Four opening systems to start with

A repertoire for young players from 8 to 80

cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rhb1kgn4} (RHBIQGN$}
70p0pDp0p} 7)P)w)P)P}
6wDwDwDwD} 3wDwDwDwD}
5DwDw0wDw} &dwDPDwDw}
&wDwDPDwD} 5wDwDwdwD}
3DwDwDwDw} 6dwDpDwDw}
2P)P)w)P)} 2p0pdp0p0}
%$NGQIBHR} %4ngk1bhr}
v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
(RHBIQGw$}
7)P)Pdw)P}
&wDw)wDwD} 3wDwDwHwD}
3dwHBDNDw} &dwDw)PDw}
2P)wDw)P)} 5wDwDp0wD}
%$wGQ$wIw} 6dwDpDwDw}
v,./9EFJMV 2p0pdwdp0}
%4ngk1bhr}
vMJFE9/.,V

A public domain e-book

[Summary Version]
Dr. David Regis
Exeter Chess Club
 Contents

 Introduction................................................................................................ 4

PLAYING WHITE WITH 1.E4 E5.................................................................................. 6
 Scotch Gambit ............................................................................................ 8
 Italian Game (Giuoco Piano) ....................................................................10
 Two Knights' Defence ................................................................................12
 Evans' Gambit............................................................................................14
 Petroff Defence..........................................................................................16
 Latvian Gambit ..........................................................................................18
 Elephant Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5..........................................................19
 Philidor Defence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 ...........................................................20

PLAYING WHITE WITH 1.E4 AND BLACK AVOIDS 1...E5 ...................................................21
 IQP positions .............................................................................................21
 Sicilian Defence .........................................................................................22
 Caro Kann Defence ....................................................................................24
 Alekhin's Defence......................................................................................26
 Scandinavian Defence ...............................................................................27
 Pirc, Czech and Modern defences.............................................................28

PLAYING BLACK AGAINST 1.E4 .................................................................................29
 French Defence..........................................................................................30

PLAYING WHITE AGAINST THE FRENCH: .......................................................................35

PLAYING BLACK AGAINST 1.D4 .................................................................................35
 Tarrasch Defence.......................................................................................36
 von Hennig-Schara Gambit ........................................................................38
 1.d4 without 2.c4: the Colle/Stonewall/London systems...........................39

PLAYING BLACK AGAINST 1.D4 – A SECOND SYSTEM.......................................................41
 All-purpose System against Queen's-side openings..................................41

PLAYING BLACK AGAINST 1.D4 – A THIRD SYSTEM .........................................................42
 Dutch Stonewall ........................................................................................42

SUMMARY OF LINES ..............................................................................................43

INDEX OF GAMES .................................................................................................49
Introduction

This booklet gives you a repertoire

to play when you are starting out
in chess. It also gives you some
alternatives if for some reason
you don't like my first choice.

cuuuuuuuuC
The core of the repertoire is to (rDb1kgn4}
play as White the Scotch Gambit. 70p0pDp0p}
We're going to play the Italian 6wDnDwDwD}
Game, like the eighteeenth- 5DwDwDwDw}
century players of Modena, del &wDB0PDwD}
Rio, Ponziani, and Lolli, aiming at 3DwDwDNDw}
fast development and a quick 2P)PDw)P)}
attack. They were a bit fed up
with Philidor telling people to
%$NGQIwDR}
stodge about. No stodge here! v,./9EFJMV

When Black doesn't play 1...e5,

you can steer for Isolated Queen's &wDw)wDwD}
Pawn positions. These occur 3DwHBDNDw}
quite often in chess, so it's good 2P)wDw)P)}
to know how to play these. %$wGQ$wIw}
v,./9EFJMV
 cuuuuuuuuC
As Black against 1.e4, I think you %RHBIQGN$}
should play the French Defence. 2)P)w)P)P}
3wDwDwDwD}
&dwDPDwDw}
If you're not keen on the French, by
all means play the Two Knights'
5wDwDwdwD}
Defence against the Italian-style 6dwDpDwDw}
systems. You'll also need a system 7p0pdp0p0}
to play against the Ruy Lopez and (4ngk1bhr}
other openings. vMJFE9/.,V
cuuuuuuuuC
As Black against 1.d4, I think you %wIRDQDw$}
can get a good game by playing 2)B)PDw)P}
the Tarrasch Defence, which often 3w)wGwHwD}
leads to IQP positions. &DwDwHwDw}
5wDwDpDwD}
60whwDnDw}
7w0pgwDp0}
(DkDr1bDr}
vMJFE9/.,V
I have selected these systems "A knowledge of tactics is the
with some key ideas in mind, of foundation of positional play. This is
which this is the most important: a rule that has stood its test in chess
history and one which we cannot
impress forcibly enough upon the
You will notice that I recommend young chess player.
the French Defence for Black,
which Réti says to avoid! But not "A beginner should avoid the
everyone likes to play risky lines Queen's Gambit and French Defence
of the Italian Game (like the Two and play open games instead! While
Knights') as Black. And I happen he may not win as many games at
first, he will in the long run be amply
to think that the French Defence
compensated by acquiring a
is easier to play for Black than for thorough knowledge of the game."
White. That's my second big idea:
the systems should be easy for - Richard Réti, Masters of the
you to understand. Chessboard

Playing White with 1.e4 e5
There are five key ideas: cuuuuuuuuC
 (1) Fast development
(rhb1n4kD}
Stein – Langeweg Plovdiv Echt [C55] 1983
70pDpgp0p}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
6wDw0wDwD}
5.c3 Nf6 6.O-O Nxe4 7.cxd4 Be7 8.d5 5DwDwDwDw}
Nb8 9.Re1 Nd6 10.Bd3 O-O 11.Nc3 Ne8 &wDwDwDwD}
The Bxh7 sacrifice suggests itself, 3DwHBDNDw}
but White first uses a blockading 2P)wDw)P)}
sacrifice of a pawn %$wGQ$wIw}
12.d6 cxd6 U!(DIAGRAM) v,./9EFJMV
The White pieces now have the d5 point for launching, while Black will
find it very hard to unravel even if the attack falters 13.Bxh7+ usually
this is impossible when the bB is on e7 13...Kxh7 14.Rxe7 Qxe7 15.Nd5 1-0
[15..Qd8 16.Ng5+ Kg6 17.Nf4+ Kxg5 18.h4+ Kf6 19.Qd4+ Kf5 20.Qd5+ Kf6 21.Qg5#]
 (2) Control of the centre
cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbiw1n4}
Morphy-Cunningham [C54] London, 1859
7Dp0pDp0p}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 Qe7 7.O-O Ng8 8.cxd4
6w0wDwDwD}
Bb6 9.d5 Qc5 10.Na3 Nd4 11.Be3 5DNDP)wDw}
Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3 Qf8 13.Bxb6 axb6 &wDBDwDwD}
14.Nb5 Kd8 15.Rac1 U 3DwDwDQDw}
15...d6 16.exd6 cxd6 17.Qe3 Ra6 2P)wDw)P)}
18.Nc7 Qe7 19.Ne6+ fxe6 20.Bxa6 Bd7 %Dw$wDRIw}
21.Bb5 Ke8 22.dxe6 Nf6 23.Rc8+ 1-0 v,./9EFJMV
 (3) Early castling and bringing
cuuuuuuuuC
the Rook into play (rDb1kDw4}
Wong-Mathewson [C55] Sunnyvale, 1978
70p0pDw0w}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
6wDnDwhw0}
5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 Ne4 7.Bd5 f5 8.exf6 Nxf6 5DwgBDwGw}
9.Bg5 h6 10.Re1+ U &wDw0wDwD}
10...Be7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 3DwDwDNDw}
13.Qh5+ 1-0 2P)PDw)P)}
%$NDQ$wIw}
v,./9EFJMV
 (4) Hope to catch Black's King
cuuuuuuuuC
in the middle (rDwDkDwD}
Romero Holmes,A-Estremera Panos,S
70p0wDp4p}
[C54] Leon, 1989 6wDwDbGwD}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5hPDwDwDw}
5.c3 Nf6 6.b4 Bb6 7.e5 d5 8.exf6 dxc4 &wDpDwDwD}
9.b5 Na5 10.Qe2+ Be6 11.fxg7 Rg8 3!wDwDwDw}
12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.cxd4 Qxd4 14.Bb2 2PDwHw)q)}
Qd3 15.Bf6 Qg6 16.Qf3 Rxg7 17.Nd2
Qxg2 18.Qa3 1-0 U
%$wDwIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
 (5) Look out for tactics:
cuuuuuuuuC
(rDwDkDw4}
Koltanowski,G – Hutchason,C [C55]
San Francisco, 1960 70p0wDp0p}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 6wDnDb1wD}
5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ 5DwgwDwHw}
Be6 9.Ng5 Qxf6 U &wDp0wDwD}
10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Qh5+ 1-0 3DwDwDwDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
%$NGQ$wIw}
v,./9EFJMV
 More tactics...
cuuuuuuuuC
Think for both sides!
(rDwDkgw4}
70p0wDp0p}
Breivik,T-Valeinis,J [C56] NOR U18 1998
6wDnDbDwD}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 51wDwDwDw}
5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5
8.Nc3 Qa5 9.Nxe4 Be6 U
&wDw0NDwD}
10.Nxd4?? Nxd4 0-1
3DwDwDNDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
(11.Qxd4 Qxe1#) %$wGQ$wIw}
Instead, 10.Bd2 and 11.Neg5 is better. v,./9EFJMV
So, that's what you're after as White. Your pieces come to the same
sorts of squares in each game and Black must be very careful not to
get into trouble.
Scotch Gambit cuuuuuuuuC
White develops as fast as possible
(rDb1kgn4}
and tempts Black to be greedy. 70p0pDp0p}
1.e4 e5 6wDnDwDwD}
2.Nf3 Nc6
5DwDwDwDw}
3.d4 exd4
&wDB0PDwD}
3DwDwDNDw}
4.Bc4 U
2P)PDw)P)}
%$NGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
In the main line White gets a cuuuuuuuuC
chance to win the pawn back (rDb1kDn4}
straight away. 70p0pDB0p}
4...Bc5 6wDnDwDwD}
5.c3! dxc3 5DwgwDwDw}
6.Bxf7+ U &wDwDPDwD}
This is probably the best move. 3Dw0wDNDw}
Example game next page!
2P)wDw)P)}
%$NGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV

Or play a real gambit where the cuuuuuuuuC

roof can fall in on Black but White (rDb1kDn4}
is playing a riskier game too. 70p0pDp0p}
4...Bc5 6wDnDwDwD}
5.c3! dxc3 5DwgwDwDw}
6.Nxc3 U &wDBDPDwD}
6.O-O angles for a Danish Gambit but 3DwHwDNDw}
probably transposes after 6...d6. 2P)wDw)P)}
Example Game next page! %$wGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Harding,TD – Dashkevich,V [C44] Harding,TD – Zlobinsky,E [C44] EU/M/GT/360
EU/M/GT/360 corr, 1992 corr, 1992
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
Bc5 5.c3 dxc3 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qd5+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.Nxc3 d6 7.Bg5 f6 [ 7...Nge7]
Kf8 8.Qxc5+ Qe7 9.Qxc3 Qxe4+ 8.Bh4 Nh6 9.O-O Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bf7
10.Be3 d6 11.O-O Nf6 12.Nbd2 Qb4 12.Nd5 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5
13.Qd3 Qxb2 14.Rfb1 Ne5 15.Qf1 cuuuuuuuuC
Nxf3+ 16.Nxf3 Qa3 17.Qc4 1-0 (rDw1kDw4}
cuuuuuuuuC 70p0wDb0p}
(rDbDwiw4} 6wDwDw0wh}
70p0wDw0p} 5DwgN0wDw}
6wDw0whwD} &wDBDPDPG}
5DwDwDwDw} 3DwDwDwDP}
&wDQDwDwD} 2P)wDw)wD}
31wDwGNDw} %$wDQDRIw}
2PDwDw)P)} v,./9EFJMV
%$RDwDwIw} 14.Qc1?! [14.Qb3] Qd6? [14...c6]15.Rd1 O-
v,./9EFJMV O-O 16.Qc2 Bd4 17.Rac1 Kb8 18.Rxd4 exd4
White has an attack but I don't 19.Bg3 Qc6 20.Bxc7+ Ka8 21.Bxd8 Rxd8
know why Black resigned so 22.Qd2 Qd6 23.Qxd4 Kb8 24.Rc3 Be8
early! 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
4...Bb4+ is probably a mistake, 5...d3 declining is fine for White
but not as bad as this game Sveshnikov,E-Petrosian,A [C44] USSR, 1974
makes it seem!
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
Staunton,H-Brodie [C44] London, 1851
5.c3 d3 6.b4 Bb6 7.Qb3 Qf6 8.O-O d6 9.a4
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 a6 10.a5 Ba7 11.b5 Ne5 12.Nxe5 dxe5
Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.O-O! Qf6 7.e5 13.bxa6 [13.Be3!+=] 13...bxa6 14.Qa4+ Bd7
Qe7 8.a3 cxb2 9.Bxb2 Bc5 10.Nc3 15.Qd1 Ne7 16.Qxd3 Bc8 17.Na3 O-O
d6 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.exd6 Bxd6 18.Nc2 Ng6 19.Nb4 Rd8 20.Qg3 Re8 21.Bg5
13.Bxg7 Bg4 14.Re1+ Nge7 15.Nf6# Qd6 22.Rfd1 Qc5 23.Bd5 Rb8 24.Be3 Qxc3
1-0 25.Na2 Qxa5 26.Bxa7 Nf4 27.Bc4 Rb2
28.Qc3 Qxc3 29.Nxc3 Bg4 30.Rdc1 Ra8
31.Rxa6 Rb4 1-0

Black can avoid all this: 4...Nf6 leads to the Two Knights' and 5...Nf6 leads to
the Italian Game
Italian Game cuuuuuuuuC
(Giuoco Piano) (rDb1kDn4}
1.e4 e5 70p0pDp0p}
2.Nf3 Nc6 6wDnDwDwD}
3.Bc4 Bc5 U
5Dwgw0wDw}
&wDBDPDwD}
White develops quickly and
prepares to castle. 3DwDwDNDw}
Young players often play Nc3 and
2P)P)w)P)}
d3 here, but I think that's terrible %$NGQIwDR}
old stodge. How are you going to v,./9EFJMV
get your Rooks into the game?
White does best to put pressure on cuuuuuuuuC
the centre with 4.c3 to avoid the (rDb1kDn4}
game getting stodgy. 70p0pDp0p}
Boleslavsky – Scitov [C54] USSR 1933 6wDnDwDwD}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 U 5Dwgw0wDw}
4...Nf6 5.d4 exd4 (this is where we &wDBDPDwD}
come in from the Scotch Gambit) 3Dw)wDNDw}
6.cxd4 Bb6? 7.e5 Ng4 8.h3 Nh6 9.d5 2P)w)w)P)}
Ne7 10.d6 Ng6 11.Bg5 f6 12.exf6 gxf6 %$NGQIwDR}
13.Qe2+ Kf8 14.Bxh6# 1-0
v,./9EFJMV
Black should play a check on move cuuuuuuuuC
6 when you can play 7.Nc3 or (rDb1w4kD}
7.Bd2. The line with 7.Bd2 Bxd2 is 70pDwhp0p}
a nice IQP position for White: 6wDpDwDwD}
Littlewood-Paish [C54] Italian, 1993 5DwDnDwDw}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 &PDB)wDwD}
5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 3DQDwDNDw}
8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 2w)wHw)P)}
11.O-O O-O 12.Rfe1 c6 13.a4 U Qa5
14.Ne4 Rd8 15.Ne5 Nf5 16.Qd3 Be6
%$wDw$wIw}
17.Ng5 g6 18.Qh3 Nd6 19.Qxh7+ Kf8 v,./9EFJMV
20.Nxe6+ fxe6 21.Bxd5 1-0
White played this game blindfold!
But Black can equalise with 10..Na5 7.Nc3 may also be better for Black
(11.Qa4+ Nc6 12.Qb3 Na5... maybe but he has to know it!
12.Bb5!?) or may do even better Rodriguez-Gillon [C54] IECG, Cat-M 1995
with 7...Nxe4.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6
Coleman,D-Parker,J [C55] Isle of Man, 1999 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 8.O-O Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7
5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nxe4! 11.Rxe4 d6 12.g4 h6 13.h4 g6
8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ Kf8! 14.Bxh6 Bxg4 15.Bg5 Bxg5 16.hxg5
...0-1 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 O-O 18.Kg2 Nf5 19.Rg4
Qe7 20.Rh1 Kg7 21.Re4 1-0
Hmm... you have to hope Black doesn't know these ideas... 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...
White can try cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 (rDb1kDw4}
5.d4 exd4 U (this is where we come 70p0pDp0p}
in from the Scotch Gambit) 6.O-O!?, 6wDnDwhwD}
or 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 5DwgwDwDw}
Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5!? &wDB0PDwD}
[There are example games in these 3Dw)wDNDw}
lines at the start of the book.] 2P)wDw)P)}
%$NGQIwDR}
or 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 v,./9EFJMV
Nf6 5.b4!? (see example game)
Nunn,–[C54] Brussels WCup, 1988
You can try 4.d4... 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6
4...Nxe4 5.Nxe5 is fine for White, 5.b4 Bb6 6.d3 d6 7.O-O O-O 8.a4 a5
4...exd4 gets into lines we have 9.b5 Ne7 10.Nbd2 Ng6 11.Bb3 c6
seen already, so what do you think 12.d4 Bg4 13.Bb2 d5 14.h3 dxe4
about 4...Bxd4 5.Nxd4 Nxd4 6.O-O d6 15.Nxe4 Bf5 16.Ng3 Qc8 17.Nxe5 Nxe5
7.f4...? (Koltanowski Attack) 18.dxe5 Ne4 19.Qf3 Nd2 20.Qf4 Nxb3
21.Nxf5 Qe6 22.Rad1 Bc7 23.c4 Nc5
Here's a game: 24.b6 Nxa4 25.bxc7 Nxb2 26.Rd6 Qxc4
Muller-N.N. [C50] Vienna, 1927 27.Qg5 1-0
.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 Bxd4 5.Nxd4 Nxd4 6.O-O Nf6 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5
dxe5 9.Bg5 Qe7 10.Nc3 Qc5 11.Bxf7+ Kxf7 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qh5+ Ke6 14.Rxf6+
Kxf6 15.Nd5+ Ke6 16.Qh6+ Kd7 17.Qg7+ Kd6 18.Qe7+ Kc6 19.Qxc7+ Kb5 20.a4+
Kc4 21.Ne3+ Kb4 22.c3+ Kb3 23.Qxc5 Kxb2 24.Qa3# 1-0
Two Knights' Defence cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 e5
(rDb1kgw4}
2.Nf3 Nc6
70p0pDp0p}
6wDnDwhwD}
3.Bc4 Nf6 U
5DwDw0wDw}
This fine defence can and should &wDBDPDwD}
be played by both sides.
3DwDwDNDw}
“Never mind just getting out the 2P)P)w)P)}
Bishop, let's counterattack! White can
have a pawn if they like, as long as I
%$NGQIwDR}
can get my pieces out quicky!“
v,./9EFJMV
Sometimes White will attack f7, cuuuuuuuuC
and can win a pawn -- but that's (rDb1kgw4}
really what Black wants! Black 70w0wDp0p}
gets an active game after 6wDnDwhwD}
variations like 5DpDP0wHw}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5! &wDBDwDwD}
5.exd5 b5! U
3DwDwDwDw}
The Two Knights' Defence is a nice 2P)P)w)P)}
system for Black to play; I %$NGQIwDR}
recommend it if you don't like the
French. But you will also have to v,./9EFJMV
learn a defence to the Ruy Lopez,
Kings' Gambit, Vienna Game...
cuuuuuuuuC
In the Two Knights', instead of (rDb1kgw4}
4.Ng5, White does better to play 70p0pDp0p}
4.d4, U 6wDnDwhwD}
when there is a choice for both 5DwDw0wDw}
sides. &wDB)PDwD}
The Modern Variation with 3DwDwDNDw}
4...exd4 5.e5 is still being worked 2P)PDw)P)}
out, but might be the easiest line %$NGQIwDR}
to play for White. v,./9EFJMV
Doghri,N -Matsuo,T [C56] Yerevan (7), 1996 cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 (rDwDw4kD}
5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Be3 Bd7 70w0bDp0p}
9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Nd2 Qh4 11.Nxe4 Qxe4 6wgpDwDqD}
12.O-O Bb6 13.Re1 Qg6 14.Nb3 O-O 5DwGp)wDw}
15.Bc5 U &wDwDwDwD}
15...Rfe8 16.a4 Bf5 17.Rc1 Rab8 18.Re3 3DNDwDwDw}
Bxc5 19.Nxc5 Rxb2 20.Qd4 Rxc2 21.Rxc2
Bxc2 22.h3 a5 23.Kh2 Bf5 24.Rg3 Qh6
2P)PDw)P)}
25.f4 g6 26.Nb3 Ra8 27.Rc3 Qh4 28.Rxc6 %$wDQ$wIw}
Rb8 29.Nxa5 Qe1 30.Rc5 Be4 31.e6 c6 v,./9EFJMV
32.Nxc6 Re8 33.Ne7+ Kf8 34.Rc8 1-0
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 cuuuuuuuuC
draw in the end. (wDk4wDw4}
Prasad,D-Kalyanasundaram [C55] India, 1965 70p0wDp0p}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 6wDnDb)wD}
5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ 5DwgwDqHw}
Be6 9.Ng5 Qd5 10.Nc3 Qf5 11.Nce4 O-O-O
12.g4 U
&wDp0NDPD}
3DwDwDwDw}
12...Qe5 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Bg5 g6? 15.f7
Rd7 16.Bf6 1-0 2P)PDw)w)}
%$wGQ$wIw}
White can bale out with 7.Bb5 into the
Modern Variation.
v,./9EFJMV
There's more safety for both sides cuuuuuuuuC
after 5...Nf6, although there's a tricky (rDbDkgw4}
bit early on: 70p0wDp0p}
Liuboshitz - Shushkta [C56] USSR, 1958 6wDnDwDwD}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5DwDqDwDw}
5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5! Qxd5 8.Nc3! &wDw0nDwD}
U 3DwHwDNDw}
8...Qa5 9.Nxe4 Be6 10.Bd2!? Qd5 11.Bg5 2P)PDw)P)}
Bc5? 12.c4 Qf5 13.Nh4 Qe5 14.Nf6+ 1-0
%$wGQ$wIw}
v,./9EFJMV
Evans' Gambit cuuuuuuuuC
White plays actively for the
(rDb1kDn4}
initiative 70p0pDp0p}
1.e4 e5 6wDnDwDwD}
2.Nf3 Nc6
5Dwgw0wDw}
3.Bc4 Bc5
&w)BDPDwD}
3DwDwDNDw}
4.b4!? U
2PDP)w)P)}
In the Giuoco Piano, White plays %$NGQIwDR}
c3 then d4. Evans' Gambit gives
up a pawn so that you can play v,./9EFJMV
that plan with an extra move.
4...Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.d4 cuuuuuuuuC
It can all go wrong for Black very (rDwDwirD}
quickly: 70p0wGw0p}
White,R-Al Marif,S [C51] London LB, 1990
6wgwDwDwD}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 5DwDwDwDw}
Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.O-O d6 7.d4 exd4 &wDBDw1wD}
8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Re1 Bg4 10.Bb2 Qf6 3DwDwDbDw}
11.e5 dxe5 12.dxe5 Qf4 13.e6 Bxf3 2PDwDw)P)}
14.exf7+ Kf8 15.fxg8Q+ Rxg8 16.Ba3+ %$NDQ$wIw}
Ne7 17.Bxe7+ U 1-0
v,./9EFJMV
Especially if Black is greedy: cuuuuuuuuC
Fischer – Fine [C52] Skittles, 1963 (rDbiwDrD}
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 70p0pDpGp}
Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5! 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O dxc3?! 6wDwDwDwD}
8.Qb3 Qe7 9.Nxc3 Nf6?! 10.Nd5 Nxd5 5gwDPDwDw}
11.exd5 Ne5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Bb2 Qg5 &wDBDwDw1}
14.h4 Qxh4 15.Bxg7 Rg8 16.Rfe1+ Kd8 3DwDwDw!w}
17.Qg3 U 1-0
2PDwDw)PD}
%$wDw$wIw}
v,./9EFJMV
6.O-O after 5...Ba5 is designed to 5...Be7 doesn't solve Black's
avoid 7...dxc3 (as if that's a problems either
problem) but lets Black set up the Fischer,R – Celle,O [C51] Davis sim, 1964
Lasker Defence
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
Alekhin,A – Sorokin [C52] Kiev, 1916 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7!? 6.d4 d6 7.dxe5 Nxe5
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qh5 g6 10.Qxe5 Nf6
Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.O-O d6 7.d4 Bb6 11.Ba3 Rf8 12.O-O Ng4 13.Qg3 Bxa3
8.Be3 Nf6 9.Re1 O-O 10.h3 d5 11.exd5 14.Nxa3 Qe7 15.Bb5+ c6 16.Nc4 Qe6
Nxd5 12.Bg5 Nf6 13.d5 e4 14.Rxe4 17.Rad1 cxb5 18.Qc7 Bd7 19.Nd6+
Bxf2+ 15.Kh1 Bg3 16.Nbd2 Na5 17.Bd3 Ke7 20.Nf5+ gxf5 21.exf5 Rac8
Qxd5 18.Rd4 Qc6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Ne4 22.Rxd7+ Qxd7 23.f6+ Nxf6 24.Re1+
Qf4 21.Neg5 Qe3 22.Bxh7+ Kh8 23.Qa4 Ne4 25.Rxe4+ Kf6 26.Qxd7 Rfd8
Qxc3 24.Rad1 b5 25.Rd8 Bxh3 26.Rxa8 27.Qg4 1-0
Rxa8 27.Qe4 Rf8 28.Nxf7+ 1-0
5...Bc5 is a bit wet. It was seen in Declining is not very good for
the very first game we have with Black: an easy system to play is
this opening by its inventor: from my favourite player,
Evans,-MacDonnell [C51] London, 1829 Tartakower:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Tartakower -Prokofiev [C51] Paris, 1934
Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.O-O Nf6 7.d4 exd4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
8.cxd4 Bb6 9.e5 d5 10.exf6 dxc4 Bb6 5.a4 a6 6.Bb2 d6 7.b5 axb5
11.Re1+ Kf8 12.Ba3+ Kg8 13.d5 Na5 8.axb5 Rxa1 9.Bxa1 Nb8 10.d4 f6
14.Be7 Qd7 15.fxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd2 Qg4 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Qe2 Nh6 13.Nxe5
17.Qc3+ Kg8 18.Qxh8+ Kxh8 19.Bf6+ fxe5 14.Qh5+ Kf8 15.Qxe5 Bxf2+
Qg7 20.Re8# 1-0 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 1-0
Nigel Short likes 7.Qb3, which avoids Black's best defence with
7...Nge7 and 8...d5
Short,N-Nielsen,P [C52] Samba Cup 1st Skanderborg (8), 2003
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.Qb3 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+ Kb7 26.a4? (26.Re3! idea
Rg3xg7 +-) 26...h5 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.Bd5+ Ka6 29.Bc4+ Kb7 30.Bd5+ Ka6 31.Bc4+
Kb7 1/2-1/2
Petroff Defence cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 e5
(rhb1kgw4}
2.Nf3 Nf6
70p0pDp0p}
6wDwDwhwD}
U What is Black’s idea? 5DwDw0wDw}
“I won’t defend, but counterattack &wDwDPDwD}
White’s e-pawn! “
3DwDwDNDw}
What should White do? 2P)P)w)P)}
%$NGQIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
As usual, I think White should put (rhb1kgw4}
pressure on the centre with 70p0pDp0p}
3.d4 U 6wDwDwhwD}
5DwDw0wDw}
&wDw)PDwD}
3DwDwDNDw}
2P)Pdw)P)}
%$NGQIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV

cuuuuuuuuC
If Black goes for (rhb1kgw4}
3...exd4 70p0pDp0p}
4.e4 Ne4 6wDwDwDwD}
5.Qxd4 U 5DwDw)wDw}
you have a nice easy position to
&wDw!nDwD}
play 3DwDwDNDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
%$NGwIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Better is... cuuuuuuuuC
3...Nxe4 (rhb1kgw4}
4.Bd3 U 70p0pDp0p}
After 6wDwDwDwD}
4...d5
5DwDw0wDw}
5.Nxe5 Nd7
&wDw)nDwD}
6.Nc3
3DwDBDNDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
... Black has still got to show how
the pieces are getting sorted out.
%$NGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
To be honest, the Petroff has a very cuuuuuuuuC
solid reputation and is regularly (rhb1kgw4}
used by top players to draw with 70p0wDN0p}
Black. In fact, I used to recommend 6wDw0whwD}
it as a way of avoiding White's pet 5DwDwDwDw}
opening.
&wDwDPDwD}
As you get better and find that 3DwDwDwDw}
players know more book lines, you
may need to dig deeper into the
2P)P)w)P)}
theory. Until then, there are all %$NGQIBDR}
sorts of ways to liven things up: v,./9EFJMV
how about the Cochrane Gambit, an One idea is 4...Kxf7 5.d4 Nxe4?
avalanche of pawns against the 6.Qh5+ and White wins back the
uncastled King? piece with advantage
3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7!? U
You can steer for familiar Two cuuuuuuuuC
Knights' territory after 3.d4 Nxe4 (rhb1kgw4}
4.Bc4! or 3.Bc4 U (3...Nc6! 4.d4!), 70p0pDp0p}
when some new gambit options turn 6wDwDwhwD}
up like the Urusoff Gambit 5DwDw0wDw}
3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.d4! exd4 5.Qxd4 &wDBDPDwD}
and the Boden-Kieseritsky Gambit 3DwDwDNDw}
3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nxc3 5.dxc3 2P)P)w)P)}
You can even try to avoid the Petroff %$NGQIwDR}
with the move order v,./9EFJMV
1.e4 e5 2.d4!? exd4 3.Nf3!?
Latvian Gambit cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 e5
(rhb1kgn4}
2.Nf3 f5
70p0pDw0p}
6wDwDwDwD}
U
5DwDw0pDw}
“I’ll offer my f-pawn to get some &wDwDPDwD}
open lines and control of the 3DwDwDNDw}
centre.”

2P)P)w)P)}
What should White do? Don’t be %$NGQIBDR}
greedy, follow the idea below to
make sure you get better control
v,./9EFJMV
over the centre.
3.Nxe5 Qf6 cuuuuuuuuC
[3...fxe4?? 4.Qh5+] (rhbDkgn4}
4.Nc4 dxe4
70p0pDw0p}
5.Nc3
6wDwDwDqD}
5. Be2 is another idea, stopping
5DwDwDwDw}
Black’s next move. (Can you see &wDNDpDwD}
why?) 3DwHPDwDw}
5...Qg6 2P)PDw)P)}
6.d3! U
%$wGQIBDR}
Undermining the Black centre.
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
(rhbDkDn4} 6...Bb4
70p0pDw0p} 7.Bd2 Bxc3
6wDwDwDqD} 8.Bxc3 exd3
5DwDwDwDw} 9.Bxd3 U
&wDNDwDwD} Now, Black can’t take the g-pawn
3DwGBDwDw} because of the big check on h5,
2P)PDw)P)} when Black is in big trouble.
%$wDQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Elephant Gambit cuuuuuuuuC
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 (rhb1kgn4}
70p0wDp0p}
U 6wDwDwDwD}
“I’ll offer my d-pawn to get some 5DwDp0wDw}
open lines and fast development.”

&wDwDPDwD}
3DwDwDNDw}
What should White do? 2P)P)w)P)}
%$NGQIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Well, as Steinitz thought, it’s often cuuuuuuuuC
worth taking a centre pawn, but (rhb1kgw4}
don’t be afraid to give it back if 70p0wDp0p}
you start getting stuck. 6wDwDwhwD}
3.exd5 Bd6 5DwDPDwDw}
3...e4 4.Qe2 Nf6 5.d3 U is better for &wDwDpDwD}
White 3DwDPDNDw}
4.d4 e4 2P)PDQ)P)}
5.Ne5 Nf6 %$NGwIBDR}
6.Nc3 Nbd7 v,./9EFJMV
7.Bf4 Qe7 cuuuuuuuuC
8.Bb5 O-O (rDwDw4kD}
9.Bxd7 Bxd7 70p0nDp0p}
10 Nxd7 Nxd7 6wDw1wDwD}
11 Bxd6 Qxd6 5DwDPDwDw}
12 O-O U &wDw)pDwD}
And White is a pawn up for nothing.
3DwHwDwDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
%$wDQDRIw}
v,./9EFJMV
Philidor Defence cuuuuuuuuC
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 (rhb1kgn4}
U 70p0wDp0p}
“I’m going to just play very solidly 6wDw0wDwD}
now and look for my chances later in 5DwDw0wDw}
the game”
&wDwDPDwD}
Oh dear, Black is trying to play 3DwDwDNDw}
stodge... This is exactly what the 2P)P)w)P)}
Modenese were complaining %$NGQIBDR}
about... v,./9EFJMV
What should White do?
Developing naturally gives you a cuuuuuuuuC
decent game, and there are some (rhb1kgw4}
terrible traps for Black to avoid... 70p0wDp0p}
But as long as Black plays 3...Nf6, 6wDw0wDwD}
most of the traps are avoided. 5DwhQ)wGw}
I think you can give your &wDwDwDwD}
opponent more problems by 3DwDwDNDw}
playing:
2P)PDw)P)}
3.d4 Nf6
%$NDwIBDR}
4.dxe5! Nxe4
v,./9EFJMV
5.Qd5! Nc5
6.Bg5! U
That's too slow for you? Well, cuuuuuuuuC
White has recently been playing a (rDb1kgw4}
gambit, due to Shirov: 70p0nDp0p}
Shirov,A – Klinova,M [C41] Gibraltar, 2006 6wDw0whwD}
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5DwDw0wDw}
5.g4 U Nxg4 6.Rg1 Ngf6 7.Bc4 h6 &wDw)PDPD}
8.Be3 c6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qd3 Qc7 3DwHwDNDw}
11.Bxf7+ Kxf7 12.Qc4+ Ke7 13.Nh4 Nb6 2P)PDw)w)}
14.Ng6+ Ke8 15.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nxh8 g5
17.Ng6 Bc5 18.O-O-O 1-0 %$wGQIBDR}
This one is still being worked out! v,./9EFJMV
So you can have your own ideas...

Playing White with 1.e4 and Black avoids 1...e5
As you get better you will meet more people who do not reply to your
1.e4 with 1...e5. There are several of these "half-open" defences, but
we can make life a bit easier by trying to get into the same type of
positions – those with an isolated Queen's Pawn (IQP).

IQP positions &wDw)wDwD}

These common positions can and
3dwHBDNDw}
should be played by both sides – 2P)wDw)P)}
know how to win with and against %$wGQ$wIw}
the IQP! v,./9EFJMV
If you have the IQP: cuuuuuuuuC
 you have more space
(rDw1w4kD}
70bDwgp0p}
 therefore, you should avoid 6w0wDphwD}
exchanges 5DwDwHwGw}
 you are able to move about the &whw)wDwD}
board easier 3DwHw$wDw}
 you are able to attack 2P)wDw)P)}
%$BDQDwIw}
 you have a support point on e5
v,./9EFJMV
for a Knight
This is Keene-Miles, 1975; White
 you have a pawn break with d4- won by a King's-side attack
d5 (or ...d5-d4)
If your opponent has the IQP: cuuuuuuuuC
 you should restrain or blockade
(wDw4wDkD}
the pawn in case it advances 70pDqDp0w}
6wDwDpDw0}
 you have a target to aim at 5DwDrDwDw}
 you have less space and should &wDw)wDwD}
seek exchanges 3DR!wDw)w}
 the weakness of the IQP will get 2P)wDw)w)}
worse in the endgame, so you %DwDRDwIw}
should seek exchanges v,./9EFJMV
This is Kortchnoi-Karpov 1981; Black won by creating more weaknesses
Sicilian Defence cuuuuuuuuC
This is the best defence for masters,
(rhb1kgn4}
but tricky to handle for the rest of 70pDp0p0p}
us! 6wDwDwDwD}
I think White can play for a small 5Dw0wDwDw}
edge and an IQP game with 2.c3 (or &wDwDPDwD}
2.Nf3 and 3.c3). 3Dw)wDwDw}
2P)w)w)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV
 Variation with 2... d5: cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5
(rDbDw4kD}
3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Be2
70wDwgp0p}
cxd4 7.cxd4 e6 8.O-O Be7 9.Nc3 Qd6 6w0n1phwD}
10.Qb3 O-O 11.Rd1 b6 U 5DwDwDwDw}
White has more space thanks to the &wDw)wDwD}
d-pawn, but the pawn might 3DQHwDNDw}
become weak in an endgame. Black 2P)wDB)P)}
is well-developed and has good %$wGRDwIw}
control of d5. v,./9EFJMV
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.
 Variation with 2... Nf6: cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6
(rDw1kDw4}
3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.cxd4 d6
7DpDbDp0p}
7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.exd6 e6 10.O-O 6phngpDwD}
Bxd6 11.Nc3 a6 12.Bd3 U 5DwDwDwDw}
This position also has a single &wDw)wDwD}
d-pawn for White, The King’s 3DwHBDNDw}
Bishops have each found a better 2P)wDw)P)}
home, but it’s early days yet for the %$wGQDRIw}
middlegame. v,./9EFJMV
 Jussupow,A-Lobron,E [D42] Nussloch, 1996
cuuuuuuuuC A wonderfully logical game.
(rDw1w4kD} 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O
70bDwgp0p} 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4
6w0nDphwD} 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Re1 Bb7 11.Bd3 Nc6 12.a3
5DwDwDwDw} Be7 U
&wDw)wDwD} This position can arise from all sorts
3)wHBDNDw} of openings, including the c3 Sicilian
2w)wDw)P)} and the system we recommend
%$wGQ$wIw} against the Caro-Kann.
v,./9EFJMV 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4
Nf6 6.Be2 Nc6 7.O-O cxd4 8.cxd4 Be7
9.Nc3 Qd8 10.a3 O-O 11.Bd3 b6 12.Re1 Bb7
1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5 Qxd5
5.Nc3 Qd8 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.Bc4 e6 8.O-O Be7
cuuuuuuuuC 9.d4 Nc6 10.Re1 O-O 11.a3 b6 12.Bd3 Bb7
(w1w4rDkD} 13.Bc2 Re8 14.Qd3 [Sometimes it is White
7DbDwgpDp} to move in this position! ]
6p0nDphpD} 14...g6 15.h4 Qd6 16.Bg5 Rad8 17.Rad1
5DwDPDwGw} Qb8 18.Bb3 a6 19.d5! U Na5 20.dxe6
&wDwDwDw)} Nxb3 [20...Rxd3 21.exf7+ Kg7 22.fxe8Q
3)BHQDNDw} Qxe8 23.Rxd3 Nxb3 24.Rde3] 21.exf7+ Kxf7
2w)wDw)PD} 22.Qc4+ Kg7 23.Ne5 Ng8 24.Rxd8 Qxd8
25.Qf7+ Kh8 26.Qxb3 Qd4 27.Re3 Rf8
%DwDR$wIw} 28.Bxe7 [28.Bxe7 Nxe7 29.Nf7+ Kg7
v,./9EFJMV 30.Rxe7] 1-0
Motwani,P-Collins,S [B22] British Ch, 2003 Harley– Roberts [B22] British Ch, 1993
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 e6 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4
5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bd3 Nb4 8.Bb5+ Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 e6 7.O-O Be7
Bd7 9.Bc4 Bc6 10.O-O Nd7 11.Nc3 Bxf3 8.h3 Bh5 9.Be3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nc6
12.Qxf3 Nc2 13.d5 Nd4 14.Qg4 dxe5 11.Nc3 Qd6 12.Qb3 O-O 13.a3 a6
15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Be3 Nf6 17.Qh3 Qb6 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rac1 b5 16.d5 Na5
18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Rfe1 Be7 20.Rxe6 Qc5 17.Qa2 exd5 18.g4 Bg6 19.g5 Ne4
21.Rae1 dxc3 22.Rxe7+ Qxe7 23.Rxe7+ 20.Nxd5 Qe6 21.Bb6 Bxg5 22.Bxd8
Kxe7 24.Qe6+ Kd8 25.Qd6+ Ke8 26.Bb5+ Bxd8 23.Bf1 Qf5 24.Bg2 Bh5 25.Ne3
Kf7 27.Qc7+ 1-0 Qf4 26.Qd5 1-0
Caro Kann Defence cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 c6!U
(rhb1kgn4}
70pdp0p0p}
Black thinks to attack the
undefended pawn on e4. It's better
6wDpDwDwD}
than the French, because the Bc8 5DwDwDwDw}
can get out, and it's worse than the &wDwDPDwD}
French, because the Nb8 can't go to 3DwDwDwDw}
c6. 2P)P)w)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
As White, play the Panov-Botvinnik (rhb1kgn4}
Attack and steer for an IQP position. 70pDw0p0p}
1.e4 c6 6wDwDwDwD}
2.d4 d5 5DwDpDwDw}
3.exd5 cxd5 &wDP)wDwD}
4.c4 U 3DwDwDwDw}
2P)wDw)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV

cuuuuuuuuC
You often get an IQP attacking (rhb1kDw4}
positions 70pDwgp0p}
6wDwDpDwD}
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5DwDnDwDw}
5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3 U &wDw)wDwD}
3DwHBDNDw}
2P)wDw)P)}
%$wGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Hebden,M-Macak,S [D42] 4NCL (4), 2007 cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 (wDrDrDkD}
5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3 70pDbhqDp}
Nc6 9.O-O O-O 10.Re1 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bf6 6wDwDpDp!}
12.h4 Bxh4 13.Nxh4 Qxh4 14.Re4 Qe7 5DwDwDpGw}
15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh6 f5 17.Rh4 Re8 18.Rh3
Bd7 19.Bg5 Qf7 20.Re1 Rac8 21.Ree3 Ne7
&wDw)wDw$}
22.Rh4 U 3Dw)B$wDw}
22...f4 23.Bxf4 Rxc3 24.Bxg6 Rc1+ 25.Kh2 2PDwDw)PD}
Nxg6 26.Rg3 Rc6 27.Be5 Re7 28.Rf4 Qe8 %DwDwDwIw}
29.Rxg6+ 1-0 v,./9EFJMV

Black has an alternative in 5...g6 There's a line which transposes

When White should play like this: to the Nimzo-Indian, which
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 seems more or less level:
5.Nc3 g6 6.Qb3! Bg7 7.cxd5 O-O 8.Be2! 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4
Nbd7 9.Bf3! Nb6 10.Nge2! Bg4 11.Bxg4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4
Nxg4 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.a4 Rad8 14.d6! exd6
[same as Yusupov-Lobron]
15.a5 Nc8 16.O-O
with pressure.

To avoid this, there is a sharp Also, White can be sneaky with

gambit idea: the move order
Karpov,A-Ovetchkin,R [B14] Smolensk 2000 1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Bc4,
5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qc2 delaying d2-d4 until we see
Nc6 9.Bd3 Ba5 10.a3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd4 6...Be7 played...
12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Bb5+ 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 Then Black started being
22.Be3 Kb8 23.Qc6 Qh5 24.Rd6 Rc8 sneaky, playing moves like
25.Qd7 Rhd8 26.Qxg7 Qe5 27.Bf4 Qxf4 2...e5!?
28.c6 1-0
See what you think!
 cuuuuuuuuC
Alekhin's Defence (rhb1kgw4}
1.e4 Nf6
70p0p0p0p}
6wDwDwhwD}
U 5DwDwDwDw}
“I'm going to tempt White to make &wDwDPDwD}
lots of Pawn moves and then White's 3DwDwDwDw}
centre will be a big hollow target for
me!”
2P)P)w)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
How to respond? v,./9EFJMV
Surely chase the knight and set up a cuuuuuuuuC
nice centre, which you should be (rhb1kgw4}
doing in the opening anyway, but 70p0wDp0p}
don’t get distracted from developing 6whw0wDwD}
and castling, which you must do as 5DwDwDwDw}
well.
&wDP)wDwD}
“I’ll grab only as much space as I 3DwDwDwDw}
am sure I can hang on to.” 2P)wDw)P)}
2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 %$NGQIBHR}
5.exd6 exd6 U v,./9EFJMV
(5... cxd6 can be played; use the same
scheme of development.)
6.Nc3 Be7 cuuuuuuuuC
7.Bd3 Nc6 (rDb1kDw4}
8.Nge2 U 70p0wgp0p}
White just plays to keep the advantage in
6whn0wDwD}
the centre. 5DwDwDwDw}
8...O-O &wDP)wDwD}
9.b3! 3DwHBDwDw}
The idea is, if 9...Nb4, 10.Bb1
2P)wDN)P)}
%$wGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
[Alekhin or Alekhine? Alekhine is a French spelling of a Russian name.
Pronounce it Al-yekh-in, with the kh sounding like a Scottish loch, and the
stress on the middle syllable. Think: “I got a checkin’ from Alekhin”.]
Scandinavian Defence cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 d5 U
(rhb1kgn4}
70p0w0p0p}
“I can hit back straight away and play 6wDwDwDwD}
my sort of game!“

5DwDpDwDw}
What should White do? &wDwDPDwD}
“I’ll take the Pawn on d5 and try 3DwDwDwDw}
and set up a decent centre around 2P)P)w)P)}
the d-Pawn.” %$NGQIBHR}
2.exd5 and Black has a choice: v,./9EFJMV
2...Qxd5 cuuuuuuuuC
3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 U (rhbDkgw4}
White is looking good but Black has 70p0w0p0p}
no weaknesses and is not behind in 6wDwDwhwD}
development. Black normally plays 51wDwDwDw}
moves like ...Bf5, ...c6, and ...e6; &wDw)wDwD}
White can try to gain time for 3DwHwDNDw}
improving the position of the Nc3 by 2P)PDw)P)}
playing Bd2 and Ne4. %$wGQIBDR}
If Black plays ...Bf5 you can play b2- v,./9EFJMV
b4, with the idea ...Qxb4 Rb1 and
Rxb7
Instead cuuuuuuuuC
2...Nf6 (rhb1kgw4}
3.c4! 70p0wdp0p}
and now 6wDwDphwD}
3...e6 U or 3...c6 and 4.d4
5DwDPDwDw}
&wDPDwDwD}
will turn into the lines we
recommend against the French and
3DwDwDwDw}
Caro-Kann. 2P)w)w)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV
Pirc, Czech and Modern defences cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 U;
(rhb1kgw4}
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6; 70p0w0pDp}
1.e4 g6 6wDw0whpD}
“I'm going to hold back for a while
5DwDwDwDw}
and hit back later once White has &wDw)PDwD}
set up things in the centre.”
3DwHwdwDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
%$wGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV
If Black is going to let you occupy cuuuuuuuuC
the centre, then do it! Then put (rhb1kgw4}
your pieces on nice flexible squares 70p0w0pDp}
in the centre. 6wDw0whpD}
4.Be3 5DwDwDwDw}
... is a sound way to play, keeping &wDw)PDwD}
your options open. 3DwHwGwDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
%$wDQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV

You might get a chance to play the cuuuuuuuuC

clockwork attack down the h-file. (rDw1n4kD}
Liu Wenze – Donner,J [B07] B Aires, 1978 70pDwDwgQ}
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 6wDn0bDpD}
5.g4 h6 6.h3 c5 7.d5 O-O 8.h4 e6 9.g5 5Dw0NDp)w}
hxg5 10.hxg5 Ne8 11.Qd3 exd5 12.Nxd5 &wDwDPDwD}
Nc6 13.Qg3 Be6 14.Qh4 f5 15.Qh7+ U 3DwDwDwDw}
15...Kf7 16.Qxg6+ Kxg6 17.Bh5+ Kh7
18.Bf7+ Bh6 19.g6+ Kg7 20.Bxh6+ 1-0
2P)PDB)wD}
%$wGwIwHR}
v,./9EFJMV
 cuuuuuuuuC
(rhb1kgn4}
Weird Wonders 70w0p0p0p}
There's no way I can tell you about 6w0wDwDwD}
every move that Black can play. 5DwDwDwDw}
For example, there are at least four &wDwDPDwD}
other defences that I have had played 3DwDwDwDw}
against me: 2P)P)w)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
V 1.e4 b6 (Owen's Defence) v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
Z 1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 (St.George's Defence) (rhb1kgn4}
7Dp0p0p0p}
J 1.e5 g5 2.d4 h6 (Basman's Defence) 6pDwDwDwD}
5DwDwDwDw}
&wDwDPDwD}
i 1.e4 Nc6 (Nimzowitsch Defence) 3DwDwDwDw}
I could give you a line against each, 2P)P)w)P)}
but you're better off learning more %$NGQIBHR}
about the moves that actually are v,./9EFJMV
played against you. cuuuuuuuuC
The question is: what do I do when (rhb1kgn4}
someone plays something I haven't 70p0p0pDp}
seen before? 6wDwDwDwD}
5DwDwDw0w}
Maybe they just made it up there and
&wDwDPDwD}
then, maybe they read it in a book, 3DwDwDwDw}
but either way, there is an idea 2P)P)w)P)}
behind it, and that idea might bite %$NGQIBHR}
you. v,./9EFJMV
 The main things are: cuuuuuuuuC
(rDb1kgn4}
 try and play your normal game 70p0p0p0p}
 put your pieces on the squares you 6wDnDwDwD}
usually like to see them on 5DwDwDwDw}
&wDwDPDwD}
 don't assume it's a mistake 3DwDwDwDw}
 don't try and win any faster than 2P)P)w)P)}
your position deserves! %$NGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV

Playing Black against 1.e4

French Defence cuuuuuuuuC

1.e4 e6 U
(rhb1kgn4}
70p0pDp0p}
Black intends to hit back at the
undefended e4 point. Often we get
6wDwDpDwD}
blocked positions with pawns on d4 5DwDwDwDw}
and e5 (second diagram U). &wDwDPDwD}
It's better than the Caro-Kann, 3DwDwDwDw}
because the Bc8 can't get out, and it's 2P)P)w)P)}
better than the CK, because the Nb8 %$NGQIBHR}
can go to c6, and you can attack with v,./9EFJMV
...c5 in one move.
This is a good defence for Black I cuuuuuuuuC
think; although it is quite closed it's (rhb1kgn4}
not stodgy, and the same sorts of 70pdwDp0p}
positions usually turn up and the 6wDwDpDwD}
ideas are easy enough to understand. 5Dw0p)wDw}
 White has more space but: &wDw)wDwD}
 Black can attack the advanced 3DwdwDwDw}
pawns. 2P)PDw)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
 Black has a poor Bc8. Although
v,./9EFJMV
endgames are generally good for
Black, Black must not swap off
everything else leaving just this cuuuuuuuuC
duff piece. (rdw1kgn4}
You might find that White swaps off 70pdbDp0p}
this Bishop for you: I often see in 6wDnDpDwD}
junior games 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 U 5DB0p)wDw}
4.Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 when &wDw)wDwD}
Black has got rid of the biggest 3Dw)wDNDw}
problem in the position! You also see 2P)wDw)P)}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 6.Bb5
%$NGQIwdR}
Bd7 7. Nf3 U 7...Nxe5! winning a pawn
and maybe swapping off the Bishop.
v,./9EFJMV
Black has two systems in the cuuuuuuuuC
Advance Variation to swap off this (rhwDkgn4}
poor piece: 70w0qDp0p}
6b0wDpDwD}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 b6 4.c3 Qd7!
5DwDp)wDw}
Not 4...Ba6? 5.Bxa6 Nxa6 6.Qa4+ &wDw)wDwD}
5.Nf3 Ba6 U 3Dw)wDNDw}
The other idea is 2P)wDw)P)}
%$NGQIBDR}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 v,./9EFJMV
Bd7 U cuuuuuuuuC
with the idea of 6...Bb5 (rhwDkgn4}
White can make a mess by c2-c4 so 70pDbDp0p}
Black sometimes plays 6w1wDpDwD}
6.a3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb5 5Dw0p)wDw}
&wDw)wDwD}
I don't know if you should play 3Dw)wDNDw}
either of these lines but you should 2P)wDw)P)}
remember the ideas. %$NGQIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
Black can attack the white pawn (rDbDkDw4}
centre by ...c5 or ...f6 or both – 70pDnDwDp}
6w1nDp0wD}
sometimes you even see ...g5.!U 5DwDp)w0w}
After ...f6, there is a trick that White &wgw)w)wD}
can play with a Bishop on d3 – 3DwDwGN)w}
White plays Ng5! threatening Qh5+ 2P)wDwIw)}
g6 Bxg6+. So, if you move the %$wDQDBHR}
Queen first, your King can slide v,./9EFJMV
across to d8. cuuuuuuuuC
Hellers,F - Jacobson [C04] Sweden, 1985 (rDb1kgw4}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 70p0nDw0p}
5.e5 Nd7 6.Bd3 f6 7.Ng5 U fxg5 8.Qh5+ 6wDnDp0wD}
g6 9.Bxg6+ hxg6 10.Qxg6+ Ke7 11.Ne4 5DwDp)wHw}
Ndxe5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Qf6+ Kd7 14.Qxe5 &wDw)wDwD}
dxe4 15.Bxg5 Qe8 16.0-0-0+ Bd6 17.Qb5+ 3DwDBDwDw}
c6 18.Rxd6+ Kxd6 19.Rd1+ Kc7 20.Bf4+ 1- 2P)PHw)P)}
0 %$wGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Black wants to threaten and win the cuuuuuuuuC
d-Pawn, but there is a trap you must (rDbDkgn4}
know: 70pDwDp0p}
6w1nDpDwD}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6
5Dw0p)wDw}
6.Bd3!? U
&wDw)wDwD}
White has cut off the defence of the 3Dw)BDNDw}
d-Pawn by the White Queen. But 2P)wDw)P)}
Black should not take the d-Pawn: %$NGQIwDR}
6…cxd4 7. cxd4 Nxd4? 8. Nxd4 Qxd4?? v,./9EFJMV
U White now has a deadly discovery: cuuuuuuuuC
9. Bb5+ and Black loses the Queen… (rDbDkgn4}
70pDwDp0p}
6wdwDpDwd}
5Dwdp)wDw}
&wDw1wDwD}
It's not obvious how White should 3DwdBDwDw}
defend d4. 2P)wDw)P)}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 %$NGQIwDR}
6.b3? U v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
White hopes to take the pressure off (rDbDkgn4}
the b-Pawn and support d4 with a 70pDwDp0p}
Bishop on b2, but… 6w1nDpDwD}
6...cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Nxd4 5Dw0p)wDw}
and White had lost the d-Pawn and &wDw)wDwD}
was struggling to hang on to the e- 3DP)wDNDw}
Pawn. 2PDwDw)P)}
%$NGQIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV
When the Black Knight comes to h6, cuuuuuuuuC
White might want to take it. (rDbDkgw4}
The Knight will be strong when it 70pDwDp0p}
comes to f5, and the White Bishop on 6wDnDpDwG}
c1 is always going to be blocked in by 5Dw0p)wDw}
the White Pawns. So why not take it? &wDw)wDwD}
White will get a surprise! 3Dw)wDNDw}
7. Bxh6 Qxb2! U 2P1wDB)P)}
Black is winning.
%$NDQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Don’t castle into White’s King’s-side cuuuuuuuuC
attack. With a closed centre, Black’s (rDbDw4kD}
King is sometimes safer in the centre. 70pDnDp0p}
Efler,L-Kubat,A [C05] CZE-chT, 1993 6w1nDpDwD}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 5DwDp)wDw}
Nc6 6.Ngf3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4 8.e5 Nd7 9.O- &wgw)wDwD}
O Qb6 10.Nb3 O-O U 11. Bxh7+! 1-0 3DNDBDNDw}
Black resigned! Can you follow why? 2P)wDw)P)}
%$wGQDRIw}
Here's a Black win now. v,./9EFJMV
Lebedev - Petrosian,T [C02] Moscow Torpedo-Spartak m, 1958
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 c4 7.Nbd2 Na5 8.Be2 Bd7 9.0-0
Ne7 10.Rb1 0-0-0 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 Nc4 Black slowly invades the Queen's-side...
26.Nc1 Rb8 27.Qd3 N6a5 28.a4 a6 29.Re2 cuuuuuuuuC
Ka7 30.Nd1 Ba331.Bc3 h5 32.g3 Rgc8 33.f3 (rDbDkgw4}
b2 34.Bxb2 Bxb2 35.Nxb2 Nxb2 36.Qh7 Qc7
37.Qxh5 Nxa4 38.Rxb8 Qxc1+ 39.Kg2 Kxb8
70pDwDp0p}
40.Qxg4 Nc3 0-1 6w1nDpDwD}
If White pushes forward with e4-e5 on 5Dw0p)nDw}
move 3 (Advance Variation), you can &wDw)wDwD}
play very logical moves to attack d4: 3Dw)wDNDw}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 2P)NDB)P)}
6.Be2 Nh6 7.Na3 Nf5 8.Nc2 U %$wGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
White might push on move 4 (Steinitz (rDb1kgw4}
Variation), when it gains time: 7DpDnDp0p}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6pDnDpDwD}
6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 U
5Dw0p)wDw}
Black's last move is not the sort I &wDw)w)wD}
usually recommend but White might be
tempted to castle Queen's-side, and
3DwHwGNDw}
that is pretty risky when Black can play 2P)PDwDP)}
...b5 so quickly. %$wDQIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Same idea if White plays the sneaky cuuuuuuuuC
3.Nd2 (Tarrasch Variation: the idea is to (rDbDw4kD}
play c3, and get the Knight over to the 70pDwDw0p}
King's-side)... 6w1nDpDwD}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.c3 c5 5DwDpDwDw}
6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 Qb6 9.Nf3 f6 &wDw)nHwD}
10.exf6 Nxf6 11.0-0 Bd6 12.b3 O-O 13.Bf4
Bxf4 14.Nxf4 Ne4 15.Ne2 Bd7 U
3DPDBDNDw}
2PDwDw)P)}
And if White pushes on move 5 %$wDQDRIw}
(Classical Variation), you play the same v,./9EFJMV
sorts of moves. cuuuuuuuuC
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 (rDwDkDw4}
Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 a6 8.Nf3 c5 9.dxc5 7DwDnDp0p}
Nc6 10.Bd3 Qxc5 11.Qd2 b5 Your Bishop is
pretty bad so swap it off like this: 12.0-0-0
6bDnDpDwD}
b4 13.Ne2 a5 14.Kb1 Ba6 U 50w1p)wDw}
One day you must promise yourself
&w0wDw)wD}
you will try the exciting SuperMac 3DwDBDNDw}
variation (the MacCutcheon): 2P)P!NDP)}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 %DKDRDwDR}
6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 v,./9EFJMV
10.Kxd2 c5... cuuuuuuuuC
Sometimes White swaps off on d5 on (wDkDrDw4}
move 3 (Exchange Variation), which is 70p0qDp0p}
not bad for Black, as it releases the 6wDngwDwD}
Bc8. 5DwDpDwDw}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 &w)w)wDbh}
If White just stodges about, you can 3DN)BGNDw}
still get some play: 2PDwDw)P)}
4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Bd6 %$wDQ$wIw}
6.Ne2 Qh4! 7.Nd2 Bg4! 8.Qc2 O-O-O! 9.Nf1 v,./9EFJMV
g6! 10.Be3 Nge7 11.O-O-O Bf5! 12.Nfg3 Bxd3
6.Nf3 Nge7 7.O-O Bg4 8.Re1 Qd7
13.Qxd3 h6 14.f4? Qg4 15.h3 Qd7 16.Rhf1 h5
9.Nbd2 O-O-O 10.b4 Ng6 11.Nb3
17.Ng1 h4 18.N3e2 Nf5 19.Nf3 f6 20.Nh2
Rde8 21.Bd2 Re6 22.Ng4 Rhe8 23.Rde1 R8e7! Rde8 12.Be3 Nh4 U
Maròczy–Spielmann, Bad Sliac, 1932
24.Kd1 Qe8! 25.Qf3 Na5! 26.b3 Nc4!! 0-1
Winter – Alekhin Nottingham 1936 (...0-1)
 cuuuuuuuuC

Playing White against the French: (rhb1kgn4}
As White, go for our usual IQP attacking 70p0wDp0p}
position with 6wDwDwDwD}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 5DwDpDwDw}
4.c4 U &wDP)wDwD}
I don't think this variation has a name! 3DwDwDwDw}
You should steer for the attack as we 2P)wDw)P)}
have seen before. %$NGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV
Here's a game of mine! cuuuuuuuuC
Regis-Evans [C01] East Devon (1), 2000 (wDw1wDrD}
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.c4 7DpDwgpDk}
Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nbd7 9.0-0 6whpDwhp0}
Nb6 10.Bb3 h6 11.Re1 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 54wDwGwDw}
13.Qxf3 c6 14.Bf4 a5 15.a3 a4 16.Bc2 Ra5 &pDw)wDwD}
17.Rad1 Bd6 18.Be5 Be7 19.Qd3 g6 20.Re3 3)wHQDw$P}
Kh7 21.Rg3 Rg8 U
2w)BDw)PD}
22.Qf3 Kg7 23.Rg4 Rf8
%DwDRDwIw}
and now I should have played 24.Qf5! v,./9EFJMV
Black usually takes on c4 as soon as cuuuuuuuuC
you move your Bishop from f1 (if Black (rhb1w4kD}
takes earlier, you gain a move). If 70pDwgp0p}
Black doesn't take but defends the 6wDpDwhwD}
pawn, it's hard to see how Black can 5DwDpDwDw}
play for a win; White should have a
nice space advantage and can play on
&wDP)wDwD}
both sides of the board. 3DwHBDNDP}
It's one time when you might think
2P)wDw)PD}
about playing a Dreadful Rook Pawn %$wGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Move (DPRM) – not because you are frightened of the pin, but you
want to leave Black with as many pieces as possible, including that
rubbish Bishop on c8.

Playing Black against 1.d4

Tarrasch Defence cuuuuuuuuC

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5
(rhb1kgn4}
I like this opening for Black; your
70pDwDp0p}
pieces come to very natural squares. 6wDwDpDwD}
You usually get an IQP position,
5Dw0pDwDw}
which you need to play a bit more &wDP)wDwD}
slowly and carefully because White 3DwHwDwDw}
can set up a good attacking position 2P)wDP)P)}
against your pawn. %$wGQIBHR}
You can play it against 1.d4, 1.c4, v,./9EFJMV
1.Nf3, 1.g3... cuuuuuuuuC
Vadasz L-Nunn J [D34] Budapest 1978 (rDb1rDkD}
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.O-O 70pDwgp0w}
Nf6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d4 Be7 8.Nc3 O-O 6wDnDwhw0}
9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 11.Be3 Re8 U 5DwDpDwDw}
White has set up strong pressure &wDwHwDwD}
against d5, but Black can equalise. 3DwHwGw)w}
12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qa4 Bd7 14.Qc2 Qc8 2P)wDP)B)}
15.Rfd1 Bh3 16.Bh1 Ng4 17.Bd2 Qe6
18.Be1 Rad8 19.e4 Qf6 20.exd5 Ne3
%$wDQDRIw}
21.Qa4 Nxd1 22.Rxd1 cxd5 23.Nxd5 Qe6 v,./9EFJMV
24.Ba5 Bc5 25.Qc2 Bb6 26.Nxb6 Qf5
27.Rxd8 Rxd8 0-1 cuuuuuuuuC
(rDwDwDkD}
It's more important to have active 7DpDqDp0w}
pieces than tidy pawns; Black went 6w0nDwhw0}
on to win this Grandmaster game 5DwDpDwDw}
U. But pawns do matter: if you &wDwHrGwD}
have untidy pawns and only so-so 3)wDQDw)w}
pieces, then you will probably lose!
2w)wDP)K)}
%$wDw$wDw}
v,./9EFJMV
Tal-Keres,Yugoslavia,1959
Marshall,-Capablanca [D33] NY m23, 1909 cuuuuuuuuC
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 (rDwDw4kD}
5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Be6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 Nf6 70pDw1p0p}
9.Bg5 Ne4 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Ne5 Nxd4 6wDwDbDwD}
12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.e3 Nf3+ 14.Nxf3 exf3 5Dw0wDwDw}
15.Qxf3 0-0 16.Rac1
&wDwDwDwD}
[16.Qxb7 Qxb7 17.Bxb7 Rab8 18.Bf3 3DwDw)Q)w}
Rxb2]
2P)wDw)B)}
16....Rab8 17.Qe4 Qc7 18.Rc3 b5 19.a3 c4 %Dw$wDRIw}
20.Bf3 Rfd8 21.Rd1 Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 Rd8
23.Bf3 g6 24.Qc6 Qe5 25.Qe4 Qxe4 v,./9EFJMV
26.Bxe4 Rd1+ 27.Kg2 a5 28.Rc2 b4 Here Black won by advancing
29.axb4 axb4 30.Bf3 Rb1 31.Be2 b3 the Queen's-side majority.
32.Rd2 Rc1 33.Bd1 c3 34.bxc3 b2 35.Rxb2 White has a King's-side
Rxd1 36.Rc2 Bf5 37.Rb2 Rc1 38.Rb3 Be4+ majority, but he didn’t do
39.Kh3 Rc2 40.f4 h5 41.g4 hxg4+ 42.Kxg4 anything with it!
Rxh2 43.Rb4 f5+ 44.Kg3 Re2 45.Rc4
Rxe3+ 46.Kh4 Kg7 47.Rc7+ Kf6 48.Rd7
Bg2 49.Rd6+ Kg7 0-1
If White doesn't play the Bishop to g2 (and I think most beginners will
not), just put your pieces on natural squares and look to make some
sort of advantage on one side of the board.
White can't really expect to get a cuuuuuuuuC
good game by attacking the d-pawn (w4w1w4kD}
straight away: you can make it into 7DwDwhp0p}
an exciting double-pawn Gambit. 6wDnDwDwD}
Plath,B - Petzold,V [D32] corr, 1989 5Dw!wDwDw}
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 &PDw0wDwD}
5.dxc5 d4 6.Na4 b5 7.cxb6 axb6 8.Qb3 b5 3DwDwDNDw}
9.Qxb5+ Bd7 10.Qe5+ Be7 11.b3 Bxa4
12.bxa4 Nc6 13.Qb5 Bb4+ 14.Bd2 Bxd2+
2PDwIP)P)}
15.Kxd2 Nge7 16.Nf3 Rb8 17.Qc5 0-0 U %$wDwDBDR}
18.g3 Qd7 19.Bg2 Rb2+ 20.Ke1 Rfb8 v,./9EFJMV
21.Ne5 Nxe5 22.Qxe5 Ng6 23.Qa5 Qe7 White's pawns are not really
24.Bf3 Ne5 25.Bd5 Nd3+ 0-1 important yet!
von Hennig-Schara Gambit cuuuuuuuuC
There's a terrific little gambit that
(rhb1kgn4}
you can play in the Tarrasch: 70pDwDp0p}
1.d4 d5 6wDwDpDwD}
2.c4 e6
5DwdPDwDw}
3.Nc3 c5
&wDw0wDwD}
4.cxd5 cxd4!?
3DwHwDwDw}
2P)wDP)P)}
The main line goes:
%$wGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 cuuuuuuuuC
5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qd1 exd5 7.Qxd5 Bd7 (wDk4wDw4}
8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Qd1 Bc5 10.e3 Qe7 11.Be2 70pDb1pDp}
O-O-O 12.O-O g5
6wDnDwhwD}
The theory position U ends up 5DwgwDw0w}
with opposite-side castling, where &wDwDwDwD}
Black's King is probably less safe
than White's. But can White last
3DwHw)NDw}
that long? 2P)wDB)P)}
%$wGQDRIw}
[Actually 11...O-O may be as good]
v,./9EFJMV
Example game: cuuuuuuuuC
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 (wDkDwDw4}
5.Qxd4
7DpDw1p0p}
[5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nc6] 6pDwDwDwD}
5...Nc6 6.Qd1 exd5 7.Qxd5 5DwgBhwDw}
[7.Nxd5 Be6 8.e4 Bxd5 (8...Nf6!?) &wDwDPDbD}
9.Qxd5 Qxd5 10.exd5 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 3DwDwDrDw}
Bxd2+ 12.Kxd2 O-O-O=] 2P)wDQ)P)}
7...Bd7 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Qd1 Bc5 10.e3 %$wGwDRIw}
Qe7 11.Bc4 O-O-O 12.O-O Bg4 13.Qe2
Ne5 14.Bb3 a6 15.e4 Rd3 16.Nd5 Nxd5
v,./9EFJMV
17.Bxd5 when Black should have played
[Glikshtein-Shkurovich, Hazin 1970] 17...Rxf3!! U winning
 cuuuuuuuuC
1.d4 without 2.c4: the (rhb1kgn4}
Colle/Stonewall/London 70p0w0p0p}
systems 6wDwDwDwD}
1.d4 d5 and... 5DwDpDwDw}
2.Nf3 & 3.e3 (Colle) &wDw)wDwD}
2.Nf3 & 3.Bf4 (London) 3DwDw)wDw}
2.e3 & 3.Bd3 & 4.f4 (Stonewall) 2P)PDw)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV
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.
How should you play these cuuuuuuuuC
systems as White or Black? Black (rDwDw4kD}
often develops their Bishops on f5 70p0nDp0p}
and d6. Because White is going to 6wDw1phwD}
take a few moves to play Bf1-d3, 5DwDpDwDw}
Black may play ...Bc8-f5 first, and
the light-squared Bishops come
&wDw)wDwD}
off. Also, Black will often 3DwDQ)NDw}
challenge the Bc1-f4 with ...Bf8-d6, 2P)PHw)P)}
and then the dark-squared %$wDwIwDR}
Bishops also come off. We then v,./9EFJMV
have a slow game with Knights
and Queens. U
The first thing to do if you get into this sort of position (whether you
are White or Black) is to open up a file for your Rooks. As Black, you
may not be able to achieve ...e7-e5 very quickly, but it is likely that
you can play ...c7-c5. So one Golden Rule for playing Black in these
openings is for you to play ...c7-c5 at some point. This means that
your Queen's Knight should not be placed straightaway at c6 in front of
the c-Pawn, but instead go to c6 only after ...c7-c5. Another idea is to
play ...Nb8-d7, which actually supports the ...c7-c5 break.
Also, don't castle too early: with a closed centre, your King will be fine
uncastled for a while. Castle too early, and White will be able to rush
pieces over to attack while your pieces might be slow to get over
because the centre is closed.
 Playing Black against the Colle cuuuuuuuuC
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3
(rhw1kgw4}
70p0w0p0p}
Just play
6wDwDwhwD}
3...Bf5 U
5DwDpDbDw}
White will have to play 4.c4 to get &wDw)wDwD}
anything out of the opening. You
won't be able to play your Tarrasch
3DwDw)NDw}
but you will get a more interesting 2P)PDw)P)}
game than the Colle. %$NGQIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV
 Playing Black against the cuuuuuuuuC
Stonewall (rDb1kgw4}
1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 70p0w0p0p}
Black can break the Golden Rule of
6wDnDwhwD}
Queen's Pawn positions and play the 5DwDpDwDw}
Queen's Knight in front of the c- &wDw)wDwD}
pawn. 3DwDB)wDw}
3...Nc6 U with two ideas: 2P)PDw)P)}
4.c3 e5!
%$NGQIwHR}
White's position doesn't make any
v,./9EFJMV
sense without control of e5
4.f4 Nb4! 5.Be2 Bf5! 6.Na3 c5!
White's position doesn't make any
sense without a Bishop on d3
 Playing Black against the London cuuuuuuuuC
1.d4 d5
(rhb1kgw4}
2.Nf3 Nf6
70pDw0p0p}
6wDwDwhwD}
3.Bf4
5Dw0pDwDw}
Now very sensible is:
&wDw)wGwD}
3...c5 U, 4...Nc6 and 5...Bf5 3DwDwDNDw}
This is fine for Black, if a bit dull. 2P)PDP)P)}
%$NDQIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV

Playing Black against 1.d4 – a second system

All-purpose System against

Queen's-side openings cuuuuuuuuC
Purdy calls it the All-purpose (rhw1w4kD}
System: just put your pieces on the 70bdwgp0p}
same squares! U!You can play it 6w0wDphwd}
against 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf3, 1.g3... 5Dw0pDwDw}
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 cuuuuuuuuC
need to remember to play in the (rhb1w4kD}
main line Queen's Gambit
(Tartakower Variation):
70p0wgp0w}
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6
6wDwDphw0}
5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 h6! U
5DwDpDwGw}
That's important: sometimes White
&wDP)wDwD}
can play Qc2 with a double attack 3DwHw)NDw}
on c7 and h7, so play it when it 2P)wDw)P)}
doesn't lose time. %$wDQIBDR}
7.Bh4 b6! 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 v,./9EFJMV
10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Be2 Be6!
Now this Bishop is better in the cuuuuuuuuC
centre. Here's a great game: (rhwDw4kD}
Bertok,M – Fischer,R [D59] Stockholm, 1962 70wDw1p0w}
12.O-O c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 U 14.Qa4 Qb7 6wDwDbDw0}
15.Qa3 Nd7 16.Ne1 a5 17.Nd3 c4 18.Nf4 5Dw0pDwDw}
Rfb8 19.Rab1 Bf5 20.Rbd1 Nf6 21.Rd2 g5 &wDwDwDwD}
22.Nxd5 Nxd5 23.Bxc4 Be6 24.Rfd1 Nxe3
25.Qxe3 Bxc4 26.h4 Re8 27.Qg3 Qe7
3DwDw)NDw}
28.b3 Be6 29.f4 g4 30.h5 Qc5+ 31.Rf2 Bf5 2P)wDB)P)}
0-1 %$wDQDRIw}
v,./9EFJMV

Playing Black against 1.d4 – a third system
cuuuuuuuuC
Dutch Stonewall (rhb1kgw4}
The Stonewall for Black:
70p0wdw0p}
1.d4 f5
6wDwDphwD}
5DwDpDpDw}
2.Nf3 e6
&wDc)wDwD}
3.g3 Nf6
3DwDwDN)w}
4.Bg2 d5
2P)PDP)B)}
5.O-O U %$NGQDRIw}
and now ...Bd6 is more v,./9EFJMV
fashionable than ...Be7.
At its crudest, Black is playing for cuuuuuuuuC
a King's-side attack. U (wDwDwDri}
This system is easier for Black to 70pDbgrhp}
play than for White, I often think. 6wDpDpDwD}
You know where you're heading 5DwDp)wDq}
and your pieces often come to the &w)PDw0wD}
same squares. In fact, the biggest 3)wHwDNDw}
problem is getting to play it – lots 2wDwDP)B)}
of White 1.d4 players will avoid
the main lines of the Dutch with %Dw!w$RDK}
some wretched gambit or other. v,./9EFJMV
Black used to get the bad Bishop These days, we often park it on
around to h4 by Bd7-e8-h4... U b7 U, thinking that the Bg2 also
cuuuuuuuuC has no squares to speak of.
(rDwDw4kD} cuuuuuuuuC
70pDn1w0p} (wDrDw4kD}
6wDwDphwD} 70bDn1w0p}
5DwDpDpDb} 6w0pgphwD}
&wDw)wDwD} 5DwDpHpDw}
3DPHw)N)w} &wDP)wDwD}
2PDQDw)B)} 3DPDwDN)w}
%$wDwDRIw} 2PGQDP)B)}
v,./9EFJMV %$wDwDRIw}
v,./9EFJMV

Summary of lines
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Scotch Gambit
1 e4 Nf3 d4 Bc4 c3 Bxf7+
e5 Nc6 exd4 Bc5 dxc3
2 e4 Nf3 d4 Bc4 c3 Nxc3
e5 Nc6 exd4 Bc5 dxc3
3 e4 Nf3 d4 Bc4 c3
e5 Nc6 exd4 Bc5 d3
4 e4 Nf3 d4 Bc4 c3  Italian #7
e5 Nc6 exd4 Bc5 Nf6
5 e4 Nf3 d4 Bc4 c3
e5 Nc6 exd4 Bb4+
6 e4 Nf3 d4 Bc4  2 Knights #13
e5 Nc6 exd4 Nf6
Italian Game
7 e4 Nf3 Bc4 c3 d4 cxd4 Bd2
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Nf6 exd4 Bb4+ Bxd2
8 e4 Nf3 Bc4 c3 d4 cxd4 Bd2
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Nf6 exd4 Bb4+ Nxe4!
9 e4 Nf3 Bc4 c3 d4 e5
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Nf6 exd4
10 e4 Nf3 Bc4 c3 d4 O-O
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Nf6 exd4
11 e4 Nf3 Bc4 c3 b4
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Nf6
Two Knights'
12 e4 Nf3 Bc4 Ng5 exd5
e5 Nc6 Nf6 d5 b5
13 e4 Nf3 Bc4 d4 e5
e5 Nc6 Nf6 exd4
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
14 e4 Nf3 Bc4 d4 O-O e5 exf6
e5 Nc6 Nf6 exd4 Bc5 d5
15 e4 Nf3 Bc4 d4 O-O e5 Bb5
e5 Nc6 Nf6 exd4 Bc5 d5
16 e4 Nf3 Bc4 d4 O-O Re1 Bxd5
e5 Nc6 Nf6 exd4 Nxe5 d5
Evans Gambit
17 e4 Nf3 Bc4 b4 c3 d4 Qb3
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Bxb4 Ba5 exd4
18 e4 Nf3 Bc4 b4 c3 d4 cxd4
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Bxb4 Bc5 exe4 Bb6
19 e4 Nf3 Bc4 b4 c3 d4
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Bxb4 Bc5 Bb6
20 e4 Nf3 Bc4 b4 c3
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Bxb4 Be7
21 e4 Nf3 Bc4 b4
e5 Nc6 Bc5 Bb6
Petroff's Defence
22 e4 Nf3 d4 e5 Qxd4
e5 Nf6 exd4 Ne4
23 e4 Nf3 d4 Bd3
e5 Nf6 Nxe4
24 e4 Nf3 Nxe5 Nxf7
e5 Nf6 d6
25 e4 Nf3 Bc4 d4 Qxd4
e5 Nf6 Nxe4 exd4
26 e4 Nf3 Bc4 Nc3
e5 Nf6 Nxe4
27 e4 Nf3 Bc4 Nc3
e5 Nf6 Nxe4 Nc6
Philidor's Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
28 e4 Nf3 d4 dxe5 Qd5 Bg5
e5 d6 Nf6 Nxe4 Nc5
Latvian Gambit
29 e4 Nf3 Nxe5 Nc4
e5 f5 Qf6
Elephant Gambit
30 e4 Nf3 exd5 d4
e5 d5 Bd6
31 e4 Nf3 exd5 Qe2
e5 d5 e4
Sicilian Defence
32 e4 c3 exd5 d4
c5 d5 Qxd5
33 e4 c3 e5 d4
c5 Nf6 Nd5
Caro-Kann Defence
34 e4 d4 exd5 c4
c6 d5 cxd5
35 e4 c4 exd5 cxd5
c6 d5 cxd5
36 e4 c4
c6 e5
Pirc Defence
37 e4 d4 Nc3 Be3
d6 Nf6 g6
Alekhin's Defence
38 e4 e5 d4 c4 exd6
Nf6 Nd5 d6 Nb6
Scandinavian Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
39 e4 exd5 Nc3 d4
d5 Qxd5 Qa5
40 e4 exd5 c4 d4
d5 Nf6 e6/c6
French Defence
41 e4 d4 e5 c3 Nf6
e6 d5 c5 Nc6 Qb6
42 e4 d4 Nc3 e5 f4 Nf3 Be3
e6 d5 Nf6 Nfd7 c5 Nc6 a6
43 e4 d4 Nc3 Bg5 e5
e6 d5 Nf6 Be7
44 e4 d4 Nc3 Bg5 e5 Bd2 bxc3
e6 d5 Nf6 Bb4 h6 Bxc3 Ne4
45 e4 d4 exd5 Bd3
e6 d5 exd5 Nc6
46 e4 d4 exd5 c4
e6 d5 exd5
Tarrasch Defence
47 d4 c4 Nc3 cxd5
d5 e6 c5 exd5
von Hennig-Schara Gambit
48 d4 c4 Nc3 cxd5
d5 e6 c5 cxd4
Colle System
49 d4 Nf3 e3
d5 Nf6 Bf5
London System
50 d4 Nf3 Bf4
d5 Nf6 c5
Stonewall Attack
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
51 d4 e3 Bd3 f4
d5 Nf6 Nc6 Nb4
52 d4 e3 Bd3 c3
d5 Nf6 Nc6 e5
All-purpose System
53
d5 e6 Nf6 Be7 b6 Bb7 c5
54 d4 c4 Nc3 Bg5 e3 Nf3 Bh4
d5 e6 Nf6 Be7 O-O h6 b6
Dutch Stonewall
55 d4 g3 Nf3 Bg2 O-O
f5 e6 Nf6 d5
There's a lot more to these openings than I've been able to explain
here. For example, where I've given just a double-page spread to an
opening, you can sometimes find a whole book on just one variation
(There are two on the French Defence, Advance Variation). But until
you regularly meet opponents who are beating you because they know
more book lines, don't worry about it.
Further reading:
 Playing Italian-style as White
Free website reading: HARDING The Kibitzer Columns at Chess Café
www.chesscafec.om Nos.69-70 (Giuoco Piano), Nos.114-115,148 (Two
Knights') Nos.89-90,119 (Evans' Gambit) and Nos.74-75 (Scotch Gambit)
No.145 (Boden-Kieseritsky Gambit)
EMMS Playing the Open Game as Black (Two Knights' Defence etc.,
nothing on the Ruy Lopez) [Gambit]
MULLER & VOIGHT Danish Dynamite! (Scotch Gambit) [Russell]
GUFELD & STESKO Giuoco Piano & Evans' Gambit [Batsford]
LANE Winning with Bishop's Opening (Urusoff Gambit) [Batsford]
BAKER A startling chess opening repertoire (Max Lange, Koltanowski,
Cochrane Gambit) [Everyman]
 Playing against half-open defences
EMMS Attacking with 1.e4 (Scandinavian, Panov-Botvinnik against the
Caro-Kann and lots of other ideas!) [Everyman]
AAGAARD Panov-Botvinnik Attack [Batsford]
 Defending against 1.e4
McDONALD Starting out: Defending against 1.e4 (French Defence for Black)
[Everyman]
JACOBS Starting Out – The French [Everyman]
WATSON Play the French [Batsford]
 Defending against 1.d4
AAGAARD & LUND Defending against 1.d4 [Everyman]
SADLER Queen's Gambit Declined [Everyman]
PURDY Action Chess [Thinker's Press]
AAGAARD Dutch Stonewall [Everyman]

Index of Games
Stein – Langeweg Plovdiv Echt [C55] 1983 ................................................................... 6
Morphy-Cunningham [C54] London, 1859..................................................................... 6
Wong-Mathewson [C55] Sunnyvale, 1978 ..................................................................... 6
Romero Holmes,A-Estremera Panos,S [C54] Leon, 1989 ................................................ 7
Koltanowski,G – Hutchason,C [C55] San Francisco, 1960.............................................. 7
Breivik,T-Valeinis,J [C56] NOR U18 1998 ........................................................................ 7
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