French defense is the jiu-jitsu of chessopenings.
My finest chess memory :
I played Alexandra Kosteniuk in Moscow 1993 . She was about 9-10 years old I think. It was saturday and weekly tournament in the Central Chess Club. Her father stod beside her in every game she played. He wrote down every move in a notebook. I remember our game..and she lost a piece and became very nervous. Started to bite her nails while her father watched the game unfold. She struggled very hard and the game continued and she continued to struggle. Finally I also dropped a piece and lost . After the tournament I went downstairs where they had a little bookshop with mostly russian chessbooks, no problem I speak russian. Alexandra Kosteniuks father was standing there and I said to him that his daughter is very strong , he said thanks. I told him I am sure your daughter will become the worldchampion one day. He smiled and said..."we will see". My prediction was fullfilled years later when Alexandra won the title. It made me extra happy, she is a fantastic chessplayer and as it seems person and she s beautiful like a chess queen.