (in other words its is a SERIOUS challenge to the French... check out the SOS series...).

 

5... Ba3 is an unusual move.  Once thought to be unsound (thanks to Alekine).  6...cxb4 again unusual.  When things get strange it means there is either a trick in the mix or just bad play.  Possibly more lively (according to tradition) for Black is 6...cxd4

 

Hanza - Sivercev (how's that for obscure?) saw 7...Nc6 8.Qg4? with Black easily winning in 17 moves.  Liberzon - Hasin saw 7...Nc6 8.axb4 Bxb4 9.c3 Bb7 10.Bd3 with the eventual Qg4.  [see Minev]

 

8.c3 ?  I don't like leaving the diagonal that exposed.  It would have been better to cover it with 8.Bd2.  I'm sure some French expert has cooked 8.Bd2 someplace, but it seems solid.  Still, White follows Alekhine's suggestion to pressure the dark squares.  Alekhine had a strong strategic sense that has seldom been refuted.  Botvinnik tried in his match against Smyslov.

 

13.Nxc8 Not only early but probably the losing move.  Players make mistakes before they make THE mistake.  (See Andy Soltis in "Catgaloge of Chess Mistakes")  Something like 13. Qb3 looking to pick up the Bishop would have been best.

 

16...Bxd4 "led to complications"  How so?  17.Qc7+ ("letting White major pieces into the Black camp") fails to  17...Nd7  As long as Black can keep the King on e2 White is playing down two pieces and the Queen is exposed.

 

19.gxf3 Correct.  Black is up pawns and owns all the important squares.  The "false sarcrifice" is actually fairly sound... for "pawn pickers."  Also, 17...Nc6 does develop the Knight (and not just set up for the cheap pawn picking).

 

23.Rf7 looks good but neglects the basic rule of piece development.  White still has two pieces sleeping on their home positions.

 

23.Rg1 "preparing an intrusion" right idea wrong excution.

 

28...f4 is doing this the hard way.  28...Ke5 begins an intersting "King walk" that should end White's hopes quickly.

 

29.Rxf4.  If you want to follow plan, moves like Bf6 and Rff6 complete the unstopable attack on e6.

 

30.Rh4? The Rook is better off on the f-file.  Chasing pawns in a lost game doesn't help much.

 

31...Rc1+  Missing 32...Rb2 setting up the checkmate on 33...Rc1.  White would now be forced to prolong the game with 33.Bc4  Leaving Black up a solid piece and 2 pawns.  In other words, Black did not set up the "mating net."

 

35.Bc4 just might confuse the situation enough to give White life and Black the opportunity to make a mistake...

BTW, what sacrifice?