MemoryMaster wrote on 01/27/10 at 05:10:23:

Don't worry, I did not take it in a rude way. I think it makes perfectly sense to analyze this and look out for improvements. If not the most valuable Dom would have nothing left to post in this section and that would be something I would regret very much (yes, you did a review on the current theory and if I ever will have the courage to take the Winawer PP up I will use that review as a start).

After 17.Rb4 Psachis prefers ...a6 without coming to a conclusion, so you are not the only one who is insecure.

I correct a little: I have not reviewed "current theory" ...or maybe I did but I don't know.

I am a player like many others and worked for long time about this opening and played French as Black, because French is part of my repertoire for long time.

Stopping in one position of the PP and asking if it's good for Black or not ... will of course not give you an answer for the question if PP can give youi good results.

I proceed differently: I select lines and work on them, mainly with books and annotated games, I try to know if I undertstand well positionnal motives and plans in them to practice theses lines OTB. Usually, if I don't have clear refutation of one line, I draw my conclusion "I can play it"...and I play it, with good or bad results. Sometimes results are bad, not because of knowledge but because other hints.

One good start is to buy new books...with title like  "Winning French Winawer" or some others Watson mentionned in his chesspub updates (Kindermann,). Why ? Because players will read same books as you...but maybe they will not do same work (undertstand well plans, trying to collect more games...)...and best prepared player will have best chances.

You can start with position you put in first post: did you ask questions like: OK, White has not put knight on d4 square ...what are difference of plans with position where there is Black pawn on d5 and White knight blockading on d4 square ? Is it a real chance White will push soon a h2 pawn ? Can Black open quickly center with a pawn break like f6 or a sacriifice ? Has Black counterplay on c file and specific on c2 pawn ? Has White a plan for an attack on king ?....many many questions, and when you play games or look games you will soon discover these questions and some answers 

That particular position Jan Timman did a fantastic article in New In Chess magazine many many years ago. Of course its out of date theoretically but if you could get your hands on it you will get a fantastic explanation of that crazy variation and the fantasy required to play it. Personally I have never been up to the challenge as Black - there are lines where you play ...f6 followed by ..e5 and White gets 4(!) connected passed pawns on the kingside but still loses to a central breakthrough.

After 13.Qxc3 you should investigate 13...Kb8!? also. I played this with some success, I think it was recommended in Watsons first French book - the plan looks riculously slow but can be surprisingly effective- ...Bc8,...b6,...Bb7(or a6 depending) and the c-file is also freed up for a rook. With the Knight not on f5 the White kingside roller is slower.

Edit - 13...Kb8 is an impossible move - I mean 13...0-0-0 then 14...Kb8 of course 

M-Master, 

First of all, MilenPetrov is right to leave it here since it's a French question.

Second, MNb may be Dutch, but his English is excellent.  The question wasn't so much difficult to answer as difficult to understand.   

What exactly is your question, and don't worry about FMs or others.  There are plenty of extremely strong analysts here  regardless of their titles. And yes, some even have a GM title.

So, rather than being supercilious to others, just try to ask the question clearly! 

What is your "level", and what sort of answer are you really looking for?  A specific plan? What?

Cheers!

I am not sure what your question is so I am quite at a loss what kind of answer you expect. If your question is how to prepare this very line I am afraid there is no other way than the hard one: play through games and analyse them. According to Psachis a start could be the corr. game Geist-Borchers with the aim to find improvements for Black.