The secret arts of castling

Posted on September 28, 1996 by DrDave

“Castle because you will or because you must; but not because
you can.” — Pillsbury

What can we infer from Pillsbury’s advice? Castling is desirable:
it whips the King out from under the central battle, and it gets a
Rook into play where lines may be opened. But it is also a move
which must be weighed against other moves. Careless, automatic
castling can waste time that could be better spent on other things,
and you can also castle from the frying pan into the fire. Below
I’ll look at the whys and wherefores of castling.

Castling not at all
I show this game to all the juniors. Get your King out of the way!
And if your opponent doesn’t castle, open up lines to the uncastled
King for your Rooks.
Wojciechowski – Weiss (Munich)
[C15]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nge2 dxe4 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6.
Nxc3 f5

?! The only way to hang on to the pawn, but it would have been
safer to let it go. (Nimzo and Weiss did know this, but must have
thought themselves capable of the defence.)
7. f3 exf3 8. Qxf3 Qh4+
[8…Qxd4 9.Qg3 Nf6 10.Qxg7 Qe5+ 11.Be2 Rg8 12.Qh6
Rg6 13.Qh4 Bd7 14.Bg5 Bc6 15.0-0-0 Bxg2 16.Rhe1 Be4 17.Bh5 Nxh5
18.Rd8+ Kf7 19.Qxh5 Kg7 20.Nxe4 fxe4 21.Bh6+ Kf6 22.Rf8+ 1-0
Alekhin Alexander-Nimzowitsch Aaron/Bled 1931]
9. g3 Qxd4 10. Be3 Qg4 11. Qg2

White must preserve the Q having sacrificed two pawns
11… Nf6 12. Be2 Qg6 13. O-O-O Nc6 14. Nb5 Qf7
15. Bc5 a6 16. Bf3 Nd8 17. Qd2 Nd5 18. Bxd5! axb5 19.
Rhe1

White’s major pieces are the main artillery in the attack against
the uncastled King
19… Bd7 20. g4 Nc6 21. gxf5 Qxf5 22. Bxe6 Bxe6
23. Qd7+ 1-0

Castling into it
This is the opposite fault: castling into an area where lines are
more easily opened up against you.
Blackburne – Blanchard (London)
[C30] , 1891
1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nf3 exf4 ? 5. d4 Bb4 6.
Bxf4 d5 7. e5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Be6 9. Bd3 h6 10. O-O Nge7 11.
Rb1

a rook’s first duty is to sieze the open files (or half-open ones)
11… b6 12. Qd2 O-O

optimistic!
13. Bxh6
sacrifices like this don’t take much thought…
13… gxh6 14. Qxh6 Ng6 15. Ng5 Re8 16.
Rxf7
[16. Qh7+ or 16.Bxg6 both win]
16… Bxf7 17. Qh7+ Kf8 18. Qxf7#
1-0

Dubois – Steinitz Wilhelm
(London (England)) [C55] 1862
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5
h6

Black, not having castled, can advance on the King’s-side with
impunity.
7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 h5 9. Nxg5 h4 10. Nxf7 hxg3 11.
Nxd8 Bg4 12. Qd2 Nd4 13. Nc3 Nf3+ 14. gxf3 Bxf3 15. hxg3 Rh1#
0-1

Nigel Holloway’s Suicide
Variation.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5
e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O O-O?!
Nigel Holloway’s infamous Suicide Variation of the
Najdorf Sicilian.

10. Bd3!? critical
10… Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. e5 dxe5 13.
Qh3
[13. Ne4 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Ng5 h6 16. Nh7 Rd8-/+
Helman-Holloway, NCC 1973]
13… h6 14. Bxh6 gxh6 15. Qxh6 Rd8and 16.
g4 [16. Rhe1 “or almost anything else” and no-one
could find a decisive line for White]
[10. Qg3 Nbd7 11. Bd3 b5 12. Rhe1 b4 13. Nd5 exd5 14.
Nf5+- Hartston-Holloway, GB chp 1973 – “being Bill Hartston, he
claimed that he thought of this over the board”.]

Hoffmann – Petroff (Zt, Warsaw
(Poland)) [C53] castling: into it?, 1844
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5
Ne4 7. Bd5 Nxf2 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kg3 cxb2 10. Bxb2 Ne7 11. Ng5 Nxd5
12. Nxf7

12… O-O! 13. Nxd8 Bf2+ 14. Kh3 d6+ 15. e6 Nf4+ 16. Kg4
Nxe6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6+ 18. Kg5 Rf5+ 19. Kg4 h5+ 20. Kh3 Rf3#
0-1

Castling Queen’s-side

nn – nn [B75] castling:
castling Queen’s-side, 1993
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3
Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 a6 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. g4 Rc8 11. Be2 O-O 12.
h4

Opposite-side castling and asymmetric pawns/files usually adds up
to a race to mate the opponent’s King. Both sides will throw pawns
forward to open up lines for the attack.
12… Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Qa5 14. Kb1 e5 ! 15. Be3 Be6
16. a3 Rfd8 17. Bg5 Rd7 18. h5 Rdc7 19. h6 Rxc3 !? 20. hxg7 R8c6
21. Bxf6 Rb6

! exciting stuff!
22. Bb5 !! 22… Rxb5 23. Qxd6 Rc8 24. Qf8+ Rxf8
25. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 26. Rxh7 1-0

Castling into it
Queen’s-side

Keres,Paul – Botvinnik,Mikhail
(ch_URS ) (03) [E35] , 1941
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5
h6 7. Bh4 c5

8. O-O-O Bxc3 9. Qxc3 g5 10. Bg3 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qa4
Bf5 13. e3 Rc8 14. Bd3 Qd7 15. Kb1 Bxd3+ 16. Rxd3 Qf5 17. e4 Nxe4
18. Ka1 O-O 19. Rd1 b5 20. Qxb5 Nd4 21. Qd3 Nc2+ 22. Kb1 Nb4
0-1

Castling late
Castling late runs the risk of not being able to castle at all,
because your King gets trapped in the middle. However I was very
struck watching Jon Speelman on TV many years ago, refraining from
castling to give an extra tempo for the attack. This is
characteristic of no-one so much as Petrosian.

Speelman – Mestel (BBC TV)
[A42] castling: delayed castling, 1979
1.d4 d6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 e5 5.d5 Nd7 6.Be2 a5 7.a3
Ngf6 8.Bg5 0-0 9.Rb1

“Speelman, an original player, is trying a novel plan here. He
delays castling, and uses the extra move to make progress on both
wings.”
9…h6 10.Be3 Nc5 11.Bf3 Bd7 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4
Na4 14.Nge2 Ne8 15.Nxa4 Rxa4 16.Qc1 Kh7 17.Nc3 Ra8
18.h4!

18…h5 19.Bd1 f5 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Bc2 Nf6 22.Bg5
Qd7

23.0-0!
“Finally! Now Black can no longer counter with a
general advance of the King’s-side Pawns.” — James/Barden
23…c6 24.dxc6 Qxc6 25.Bxf5 gxf5 26.Nd5
a Pawn sac! 26…Nxd5 27.cxd5 Qxd5
[27…Qd7] 28.Rd1 Qe4 29.Rxd6 f4 30.f3 Qe2 31.Rb2
Qb5 32.Qb1+ Kh8 33.Rbd2 e4 34.Bh6 Qe5 35.Qxe4 Rfe8? 36.Bxg7+
Qxg7 [36…Kxg7 37.Qg6+] 37.Qxf4 Ra1+
38.Kh2 Rf8 39.Qxf8+ Qxf8 40.Rd8 Kg7 41.Rxf8 Kxf8 42.Rd7
1-0

Terpugov,E – Petrosian,T
(Moscow Zenit_Spartak m) , 1957
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. e4 c6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3
Nbd7 7. Be3 e6 8. g4 d5 9. e5 Ng8

In closed position it is difficult to open lines against the King,
and if there are no other open lines it may not be essential to
connect the Rooks.
10. O-O-O b5 11. Bd3 Nb6 12. Kb1 Nc4 13. Bc1 Qb6
14. g5 Ne7 15. h4 c5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Rhe1 g6 18. b3 Bg7 19. bxc4
bxc4 20. Bf1

Only now does Black castle, having spent each of his precious
ration of moves in the most effective way.
20… O-O 21. Ka1 Rfb8 22. Nb1 Nc6 23. Qg3 Rxb1+
24. Kxb1 Rb8+ 25. Ka1 c3 26. Bd2 Nb4 27. Bd3 Qc4 0-1

Petrosian,T – Barendregt,J
(Beverwijk), , 1960
1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 c5 5. d5 e5 6. Be2 Nh6
7. h4 f5 8. Bg5 Qb6 9. Rb1 Nf7 10. Bd2 a5 11. Nf3 h6 12. g3 Na6 13.
a3 Qd8 14. Qc2 h5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Ng5 Qf6 17. Na4 f4
[17… Qd8 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. dxe6 Nh6 20. Bxh5+ Ke7
21. Bxh6 Bxh6 22. Qxf5+]
18. Nb6 Bf5 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Rb8 21. Ne4
Qd8

22. Bxa5 O-O 23. Qd1 f3 24. b4 Nh6 25. Rb3 Ng4 26. O-O Bf6
27. Qxf3! Qe7
[27… Bxh4 28. Qh1 Be7 29. Qxh5 Nf6 30. Qg6+ Kh8 31.
Kg2]
[27… Rf7 28. Qf5 Rh7 29. f3]
28. Qf5 Rf7 29. Qxh5 Rg7 30. f3 Bxh4 31. fxg4 Rh7
32. Qf5 1-0

Yates Frederick D – Alekhin
Alexander (San Remo) [C71] , 1930
This is the record-holder, I think!
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Nc3
Bd7 6. d3 g6 7. Nd5 b5 8. Bb3 Na5 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bd2 c6 11. Ne3 Nxb3
12. axb3 Nh6 13. b4 f5 14. Qe2 Nf7 15. Nf1 Qe7 16. Ng3 f4 17. Nf1
g5

Neither side seems able to castle with safety on either wing!
18. Bc3 h5 19. N3d2 Bg4 20. f3 Be6 21. d4 Bg7 22.
Qd3 exd4 23. Bxd4 Ne5 24. Qe2

Finally, Black commits the King.
24… O-O 25. h3 c5 26. Bc3 cxb4 27. Bxb4 Nc6 28.
Bc3 Bxc3 29. bxc3 Qf6 30. e5 Nxe5 31. Ne4 Qe7 32. Nfd2 Bc4 33. Nxc4
Nxc4 34. Rd1 Qe5 35. Qd3 Rf5

And now White:
36. O-O d5 37. Qxd5+ Qxd5 38. Rxd5 Rxd5 39. Nf6+
Kf7 40. Nxd5 Rd8 41. Nb4 Rd2 42. Ra1 a5 43. Nc6 Rxc2 44. Nxa5 Ne3
45. Rb1 Rxg2+ 46. Kh1 Rg3 47. Nc6 Rxh3+ 0-1

Castling not at all
(reprise)

Basman – Wall (UK chp
Eastbourne) (2) [A00] , 1990
1. h3 e5 2. a3 d5
Basman has made a career out of this sort of thing.
3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. g4 Nc6 6. Bg2 Be6 7. d3
Nge7 8. Nc3 Ng6 9. Nf3 Be7 10. g5 f5 11. gxf6 gxf6 12. Rg1 Qd7 13.
h4 h5 14. Qa4 O-O-O

Basman has argued that Kings are safe in the middle as long as you
don’t move the central pawns. It all depends on whether your
opponent can open lines, which depends on pawn mobility.
So White must restrain the Black central pawns.
15. b4 b6 16. Bd2 Kb8 17. b5 Na5 18. Na2 Nb7 19.
Nb4 Bxb4 20. axb4 Nd6

White starts a pincer movement.
21. Bh3 Bxh3 22. Rxg6 Rhg8 23. Rxf6 Rg7 24. Bg5
Qc8 25. Rc1 Rc7 26. Rc6 1-0

And while MJB can get away with this sort of thing, it
still involves definite risks.

Bryson – Basman (Cr) [B00],
1986
1. e4 g5 2. d4 h6 3. Bd3 d6 4. Ne2 c5 5. c3 Nf6 6. O-O Nc6
7. Kh1 Bg4 8. f3 Bh5 9. Be3 e6 10. Nd2 Be7 11. a3 cxd4 12. cxd4 d5
13. e5 Nh7 14. Qc2 Nf8 15. b4 Bg6 16. f4 Rc8 17. Rac1 a6

A bit French, which is odd for Basman, whose games usually look
Martian… If you know about the French, you may feel that White’s
position looks better – Black lacks Queen’s-side counterplay
against the attack.
18. f5 exf5 19. Bxf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Rh7 21. Nc3
Rc7 22. Nb3 Rd7 23. Na4 Rc7 24. Nac5 Bxc5 25. Nxc5

Black has blockaded the central files, but the Bishop files are
haemorrhaging. 25… Ne7 26. Qf6 Rc6 27. e6 Nxe6 28. Nxb7
Qc7 29. Rxc6 Qxc6 30. Nc5 Nxc5 31. dxc5 Qe6 32. Bd4 Kd7 33. Qf2 f5
34. Re1 Qc6 35. Qe2 f4 36. a4 Qxa4 37. Qe6+ Kd8 38. Qb6+ Kc8 39.
Bf6 Rf7 40. Qe6+
Fittingly, the decision comes down the King’s e-file.
1-0

Castling tactics
Unusually, castling can be used as a positive element in a tactical
idea. It’s worth knowing about this, because it is easy to
overlook.

Mikhailov,V – Weteschnik,M (FS
IM A, Budapest) (5), 1995
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e4 a6
7. a4 Nc6 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Bxc4 Bb4

11. e5 Ne4 12. O-O-O+ 1-0

Thanks to mig for this game, and to others who
contributed games with the same theme, including Joshua Bromberg,
Dan Scoones, and Matt Guthrie. There are many reasons to like the
internet, and chess is one of
them.
A curiosity:
Wohl,A (2405) – Curtis,J (Doeberl Cup, Canberr )
(2290) (3), 1996
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3
a6 6. f4 e6 7. Qf3 Qc7 8. Be3 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. g4 b4 11. Nce2 d5
12. e5 Ne4 13. f5 Nd7 14. fxe6 Nxe5 15. exf7+ Qxf7 16. Qxf7+ Kxf7
17. Rf1+
[17. O-O+ was possible]
17… Ke8 18. h3 Nc5 19. Nf4 Nc4 20. Bxc4 dxc4
21. Nfe6 Nxe6 22. Nxe6 Kd7 23. Ng5 Re8

24. O-O-O+ Kc8 25. Nf7 Rg8 26. Bf4 Bc5 27. Nd6+ Bxd6 28.
Bxd6 Rd8 29. Rf4 Kd7 30. Rxc4 Ke6 31. Rcd4 Rge8 32. Bxb4 Rxd4 33.
Rxd4 h5 34. gxh5 Rh8 35. Rd6+ Kf5 36. Rd7 Bc8 37. Rxg7 Rxh5 38. Rc7
Rh8 39. Bc3 Rg8 40. b3 Kf4 41. h4 Bf5 42. Bd2+ Kg4 43. Rc4+ Kh5 44.
Bg5 Re8 45. Kd2 Re6 46. a4 Bg4 47. Rc7 Re2+ 48. Kd3 Rh2 49. Rh7+
Kg6 50. Rh6+ Kg7 51. Ke4 Bd1 52. Kd3 Bh5 1-0

Lasker Ed. – Thomas (London),
1912
1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 e6 5. Nxe4 Be7 6.
Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Bd3 b6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. Qh5 Qe7 11. Qxh7+
Kxh7 12. Nxf6+ Kh6 13. Neg4+ Kg5 14. h4+ Kf4 15. g3+ Kf3 16. Be2+
Kg2 17. Rh2+ Kg1

18. Kd2#
[18. O-O-O# is given by many sources, which was
possible, but was not Lasker’s choice]
1-0

Playing White against odd Black defences after 1.e4 (2) piece play

Posted on September 28, 1996 by DrDave

A4. Piece attacks vs.
Pirc/Modern 1. e4 …d6/…g6: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4.
Be3

The trouble with the Pirc is that Black will just lurk behind
his pawns, and your pieces won’t find much to attack. I play the
Pirc/Modern as Black, and am always more impressed by systems which
threaten to open lines with pawn breaks than any of the piece play
lines. But that’s not to say they aren’t all dangerous; the player
with a plan will always beat the player without one.

There are two principal ‘piece play’ lines available:

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bc4 Bg7 5.
Qe2

White concentrates on rapid development and aims at a timely
e5.

The other line I have in mind is:

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5.
Qd2

Now the simple idea is to play the standard attack with O-O-O,
f3, g4, h4, Nge2-g3 and h5. Let’s see this in action:

Hort,V – Rota [B07], Aachen/SW,16,18

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 O-O 6.
O-O-O

6… c6 7. Bh6 b5 8. f3 a5 9. h4 b4 10. Na4 Bd7 11.
h5

11… Nxh5 12. Rxh5 Bxh6

[12… gxh5 13. Qg5 b3 14. Qxg7#]

13. Rxh6 c5 14. Rh2 1-0

This plan depends a little on Black castling King’s side,
although it will not have guaranteed safety on the other side, nor
in the centre. See the example games.

Example Games
A4

Firstly, let’s look at a few games in the Bc4 lines .

A4.1. Examples with Bc4

Christ,R – Kljako,D [B07], it, Biel

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2 c6 6. e5
dxe5 7. dxe5 Nd5 8. Bd2

Simple development is the trademark of the White system

8… Nxc3 9. Bxc3 O-O 10. f4 a5 11. a4 b6 12. Nf3 Ba6
13. Rd1 Qc7 14. O-O Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Na6

White has a simple advantage in space.

16. Ng5 h6 17. Ne4 Qc8 18. Rd3 Rb8 19. Rh3 b5 20. Qe2 b4
21. Bd2 f5

Black was cramped, but this bid for freedom looks very
loose.

22. exf6 exf6 23. f5 g5 24. Qc4+ Kh7 25. Bxg5 fxg5 26.
f6 Bh8 27. Nxg5+ Kg6

Black’s King is being knocked about all over the place, while
the Black pieces watch glumly from the wings.

28. Rxh6+ Kxh6 29. Qh4+ Kg6 30. Qh7+ Kxg5 31. h4+ Kg4
32. Qg6+ 1-0

Knippel,M – Stratmann,B [B08], NRW

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6.
Qe2 Nc6 7. e5

This is the key break in the Bc4 systems.

7… Ng4 8. h3 Nh6 9. g4 Na5 10. Bd3 b6 11. Bf4 Kh8 12.
O-O-O

Black’s next move seals the centre, but White’s King’s side
attack can now proceed without worrying about the central
tension.

12… d5 13. Qe3 Ng8 14. Rdg1 h6 15. h4 Nc4 16. Bxc4
dxc4 17. h5 Bb7 18. g5

It looks grim for the Black King.

18… Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qxd4 20. Rd1 Qc5 21. Rd5 Qc6 22.
gxh6 Nxh6 23. hxg6 Qxg6

Recapturing with the pawn wasn’t pretty, but this fails to:

24. Rdd1 1-0

25. Rdg1 is killing.

See also the games under the Gurgenidze
System

A4.2. Examples with Be3

Adams,M – Wolff,P [B07], London

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 b5 6. h4
Nf6 7. f3 Qc7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Be6 10. Nh3 Bxh3 11. Rxh3 Nbd7
12. O-O-O

White’s K-side initiative persuades Black to castle Queen’s
side.

12… Nb6 13. Kb1 O-O-O 14. Qe3 e5 15. a3 d5 16. dxe5
Qxe5 17. f4 Qe7 18. e5 Nfd7

White opens up the Q-side; he can skip the Rh3 across
easily.

19. a4 a6

Taking on a4 will allow Ba6+.

20. a5 Na8 21. Nxd5 cxd5

The entry of the Queen is decisive.

22. Qa7 Nc7 23. Rc3 Nb8 24. g3 1-0

Lane,G – Saucey,M [B07], Royan

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 Nf6 5. Qd2 O-O 6. f3
e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. O-O-O Nbd7 9. g4 b5 10. Nb1 Nb6 11. Ng3 Be6 12.
b3

Black now takes on d4, and the game starts to look rather like
the Yugoslav Attack in the Sicilian Dragon.

12… exd4 13. Bxd4 d5 14. g5 Nfd7 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. f4
f6 17. h4 Bg4 18. Be2 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Qe7 20. Rdg1

Again, White’s attack has proceeded faster than Black’s.

20… f5 21. exf5 Qxe2 22. f6+ 1-0

Black will have no prospects in the endgame with White’s secure
pawn on f6.

Chacon,E – Blazquez,J. L [B07], Alicante

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 Nf6 5. f3 c6 6. Qd2
O-O 7. Bh6 Bxh6 8. Qxh6 Qb6 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. h4

A typical thrust.

10… c5 11. d5

Often, if the situation in the centre is clear, the attack is
easier.

11…Ne5 12. h5 Bd7 13. Be2 c4 14. Nh3

White threatens Ng5 after which hxg6 and f4 look very
strong.

14… Bxh3 15. Rxh3 g5 16. Qxg5+ Kh8 17. g4 Rg8 18. Qd2
Qa5 19. g5 Ne8 20. f4 Nd7 21. Qd4+ f6 22. Bg4 Nc5 23. Bf5 Qb6 24.
Kb1 h6 25. Bg6 Nd7

White’s King’s-side initiative will persist into an endgame.

26. Qxb6 Nxb6 27. gxh6 1-0

After 27… Nc7 28. h7 Rg7

[28… Rgf8 29. Bf5 Na6 30. Rg3 Nc5 31. Rdg1 Rfe8 32. Rg7
Nbd7]

29. Rg3 e5 30. h6

the endgame is hopeless for Black.

A5. Piece attacks vs.
Sicilian: lines with piece play

A5.1. Ideas with Be2

It would be wrong to say there is much theory on these
lines.

The basic idea is to develop the King’s side pieces quickly, and
play c3 and d4 (very much the same plan as the normal 1. e4 e5
openings).

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3

Now Black has a basic choice between 2…d6, 2…Nc6 and 2…e6.
Alternatives are less strong, e.g. 2…a6 3. c4 or 2…Nf6 3. e5.
These should not be scorned – GMs have played each line – but are
less good for Black than normal lines.

2…d6

[after 2… e6 White can play an interesting gambit,
borrowed from a variation of the English Opening: 3. Be2 Nc6 4. b4
Nxb4

[4… cxb4 5. d4]

5. c3 Nc6 6. d4;

(compare the line 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5
b5)]

3. Be2 Nf6

[3… e6 4. c3 Nc6 5. d4 Nf6 6. Nbd2]

4. c3 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Qa5+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8.
d5

…with interesting gambit play in each line.

A5.2. Ideas with Bb5

Rossolimo Variation with 2… Nc6

3. Bb5

Now the most common line is

3…g6

Alternatives:

[3… Nf6 e.g. 4. e5 Nd5 5. Nc3 Nc7 6. a4 Nxb5 7.
axb5]

[3… e6 e.g. 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 d5 6. exd5]

4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Qb6 6. Na3 Nf6 7. Re1

[or 7. e5 Nd5 8. Bc4 Nc7 9. d4]

…when White has good play.

Rossolimo Variation with 2…d6

3. Bb5+

This is a complex line. After 3…Bd7 White will often play 4.
Bxd7+ and 5.c4, placing the pawns on light squares to complement
the dark-squared bishop.

One example in another line:

3… Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Ngf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Nc3 Be7 8.
O-O a6 9. Bxd7+ Bxd7 10. Rad1 Bc6 11. Rfe1 O-O 12. Bxf6
gxf6

Again, White has good piece play, although the bishops may be
dangerous

Example games
A5

A5.1. Examples with Be2

Basman-Stean,Hastings
1974

This is a famous game in this line.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Be2 Nf6 4. c3 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6.
cxd4 Nxe4 7. d5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3

9…Ne5

[9… Nd8 may be better]

10. Nxe5 Qxc3+ 11. Bd2 Qxe5 12. O-O Qxd5

[The main alternative is 12… a6

Nikolenko-Obukhov 1991

13. Rb1 g6 14. Rxb7 Bg7

[14… Bxb7 15. Qa4+ Kd8 16. Ba5+ Kc8 17. Qe8#]

15. Qa4+ Kf8 16. Rc7 Bf5

[16… Qxe2 17.Qc6 Bb7 18. Qxb7 Re8 19. Rc8 Qb5 20. Rxe8+
Qxe8 21. Rc1]

17. Qc6 Rd8 18. Bxa6

idea Re1 – Gallagher]

The game as it goes is a rout.

13. Rb1 e6 14. Bb5+ Bd7 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Qa4+ Kd8 17.
Rb5 Qc6 18. Rc1 Qa6 19. Ra5 Qd3 20. Be3 d5 21. Rxa7 Rxa7 22. Qxa7
Ba3 23. Qb8+ Ke7 24. Bg5+ f6 25. Qxb7+ Kd6 26. Qc7#

A5.2. Examples with Bb5

Georgiev,Kr – Feher,G [B30], Cappelle

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. b3 Qb6 6.
Na3 Ng6 7. Bb2 a6 8. Nc4 Qc7 9. Bxc6 Qxc6

White is miles ahead in development, so breaks with d4.

10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4

Black now grabs a hot pawn while behind in development. (Kids!
Don’t try this at home!)

11… Qxe4 12. Re1 Qf4 13. Nb6 Rb8 14. Nd5

Almost inevitable

14… f6 1-0

Smirin,I – Nun,Ji [B30], Polanica

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. b3 Ng6 6.
Bb2 Be7 7. Bxg7 Rg8 8. Bb2 h5 9. Nc3 Qc7 10. Re1

10… h4 11. Nd5

A very typical Sicilian sacrifice.

11…exd5 12. exd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Ba3 Qa5 15.
Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Qe2 Qa3

White threatens Qe5 and d6, winning the knight. Black keeps the
Knight, but loses the King.

17. Qe5 Kf8 18. d6 Ng6 19. Qf6 Qa5 20. Bc4 Rg7 21. Re7
1-0

Bogumil – Sarosi [B30], Budapest

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 d5 6.
exd5 Qxd5 7. d4 cxd4 8. c4 Qd8 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nf3 Nf5 11. Nc3 Be7
12. Ba4 O-O 13. Bc2 Nh4 14. Nxh4 Bxh4 15. b3 Bf6 16.
Ba3

A neat move making use of the extra space and mobility.

16… Re8

[If 16…Bxc3, 17. Qd3!]

17. Qd3 g6 18. Rad1 Ne5 19. Qg3 Qa5 20. Ne4 Bg7 21. b4
Qc7 22. Nd6 Red8 23. Bb2 Nc6

White is obviously winning. He finds a neat unmasking (Nf5)

24. Bxg7 1-0

B. Slow attacks with f4 against
the common half-open defences

The move f4 is often a strong idea against the Sicilian and
Pirc, and to some extent the French; less good against other lines.
The ideas are similar:

 develop rapidly

use the extra space given by the extra central
pawn

use the f4 pawn to break open lines against the
King

B1. Playing f4 vs. Alekhin
1. e4 Nf6: 1. e4 Nf6 2. d3 and 3. f4

Sadly, this line has no real force and is not a good line to
adopt.

If you insist on consistency, you can try it, but otherwise I
would look at a different line.

Example games
B1

Lazarevic,M – Maric,D (6) Pula, 1990[B02]

1. e4 Nf6 2. d3 d5 3. e5 Nfd7 4. f4 Nb6

With the N on b6 it is harder to organise the obvious ‘French’
break with f6.

5. c3 c5 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be2 e6 8. Na3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10.
Nc2 Nc6 11. Ne3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3

Black has done everything right so far, but gets careless.

12… d4 13. Ng4 dxc3 14. bxc3 c4 15. d4 Nd5 16. Bxd5
Qxd5 17. Ne3 Qb5 18. Qe2 Rac8 19. f5 Bg5 20. f6 gxf6 21. Ng4 Ne7
22. Bxg5 fxg5 23. Nf6+

White should never have been allowed to reach this easy
attacking position.

23… Kg7 24. Qh5 h6 25. Ng4 Ng8 26. Nxh6 Nxh6 27. Qxg5+
Kh7 28. Rf6 Nf5 29. Rf1 Rg8 30. Qh5+ 1-0

B2. Playing f4 vs. Caro-Kann 1. e4 c6: 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. f4 (a
line of the Dunst opening, 1.Nc3)

I couldn’t find a single example of this with f4. This is
probably because it’s not a very good line!

Example games
B2

Van der Vaeren – Savva, Haifa, 1989[A00]

1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 dxe4 3. Nxe4 c6 4. Bc4 Nf6

This could have arisen from the Caro-Kann

5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. Ne2 Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8.
Nf4

Hitting at the weak White squares. Black now prompts an
elementary combination.

8… e5 9. Qh5+ Ke7 10. Ng6+ hxg6 11. Qxh8 Kf7 12. Qh3
Qd7 13. Qb3+ Ke7 14. O-O b6 15. d3 Qd5

An interesting moment: I would have swapped off here to try and
win on material.

16. c4 Qd6 17. Be3 c5 18. a4 Nc6 19. a5 Nb4 20. axb6
Qxb6 21. f4 exf4 22. Bxf4 Kf7 23. d4 Nd5 24. Qf3

Black is very wobbly here.

24… Nxf4 25. Qxa8 Ne2+ 26. Kh1 Nxd4 27. Rxa7+ Kg8 28.
Qd5+ Qe6 29. Qxe6+ Nxe6 30. Re1 1-0

B3. Playing f4 vs. French 1.
e4 e6: 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. f4 (a line of the Dunst opening,
1.Nc3)

Now, I have found a few of these. With the P on e6, Black is
necessarily a little more passive than the Caro lines above. I
don’t think White can claim much advantage (indeed, John Watson
reckons that the Pf4 may be in the way of the Bc1), but it’s an
easy line to understand.

Example games
B3

Hill,S – Wright,A , ch-AUS/SW,5,18, 1989[B21]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nc6 6.
Bc4

White has nicely centralised pieces.

6… Nf6 7. Nxf6+ Qxf6 8. O-O Bd6 9. d3 Bxf4 10. Ng5
Qxg5 11. Bxf4 Qe7 12. Qg4 O-O 13. Rae1 Kh8 14. Qg3 Rd8 15. c3 b6
16. Re3 Re8

Every White piece is well-placed.

17. Bd5 Bb7 18. Be4 Nd8 19. Bg5 f6

White now plays a sacrifice which is easy to think of but hard
to analyse!

20. Bxh7 Kxh7 21. Qh4+ Kg8 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Rg3+
1-0

Campora,D. H – Shirazi,A , Ch New York ( open ),
1989[B21]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nge7 5. O-O a6 6.
Be2 g6 7. d3 Bg7 8. c3 d5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Qe1 b5 11. Qf2
Qb6

A position that could have arisen from either the French or the
Sicilian.

12. e5 f6 13. d4 cxd4 14. cxd4 fxe5 15. fxe5 g5 16. g4
h5 17. gxh5 g4 18. h6 Bxh6 19. Nc4 dxc4 20. Bxh6 Nf5

Rather a sign of distress; White is winning.

21. Bxf8 Kxf8 22. Nh4 Ncxd4 23. Bxg4 Bb7 24. h3 Qc5 25.
Rae1 Kg8 26. Kh2 1-0

B4. Playing f4 vs.
Pirc/Modern 1. e4 …d6/…g6: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4
(Austrian Attack)

Against the Pirc, f4 is not a particularly slow line!

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3
O-O

[5… c5 is probably a better way to equalise, or so the
books say in 1990]

6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O

The White attack is easy to understand; White will complete
development and then break with e5 or f5 – or both!

Example games
B4

Ekebjaerg,Ove (2580) – Van Manen,Gerben (2580) cr
Blass-mem, 1990[B07]

1. Nc3 Nf6 2. e4 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. Bd3
Nc6 7. O-O Bg4 8. e5 Nd7 9. Be3

A set-up for White which is easy to understand. I have watched
relatively weak (170-grade) players carve up 200-strength players
in this line.

9… dxe5 10. dxe5 f6 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. h3 Be6 13. Qe2
Bf7 14. Rad1 Qe8 15. f5

The classic break.

15… Kh8 16. fxg6 Bxg6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Nd5 Rc8 19.
Bh6 Rf7

Black is busted.

20. Ng5 Bxg5 21. Bxg5 Nb6 22. Nxb6 cxb6 23. Qe6 Rf5 24.
Rxf5 gxf5 25. Rd7 Rd8 26. Bxe7 1-0

Mednis-Vadasz 1978

Another typical White win in this line

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3
Nc6 7. O-O Bg4 8. e5 dxe5 9. dxe5 Nh5 10. Be3 f6 11. exf6 Bxf6 12.
h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3

threat f5

13… Bd4 14. Ne2 e5 15. Nxd4 Nxd4

[15… exd4 16. Bd2 Ne5 17. Qxb7 Rb8 18. Qe4 Nxd3 19. Qxd3
Rxb2]

16. Qe4 Nxf4 17. Bc4+

1-0

[17… Nfe6 18. Qxe5]

Bareev – Norwood, Marseilles, 1990[B09]

Norwood, in his book Winning with the
Modern , offers this game as a reason for Black to
avoid the Austrian at all costs.

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 6.
e5

[Book is 6. dxc5 or 6. Bb5+]

6…Ng4

[6… Nfd7! was essential]

7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Nh6 10. Be3 b6 11.
O-O-O+ Bd7 12. g4 Kc8 13. Ng5 f6

Yeuch

14. Rxd7 Kxd7 15. Bb5+ Kc8 16. Ne6 Bf8 17. Nd5 Nf7 18.
Ndc7 Nd8 19. Rd1 Nxe6 20. Nxe6 fxe5 21. Rd8+ Kb7 22.
Bd3

1-0

Black never got going.

B5. Playing f4 vs. Sicilian
(a) 1. e4 c5 Grand Prix attack

This is another system where the White side is easy to
understand, and where Black has struggled to find a clear
equaliser. 2. f4 can lead to the slow Sicilian with g3 and Bg2, but
several English players have adopted the more aggressive system
with Bc4. We will look at both systems.

A second idea is to play Bb5xNc6 and then play a slow
Dutch-style attack with Qe1 and Qh4.

1. e4 c5 2. f4 g6

There are alternatives:

[2… d5 can be met by 3. Nc3 (EG)

[The point of 2…d5 is the wicked gambit line 3. exd5 Nf6
4. c4 e6 5. dxe6 Bxe6 devised by Mikhail Tal]

]

[2… e6 3. Nc3 d5

[3… Nc6 4. Nf3 Nge7 5. Bb5 d5 6. Qe2 d4 7. Nd1]

4. Nf3]

3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bc4

[The other idea in this line is 5. Bb5 to exchange off the
Nc6, and then play a standard Dutch-style attack with Qe1 and Qh4
(EG)]

Black can play ….d6 (EG) but more often goes:

5… e6

6. f5

This is the sharpest line, although White does not have to
gambit

[e.g. 6. O-O Nge7]

Now the complications that follow…

6… exf5 7. d3 Nge7 8. O-O O-O? (EG)

6… gxf5 7. d3

…must be known in a little detail to be played safely. There
is also plenty of scope for original analysis – for example, what
should happen after

6… d5

The gambit is probably best declined with

6… Nge7 7. fxe6 dxe6

[7… fxe6 may be better

when Black’s King is in danger but the central pawn mass is
dangerous and may trap the White Q-side pieces]

There are also many lines with f4 in the open Sicilian i.e.. 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 (…) 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 (…) 6. f4.

Example games
B5a

First, a straightforward quick attack down the King’s side

Hodgson – Ady, Streatham Vs Ymca, London,
1981[B23]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. f5
exf5 7. d3 Nge7 8. O-O O-O?

This natural-looking move is probably a decisive mistake. Black
has no effective counter to White’s simple mating attack.

9. Qe1 Nd4 10. Qh4 Nxf3+ 11. Rxf3 fxe4 12. Rh3 h6 13.
Bg5 Re8 14. Rf1 d5 15. Nxd5 hxg5 16. Nf6+ Black
resigns

[16. Nf6+ Kf8

[or 16… Bxf6 17. Qh7+ Kf8 18. Qxf7#]

17. Nh7+ Kg8 18. Bxf7+ Kh8 19. Nxg5+ Bh6 20. Qxh6#]

1-0

Next, a slower attack with the Bb5 idea

Hebden – Large, British Ch’p, 1982[B21]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bb5 Bg7 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6.
d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O b6

White has an obvious plan. And the player with a plan will
always beat the player without one.

9. Qe1 Ne8 10. Qh4 Nd6 11. f5 gxf5 12. e5 Ne8 13. Bh6 f6
14. Kh1 Bxh6 15. Qxh6 Ng7 16. Rae1 Be6 17. Ne2 c4 18. Nf4 cxd3 19.
cxd3 Bxa2

Black might as well snatch a pawn, he has achieved nothing to
counter White’s simple attack.

20. e6 Qc8 21. Re3 Nxe6 22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23. Rxe6
Rf7

[23… Qxe6 24. Ng5 Qf7 25. Nxf7 Rxf7]

24. Rfe1 1-0

And what if Black throws a spanner in the works with 2…d5?

Plaskett – Howell, British Ch’p, 1983[B21]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 e6 5. Nf3 Be7 6.
Bc4 Nf6 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. c3 O-O 9. O-O b6 10. d3 Bb7 11. Ng3 Bd6 12.
Bd2 Qc7 13. Ng5

Black’s pieces are nicely placed but going nowhere. White, as
usual, knows where he is going!

13… Ne7 14. N5e4

forcing an exchange he had earlier avoided

14… Nxe4 15. dxe4 Ng6 16. Nh5 Kh8 17. Rae1 Rad8 18.
Bc1 Rd7 19. e5 Be7 20. f5 exf5 21. Rxf5 Bd5 22. Bxd5 Rxd5 23. Qg4
Qd7 24. Ref1 Kg8

25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. Qh5 Kg8 27. Bh6 Qe6 28. Bxf8 Nxf8 29.
c4

[29. Rxf7 Rxe5]

29… Rd4 30. Rxf7 Qg6 31. Qf3 Ne6 32. Rxe7 Rf4 33. Rxe6
1-0

Ekebjaerg,Ove – Danner,Georg, cr
Nielsen-mem, 1987

[B23/07]

1. Nc3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 e6 6. f5
Ne7 7. O-O O-O

A typical sort of position in this line, although an odd move
order (no …Nc6)

8. fxe6 fxe6 9. Ng5 d5 10. Rxf8+ Qxf8 11. exd5 b5 12.
Bxb5 exd5 13. Qf3 Qxf3 14. Nxf3

White is simply a pawn up and needs only consolidate to win the
ending.

14… Ba6 15. Ba4 Bb7 16. d3 Nbc6 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bxe7
Nxe7 19. Re1 Nf5 20. Bd7 Nd4 21. Be6+ Nxe6 22. Rxe6

White has given up both bishops, which would make me anxious,
but he seems to know what he is doing.

22… g5 23. Na4 Rc8 24. Ne5 Rc7 25. Re8+ Kh7 26. Nc3 a6
27. Nd1 d4 28. b3 h5 29. Nb2 g4 30. Nbc4 Kh6 31. Nd6 Bd5 32. Nec4
Kg6 33. Nb6 Bf7

34. Nxf7 1-0

Without the light-squared bishop Black is in trouble, but it
might have been worth struggling on over the board (this was
postal).

Hodgson – Nunn, Aaronson Open, 1978[B23]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bc4
d6

[5… e6 and now 6. f5, 6.e5, 6.O-O, 6. d3, and 6.a3 have
been tried. Since Grandmaster Nunn lost this dashing game to the
young Hodgson, hardly anyone has tried this line!]

6. O-O Nf6 7. d3 O-O 8. f5 gxf5 9. Qe1 fxe4 10. dxe4 Bg4
11. Qh4 Bxf3

[11… Bh5 idea …Bg6]

12. Rxf3 Ne5 13. Rh3 Ng6

[13… Nxc4 14. Nd5 Re8 15. Nxf6+

[15. Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Ne5 17. Rf1]

15… exf6 16. Qxh7+ Kf8 17. Rg3 Bh8]

14. Qg3 Qd7 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 e6 17. Bb3 d5 18. Qf3
c4 19. Ba4 Qxa4 20. Qh5 Rfd8 21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Bh6 Bxh6 23. Rxh6
Rd7

[23… c3 =+ Nunn]

24. Rf1 Ke8 25. Qg8+ Nf8 26. Rxe6+ Kd8 27. Qxf8+ Kc7 28.
Qc5+ Kd8 29. Rh6 1-0

B5. Playing f4 vs. Sicilian
(b)Traditional Closed Sicilian

This line has been adopted by three World champions at one time
or another: the young Karpov, the mature Spassky, and by Smyslov
throughout his chess career. And as we shall see, Kasparov knows
about the line.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6.
f4

[6. Be3 e5 7. Qd2 is another popular line; Black gets into
trouble after 6…e6 7. Qd2 Nge7?! 8. Bh6 e.g. 8…O-O? 9. h4! or
8…Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Nd4 10. O-O-O]

6… e6 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 Nd4

is the main line, although Spassky has tried 9. Bd2. After
6…e5 Spassky has experimented with more active 7. Nh3 Nge7 8. O-O
Nd4 9. f5!?

Theory is not so critical in the Closed Sicilian because of the
non-forcing nature of the line.

Example games
B5b

Spassky – Geller, Candidates,
1968

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. f4
Nf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O Rb8 9. h3 b5 10. a3 a5 11. Be3 b4 12. axb4
axb4 13. Ne2 Bb7 14. b3

Another defensive move! Is White just going to stand and get
punched apart?

14… Ra8 15. Rc1 Ra2 16. g4

At last an attacking gesture

16… Qa8 17. Qe1 Qa6 18. Qf2 Na7 19. f5

The characteristic break

19… Nb5 20. fxg6

Opening the f-file (so what? see move 23!)

20… hxg6

[20… fxg6 21. Nf4 Bc8 22. Ng5 Nc7]

21. Ng5 Na3 22. Qh4 Rc8

the Q-side is about to give, but…

23. Rxf6 exf6 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Nxf7 Rxc2

[25… Kxf7 26. Bh6 Rg8 27. Nf4 Rxc2 28. Rf1 Kf8 29. Nxg6+
Kf7 30. Nf4

or Nh8+

30… Kf8 31. Nh5 Bxh6 32. Qxh6+ Ke7 33. Qh7+ Kd8 34.
Nxf6

is just terrible]

26. Bh6 Rxc1+ 27. Nxc1 Kxf7 28. Qxg7+ Ke8 29.
g5

[29. e5 Bxg2 30. e6]

29… f5 30. Qxg6+ Kd7 31. Qf7+ Kc6 32.
exf5+

1-0

32… Kb6 33. Qxb7+ Qxb7 34. Bxb7 Kxb7 35. f6 1-0

Psakhis – Kasparov, La Manga, 1990
[compare B23]

Oddly, one of the best example games I have on file for the
Closed Sicilian is this one, from quite a different opening

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d6 5. Nf3 e5 6. d3
f5 7. O-O Nf6

8. Rb1 h6 9. b4 O-O 10. b5 Ne7 11. a4 Be6 12. Ba3
Rc8

Black does not rush but secures the Q-side.

13. Nd2 b6 14. e3 g5 15. d4 exd4 16. exd4
f4

17. Re1 Bg4 18. Nf3 Qd7 19. c5 Rce8 20. Rc1 Nf5 21. Qd3
Kh8 22. cxd6 cxd6 23. Rxe8 Qxe8 24. Rf1 Qh5

The Black pieces hover like vultures

25. Ne4 Nxe4 26. Qxe4 Bh3 27. Ne5 Bxg2 28. Kxg2 g4 29.
Bxd6 Rf6 30. Bb8 Qh3+

0-1

Smyslov – Romanishin, Moscow, 1976 [B23]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Nh3
h5

The sixth moves on each side are unusual.

7. f4 Bg4 8. Qd2 Nd4 9. Ng1 Qd7 10. h3 Be6 11. Nce2 h4
12. g4 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. g5

Black can find no refuge on the King’s-side, it is clear.

14… O-O-O 15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. Ne2 Bf7 17. c3 dxc3 18.
bxc3 Kb8 19. Rb1 d5 20. O-O e5 21. fxe5 Bxe5 22. d4 Bc7 23. c4 Ne7
24. c5 Rdg8 25. Qb4 Bd8 26. Rf3 Nc6 27. Qb5 Bh5 28.
Rfb3

White’s tripling is very threatening.

28… Rg7 29. Nf4 Bxg5 30. Nxh5 Rxh5 31. Qe2
Bxc1

And the coup de grace:

32. Rxb7+ Qxb7 33. Qe8+ Kc7 34. Rxb7+ Kxb7 35. Qxh5 Nxd4
36. Kf1 Be3 37. Qh8 Rd7 38. Qe8 1-0

The Colle System (web page version)

Posted on September 28, 1996 by DrDave

Attacking in the Queen-pawn openings:
the Colle system

The Colle opening proper goes 1. d4 d5 and now 2. Nf3 3. e3 4. Bd3
with Nbd2, O-O, Re1 and e4 to follow. If Black hits the d-pawn with
…c5, White should reply c3 to shore up the centre. The formation
c3-d4-e3 is the famous Colle triangle.

Although White takes two moves to achieve e4, it should
lead either to an open game after …dxe4 or, if Black avoids the
exchange, the strong advance e5.

Black should keep up the pressure on d4, holding up
White’s e4 break and threatening to isolate the d-pawn.

Here’s a game to get us started:

Landau – Book, Kemeri, 1937

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nbd7 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7.
O-O O-O

8. Re1 Diagram

An accurate and important move.

[8. e4 cxd4 9. cxd4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qb6
and, if anything, Black has better prospects]

8… Qc7 This is probably best:

[8… b6 is too slow]

[8… e5 too early: 9. e4! +=]

[8….c4 is a mistake: 9. Bc2 and 10. e4 will now
come with greater force]

[8… Re8 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 cxd4?
Diagram

12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Ng5+ Kg6 14. h4 Rh8 15. Rxe6+ +-
Fine]

Variation

9. e4 cxd4 10. cxd4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Rxe4 Re8 13. Rh4 Nf8 14.
Ng5 h6 15. Qh5 e5 16. Bd2 exd4 17. Rc1 Qe7 18. Ne4

18… Ng6 (else Bxh6)

19. Bg5 Qe5

[19… hxg5 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Qh8+ Nxh8 22.
Rxh8#]

20. f4 Qd5

[20… Qa5 21. b4]

White now lands two good punches

21. Nf6+ gxf6 22. Bxg6

Black’s pawn cover has suddenly disappeared.

22… Bf8

[22… fxg6 23. Qxg6+ Kf8 24. Qxf6+ Qf7 25. Bxh6+ Kg8
26. Qg5+ Kh8 27. Bg7+ Kg8 28. Rh8#]

[22… fxg5 23. Qxh6 gxh4 24. Bh7+ Kh8 25. Be4+ Kg8
26. Bxd5]

23. Rc7 Be6 24. Bxf6 Qxh5

Ordinarily, exchanging queens is an important achievement
for the defence.

25. Bxh5 Rec8

Has Black held on long enough?

26. Bxf7+ and still they come!

26… Kh7

[ 26… Bxf7 27. Rg4+ Kh7 28. Rxf7+ Bg7 29. Rgxg7+
Kh8 30. Rg6#]

27. Rxc8 Bxc8 28. Bxd4

Cashing in

28… Bf5 29. Rh5 1-0

Here’s another Colle game by that demon attacker, Harry
Pillsbury.

Pillsbury – Amateur, Toronto, 1899

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Nbd7 5. O-O b6 6. Nbd2 Bd6

The Classic Colle start.

7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Bb7 9. Nxd6+ cxd6 10. Bf4 Bxf3 11.
Qxf3 d5 12. Bd6 Rc8 13. Rfe1 Rc6 14. Ba3 a5 15. c4 Ne4

The game has developed differently to Landau’s, but Pillsbury still
has a fine attack based on his Bishops and the poor Black K
position.

16. cxd5 Ng5 17. Qg3 Rc8 18. dxe6 Nxe6 19. Rxe6+ fxe6 20.
Qg6+ hxg6 21. Bxg6+ 1-0

Here’s the man himself, who perfected the modern approach
to the opening.

This is well worth going through move by move.

Colle – Stoltz, Bled, 1931

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nbd7 5. Nbd2 Qc7 6. Bd3 e5 7. e4
dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bc2 cxd4

11. O-O (a pawn offer, which should not have been accepted) 11…
dxc3 12. Nxe5 Bd6 13. Ba4+ Kf8

[13… Bd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Re1+ Kf8 16. Bxd7 Qxd7
17. bxc3]

14. Bf4 Bg4 this attempt to mix it is understandable but
ill-judged 15. Ng6+ Kg8

[15… hxg6 16. Bxd6+ Kg8 17. Bxc7 Bxd1 18.
Raxd1]

16. Bxd6 Bxd1 17. Bxc7 Bxa4 18. Nxh8 Nd5 19. Ba5 c2 20.
Bd2 Kxh8

White has a small advantage, which he exploits
perfectly

21. Rfe1 Kg8 22. Rac1 Rc8 23. Re4 Bd7 24. Rd4 Be6 25. b3
b5 26. Ba5 g5 27. Rd2 Rc6 28. Rcxc2 Ra6 29. b4 Rd6 30. a3 h6 31.
Rc5 a6 32. Bc7 Rd7 33. Be5 Kh7 34. h3 h5 35. Bb2 Kg6 36. Rc6
1-0

And Colle again. Take this one slowly if you play it
through, there’s a lot to enjoy!

Colle – O’Hanlon, Nice Ol, 1930

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 e6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7.
O-O O-O 8. Re1 Re8 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 cxd4

12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Ng5+

13… Kg6

[13… Kg8 This is the only real alternative.
Analysis by Euwe and Kramer suggests that White’s attack is wortha
draw but no more. The variations and ideas are very typical of the
h7 sac in the Colle and are worth playing over.

14. Qh5 DIAGRAM

Variation

(A) 14… Ne5 15. Rxe5

[or 15. Qh7+ Kf8 16. Ne4 Ng6 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. h4 Ke7
19. h5 Rh8 20. Bg5+ Ke8 [20… Kf8 21. hxg6 Rxh7 22.
gxh7 wins] 21. Qxg7 Rxh5 22. Qf6 Qe7 and Black is
better]

15… Bxe5 16. Qxf7+ Kh8 17. Qh5+ and White has
nothing better than perpetual check]

(B) [14… Qf6 15. Qh7+ Kf8 16. Ne4 Qe5 17. cxd4 Qd5
?

[17… Qxd4 18. Qh8+ Ke7 19. Bg5+ wins]

[17… Qxh2+ 18. Qxh2 Bxh2+ 19. Kxh2 is about
level]

18. Qh8+ Ke7 19. Qxg7 with strong attack]

(C) 14… Nf6 15. Qxf7+ Kh8 16. Re4 Nxe4

[16… Bxh2+ 17. Kxh2 Nxe4 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Qh7+ Kf8
20. Qh8+ Ke7 21. Qxg7+ Kd6 22. Nf7+ wins the Q]

17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Qh7+ Kf8 19. Qh8+ Ke7 20.
Qxg7#]

Back to the game!

14. h4 Rh8

[14… f5 15. h5+ Kf6 16. Qxd4+ Be5 17. Qh4 g6 18. f4 +-]

15. Rxe6+ Nf6

[15… fxe6 16. Qd3+ Kf6 17. Qf3+ Kg6 18. Qf7+ Kh6
19. Nxe6+]

16. h5+ Kh6

[ 16… Rxh5 17. Qd3+ Kh6 18. Qh7#]

17. Rxd6 Qa5 18. Nxf7+ Kh7 19. Ng5+ Kg8 20. Qb3+ 1-0

A superb game — although Black could have held on in
theory, he was blown away.

Some
Colle theory

Let’s start again, having got the idea of the opening, and look at
some detail of move order.

Start as we have seen: 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5

I will explain some of the ideas behind the moves in the
games above.

Black gets into a little trouble with 4…e6.

4. c3

Now, we often see

4… e6

What next?

Black’s Queen’s Knight should go to d7, supporting c5,e5
and f6

The most logical development for both sides is probably

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nbd7 6. Nbd2
Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1!

For this position, see Landau-Book (our first game
above). It’s probably about equal, but Black cannot relax for a
moment.

Black’s Queen’s Knight should not go to c6 but to
d7

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nc6

natural, but less accurate

6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. e4 e5(!) 10. exd5
Nxd5 11. Qe2 Bg4 12. Ne4+=

Black can just about equalise in this line:

[9… Qc7 10. Qe2 Bd6 11. Re1 Ng4 12. h3 Nge5 13.
Nxe5 Nxe5 14. exd5 exd5 15. Nf3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Qc4 17. Rd1 Qxd3 18.
Rxd3 Rd8

…and the two bishops compensate for the isolated
pawn in the endgame

Black cannot develop fast enough to get in the …e5
counter in one move

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3

4… Nbd7 5. Nbd2 Qc7

aiming at …e5

6. Qa4 g6 7. c4 Bg7 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. e4 N5b6 10. Qc2
+=]

Black can equalise by developing the Queen’s
Bishop

If White’s Bd3 is threatening, and Black’s …e6 leads to
difficulty if the Bc8 gets stuck , the natural move is …Bf5.

In fact, this is recommended as leading to an equal
game.

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3

3… Bf5 e.g. 4. Bd3 e6 5. Bxf5 exf5 6. Qd3 Qc8 7. b3 Na6
8. O-O Be7 9. c4 O-O 10. Nc3 c6 11. Bb2 Ne4

Black is comfortable

Also possible is 3…Bg4 and later …e6, also
equalising.

Black can try to blunt the power of the Bd3 by
…g6

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3

4… g6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O DIAGRAM

Now Fine says only 8. b4, changing plan, is good enough
for White because the main plan with e4 leads to a slightly worse
game:

[8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Ne5 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6
12. Be2 Bd7 =+]

But even if Black adopts the …g6 idea, the game need
not be easy

Eliskases – Rosetto, Mar del
Plata, 1950

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. e3 g6 4. Bd3 Bg7 5. Nbd2 Nh6 6. c3 O-O 7. O-O
Nd7 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nf5 10. Bf4 Nf6 (?) 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6

White has the advantage in the centre

12. Qd2 Qb6 13. Rfe1 c5

it would have been better to aim for the …e5 break

14. Bxf5 Bxf5 15. Be5

15… Rfd8 naive

[15… Bxe5 16. Rxe5 White’s small force is making
very nasty threats]

[15… Kg7 best]

16. Qh6 Bxe5 17. Rxe5 cxd4 18. Ng5 Qf6

19. Rxe7 Qg7

[19… Rd7 20. Rae1]

20. Qh4

[20. Qxg7+ Kxg7 21. Rxf7+ Kg8 22. Rxb7 d3 with
counterplay]

20… dxc3 21. Rxf7 cxb2 22. Rxg7+ Kxg7

23. Re1 Rd7

[23… b1=Q 24. Qxh7+ Kf6 25. Qe7#]

[23… h6 24. Re7+ Kg8 25. Qc4+ Kh8 26.
Rh7#]

[23… Re8 24. Qd4+ Kg8 25. Qc4+ ! 25… Kg7 26. Qc3+
Kg8 27. Qb3+ Kh8 28. Qxb2+ winning]

24. Qb4 Re8 25. Qxb2+ Kh6 26. Nf7+ resigns 26… Kh5 27.
g4+ Bxg4 28. Rxe8 1-0

You can actually apply the style of the Colle in many
d-pawn openings.

NN-NN

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6

Here we go again…

7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bc2 O-O 11. O-O
c5 12. Bg5 cxd4 13. Qxd4 !

13… Be7

[13… Bxh2+ 14. Kxh2 Ng4+]

14. Qh4 ! 14… h6 15. Bxh6 gxh6 16. Qxh6 Qa5 17. Ng5 e5
18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Be4+ Kg8 20. Rfe1 Bg4 21. Re3 Rad8 22. Rg3 Rd4 23.
Ne6 fxe6 24. Rxg4+ 1-0 [24. Rxg4+ Kf7 25. Qg6#]

Here’s Harry Pillsbury again, on the White side of the
Slav.

Pillsbury,Harry N – Winawer, S (Budapest, 1896)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O
O-O

Not the Colle opening, but we can see the approach at work:

8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bc2 h6 12. Be3
Re8 13. Qd3 Qc7 14. c5 Bf8 15. Ne5

Black starts to mix it, but White’s better position suggests that
only White can profit when tactics break out.

15…Bxc5 16. Bxh6 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 gxh6 18. Qf4 Nd5 19.
Qxh6 f6 20. f4 Re7 21. Ng6 1-0

Mate with the two Bishops

Posted on September 28, 1996 by DrDave

This is worth a go once you have completed all the other elements of the One-Minute Endgame Challenge. It doesn’t turn up very often, but Capablanca thought it worth practising, to get a feel for the power of the Bishop pair, and how they work together.

The technique is as you might expect: herd the defending King to the side, then towards a corner, and then rearrange the pieces to deliver checkmate

   [Event "One Minute Endgame Challenge: KBB - K"]  [Date "2026.09.28"]  [Result "*"]  [Variant "From Position"]  [ECO "?"]  [Opening "?"]  [StudyName "One Minute Endgame Challenge"]  [ChapterName "KBB - K"]  [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/lFMUoQx5/0wGrD0Mj"]  [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/DrDaveExeter"]  [FEN "8/8/8/4k3/8/8/8/2B1KB2 w - - 0 1"]  [SetUp "1"]  [UTCDate "2026.09.28"]  [UTCTime "17:10:36"]   1. Ke2 Kd4 2. Be3+ Ke4 3. Bg2+ Kf5 4. Kd3 Ke5 5. Bf3 Kf5 6. Kd4 Ke6 7. Bg4+ Kd6 8. Bf4+ Kc6 9. Kc4 Kb6 10. Bd7 Ka5 11. Bd6 Ka6 12. Kb4 Kb6 13. Bb5 Ka7 14. Ka5 Kb7 15. Bd7 Ka7 16. Bc8 Ka8 17. Kb5 Ka7 18. Kc6 Ka8 19. Kc7 Ka7 20. Bc5+ Ka8 21. Bb7# *

A first opening repertoire

Posted on September 28, 1996 by DrDave

Italian Game, French Defence, Tarrasch Defence…

A bit old now, but worth every penny you pay for it

JuniorRepertoire.pdf

juniorep.pgn

   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Scotch Gambit"]  [Black "NN"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C44"]  [PlyCount "11"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 {  White develops as fast as possible and tempts Black to be greedy.} 4... Bc5 5.  c3 5... dxc3 {  In the main line White gets a chance to win the pawn back straight away.} 6.  Bxf7+ {This is probably the best move.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Scotch Gambit "]  [Black "Example game 6.Bxf7+"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C44"]  [PlyCount "33"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 dxc3 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Qd5+ Kf8  8. Qxc5+ Qe7 9. Qxc3 Qxe4+ 10. Be3 d6 11. O-O Nf6 12. Nbd2 Qb4 13. Qd3 Qxb2 14.  Rfb1 Ne5 15. Qf1 Nxf3+ 16. Nxf3 Qa3 17. Qc4 {White has an attack but I don't  know why Black resigned so early Harding,TD - Dashkevich,V [C44] EU/M/GT/360  corr, 1992} 1-0   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Scotch Gambit"]  [Black "Declined 5....d3"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C44"]  [PlyCount "25"]   {5...d3 declining is fine for White.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5  5. c3 d3 6. b4 Bb6 7. Qb3 Qf6 8. O-O d6 9. a4 a6 10. a5 Ba7 11. b5 Ne5 12. Nxe5  12... dxe5 {and now best is} 13. Be3 $14 (13. bxa6 bxa6 14. Qa4+ Bd7 15. Qd1  Ne7 16. Qxd3 Bc8 17. Na3 O-O 18. Nc2 Ng6 19. Nb4 Rd8 20. Qg3 Re8 21. Bg5 Qd6  22. Rfd1 Qc5 23. Bd5 Rb8 24. Be3 Qxc3 25. Na2 Qxa5 26. Bxa7 Nf4 27. Bc4 Rb2 28.  Qc3 Qxc3 29. Nxc3 Bg4 30. Rdc1 Ra8 31. Rxa6 31... Rb4 {  1-0  Sveshnikov,E-Petrosian,A [C44] USSR, 1974}) 1-0   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Scotch Gambit"]  [Black "4....Bb4+"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C44"]  [PlyCount "29"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 4... Bb4+ {  4...Bb4+ is probably a mistake, but not as bad as this game makes it seem!} 5.  c3 dxc3 6. O-O Qf6 7. e5 Qe7 8. a3 cxb2 9. Bxb2 Bc5 10. Nc3 d6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12.  exd6 Bxd6 13. Bxg7 Bg4 14. Re1+ Nge7 15. Nf6# {  Staunton,H-Brodie [C44] London, 1851} 1-0   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Scotch Gambit"]  [Black "Example Game 6.Nxc3"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C44"]  [PlyCount "27"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. c3 dxc3 6. Nxc3 d6 7. Bg5 f6 (7...  Nge7) 8. Bh4 Nh6 9. O-O Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bf7 12. Nd5 Ne5 13. Nxe5 13...  dxe5 {and now best is} 14. Qb3 $1 (14. Qc1 $6 14... Qd6 (14... c6 $1) 15. Rd1  O-O-O 16. Qc2 Bd4 17. Rac1 Kb8 18. Rxd4 exd4 19. Bg3 Qc6 20. Bxc7+ Ka8 21. Bxd8  Rxd8 22. Qd2 Qd6 23. Qxd4 Kb8 24. Rc3 Be8 25. Qe3 Nf7 26. Nf4 Ne5 27. Bd5 Bc6  28. Ne6 Rd7 29. Nc5 Re7 30. f4 Bxd5 31. fxe5 Qxe5 32. Qd3 b6 33. Na6+ Kb7 34.  Nb4 {1-0  Harding,TD - Zlobinsky,E [C44] EU/M/GT/360 corr, 1992}) 1-0   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Koltanowski Attack"]  [Black "4.d4"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C50"]  [PlyCount "47"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4 Bxd4 (4... Nxd4 5. Nxe5) (4... exd4 5. c3  {is either the Scotch Gambit or Italian Game}) 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. O-O Nf6 7. f4 d6  8. fxe5 dxe5 9. Bg5 Qe7 10. Nc3 Qc5 11. Bxf7+ Kxf7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qh5+ Ke6  14. Rxf6+ Kxf6 15. Nd5+ Ke6 16. Qh6+ Kd7 17. Qg7+ Kd6 18. Qe7+ Kc6 19. Qxc7+  Kb5 20. a4+ Kc4 21. Ne3+ Kb4 22. c3+ Kb3 23. Qxc5 Kxb2 24. Qa3# {  Muller-N.N. [C50] Vienna, 1927} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Evans' Gambit"]  [Black "Example game"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C51"]  [PlyCount "33"]   {White plays actively for the initiative.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4  {In the Giuoco Piano, White plays c3 then d4. Evans' Gambit gives up a pawn  so that you can play that plan with an extra move.} 4... Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O  d6 7. d4 {It can all go wrong for Black very quickly:} 7... exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9.  Re1 Bg4 10. Bb2 Qf6 11. e5 dxe5 12. dxe5 Qf4 13. e6 Bxf3 14. exf7+ Kf8 15.  fxg8=Q+ Rxg8 16. Ba3+ Ne7 17. Bxe7+ {  1-0 White,R-Al Marif,S [C51] London LB, 1990} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Evans' Gambit"]  [Black "5...Bc5"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C51"]  [PlyCount "39"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 5... Bc5 {5...Bc5 is a bit wet.  It was seen in the very first game we have with this opening by its inventor:}  6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. e5 d5 10. exf6 dxc4 11. Re1+ Kf8 12. Ba3+  Kg8 13. d5 Na5 14. Be7 Qd7 15. fxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd2 Qg4 17. Qc3+ Kg8 18. Qxh8+  Kxh8 19. Bf6+ Qg7 20. Re8# {Evans,-MacDonnell [C51] London, 1829} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Evans' Gambit"]  [Black "Declined"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C51"]  [PlyCount "57"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 4... Bb6 {Declining is not very good for  Black: an easy system to play is from my favourite player, Tartakower: .} 5. a4  a6 6. Bb2 d6 7. b5 axb5 8. axb5 Rxa1 9. Bxa1 Nb8 10. d4 f6 11. dxe5 dxe5 12.  Qe2 Nh6 13. Nxe5 fxe5 14. Qh5+ Kf8 15. Qxe5 Bxf2+ 16. Ke2 Qd7 17. Rd1 Qg4+ 18.  Kxf2 Nd7 19. Qxc7 Ke7 20. Nc3 Rf8+ 21. Kg1 Rd8 22. Qd6+ Ke8 23. Be6 Qh5 24. Rd5  Nf7 25. Bxd7+ Bxd7 26. Qxd7+ Rxd7 27. Rxh5 Rd2 28. Rd5 Rxc2 29. Nd1 {  Tartakower -Prokofiev [C51] Paris, 1934  Black is the famous composer.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Evans' Gambit"]  [Black "5...Be7"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C51"]  [PlyCount "53"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 5... Be7 {  5...Be7 doesn't solve all Black's problems either.} 6. d4 d6 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8.  Nxe5 dxe5 9. Qh5 g6 10. Qxe5 Nf6 11. Ba3 Rf8 12. O-O Ng4 13. Qg3 Bxa3 14. Nxa3  Qe7 15. Bb5+ c6 16. Nc4 Qe6 17. Rad1 cxb5 18. Qc7 Bd7 19. Nd6+ Ke7 20. Nf5+  gxf5 21. exf5 Rac8 22. Rxd7+ Qxd7 23. f6+ Nxf6 24. Re1+ Ne4 25. Rxe4+ Kf6 26.  Qxd7 Rfd8 27. Qg4 {1-0 Fischer,R - Celle,O [C51] Davis sim, 1964} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Evans' Gambit"]  [Black "BLACK"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C52"]  [PlyCount "51"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. Qb3 {  Nigel Short likes 7.Qb3, which avoids Black's best defence with 7...Nge7 and 8.  ..d5.} (7. O-O Nge7 8. cxd4 d5) 7... Qe7 8. O-O Bb6 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxd4  11. Nc3 Nf6 12. Nb5 d5 13. exd5 Bxa1 14. Ba3 Qe5 15. f4 Bd4+ 16. Kh1 Qe3 17.  Nxd4 Qxb3 18. Re1+ Kd8 19. Be7+ Kd7 20. Nxb3 c6 21. d6 b6 22. Bxf7 c5 23. Nd2  Kc6 24. Nc4 Bf5 25. Ne5+ 25... Kb7 {and now best is} 26. Re3 $1 {idea Rg3xg7 +-  } (26. a4 h5 27. Bxf6 gxf6 28. Bd5+ Ka6 29. Bc4+ Kb7 30. Bd5+ Ka6 31. Bc4+  31... Kb7 {1/2-1/2 Short,N-Nielsen,P [C52] Samba Cup 1st Skanderborg (8), 2003}  ) *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Evans' Gambit"]  [Black "6.O-O and Lasker's Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C52"]  [PlyCount "55"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O {is designed to  avoid 7...dxc3 (as if that's a problem) but lets Black set up the Lasker  Defence.} 6... d6 7. d4 Bb6 8. Be3 Nf6 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12.  Bg5 Nf6 13. d5 e4 14. Rxe4 Bxf2+ 15. Kh1 Bg3 16. Nbd2 Na5 17. Bd3 Qxd5 18. Rd4  Qc6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Ne4 Qf4 21. Neg5 Qe3 22. Bxh7+ Kh8 23. Qa4 Qxc3 24. Rad1  b5 25. Rd8 Bxh3 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27. Qe4 Rf8 28. Nxf7+ {  1-0 Alekhin,A - Sorokin [C52] Kiev, 1916} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Evans' Gambit"]  [Black "7...dxc3?!"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C52"]  [PlyCount "33"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O 7... dxc3  $6 {Black is greedy...} 8. Qb3 Qe7 9. Nxc3 9... Nf6 $6 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5  Ne5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. Bb2 13... Qg5 {White has connected Rooks while Black is  three moves away from doing so. Black will castle if he can, so} 14. h4 $1  14... Qxh4 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Rfe1+ Kd8 17. Qg3 $1 {  1-0 Fischer - Fine [C52] Skittles, 1963} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Italian Game"]  [Black "7...Nxe4"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C54"]  [PlyCount "20"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 7...  Nxe4 $1 {This is probably Black's best move.} 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.  Qb3+ 10... Kf8 $1 {Coleman,D-Parker,J [C55] Isle of Man, 1999} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Moller Attack"]  [Black "7.Nc3"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C54"]  [PlyCount "41"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 {  may be better for Black but Black has to know it!} 7... Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5  Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. g4 h6 13. h4 g6 14. Bxh6 Bxg4 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16.  hxg5 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 O-O 18. Kg2 Nf5 19. Rg4 Qe7 20. Rh1 Kg7 21. Re4 {Rodriguez-G  illon [C54] IECG, Cat-M 1995 What if Black does know it? Hmm... you have  to hope Black doesn't know it... and you should never play chess where your  best plan is to hope Black won't play the best move! So you need something  else...} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Italian Game"]  [Black "6.O-O!?"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C54"]  [PlyCount "11"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O $5 (6. cxd4 {  is the main line we have looked at}) *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Italian Game "]  [Black "5.b4!?"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C54"]  [PlyCount "9"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 $5 (5. b4 Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. O-O  O-O 8. a4 a5 9. b5 Ne7 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Bb3 c6 12. d4 Bg4 13. Bb2 d5 14. h3  dxe4 15. Nxe4 Bf5 16. Ng3 Qc8 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 19. Qf3 Nd2 20. Qf4  Nxb3 21. Nxf5 Qe6 22. Rad1 Bc7 23. c4 Nc5 24. b6 Nxa4 25. bxc7 Nxb2 26. Rd6  Qxc4 27. Qg5 {1-0 Nunn-Winants [C54] Brussels, 1988} (27. Qg5 g6 28. Ne7+ Kg7  29. Qf6+ Kh6 30. Nf5+ Kh5 31. g4+)) *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Italian Game with 4.c3!"]  [Black "6...Bb6?"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C54"]  [PlyCount "27"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 3... Bc5 {  White develops quickly and prepares to castle.} 4. c3 {White does best to put  pressure on the centre with 4.c3 to avoid the game getting stodgy.} (4. d3 Nf6  5. Nc3 {Young players often play Nc3 and d3 here, but I think that's terrible  old stodge. How are you going to get your Rooks into the game?} (5. c3 $5))  4... Nf6 5. d4 5... exd4 {this is where we come in from the Scotch Gambit} 6.  cxd4 6... Bb6 $2 {  This allows the White centre to roll forwards over Black's position.} 7. e5 Ng4  8. h3 Nh6 9. d5 Ne7 10. d6 Ng6 11. Bg5 f6 12. exf6 gxf6 13. Qe2+ Kf8 14. Bxh6#  {Boleslavsky - Scitov [C54] USSR 1933} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Italian Game"]  [Black "6...Bb4+"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C54"]  [PlyCount "41"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 6... Bb4+ {  Black should play a check on move 6 when you can play 7.Nc3 or 7.Bd2. The  line with 7.Bd2 Bxd2 is a nice IQP position for White:} 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ (7... Nxe4  $1) 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 (10... Na5 {  Black can equalise with this move} 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. Qb3 (12. Bb5 $5) 12... Na5)  11. O-O {Littlewood-Paish} 11... O-O 12. Rfe1 c6 13. a4 Qa5 14. Ne4 Rd8 15. Ne5  Nf5 16. Qd3 Be6 17. Ng5 g6 18. Qh3 Nd6 19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. Nxe6+ fxe6 21. Bxd5 {  1-0 Littlewood-Paish  White played this game and others blindfold!  } *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Italian Game"]  [Black "6.e5!?"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C54"]  [PlyCount "11"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 $5 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Two Knights' Defence"]  [Black "5...Bc5 and Max Lange Attack"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C55"]  [PlyCount "31"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O 5... Bc5 $5 {There's a long  main line after 5.O-O Bc5, which is full of dangers for Black, but, if Black  knows their theory, White might be happy to draw in the end.} 6. e5 d5 7. exf6  $5 (7. Bb5 7... Ne4 {is the Modern Variation}) 7... dxc4 8. Re1+ Be6 9. Ng5 Qd5  (9... Qxf6 $4 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. Qh5+ g6 12. Qxc5) 10. Nc3 Qf5 11. Nce4 O-O-O  12. g4 Qe5 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Bg5 14... g6 $2 15. f7 Rd7 16. Bf6 {  1-0 Prasad,D-Kalyanasundaram [C55] India, 1965} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Two Knights' Defence"]  [Black "Modern Variation"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C55"]  [PlyCount "67"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 3... Nf6 {  This fine defence can and should be played by both sides.} 4. d4 {  In the Two Knights', instead of 4.Ng5, White does better to play 4.d4.} ({  Sometimes White will attack f7, maybe hoping to sacrifice after 4.Ng5 d5 5.  exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7, and otherwise can win a pawn -- but that's really what Black  wants!} 4. Ng5 4... d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 ({  Black gets an active game after variations like} 5... b5 $1 {The Two Knights'  Defence is a nice system for Black to play; I recommend it if you don't like  the French. But you will also have to learn a defence to the Ruy Lopez,  Kings' Gambit, Vienna Game...}) 6. Nxf7) 4... exd4 5. e5 {The Modern Variation  with 4...exd4 5.e5 is still being worked out, but might be the easiest line to  play for White.} 5... d5 (5... Ng4 $5) (5... Ne4 $5) 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 8.  Be3 Bd7 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nd2 Qh4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4 12. O-O Bb6 13. Re1 Qg6 14. Nb3  O-O 15. Bc5 {This battle for c5 is very typical.} 15... Rfe8 16. a4 Bf5 17. Rc1  Rab8 18. Re3 Bxc5 19. Nxc5 Rxb2 20. Qd4 Rxc2 21. Rxc2 Bxc2 22. h3 a5 23. Kh2  Bf5 24. Rg3 Qh6 25. f4 g6 26. Nb3 Ra8 27. Rc3 Qh4 28. Rxc6 Rb8 29. Nxa5 Qe1 30.  Rc5 Be4 31. e6 c6 32. Nxc6 Re8 33. Ne7+ Kf8 34. Rc8 {  1-0  Doghri,N -Matsuo,T [C56] Yerevan (7), 1996} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Two Knights' Defence"]  [Black "5...Nxe4"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C56"]  [PlyCount "27"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O 5... Nxe4 {There's more  safety for both sides after 5...Nf6, although there's a tricky bit early on:}  6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 $1 7... Qxd5 8. Nc3 $1 8... Qa5 (8... Qh5) 9. Nxe4 Be6 10.  Bd2 $5 10... Qd5 11. Bg5 11... Bc5 $2 12. c4 $1 12... Qf5 13. Nh4 Qe5 14. Nf6+  {1-0 Liuboshitz - Shushkta [C56] USSR, 1958} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Elephant Gambit"]  [Black "3...e4"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C40"]  [PlyCount "9"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 2... d5 {"I'll offer my d-pawn to get some open lines and fast  development." What should White do? Well, as Steinitz thought, it's often  worth taking a centre pawn, but don't be afraid to give it back if you start  getting stuck.} 3. exd5 e4 4. Qe2 Nf6 5. d3 {is better for White} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Latvian Gambit"]  [Black "BLACK"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C40"]  [PlyCount "17"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 2... f5 {Latvian Gambit} 3. Nxe5 $1 3... Qf6 4. Nc4 fxe4 5. Nc3  (5. Be2 {  5. Be2 is another idea, stopping Black's next move. (Can you see why?).}) 5...  Qg6 6. d3 $1 {Undermining the Black centre.} 6... Bb4 (6... exd3 7. Bxd3 $1  7... Qxg2 8. Qh5+ $1 $18 8... Kd8 9. Be4) 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 exd3 9. Bxd3 $1 {  Now, Black can't take the g-pawn because of the big check on h5, when Black is  in big trouble.} (9. Bxd3 Qxg2 10. Qh5+ $16) *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Elephant Gambit"]  [Black "3...Bd6"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C40"]  [PlyCount "23"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 2... d5 {Elephant Gambit Well, as Steinitz thought, it's often  worth taking a centre pawn, but don't be afraid to give it back if you start  getting stuck.} 3. exd5 Bd6 4. d4 e4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. Bf4 Qe7 8. Bb5  O-O 9. Bxd7 Bxd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. O-O {  And White is a pawn up for nothing.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Philidor Defence"]  [Black "Shirov Gambit 5.g4"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C41"]  [PlyCount "35"]   1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 3... e5 {Note the different move order} 4. Nf3 4...  Nbd7 {White has recently been playing a gambit, due to Shirov:} 5. g4 Nxg4 6.  Rg1 Ngf6 7. Bc4 h6 8. Be3 c6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qd3 Qc7 11. Bxf7+ Kxf7 12. Qc4+  Ke7 13. Nh4 Nb6 14. Ng6+ Ke8 15. Bxb6 axb6 16. Nxh8 g5 17. Ng6 Bc5 18. O-O-O {  1-0 Shirov,A - Klinova,M [C41] Gibraltar, 2006 This one is still being worked  out! So you can have your own ideas...} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Philidor Defence"]  [Black "4.dxe5"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C41"]  [PlyCount "11"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 2... d6 {"I'm going to just play very solidly now and look for  my chances later in the game" Oh dear, Black is trying to play stodge...  This is exactly what the Modenese were complaining about... . What should  White do? Developing naturally gives you a decent game, and there are some  terrible traps for Black to avoid... But as long as Black plays 3...Nf6, most  of the traps are avoided. I think you can give your opponent more problems by  playing:} 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 $1 4... Nxe4 5. Qd5 $1 5... Nc5 6. Bg5 {That's too  slow for you? Well, White has recently been playing a gambit, due to Shirov:}  *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Petroff Defence"]  [Black "3.d4 exd4"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C43"]  [PlyCount "9"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 (2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 $5 {is an Anti-Petroff move order.}) 2...  Nf6 {What is Black's idea? "I won't defend, but counterattack White's e-pawn!  "[ What should White do? . As usual, I think White should put pressure on the  centre with .} 3. d4 {If Black goes for.} (3. Bc4 3... Nc6 {  is the Two Knights' Defence} (3... Nxe4 4. Nc3 $5 4... Nxc3 (4... Nc6 $5) 5.  dxc3 {is the Boden-Kieseritsky Gambit.})) 3... exd4 4. e5 (4. Bc4 $5 4... Nxe4  $5 (4... Nc6 {is the Two Knights' Defence}) 5. Qxd4 $5 {is the Urusoff Gambit})  4... Ne4 5. Qxd4 {you have a nice easy position to play Better is...} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Petroff Defence"]  [Black "3.d4 Nxe4"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C43"]  [PlyCount "11"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 (3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 $5 {  Cochrane's Gambit is a way to stir things up!} 4... Kxf7 5. d4 $1 5... Nxe4 $2  6. Qh5+ g6 7. Qd5+ Be6 8. Qxe4 $16) 3... Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nc3 {  ... Black has still got to show how the pieces are getting sorted out, but  White will find it hard to show an advantage.} *   [Event "DrDave"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Isolated Queen's Pawns"]  [Black "How to play against an IQP"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D05"]  [PlyCount "86"]   1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 dxc4 8. e3  c5 9. Bxc4 cxd4 10. exd4 $5 { Playing for the win.} 10... Nc6 11. O-O Nh5 12.  Bxe7 Nxe7 13. Bb3 (13. Ne5) 13... Nf6 14. Ne5 Bd7 15. Qe2 15... Rc8 {If your op  ponent has the IQP: P you should restrain or blockade the pawn in case it  advances. P you have a target to aim at. P you have less space and should  seek exchanges. P the weakness of the IQP will get worse in the endgame, so  you should seek exchanges} 16. Ne4 $2 {  The wrong plan, with no real justification. Keep the pieces on!} 16... Nxe4 17.  Qxe4 Bc6 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Rc3 $6 (19. Rxc6 Nxc6 20. d5 {  exchanges the IQP leaving nothing much left to play for.}) 19... Qd6 20. g3 $6  20... Rd8 21. Rd1 Rb6 22. Qe1 Qd7 23. Rcd3 Rd6 24. Qe4 Qc6 25. Qf4 25... Nd5 {  } 26. Qd2 Qb6 27. Bxd5 $6 (27. a3 Ne7 28. Qf4 Nf5 29. d5 Ne7 30. Qe3 {e.g.}  30... Qxe3 31. fxe3 exd5 (31... Nxd5 32. e4) 32. e4 d4 33. e5 Rb6 (33... R6d7  34. e6) 34. Rf1) 27... Rxd5 28. Rb3 Qc6 29. Qc3 29... Qd7 {Threatening ...e5}  30. f4 b6 31. Rb4 b5 32. a4 bxa4 33. Qa3 a5 34. Rxa4 Qb5 35. Rd2 e5 36. fxe5  Rxe5 37. Qa1 Qe8 38. dxe5 Rxd2 39. Rxa5 Qc6 40. Ra8+ Kh7 41. Qb1+ g6 42. Qf1  Qc5+ 43. Kh1 43... Qd5+ {0-1 Kortchnoi,V-Karpov,A 1981} *   [Event "DrDave"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Isolated Queen's Pawns"]  [Black "How to play with the IQP"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D32"]  [PlyCount "51"]   {Isolated Queen's Pawns} 1. d4 d5 (1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5.  Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 9... b6 {  This position can be reached by several move-orders.} 10. Re1 Bb7 11. Bd3 Nc6  12. a3 {White is going to arrange a battery on the Classic Diagonal} 12... Be7  13. Bc2 Re8 14. Qd3 {This is the battery against h7.} 14... g6 {  Sometimes it is White to move in t his position!} 15. h4 Qd6 16. Bg5 Rad8 17.  Rad1 Qb8 18. Bb3 {White decides that g6 is too tough to crack.} 18... a6 19. d5  $1 {Black has lost tactical control of this square.} 19... Na5 (19... Nxd5 20.  Bxd5 $1 20... Bxg5 21. Nxg5 exd5 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Nxd5 $18) (19... exd5 $2  20. Rxe7) 20. dxe6 Nxb3 (20... Rxd3) 21. exf7+ Kxf7 22. Qc4+ Kg7 23. Ne5 Ng8  24. Rxd8 Qxd8 25. Qf7+ Kh8 26. Qxb3 Qd4 27. Re3 Rf8 28. Bxe7 {  Jussupow,A-Lobron,E [D42] Nussloch, 1996} 28... Nxe7 29. Nf7+ Kg7 30. Rxe7 {  A wonderfully logical game. .}) 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 (3... c5 4. cxd5 4... exd5  {After an exchange of pawns, Black will have an IQP.  }) 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 5...  Nxd5 {This is the Semi-Tarrasch Defence} 6. e3 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Bd3 {  the position actually arose by a different move order} 8... O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10.  Re1 10... Nf6 {If you have the IQP: P you have more space. P therefore,  you should avoid exchanges. P you are able to move about the board more  easily. P you are able to attack . P you have a support point on e5 for a  Knight. P you have a pawn break with d4-d5 (or ...d5-d4)} 11. Bg5 11... Nb4 {  right idea against IQP but too early} 12. Bb1 b6 (12... Bd7 13. Ne5 {  is similar to the game}) 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Re3 { This is the key move of the  game, and thematic for this section. White gets away brilliantly with it in  this game, but obviously the downside of this manoeuvre is that the Rook is  very exposed once it is committed to the attack.} 14... g6 {or} (14... Ng4 15.  Bxe7 Nxe3 16. Bxh7+ Kh8 17. Qh5 Ng4 18. Bg6+ Nh6) 15. Rg3 Rc8 (15... Re8 16.  Bh6 Bf8 17. Bxf8 Rxf8 18. Qd2 {+- keene} 18... Rc8 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Bxg6 fxg6  21. Qh6 Kf7 22. Rxg6 Rg8) (15... Nc6 16. Bh6 Qxd4 17. Qxd4 Nxd4 18. Bxf8 Kxf8  19. h3 Rd8) 16. Bh6 Re8 17. a3 17... Nc6 {} 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Bxg6 19... fxg6  {} (19... Bd6 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. Rg7+ Kf8 22. Qf3) (19... Bf8 20. Bc2+ Kh8 21.  Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Qd2 Ng8 23. Rh3+ Kg7 24. Rh7+ Kf6 25. d5) 20. Qb1 $1 (20. Qc2 $2  20... Nxd4) 20... Ne5 $5 21. dxe5 Ne4 22. Nxe4 Kh7 23. Nf6+ Bxf6 24. Qxg6+ Kh8  25. Bg7+ Bxg7 26. Qxg7# {1-0 keene,r-miles,a 1975} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Sicilian Defence"]  [Black "Alapin 2...d5 Example Game"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B22"]  [PlyCount "51"]   1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. h3  Bh5 9. Be3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. Nc3 Qd6 12. Qb3 O-O 13. a3 a6 14. Rfd1 Rfd8  15. Rac1 b5 16. d5 Na5 17. Qa2 exd5 18. g4 Bg6 19. g5 Ne4 20. Nxd5 Qe6 21. Bb6  Bxg5 22. Bxd8 Bxd8 23. Bf1 Qf5 24. Bg2 Bh5 25. Ne3 Qf4 26. Qd5 {  1-0 Harley- Roberts [B22] British Ch, 1993} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Sicilian Defence "]  [Black "Alapin 2...Nf6 Example Game"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B22"]  [PlyCount "53"]   1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 e6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bd3 Nb4 8. Bb5+  Bd7 9. Bc4 Bc6 10. O-O Nd7 11. Nc3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nc2 13. d5 Nd4 14. Qg4 dxe5  15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Qh3 Qb6 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. Rfe1 Be7 20. Rxe6 Qc5  21. Rae1 dxc3 22. Rxe7+ Qxe7 23. Rxe7+ Kxe7 24. Qe6+ Kd8 25. Qd6+ Ke8 26. Bb5+  Kf7 27. Qc7+ {Motwani,P-Collins,S [B22] British Ch, 2003} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Sicilian Defence"]  [Black "Alapin 2...d5"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B22"]  [PlyCount "22"]   1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8.  O-O Be7 9. Nc3 Qd6 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Rd1 11... b6 {White has more space thanks  to the d-pawn, but the pawn might become weak in an endgame. Black is  well-developed and has good control of d5. Both King's Bishops (e2,e7) are a  little quiet at the moment, so, as well as getting the rest of the pieces out,  both sides will want to get those bishops doing a bit more work. Chances are  about equal.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Sicilian Defence"]  [Black "Alapin 2...Nf6"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B22"]  [PlyCount "23"]   1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5  Bd7 9. exd6 e6 10. O-O Bxd6 11. Nc3 a6 12. Bd3 {This position also has a  single d-pawn for White, The King's Bishops have each found a better home, but  it's early days yet for the middlegame.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Sicilian Defence"]  [Black "Delayed Alapin 3...d5"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "E57"]  [PlyCount "24"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O cxd4 8.  cxd4 Be7 9. Nc3 Qd8 10. a3 O-O 11. Bd3 b6 12. Re1 Bb7 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "Exchange Variation 4.c4"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C01"]  [PlyCount "7"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4 {I don't think this variation has a name!}  *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "Exchange Var.+ 4.c4 Example"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C01"]  [PlyCount "51"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bd3 dxc4 8.  Bxc4 Nbd7 9. O-O Nb6 10. Bb3 h6 11. Re1 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 c6 14. Bf4 a5  15. a3 a4 16. Bc2 16... Ra5 $5 17. Rad1 Bd6 18. Be5 Be7 19. Qd3 g6 20. Re3 Kh7  21. Rg3 Rg8 22. Qf3 Kg7 23. Rg4 23... Rf8 $6 {  Regis-Evans [C01] East Devon (1), 2000 and now I should have played 24.Qf5!}  24. Qf5 $1 24... Rxe5 25. Rxg6+ Kh7 26. dxe5 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Caro-Kann Defence"]  [Black "2.c4 variation"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B10"]  [PlyCount "11"]   1. e4 1... c6 {Also, White can be sneaky with the move order.} 2. c4 $5 2... d5  ({Then Black started being sneaky, playing moves like .} 2... e5 $5) 3. exd5  cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxd5 6. Bc4 {  , delaying d2-d4 until we see 6...Be7 played...} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Caro-Kann Defence"]  [Black "Panov-Botvinnik 5...g6"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B14"]  [PlyCount "31"]   1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Qb3 Bg7 7. cxd5 O-O 8.  Be2 Nbd7 9. Bf3 Nb6 10. Nge2 Bg4 11. Bxg4 Nxg4 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. a4 Rad8 14. d6  exd6 15. a5 Nc8 16. O-O {  with pressure. Karpov,A-Ovetchkin,R [B14] Smolensk 2000} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Caro-Kann"]  [Black "Panov-Botvinnik avoiding Nimz"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B14"]  [PlyCount "55"]   1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 (7. Bd3  dxc4 8. Bxc4 {is about level.}) 7... Nxd5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. Bd3 Ba5 10. a3 Nxc3 11.  bxc3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bb5+ {To avoid this, there is a sharp gambit idea:  Karpov,A-Ovetchkin,R [B14] Smolensk 2000 } 13... Bd7 14. O-O Qd5 15. c4 Qf5  16. Bxd7+ Kxd7 17. Qb2 b6 18. a4 f6 19. Rd1+ Kc6 20. c5 Rad8 21. Qb5+ Kc7 22.  Be3 Kb8 23. Qc6 Qh5 24. Rd6 Rc8 25. Qd7 Rhd8 26. Qxg7 Qe5 27. Bf4 Qxf4 28. c6 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Scandinavian Defence"]  [Black "Main line with 2...Qxd5"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B01"]  [PlyCount "9"]   1. e4 1... d5 {"I can hit back straight away and play my sort of game!" "I'll  take the Pawn on d5 and try and set up a decent centre around the d-Pawn."} 2.  exd5 {and Black has a choice:} 2... Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 {  White is looking good but Black has no weaknesses and is not behind in  development. Black normally plays moves like ...Bf5, ...c6, and ...e6; White  can try to gain time for improving the position of the Nc3 by playing Bd2 and  Ne4. If Black plays ...Bf5 you can play b2-b4, with the idea ...Qxb4 Rb1 and  Rxb7} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Scandinavian Defence"]  [Black "2...Nf6"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B01"]  [PlyCount "6"]   1. e4 d5 2. exd5 {and Black has a choice:} 2... Nf6 3. c4 {and now .} 3... e6 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Scandinavian Defence"]  [Black "BLACK"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B01"]  [PlyCount "7"]   1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. d4 {  will turn into the lines we recommend against the French and Caro- Kann.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Alekhin's Defence"]  [Black "Exchange Variation"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B03"]  [PlyCount "19"]   1. e4 1... Nf6 {"I'm going to tempt White to make lots of Pawn moves and then  White's centre will be a big hollow target for me!" [ How to respond? Surely  chase the knight and set up a nice centre, which you should be doing in the  opening anyway, but don't get distracted from developing and castling, which  you must do as well. . ] "I'll grab only as much space as I am sure I can hang  on to."} 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. exd6 5... exd6 {  5... cxd6 can be played; use the same scheme of development for both sides.} 6.  Nc3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Nge2 {  White just plays to keep the advantage in the centre.} 8... O-O (8... Nb4 $2 9.  Qa4+) 9. b3 {The idea is, if 9...Nb4, 10.Bb1} 9... Nb4 10. Bb1 $1 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Modern Defence"]  [Black "BLACK"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B06"]  [PlyCount "2"]   1. e4 g6 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Pirc Defence"]  [Black "4.Be3 "]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B07"]  [PlyCount "7"]   1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 {  ... is a sound way to play, keeping your options open.;} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Pirc Defence"]  [Black "h-file attack"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B07"]  [PlyCount "39"]   1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. g4 h6 6. h3 c5 7. d5 O-O 8. h4 e6 9.  g5 hxg5 10. hxg5 Ne8 11. Qd3 exd5 12. Nxd5 Nc6 13. Qg3 Be6 14. Qh4 f5 15. Qh7+  Kf7 16. Qxg6+ Kxg6 17. Bh5+ Kh7 18. Bf7+ Bh6 19. g6+ Kg7 20. Bxh6+ *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Czech Defence"]  [Black "BLACK"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "B07"]  [PlyCount "6"]   1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 3... c6 {;} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Ideas: Black's Q-side attack"]  [Black "French Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C02"]  [PlyCount "80"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 c4 7. Nbd2 Na5 8. Be2 Bd7  9. O-O Ne7 10. Rb1 O-O-O 11. b4 cxb3 12. c4 Ba4 13. c5 Qc7 14. Bb2 Nec6 15. Re1  Rg8 16. Bd3 g5 17. Kh1 b5 18. cxb6 Qxb6 19. Rc1 Kb8 20. Nb1 Bb5 21. Bxb5 Qxb5  22. Nc3 Qb7 23. Rb1 g4 24. Ng1 Ka8 25. Nge2 25... Nc4 {  Black slowly invades the Queen's-side...} 26. Nc1 Rb8 27. Qd3 N6a5 28. a4 a6  29. Re2 Ka7 30. Nd1 Ba3 31. Bc3 h5 32. g3 Rgc8 33. f3 b2 34. Bxb2 Bxb2 35. Nxb2  Nxb2 36. Qh7 Qc7 37. Qxh5 Nxa4 38. Rxb8 Qxc1+ 39. Kg2 Kxb8 40. Qxg4 40... Nc3 {  Lebedev - Petrosian, [C02] Moscow Torpedo-Spartak m, 1958} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Ideas: attacking d4"]  [Black "French Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C02"]  [PlyCount "16"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. b3 {White hopes to take the  pressure off the b-Pawn and support d4 with a Bishop on b2, but...} (6. Be2  cxd4 (6... Nh6 $6 7. Bxh6 $1 7... Qxb2 $2 8. Be3 Qxa1 9. Qc2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4  11. cxd4 Ba3 12. Bb5+ $40) 7. cxd4 7... Nh6 $1 8. Bxh6 $6 8... Qxb2 $1 9. Bc1  Qxa1 10. Qc2 {and now the Black Queen escapes, winning.}) 6... cxd4 7. cxd4  Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Nxd4 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Ideas: a trap!"]  [Black "French Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C02"]  [PlyCount "17"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 {White has cut off the  defence of the d-Pawn by the White Queen. But Black should not take the d-Pawn:  } 6... cxd4 7. cxd4 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 8... Qxd4 {. White now has a deadly discovery:  } 9. Bb5+ {and Black loses the Queen...} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Advance Variation"]  [Black "French Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C02"]  [PlyCount "15"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {If White pushes forward with e4-e5 on move 3 (Advance  Variation), you can play very logical moves to attack d4:} 3... c5 4. c3 Nc6 5.  Nf3 Qb6 6. Be2 Nh6 (6... cxd4 7. cxd4 Nh6 8. Bxh6 8... Qxb2 $1) 7. Na3 (7. Bxh6  7... gxh6 $1) 7... Nf5 8. Nc2 *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Ideas: ...f6"]  [Black "French Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C04"]  [PlyCount "39"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Bd3 f6 7. Ng5 fxg5 8.  Qh5+ g6 9. Bxg6+ hxg6 10. Qxg6+ Ke7 11. Ne4 Ndxe5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Qf6+ Kd7  14. Qxe5 dxe4 15. Bxg5 Qe8 16. O-O-O+ Bd6 17. Qb5+ c6 18. Rxd6+ Kxd6 19. Rd1+  Kc7 20. Bf4+ {Hellers,F - Jacobson [C04] Sweden, 1985} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Ideas: Greek Gift sacrifice"]  [Black "French Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C05"]  [PlyCount "21"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Ngf3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4 8. e5  Nd7 9. O-O Qb6 10. Nb3 O-O 11. Bxh7+ $1 {  1-0 Efler,L-Kubat,A [C05] CZE-chT, 1993} (11. Bxh7+ Kxh7 12. Ng5+ Kg6 (12...  Kg8 13. Qh5 Rd8 (13... Re8 14. Qxf7+ Kh8 15. Qxe8+ $18) 14. Qxf7+ Kh8 15. Qh5+  Kg8 16. Qh7+ Kf8 17. Qh8+ Ke7 18. Qxg7+ Ke8 19. Qf7#) 13. Qd3+ f5 14. Nxe6 Rf7  15. Nf4+ Kh7 16. e6 Rf6 17. exd7 Bxd7 18. Nxd5 $18) *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "Exchange Variation- Introduct"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C01"]  [Annotator "DrDave"]  [PlyCount "20"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 3... exd5 {DIAGRAM} 4. Bd3 () {This is not bad for  Black, as it releases the Bc8. It also means that if White attacks d5 with  c2-c4, Black will have an Isolated Queen's Pawn to aim at. There is still some  thinking to do about the Bishops. Black's central pawn is on a White square,  and the Bc8 doesn't want to end up stuck on e6. So, the best square for the  Bc8 is f5. So, the best move for White is to play Bd3, attacking f5. Black can  usually still get to play ...Bf5 after ...Nge7.} 4... Nc6 5. c3 5... Bd6 {  Black is ahead in development!} 6. Nf3 (6. Ne2 6... Qh4 $1) 6... Nge7 7. O-O  7... O-O {DIAGRAM} ({Now,} 7... Bf5 8. Bxf5 Nxf5 9. Re1+ {  is not what Black wants, so castle first:}) ({Playing for a win?} 7... Bg4 {  and Black can go for castling long}) {  Here, the stock sacrifice Bxh7+ doesn't work:} 8. Bxh7+ 8... Kxh7 9. Ng5+ Kg8  10. Qh5 10... Bf5 $1 $19 *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "Exchange Variation - Line"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C01"]  [PlyCount "24"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Bd6 6. Nf3 Nge7 7. O-O {  If White just stodges about, you can still get some play, and can unbalance  the game by castling long:} 7... Bg4 8. Re1 Qd7 9. Nbd2 O-O-O 10. b4 Ng6 11.  Nb3 Rde8 12. Be3 12... Nh4 $1 {Equal, but not so drawish.} *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "Exchange Variation - Example"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C01"]  [PlyCount "78"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Bd6 6. Ne2 6... Qh4 $1 {  Black takes the chance to post the Queen on an active square.} 7. Nd2 7... Bg4  {Now the Bishop comes to bother White.} 8. Qc2 (8. Qb3 {  Black will gambit a pawn for fast development after} 8... O-O-O $1 9. Qxd5 Nf6)  8... O-O-O {Black castles long, hoping to get an unbalanced game.} 9. Nf1 g6  10. Be3 Nge7 11. O-O-O 11... Bf5 $1 {Swapping off White's good Bishop. The  rest of the game shows a typical sharp attack from Alekhin. } 12. Nfg3 Bxd3  13. Qxd3 h6 14. f4 $2 14... Qg4 15. h3 Qd7 16. Rhf1 h5 17. Ng1 h4 18. N3e2 Nf5  19. Nf3 f6 20. Nh2 Rde8 21. Bd2 Re6 22. Ng4 Rhe8 23. Rde1 23... R8e7 $1 24. Kd1  24... Qe8 $1 25. Qf3 Na5 26. b3 26... Nc4 $3 27. Bc1 (27. bxc4 Qa4+ 28. Kc1  Ba3+ 29. Kb1 Rb6+ 30. Ka1 30... Qc2 $19) 27... Nce3+ 28. Bxe3 Nxe3+ 29. Nxe3  Rxe3 30. Qf2 Qb5 31. Nc1 Rxc3 32. Rxe7 Bxe7 33. Qe1 Kd7 34. f5 Re3 35. Qf2 g5  36. Re1 Re4 37. Rxe4 dxe4 38. Kd2 Bd6 39. Kc2 39... Bf4 {  0-1 Winter - Alekhin Nottingham 1936} *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "MacCutcheon: White swaps"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C12"]  [Annotator "DrDave"]  [PlyCount "20"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 gxf6  8. Qg4 8... Bd7 $5 {keeps it more interesting:} (8... Qg5 {  is safe enough for Black}) 9. Qg7 Rf8 10. Qxf6 10... Ba4 $1 {  with a lead in development for a Pawn.} *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "MacCutcheon: Intro"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C12"]  [Annotator "DrDave"]  [PlyCount "9"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 4... Bb4 {This is called the MacCutcheon  Variation. It was fashionable in the 1920s, being played by Alekhine,  Capablanca and Tarrasch. Now White usually pushes on with} 5. e5 {, and the fig  ht is on. The e4-e5 move isn't forced at move 5, but all the other moves give  Black an easy game. If you want the variations, here they are: The only other  serious line is if White swaps.} (5. Bd3 dxe4 6. Bxe4 6... Nbd7 {= Line French  Defence-MacCutcheon: 5.Bd3/www.exeterchessclub.org.uk 2011/[DrDave]}) (5. f3 h6  6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Nge2 dxe4 8. fxe4 8... e5 {  =+ Line French Defence-MacCutcheon: f3/www.exeterchessclub.org.uk 2011/[DrDave]  }) (5. Qd3 5... dxe4 {  + Line French Defence-MacCutcheon: Qd3/www.exeterchessclub.org.uk 2011/[DrDave]  }) (5. Nge2 5... h6 {= Line French Defence-MacCutcheon: Nge2/www.  exeterchessclub.org.uk 2011/[DrDave]}) *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "MacCutcheon: Tchigorin's Line"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C12"]  [Annotator "DrDave"]  [PlyCount "32"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 7... Rg8  {Black will get the pawn back and may get the easier game.} 8. h4 gxh4 9. Qg4  Qf6 (9... Nc6 $5) 10. Rxh4 Qxg7 11. Qxg7 Rxg7 12. Rh8+ Bf8 13. Nf3 Bd7 14. Ne5  f6 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. O-O-O 16... O-O-O {is safe enough} *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "MacCutcheon: main line"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C12"]  [Annotator "DrDave"]  [PlyCount "20"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 {Black's only good  square for the Knight is e4. But if 6...Ne4 White will play 7.Nxe4 So,  Black has to swap on c3 first. } 6... Bxc3 {  White now has a choice of captures:} 7. bxc3 (7. Bxc3 {  There is a little trick here for Black, if White tries to keep the Bishop:}  7... Ne4 8. Bb4 c5 9. dxc5 $2 9... Nxf2 $1 10. Kxf2 Qh4+ 11. g3 11... Qxb4 $17)  {This is the main line, which is still completely unclear.} 7... Ne4 8. Qg4 {  Black has given up the good dark-squared Bishop to make a mess of White's  Pawns. White will always have the problem of the weak Queen's-side, even if  Black's King's-side is weak without the Bishop.} 8... g6 (8... Kf8 {avoids maki  ng dark-squared weaknesses, but loses the right to castle. The choice is up to  you!}) 9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Kxd2 10... c5 {... If Black can avoid an accident on  the King's-side, the White Queen's-side can be taken apart. White's King can  also be vulnerable in the middle. White will follow up with moves like: Nf3,  h2-h4, Rhb1, and Qf4-f6. Black can play safe with ...Bd7-c6 and ...Nd7 or  more aggressively with ...Nc6 and ...Qa5. Black also often uses the common  French idea of swapping Bishops with ...b6 and ...Ba6} *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "MacCutcheon: Intro"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C12"]  [PlyCount "11"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 {  After 5.e5, Black doesn't lose the pinned Knight on f6 because of} 5... h6 $1 {  We will look at} 6. exf6 (6. Bd2) (6. Be3) *   [Event "www.exeterchessclub.org.uk"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "2011.10.07"]  [Round "1"]  [White "French Defence"]  [Black "MacCutcheon: White gambits"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C12"]  [PlyCount "24"]  [EventDate "2012.01.18"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Be3 Ne4 7. Qg4 $1 7... Kf8  $5 {Avoiding weaknesses.} 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nxc3 10. Bd3 {This is one time  when you don't want to open up the game with ...c5. The usual French rule is  less important than the general opening rule: keep lines closed when you are  behind in development.} 10... Nc6 11. Nh3 11... f5 $1 {  Again, Black is behind in development so hopes to keep the position closed.}  12. exf6 $5 {  Opens lines, but brings in the Black Queen and gives the Bc8 a new career.}  12... Qxf6 {This gambit line is still being worked out!} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "WHITE"]  [Black "Tarrasch Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D32"]  [PlyCount "6"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 3... c5 {I like this opening for Black; your pieces  come to very natural squares. You usually get an IQP position, which you need  to play a bit more slowly and carefully because White can set up a good  attacking position against your pawn.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Other lines"]  [Black "Tarrasch Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D32"]  [PlyCount "50"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 4... exd5 {If White doesn't play the  Bishop to g2 (and I think most beginners will not), just put your pieces on  natural squares and look to make some sort of advantage on one side of the  board.} 5. dxc5 {White can't really expect to get a good game by attacking the  d-pawn straight away: you can make it into an exciting double-pawn Gambit.}  5... d4 6. Na4 b5 7. cxb6 axb6 8. Qb3 b5 9. Qxb5+ Bd7 10. Qe5+ Be7 11. b3 Bxa4  12. bxa4 Nc6 13. Qb5 Bb4+ 14. Bd2 Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Nge7 16. Nf3 Rb8 17. Qc5 17...  O-O {White's pawns are not really important yet!} 18. g3 Qd7 19. Bg2 Rb2+ 20.  Ke1 Rfb8 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. Qxe5 Ng6 23. Qa5 Qe7 24. Bf3 Ne5 25. Bd5 Nd3+ *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Example game"]  [Black "Tarrasch Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D33"]  [PlyCount "98"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Be6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O  Nf6 9. Bg5 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne5 Nxd4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. e3 Nf3+ 14. Nxf3  exf3 15. Qxf3 O-O 16. Rac1 {Here Black won by advancing the Queen's-side  majority. White has a King's-side majority, but he didn't do anything with  it!} (16. Qxb7 $5 16... Qxb7 17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. Bf3 Rxb2) 16... Rab8 17. Qe4 Qc7  18. Rc3 b5 19. a3 c4 20. Bf3 Rfd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Rd8 23. Bf3 g6 24. Qc6  Qe5 25. Qe4 Qxe4 26. Bxe4 Rd1+ 27. Kg2 a5 28. Rc2 b4 29. axb4 axb4 30. Bf3 Rb1  31. Be2 b3 32. Rd2 Rc1 33. Bd1 c3 34. bxc3 b2 35. Rxb2 Rxd1 36. Rc2 Bf5 37. Rb2  Rc1 38. Rb3 Be4+ 39. Kh3 Rc2 40. f4 h5 41. g4 hxg4+ 42. Kxg4 Rxh2 43. Rb4 f5+  44. Kg3 Re2 45. Rc4 Rxe3+ 46. Kh4 Kg7 47. Rc7+ Kf6 48. Rd7 Bg2 49. Rd6+ 49...  Kg7 {Marshall,-Capablanca [D33] NY m23, 1909} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Main line"]  [Black "Tarrasch Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D34"]  [PlyCount "54"]   1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. O-O Nf6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 Be7 8. Nc3  O-O 9. Bg5 {  This is the main line, but there is a lot of experience with other moves.} (9.  Bf4) (9. Be3) (9. b3) (9. dxc5) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 (11. Bf4) 11...  Re8 {White has set up strong pressure against d5, but Black can equalise.} 12.  Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qa4 Bd7 14. Qc2 Qc8 15. Rfd1 Bh3 16. Bh1 Ng4 17. Bd2 Qe6 18. Be1  Rad8 19. e4 Qf6 20. exd5 Ne3 21. Qa4 Nxd1 22. Rxd1 cxd5 23. Nxd5 Qe6 24. Ba5  Bc5 25. Qc2 Bb6 26. Nxb6 Qf5 27. Rxd8 27... Rxd8 {0-1 Vadasz-Nunn 1978} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "von Hennig-Schara Gambit"]  [Black "Tarrasch Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D32"]  [PlyCount "24"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 {  There's a terrific little gambit that you can play in the Tarrasch:} 4... cxd4  {The von Hennig-Schara Gambit} 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd1 exd5 7. Qxd5 Bd7 8. Nf3 Nf6  9. Qd1 Bc5 10. e3 Qe7 11. Be2 O-O-O (11... O-O $5) 12. O-O 12... g5 {The theory  position ends up with opposite-side castling, where Black's King is probably  less safe than White's. But can White last that long?} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "von Hennig-Schara Gambit"]  [Black "Tarrasch Defence"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D32"]  [PlyCount "34"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd1 exd5 7. Qxd5 Bd7 8.  Nf3 Nf6 9. Qd1 Bc5 10. e3 Qe7 11. Bc4 O-O-O 12. O-O Bg4 13. Qe2 Ne5 14. Bb3 a6  15. e4 Rd3 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 {  [Glikshtein-Shkurovich, Hazin 1970] when Black should have played} 17... Rxf3  $1 {winning} *   [Event "DrDave"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "White avoids the Tarrasch"]  [Black "London"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D05"]  [PlyCount "6"]   1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 {I often say that you have to put pressure on the centre with  pawns, and White is not doing this, so these systems tend to be a bit flat.}  2... e6 3. Bf4 {  The London System. Aagaard and Lund call it the Old Man's Bad Habi t.} (3. Bg5  {This m akes more sense after ...Nf6, when it is called the Torre Attack.} 3...  Be7 4. Bxe7 Nxe7 5. e3 O-O 6. c4 6... c5 $1 $10) 3... Bd6 $1 {  This move takes the steam out of White's position.} *   [Event "DrDave"]  [Site "Exeter"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "White avoids the Tarrasch"]  [Black "Colle"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D05"]  [PlyCount "22"]   1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 {Not as dangerous, but that doesn't mean you can relax! How  should you play these systems as White or Black? Black often develops their  Bishops on f5 and d6. Because White is going to take a few moves to play  Bf1-d3, Black may play ...Bc8-f5 first, and the light-squared Bishops come off.  Also, Black will often challenge the Bc1-f4 with ...Bf8-d6, and then the  dark-squared Bishops also come off. We then have a slow game with Knights and  Queens. T The first thing to do if you get into this sort of position  (whether you are White or Black) is to open up a file for your Rooks. As  Black, you may not be able to achieve ...e7-e5 very quickly, but it is likely  that you can play ...c7-c5. So one Golden Rule for playing Black in these  openings is for you to play ...c7-c5 at some point. This means that your  Queen's Knight should not be placed straightaway at c6 in front of the c-Pawn,  but instead go to c6 only after ...c7-c5. Another idea is to play ...Nb8-d7,  which actually supports the ...c7-c5 break. Also, don't castle too early:  with a closed centre, your King will be fine uncastled for a while. Castle  too early, and White will be able to rush pieces over to attack while your  pieces might be slow to get over because the centre is closed. } 2... e6 3.  e3 {The Colle Syste m. White still wants to play the e-pawn to e4, but not  yet! This can be a nasty system to face, because White's attack can come very  quickly, when your pieces might be on sensible but passive squares.} 3... Nf6 (  3... f5 $5 {might be worth a try if you kno w how to play the Stonewall.}) 4.  Bd3 4... c5 {Can't be wrong! If White lets you, pl ay ...e5 to release the Bc8.  } (4... b6 $5 {Another way to get the Bc8 going (Aag aard & Lund)} 5. O-O Bb7  6. Nbd2 (6. c4 {Probably the best move, but as this sho uld be played on move  2, few White players will try it now.} 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 8. Nc3 (8. Qe2 Nbd7  9. Rd1 c5 10. Nc3 Qc7 11. d5 exd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Bxd5 14. Rxd5 Nf6 15.  Re5+ 15... Be7 $10) 8... b5 9. Bd3 c5) 6... c5 7. c3 7... Nbd7 $1 $10) 5. c3 {  C olle} (5. b3 {Zukertort White intends to hold the centre steady, then play  Ne5 and attack on the King's-side. White often plays the same moves in every  game, so it's an easy system for White to learn, and popular with club players.  } 5... Nc6 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2 (8. a3 Qc7 9. c4 cxd4 10. exd4 10...  e5 $10 {NCO}) 8... Qe7 9. Ne5 cxd4 10. exd4 Ba3) 5... Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. O-O  O-O 8. e4 (8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. e4 $10 9... e5 10. Qe2 Be6 11. exd5 Bxd5) (8. Re1 e5  9. dxe5 $15 9... Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Bxe5 11. Nf3 11... Bc7 $15) 8... cxd4 9. cxd4  $10 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Be7 11. Nxf6+ 11... Bxf6 {The very best lines against  some of these openings probably don't include ...e6, but if you're starting  your game with 1...e6 against everything, then we need to be sure that  defending with ...e6 works just as well.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Stonewall Attack"]  [Black "BLACK"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D00"]  [PlyCount "8"]   1. d4 d5 2. e3 2... Nf6 $1 3. Bd3 {Black can break the Golden Rule of Queen's  Pawn positions and play the Queen's Knight in front of the c-pawn.} 3... Nc6 $1  {with two ideas:} 4. c3 4... e5 {  White's position doesn't make any sense without control of e5.} *   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "????.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Stonewall Attack"]  [Black "BLACK"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "D00"]  [PlyCount "12"]   1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 Nc6 4. f4 Nb4 5. Be2 Bf5 6. Na3 6... c5 {  White's position doesn't make any sense without a Bishop on d3} *   [Event "2nd system: All-purpose system"]  [Site "weak pawns: hanging pawns (st"]  [Date "1962.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Bertok"]  [Black "Fischer"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D59"]  [PlyCount "62"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 6... h6 $1 {That's imp  ortant: sometimes White can play Qc2 with a double attack on c7 and h7, so  play it when it doesn't lose time.} 7. Bh4 7... b6 $1 {v All-purpose System  against Queen's-side openings Purdy calls it the All-purpose System: just put  your pieces on the same squares! T You can play it against 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf3,  1.g3... Black often can't find a good home for the Bc8; in this line we place  it on the long diagonal, where it is very well placed. There are some special  moves you need to remember to play in the main line Queen's Gambit (Tartakower  Variation):} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Be2 11... Be6 $1 {  Now this Bishop is better in the centre. Here's a great game:} 12. O-O c5 13.  dxc5 {?!} 13... bxc5 14. Qa4 14... Qb7 { ! White is not well-placed to  harass the pawns, while Fischer is making use of his own trumps.} 15. Qa3 Nd7  16. Ne1 a5 17. Nd3 c4 18. Nf4 Rfb8 19. Rab1 {? (Nxe6)} 19... Bf5 20. Rbd1 Nf6  21. Rd2 21... g5 { It's "make your mind up" time!} 22. Nxd5 (22. Nh5 Ne4 23.  Rc2 Qb4) 22... Nxd5 23. Bxc4 Be6 24. Rfd1 {?} 24... Nxe3 {(oops)} 25. Qxe3 Bxc4  26. h4 Re8 27. Qg3 Qe7 28. b3 Be6 29. f4 g4 30. h5 Qc5+ 31. Rf2 Bf5 0-1   [Event "3rd system: Stonewall Dutch"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "1946.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "steiner"]  [Black "botvinnik"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A90"]  [PlyCount "56"]  [EventDate "1946.??.??"]   1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bb4+ (4... d5 {At its crudest, Black is  playing for a King's-side attack. T. This system is easier for Black to play  than for White, I often think. You know where you're heading and your pieces  often come to the same squares. In fact, the biggest problem is getting to  play it - lots of White 1.d4 players will avoid the main lines of the Dutch  with some wretched gambit or other.}) 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Nf3 d5 7. Nc3 c6 8. O-O  8... O-O {Black's Bishop on c8 is blocked in by the pawns. Black used to get  the bad Bishop around to h4 by Bd7-e8-h4... These days, we often park it on b7  T, thinking that the Bg2 also has no squares to speak of.} 9. Bf4 Qe8 10. Qc2  Qh5 11. Rae1 Nbd7 12. Nd2 {  Aiming at e4, but too slowly. Another plan is to attack c6 with the b-pawn.}  12... g5 13. Bc7 Ne8 14. Be5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 15... f4 {  Black's plans are well-advanced; e4 will now be answered by ..f3} 16. gxf4 gxf4  17. Nf3 Kh8 18. Kh1 Ng7 19. Qc1 Bd7 20. a3 Rf7 21. b4 21... Rg8 {   making use of the open g-file} 22. Rg1 Nf5 23. Nd1 23... Rfg7 {   Black has a winning position} 24. Qxf4 Rg4 25. Qd2 Nh4 26. Ne3 Nxf3 27. exf3  Rh4 28. Nf1 28... Bg5 { if the Q moves, ...Bf4 forces mate} 0-1

Playing Black against 1.e4

Posted on September 28, 1996 by DrDave

An Exeter Junior Chess Club booklet

Edition 2., December, 99

Bibliography:

Kasparov/Keene, Batsford Chess Openings

Levy/Keene, An Opening Repertoire for the Attacking Club
Player

Walker, Chess Openings for Juniors

Various magazines and other books

I. Introduction

I.A.

II. Analysis

III. Less usual tries for White

III.A. The Vienna Opening, 2. Nc3

III.A.1. Vienna Gambit, 3. f4

III.A.2. Vienna Game with 3. g3

III.A.3. Vienna Game with 3. Bc4

III.B. Bishop’s opening, 2. Bc4

III.C. The King’s Gambit, 2. f4

III.C.1. King’s Bishop’s Gambit, 3. Bc4

III.C.2. King’s Knight’s Gambit, 3. Nf3

III.D. Centre Game & Danish Gambit, 2. d4

III.D.1. Centre Game, 3. Qxd4

III.D.2. Danish Gambit, 3. c3

IV. White plays 2. Nf3

IV.A. .. Nc6

IV.B. Ruy Lopez, 3. Bb5

IV.B.1. The Exchange variation 4. Bxc6

IV.B.1.a) Old main line 5. d4

IV.B.1.b) Barendregt line 5. O-O

IV.B.2. Lopez Four Knights’ Variation, 5. Nc3

IV.B.3. The Andersson-Steinitz line, 5. d3

IV.B.4. Open Morphy Variation with 5… Nxe4

IV.B.5. Cordel Defence 3…Bc5

IV.B.6. An alternative to the Open Morphy: Archangel Variation
with 5…b5

IV.B.6.a) Archangel with 7. d4

IV.B.6.b) Archangel with 7. c3

IV.B.6.c) Main line Archangel with 7. Re1

IV.C. 3. d4 Scotch Game and gambits

IV.C.1. Scotch Game with 5. Be3

IV.C.2. Scotch Game with 5. Nb3

IV.C.3. Scotch And Goring Gambits

IV.D. 3. Bc4

IV.E. Two Knight’s Defence, 3… Nf6

IV.E.1. The Max Lange Attack 4. d4

IV.E.1.a) Max Lange with 5… Nxe4

IV.E.1.a)(1) Sacrificial 7. Nc3

IV.E.1.a)(2) Tricky 7. Bxd5

IV.E.1.b) Max Lange with 5… Bc5

IV.E.2. Main line Two Knights’ with 4. Ng5

IV.E.3. Closed variation with 4. d3

IV.E.4. Two Knights’ with 4. Nc3

V. Example Games

V.A. Max Lange Attack

V.A.1. Euwe – Reti (Amsterdam) 1920

V.A.2. Estrin – Riskin (Moscow) 1963

V.B. Main Line Two Knights’ Defence

V.B.1. Bibikov – Neishtadt (USSR) 1946

V.B.2. Hoffer-Unknown, 1913

V.C. Wilkes-Barre Variation

V.C.1. Neikirch – Halir (Corr) 1969

V.C.2. Estrin-Zaitsev, 1969

V.C.3. Estrin-Weiss,1972

V.C.4. Kunz-Hentzgen, Corr.1973

V.C.5. Wirtz – Fahnenschmidt (Marburg) 1955

V.C.6. Neikirch-Halir 1969

I. Introduction

The two general opening rules are:

Rule 1: Develop as fast and as actively as you
can

Rule 2: Get a stake in the centre, and try to stop your
opponent

What does this mean in the e-pawn openings?

Plan A for White:

try and build a big centre with c3,d4 etc.

try and destroy Black’s hold in the centre with f4 or
d4

You can see that the move d4 may do both: after …exd4, cxd4
Black’s centre pawn has disappeared and White has the perfect pawn
centre. This is the worst case for Black

Plan A for Black:

Rule 1: develop as fast as you can

Rule 2: try to hang on to your own stake in the centre,
or at least make sure you destroy White’s as well.

Both sides may be able to maintain the e-pawn centre with pawns
on e4/e5, or these may disappear and both sides have a central
d-pawn (d4/d5). Lastly, all four central pawns may vanish. In each
case Black should have equal play.

if White doesn’t do much, grab as much of the centre as
you can

Again, the move …d5 often forms part of Black’s plans. If
Black can play this in safety, you will usually have equalised at
least.

With or without the d-pawns the natural break is f4/…f5, and
either side can hope to plant a Knight on f4/f5.

The open e-file usually means exchanges of the heavy pieces,
as
neither side can afford to abandon control of the file. The right
square to plonk a Knight is e4/e5

With both files open exchanges are likely, and unless one side
can seize the centre by force, or has the two bishops, play is
drawish.

So, let’s have a look at some variations.

I.A.

II. Analysis

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3

The commonest and probably the best move here, but there are
alternatives. We divide this booklet into:

White plays 2. Nf3

Less usual tries for White

III. Less usual tries for
White

III.A. The Vienna Opening,
2. Nc3

This old move is not bad: it threatens nothing but holds up
Black’s …d5, and leaves open the possibility of 3. f4. How should
Black reply?

2… Nf6

This is Rule 1: develop as fast and as actively as you can

White has several choices here: 3. f4, 3. Bc4 and 3. g3 are
common

III.A.1. Vienna Gambit, 3.
f4

3… d5

And this is Rule 2: keep hold of your share of the centre, or
hit back with …d5. [The move 3…d6 looks half-right, but blocks
in the Bf8 and gives up on playing …d5. 3…d5 is all right.]

Now you should get an equal game, although, as always, you must
be careful.

4. fxe5

[4. exd5 exf4 5. d4 Bd6 6. Qe2+ Kf8! Inkiov-Pinter, 1982.
BCO2 give this as a slight edge to Black]

4… Nxe4

5. d3

[Natural development by 5. Nf3 Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Bd3 f5 8.
exf6 Bxf6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Ne2 Bf5 11. c3 Qd7 12. Bf4 Rae8 leads to a
level d-pawn type of centre

Now after 5. d3 Black can simplify carefully and gain
equality:

5… Nxc3 6. bxc3 d4

6…Be7 is more solid-looking, perhaps

7. Nf3 Nc6 8. cxd4 Nxd4

[Instead 8… Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Nxd4 11. c3 Nxf3+
12. gxf3 Qh4+ 13. Qf2 Qxf2+ 14. Kxf2 f6 is level:

]

9. c3 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 c6 11. d4 Qh4+ 12. g3 Qg4 13. Bg2
Qxf3 14. Bxf3 Be6

with a level endgame; not much chance for Black to win in this
line I’m afraid.

III.A.2.

Vienna Game with 3. g3

This line was fashionable amongst masters a few years ago. White
isn’t doing much, so just follow rules one and two: first
develop:

3… Bc5 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d3 Re8

Then hit back with …d5.

6. Nge2 c6 7. O-O d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Kh1 Bg4
=

with a level game, as in Portisch-Toran 1961.

III.A.3. Vienna Game with 3.
Bc4

If White plays this I recommend you reply

3… Nc6

[There is an exciting line 3… Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5.
Bb3

when Black can survive with … Be7, but I don’t think you
should let White get into this line]

4. d3 Bb4 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O Bxc3 7. bxc3 Na5

[Fritz reckons you should play 7… h6]

8. Bb3 Nxb3 9. cxb3

When play is level.

III.B. Bishop’s opening, 2.
Bc4

This became fashionable as a way of avoiding the Petroff. The
right move is:

2… Nf6

Now White’s most common move is:

3. d3

[The line 3. d4 exd4 4. Nf3 is the dangerous Urusoff Gambit
4…Nxe4 when 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 8. O-O-O d5 9. Rhe1
Be6 leads to a strong attacking game for White

Simply 4… Nc6 5. O-O transposes to the Two Knights’ lines
below]

3… Nc6 4. Nf3

This transposes to a quiet line of the Italian ( Giuoco
Piano/Two Knights’ ) group of openings

[4. f4 is the only attempt to be original, but is a poor
version of the King’s Gambit where White has been committed to
d2-d3. One line might go:

4…exf4 5. e5 d5 6. exf6 dxc4 7. fxg7 Bxg7 8. Bxf4 cxd3 9.
cxd3 Qe7+ 10. Ne2 Bxb2, when White is in all sorts of
trouble]

4… Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3

Having developed quickly, you are now ready for:

6…d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3

Now, the book line goes:

9… Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5,

when BCO2 gives:

12…Nb6!=

Dolmatov-Chekhov, 1981.

This is a move Gary Lane ignores in his popular book.

But Lane does suggest the magnificent mess starting:

9… Bxf3

e.g.

10. Qxf3 Nd4 11. Qxd5

Qxd5 12. Bxd5 Nxc2

If you prefer this sort of game, this is a nice try.

III.C. The King’s Gambit,
2. f4

Emanuel Lasker, world champion after Steinitz, said that gambit
pawns should always be taken if you haven’t broken any opening
rules. He adds, you take them, not to hang on to them, but to make
your opponent waste time and energy getting the pawn back.
Meanwhile, you can develop and prepare to hit back.

This is good advice, but just as in the Vienna Gambit, we will
also look quickly at a line with …d5.

2… d5 3. exd5

Now you can try the relatively unanalysed 3…c6

3…c6

The Nimzovitch counter-gambit; 3…e4 is the old Falkbeer
counter-gambit. Either way you get a good gambit line of your own
against the King’s Gambit. But Lasker would undoubtedly play:

2… exf4

Now White has two main ways of continuing:

(a) King’s Bishop’s Gambit, 3. Bc4

(b) King’s Knight’s Gambit, 3. Nf3

III.C.1. King’s Bishop’s
Gambit, 3. Bc4

Black can play simply

3… Nf6 (Rule 1)

4. Nc3 c6 (Rule 2)

with good chances.

III.C.2. King’s Knight’s
Gambit, 3. Nf3

I have always liked

3… Be7

This Cunningham Variation reinforces the ancient weakness on the
e1-h4 diagonal, and covers the e-file.

4. Bc4

Now 4…Bh4+ is a fair try, but it’s easier to go

4…Nf6 5. e5

Alternatives include

[5. Nc3 c6]

[5. O-O d5]

but these should cause you no trouble. After 5. e5

5… Ng4 6. O-O d6

Black has an equal game.

III.D. Centre Game & Danish Gambit, 2.
d4

Don’t mess around, just play

2… exd4

Now White has a choice:

(a) Centre Game, 3. Qxd4

(b) Danish Gambit, 3. c3

or White can try to transpose into the Scotch with 3. Nf3.

III.D.1. Centre Game, 3.
Qxd4

This exposes the Q to attack, when it is hard to find a good
retreat.

3… Nc6 4. Qe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7

[or 5… Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 8. Bc4 d6 9. f3 Na5 10.
Bb3 Be6 =+

with slight advantage to Black, according to BCO2]

6. Bd2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 Qxd5

Black is ahead in development, which makes the opposite-side
castling difficult to play for White. The game is equal.

III.D.2. Danish Gambit, 3.
c3

3… dxc3 (Lasker!)

[Although 3… Qe7 is an interesting way of
declining]

Now 4. Nxc3 is a sort of ‘half-Danish’, and is likely to
transpose to the Goring Gambit, dealt with under the Scotch Game
section below. The Danish proper is:

4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2

When White has a genuinely dangerous lead in development.
Correct technique here is to return some of the material to get
your own development back on track.

5… d5 6. Bxd5 Bb4+

[or 6… Nf6 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qxd8 Bb4+ 9. Qd2 Bxd2+ 10.
Nxd2

is a level ending with rival majorities, and is as good try to
win as any for Black.]

7. Nc3 Nf6

when Black has good chances of an advantage – either securing
the two bishops in an open position, or developing quickly and then
keeping the pawn. If you find yourself as Black thinking about odd
or cramped moves just to try and hang on to the pawn, my advice is:
let it go.

IV. White plays 2.
Nf3

The best reply, is, of course:

IV.A. ..
Nc6

White has a few different tries here, the main ones being

3. Bb5, the Ruy Lopez

3. d4, the Scotch Game

3. Bc4, the Italian game which can lead to the Giuoco Piano.
Here I recommend the Two Knights’ Defence.

IV.B. Ruy Lopez, 3.
Bb5

This is the most important move at master level. The ‘Spanish
torture’ (Ruy Lopez was a Spanish priest) is the main winning
weapon for White and has held centre stage for hundreds of years.
At junior level, though, there are a few ways to play it, depending
on how much you trust your opponent to play lines you like. John
Walker recommends the exciting Open Morphy Defence with 5…Nxe4,
but White can veer off into some really dull lines on moves 4 and
5, and if anything your two moves tempt White to play a dull line.
The Open Morphy is very well known and hard to play for both sides,
so I’ll throw in one more alternative: the Archangel Variation. See
what you think for yourself.

My own recommendation is the old Cordel Defence with

3… Bc5

Bobby Fischer played this a few times in the ‘sixties, and never
had any trouble reaching a level game. It avoids any trouble you
may have with the Exchange Variation and Lopez Four Knights’ lines
below. Let’s look at how you can try and get into the Open Morphy
lines, and perhaps then you can will see why I started looking at
the Cordel line.

To get into the Open Morphy line you play

3… a6

hoping for

4. Ba4

White has an important alternative here, which might be played
just out of nerves.

IV.B.1. The Exchange variation
4. Bxc6

After

4. Bxc6 dxc6

White can play either the old main line

(a) 5. d4

or the Barendregt line

(b) 5. O-O

The move 5.Nxe5 is met by 5…Qd4, regaining the pawn.

IV.B.1.a) Old main line 5. d4

White is going for the better ending with this move; the hope is
that all the pieces will come off, when White can create a passed
pawn on the K-side with f4-f5 and e4-e5-e6 while your Q-side
majority is crippled. So Black should avoid too many exchanges and
play very actively, using the two bishops and open lines.

5… exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 c5 8. Nf3
Bg4

with equal chances.

IV.B.1.b) Barendregt line 5.
O-O

Bobby Fischer revived this in the ‘seventies, and it is still
being tried.

What should you do? The book line is roughly equal after

5… f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 c5 8. Nb3 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bg4 10. f3
Be6 11. Bf4 c4 12. Nd4 O-O-O 13. Nc3 Bf7 14. Nf5 Rxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Ne7
16. Ne3 Ng6 17. Bg3 Bc5 18. Kf2 Rd8 =/+=

(Vitolins-Romanishin 84) with at most a small advantage for
White.

But I reckon at junior level the line

5…Bg4

is worth a punt:

6. h3 h5!

Now

7. hxg4 hxg4 8. Nxe5 Qh4 9. f4 g3

leads to mate.

So White should play either

7. c3

with a probable draw after

7…Qd3 8. Re1

[8. hxg4 hxg4 9. Nxe5 Bd6 10. Nxd3 Bh2+ 11. Kh1 Bg3+ 12. Kg1
Bh2+ drawn

8… Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qxf3 10. gxf3 O-O-O 11. Kf1 Be7 12.
Ke2 Bg5 13. Na3 Ne7 14. Rg1 Bh6 15. Nc4 f6 16. h4 c5 17.
d3

Or, the best line,

7. d3

White can get a small advantage here I think, but has to play
lots of good moves.

7… Qf6 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4 Bd6 11. hxg4 hxg4
12. Nh2 Rxh2 13. Qxg4 Qh4 14. Qxh4 Rxh4 15. Nf3 Rh5 16.
dxe5

[16. c3 f6 17. Be3 += bco2]

16… Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. c3 g5 19. Be3
g4

]

If White plays the main line with 4. Ba4,

we continue to steer for the Open Morphy with

4… Nf6

hoping for

5. O-O

Sadly, White has several alternatives here, and if all your
opponent knows about the Ruy Lopez ends after the third move, you
may well startle White into playing one of these lines:

5. Nc3 Lopez Four Knights

5. d3 Andersson-Steinitz

There is also

[5. Qe2

which is no problem, but it does stop you playing your
intended 5…Nxe4. Instead 5…Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. b3 Bd6 8. Bb2
Qe7 9. d3 =

9… Bg4 10. Nbd2 O-O-O is simply level]

IV.B.2. Lopez Four Knights’
Variation, 5. Nc3

5. Nc3

Now …d5 is difficult, but White has little chance of
advantage.

5…b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. d3

[7. a4 is more risky: 7…b4 8. Nd5 Nxe4

when Black may have the edge.]

7… d6 8. Nd5 Na5 =

with equality: BCO2.

IV.B.3. The Andersson-Steinitz line, 5.
d3

White intend to play slowly. There’s not much you can do but
trot out the usual recipe: develop and play …d5. This should lead
to level play.

5. d3 d6 6. c3 Be7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Nf1 b5 9.
Bc2

[9. Bb3 d5 10. Qe2 Be6]

9… d5 10. Qe2 Re8

with equality.

After 5. O-O we can at last enter the

IV.B.4. Open Morphy Variation
with 5… Nxe4

The main line of the Open Morphy variation goes:

6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5

When Black has superb development, although may look a little
loose. The Open variation has been a great favourite of fighting
players like Euwe and Korchnoi.

10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2

Now you might even consider the Dilworth line:

11… Nxf2 12. Rxf2 f6 13. exf6 Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2
Qxf6

Botvinnik has tried this, although it is clearly risky to give
up a piece in such an apparently equal position.

There are many alternatives in the Open Morphy at each point for
both players, so I have only indicated some of the outlines above.
Look in books like BCO2 for more information. Or, if the number of
variations you see in the books frightens you, please consider the
Archangel Variation

5… b5 6. Bb3 Bb7

which I discuss below.

But I have a feeling that most White junior players won’t let
you play these lines, and instead will veer off with the
natural-looking Exchange or Four Knights’ lines.

IV.B.5. Cordel Defence
3…Bc5

Having seen the number of ways White can shoot off into odd
lines, you can see why I would like to recommend the Cordel
variation. After

3…Bc5

White’s best try is

4. c3

[or 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 Bb6 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5
9. Re1+ Be6 = Evans-Fischer 1960]

Now the only lines I could find in BCO2 started

4… f5

…with White getting the advantage after

5. d4 fxe4 and

5. exf5 e4.

But Fischer’s treatment was more simple: e.g.

4… Nge7 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2
a6 9. Ba4 d5 10. exd5 Qxd5 11. Nc3 Qe6+ 12. Kf1 Qc4+ 13. Kg1 O-O
14. d5 Na7 15. Re1

15… Nf5

[or 15… Ng6]

which was soon drawn: Tal-Fischer, 1960.

Fischer also had several games with the bolder line

4… Nf6

For example

5. d4 exd4

[5… Bb6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 exd4 8. cxd4 d5 9. e5
Ne4

drawn shortly, Unzicker-Fischer 60]

6. e5 Ne4 7. O-O

[7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Nbxd2 O-O 10. O-O a6 11. Ba4 d6
= Jimenez-Fischer 60]

7… d5 8. Nxd4 O-O 9. f3 Ng5 10. Bxc6 bxc6

drawn Gligoric-Fischer 60.

So on this evidence, the Cordel Defence is a simple way to get
your pieces out against players who you don’t trust to enter the
main lines.

IV.B.6. An alternative to the
Open Morphy: Archangel Variation with 5…b5

5… b5 6. Bb3 Bb7

Now the best line is (c) 7. Re1, but White has been tempted to
go for a quick break with either

(a) 7. d4 or

(b) 7. c3 and 8. d4

IV.B.6.a) Archangel with 7. d4

7. d4

This is nothing to be scared of.

7… Nxd4 8. Nxd4 exd4 9. e5 Ne4 10. c3 dxc3 11.
Qf3

This looks awkward, but Black can survive happily.

11…d5 12. exd6 Qf6 13. d7+ Kd8!

14. Qxf6+ Nxf6 15. Nxc3 Kxd7 16. Bf4 =

With equality, accoring to Vlastimil Hort.

IV.B.6.b) Archangel with 7. c3

This is more patient but not stronger.

7. c3

Black can now make a mess with

7…Nxe4 8. d4 Na5 9. Bc2 exd4 10. b4 Nc4 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12.
Re1 d5 13. Nxd4 Bd6

14. f3 Qh4 15. h3 Qg3 16. Nf5 Qh2+ 17. Kf2 O-O-O 18. fxe4
dxe4 19. Qg4 Kb8 20. Qxe4 Rhe8

Black is doing fine here.

IV.B.6.c) Main line Archangel with 7.
Re1

7. Re1 Bc5

White now plays his Plan A

8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6

Black is solid and well-developed, as in many lines of the
Lopez, but here has posted the bishops on much more active squares,
pointing at the White King. Black can play very actively now,
castling Queen’s side and hammering down the other wing.

10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 Qd7 12. a4 O-O-O 13. axb5
axb5

14. Bxf6

This is the strongest line:

[14. Na3 g5 15. Bg3 h5 16. dxe5

[16. h4 was essential: 16…gxh4 17. Bxh4 Rh6 18. Nxb5 Rg8
19. Qd3 exd4 20. cxd4 Nb4 and Black is still spuddling away
well]

16… h4 17. exf6 hxg3 18. hxg3 g4 19. Nd4 Rh7 20. Bd5
Rdh8=+

with an edge for Black, according to BCO2]

14… gxf6

Now White does best to try and keep things under wraps with

15. Bd5

But Black can give White some nervous moments with:

15…Rhg8 16. Kh1 Qg4 17. Rg1 exd4 18. cxd4 f5 19. Nc3
fxe4 20. Nxe4 Qf5 21. Nc3 Nb4 22. Bxb7+ Kxb7=

Klovans-Shirov 87: equal, accoring to BCO2

IV.C. 3. d4 Scotch Game and
gambits

The old (1826) Scotch Game is

3… exd4 4. Nxd4

People have recently found some new ideas in lines that had been
abandoned, but I think interest is waning again as these ideas
become better known. The natural move is

4…Bc5

when White has two natural moves: 5. Nb3 and 5. Be3, although
you must also consider 5. Nxc6 (and I have even seen 5. Nf5!?)

[If 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 Ne7 7. O-O d5 should hold, but more
accurate 5…Qf6! 6. Qe2 bxc6 7. Nc3 Ne7=]

IV.C.1. Scotch Game with 5.
Be3

5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4

White has tried many moves in this position, but this Icelandic
line is the most current.

[One alternative being 7. g3 d5 8. Bg2 dxe4 9. Nb5

[or 9. Nd2 Bb6 10. Nxe4 Qg6 11. O-O Bg4 12. Qa4 O-O 13. Nc5
Ne5 14. Bf4 Bxc5 15. Bxe5 c6+=

with only a small advantage to White, according to Gary
Lane]

9… Bxe3 10. Nxc7+ Kf8 11. fxe3 Rb8 12. Nd5 Qg5 13. Nf4 Qc5
14. O-O g5 15. Nh5 Be6

Klovan-Romanishin 74, with complications avouring black
(Lane)

After 7. Bc4 the equaliser used to be 7…Ne5 8. Be2 and
8…d6/8…Qg6 (see BCO2), but that has started to creak.

Will Black succeed in reiforcing the line? Karpov has still
happily played 8…Qg6 9. O-O d6 10. f3! O-O 11. Nd2 d5!? and
perhaps that is OK.

7… O-O 8. O-O Bb6 9. Nc2

[or 9. Na3 Nxd4 10. cxd4 d5 11. exd5 Rd8 12. Qh5 h6
13.

Rfe1 Bf5 14. Qf3 Rd7 15. Nb5 Rad8

unclear/equal, Chandler-Short 91]

[White could also try 9. Bb3 Na5 10. Bc2 Nc4 11. Bc1 d5 12.
exd5 Bxd4 13. cxd4 Bf5 14. Nc3 Bxc2 15. Qxc2 Nb6 16. Qe4 Qd6 17.
Bf4 Qd7 18. d6 cxd6 19. a4 Rfe8 20. Qf3 Nc6 21. Rfd1 Rad8
=/+=

Polgar-Zuniga 92

9. Nc2 d6 10. Bxb6 axb6 11. f4

Now

11…Be6 12. Nd2 Bxc4 13. Nxc4 Qe6

leaves White with a small space advantage. In the game
Kasparov-Short (Linares 1991) Black tried

11…g5!? 12. f5 Ne5 13. Be2 Bd7 14. c4

when

14…Ba4! 15. b3 Bc6

would have been the best line.

IV.C.2. Scotch Game with 5.
Nb3

You must retreat with

5… Bb6

Now White usually chases the Bishop with

6. a4 a6

Gary Lane reckons this gives White good chances, but one move
order he doesn’t consider is

7. Nc3 Nge7 8. Bg5 f6!

Now

9. Bh4 O-O

and now

10. Bc4+ Kh8 11. Qd2 d6 12. f4 Ng6 13. Bg3 Na5 =+
Rodriguez-Unzicker, 1970

10. Qd2 d6 11. a5 Ba7 12. O-O-O Be6 13. Nd5 Bxd5! (an
improvement on an old Hort-Portisch game) 14. exd5 Ne5 15. Nd4 Bxd4
16. Qxd4 Nf5 17. Qe4 Nxh4 18. Qxh4 f5=

and according to ChessBase , Black has
achieved a pleasant equality.

IV.C.3. Scotch And Goring Gambits

After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 White may try

4. c3

[4. Bc4 leads to lines of the Italian Game, below]

Black can equalise with

4… d5

[The old recommendation 4… d3 5. Bxd3 d6

is OK after 6. h3 g6 7. Bg5 Nf6 8. Nbd2 Bg7 9. Nd4 O-O 10.
Nxc6 bxc6 11. f4 Rb8 12. O-O Qe8 = Raaste-Westerinen, 1979, but
leads to a less east time after

6. Bf4 Be7 7. h3 Nf6 8. Nbd2 Bd7 9. Qc2 += BCO2]

5. exd5 Qxd5 6. cxd4 Bg4 7. Be2 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3
Qc4

10. Qb3

Neither [10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Qe2+ Qxe2+ 12. Kxe2 O-O-O 13.
Be3 Ne7=]

[Nor 10. Be3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 Qc4+ 13. Kg1 Nge7
14. Rc1 Qxa2 15. Ra1 Qc4 16. Rc1 (drawn here marshall-capablanca,
1926) 16… Qa2 17. Ra1 Qc4 18. Rc1 Qb4

-+ Bryson-Flear, Edinburgh 1985, are any good for
White]

10… Qxb3 11. axb3 Nge7 12. O-O a6 =

with equality, Ljubojevic-Ree, 72.

Lastly, but most importantly, we must consider how you should
reply to:

IV.D. 3.
Bc4

You can defend the Giuoco Piano, which is OK, except you cannot
rely on White to play an interesting open game. The best way to get
a good game going is:

IV.E. Two Knight’s Defence,
3… Nf6

White has several tries here:

(a) Max Lange Attack with 4. d4

(b) Main line Two Knights’ with 4. Ng5

(d) Variation with 4. Nc3

IV.E.1. The Max Lange Attack 4.
d4

After 4. d4 Black must reply:

4… exd4

The alternatives are unattractive:

[4… Nxe4 5. dxe5 Nc5 else Qd5 6. O-O Be7 7. Nc3+-

]

[4… Nxd4 5. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. Nxe5+ Ke8 7. Qxd4+-]

[4… d6 5. Ng5 Nxe4

[not 5… Be6 6. d5]

6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Bb3 +-]

Now

5. O-O

[5. e5 is no worry

5… d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O Be7 10.
f3 Nc5 11. f4 Ne4 12. f5 Bc5 13. e6 fxe6 14. fxe6 Bxe6 15. Qh5+ Kd7
16. Be3 Qe7

when Black is quite OK]

Black now has a choice:

(a) Max Lange with 5… Nxe4

(b) Max Lange with 5… Bc5

I include analysis of both lines in case you fancy playing this
as White.

IV.E.1.a) Max Lange with 5…
Nxe4

This is the most complex line.

6. Re1 d5

Now White has two important attacking alternatives:

Sacrificial 7. Nc3

Tricky 7. Bxd5

Although, both lines are tricky and sacrificial!

IV.E.1.a)(1) Sacrificial 7.
Nc3

7. Nc3 dxc3

[or 7… dxc4 8. Rxe4+ Be7 9. Nxd4 f5 10. Rf4 O-O 11. Nxc6
Qxd1+ 12. Nxd1 bxc6 13. Rxc4 Bd6 14. Nc3 =

Botvinnik]

8. Bxd5 Be6

[8… Bf5 9. Bxe4 Bxe4 10. Rxe4+ Be7 = BCO ]

9. Bxe4 Bb4 10. b3 Qxd1 11. Rxd1

11… Rd8 12. Be3 a6

Black has an extra pawn which is hard to keep and harder to make
use of. The storm has blown itself out.

So let’s look at the alternative

IV.E.1.a)(2) Tricky 7.
Bxd5

7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3

Another surprising Knight move. This is a terribly well-analysed
position, so whoever knows most about it should win. One line
goes:

8… Qa5

[8… Qh5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bg5]

9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Neg5 O-O-O 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Rxe6
Bd6

[or 12… Qf5 13. Qe2 h6 14. Bd2 Qxc2 = Bogolyubov]

13. Qe2 Qh5 14. h3 Rde8 15. Bd2 Ne5

And again White’s attack has blown out.

IV.E.1.b) Max Lange with 5…
Bc5

5…Bc5

6. e5

Black has only one good move here:

6…d5

To see why:

[6… Ng4 7. Bf4 O-O 8. h3 Nh6 9. Bxh6 gxh6 10. c3
+-

+-]

[6… Ne4 7. Bd5 f5 8. exf6 Nxf6 9. Bg5 +-

+-]

Now the main line of analysis goes:

7. exf6 dxc4 8. Re1+ Be6 9. Ng5 Qd5 10. Nc3 Qf5 11. Nce4
O-O-O

This is exciting stuff! White has a strong K-side attack and
control of the e-file. But Black has an extra pawn, good central
hold and has sent the King off into safer territory. Black can even
think about a K-side counter-attack. For example:

12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. fxg7 Rhg8 14. Bg5 Rd7 15. Nf6 Qxg5 16.
Nxd7 Rxg7

and White has run out of steam…

Now, you can research this lot for yourselves, but there’s a lot
to it. For example, if you check this line in the Levy/Keene book,
they give 12. g4!

They also say Black’s 8…Be6 is ” more or less forced,
since on 8…Kh8 comes 9. Bg5 cxb2 10. Bh6+ Kg8 11. Nc3! with a
tremendous game for the pawn… e.g. … 11…Bf8 12. Bxf8 Kxf8 13.
Ne4 followed by 14. Qd2 with clear advantage to White .”
Whereas, if you look in BCO2, you find ” 8…Kh8 9. Bg5 cxb2
10. Bh6+ Kg8 11. Nc3 f8 12. Bxf8 Kxf8 13. Ne4 f5 =+ ” – that
is, advantage to Black, and instead White can only hope for
equality after 12. Nxd4 Bxh6!. So I don’t know how many recent
books you need, although Andrew Soltis (who seems to be going for
the world record of chess books published) has written a repertoire
book from White’s point of view about the Moller and the Max
Lange.

IV.E.2. Main line Two Knights’
with 4. Ng5

The main line, which I recommend, goes:

4… d5

But there is an alternative: the Wilkes-Barre variation or
Traxler Counterattack.

[4… Bc5

This is wild and exciting chess, although I have a nasty
suspicion that White can just play safe with

5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bb3 Rf8 7. O-O d6 8. Nc3

when I don’t see how Black can justify both the pawn deficit
and poor King position.

But it’s worth a look, and I include some examples in the
games section. Even if you don’t ever play the variation, you might
learn from some of the tactical ideas.]

After 4. Ng5 d5, White should try

5. exd5

Now the only right move here is

5… Na5

Although 5…Nb4, 5…Nd4 and 5…Nxd5 have been tried.

[5… Nxd5 can lead to the famous Fried Liver
Attack

6. Nxf7

This is the famous Fried Liver Attack (or Fegatello) After
6… Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3 Nce7 9. d4 c6

We can only say the position is unclear!

But White can actually play the simple 6. d4

with the better game, and when Nxf7 is a real
threat]

After 5…Na5, play usually goes

6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6

When there are two well-known gambit lines

(a) 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. f4 exf3 12. Nxf3
O-O

and

(b) 8. Qf3 Rb8 9. Bxc6+ Nxc6 10. Qxc6+ Nd7

I enclose a game in each line below.

IV.E.3. Closed variation with
4. d3

4… d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O f6 is one time when the Rule 2 shoud
perhaps be broken, as Re1 to follow is uncomfortable, although I
don’t know if Black is in any great danger.

4…Bc5 of course returns you to the Giuoco Pianissimo
(spit).

And another safe line is 4… Be7.

But the alternative

4… h6

is quite OK. The idea is: in the slow Closed Morphy Variation
(5…Be7) of the Ruy Lopez, Black often re-organises with …O-O,
…Rfe8, …Bf8, …g6 and …Bg7. Now with 4. d3, White has said
that they plan to play it slow, so you might as well put the B on
g7 straight away. 4…g6 loses to 5. Ng5, so you play 4…h6 first.
The only way to take advantage of this apparent waste of time is to
break open the centre with d3-d4, but this is also a loss of time
(d2-d3 then d3-d4), and Black can adjust.

5. O-O

[or 5. Nc3 d6 6. a3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Qd2 Kh7 10.
g4 Nd7 11. Rg1 Nb6

= Spassky-Belyavsky 82 12. g5 Nxc4 13. dxc4 h5]

5… d6 6. c3 g6 7. d4 Qe7 8. Nbd2 Bg7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3
Bd7 11. Nf1 Rae8 =

Nunn-Spassky 82

with equality, BCO2

IV.E.4. Two Knights’ with 4. Nc3

4… Nxe4 5. Nxe4

[5. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. Nxe4 d5 7. Neg5+ Kg8, when Black has the
advantage in the centre]

[5. O-O

Boden-Kieseritsky Gambit 5… Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7, when you
have no weaknesses but must defend solidly for a while. If you
don’t fancy this you can always try the plan 4…Be7, 5…O-O and
6…Na5]

5… d5 6. Bd3 dxe4 7.

Bxe4 Bd6

with equality.

V. Example
Games

V.A. Max Lange
Attack

V.A.1. Euwe – Reti (Amsterdam)
1920

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5
7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qa5 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 f5 11. Bg5 Qc5

12. Qd8+ Kf7 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Rad1 Bd6 15. Qxh8 Qxg5
16. f4 Qh4 17.

Rxe4

17… Bh3 18. Qxa8 Bc5+ 19. Kh1 Bxg2+ 20. Kxg2
Qg4+

21. Kf1 Qf3+ 22. Ke1 Qf2#

0-1

V.A.2. Estrin – Riskin (Moscow)
1963

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5
7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qa5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bd2 Qf5 11. Bg5

11… h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 gxh4 15. Nf6+
Ke7 16. Nd5+

1-0

V.B. Main Line Two Knights’
Defence

V.B.1. Bibikov – Neishtadt
(USSR) 1946

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6
7. dxc6 bxc6

8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. f4 exf3 12. Nxf3 Qc7
13. d4 Ng4

4. c3
Bxh2 15. xh2 g3
16. d2 c4
17. Bxc4 e3

V.B.2. Hoffer-Unknown,
1913

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6
7. dxc6 bxc6

8. Qf3

Black chooses an unusual reply which goes badly wrong.

8… Qb6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. d3 h6 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Nd5 Nxd5
13. Qxf7+ Kd8

14. Qxd5+ cxd5 15. Nf7#

V.C. Wilkes-Barre
Variation N WARNING N

These games contain uncut scenes of chess violence. Do not play
through them late at night, or in the presence of sensitive
adults.

V.C.1. Neikirch – Halir (Corr)
1969

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2
Nxe4+

7. Kg1

7… Qh4 8. g3 Nxg3

9. Nxh8 d5 10. Bxd5 Bh3 11. c3 Nd4 12. Bf3 O-O-O 13. Nf7
Rf8

0-1

V.C.2. Estrin-Zaitsev, 1969

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5

5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bd5

6… d6 7. c3 Rf8 8. d4 exd4

9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. O-O dxc3 11. Nxc3 h6

12. Qe2 Bg4 13. Nf3 Nd7 14. h3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 g5 16. Be3
Ne5 17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. Kg2 Rxf3 19. Rh1 Qg8

White resigned, seeing no way to stop the threats of …Raf8 and
…g4, combined with perhaps …c4-c3 and …Nd3. Estrin was world
correspondence champion, and has published a book on the
Wilkes-Barre Variation!

V.C.3. Estrin-Weiss,1972

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bd5
Nb4 7. d4 exd4 8. O-O Nbxd5 9. exd5 Re8 10. Qd3 h6 11. Qg6 hxg5 12.
Qxg7+ Kd6 13. Bxg5 Rf8 14. c4 dxc3 15. Nxc3

Black resigns, for if 15… Bd4 16. Nb5+ Kxd5 17. Nxd4, and the
King will die in the centre of the arena.

V.C.4. Kunz-Hentzgen,
Corr.1973

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kf1
Qe7 7. Nxh8 d5 8. exd5 Bg4 9. Be2 Bxe2+ 10. Qxe2 Nd4 11. Qxf2 O-O-O
12. Ke1 Ne4 13. Qf7 Qh4+ 14. Kf1

14… Qg4

White resigns

V.C.5. Wirtz – Fahnenschmidt
(Marburg) 1955

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5

5. Nxf7 Bxf2+

6. Kxf2 Nxe4+

7. Ke3 Qe7 8. Kxe4 d5+ 9. Bxd5 Qh4+ 10. g4 Bxg4 11.
Bxc6+

11… Bd7+ 12. Ke3 Qd4+ 13. Ke2 bxc6 14. Rg1 Bg4+ 15.
Rxg4 Qxg4+ 16. Ke1 Qh4+ 17. Kf1 O-O 18. Qe2 Rxf7+ 19. Kg1 Raf8 20.
d3 Rf2

White resigns

V.C.6. Neikirch-Halir
1969

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+

6. Kxf2 Nxe4+

7. Kg1 Qh4 8. g3 Nxg3 9. Nxh8 d5 10. Bxd5 Bh3 11. c3 Nd4
12. Bf3 O-O-O

13. Nf7 Rf8

White resigns

ECO opening codes

Posted on September 28, 1996 by DrDave

Notes:

——–

1. checks are not indicated – an ECO quirk

2. I have been sparing with the qualifications (lines
with and without

certain moves) as they are implicit in the classification
anyhow.

3. I have typed all the castling moves with capital ‘O’s
not zeroes (0).

4. Volunteers to proofread take one step forward.

5. English variation names added Spring 1997

Main ECO codes A
B C D E
- Main ECO codes for each class
  - Full ECO codes
A
- A0
  - A00 A01
    A02 A03 A04 A05 A06 A07 A08 A09
- A1
  - A10 A11
    A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 A17 A18 A19
- A2
  - A20 A21
    A22 A23 A24 A25 A26 A27 A28 A29
- A3
  - A30 A31
    A32 A33 A34 A35 A36 A37 A38 A39
- A4
  - A40 A41
    A42 A43 A44 A45 A46 A47 A48 A49
- A5
  - A50 A51
    A52 A53 A54 A55 A56 A57 A58 A59
- A6
  - A60 A61
    A62 A63 A64 A65 A66 A67 A68 A69
- A7
  - A70 A71
    A72 A73 A74 A75 A76 A77 A78 A79
- A8
  - A80 A81
    A82 A83 A84 A85 A86 A87 A88 A89
- A9
  - A90 A91
    A92 A93 A94 A95 A96 A97 A98 A99
B
- B0
  - B00 B01
    B02 B03 B04 B05 B06 B07 B08 B09
- B1
  - B10 B11
    B12 B13 B14 B15 B16 B17 B18 B19
- B2
  - B20 B21
    B22 B23 B24 B25 B26 B27 B28 B29
- B3
  - B30 B31
    B32 B33 B34 B35 B36 B37 B38 B39
- B4
  - B40 B41
    B42 B43 B44 B45 B46 B47 B48 B49
- B5
  - B50 B51
    B52 B53 B54 B55 B56 B57 B58 B59
- B6
  - B60 B61
    B62 B63 B64 B65 B66 B67 B68 B69
- B7
  - B70 B71
    B72 B73 B74 B75 B76 B77 B78 B79
- B8
  - B80 B81
    B82 B83 B84 B85 B86 B87 B88 B89
- B9
  - B90 B91
    B92 B93 B94 B95 B96 B97 B98 B99
C
- C0
  - C00 C01
    C02 C03 C04 C05 C06 C07 C08 C09
- C1
  - C10 C11
    C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19
- C2
  - C20 C21
    C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29
- C3
  - C30 C31
    C32 C33 C34 C35 C36 C37 C38 C39
- C4
  - C40 C41
    C42 C43 C44 C45 C46 C47 C48 C49
- C5
  - C50 C51
    C52 C53 C54 C55 C56 C57 C58 C59
- C6
  - C60 C61
    C62 C63 C64 C65 C66 C67 C68 C69
- C7
  - C70 C71
    C72 C73 C74 C75 C76 C77 C78 C79
- C8
  - C80 C81
    C82 C83 C84 C85 C86 C87 C88 C89
- C9
  - C90 C91
    C92 C93 C94 C95 C96 C97 C98 C99
D
- D0
  - D00 D01
    D02 D03 D04 D05 D06 D07 D08 D09
- D1
  - D10 D11
    D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19
- D2
  - D20 D21
    D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29
- D3
  - D30 D31
    D32 D33 D34 D35 D36 D37 D38 D39
- D4
  - D40 D41
    D42 D43 D44 D45 D46 D47 D48 D49
- D5
  - D50 D51
    D52 D53 D54 D55 D56 D57 D58 D59
- D6
  - D60 D61
    D62 D63 D64 D65 D66 D67 D68 D69
- D7
  - D70 D71
    D72 D73 D74 D75 D76 D77 D78 D79
- D8
  - D80 D81
    D82 D83 D84 D85 D86 D87 D88 D89
- D9
  - D90 D91
    D92 D93 D94 D95 D96 D97 D98 D99
E
- E0
  - E00 E01
    E02 E03 E04 E05 E06 E07 E08 E09
- E1
  - E10 E11
    E12 E13 E14 E15 E16 E17 E18 E19
- E2
  - E20 E21
    E22 E23 E24 E25 E26 E27 E28 E29
- E3
  - E30 E31
    E32 E33 E34 E35 E36 E37 E38 E39
- E4
  - E40 E41
    E42 E43 E44 E45 E46 E47 E48 E49
- E5
  - E50 E51
    E52 E53 E54 E55 E56 E57 E58 E59
- E6
  - E60 E61
    E62 E63 E64 E65 E66 E67 E68 E69
- E7
  - E70 E71
    E72 E73 E74 E75 E76 E77 E78 E79
- E8
  - E80 E81
    E82 E83 E84 E85 E86 E87 E88 E89
- E9
  - E90 E91
    E92 E93 E94 E95 E96 E97 E98 E99

Main ECO codes
A

– 1. R’ 1. e4, 1. d4

Irregular openings.

– 1. d4 R’ 1 …d5, 1… Nf6

Untypical replies to 1.d4

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. R’ 2. c4

Untypical replies to 1…Nf6

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 R’ 2… e6, 2… g6

Untypical Indian systems.

B

– 1. e4 R’ 1… c5, 1… e6, 1… e5

Most Semi-Open Defences

– 1. e4 c5

Sicilian Defence

C

– 1. e4 e6

French defence

– 1. e4 e5

Double King Pawn games

D

– 1. d4 d5

Double Queen Pawn games

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 + d7-d5

Grunfeld Defence

E

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6

Indian systems with …e6

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 ‘ d7-d5

Indian systems with …g6 (except Grunfeld)

Main ECO codes for each class

Full ECO codes

A

– 1. R’ 1. e4, 1. d4

Irregular openings.

– 1. d4 R’ 1 …d5, 1… Nf6

Untypical replies to 1.d4

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. R’ 2. c4 (humongous typo on (c) page!)

Untypical replies to 1…Nf6

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 R’ 2… e6, 2… g6

Untypical Indian systems.

A0

1. R’ 1. e4, 1. d4, 1. c4

Irregular openings.

A00

1. R,

1. g3,

1. b4

Irregular Openings,

Benko Opening,

Sokolsky (Polish Opening)

A01

1. b3

Nimzo-Larsen Attack

A02

1. f4

Bird’s Opening

A03

1. f4 d5

Bird’s Opening

A04

1. Nf3

Reti Opening

A05

1. Nf3 Nf6

Reti Opening with 1…Nf6

A06

1. Nf3 d5

Reti Opening with 1…d5

A07

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3

Reti Opening, Barcza System

A08

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2

Reti Opening, Barcza System

A09

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4

Reti Opening

A1

1. c4

English Opening

A10

1 c4

English Opening

A11

1 c4 c6

English Opening, systems with 1…e6

A12

1 c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3

(Reti Opening)

A13

1 c4 e6

English Opening, systems with 1…e6

A14

1 c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O

(Reti Opening)

A15

1 c4 Nf6

English Opening, systems with 1…Nf6

A16

1 c4 Nf6 2. Nc3

English Opening, systems with 1…Nf6

A17

1 c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6

English Opening, Anglo-Indian

A18

1 c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4

Flohr-Mikenas Variation

A19

1 c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 c5

Flohr-Mikenas Variation

A2

1. c4 e5

English Opening with 1…e5 (King’s English, or Reversed
Sicilian)

A20

1. c4 e5

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian

A21

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian

A22

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian

A23

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c6

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian

A24

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 g6

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian

A25

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian, Closed Systems

A26

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian, Closed Systems

A27

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian, Closed Systems

A28

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian, Four Knights’
Variation

A29

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3

English Opening, Reversed Sicilian, Four Knights’
Variation

A3

1. c4 c5

Symmetrical English

A30

1. c4 c5

Symmetrical English

A31

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4

Symmetrical English, Anti-Benoni

A32

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 e6

Symmetrical English, Anti-Benoni

A33

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 e6 5. Nc3 Nc6

Symmetrical English, Anti-Benoni

A34

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3

Symmetrical English

A35

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6

Symmetrical English, Closed systems

A36

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3

Symmetrical English, Closed systems

A37

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3

Symmetrical English, Closed systems

A38

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf6

Symmetrical English, Closed systems

A39

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. d4

English Opening, Maroczy Bind

A4

1. d4

Queen Pawn games

A40

1. d4

Queen Pawn games

A41

1. d4 d6

Queen Pawn games, systems with 1…d6

A42

1. d4 d6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4

Modern Defence, Averbakh Variation

A43

1. d4 c5

Benoni

A44

1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5

Old Benoni (…g6) or Czech Benoni (…Be7)

A45

1. d4 Nf6

Indian systems

A46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3

Indian systems with 2. Nf3

A47

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6

Indian systems with 2. Nf3

A48

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6

Indian systems with 2. Nf3

A49

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3

Indian systems with 2. Nf3

A5

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4

Indian systems

A50

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4

Indian systems with 2. c4

A51

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5

Budapest Gambit

A52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. de5 Ng4

Budapest Gambit, main line accepted

A53

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6

Old Indian Defence

A54

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3

Old Indian Defence

A55

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. e4

Old Indian Defence

A56

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5

Benoni Defence

A57

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5

Benko Gambit

A58

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cb5 a6 5. ba6

Benko Gambit Accepted

A59

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cb5 a6 5. ba6 Ba6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4

Benko Gambit Accepted, Classical Variation

A6

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6

Modern Benoni

A60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6

Modern Benoni

A61

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6

Modern Benoni

A62

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. g3
Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O

Modern Benoni, Fianchetto Variation

A63

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. g3
Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Nbd7

Modern Benoni, Fianchetto Variation

A64

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. g3
Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Nd2 a6 11. a4 Re8

Modern Benoni, Fianchetto Variation

A65

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4

Modern Benoni, Main Variation

A66

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4

Modern Benoni, Four Pawns (Mikenas) Attack

A67

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7
8. Bb5

Modern Benoni, Bishop Check Variation (Taimanov)

A68

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7
8. Nf3 O-O

Modern Benoni, Four Pawns (Mikenas) Attack

A69

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7
8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Re8

Modern Benoni, Four Pawns (Mikenas) Attack

A7

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3

Modern Benoni, Classical variation

A70

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A71

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A72

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A73

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A74

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O a6

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A75

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. a4 Bg4

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A76

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A77

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A78

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2 Na6

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A79

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 ed5 5. cd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2 Na6 11. f3 Nc7

Modern Benoni, Classical Variation

A8

1. d4 f5

Dutch Defence

A80

1. d4 f5

Dutch Defence

A81

1. d4 f5 2. g3

Dutch Defence

A82

1. d4 f5 2. e4

Dutch Defence, Staunton Gambit

A83

1. d4 f5 2. e4 fe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5

Dutch Defence, Staunton Gambit

A84

1. d4 f5 2. c4

Dutch Defence

A85

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3

Dutch Defence

A86

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3

Dutch Defence

A87

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3

Dutch Defence, Leningrad Variation

A88

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3
c6

Dutch Defence, Leningrad Variation

A89

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3
Nc6

Dutch Defence, Leningrad Variation

A9

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2

Dutch Defence, Classical variation

A90

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2

Dutch Defence, Classical Variation

A91

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7

Dutch Defence, Classical Variation

A92

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O

Dutch Defence, Classical Variation

A93

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. b3

Dutch Defence, Stonewall Variation

A94

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. b3
c6 8. Ba3

Dutch Defence, Stonewall Variation

A95

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. Nc3
c6

Dutch Defence, Stonewall Variation

A96

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6

Dutch Defence, Iljin-Zhenevsky Variation

A97

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3
Qe8

Dutch Defence, Iljin-Zhenevsky Variation

A98

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3
Qe8 8. Qc2

Dutch Defence, Iljin-Zhenevsky Variation

A99

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3
Qe8 8. b3

Dutch Defence, Iljin-Zhenevsky Variation

B

– 1. e4 R’ 1… c5, 1… e6, 1… e5

Most Semi-Open Defences

– 1. e4 c5

Sicilian Defence

B0

1. e4

King Pawn games

B00

1. e4 R + 1… Nc6

King Pawn games, inc. Nimzovitch defence

B01

1. e4 d5

Centre Counter Defence (Scandanavian)

B02

1. e4 Nf6

Alekhin’s Defence

B03

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4

Alekhin’s Defence

B04

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3

Alekhin’s Defence, Classical Variation

B05

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4

Alekhin’s Defence, Classical Variation

B06

1. e4 g6

Modern Defence

B07

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6

Pirc (Robatsch) Defence

B08

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3

Pirc Defence, Classical Variation

B09

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf63. Nc3 g6 4. f4

Pirc Defence, Austrian Attack

B1

1. e4 c6

Caro-Kann Defence

B10

1. e4 c6

Caro-Kann Defence

B11

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4

Caro-Kann Defence, Two Knights’ Variation

B12

1. e4 c6 2. d4

Caro-Kann Defence

B13

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. ed5 cd5

Caro-Kann Defence, Exchange Variation

B14

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. ed5 cd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3

Caro-Kann Defence, Panov-Botvinnik attack

B15

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3

Caro-Kann Defence

B16

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Nf6 5. Nf6 gf6

Caro-Kann Defence, Bronstein-Larsen variation

B17

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Nd7

Caro-Kann Defence, with 4…Nd7

B18

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Bf5

Caro-Kann Defence, classical variation

B19

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3
Nd7

Caro-Kann Defence, classical variation

B2

1. e4 c5

Sicilian Defence

B20

1. e4 c5

Sicilian Defence

B21

1. e4 c5: – 2. f4, -2. d4

Sicilian Defence, Grand Prix (Vincken) Attack and Morra
Gambit

B22

1. e4 c5 2.c3

Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation

B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3

Sicilian Defence, Closed Variation

B24

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3

Sicilian Defence, Closed Variation

B25

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6

Sicilian Defence, Closed Variation

B26

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Be3

Sicilian Defence, Closed Variation

B27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3

Sicilian Defence

B28

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6

Sicilian Defence, O’Kelly Variation

B29

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6

Sicilian Defence, Nimzovitch Variation

B3

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6

Sicilian Defence with 2…Nc6

B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6

Sicilian Defence with 2…Nc6

B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6

Sicilian Defence, Rossolimo Variation

B32

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4

Sicilian Defence

B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4

Sicilian Defence

B34

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 g6

Sicilian Defence, Accelerated Dragon Variation

B35

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7.
Bc4

Sicilian Defence, Accelerated Dragon Variation

B36

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 g6 5. c4

Sicilian Defence, Accelerated Dragon Variation, Maroczy
Bind

B37

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7

Sicilian Defence, Accelerated Dragon Variation, Maroczy
Bind

B38

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3

Sicilian Defence, Accelerated Dragon Variation, Maroczy
Bind

B39

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3
Ng4

Sicilian Defence, Accelerated Dragon Variation, Maroczy
Bind

B4

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6

Sicilian Defence with 2…e6

B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6

Sicilian Defence with 2…e6

B41

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 a6

Sicilian Defence, Kan Variation

B42

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 a6 5. Bd3

Sicilian Defence, Kan Variation

B43

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 a6 5. Nc3

Sicilian Defence, Kan Variation

B44

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6

Sicilian Defence, Paulsen/Taimanov Variation

B45

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3

Sicilian Defence, Paulsen/Taimanov Variation

B46

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6

Sicilian Defence, Paulsen/Taimanov Variation

B47

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7

Sicilian Defence, Paulsen/Taimanov Variation

B48

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3

Sicilian Defence, Paulsen/Taimanov Variation

B49

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2

Sicilian Defence, Paulsen/Taimanov Variation

B5

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6

Sicilian Defence with 2…d6

B50

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6

Sicilian Defence with 2…d6

B51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5

Sicilian Defence, Sicilian Check Variation

B52

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5 Bd7

Sicilian Defence, Sicilian Check Variation

B53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Qd4

Sicilian Defence, Chekhover Variation

B54

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4

Sicilian Defence

B55

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Bb5

Sicilian Defence

B56

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3

Sicilian Defence

B57

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4

Sicilian Defence, Sozin Variation

B58

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2

Sicilian Defence

B59

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3

Sicilian Defence, Boleslavsky Variation

B6

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B60

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B61

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7.
Qd2

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B62

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B63

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B64

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B65

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nd4 10. Qd4

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B66

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
a6

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B67

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
a6 8. O-O-O Bd7

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B68

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B69

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bf6

Sicilian Defence, Richter-Rauser Attack

B7

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation

B70

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation

B71

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Levenfish
variation

B72

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation

B73

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2
Nc6 8. O-O

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Classical
Variation

B74

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2
Nc6 8. O-O O-O 9. Nb3

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Classical
Variation

B75

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack

B76

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
O-O

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack

B77

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack

B78

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack

B79

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Qa5 11. Bb3 Rfc8 12. h4

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack

B8

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation

B80

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation

B81

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation, Keres
Attack

B82

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. f4

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation

B83

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation, Classical
System

B84

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 a6

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation, Classical
System

B85

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O
Qc7 8. f4 Nc6

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation, Classicial
System

B86

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bc4

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation

B87

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bc4 a6 7. Bb3
b5

(Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation)

B88

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bc4 Nc6

(Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation)

B89

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. Be3

(Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation)

B9

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6

Sicilian Defence, Najforf Variation

B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

B91

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

B92

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

B93

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

B94

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

B95

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

B96

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

B97

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4
Qb6

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn
Variation

B98

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4
Be7

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

B99

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4
Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation

C

– 1. e4 e6

French defence

– 1. e4 e5

Double King Pawn games

C0

1. e4 e6

French Defence

C00

1. e4 e6

French Defence

C01

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. ed5 ed5

French Defence, Exchange Variation

C02

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5

French Defence, Advance Variation

C03

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2

French Defence, Tarrasch Variation

C04

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6

French Defence, Tarrasch Variation, Guimard system

C05

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6

French Defence, Tarrasch Variation

C06

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2
cd4 8. cd4

French Defence, Tarrasch Variation

C07

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5

French Defence, Tarrasch Variation

C08

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. ed5 ed5

French Defence, Tarrasch Variation

C09

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. ed5 ed5 5. Ngf3 Nc6

French Defence, Tarrasch Variation

C1

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3

French Defence with 3. Nc3

C10

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3

French Defence

C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6

French Defence, Classical Variation

C12

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4

French Defence, MacCutcheon Variation

C13

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7

French Defence, Classical Variation

C14

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Be7 Qe7

French Defence, Classical Variation

C15

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4

French Defence, Winawer Variation

C16

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5

French Defence, Winawer Variation

C17

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5

French Defence, Winawer Variation

C18

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bc3 6. bc3

French Defence, Winawer Variation

C19

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bc3 6. bc3 Ne7

French Defence, Winawer Variation

C2

1. e4 e5

Double King Pawn games

C20

1. e4 e5

Double King Pawn games

C21

1. e4 e5 2. d4 ed4

Centre Game & Danish Gambit

C22

1. e4 e5 2. d4 ed4 3. Qd4 Nc6

Centre Game

C23

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4

Bishop’s Opening

C24

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6

Bishop’s Opening

C25

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3

Vienna Game

C26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6

Vienna Game

C27

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Ne4

Vienna Game, Frankenstein-Dracula Variation

C28

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6

Vienna Game

C29

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5

Vienna Gambit

C3

1. e4 e5 2. f4

King’s Gambit

C30

1. e4 e5 2. f4

King’s Gambit

C31

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5

King’s Gambit

C32

1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. ed5 e4 4. d3 Nf6

King’s Gambit, Falkbeer Counter-Gambit

C33

1. e4 e5 2. f4 ef4

King’s Gambit Accepted

C34

1. e4 e5 2. f4 ef4 3. Nf3

King’s Knight’s Gambit

C35

1. e4 e5 2. f4 ef4 3. Nf3 Be7

King’s Gambit, Cunningham Variation

C36

1. e4 e5 2. f4 ef4 3. Nf3 d5

King’s Gambit, Modern Variation

C37

1. e4 e5 2. f4 ef4 3. Nf3 g5

King’s Gambit

C38

1. e4 e5 2. f4 ef4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Bg7

King’s Gambit, Hanstein Variation

C39

1. e4 e5 2. f4 ef4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4

King’s Gambit, Kieseritsky Variation

C4

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3

Double King Pawn games with 2. Nf3

C40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3

Double King Pawn games

C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6

Philidor Defence

C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

Petroff Defence

C43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4

Petroff Defence, Steinitz Variation

C44

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6

Double King Pawn games

C45

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 ed4 4. Nd4

Scotch Game

C46

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3

Three Knights’ Game

C47

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4

Scotch Four Knights’

C48

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5

Four Knights’ Game

C49

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4

Four Knights’ Game

C5

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

Italian Game

C50

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

Italian Game

C51

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4

Evans’ Gambit

C52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb4 5. c3 Ba5

Evans’ Gambit

C53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3

Giuoco Piano

C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 ed4 6. cd4

Giuoco Piano

C55

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6

Two Knights’ Defence

C56

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 ed4 5. O-O Ne4

Two Knights’ Defence

C57

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5

Two Knights’ Defence

C58

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. ed5 Na5

Two Knights’ Defence, main line gambit

C59

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. ed5 Na5 6. Bb5 c6 7.
dc6 bc6 8. Be2 h6

Two Knights’ Defence, main line gambit

C6

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game)

C60

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

Ruy Lopez Opening (Spanish Game)

C61

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4

Ruy Lopez, Bird’s Defence

C62

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6

Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defence

C63

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5

Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Gambit

C64

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5

Ruy Lopez, Classical Defence

C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

C66

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Ne4

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

C68

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bc6

Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation

C69

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bc6 dc6 5. O-O

Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation

C7

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4

Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game), Morphy Defence

C70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4

Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence

C71

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6

Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Variation

C72

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O

Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Variation

C73

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Bc6 bc6 6. d4

Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Variation

C74

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3

Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Variation

C75

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7

Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Variation

C76

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 g6

Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Variation

C77

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6

Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence

C78

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O

Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence

C79

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6

Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Variation

C8

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 5. O-O: + 5…Ne4, 5… Be7

Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game), Open Morphy Defence
(5…Ne4)

Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game), Closed Morphy Defence
(5…Be7)

C80

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Ne4

Ruy Lopez, Open Morphy Variation

C81

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Ne4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3
d5 8. de5 Be6 9. Qe2

Ruy Lopez, Open Morphy Variation

C82

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Ne4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3
d5 8. de5 Be6 9. c3

Ruy Lopez, Open Morphy Variation

C83

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Ne4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3
d5 8. de5 Be6 9. c3 Be7

Ruy Lopez, Open Morphy Variation

C84

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence

C85

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bc6 dc6

Ruy Lopez, Delayed Exchange Variation

C86

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2

Ruy Lopez, Worral Attack

C87

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence

C88

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence

C89

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5

Ruy Lopez, Marshall Gambit

C9

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. c3 d6

Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game), Closed Morphy Defence
(5…Be7), Main line

C90

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence

C91

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. d4

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence

C92

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence

C93

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 h6

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence

C94

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Nb8

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence, Breyer Variation

C95

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence, Breyer Variation

C96

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence, Tchigorin Variation

C97

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence, Tchigorin Variation

C98

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence, Tchigorin Variation

C99

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cd4 13.
cd4

Ruy Lopez, Closed Morphy Defence, Tchigorin Variation

D

– 1. d4 d5

Double Queen Pawn games

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 + d7-d5

Grunfeld Defence

D0

1. d4 d5

Double Queen Pawn games

D00

1. d4 d5

Double Queen Pawn games

D01

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5

(Richter-)Veresov System

D02

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3

Double Queen Pawn games

D03

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5

Double Queen Pawn games

D04

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3

Colle System

D05

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6

Colle System

D06

1. d4 d5 2. c4

Queen’s Gambit

D07

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6

Queen’s Gambit, Tchigorin defence

D08

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5

Queen’s Gambit, Albin Counter-Gambit

D09

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. de5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3

Queen’s Gambit, Albin Counter-Gambit

D1

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence

D10

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence

D11

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence

D12

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence

D13

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cd5 cd5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence, Exchange
Variation

D14

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cd5 cd5 5. Bf4 Bf5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence, Exchange
Variation

D15

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence

D16

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence, Dutch
Variation

D17

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4 Bf5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence, Dutch
Variation

D18

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence, Dutch
Variation

D19

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bc4
Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Slav Defence, Dutch
Variation

D2

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D20

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D21

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D22

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3

Queen’s Gambit Accepted, Alekhin Variation

D23

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3 Nf6

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D24

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D25

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D26

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D27

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bc4 c5 6. O-O a6

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D28

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D29

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2
b5 8. Bb3 Bb7

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

D3

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D30

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D32

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tarrasch Defence

D33

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cd5 ed5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tarrasch Defence,
Schlechter-Rubinstein system

D34

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cd5 ed5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2
Be7

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tarrasch Defence,
Schlechter-Rubinstein system

D35

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D36

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cd5 ed5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation

D37

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D38

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bb4

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation

D39

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dc4

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Vienna Variation

D4

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence with 4. Nf3

D40

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch (Improved
Tarrasch) Defence

D41

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cd5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch (Improved
Tarrasch) Defence

D42

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cd5 Nd5 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bd3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch (Improved
Tarrasch) Defence

D43

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence

D44

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5 dc4

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, Anti-Meran
System

D45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence

D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence

D47

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dc4 7. Bc4

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, Meran
Variation

D48

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dc4 7. Bc4
b5 8. Bd3 a6

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, Meran
Variation

D49

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dc4 7. Bc4
b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cd4 11. Nb5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, Meran
Variation

D5

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence with 4. Bg5

D50

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D51

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D52

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D53

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D54

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D55

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D56

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D57

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4
Ne4 8. Be7 Qe7 9. cd5 Nc3 10. bc3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Lasker
System

D58

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4
b6

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Tartakower
Variation

D59

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4
b6 8. cd5 Nd5

D6

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence with 4. Bg5,
main line

D60

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D61

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Qc2

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Rubinstein
Variation

D62

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Qc2 c5 8. dc5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Rubinstein
Variation

D63

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Rc1

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence

D64

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Rc1 c6 8. Qc2

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Tempo-Struggle
Variation

D65

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 a6 9. cd5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Tempo-Struggle
Variation

D66

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Rc1 c6 8. Bd3

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Main
Variation

D67

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dc4 9. Bc4 Nd5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Capablanca
System

D68

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dc4 9. Bc4 Nd5 10. Be7 Qe7 11. O-O Nc3 12. Rc3 e5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Capablanca
System

D69

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dc4 9. Bc4 Nd5 10. Be7 Qe7 11. O-O Nc3 12. Rc3 e5 13.
de5 Ne5 14. Ne5 Qe5

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defence, Capablanca
System

D7

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 R’ d7-d5

mostly King’s Indian Defence

D70

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6

King’s Indian Defence

D71

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. cd5 Nd5

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation

D72

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. cd5 Nd5 6. e4 Nb6 7. Ne2

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation

D73

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation

D74

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. cd5 Nd5 7. O-O

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation

D75

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. cd5 Nd5 7. O-O
c5

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation

D76

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. cd5 Nd5 7. O-O
Nb6

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation

D77

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation

D78

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O c6

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation, Schlechter
System

D79

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. cd5
cd5

Grunfeld Defence, Fianchetto Variation

D8

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5

Grunfeld Defence

D80

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5

Grunfeld Defence, Taimanov Variation

D81

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3

Grunfeld Defence, system with 4. Bf4

D82

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4

Grunfeld Defence, system with 4. Bf4

D83

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O

Grunfeld Defence, system with 4. Bf4

D84

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. cd5 Nd5 7. Nd5
Qd5 8. Bc7

Grunfeld Defence, system with 4. Bf4

D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5

Grunfeld Defence, Exchange Variation

D86

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Bc4

Grunfeld Defence, Exchange Variation

D87

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Bc4
O-O 8. Ne2 c5

Grunfeld Defence, Exchange Variation

D88

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Bc4
O-O 8. Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 cd4 11. cd4

Grunfeld Defence, Exchange Variation

D89

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Bc4
O-O 8. Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 cd4 11. cd4 Bg4 12. f3 Na5 13. Bd3

Grunfeld Defence, Exchange Variation

D9

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3

Grunfeld Defence

D90

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3

Grunfeld Defence

D91

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5

Grunfeld Defence, system with 5. Bg5

D92

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4

Grunfeld Defence, system with 5. Bf4

D93

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3

Grunfeld Defence,

D94

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3

Grunfeld Defence, Quiet (slow) system

D95

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3

Grunfeld Defence, Quiet (slow) system

D96

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3

Grunfeld Defence, Russian system

D97

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dc4 6. Qc4 O-O 7. e4

Grunfeld Defence, Russian system

D98

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dc4 6. Qc4 O-O 7. e4
Bg4

Grunfeld Defence, Russian system

D99

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dc4 6. Qc4 O-O 7. e4
Bg4 8. Be3 Nfd7 9. Qb3

Grunfeld Defence, Russian system, Smyslov variation

E

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6

Indian systems with …e6

– 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 ‘ d7-d5

Indian systems with …g6 (except Grunfeld)

E0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3

Neo-Catalan

E00

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3

Neo-Catalan

E01

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2

Catalan

E02

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dc4 5. Qa4

Catalan, Open Variation

E03

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dc4 5. Qa4 Nbd7 6. Qc4

Catalan, Open Variation

E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dc4 5. Nf3

Catalan, Open Variation

E05

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dc4 5. Nf3 Be7

Catalan, Open Variation

E06

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3

Catalan, Closed Variation

E07

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7

Catalan, Closed Variation

E08

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7.
Qc2

Catalan, Closed Variation

E09

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7.
Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2

Catalan, Closed Variation

E1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3

Indian Defences with 3. Nf3

E10

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3

Indian system with 2…e6

E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4

Bogo-Indian Defence

E12

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6

Queen’s Indian Defence

E13

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Bb4

Queen’s Indian Defence

E14

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3

Queen’s Indian Defence, Closed Variation

E15

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3

Queen’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E16

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4

Queen’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E17

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7

Queen’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E18

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3

Queen’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E19

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3
Ne4 8. Qc2 Nc3 9. Qc3

Queen’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E2

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4

Nimzo-Indian Defence

E20

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4

Nimzo-Indian Defence

E21

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Three Knights’ System

E22

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Spielmann Variation

E23

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dc5 Nc6

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Spielmann Variation

E24

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bc3 5. bc3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E25

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bc3 5. bc3 c5 6. f3 d5 7. cd5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Open Samisch Variation

E26

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bc3 5. bc3 c5 6. e3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Closed Samisch Variation

E27

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bc3 5. bc3 O-O

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E28

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bc3 5. bc3 O-O 6. e3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Closed Samisch Variation

E29

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bc3 5. bc3 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. Bd3
Nc6

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Closed Samisch Variation

E3

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4: + 4. Bg5, 4. Qc2

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Leningrad Variation

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E30

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Leningrad Variation

E31

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Leningrad Variation

E32

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E33

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation, Milner-Barry
Variation

E34

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cd5 ed5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E36

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E37

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bc3 6. Qc3 Ne4 7. Qc2

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E38

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E39

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dc5 O-O 6. Nf3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E4

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation

E40

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation

E41

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, Hubner
System

E42

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, Rubinstein
System

E43

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, Fischer
Variation

E44

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, Fischer
Variation

E45

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 Ba6

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, Fischer
Variation

E46

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, (main
line)

E47

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, (main
line)

E48

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation (main
line)

E49

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. a3 Bc3 7. bc3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation (Closed
Samisch Variation)

E5

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation with
4…O-O

E50

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation

E51

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation

E52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 b6

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, Tal
Variation

E53

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 c5

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation

E54

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O
dc4 8. Bc4

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, Bronstein
(Bd7) and Smyslov (Qe7) Variations

E55

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O
dc4 8. Bc4 Nbd7

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation, Parma
Variation

E56

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O
Nc6

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation (main
line)

E57

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. a3 dc4 9. Bc4 cd4

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation (main
line)

E58

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. a3 Bc3 9. bc3

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation (main
line)

E59

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. a3 Bc3 9. bc3 dc4 10. Bc4

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Rubinstein Variation (main
line)

E6

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 R’ d7-d5

King’s Indian Defence

E60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6

King’s Indian Defence

E61

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3

King’s Indian Defence

E62

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation

E63

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O
a6

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation, Panno
system

E64

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c5

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation, Leningrad
variation

E65

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c5 7. O-O

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation, Leningrad
variation

E66

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. d5

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation, Leningrad
variation

E67

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation, classical
system

E68

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7.
O-O e5 8. e4

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation, classical
system

E69

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7.
O-O e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation, classical
system

E7

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4

King’s Indian Defence

E70

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4

King’s Indian Defence

E71

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3

King’s Indian Defence, system with 5.h3

E72

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3

King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation

E73

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2

King’s Indian Defence

E74

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5

King’s Indian Defence, Averbakh Variation

E75

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5
e6

King’s Indian Defence, Averbakh Variation

E76

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4

King’s Indian Defence, Four Pawns’ Attack

E77

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Be2

King’s Indian Defence, Four Pawns’ Attack

E78

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. Nf3

King’s Indian Defence, Four Pawns’ Attack

E79

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. Nf3
cd4 8. Nd4 Nc6 9. Be3

King’s Indian Defence, Four Pawns’ Attack

E8

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E80

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E81

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E82

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 b6

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation, Byrne
System

E83

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E84

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2
a6 8. Qd2 Rb8

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E85

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E86

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2
c6

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E87

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E88

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 c6

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E89

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 c6
8. Nge2 cd5

King’s Indian Defence, Samisch Variation

E9

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E90

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E91

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E92

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation

E93

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5
Nbd7

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation, Petrosian
System

E94

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation, Old
system

E95

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nbd7 8. Re1

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation, Old
system

E96

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nbd7 8. Re1 c6 9. Bf1 a5

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation, Old
system

E97

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nc6

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation, Mar del Plata
Variation

E98

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation, Mar del Plata
Variation

E99

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. f3 f5

King’s Indian Defence, Classical Variation, Mar del Plata
Variation

Playing 1.d4 for juniors

Posted on September 27, 1996 by DrDave

This could be a short handout, of just one word: “Don’t!”

But you know I won’t stop at one word when a couple of thousand will probably do.

Part I – for starters

Most people suggest that beginning chessplayers should play
1.e2-e4 and aim for a open, attacking style of game.

Some players may like to try 1.d2-d4. I wrote
this piece after I watched 3 out of 4 boards at a match open with
1. d2-d4, and in my opinion, played it poorly.

Why might you want to play 1.d2-d4?

F because you are curious

F because it seems safer and more solid than 1.
e2-e4

F because people won’t expect it

F because I told you not to…

Let’s look at it more seriously then, and see what we think.

How many people play 1.d2-d4
(stodgily)

After 1. d2-d4, how should you place your pieces? One system of
development that looks quite reasonable starts with the Bishops:
your Queen’s Bishop can go to f4, then you play e2-e3, and develop
the King’s Bishop. So:

d2-d4, Ng1-f3, Bc1-f4, e2-e3, Bf1-d3, O-O, Nb1-d2

This is called the London system . It’s a perfectly
solid system, which masters can pay for a win. But I have a feeling
that this is not a great way for juniors to play. Most of them I
think would find this rather too slow and dull, everything gets
bogged down, and often neither side can come up with any ideas of
how to win and would have to rely on their opponent overlooking
something to win. If you are much better than a beginner, and you
like this style of playing, then you can have a go for either side,
but my advice is: stick to 1. e2-e4!

How should you play the London system as White or Black? Black
often develops their Bishops on f5 and d6. Because White is going
to take a few moves to achieve Bf1-d3, Black may play …Bc8-f5
first, and the light-squared Bishops come off. Also, Black will
often challenge the Bc1-f4 with …Bf8-d6, and the dark-squared
Bishops also come off. We then have a slow game with Knights and
Queens.

The first thing to do if you get into this sort of position
(whether you are White or Black) is to open up a file for
your Rooks . As Black, you may not be able to achieve
…e7-e5 very quickly, but it is likely that you can play …c7-c5.
So one good rule for playing Black in these openings is for you to
play …c7-c5 at some point. This means that your Queen’s Knight
should not be placed straightaway at c6 in front of the c-Pawn, but
instead go to c6 only after …c7-c5. Another idea is to play
…Nb8-d7, which actually supports the …c7-c5 break.

How you should play 1.d2-d4
(open)

The reason that games with 1.d2-d4 are called
“closed” is because the positions are often slow with few open
lines. After 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 , all the major
openings set out to achieve the advance d2-d4 for White.
We can play it straight away ( 2. d2-d4 , the
Centre Game ) or after 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3.
d2-d4 (the Scotch Game ). Perhaps the best way is
to prepare the advance with c2-c3 as in the Giuoco
Piano 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3. Bf1-c4 Bc8-c5
4. c2-c3 Ng8-f6 5. d2-d4 ) or Ruy Lopez
1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3. Bf1-b5 a7-a6 4. Bb5-a4
Ng8-f6 5. O-O Bf8-e7 6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5 7. Ba4-b3 O-O 8. c2-c3 d7-d6
9. h2-h3 Nb8-d7 10. d2-d4 White could also play d2-d4 on
moves 5 or 9).

But after 1. d2-d4 it’s not obvious how to
achieve e2-e4 . Obviously White can just play
2.c2-c4 , which is the famous Queen’s Gambit. But there is
another system, named after the Belgian master Colle, which
specifically aims at e2-e4 and also leads to a nice open game. If
juniors do want to play 1.d2-d4 I always tell them
about this system.

The idea is:

1. d2-d4 2. Ng1-f3 3. e2-e3!

This does block in the Bc1 but doesn’t mean to leave it that
way. Continue:

4. Bf1-d3 5. Nb1-d2 6. O-O 7. Rf1-e1 (of
course, Black usually moves too!)

8. e2-e4!

Now White has good development and will get open lines for the
pieces. Like this:

Colle – Buerger [D05] Hastings – (0.158), 1928

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Be7 5.Nbd2 0-0 6.0-0
Nbd7 7.e4 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 Nf6 10.Bd3 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bg5
Be7 13.Qe2 Qc7 14.Rad1 Rd8 15.Ne5 Bd7 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Bxf6 Bxf6
18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Qxf7+ Kh7 20.Rd3 1-0

If you like the look of this, I have some notes on this
system tucked away somewhere.

How you can play 1. d2-d4
(expertly)

The main Queen’s-Pawn openings usually are based around playing
c2-c4 rather than e2-e4. In the Queen’s Gambit after
1.d2-d4 d7-d5 White puts pressure on the Black
centre with 2.c2-c4 and later can play a Rook to
the c-file, which is likely to be opened.

When you know a bit more about how to play with each piece, the
Queen’s Gambit is a fine opening to play, but by the time
you know enough to play the Queen’s Gambit well, your opponent’s
may start avoiding 1. d2-d4 d7-d5 by
playing one of the Indian Defences 1. d2-d4
Ng8-f6 . Now there’s an idea: you mean, I don’t have to go
through all this London system stuff? Right! You can play the Black
side of the London system or the Colle to win if you fancy it, but
you might prefer to have something a little spicier. Not an Indian
Defence, but the Dutch Defence

How to avoid the Queen’s Pawn
game if you think your opponent plays stodgily.

The Dutch Defence is one of the oldest and most
aggressive defences to the Queen’s Pawn opening. It goes:

1. d2-d4 f7-f5

Now White has several ways of continuing. If White knows a bit
of theory they may know that one of the best ways to play for White
is to play a set-up with:

1. d2-d4 2. c2-c4 3. Ng1-f3 4. g2-g3 5. Bf1-g2 6.
O-O

After this Black has three systems:

Leningrad system:1…f7-f5 2…Ng8-f6 3…g7-g6
4…Bf8-g7 5…O-O 6…d7-d6

Classical system: 1…f7-f5 2…Ng8-f6 3…e7-e6 4…Bf8-e7
5…O-O 6…d7-d6

Stonewall system: 1…f7-f5 2…Ng8-f6 3…e7-e6 4…Bf8-e7
5…O-O 6…d7-d5

In each system Black gets a flexible development with chances of
a King’s-side attack. If you fancy this idea, I have tucked away
some notes on the Stonewall system

The Stonewall formation is aggressive but as you can tell from
its name, it is also quite solid. White cannot hope to make a quick
raid on Black’s position, while the f5 pawn is a beach-head for
your King’s-side attack. Ideas for Black include:

play …Qe8 and …Qh4

play …Kh8, …Rg8 and …g5

play …Ne4 and …Ndf6

re-organise your bishops with …Be7-d6 or
…Bd7-e8-h4

Of course, you can combine these ideas. Here’s a couple of
example games from an early Dutch fan, Mikhail Botvinnik, who later
became World Champion.

Abramovic,G – Botvinnik,M [A85] Soviet Union, 1924

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 b6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 Bb7
7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 Ne4 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Rc1 Na6 11.a3 Rf6 12.Qa4 Nxc3
13.Rxc3 Bxf3 14.Qxa6 Rg6 15.g3 Qg5 16.Re1 Qh5 17.e4

+-----------------+

17…Qxh2+ 0-1

18.Kxh2 Rh6+ 19.Kg1 Rh1#

Steiner Herman – Botvinnik M [A95/12] Ch Europe (juniors),
Groningen (Netherl, 1946

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0
7.Qc2 d5 8.Nf3 c6 9.0-0 Qe8 10.Bf4 Qh5 11.Rae1 Nbd7 12.Nd2 g5
13.Bc7 Ne8 14.Be5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 f4 16.gxf4 gxf4 17.Nf3 Kh8 18.Kh1
Ng7 19.Qc1 Bd7 20.a3 Rf7 21.b4 Rg8 22.Rg1 Nf5 23.Nd1 Rfg7 24.Qxf4
Rg4 25.Qd2 Nh4 26.Ne3 Nxf3 27.exf3 Rh4 28.Nf1 Bg5 0-1

+-----------------+

Bg5-f4xh2 is on its way.

If White hasn’t met the Dutch defence before, it’s likely they
will just play their usual old moves: the London system, the
classical system or a Gambit.

The London system d2-d4, Ng1-f3, Bc1-f4 is just asking
for Black to play …d7-d6 and …e7-e5, with a good game.

If White plays a classical Queen’s Pawn game with d2-d4
c2-c4 Ng1-f3 Nb1-c3 Bc1-g5 e2-e3 Bf1-d3 Black can get a good
game with normal Dutch moves:

1.d4 f5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Bd3 b6
7.Nge2 Bb7 8.0-0 Nh5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Ng3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 d6 12.f4
Nc6= (0-1,54) Harrwitz,D – Morphy,P (5) Paris match,
1858

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 f5 3.c4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.e3 b6
7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0-0 Qe8 9.Qe2 Ne4 10.Bxe7 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Qxe7 12.a4 Bxf3
13.Qxf3 Nc6 14.Rfb1 Rae8 =+ (1-0,52)

Capablanca,Jose – Tartakower,Savielly [A40] New York (06),
1924

. White went on to win this famous ending, but according to Robert
Bellin, sometime British Champion and longtime Dutch defender,
Black has the advantage because of his better Pawn structure.

If you are interested in these lines, or the various
gambits…

e.g. Karayannis-Bellin 1993 : 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5
3. e4

….then I have some notes on the ways White can avoid the
Dutch main lines

Part II- The theory of playing
against 1.d2-d4

+-----------------+

II-A: Systems with
c2-c4

Just as in the 1.e2-e4 openings, it is possible for White to
play mainly with pieces in the opening, hoping to save time by not
moving any more Pawns. But just as in the 1.e2-e4 openings like
Old Stodge , it is hard to stop Black getting easy
equality without hitting at the Black centre with Pawns, giving
them something to worry about.

+-----------------+

After 1.e2-e4 e7-e5, White cannot be prevented from playing
d2-d4, which White can do straightaway (in the Scotch Game) or
after c2-c3 (Giuoco Piano and Ruy Lopez).

+-----------------+

But in the 1.d2-d4 d7-d5 openings, it looks like e2-e4 and c2-c4
just lose a Pawn. So juniors and even adult club players often like
to play it slow and safe and simple, just getting their pieces out,
keeping the centre closed and hoping to arrange a King’s-side
attack.

White hopes that because the centre is likely to remain closed,
Black will find it hard to disturb the White build-up. Black must
either swap off the attacking pieces, and/or upset the White
centre.

White can always play e2-e4 as a gambit (The Blackmar-Diemer
Gambit ). Also, the c4 point is easy to guard with the Bc1,
and so White can play 2.c2-c4, the Queen’s Gambit ,
believing that Black will find it hard to get away with snatching
the c-Pawn. We will look at all of these systems for White, with
and without c2-c4.

All of these openings are dangerous if you don’t know what your
opponent is trying to do. But only the Queen’s Gambit is really
strong enough for Grandmasters.

The Queen’s Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. c4

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

I keep saying that it is difficult to put real pressure on your
opponent’s game without using a Pawn to hit at your opponent’s
central Pawns. In the Queen’s Gambit, White does this straight
away.

In gambit openings, White hopes that Black will waste time
taking and trying to hold on to the Pawn. In the Queen’s Gambit,
this is a better idea than usual, since Black cannot hold on to the
Pawn at all!

2…dxc4 3. e3 b5 4. a4 c6 5. axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3!
+-

Black can try other moves to hang on to the Pawn, but they are
all more trouble than the Pawn is worth! So, Black should not try
to hang on to the Pawn, but aim to hit back in the centre:

3. e3 e5! or 3.e3 c5!

Now, White need not scramble to get back the Pawn but should try
to hold on in the centre. A common sequence is:

3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O

+-----------------+

How to play against this opening

If you fancy the “accept then hit back” approach, then this
Queen’s Gambit Accepted line is easy to learn:

You should exchange on d4 to give White an isolated
d-Pawn.
You should play …Nbd7-b6-d5 to stop the d-Pawn
advancing.
You should put pressure on the d-Pawn, to tie White’s pieces
down to defence.
You should aim for exchanging pieces, especially the
light-squared Bishop, leaving White in a poor endgame, like this
one

+-----------------+

With colours reversed, this is the classic ‘bad Bishop’ endgame
with an isolated Queen’s-Pawn, from a famous Flohr-Capablanca game.
Black just managed to hold on, but had a struggle! White can try
little tricks on either side of the board, or try to slide the King
in on the unprotected dark squares, but Black can only sit and
suffer. So, playing Black against the Queen’s Gambit, this is what
you can hope to get to.

Example game

Salwe,G – Rubinstein,A [D26] Lodz, 1907

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e3 c5 6.Bxc4 Nc6
7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 Be7 9.Bf4 0-0 10.Qd2 b6 11.Rfd1 Nb4 12.Qe2 Bb7
13.Ne5 Nbd5 14.Bg3 Rc8 15.Rac1…

+-----------------+

Now Rubinstein changed the Pawn structure with 15…Nxc3, and
went on to win with pressure against the c- and d-Pawns and using
the Bishop on the long diagonal.

Swiss Defence

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6.
Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

The Swiss Defence is a way of declining the Queen’s Gambit.
Black develops quietly to start with, but is just ready to uncoil.
If White plays the automatic

8.Bd3,

Black hits back with

8…dxc4! 9. Bxc4 b5! 10. Bd3 c5!

In another famous Capablanca game, Black (Alekhin) had an easy
time after reaching this position:

+-----------------+

I won’t give the whole game because it is rather long.

How to play this opening

White may see this Queen’s-side counter-punch coming. There are
two tries for White:

8. cxd5 (The Carlsbad variation – see below) or:

8. c5

After 8. c5 Black should stop the c-Pawn

8…c6

then hit back:

9.b4

9…a5! 10.a3 axb4 11.axb4 b6 12.Bd3 bxc5 13.bxc5 e5
14.Nxe5

(14.dxe5 Ne8=;

14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.Qh5+
Kg8 19.Qxe5 Ba6! with compensation)

14…Nxe5 15.dxe5 Nd7 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Qc2 Qh4 18.0-0
Nxe5 19.Be2 Ba6 20.Bxa6 Rxa6 21.Ra1 Qc4=

9.Bd3: see example game

Example game

Blodstein,B – Ziatdinov,R (2455) [D63] UZB-ch (9), 1993

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7
7.Rc1 a6 8.c5 c6 9.Bd3 e5!

+-----------------+

10.Nxe5

[10.dxe5 Ne8 11.Bf4;

10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.dxe5 Be7!]

10…Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.Bf4 Bxc5 13.h4 Re8 14.Bb1 Bf8
15.Qc2 g6 16.h5 Nxe5 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Qd1 Bg7 19.Kf1 Qf6 20.Ne2 Bf5
21.Ng3 Bxb1 22.Rxb1 Rad8 23.Qd4 Nc4 0-1

QGD with 5.Bf4

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5.
Bf4

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

This is a proper Grandmaster opening and so you will not be able
to bash out moves without thinking and expect to get an equal game
(as if you ever can!)

How to play against this opening

The usual ideas of developing sensibly then hitting back in the
centre are the right recipe here.

4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 (we’ve developed
sensibly, so…) 6…c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Rd1 Qa5
10.a3 Be7 11.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 d4 13.Nb3 Qd8 =

Example game

Jussupow,A (2635) – Kortschnoj,V (2630) [D37] Tilburg,
1987

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5
7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Rd1 Qa5 10.a3 Be7 11.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 d4
13.Nb3 Qd8 14.Be2 a5 15.Na4 Ng4 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.exd4 Qh4 18.Bxg4
Bxg4 19.Rd2 exd4 20.0-0 Rad8 21.Nac5 d3 22.Qc3 Be2 23.Re1 a4
24.Nxa4 Rfe8 25.h3 Ne5 26.Rdxe2 dxe2 27.Nc1 b5 28.Nb6 Rd1 29.Nxe2
Nf3+ 30.gxf3 Rxe2 0-1

Exchange variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5

+-----------------+

This is the classic Exchange, but there is a variation that
comes out of the Swiss Defence.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3
Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8.cxd5 exd5

+-----------------+

This variation, from the Swiss Defence, is known as the Carlsbad
Variation.

The idea behind the opening

White simplifies the centre, hoping to make use of slightly more
active pieces and the open c-file. In the main Exchange Variation,
White often plays Rab1 and pushes the b-Pawn, but in the Carlsbad
Variation, this would waste time.

How to play against this opening

In the main line Exchange, Black can play a quick …Bf5; in the
Carlsbad, Black is more likely to head for a normal King’s-side
counterattack.

Example game

Soares – Moindrot [D65] corr ol, 1945

1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 0-0
7.Rc1 a6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 c6 10.Qc2 Re8 11.0-0 Nf8 12.Ne5 N6d7
13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Nxd7 Bxd7 15.Na4 Qg5 16.Nc5 Bg4 17.Nxb7 Bf3 18.g3
Qh5 19.Rfe1 Re6 20.Bf1 Rh6 21.h4 Ng6 22.Qxc6 Rf8 0-1

Semi-Slav Systems

…d5,…e6 and …c6

+-----------------+

The ideas behind the opening

First, Black sets up a little fortress in the centre, and
develops at least a few pieces.

Then, Black must release the Bc8 and open up a file for the
Rooks. So Black must play either …c7-c5 or …e6-e5, perhaps
first playing …dxc4 so that Black doesn’t get left with an
isolated d-Pawn

+-----------------+

Black ready for …e7-e5!

Black has already played …c6 which can support …b5. This
gives two ideas:

Quickly play …dxc4 and ..b7-b5, to try and hang on to the
c-Pawn.
Wait until White has moved the Bf1 somewhere, then make it
waste a move or two by …dxc4, Bcx4, …b7-b5! Black can then play
…c7-c5 and …Bc8-b7, giving the Bishop a nice long
diagonal.

+-----------------+

Grabbing the c-Pawn – risky!

+-----------------+

Hitting the Bishop after ….dxc4: follow up with Bb7 and c7-c5

How to play this opening

I can’t promise that players of d2-d4 will rattle out the same
moves game after game like e4 Nf3 Bc4 d3…

There are several lines where the Semi-Slav is seen:

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 e6 or

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c6

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 Bb4

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3
Bd6

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3
dxc4

and if you play the Dutch:

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 f5!? [4.Nf3
f5?! is less good because of 5.Bf4, seizing control of e5]

Example games:

Here’s a “grab the c-Pawn” game, although you can see the risks
Black takes in the centre:

Collas,D (2280) – Flear,G (2495) [D31] Paris (3), 1992

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bb4 6.e3 b5
7.Bd2 a5 8.axb5 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxb5 10.b3 Bb7 11.bxc4 b4 12.Bb2 Nf6
13.Bd3 Nbd7 14.Qc2 Qc7 15.0-0 0-0 16.Rfc1 Rfc8 17.e4 e5 18.c5 exd4
19.Bxd4 Qc6 20.Nh4 g6 21.f3 a4 22.Qd2 b3 23.e5 Nh5 24.Be4 Qb5 25.e6
Bxe4 26.exd7 Qxd7 27.fxe4 a3 28.Qf2 Nf4 29.Rd1 Qg4 30.Kh1 b2
31.Rab1 a2 32.Qxb2 axb1Q 33.Rxb1 Qxh4 34.g3 Qd8 35.gxf4 Rcb8
0-1

And the other ideas can be seen in this shortie:

Samisch,F – Capablanca,J [D46] Moskva (18), 1925

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 a6
7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Bd3 c5 10.Qe2 Bb7 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.e4 cxd4
13.Nxd4 Bc5 14.Nb3 Bd6 15.h3 b4 16.Nb1 Ne5 17.Bf4 0-0 18.Bxe5 Bxe5
19.N1d2 Bxb2 20.Rab1 Bc3 21.Nc4 a5 22.e5 Nd7 23.Bxh7+ Kxh7 24.Qd3+
Kg8 25.Qxd7 Qxc4 26.Qxb7 a4 27.Nd2 Qxa2 28.Nf3 Qe2 0-1

Catalan Opening

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

This is a slow, rather tricky system to play against. White
hopes to keep Black under pressure and uncoil slowly.

How to play against this opening

If you like the “grab the c-Pawn” strategy in the Semi-Slav, it
looks even better here with White having moved the Bishop off the
f1-a6 diagonal.

Example game

Gostisa,L (2410) – Burmakin,V (2530) [D31] Bled op, 1994

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.g3 b5 6.Bg2 Bb7
7.a4 a6 8.0-0 Nd7 9.e4 Ngf6 10.Qe2 Be7 11.Rd1 0-0 12.Bf4 Re8 13.Ne1
Qb6 14.g4 Nf8 15.g5 N6d7 16.Qg4 Ng6 17.Be3 c5 18.d5 Nde5 19.Qg3 b4
20.a5 Qc7 21.Na4 exd5 22.exd5 Bd6 23.Nb6 Nd3 24.Nxa8 Bxa8
0-1

II-B: Systems without
c2-c4

These systems usually emphasise piece play rather than pressure
on the centre with Pawns. White has a standard attacking plan which
can walk straight through you if you aren’t careful. I’ll show you
one game to worry you, then lots more to show you what to do about
these systems.

Burgess Graham – Johannesson Larus (8) [A46] It, 1995

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 Be7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 O-O 6.
Bd3 b6 7. Ne5 c5 8. c3 Qc7 9. f4 Bb7 10. Qf3 h6 11. h4 Nc6 12.
Rh3

+-----------------+

‘Normal’ moves from Black have allowed White to set up a
favourable ‘Stonewall’ formation with the dark-squared Bishop
outside the Pawn chain. With the centre closed, White shuffles
pieces over to the King’s-side and mugs the King.

12… Nxe5 13. fxe5 Ne4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 Bxe4 16.
Qxe4 Qd8 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. O-O-O c4 19. Rf1 b5

+-----------------+

It’s not the f7-Pawn that is to be attacked but the King. “His
fortress becomes a prison”, says Tony Dempsey.

20. Rf6 Kh8 21. Rg3 b4 22. Qf4 bxc3 23. Qxh6+
1-0

Point made, I hope. Normal developing moves can lead to trouble
– so you need plan!

In these systems, White often develops the dark-squared Queen’s
Bishop early on, but first we will look at a popular system which
does just the opposite – it apparently locks in the Bishop
forever!

Colle System

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3.e3

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

Now, White does know that the Bc1 must be got out, but will do
so later on.

White wants to play the difficult e2-e4, so sets about it in two
stages – first, developing pieces around the e4 point, with Bd3,
Nbd2, and Re1 or Qe2, and only then breaking with e3-e4, hoping
that the White pieces will ambush Black.

How to play against this opening

It is not hard to guess that after e2-e3 White wants to play
Bd3. So

3…Bf5

is a nice awkward move, when

4. Bd3 e6!

Is another nice awkward move (Alekhin).

The only way to be awkward back is

4. c4 e6 5. Qb3

but Black can cope with this – White’s Bishops are not
well-placed to attack. Here

5…Qb6

looks OK, or keep Queens on with

5…Qc8

Example game

Mellen,S – Jarosz,S [D12] Lansing,MI Jan mini, 1990

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Qb3 Qc8
7.Bd2 Nbd7 8.Rc1 Qb8 9.Be2 Bd6 10.0-0 h6 11.h3 0-0 12.cxd5 exd5
13.Na4 Re8 14.Bb4 Bc7 15.Nc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Ne4 17.Nd4 Bd7 18.Bd3 Qc8
19.Qc2 Bxh3 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.gxh3 Qxh3 22.f3 Re5 23.f4 Rxe3 24.Rf2
Bxf4 25.Nf5 Re4 26.Bd2 Qxf5 27.Bxf4 Qg4+ 0-1

London System

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

White is developing smoothly and has some control over the dark
squares in the centre. White can play on either side of the board,
if allowed. So this is quite a sound, flexible system, and needs
some care to play against.

How to play against this opening

As I described above, Black should develop sensibly and look to
open lines for Rooks.

Example game

Gross,R – Hoenig,A [D02] NRW-I, 1990

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.c3 e6 5.e3 Bd6 6.Bg3 0-0
7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Qxd3 c5 9.Nbd2 Nc6 10.0-0 a5 11.a4 Ra6 12.Rad1 Bxg3
13.hxg3 cxd4 14.exd4 Rb6 15.b3 h6 16.Rfe1 Qc7 17.Rc1 Rc8 18.Rc2 Nb4
19.cxb4 Qxc2 20.Qxc2 Rxc2 21.bxa5 Rb4 22.Kf1 Nd7 23.Ke2 Rxb3
0-1

Veresov System

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

White has a number of new ideas in this line: perhaps White can
mess up Black’s Pawns with Bxf6, or use the pressure against the
Knight to play f3 and e4.

How to play against this opening

If you don’t want White to mess up your Pawns, then you must
play

3…Nbd7!

which may be the best move. But I think Bxf6 is not much to
worry about, and that you should get your Bc8 out if you can:

3…Bf5!

4.Bxf6 gxf6

recapture towards the centre if you can

5.e3 c6 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6 8.e4 Nd7 9.Nf3 dxe4 10.Nxe4
f5 =

+-----------------+

With Pawns on White squares and a Bishop on dark squares, Black
is ready to uncoil.

BCO2 also gives:

4. f3 Nbd7 5. Nxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 h6 7. Bh4 N7b6 8. exf5
Ne3! 9. Qd2 Nxf1 10. Kxf1=/+

Example game

Link,U – Birke,M [D01] Wuert-chT, 1994

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 Bf5 4.Bxf6 gxf6 5.e3 e6 6.Bd3
Bxd3 7.Qxd3 c6 8.Nge2 Nd7 9.e4 dxe4 10.Qxe4 f5 11.Qf3 Nf6 12.0-0-0
Qc7 13.h3 h5 14.Kb1 0-0-0 15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 Rxh1 17.Rxh1 Nxg4
18.Ne4 Bg7 19.Rh7 Bxd4 20.Ng5 Bf6 21.Nxf7 Rd7 22.Nf4 Rxf7 23.Nxe6
Qe5 0-1

Stonewall Attack

1. d4 d5 2. e3 with f2-f4

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

White hopes to strangle the centre with f4 then kick in the
King’s-side with Bf1-d3xh7+. It can work – if Black assumes there
is no danger! It’s also not a bad idea for Black, because White is
usually less defensive.

How to play against this opening

If you think about it, White is trying to attack without the
Bc1, and that means attacking without the Ra1! Because White has
been so obvious, Black can easily organise a defence. But you must
organise one – just developing without thinking will let White
carry out the plan. Don’t be in a hurry to castle into an
attack!

One nice idea is

2…Nf6 3. Bd3 Nc6!

Now:

4. f4 Nb4! 5. Be2 Bf5!

4. c3 e5!

If this is not your style, another nice idea is 3…g6, which
stops the Bxh7 trick, or play 3…Bg4 with the idea of …e6 and
…Bf5! or 3…g6 with the idea of …Bf5.

Oskum – Euwe Scheveningen, 1920

1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.f4 Bg4 6.Nf3 e6
7.Nbd2 Bd6 8.g3 Rc8 9.0-0 Nd7 10.Qe1 0-0 11.e4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Qb6
13.Qf2 e5 14.exd5 Ne7 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Be4 f5 17.Ne6 fxe4 18.Qxb6
Rxf1+ 19.Kxf1 axb6 20.Nxe4 Bb8 21.Nf4 Rd8 22.Be3 Nc4 23.Bd4 Bxf4
24.gxf4 Nxd5 25.b3 Nce3+ 26.Kf2 Nc2 27.Rg1 Nxd4 28.cxd4 Bf5 29.Kf3
Bxe4+ 30.Kxe4 Nc3+ 31.Kd3 Nb5 32.Kc4 Nxd4 33.Rd1 b5+ 0-1

Example game

Provaznik,M – Klimus,V [D00] Moravia op ch, 1994

1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 c5 4.c3 c4 5.Bc2 Nc6 6.f4 Bg4
7.Nf3 Qd7 8.0-0 e6 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.h3 Bh5 11.Qe1 Bg6 12.Bxg6 hxg6
13.Ne5 Qc7 14.Ndf3 Ne4 15.Bd2 Rh6 16.b3 Na5 17.b4 Nc6 18.Ng4 Rh7
19.Nge5 Bf6 20.Qb1 Bxe5 21.fxe5 Ne7 22.Qb2 Nf5 23.Rfe1 Nfg3 24.Reb1
g5 25.Nh2 f5 26.Be1 g4 27.Bxg3 Nxg3 28.hxg4 fxg4 29.Nxg4 Qf7 30.Nh2
Qh5 0-1

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. e4

+-----------------+

The idea behind the opening

White hopes that Black will take this Pawn and the f-Pawn,
giving White extra time and open lines for an attack.

This can work very well:

Sawyer T – Overman A [D00] corr USCF Golden Knights SF,
1990

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 g6 6.Bc4
Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe1 Nbd7 9.Qh4 e6 10.Bg5 Qe8 11.Rae1 c6 12.Ne5 Nd5
13.Ne4 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Kh8 15.Bxd5 1-0

How to play against this opening

This opening works so well because most club players are rubbish
at defence. So, to play against it, you either need to become
better at defence then accept the gambit, or decline it and hope
you haven’t let White get away with anything else.

If you play the French Defence as Black, there can be no arguing
with 2…e6 , transposing into your main defence to 1.e4.
Or, you can decline it with moves like 4…Bf5 or
4…e3 , or accept it with 4…exf3 5.
Nxf3

I have a feeling the best way is to take it, but don’t castle
into an attack, first have a hack at the White centre.

Example game

Drueke,V – Regis,D [D00] Section P01 BDG Email Tourney (1),
01.07.1997

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 e6 6.Bg5
Be7 7.Bd3 c5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.0-0 Qxc5+ 10.Kh1 Nbd7 11.Qe1
a6

We know have a little dance where Black tries to swap off
Queens, and White tries to trap the Black Queen. All this costs
White another Pawn.

12.Qh4 Qb4 13.Nd4 Qxb2 14.Nce2 Ne5 15.a4
Qb6

White thinks the time is right to blast a way through to the
Black King, but…

16.Rxf6 gxf6 0-1

…17. Bxf6 Qd8!

None of my own work: I read it all in a book.

Bruce Rowston at work

Posted on September 27, 1996 by DrDave

Mason,DR – Rowston,B [E15] East Devon Minor
#1, 1996

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3

The main line Queen’s Indian position.

4… d5

I can’t help thinking this is dubious, immediately
blocking the diagonal.

[4… Bb7]

[4… Ba6]

5. cxd5 exd5

[5… Nxd5 6. e4 Nf6 7. Bb5+ Nfd7 8. d5]

6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O

7… c5?!

A bit loose – no rush for this, White can’t stop it.

[7… Be7]

8. Bg5 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. e3 h6 12.
Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qb3

There is the looseness made plain.

13… Qb6

[13… Qd7 14. Rfd1 Rd8 +/- 15. Rac1 [15. Ne1] [15.
Ne4]]

14. Nxd5 Qxb3 15. Nxf6+ gxf6 16. axb3 Na6 17.
Rfd1 Rfd8 18. Nh4 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2

20… Nb4

Optically right – occupying the furthest outpost on a
file, in front of doubled isolated pawns – but strategically
mistaken: where’s the plan?

[20… Rb8 21. Rd3 c4 with counterplay]

21. Nf5 Kh7 22. Rd7 Kg6 23. g4 a5 24. Nd6 Nd3 25.
Nc4

[25. f4 Nxb2 26. f5+ Kg7

[26… Kg5 27. Kg3 a4 28. Nxf7#]

27. Rxf7+ Kg8 28. Rxf6]

25… Ne5 (sadly, probably best)
26. Nxe5+ fxe5 27. Rd5 Rb8 28. Rxe5 Rxb3 29. Rxc5 Rxb2

Black was sporting to resign here – I would have been rude enough
to play on, having been swindled in such positions myself.

1-0

Rowston,B – Sewell,G [A27] East Devon Minor
#2, 1996

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. O-O
O-O 7. Rb1 d6 8. h3 Bf5 9. d3 Qd7 10. Kh2 Rfe8 11. b4 a6 12. a4 e4
13. Ne1

Good – the exchange would come naturally to many players, but the
retreat is fine.

13… exd3 14. exd3

[14. Nxd3 Ng4+

[14… Be6 15. Nd5]

15. hxg4 Bxc3 16. gxf5]

14… h6 15. b5 axb5 16. axb5 Na5 17. Nc2 Ra7 18.
b6 cxb6 19. Rxb6 Nh7 20. Nd5 Ra6 21. Na3 Rxb6 22. Nxb6

White’s standard Queen’s-side attack has yielded only a little
pressure: White still has the b-pawn to pester.

22… Qe6

[22… Qd8]

23. g4!

Alert

23… Bxd3 24. Qxd3 Qe2 25. Qxe2 Rxe2 26. Nb5
Nxc4?? 27. Nxc4 Be5+

28. f4

[28. Nxe5 dxe5 29. Bxb7]

28… Bf6 29. Nbxd6 g5 30. fxg5 hxg5 31. Nxb7 Kg7
32. Nbd6 Nf8 33. Nf5+ Kg6 34. Ncd6 Ne6 35. Ne4 Nf4 36. Bxf4 gxf4
37. Nxf6 Kxf6 38. Rxf4 Kg5 39. Rf1 f6 40. Kg3 Rb2 41. h4+ Kg6 42.
h5+ Kg5 1-0

Rowston,B – Penrose,M [A00] East Devon
#3

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2
Nxc3 7. bxc3 O-O 8. O-O Nd7 9. d4

[9. Rb1]

9… c6

Pick a plan for White!

10. e3

[10. Rb1]

[10. Ba3]

10… Nb6 11. Qe2 Be6 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. c4 Rfd8 14.
Ba3 Rd7 15. Rac1 Rad8 16. Rfd1 Qb8 17. Nb3

Black sacrifices a two pieces for Rook and Pawn.
Nominally this is equal but this normally favours the pieces – here
Black may have been encouraged by the doubled Rooks, but they bite
on granite on d4 while the White Bishops are too powerful

17… Bxc4 18. Rxc4 Nxc4 19. Qxc4

19… b6?

Hugh Alexander had a pet generalisation that players only
make blunders in losing positions. I don’t know if Black is
actually lost but nothing seems attractive, while White has an
obvious plan of parking the Knight on c5.

[19… e5 is the only active plan for Black, but it
doesn’t look promising here

20. Nc5 [20. Bh3]

20. Bxc6 Rc8 21. Rc1 Bf8 22. Qe2 Rdc7 23. d5 e6
24. Bxf8 Kxf8 25. e4

White maintains his bind with some simple moves, which
must have been very disheartening for Black!

25… exd5 26. exd5 Re7 27. Qd2 Qd6 28. Nd4 a6
29. Bb7!

A move anyone would be proud of.

29… Rxc1+ 30. Qxc1 Qb4

[30… Rxb7 31. Qc8+ Kg7 32. Qxb7 Qb4 33. Nf3 wins
easily

31. Nf3 a5 32. Qc8+ Re8 33. Qc7 Qg4

[33… Re2 34. d6 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Qxa2! ]

34. d6 1-0

Greenhalgh,I – Rowston,B [] East Devon
#4

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Qe2+ Be7 5. h3
Nf6

6. Qd3

surely d4 first is the way to untangle

6… h6 7. c4 O-O 8. Be2 Nc6 9. a3 a5 10. O-O Be6
11. Qc2 Qd7 12. d3 Bd6 13. Nbd2 b6 14. b3 Rfe8 15. Re1 Nh5 16. Nf1
Nf4 17. Bb2

17… Nxg2

A move that surely deserves a cheer, but exact analysis
may sober the crowd a little.

18. Kxg2 Bxh3+ 19. Kg1??

just awful, allowing the Queen in with check.

[19. Kh1 and White should get out in one piece (or
with one more piece) 19… Qg4 20. Ng3

[20. Ne3 Rxe3 21. Rg1 Rxf3 22. Rxg4 +/-]

20… Bxg3 21. fxg3 +/- 21… Qxg3

[21… Qh5 22. Nh2]

22. Rg1]

19… Qg4+ 20. Ng3 Bxg3 21. fxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Kh1
Re5 [22… Qg2#] 0-1

Rowston,B – Day,L [] East Devon #5

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. d4 Bb4

A well-known position in the Nimzo-/Queen’s Indian complex

5. a3

But this is unusual – Black may take the knight without
prompting. 5.a3 is most dangerous when White has the plan f3 and e4
available. I think this is a ‘typical’ difference, in that I would
expect a Major player to have a concrete plan in mind

[5. g3] [5. Bg5] [5. Qb3]

5… Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 h6 over-cautious
7. Bf4

invites …d6/…e5

7… Bb7 8. e3

[8. Nd2 has f3 and e4 in mind ]

8… Ne4 9. Qc2 h5 10. h4 c5 11. Bd3 d5 12. cxd5
Qxd5 13. O-O c4 14. Bxe4 Qxe4 15. Qa4+ Qc6 16. Qxc6+ Bxc6 17.
Rfe1

White has an interesting alternative here

[17. Ne5 Bd5

[17… Bb5 18. a4 Ba6 19. Rfd1]

18. e4 Bxe4 19. Nxc4 Bd3 20. Nd6+ Ke7 21. Rfd1
Bc2]

17… Bxf3 18. gxf3 Nc6 19. a4 a5 20. Rab1 Ne7
21. e4 Ng6 22. Bg3 O-O 23. Rxb6 Rfe8 24. f4

White should press on with d4-d5, but this just buries the Bishop.]

24… Reb8 25. Reb1 Rxb6 26. Rxb6 Ne7 27. f3 Nc8
28. Rc6 Rb8 29. Rxc4 Nb6 30. Rc5 Nxa4 31. Rxa5 Nxc3 32. Kf2 g6 33.
Ke3 f5 34. Kd3 Nb5 35. Kc4

[35. Be1Kf7]

35… Nd6+ 36. Kc5

36… Nb7+ 0-1

[e.g. 36… Nb7+ 37. Kb5 Nxa5+ 38. Kxa5 Rb3 39. Bh2
Rxf3 40. e5 Rh3 41. Bg1 Rxh4 42. Be3 Rh3 43. Bc1 Rd3 44. Bb2 h4
+/=]

Two open games

Posted on September 22, 1996 by DrDave

From 200 Open Games by David Bronstein (DESCRIPTIVE)

The games, observations and stories are a joy. Here are two:

THE SCOURGE OF CHAMPIONS

White: F. Duz-Khotimirsky

Moscow 1954, match ‘Lokomotiv’ v. ‘Dinamo’

It is commonly thought that chess is a game for silent people. As soon as my opponent had played P-KB4 I suddenly heard an angry:

‘And I’m having no refusal! Accept the sacrifice! If you don’t take the pawn I won’t continue the game!‘

There was nothing I could do. I accepted the old maestro’s gambit.

Several moves later Duz-Khotimirsky played a hurried move and, whilst I was considering my reply, decided … to change his move.

The spectators gasped, the judges wanted to stop the clocks, but Fedor Ivanovich suddenly shouted at everyone:

‘What on earth is this? Look, I made a bad move and now I’m changing it for a good one. Rules, you say? To hell with your rules, this is chess. Besides, you don’t object?‘ said my opponent, turning to me.

‘Please, it’s my pleasure!‘

And the game went on as if nothing had happened.

F.I. Duz-Khotimirsky defeated at the international Chigorin Memorial Tournament in St. Petersburg in 1909 both first prize-winners – the world champion and the champion of Russia, Lasker and Rubinstein.

In his game with Em. Lasker he conducted a K-side attack with exceptional accuracy, and in his game with A. Rubinstein he took over the initiative with a cunning pawn move and forced his opponent to make an unfavourable combination.

These successes earned the veteran fame with the chess public for many years, and he was called none other than ‘the scourge of champions’.

   [Event "Moscow"] [Site "Moscow URS"] [Date "1954.??.??"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "?"] [Result "0-1"] [White "Fyodor Ivanovich Dus Chotimirsky"] [Black "David Bronstein"] [ECO "C39"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "38"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 d5 6. exd5 h6 7. Qe2+ Be7 8. Ne4 f5 9. Nf2 Nf6 10. d4 O-O 11. Bxf4 Nxd5 12. Qd2 Nxf4 13. Qxf4 Kg7 14. Be2 Re8 15. O-O Bd6 16. Qd2 Qxh4 17. Rd1 f4 18. Nc3 f3 19. gxf3 Qh2+ 0-1

THE THEORY OF MINOR MISTAKES

White: P. Trifunovic

Leningrad 1957, USSR v Yugoslavia

R. Fine expressed the view that a game would be lost in the last century after four mistakes, at the beginning of the present century only two, and in the middle of the 50’s only one mistake would be needed.

This inevitably suggests the conclusion that we are approaching the time when it will be possible to lose a game without making a single mistake!

The famous Grandmaster-journalist S.G. Tartakower warned us, not against making mistakes in general, but against making the last mistake, as he was convinced that the person who makes the last mistake loses the game. I should like to develop his idea.

Avoid minor mistakes! Most often he loses who makes the first minor mistake because it signifies the beginning of an incorrect strategical plan.

A quiet opening, an early exchange of queens, a leisurely … P-KN3 lulled Trifunovic’s imagination to sleep and when he saw that the black-squared bishop wanted to occupy the great KR1-QR8 diagonal, instead of the usual K2 square, he thought: why should I castle K-side? And he castled Q-side.

Two more minor mistakes followed on this one. First the KRP advanced one square, to make room for the bishop on KB4, and then the white bishop took advantage of this haven.

Three minor mistakes probably equal one full mistake.

   [Event "Soviet Union - Yugoslavia"] [Site "Leningrad URS"] [Date "1957.07.11"] [EventDate "1957.07.03"] [Round "6"] [Result "0-1"] [White "Petar Trifunovic"] [Black "David Bronstein"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "68"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Nbd7 8. Nc3 Qxe2+ 9. Bxe2 h6 10. Bf4 g6 11. O-O-O Bg7 12. h3 Nb6 13. Nd2 Nbd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bh2 O-O 16. Bf3 Nb4 17. a3 Nc6 18. c3 a5 19. Rhe1 Bd7 20. d4 b5 21. d5 Na7 22. Nb3 b4 23. axb4 axb4 24. cxb4 Rfb8 25. Re4 Ba4 26. Rd3 f5 27. Re7 Rxb4 28. Bd1 Rc4+ 29. Kb1 Nc8 30. Re6 Kf7 31. g4 Ne7 32. gxf5 Nxf5 33. Rf3 Rb8 34. Bc2 Rxc2 0-1

Hort,V – Rota [B07], Aachen/SW,16,18

Christ,R – Kljako,D [B07], it, Biel

Knippel,M – Stratmann,B [B08], NRW

Adams,M – Wolff,P [B07], London

Lane,G – Saucey,M [B07], Royan

Chacon,E – Blazquez,J. L [B07], Alicante

Georgiev,Kr – Feher,G [B30], Cappelle

Smirin,I – Nun,Ji [B30], Polanica

Bogumil – Sarosi [B30], Budapest

Lazarevic,M – Maric,D (6) Pula, 1990[B02]

Van der Vaeren – Savva, Haifa, 1989[A00]

Hill,S – Wright,A , ch-AUS/SW,5,18, 1989[B21]

Campora,D. H – Shirazi,A , Ch New York ( open ), 1989[B21]

Ekebjaerg,Ove (2580) – Van Manen,Gerben (2580) cr Blass-mem, 1990[B07]

Bareev – Norwood, Marseilles, 1990[B09]

Hodgson – Ady, Streatham Vs Ymca, London, 1981[B23]

Hebden – Large, British Ch’p, 1982[B21]

Plaskett – Howell, British Ch’p, 1983[B21]

Hodgson – Nunn, Aaronson Open, 1978[B23]

Smyslov – Romanishin, Moscow, 1976 [B23]

Attacking in the Queen-pawn openings: the Colle system

Landau – Book, Kemeri, 1937

Pillsbury – Amateur, Toronto, 1899

Colle – Stoltz, Bled, 1931

Colle – O’Hanlon, Nice Ol, 1930

Some Colle theory

Black gets into a little trouble with 4…e6.

Black’s Queen’s Knight should go to d7, supporting c5,e5 and f6

Black’s Queen’s Knight should not go to c6 but to d7

Black cannot develop fast enough to get in the …e5 counter in one move

Black can equalise by developing the Queen’s Bishop

Black can try to blunt the power of the Bd3 by …g6

But even if Black adopts the …g6 idea, the game need not be easy

Eliskases – Rosetto, Mar del Plata, 1950

NN-NN

Pillsbury,Harry N – Winawer, S (Budapest, 1896)

Campora,D. H – Shirazi,A , Ch New York ( open ),
1989[B21]

Ekebjaerg,Ove (2580) – Van Manen,Gerben (2580) cr
Blass-mem, 1990[B07]

Hodgson – Ady, Streatham Vs Ymca, London,
1981[B23]

Attacking in the Queen-pawn openings:
the Colle system

Some
Colle theory

Black’s Queen’s Knight should go to d7, supporting c5,e5
and f6

Black’s Queen’s Knight should not go to c6 but to
d7

Black cannot develop fast enough to get in the …e5
counter in one move

Black can equalise by developing the Queen’s
Bishop

Black can try to blunt the power of the Bd3 by
…g6

But even if Black adopts the …g6 idea, the game need
not be easy

Eliskases – Rosetto, Mar del
Plata, 1950