London (QP Openings Success)

8/8/2019 London (QP Openings Success)

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How to Succeed in the Queen Pawn Openings

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Contents

Overview 6

1.d4 d5 From Whites Point of View:

1.d4 d5 2.c4: 92Nf6 (the Marshall Defense) 102c5 (the Austrian Defense) 132Bf5 (the Baltic Defense) 162e5 (the Albin CounterGambit) 262Nc6 (the Chigorin Defense) 35

2e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 (the Schara Gambit) 372e6 3.Nc3 c5 Tarrasch variants 512c6 3.Nc3 e5 (the Winawer CounterGambit) 54

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3: 682Bg4 682Bf5 712Nc6 72


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1.d4 d5 From Blacks Point of View:

Closed Games 1.d4 d5: 76

2.e4 (BlackmarDiemer Gambit) 772.Bg5 (Levitsky Attack)85

1.d4 d5 2.c4: 952...e6 3.e4 (DiemerDuhm Gambit) 952.c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 (Tarrasch QGD Variants) 982e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 (Semi-Slav: Marshall Gambit) 108

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3: 118

2Nf6 3.Bg5 (Veresov) 1192Nf6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Bf4 (Barry) 121

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6: 1273.Bg5 (PseudoTorre) 1273.Bf4 (PseudoLondon) 132

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6:3.Bg5 (Torre Attack) 1303.Bf4 (London System) 1353.e3 (Main Colle/Stonewall Systems) 1403.e3 (Other Colle/Stonewall Systems) 1483.e3 Bg4 4.c4 (Pseudo-Queens Gambit) 156

1.d4 d5 2.e3 (Pure Stonewall) 1611.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 1641.d4 d5 2.Bf4 (Accelerated London System) 169


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Overview

This chess book is meant to replace a host of other chess books. It provides you

with practical ways to play against a wide number of chess openings so that youdont have to buy specialized books about each one. Who has the time to read allthose books anyway? Even if you did, do you want to look through them (often invain to pic out somet ing to p ay? Instea , we suggest straig t orwar an in mostcases easytolearn answers to each opening system. How to Succeed in the Queen

awn Openings is aimed all the way from average players to experienced ones in-terested in strengthening their opening repertoire. We think that it will also increaseyour understanding of chess in general. The emphasis is upon achieving a safe andpromising game, hopefully a favorable one but in any case one that is comfortable top ay.

The general idea behind this project is easy to understand, but the details maynee some exp anation. W at is covere ere? T e s ort answer is t at we give sug-

gestions to meet systems t at ot p ayers o W ite an B ac must ace a ter t emoves 1.d4 d5. These systems are either lesserplayed ones (known as irregularopenings) or they are fully legitimate and normal ones that constitute obstructionsto reaching the very main lines. We want to show both those who play 1.d4 andthose who play 1d5 how to handle such openings without having to invest moretime in doing so than is absolutely necessary. This requires specific choices aboutw ic openings qua i y or consi eration. We ave emp asize c ess variations t atyou will actually see over the board rather than an abstract list of obscure possibili-ties. At the same time we make sure that we cover anything that must be known inorder to reach your desired main line opening. Which main line openings wouldthat include? For one, the traditional Queens Gambit Declined Variations, e.g., thepositions after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6, including those after 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 and 3.Nc3 c54.cx 5 ex 5. Secon y, t e Queen s Gam it Accepte wit 1. 4 5 2.c4 xc4. An-other main line is the Slav Defense 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. These three openings have beenmajor systems for well more than 50 years they are examined in depth in seeminglyendless books and articles and we couldnt begin to present the extensive materialon them in a single volume. But any player will tell you that to arrive at their favoritemain line variation is not so easy, whether playing White or Black. In fact, a commoncomp aint o stu ents an amateurs is t at t ey never get to p ay t e main openingthat theyve studied!

Let s examine w at t is means i you re on t e W ite si e o 1. 4 5. You mayave a ri iant new i ea against a main o t e S av De ense, or examp e, a ter 1. 4

d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4. But in actual tournament or match play you keep

running up against such things as 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 or 2Bf5. Or Black may answer1.d4 d5 2.c4 with 2e5, a gambit that has gained considerable popularity of late.

ven within openings like the Queens Gambit Declined, certain variations couldtake you by surprise, for example, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c5. Or, when Blackp ays t e venera e Tarrasc De ense a ter 1. 4 5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5, W ite s ou


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know something about 4.cxd5 cxd4, by which Black gives up a pawn in return for adangerous attack. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5 is another bothersome gambit. These sortsof lines can be irritating how can you study everything? In order to be well pre-

pared as White you would have to pore through books on each individual opening.T is is w ere we come in, trying to supp y you wit straig t orwar ways to meetthese variations.

From B ac s point o view t e situation is a so not easy. Suppose, or examp e,that youd like to get to the position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3OO 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6. That is called the Tartakower Defense and it has been playedby nearly every modern world champion as well as many other great players in eachgeneration. So you have studied that position carefully and are eager to play it. Buthow often will you get that far? There are all kinds of annoying obstacles. Right off,W ite can t row you a oop y p aying 1. 4 5 2.Bg5 or 2.Nc3. In t e atter case youalso have to deal with things like 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5, 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3

g6 4.Bf4, 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.e4, or all kinds of odd move orders. Then there is a populargambit by 1.d4 d5 2.e4, or White might play a move like 2.e3, intending to follow upwith Nf3, Bd3 and c3, or maybe even the move f4 at some point. Finally, Black hasto be able to react to various ideas if White avoids 1.d4 d5 2.c4 by 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 ando ows up wit 3.B 4 or 3.e3.

And on it goes. Not every possible infrequent or unconventional move order canbe looked at, naturally, but we will examine the most important of them and par-ticu ar y t e ones t at you wi i e y see w en you get to t e oar an start t egame. You will see that our solutions will generally be outside of main line theory.Against systems that are not tactically critical we try to keep these solutions simple,not guaranteeing an advantage every time (in some cases thats impossible) but giv-ing you a practical setup requiring minimal study. At other times we may suggest

something that is sound and fun to play, whether or not it is the solution that a 2700Gran master mig t use to get a tiny tec nica a vantage. Fina y, we recognize t atsuccess against certain ultrasharp systems simply demands that you learn somecomplex material by heart, or at least become extremely familiar with the basic tacti-cal and positional themes that characterize the variations. Regardless of the level ofcomplexity, we include a lot of extra games and analyses as reference material. Theyare not meant to be memorized! The idea is that you can come back to this referencemateria an compare it wit w at appens in your own games.

Often two reasonable answers are given against the most important openings be-cause you mig t pre er a particu ar sty e o p aying. For examp e, sometimes t e estanswer to a reasona y soun irregu ar opening mig t require a comp ex an precise

response with some memorization required. But in that case we will also offer a sec-ond and simpler variation against the same opening, hopefully one that defuses theenemy attack and achieves an acceptable game or better.

The specific explanations in each section should help you assimilate the material..At the end of the book we have supplied grids which visually present an overview


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of the most important moves that you have studied. This should help you to remem-ber what has been shown while avoiding the clutter of notes and lesser alternatives.

ore advanced players will gain from the analytical details, which are based upon

extensive research and both human and computer evaluations. The authors arecon ent t at i you stu y t e materia in t is oo you won t ave many pro emsdealing with the surprises your opponent may pull on you.


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Against the London System

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4

This is a more common order for White than after 2e6 3.Bf4 (see the previouschapter). We look at a line where Black immediately challenges the center and triesto exp oit t e a sence o W ite s is op rom t e queensi e.

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osition after 3.Bf4

3c5

Now White has two main ways to protect his center A.4.e3 B.4.c3.

If he gives up the center by 4.dxc5, the position after 4e6 (4Na6 is anotherway to recover the pawn) 5.e3 Bxc5 is pefectly fine for Black due to the odd positionof the bishop on f4 instead of c1 or g5. As Prie points out, a reversed Slav Defensecan arise after 6.Nbd2 (6.c4 is more or less like a Queens Gambit Accepted with

reversed colors, except that Whites bishop really isnt wellplaced of f4) 6Nc67.c3. T is correspon s to 1. 4 5 2.c4 c6 3.N 3 N 6 4.Nc3 xc4 5.a4 B 5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4N 7. In our position B ac is on y missing t e move a5, ut Prie points out t atomitting that move is a genuine bonus!

You t in t at t e main i ea e in 4. xc5 s ou e 4e6 5. 4!?, w en W itefeels that with so many pieces out he can be greedy. But his pawns are still exposedand unfortunately, Blacks play is effective after 5a5 6.c3 axb4 7.cxb4 (7.Bxb8?Rxb8 8.cxb4 b6! 9.Nd4 Qd7 10.Qc2 bxc5 11.bxc5 Ne4 12.Nb3 Qa4! 13.Nc3 Qb4 14.Rc1Bd7 15.Nd2 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Bxc5 17.e3 Qa3! 18.Nb1 Qa7 19.a3 Bb6! and White islost, WochnikAlves, WCup12 corr ICCF email 2000) 7Nc6 8.Qb3 (8.Bd2 Ne4!9.a4 (9.e3? Q 6) 9 6 10.cx 6 Qx 6 11.e3 Nx 2 12.N x 2 Bx 4. Wea is 8. 5? Qa5+

9.Nbd2 Qxb5) 8b6 9.e3 (9.cxb6 Bxb4+ 10.Bd2 Qxb6) 9bxc5 10.Bb5 Bd7 11.bxc5Bxc5 12.OO OO and Black holds an edge due to his center (analysis by Eric Prie).

A) 4.e3

This can be difficult for White because he hasnt made any preparation to answer


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lacks attack by Qb6. Therefore most players play c3 on their 3rd or 4th moves.

4Qb6

Another good order is 4Nc6 , when 5.c3 Qb6 (5Bg4 6.Nbd2 e6=) 6.Qb3 trans-poses to 4.c3 below, and 6.Qc1 Bf5 followed by ..Rc8 and cxd4 is already tough forW ite to meet.,

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llllllllPosition after 4Qb6

5.Qc1

5.b3 weakens Whites queenside dark squares, for example, 5Nc6 6.Be2 (6.h3versus Nh5 6Ne4!? 7.Be2 cxd4 8.exd4 e5! 9.Bxe5 Bb4+ 10.Kf1 Nxe5 11.Nxe5O and Whites poor king combined with Blacks development and bishops makes

his life miserable) 6cxd4 (or 6Bg4 7.c3 e6+= 6Nh5 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 cxd4 9.Nxd44! is a cute tric , or examp e, 10.ex 4 10.Nxc6 Nxg2+ 11.K 1 Nx 4 10Nx 4

11.OO g5! 12.fxg5 hxg5 13.Bxg5 Qc7! atacking h2 and c2, but also preparing a dev-astating Bg7 or Qe5.) 7.exd4 Bg4 8.c3 e6 9.OO Rc8 10.h3 Bf5! and the c3 pawn isweak.

5Nc6 6.dxc5

White would like to avoid 6.c3 Nh5!

6Qxc5 7.Be2 Bg4


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Position a ter 7Bg4

B ac as a promising game:

8.Nbd2

Otherwise Black can advance the epawn effectively: 8.OO?! e5! or 8.h3?! Bxf39.Bxf3 e5.

8e6 9.Nb3 Qb6

10.c3

Avoiding 10.OO e5!, which succeeds because Whites bishop on e2 is undefend-ed.

10h6 11.Qc2 Be7 12.OO OO 13.Nbd4 Nxd4 14.exd4 Rac8

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Position after 14Rac8

Black has genuine pressure. The immediate threat is ...Bxf3 and ...Qxd4, butmoves like ...Bf5 and ...Ne4 are irritating to meet.

B. 4.c3.

Here White wants to meet Qb6 without loss of time:


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llllllllPosition a ter 4.c3

4Qb6 5.Qb3!?

But t is is not ing to e a rai o . Norma y neit er si e wants to exc angequeens and open up the opponents afile, but Black will often force this by playingc4.

5Nc6 6.e3

White also has:

(a) 6.Qxb6?! axb6 7.Bc7!?. This looks like it might win the bpawn or tie Black down,but Black can react actively by 7cxd4 (in fact, even 7b5 8.dxc5 b4! worked well inStentebjergGranberg, corres 1982: 8.e3 e6 9.Bd6 Ne4! etc.) 8.Nxd4! (not 8.cxd4? Nb4!9.Kd1 Ne4! 10.Bg3 Nxa2 threatening Nc3+ 11.Na3 Nb4 12.e3 Bd7 and Black

as a c ear a vantage. He s t reatening Ba4+, ut 13. 3 is terri e a ter 13Nc3+14.Kc1 e5! 15.Kb2 Nba2! 16.Nc2 e4 17.Ng1 Rc8 18.Ne2 h5! 19.h4 Rh6! and Rhc6)Nxd4 9.cxd4 e6 , for example, 10.Bxb6 (10.f3 Bd7 11.Bxb6 Bb4+ 12.Kf2 OO with

Whites bishop marooned on b6 while Black is way ahead in development.) 10b4+ 11.Nc3 Ne4 12.Rc1 Rxa2!

(b) 6.dxc5 gives up the center: 6Qxc5 7.e3 g6! 8.Nbd2 Bg7 9.h3 OO 10.Be2 Nd7!intending e5, RicartPrie, Montpellier Masters 1998.

6 c4!? 7.Qxb6

Otherwise White gets kicked around after 7.Qc2 Bf5! 8.Qc1 (8.Qxf5? Qxb2) 8h6to avoi N 4 i eas: instea , 8N 5 9.Bg5 6 10.B 4 g5 11.Bg3 was Semeniu ublevsky, Russia 1991 and now Kaufman suggests 11Bg7 12.Nbd2 Nxg3 13.hxg3

O intending 14.b3!? cxb3 15.axb3 Rac8 16.Qa3 e5! with superior developmentand pressure on the cpawn) 9.h3 e6 10.Nbd2 Qd8 11.Be2 (11.g4 Bh7 12.Ne5 Nxe513.Bxe5 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Bg2 OO 16.OO Bd3 and Black had good pressurein KljakoZelcic, Pula 2002) 11b5! 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bd6 and Black had a nicequeensi e attac in Gonza ez MazaPrie, O ot 2005.


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7axb6

This is a wellknown position in which Black has the idea b5b4, often followedby b5 and b4 again! For example,

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osition after 7...axb6

8.Nbd2

W ite can get into trou e a ter 8.Na3 Ra5 possi y more accurate is 8e6 9.N 5Ra5! 10.Nd6+ Bxd6 11.Bxd6 Ne4 9.Bc7!? (Prie analyzes 9.Be2 e5! 10.dxe5 Bxa3 11.bxa3Ne4, or here 10.Nxe5 Bxa3 11.bxa3 Rxa3!) 9Bf5 10.Bb6 Ra6 11.Bc7 Kd7 (or 11e6,leading to equality according to Prie) 12.Nb5! e6 with doubleedged play, LegkiCvetkovic, Vrnjacka Banja 1989.

8b5 9.Be2

9.a3 allows 9b4! 10.cxb4 Nxb4 with a ferocious initiative: 11.Rb1 Bf5! 12.axb4

Bx 1 13.Nx 1 Ra1 14.N 2 e6 15.K 1 Bx 4 16.Kc2 Ke7 an t e ot er roo comes toa8.)

9Bf5 10.OO e6 11.Ne5!

White has equalized only by playing very accurately. Worse for him is 11.a3 h612.h3 Be7.

11Be7 12.Ndf3 OO and the game is equal.

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London (QP Openings Success)