French Defence – Winawer, Petrosian Variation

Event: Blitz (180+2) | White: Stockfish 18 | Black: Berserk | Result: 1-0
ECO: C16 | Game Duration: 9 minutes 24 seconds

Opening Phase: The French Winawer Battle

The game begins with 1.e4 e6, entering the solid French Defence. Stockfish chooses the sharp Winawer Variation with 3.Nc3 Bb4. After 4.e5 Qd7, the players are in the Petrosian Variation, a line known for its positional complexity.

By move 6 (f4), Stockfish signals aggression, expanding on the kingside. Berserk counters with ...c5, striking at the center. Stockfish’s knight hops to b6, forcing ...Rb8 and restricting Black's queenside play.

Middlegame: Central Tension Explodes

On move 14, Berserk grabs a pawn with Qxe5, but Stockfish responds with Qd2 and quick queenside castling. The center becomes razor-sharp as both players look for breakthroughs.

By 20.g4, White is chasing away knights and claiming more space. After Nxd7 on move 21, Stockfish’s rooks become active and coordination improves dramatically.

Critical Turning Point

Move 25 is the spark: Bxg7! tears into Black’s kingside. Soon, White’s rooks invade and the h-pawn rushes toward promotion. The position crumbles for Berserk as Stockfish dominates both flanks.

By 40.h8=Q, the outcome is inevitable. White chooses precision over speed, coordinating for the final attack.

Endgame Masterclass

After queens are exchanged on move 44, Stockfish calmly converts the advantage. The king marches into the center, pawns are collected, and every move squeezes Black further.

The final sequence is pure elegance: 63.Ke6 Kd8 64.Bh2 Ke8 65.Rc8# — checkmate delivered with rook and bishop.

Key Lessons from This Game

• French Winawer Mastery – Early pawn advances can completely restrict Black’s position.
• Attack and Restrain – Tie down one wing while expanding on the other.
• Passed Pawns Are Power – The h-pawn was both a decoy and a decisive weapon.
• Endgame Technique – Even with a winning position, accuracy matters until the end.