Giuoco Piano
Another option for White's move four in the Italian Game, which starts l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5, This is quite a direct attempt by White to grab the center. Just as in the Evans Gambit, White insists on playing d2-d4, which attacks the e5 pawn and, as an added bonus, the c5-Bishop. This move is known as the Giuoco Piano. Black is quick to respond in the center too The position in Diagram 26 makes a very agreeable impression. White's two central e4- and d4-pawns create a formation called the...
Closed Catalan Variation continued
While the Dutch Stonewall is an intriguing defense, most players prefer not to commit their f-pawn so early. In the Closed Catalan l.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c6 4.Qc2 Nf6 , Black aims for quiet development. Both players aim to complete their development. Black has a problem of what to do with the c8-Bishop. It's stuck inside his pawn chain, blocked behind the e6-pawn, as shown in Diagram 60. _ _ A Quiz. How would you try to activate the c8-Bishop The solution is at the end of this chapter.
Grunfeld Defense Bf
This last look at the Grunfeld features another logical move that ignores the action in the center White develops his Bishop and targets the c7-pawn. This is crucial to White's opening strategy. The Bishop is developed outside of the pawn chain and reinforces the d4-pawn. Diagram 197 shows the position, with Black hav- ing to choose between 5 c6, 5 c5, and 5 O-O. 5 c6 This passive move doesn't suit the nature of the Grunfeld Defense. White can trade by 6.cxd5 cxd5, with a favorable Exchange...
CaroKann Defense
In the Scandinavian and French Defenses, Black attacks the e4-pawn with his d5-pawn. The drawback to the Scandinavian is that the Queen is brought out too quickly, whereas in the French Defense, Black suffers from a cramped c8-Bishop. The Caro-Kann Defense intends to attack the e4-pawn without these disadvantages. 1 .e4 c6 Black gives his d-pawn added support in advance. 2.d4 d5 These moves distinguish the Caro-Kann, as shown in Diagram 86. The Caro-Kann has been embraced by Mikhail Botvinnik...
Leningrad Variation
If Black is going to pin White's Knight, it's only fair that White might return the favor l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5 White pins Black's Knight and hopes to play e2-e4 in the near future. This line is called the Leningrad Variation, and it was a great favorite of former World Champion Boris Spassky. Now that Black has traded away his dark squared Bishop, he quickly puts his center pawns on the dark squares where they will not obstruct his c8-Bishop. White has to go slowly in the center....
Exchange Variation 1
If White wants to play a more open game, the Exchange Variation is the ticket l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 These moves, shown in Diagram 89, open the game a bit. White hopes that having an extra move will give him an advantage. Black is happy to trade away his c6-pawn for Whites e4-pawn. White has to make a choice of whether to play c2-c4, attacking the d5-pawn, or whether he would prefer c2-c3 and a quiet existence. Exchange Variation, Rubinstein Variation Once more we have an opening variation...
Solution to the King Pawn Opening
_ fter discovering the solidity of building a house in chess, I became attracted to the very same formations against White's King Pawn Opening. This time, however, the ideas were far more tricky for me than in a Barcza Opening and a King's Indian Defense KID . In time, I learned to play the Pirc Defense, which became a career defense that I still use to this day. The opening move order is quite important for Black as a single mistake can give him a bad game. The opening moves are 1 ,e4 d6 Black...
Czech Benoni Defense
If Black is unhappy about giving White a central majority, he can absolutely lock up the center using a Czech Benoni l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Instead of challenging White's d5-pawn, Black's e-pawn whizzes right by it. The center now becomes totally blockaded 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 Be7 Diagram 152 shows he starting position of the Czech Benoni Defense. White has a fine wedge in the center which cramps Black pieces, but how will he further exploit it With the center so locked, play on the flanks becomes all...
Geller Quiet System h
This is a far more useful move. White makes luft and prevents annoyances from happening on the g4-square, by l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 White also is set to play 8.e5 dxe5 9.dxe5, forcing the f6-Knight to retreat. 7 Nbd 7 Black concedes that b7-b5 is not yet a threat. Black stands badly after 7 .b5 8.e5 dxe5 9.Nxe5, when Be2-f3 gives White strong pressure. Otherwise Black will play .e7-e5. Kasparov as Black has faced 8.Bf4 Qa5 9.Qd2 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 ll.Bh6 Re8 and...
Grunfeld Defense
The last modern defense against the Queen Pawn Opening I consider in this survey is the Grunfeld Defense. More than any other modern defensive scheme, the Grunfeld typifies piece play for Black and occupation of the center by White. The opening moves are l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 2 g6 This time Black decides to fianchetto his own King's Bishop. 3.Nc3 White is ready to play e2-e4 with central domination. 3 d5 Black makes a surprising move by striking in the center. It is Black's third move that initiates...
Closed French Defense
If Black tries to occupy the center, but doesn't want to weaken his d5-square, he can try a different formation l.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 Black is happy with his central gains and plays to strengthen his center. The position is shown in Diagram 209. By now White's play should be quite familiar. He will again use his e-pawn as a battering ram. 7.e4 O-O As White, this was one of Bobby Fischer's favorite positions, which he used to score a number of fine wins. While the center is not locked, it...
Austrian Attack e
The central push seems logical, but Black should be happy because he can chip away at White's center l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O Black is forced to retreat, but in so doing opens the way for his g7-Bishop. Black's central focus will be the e5-pawn, and he'll use c7-c5 to undermine White's central support. White develops and tries to restrain the c7-c5 break. White has tried 7.Bc4, 7.Bd3, and 7.h4, but in each case 7 .c5 gives Black good counterplay. 12.Bc5 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ne4...
Pawn Storm Variation
The most dangerous weapon in White's arsenal to try to defeat the Benoni is an immediate Pawn Storm Variation l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 White immediately expands in the center. One of Black's aims in the Benoni, as in the Benko Gambit, is to fianchetto his f8-Bishop where it might be more active on the long diagonal. Black starts this strategy now. White is planning to blow away the f6-Knight with e4-e5. This is an important intermezzo move. White would like to play...
Queens Indian Defense Main Line
The most popular way for White to meet the Queen's Indian is to fian-chetto his own Bishop l.d4 Nffi 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 White reasons that if Black just tries to play with his pieces, his position will invariably become cramped. At some point, Black will have to commit his central pawns in the meantime, White has a safe haven for his King on the Kingside. 4 Bb 7 An entirely different idea of the Queen's Indian is for Black to change his approach and target the c4-pawn. Black reasons that if...
Pire Defense Be
Diagram 233 shows White's belligerent move. It's appalling that White decides to storm the house before the Black King even makes it to the Kingside. White's intentions are as clear as they are aggressive. He will push his h-pawn and rip open the Kingside. It would now be a grievous error for Black to play 5 O-O, for as they say in chess parlance, Black would castle into it. And by it, they mean a bone-crunching attack. After White's fifth move, Black should definitely be put off from castling...
Grau Variation
While the QGD is a solid defensive choice, players have looked for ways of activating their c8-Bishop before committing their e-pawn. The most common tries for Black are 2 Bf5 the Grau Variation and 2 Nc6 the Chigorin Defense . The Grau Variation begins l.d4 d5 2.c4 2 Bf5 Black develops a Bishop and controls the sweet center, but this move has a tactical drawback that earns White an advantage. This allows a moment to introduce another opening principle Develop your Knights before developing...
Paulsen Sicilian Reti Variation
One of the ways that White should consider punishing Black's move order is by l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 As shown in Diagram 123, Black has not provoked Nbl-c3 by Ng8-f6, and thus White's c2-pawn can stake a claim to the sweet center. This move introduces the Reti Variation. White aims to keep both the breaks .b7-b5 and .d7-d5 from being played. Black exerts pressure on the e4-pawn. 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Bc2 White has the superior position due to his central control. In this final look at...
Open Catalan Variation
Deciding to capture the c4-pawn is a sensible reaction because the c4-pawn lacks protection. 3 dxc4 White intends to recapture the pawn soon. First he completes the fian-chetto White shouldn't be too anxious to recapture the pawn 4.Qa4 Bd7 5.Qxc4 Bc6 6.Nf3 Bxf3 7.exf3 Nc6 8.Be3 Qd5 leaves a fine game for Black. 4 Nf6 Black proceeds with his development. He can also consider 4 c5 5.Qa4 Bd7 6.Qxc4 Bc6 with approximate equality. After 5.Qa4 Nbd7 6.Qxc4 c5, it is highly likely that the game will...
Yasser Seirawan versus Unknown Unfriendly Foe
Follow my moves in silent fascination. Why this mistaken move Actually I wasn't sure what to do. Of the chorus this one little pawn seemed to cry loudest. I make this pass move as I had already discovered a brilliant strategy, which I will soon reveal. 1 d5 My more experienced opponent makes a very reasonable move. This was my brilliant discovery I would merely duplicate my opponent's move, thereby negating the need for any thought on my part. Clever, no I would keep a careful eye on my...
Chigorin Defense
An altogether different and tricky problem is presented by the Chigorin Defense l.d4 d5 2.c4 2 Nc6 Black plays for piece play and an open game. Unconcerned with the fight for the d5-square, Black plays for a counterattack against the d4-pawn and seeks to play .e7-e5 with an explosion in the center. White s most reliable reaction is to cover the e5-square. Black intensifies the fight for the e5-square. White strips Black of his central bulwark. Black must play energetically to stay in the...
Geller Quiet System Pirc Defense Main Line
Russian Grandmaster Efim Geller is a first-class attacker of the highest order. He is one of the few players in the world to have a better score against Bobby Fischer. When such a bold player devises a quiet line against the Pirc Defense, you just know that things are boiling below the surface. Play begins with a fundamentally principled move in which White develops his Knight to its best square l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.0-0 Diagram 235 shows the starting position of...
Najdorf Variation Polugaevsky Variation
Yet another vexing continuation of the Sicilian Najdorf is the Polugaevsky Variation l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 7...b5 Russian grandmaster Lev Polugaevsky devised this monstrous move, shown in Diagram 116. Black is not oblivious to White s threat of e4-e5 on the contrary, he encourages it. Furthermore, Black shows his intention to start his own counterattack with ...b5-b4, pushing away the nicely placed c3-Knight. What arrogance White accepts the challenge This...
Winawer Variation
Today most French Defense players prefer to play the Winawer Variation l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 3...Bb4 Black pins the Knight and threatens to capture the e-pawn. In most variations of the Winawer, Black will trade his Bishop for the c3-Knight and double White s Queenside pawns. The strategic plans for both sides require study and experience. 4.e5 White advances in the center to grab as much space as he can. He can also play 4.exd5 exd5, transposing into an Exchange French with Black having...