The Colle: Move by Move

This series provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to study any chess opening and at the same time improve your general chess skills and knowledge.

In this book, International Master Cyrus Lakdawala studies the Colle, one of his favourite opening systems. The Colle is a reliable option for White, and is easy to learn and play. White typically builds on solid foundations before unleashing an attack on the enemy king. This straightforward plan makes it particularly popular at club level, but the Colle is played successfully by Grandmasters too. Lakdawala covers both the main lines and the more aggressive Colle-Zukertort Attack, examines the key positional and tactical ideas for both sides, and tells you everything you need to know about playing the Colle.

· Essential guidance and training in the Colle System· Presents a Colle repertoire for White· Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study

Cyrus Lakdawala is an International Master, a former National Open and American Open Champion, and a six-time State Champion. He has been teaching chess for 30 years.

Publisher Information

The Colle: Move by Moveby Cyrus Lakdawala

First published in 2013 by Gloucester Publishers plc (formerly Everyman Publishers plc)Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0AT.

Copyright © 2013 Cyrus Lakdawala

The right of Cyrus Lakdawala to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission of the publisher.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication DataA catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All other sales enquiries should be directed to Everyman Chess, Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0ATtel: 020 7253 7887; fax: 020 7490 3708 email: info@everymanchess.com website: www.everymanchess.com

Everyman is the registered trade mark of Random House Inc. and is used in this work under licence from Random House Inc.

EVERYMAN CHESS SERIES (formerly Cadogan Chess)Chief Advisor: Byron Jacobs Commissioning Editor: John EmmsAssistant Editor: Richard Palliser

Series Foreword

Move by Move is a series of opening books which uses a question-and-answer format. One of our main aims of the series is to replicate - as much as possible - lessons between chess teachers and students.All the way through, readers will be challenged to answer searching questions, to test their skills in chess openings and indeed in other key aspects of the game. It's our firm belief that practising your skills like this is an excellent way to study chess openings, and to study chess in general.Many thanks go to all those who have been kind enough to offer inspiration, advice and assistance in the creation of Move by Move . We're really excited by this series and hope that readers will share our enthusiasm.

John EmmsEveryman Chess

Bibliography

BooksA Ferocious Opening Repertoire, Cyrus Lakdawala (Everyman 2010)Beating Unusual Chess Defences: 1 e4, Andrew Greet (Everyman 2011)Capablanca: Move by Move , Cyrus Lakdawala (Everyman Chess 2012)Colle Plays The Colle System , Adam Harvey, (Chess Enterprises 2002)Colle System, George Koltanowski (Chess Enterprises 1990)Das Colle-Koltanowski System , Valeri Bronznik (Schachverlag Kania 2003)Dealing with d4 Deviations , John Cox (Everyman Chess 2007)Die Tschigorin Verteidigung , Valeri Bronznik (Schachverlag Kania 2001)Fighting the Anti King's Indian s, Yelena Dembo (Everyman Chess 2008)Play 1 d4!, Richard Palliser (Batsford 2003)Starting Out: d-pawn Attacks, Richard Palliser (Everyman Chess 2008)Starting Out: The Colle , Richard Palliser (Everyman Chess 2007)The Modern Defence: Move by Move, Cyrus Lakdawala (Everyman 2012)The Moment of Zuke, David Rudel (Thinker's Press 2009)The Pirc in Black and White, James Vigus (Everyman Chess 2007)The Slav: Move by Move , Cyrus Lakdawala (Everyman Chess 2011)The Taimanov Sicilian: Move by Move , John Emms (Everyman Chess 2012)The Ultimate Colle , Gary Lane (Batsford 2001)The Zukertort System: A Guide for White and Black, Grigory Bogdanovich (Mongoose Press 2010)Winning with the Colle System , Ken Smith & John Hall (Chess Digest 1990)

Electronic/OnlineChessBase 10Chesslive.comChessPublishing.com (with annotations from Aaron Summerscale, Eric Prié, Tony Kosten and Ruslan Scherbakov)The Week in Chess

Introduction

An Orphaned OpeningIf you go back in time to the Palaeolithic age and accidentally step on a resting prehistoric dragonfly, would the world be completely altered when you returned to the present? The Colle System's tragedy is that its founding father, Edgar Colle, died very young, only in his thirties, and with his passing the artery of our opening's lineage and pedigree was mortally severed. I can't help but speculate that perhaps his beloved system would be more popular today had he lived a long life, producing many more Colle System masterpieces for the opening's portfolio. For something to reach a level of greatness, there must correspondingly also be history behind it. With Edgar Colle's premature death, our opening lost a chunk of its history, its potential obliterated with his passing.My old friend and student of Colle himself, the late IM George Koltanowski, faithfully kept his teacher's opening barely alive - on life support - realizing it needed a strong GM advocate to truly popularize the system. This is how our opening earned such low-brand recognition and why so many consider it no more than a by-product of chess history's rubbish bin. I wrote in Kramnik: Move by Move : "The Colle and its cousin, the London System, tend to be scapegoated as second rate, milquetoast openings, when in reality, they are not." The Colle is anything but a spontaneous friend with an amusing personality. Instead, we meet a companion reliably straightforward, loyal and comfortably uniform in temperament, arriving at solid Semi-Slav positions a move up.The secret to mastering the Colle is to learn to see the opening through alien eyes - namely, the vastly popular Semi-Slav triangle formation. How is it, I ask, (quite rationally!) that an opening a move down (the Semi-Slav) is well respected and popular, while the other, the same position a move up (our beloved Colle) is often the object of contempt? I hope to impart to you the hidden understanding that the Colle is actually a powerful opening weapon, which arguably should be on par with blue-blooded counterparts such as the Ruy Lopez and Slav. The tale of the three diagrams is tabiya positions from Chapters One and Two. In them we play White in what is normally a Black opening - the Semi-Slav - but up a full move. These are specialty positions, which may be honed even further by studying traditional Black Semi-Slav variations. So we may be tricking our opponent into a Semi-Slav (which he likely doesn't know or play with the black pieces), and get this position a full move up over normal, since we arrive here with White, not Black.Now it may seem rather crazy that White can develop his dark-squared bishop, yet deliberately spurns the opportunity and insists on burying it on c1 instead, a bit like a hungry person at a buffet, who only chooses raw carrots and celery rather than sample the eighteen-course fare laid out in front. If we exercise patience, the bishop always finds a way to poke his head out of the hole eventually.

Unplug and De-theorize with the CollePerhaps you are like me and loathe our theoretical McWorld of fashionable, computer-generated, binary openings? Personally, I am sick and tired of force feeding raw data down the memory hole. The Colle is anything but a set of collective algorithms to be memorized and altered, only when Anand or Radjabov unearths a shocking theoretical novelty which radically alters the assessment. Instead, the Colle is an opening system to be understood and absorbed. For example, you buy a book which advocates the glories of some topical Najdorf, Dragon or King's Indian variation which ends in the stunningly atonal move 23...a5!!, but a week later it reads 23...a5?!, since some GM with a newer version of Fritz or Houdini unearths an improvement for the other side, promptly flipping a "-+" into a "+=". In this book we enter the safe haven of the Colle, cushioned from the terrors of snot-nosed 10-year-old theoreticians who up-end you through parrot-like memorization, eradicating our advantage of years of experience. Our "V" (okay, maybe upside down "V"!) formation on c3, d4 and e3 remains our celestial constellation guiding us, a set-up squarely antithetical to all which is "book".When I want to play it safe with the white pieces, I turn to my old friend, the Colle, an opening often derisively touted as a system for beginners - training wheels if you will - to avoid getting slaughtered by stronger, more experienced club players - and in a sense this is absolutely true. But even an International Master can use it to avoid loss versus a fearsome Grandmaster opponent. I essayed the Colle eight times versus GMs (I wish now I had done it a lot more often!) with a score of two wins, a loss and five draws. So I accrued a plus score against eight superior players by leading them into my familiar realm, certainly not through superior talent or skill levels on my part. In my experience the nature of the positions you force matters almost as much - if not more - than the attainment of a theoretical edge. We thought-mapping chess-writers are compelled by some mysterious instinct to categorize, label, divide, parse and sub-divide every opening. In this book we try and avoid the technical as much as possible. Instead, we view the Colle as a set of shuffled concepts to be understood - not a nest of variations to be memorized. Just play over the games of the book and you are ready to face your booked-up opponents, whose data-driven book knowledge wilts into an ineffective, obsolete weapon when they face our system.

Game 1E.Colle-E.GrünfeldBerlin 1926 (View in Game Format)

Colle considered this game the finest of his life. 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6Grünfeld avoids his own defence.3 e3 b6The Queen's Indian versus Colle, a line we cover in Chapter Three.4 Bd3 Bb7 5 Nbd2 c5 6 0-0 Be7 7 b3

QUESTION: I thought Colle was the c3/d4/e3 pawn triangle, correct?ANSWER: Correct, that is the mainline Colle which we cover in the bulk of the book. White's last move converts the position into its more aggressive, mean-spirited cousin, the Zukertort Colle, which we cover in Chapter Four. 7 c3 is

position into its more aggressive, mean-spirited cousin, the Zukertort Colle, which we cover in Chapter Four. 7 c3 is the Queen's Indian versus Colle, covered in Chapter Three.7...cxd4 8 exd4 d6QUESTION: What is the point of holding the d-pawn back?ANSWER: By playing the pawn to d6, Black restrains White's pieces from occupation of e5. On the downside, it doesn't challenge the centre, which allows White to seize space.9 Bb2 Nbd7 10 c4Why not? White grabs space since Black allows it.10...0-0 11 Rc1 Re8 12 Re1 Qc7

This move is actually inaccurate if Black is to follow the plan he did.QUESTION: How so?ANSWER: If Black plays the manoeuvre ...Rc8, ...Rc7! and ...Qa8, he saves at least one tempo over the game. For example: 12...Rc8 13 b4!? (White doesn't always play for a kingside attack in the Colle; sometimes he may just try and accumulate space in centre and queenside) 13...Bf8 14 Qb3 Rc7 15 a3 Qa8, C.Lakdawala-D.Aldama, San Diego (rapid) 2012.13 Qe2 Rac8 14 Nf1QUESTION: Why the knight retreat?ANSWER: He redeploys the knight to g3, massing for a future kingside assault.14...Qb8 15 Ng3 Qa8"Mirror, mirror on the wall..." Black's powerful queen gazes lovingly into the mirror to satiate her growing vanity. Soon we discover there are many others in the kingdom more powerful than her. Black follows with the hypermodern Réti scheme of pressure down the h1-a8 diagonal. He also threatens to damage White's structure by capturing on f3.QUESTION: Is ...Bxf3 an actual "threat"? It also hands White the bishop pair and an open g-file for his rooks to launch an attack.ANSWER: Good point. In fact, you may want to skip forward to Chapter Three and take a look at Hoi-Gulko, where White did just that and went on to win brilliantly, but in that case, the weakening ...g7-g5 was first provoked. I suppose optically at least it is a threat, but in reality ...Bxf3 may actually benefit White.16 Ng5!The devil doesn't only tempt with apples. Suddenly, Black's king feels the presence of hidden, watching eyes upon him. Colle embarks on a fanciful - one could say Aladdinish - plan, plunging into dark, swirling waters without fear of consequence, yet somehow through access to ancient, arcane magic, manages to pull it off. The knight eyes sac targets on e6 and f7. White's roving knight, having spent an uneventful childhood in greys, blacks and whites, now itches for the flash of colour, adventure and the pleasures of the world.

16...g6?Black fails to conduct himself in consonance with the sinuous flow of events.

QUESTION: But doesn't g2 hang?ANSWER: Here is Colle's analysis on your line: 16...Bxg2 17 d5! (much stronger than 17 f3 - Black's bishop is trapped, so this in turn forces Black's next move - 17...h6 18 N5e4 Bh3 19 Nf2! Bf5 20 Nxf5 exf5 21 Bxf5 d5 22 Qd3 where White's bishop pair compensates for his inferior structure) 17...exd5 18 Nf5 (the move Colle had planned; Houdini improves with 18 Bxf6! Nxf6 19 Bf5 Rc7 20 Kxg2 and a clear advantage for White) 18...Bf8? (this follows Colle's analysis; but Houdini gives 18...Be4! and claims equality for Black) 19 Qh5!! (a mind-bending shot)

19...g6 (19...Nxh5?? 20 Nh6+! gxh6 21 Bxh7 or 20...Kh8 21 Ngxf7 is mate) 20 Nh6+ Bxh6 21 Qxh6 with a nightmarish attack along the dark squares.Defensive technique has come a long way since this game was played. Undoubtedly, today's grandmaster (or even club player) would play the simple and cold-blooded 16...Bf8!, eliminating White's sacs and ruining his fun as well. Then 17 f3 looks like approximate equality.17 Nxf7!Devo would agree: "Whip it good." Colle wasn't the kind of person who believed only in what he saw or touched. He speculated, placing trust in intuition, with a promise of glory as the only immediate return on his investment. There is in a sense a charming predictability to Colle's unpredictability.QUESTION: Is the sac 100% sound?ANSWER: Most likely it is. One doesn't necessarily require full empirical evidence as back up for the go-ahead in such sacs. For most experienced players, the "gut feeling" is good enough. Perhaps unpredictability is the opiate to which we are drawn. Moral: Relativism exists in chess. There are few absolutes, unless you are a comp.17...Kxf7 18 Qxe6+ Kg7 19 d5!

QUESTION: Did White get enough compensation for the piece?ANSWER: More than enough. Multiple factors, when clumped together, bode well for White:1. Two pawns.2. An enduring attack.3. He shuts down Black's queen/bishop duo and places them badly out of play for now. In fact, Black's somewhathomely queen, quite self-conscious of her looks, insists on dim lighting in the palace. Her slightly nasally admonition betrays her annoyance at the untoward intrusion created by White's last move.4. The b2-bishop eyes Black's nervous king on g7.5. In general, White's forces expand while Black's shrivel in contracted deprivation.19...Nc5?Black's woes, far from dissipating, get caught in a trap of self-perpetuation and soon we glimpse the true magnitude of the catastrophe.

EXERCISE (combination alert): Black's last move removed a key defender, which allowed a thunderous shot. Let's see if you can duplicate Colle's greatest attacking combination.

ANSWER: Lightning spatters across and illuminates a once dark horizon.20 Nf5+!! Kf8Black's forces evacuate in a half-bent run, like routed soldiers retreating from a losing battle. The erratic flailings of Black's king at least have the single benefit of presenting a constantly shifting target. 20...gxf5?? 21 Qxf5, threatening h7 as well as Rxe7+, leaves Black shy of a reasonable defence.21 Qe3!Target: h6. Colle's queen ascends and descends with predatory grace.21...gxf5Black's dismal non-choices:a) 21...Ng4 22 Qf3 is crushing.b) 21...Ng8 22 Bg7+ Kf7 23 Qe6+! Nxe6 24 dxe6 mate. Behold, the unimaginable bliss of delivering checkmate witha pawn!22 Qh6+ Kf7 23 Bxf5 Bxd5

EXERCISE (combination alert): Corrosion and the passage of time render Black's defenders worthless tools, unfit for the given task. Do you see White's shot?

ANSWER: 24 Rxe7+!The eternal sentinel on e7, like patience itself, now evaporates. The easy camaraderie which previously existed between Black's knight and bishop now lies in shards on the ground. Black's position transforms into a triage unit, with patients sorted by degrees of urgency to their given wounds. The first name on the list: his grievously wounded king!24...Rxe7 25 Qxf6+ Ke8 26 Qh8+ Kf7The king hopes to dismiss his previous questionable decisions as a prelude to his present crisis, but it isn't easy to outrun your past - it has a way of catching up at the most inopportune moments.27 Bxc8 1-0SUMMARY: The Colle isn't as stodgy an opening as many believe. We often generate deadly attacks which tend to arise magically from the depths of initial tranquillity.

AcknowledgementsThanks as always to my editor, GM John Emms, for his help and guidance throughout the book, and also to Jonathan Tait for the final edit. Thanks to Grammar Czar Nancy for proofreading and Tim for his computer vigilance. May your opponents sigh in frustration upon seeing you play the Colle System.

Cyrus Lakdawala,

Cyrus Lakdawala,San Diego, January 2013

A47Colle,EGrünfeld,E

Berlin 1926[Cyrus Lakdawala]

Colle considered this game the finest of hislife.1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 Grünfeld avoids his owndefence.3.e3 b6 The Queen's Indian versus Colle, aline we cover in Chapter Three.4.d3 b7 5.bd2 c5 6.0-0 e7 7.b3QUESTION: I thought Colle was the c3/d4/e3pawn triangle, correct?ANSWER: Correct, that is the mainline Collewhich we cover in the bulk of the book.White's last move converts the position intoits more aggressive, mean-spirited cousin, theZukertort Colle, which we cover in ChapterFour.

[ 7.c3 is the Queen's Indian versus Colle,covered in Chapter Three. ]

7...cxd4 8.exd4 d6 QUESTION: What is thepoint of holding the d-pawn back?ANSWER: By playing the pawn to d6, Blackrestrains White's pieces from occupation of e5.On the downside, it doesn't challenge thecentre, which allows White to seize space.9.b2 bd7 10.c4 Why not? White grabsspace since Black allows it.

0-0 11.c1 e8 12.e1 c7 This move isactually inaccurate if Black is to follow theplan he did.QUESTION: How so?

[ ANSWER: If Black plays the manoeuvre ...Rc8, ...Rc7! and ...Qa8, he saves at leastone tempo over the game. For example:

12...c8 13.b4!? (White doesn't always playfor a kingside attack in the Colle; sometimeshe may just try and accumulate space incentre and queenside) f8 14.b3 c715.a3 a8 , C.Lakdawala-D.Aldama, SanDiego (rapid) 2012. ]

13.e2 ac8 14.f1 QUESTION: Why theknight retreat?ANSWER: He redeploys the knight to g3,massing for a future kingside assault.

b8 15.g3 a8 "Mirror, mirror on thewall..." Black's powerful queen gazes lovinglyinto the mirror to satiate her growing vanity.Soon we discover there are many others inthe kingdom more powerful than her. Blackfollows with the hypermodern Réti scheme ofpressure down the h1-a8 diagonal. He also

threatens to damage White's structure bycapturing on f3.QUESTION: Is ...Bxf3 an actual "threat"? Italso hands White the bishop pair and an openg-file for his rooks to launch an attack.ANSWER: Good point. In fact, you may wantto skip forward to Chapter Three and take alook at Hoi-Gulko, where White did just thatand went on to win brilliantly, but in that case,the weakening ...g7-g5 was first provoked. Isuppose optically at least it is a threat, but inreality ...Bxf3 may actually benefit White.16.g5! The devil doesn't only tempt withapples. Suddenly, Black's king feels thepresence of hidden, watching eyes upon him.Colle embarks on a fanciful – one could sayAladdinish – plan, plunging into dark, swirlingwaters without fear of consequence, yetsomehow through access to ancient, arcanemagic, manages to pull it off. The knight eyessac targets on e6 and f7. White's roving knight,having spent an uneventful childhood in greys,blacks and whites, now itches for the flash ofcolour, adventure and the pleasures of theworld.

g6? Black fails to conduct himself inconsonance with the sinuous flow of events.QUESTION: But doesn't g2 hang?

[ ANSWER: Here is Colle's analysis on yourline: 16...xg2 17.d5! ( much stronger than17.f3 – Black's bishop is trapped, so this inturn forces Black's next move – h6 18.5e4

h3 19.f2! f5 20.xf5 exf5 21.xf5 d5 22.d3 where White's bishop paircompensates for his inferior structure )

17...exd5 18.f5 ( the move Colle hadplanned; Houdini improves with 18.xf6!

xf6 19.f5 c7 20.xg2 and a clearadvantage for White ) 18...f8? ( this followsColle's analysis; but Houdini gives 18...e4!and claims equality for Black ) 19.h5!!(a mind-bending shot)

A) 19...xh5?? 20.h6+! gxh6 ( or 20...h8 21.gxf7# ) 21.xh7# is mate;B) 19...g6 20.h6+ xh6 21.xh6with a nightmarish attack along the darksquares. ]

[ Defensive technique has come a long waysince this game was played. Undoubtedly,today's grandmaster (or even club player)would play the simple and cold-blooded

16...f8! , eliminating White's sacs andruining his fun as well. Then 17.f3looks like approximate equality. ]

17.xf7! Devo would agree: "Whip it good."

Colle wasn't the kind of person who believedonly in what he saw or touched. He speculated,placing trust in intuition, with a promise ofglory as the only immediate return on hisinvestment. There is in a sense a charmingpredictability to Colle's unpredictability.QUESTION: Is the sac 100% sound?ANSWER: Most likely it is. One doesn'tnecessarily require full empirical evidence asback up for the go-ahead in such sacs. Formost experienced players, the "gut feeling" isgood enough. Perhaps unpredictability is theopiate to which we are drawn. Moral:Relativism exists in chess. There are fewabsolutes, unless you are a comp.

xf7 18.xe6+ g7 19.d5! QUESTION:Did White get enough compensation for thepiece?ANSWER: More than enough. Multiple factors,when clumped together, bode well for White:1. Two pawns.2. An enduring attack.3. He shuts down Black's queen/bishop duoand places them badly out of play for now. Infact, Black's somewhat homely queen, quiteself-conscious of her looks, insists on dimlighting in the palace. Her slightly nasallyadmonition betrays her annoyance at theuntoward intrusion created by White's lastmove.4. The b2-bishop eyes Black's nervous king ong7.5. In general, White's forces expand whileBlack's shrivel in contracted deprivation.

c5? Black's woes, far from dissipating, getcaught in a trap of self-perpetuation and soonwe glimpse the true magnitude of thecatastrophe.EXERCISE (combination alert): Black's lastmove removed a key defender, which alloweda thunderous shot. Let's see if you canduplicate Colle's greatest attackingcombination.ANSWER: Lightning spatters across andilluminates a once dark horizon.

20.f5+!! f8 Black's forces evacuate in ahalf-bent run, like routed soldiers retreatingfrom a losing battle. The erratic flailings ofBlack's king at least have the single benefit ofpresenting a constantly shifting target.

[ 20...gxf5?? 21.xf5 , threatening h7 aswell as Rxe7+, leaves Black shy of areasonable defence. ]

21.e3! Target: h6. Colle's queen ascendsand descends with predatory grace.

gxf5 Black's dismal non-choices: [ a) 21...g4 22.f3 is crushing. ] [ b) 21...g8 22.g7+ f7 23.e6+! xe6 24.dxe6# . Behold, the unimaginable bliss ofdelivering checkmate with a pawn! ]

22.h6+ f7 23.xf5 xd5 EXERCISE(combination alert): Corrosion and thepassage of time render Black's defendersworthless tools, unfit for the given task. Doyou see White's shot?ANSWER: 24.xe7+! The eternal sentinel one7, like patience itself, now evaporates. Theeasy camaraderie which previously existedbetween Black's knight and bishop now lies inshards on the ground. Black's positiontransforms into a triage unit, with patientssorted by degrees of urgency to their givenwounds. The first name on the list: hisgrievously wounded king!

xe7 25.xf6+ e8 26.h8+ f7The king hopes to dismiss his previousquestionable decisions as a prelude to hispresent crisis, but it isn't easy to outrun yourpast – it has a way of catching up at the mostinopportune moments.

27.xc8 SUMMARY: The Colle isn't asstodgy an opening as many believe. We oftengenerate deadly attacks which tend to arisemagically from the depths of initial tranquillity.1-0

Chapter One

Main Line with ...Nc6

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 e6 4 Bd3 c5 5 c3 Nc6 6 Nbd2 Bd6 7 0-0 0-0

We enter geologically altered terrain, with the oddly designed, jutting jaw line of pawns on c3, d4 and e3. On the next move we take on c5, and when Black recaptures we have a choice: We can play for e3-e4, the classical mainline Colle, or b2-b4, interpreting the position as a pure Semi-Slav a move up as White. If you are just learning the Colle, I suggest you begin with the classical e3-e4 lines and then, as understanding grows, you can start tossing in b2-b4 to expand your experience and also keep opponents guessing. Believe it or not, equality does not come easily for Black, and even when it arrives we Colle players tend to demonstrate superior footing on understanding, since we play the same structure again and again.

Don't think of Colle as "here" and Semi-Slav as "there". Essentially, they are the same opening, albeit a tempo distance apart. In the b2-b4 lines, the old fashioned Colle and modernity collide - b2-b4 is a move not normally indigenous to the Colle, and is more commonly seen in the latitudes of Semi-Slav. Here we borrow another opening's idea and unleash it a full move up. More good news: there are hardly any games in the database with this plan, which looks completely playable for White as any other opening choice. This means virtually 100% of your opponents will be entering the position for the very first time in their lives.Lakdawala-Van BuskirkColle-YatesPecot-TavaresBakre-LauridsenAdly-Juarez FloresLakdawala-LawrenceLakdawala-PenaLakdawala-Hummel

Bareev-TukmakovMiltner-AppelHillarp Persson-KarlssonGausel-Gorecki

Index

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 e6 4 Bd3 c5 5 c3 Nc65...Bd6 6 Nbd2 0-0 7 0-0 b6 – Lakdawala-Lawrence5...Be7 6 Nbd2 0-0 7 Ne5 – Lakdawala-Pena5...b6 6 Ne5 – Lakdawala-Hummel

6 Nbd2 Bd66...Be7 7 0-0 0-0 8 Ne5 – Bareev-Tukmakov

7 0-0 0-0 8 dxc5 Bxc5 9 e49 b4 Bd6 10 Bb2

10...Qc7 – Gausel-Gorecki10...e5 11 e4 dxe4 12 Nxe4 Nxe4 13 Bxe4

13...f5 – Miltner-Appel13...Be6 – Hillarp Persson-Karlsson

9...Qc79...dxe4 10 Nxe4

10...Nxe4 – Bakre-Lauridsen10...Be7 – Adly-Juarez Flores

10 exd510 Qe2 – Pecot-Tavares

10...exd5 11 Nb3 Bd6 12 h3 Re813 Be3 – Lakdawala-Van Buskirk13 Nbd4 – Colle-Yates

D05Lakdawala,CVan Buskirk,C

SCCF Championship, Irvine 1996[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3[ The Colle can be reached through multiplemove orders. Compare the current gamewith the Tarrasch French position reached inthis Karpov-Korchnoi struggle: 1.e4 e6 2.d4d5 3.d2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.gf3 c66.b5 d6 7.dxc5 xc5 8.0-0 ge79.b3 d6 10.c3 g4 11.bd4 0-012.e2 e8 13.e1 a6 , A.Karpov-V.Korchnoi, Candidates (4th matchgame),Moscow 1974. The Colle position reachedbelow is quite similar. ]

1...c5 2.c3 QUESTION: What on earth!?ANSWER: So glad you asked! GM JesseKraai, in a video, dubbed this glorious idea"The Lakdawala Accelerated".QUESTION: I have a strong hunch hisdeclaration was sarcastic. What is the ideabehind such a passive move?ANSWER: Essentially, White takes all the funout of Black's invitation to transpose to aSicilian by forcing a Slav position a move up.Keep in mind that a Colle is basically a Semi-Slav with colours reversed.

f6 3.d4 e6 4.e3 And here we are, theColle System. Obviously, White isn't trying forsome crushing opening advantage. Instead,we humble Colle folk utilize the white piecesmainly to steer Black into our comfort zone,where understanding, not memorization, rules.

[ Instead, 4.g5 is the Torre Attack, ] [ while 4.f4 is the London System. ]

4...d5 Black stakes out his own claim in thecentre.

[ We take a look at 4...b6 , Colle versusQueen's Indian, in Chapter Three. ]

5.bd2 c6[ We cover 5...bd7 next chapter. ]

6.d3 The best spot for the bishop. Whiteseizes control over the key e4-square. Sooneror later we play for the e3-e4 pawn break inthe centre.

d6 QUESTION: Is there any difference ifBlack plays his bishop to e7?

[ ANSWER: The bishop's development to e7is also popular. We examine this move orderlater in the chapter. I feel that d6 is the mostaccurate square for Black's bishop, since if

6...e7 White can simply play as he did this

game and transpose, or he can go for aStonewall set-up with 7.0-0 0-0 8.e5(White intends f2-f4 next, so Black reallyshould take) xe5 9.dxe5 d7 10.f4. Essentially, White gets an extra option,which the move order 6...Bd6 denies. Weexamine this exact position later on inBareev-Tukmakov. ]

7.0-0 0-0 [ QUESTION: What if Black plays 7...b6in order to recapture on c5 with a pawn?ANSWER: ...Bd6 and ...b7-b6 don't mix welltogether. The universal answer is a quick e3-e4!. Take a look at my game againstLawrence later in the chapter as an example.Here, 8.e4! has Black squirming: dxe49.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 b7 11.e1leaves Black in deep trouble since the rote

0-0?? is met with the equally rote (but alsowinning!) Greek gift sac, 12.xh7+, when Black's king goes for a ride withouta return ticket. ]

[ QUESTION: Does Black equalize if heplays the immediate 7...e5 ?ANSWER: It looks quite risky for Black, whoviolates the principle: Avoid opening theposition when behind in development. Iliked White's treatment in the followinggame: 8.e4! (Principle: Create confrontationwhen leading in development) cxd4 9.cxd4

A) 9...0-0 looks wiser, but I still preferWhite after 10.dxe5 xe5 11.xe5

xe5 12.exd5 xd5 13.f3 b8 ( 13...g4? 14.xh7+! just wins a pawn )14.g5 , G.Soppe-F.Quiroga, BuenosAires 1993;B) 9...dxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4

xd4 12.xd4 exd4 13.h5! b614.e1 and Black was in deep trouble,despite his extra pawn, M.Scalcione-M.Sbarra, Corsica 2007. ]

[ QUESTION: Why is it that Black rarelybreaks the central tension with a move like

7...c4 ?ANSWER: Premature release of centraltension nearly always favours White in suchcases. For example: 8.c2 b5 9.e4 e7(losing a tempo to get out of the path of e4-e5) 10.e1 c7 11.exd5! (White logicallyopens while leading in development) exd512.e5 e6 13.df3 (now Ng5 is in theair) xe5?! (an overreaction in a passiveposition) 14.dxe5 d7 15.d4! b6, H.Filgueira-J.Maciel, Villa Ballester 2003,when White's kingside majority and control

over d4 give him clear advantage after 16.f4. ]

8.dxc5 The main move and generallyregarded as White's best line. Others:

[ a) 8.e2 is inaccurate due to c4! 9.c2 e5! . ] [ b) 8.e1 e5 9.e4 cxd4 10.exd5 xd5 11.c4 h6! 12.fxe5?! ( 12.e4 is equal ) 12...xe5 13.xe5 dxc3 and Black alreadystood better since White's compensation forthe missing pawn is highly debatable, K.Berg-N.De Firmian, Gausdal 1994. ]

[ c) 8.e4 cxd4 9.cxd4 b4! (gaining timeand establishing a blockade on d5) 10.b1

dxe4 11.xe4 e7 , when Black gets areasonable-looking isolani position, A.Khalifman-L.Yudasin, Tilburg 1994. ]

8...xc5 9.e4 [ At the end of the chapter we concentrate on 9.b4 , interpreting the position as a purereversed Semi-Slav. ]

9...c7 This is considered Black's bestresponse. I don't believe Black equalizes withthe most commonly played alternatives:

[ a) 9...dxe4 is examined in Bakre-Lauridsenand Adly-Juarez Flores. ]

[ b) 9...e5 10.exd5 xd5 ( not 10...xd5?! 11.c4! e8 12.e4! e6 , P.Lomako-S.Bezgodova, Lipetsk 2009, when 13.g5!looks even better than winning the e5-pawn ) 11.c2!? (more optimistic thanplaying the queen to e2) g4 ( tempting, butperhaps 11...h6 should be preferred )

12.e4! xf3 13.gxf3 h8! 14.c4(tricky, though it doesn't win the piece asboth White and Black expected) d7??

( 14...d8! 15.xc5 and now the calm b6!, threatening both the c5-knight and ...Nb4,regains Black's lost piece, though White stillstands better after 16.e3 bxc5 17.xc5 )

15.xc5 h3 16.f5! xf3 17.d31-0 M.Narciso Dublan-L.Barczay, Budapest2001. ]

10.exd5 [ I prefer this simpler path to the maintheoretical move, 10.e2, which transposes to Pecot-Tavares later inthe chapter. ]

10...exd5! QUESTION: Why does Blackwillingly take on a pawn weakness when hecan recapture with the knight?ANSWER: Van Buskirk suffers nocompunctions about creating a pawnweakness if doing so allows compensatorypiece activity. Actually, taking on the isolani is

the normally recommended path, as itenhances Black's dynamic chances:1. By accepting the isolani, Black immediatelyfrees his c8-bishop.2. By taking the isolani, Black is now the onewho controls more central space.3. The d5-pawn offers Black hooks at e4 andc4.QUESTION: If Black gets all this play thenwhy did you take on d5?ANSWER: As mentioned before, don't playthe Colle expecting a huge (or any!)advantage for White. Our power with the lineresides in the fact that we stay within familiarstructures, while very likely forcing anopponent out of his prep. I'm happy to playWhite's side, even if the position is equal,since I tend to score well against isolanis. Inessence, White gets a position similar to thatin a Tarrasch French – in those lines whereBlack takes on an isolani.

[ When Black recaptures on d5 with hisknight, the positions mirror c3-Sicilianstructures, with queenside versus kingsidepawn majorities. For example: 10...xd5

11.c2 h6 ( 11...f5!? , staking out centralspace, is an aggressive but risky idea )

12.e4 e7 13.g3 a6 ( 13...f5!? 14.c4may also come into consideration ) 14.d2

b5 15.ad1 b7 16.c1! (eyeing potentialsacs on h6) f5!? (Black gets nervous andgrabs space to keep his king safer) 17.fe1

f6 , A.Potkin-A.Afonin, St Petersburg 1998,when White holds a clear advantage after

18.c4! . ] 11.b3 We must be careful.

[ 11.h3? allows Black the shot xh3! 12.gxh3?? g3+ 13.h1 xh3+ 14.g1 g4 , when White has no hope of survivingBlack's raging attack. ]

11...d6 QUESTION: Isn't it more logical toplay to b6 to challenge White on the d4-square?

[ ANSWER: Both are okay for Black. It's amatter of taste. By playing to d6, Black setshis sights on White's king, rather than on thed4-square. Alternatively, 11...b6 12.c2

g4 , E.Colle-S.Tarrasch, Baden-Baden1925, and now 13.fd4 fe8 14.e3looks dynamically balanced. ]

12.h3 QUESTION: Don't you hand Black asac target after this move?ANSWER: White should be fine as long as heremains vigilant of the sacs, factoring them into his future considerations. It's quite helpful

to prevent the irritating ...Bg4 pin. e8 13.e3 White takes firm control over d4– but as mentioned above, Black gets fullcompensation in the form of piece activitygenerated by the d5-pawn.

e4 14.bd4 a6 White desires swaps ingeneral due to Black's inferior structure, butnot necessarily on c6 which gives Black thehanging pawns structure and strengthens d5.15.e1 d7 16.f1 White discourages sacson h3 and clears the way to pressure d5.

h6 17.b3!? QUESTION: Aren't you wastingtime with this move?ANSWER: Perhaps it was unwise, but Iactually wanted to lure his knight to c4.

a5! 18.c2 [ 18.xd5?? f6! would have left me redfaced. ]

18...c4 19.xc4!? xc4 The queenwillingly enters the smoke-filled room, yetdoesn't get burned.QUESTION: Why did you give up the bishoppair and why did Black refuse to un-isolate hisd-pawn?

[ ANSWER: My opponent decided to retainthe isolani rather than allow White hisintended 19...dxc4 20.xh6 (discoveredattack) xf2 21.xf2 gxh6 . Right orwrong, my intuition said that Black'snumerous pawn weaknesses outweigh histwo bishops and dark square control.Houdini assesses it as equal. ]

20.ed1 ac8 21.b3 a4?! To Nosferatu,a woman's most attractive body part is herthroat. This pin doesn't bother White's queenat all. The bishop, lurching to his right due toa damaged propulsion system, squanders histime daydreaming when he should be lookingin the other direction, making ready for akingside assault. Black's move fallssomewhere between a not-so-great plan andan eccentric notion, since he appears toowilling to agree to exchanges.QUESTION: What do you suggest as asuperior plan?

[ ANSWER: 21...b8! , intending a futurekingside attack, retains the balance. ]

22.d4 xb3!? Yet another violation ofprinciple, but who's counting? More easyswaps to White's benefit.

[ Perhaps the awkward 22...c6 should beconsidered. ]

23.xb3 xb3 24.axb3 f6 25.b4White stands better. Black has no realcompensation for his isolani and White's

control over the d4-square.QUESTION: I realize Black stands worse, butare all your games so technical and – dare Isay it – dull?ANSWER: Sadly, I must respond in theaffirmative. I conjecture that if Dr. ConradMurray, Michael Jackson's doctor, had theforesight to prescribe a steady dose of mychess games as a cure to Jackson's insomnia(rather than the lethal doses of Propofol!),then the king of pop would still be here withus today, spinning about, moon walking andrefreshed after a good night's sleep. Thereare some in the world (i.e. me) who loatheenduring harrowing drama and are thankful toenter positions refreshingly devoid of suddenscares or astonishing surprises. For a math-challenged man, boldness or risk-taking isunprecedented stuff. Each morning uponarising, I prayerfully thank the universe foreach of my invaluable ten fingers and ten toes,without which I wouldn't be capable of doingany calculation at all on the chessboard!

e4 26.f1 Of course, White isn't about tooblige Black and straighten out his isolani.

ce8 27.d3 c7 EXERCISE (planning):Time to weigh the evidence and marshal ourvarious options, switching from the theoreticalto actual praxis. Come up with a concrete planto increase the pressure on Black's isolani.ANSWER: Prepare a knight transfer to e3.28.e1! White's intention – Nc2, Rad1, Bd4,Ne3, and then the threat Bxf6 followed byRxd5 – hangs over Black.

4e6 29.c2 b6 30.ad1 White threatensBxb6 followed by Ne3.

c7 31.d4 White's plan is nearly complete. e2 32.3d2 xd2 33.xd2 Each tradehelps White, as Black's isolani grows moredestabilized.

e5 He must not allow Bxf6.34.c5 f4 35.d1 h5 36.d4 e4?!This is not a time for activity at the cost ofdefence.

[ He would be better served repeating theposition with 36...e5 , which forces Whiteto come up with new ways to exertpressure. ]

[ The newly escaped fugitive knight walks inthe river, not the path next to it, to removehis footprints and deprive the hunting dogsof his scent. After Black's last move, youruncharacteristically intrepid writer sensesweakness, giving him an opening to seizepower. Most of us are thieves by nature.

Cooking sherry isn't meant to be drunk, butall chefs cheat by pulling out the stopper,looking left and right, and then indulging ina swig when no one is looking.EXERCISE (combination alert): After

36...e4 it's White to play and steal Black'sisolani. ]

ANSWER: Double attack. A monk is notsupposed to find delight in ownership. Yet thegreedy white bishop continues to accumulatewealth as we speak.

37.e3! xe3 38.xe3 Two attackers; zerodefenders. Blood spurts from the severedartery, and the d5-pawn's life force ebbs away.

g3+ 39.fxg3 [ 39.e1 f5 40.xd5 xe3 41.fxe3 xe3+ 42.f2 also did the job. ]

39...xe3 40.xd5 e7? A blunder on theeve of time control leaves him down twopawns, and hopelessly lost in the rook andpawn ending.

[ Black had to try 40...xg3 . ] 41.xh5 b5 42.c5 e6 EXERCISE(planning): How does White make progress?ANSWER: Activate the queenside majorityand create a passed pawn.

43.b3 g6 44.c4 e3 45.cxb5 axb5 46.g4 xb3 47.xb5 f6 48.b7 b2At this moment the white and black kings keepto their own counsel, both ignoring shrillwarnings of encroaching danger from theirrespective advisors.

49.b5 h8 50.b6 g8 51.b8+ g7 52.b7! QUESTION: Why did Black resign? Ithink you mishandled the ending and mayhave difficulty making progress, since nowyour rook is stuck behind your passed b-pawn,and your king is cut off as well.ANSWER: Let's do a calculation exercise.

[ EXERCISE (calculation): Visualize this linewithout moving the pieces: 52.b7 g5 53.g3(White creates a second passer on thekingside) h7 54.h4 g7 55.h5 h7

56.h6! and zugzwang!Nine-ply if you saw to the end in your mind'seye. Black's king and pawns are out ofmoves. Black's rook must give way andallow White's king entry to the game, afterwhich the win is easy.QUESTION: How does White actually win,though? Does he rush the king to the b7-pawn?ANSWER: White either wins both remainingblack pawns, or forces a won king and pawnending. Like this: b1+ 57.f2 b2+

58.e3 b1 59.e4 b4+ 60.d5! b6 61.c5 b1 62.c6 c1+ 63.d6 b1 ( 63...d1+ 64.e6 b1 65.xf6is also hopeless: b5 66.e6 b1 67.f5

b5+ 68.f6 zugzwang ) 64.e8!(forcing a won pawn ending) xb7 65.e7+

xe7 66.xe7 g6 67.e6 h7 68.f7 xh6 69.xf6 h7 70.xg5 g7 71.f5 f7 72.g5 etc. This would be a draw withonly one g-pawn. Luckily, White owns aspare!SUMMARY: The position after 10 exd5resembles a Tarrasch French isolani line. Itmay not be such a bad idea to go overKarpov's games from the 1970s with thisvariation to familiarize yourself with theresulting positions. ]

1-0

D05Colle,EYates,F

Budapest 1926[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.d3 c5 5.c3 c6 6.bd2 c7 QUESTION: Does it makea difference if Black plays ...Qc7 or ...Bd6first?ANSWER: That move order makes nodifference and in the end we normally reachidentical positions.

7.0-0 d6 8.dxc5 xc5 9.e4 0-0 10.exd5 exd5 The isolani contains the seed of its ownrisks and rewards. Before agreeing toundertake this procedure, Black should alwaysask the question I put to my doctors: "Will ithurt?" Before the grand undertaking, Blackshould take care of some basic housekeepingissues, the first and foremost being: Avoidunnecessary swaps.

11.b3 d6 12.h3 e8 13.bd4 [ Not much change from 13.e3 as playedlast game. ]

13...xd4?! Hey, I just said "avoidunnecessary swaps"! You don't need to like alaw to obey it. Black is ill-served throughembracing the trade, and the heretic violationof principle is equivalent to the priest whoedits scripture, discarding and adding chunksas he pleases.

[ Instead, Black can try 13...a6 14.f5 xf5.QUESTION: Isn't this a swap as well?

ANSWER: Sometimes the side with theisolani must trade. I am saying don't do itunless absolutely necessary. In this caseBlack must take, since it is inadvisable toallow White's powerful knight to loiter on f5.After 15.xf5 h6 16.c2 ad8 17.e3

e4 18.e1 Black's piece activitycompensates for his isolated pawn, Z.VonBalla-Hei.Wolf, Bad Pistyan 1922. ]

14.xd4 d7 15.f3 [ QUESTION: How about 15.b5with another swap?ANSWER: There is no rush. White intendsNf5 instead. ]

15...a6 16.f5 [ 16.e3 is the alternative, retaining a gripon d4. ]

16...e5 17.e3 e4 18.ad1 e6Hoping to make White nervous about ...Rf6.19.c2! c6

[ Black secures d5 and avoids the trap 19...f6?? 20.e7+ f8 21.xd5!which wins heavy material. ]

20.d4! Colle plays on the edge, trusting inhis calculation powers, and allowing ...Rf6.Removal of the dark-squared bishops extractsthe vital life energy from Black's attackingprospects.

f6 21.h5! He continues to dance theprecipice. The threat is Bxe5 followed byNh6+.

xd4 22.xd4 h6 23.e2 e8 24.fe1QUESTION: How would you assess thisposition? It looks to me like Black's attackingchances outweigh White's long-termstructural advantages.ANSWER: Clearly Yates agreed with you,playing the position bristling with self-confidence, engendered in the possibly falsebelief that he stood better. My intuitionsuggests the opposite. I don't see a realattack for Black, but his isolani and badbishop appear very real if White survives thenext 25 moves or so.

d7 Looking to sac on h3.25.d3! White isn't afraid of ghost discoveries.After his last move the fiction of the "attack" isstarkly exposed in black and white. Dualpurpose:1. White eliminates ...Bxh3 ideas.2. White prepares to load up on the e-file withRe3.

f8 Black's rook gets nervous and backs offthe file.26.e3 f6

[ QUESTION: Shouldn't Black go for 26...f5in order to attack?ANSWER: I don't see an attack after 27.b3

c5 28.f3 . ]27.f5 xf5!? Yates underestimates thepotency of a white knight on f5.

[ He should suffer the rebuke without protestor lingering resentment and back down onceagain with 27...c6 28.e7 b6, admittedly with a sour, passive positionthere as well. ]

28.xf5 h5 The rook veers, flutters anddives erratically, like a poorly designed kite ona windy day. His last move looks exceedinglyclunky, but he gets forked if he slides the rookto g6.29.e5!? Threat: Ne7+, followed by Rxh5.

[ Colle prefers initiative over material,spurring the exchange win with 29.g4 xf530.gxf5 , when Black may derive practicalchances from White's sickly kingsidestructure. ]

29...g6 Self-inflicted damage, but I am unableto suggest anything better. Now the darksquare weaknesses flare up again and againwith recursive predictability.30.e7+ h8 31.xh5 gxh5 QUESTION:Shouldn't Black just give up a pawn ratherthan deface his structure like this?

[ ANSWER: Clearly a surreal, jarring shiftaltered and stained the landscape, much toColle's delight. Think of Black's decision thisway: If you have a choice of walking to thegallows in two directions, both concluding inthe same fate, then it doesn't make much ofa difference which path you pick. 31...xh532.xd5 d6 33.e7 is equally hopeless. ]

32.f3 The weakened dark squares pique theinterest of White's queen, who gazes in thatdirection with hunger.

d6 33.f5 b8 [ Or 33...b6 34.g3 g8 35.e5with too many threats. ]

34.e7 g8 Black's knight limps back homewith the impeded motion of an injured person.Meanwhile, muffled voices of agitation andeven open talk of revolt penetrate the walls ofthe black king's bed chamber, as he continuesto hide under the covers, fearful of everysound and every shadow thrown on the walls.EXERCISE (combination alert): How wouldyou conduct White's attack?ANSWER: White's hanging but not hangingpieces dismiss the g8-knight's pleas with anuncaring stare.

35.h6! xh6 [ 35...xe7 36.f6# at least has the virtueof ending Black's suffering quickly. ]

36.f6+ g8 37.g5+ h8 38.xh6 d8Black's queen takes on an abundance ofsimultaneous tasks, like a woman late to workwho drives recklessly while juggling a mug ofcoffee and applying her lipstick in the frontpassenger mirror.EXERCISE (combination alert): How did Colleexploit Black's last move?ANSWER: 39.d7! Overload! The shockedlook on the black queen's face tells the entirestory. She takes umbrage at the slight andshifts in her car seat.

e8 40.f6+ g8 41.xd5 h6 42.xh5Black's king realizes the truth. His lips beginto move as he soundlessly talks to himself, asif committing to memory his lines in a play.SUMMARY: These isolani positions areintrinsically equal. It is our job to master thesubtleties.1-0

D05Pecot,LTavares,A

Correspondence 1998[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 c5 4.bd2 f65.c3 d6 6.d3 c6 7.0-0 0-0

[ QUESTION: What happens if Black breaksfirst with 7...e5 ?ANSWER: This should favour White sinceBlack breaks the principle: Avoid openingthe game when behind in development.White responds by opening as well: 8.e4!cxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4exd4 ( after 11...xd4 12.xd4 exd413.d3 h6 14.d1 c7 15.xd4 xh2+16.h1 e5 17.b4 e7 18.b5+ f819.g1 Black may be up a pawn but I wouldbe awfully nervous so behind indevelopment ) 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.e1+

e6 14.xd4 0-0 15.xe6 fxe6 16.e3with a clear structural advantage for White,C.Lakdawala-F.Amonatov, Internet (blitz)2005. ]

8.e2 I would avoid this move order.QUESTION: Why? Don't we just transpose?

c7 [ ANSWER: Not if Black plays 8...c4!(an exception to the rule for what is normally

a weak move by Black) 9.c2 e5! 10.dxe5 xe5 (my Slav senses tell me to stay awayfrom this passive position as White)11.xe5 xe5 12.h3 c7 13.d1 d614.f1 e8 and Black stands at least equal,if not better, L.Bencze-D.Baratosi,Hungarian Team Championship 2008.QUESTION: Ugh! Two games ago you toldus ...c5-c4 was bad for Black, didn't you?ANSWER: I did, but in a slightly differentposition. I concede there lies a widechasm between the disparity of learningsomething from a book and making adecision over the board. Just remember,one shift of the position may also changean assessment. ]

9.dxc5 xc5 10.e4 Now we really dotranspose.

h6 QUESTION: What's the point of thismove?ANSWER: Black ends all Greek gift ideas ofe4-e5 followed by Bxh7, but not without cost.First, he expends a tempo. Second, in somecases a new sac target on h6 can be just asbig a worry as the one on h7.11.b4 White decides to play in pure, Semi-Slav style; i.e. as with the black pieces but amove up.QUESTION: Why isn't White interested inplaying e4-e5?

[ ANSWER: White would love to play e4-e5,but if you do, make sure the pawn remainsstable. In this case Black gets excellent playafter 11.e5?! g4 12.b3 b6 13.f4 f6!

A) or 14.ae1 fxe5 15.g3 f7! 16.h4 ( while after 16.xe5 cxe5 17.xe5 xf2+ 18.h1 xe5 19.xe5 e7Black is just up a pawn ) , G.Danner-I.Novikov, Graz 1996, and now 16...e4!is strong;

B) 14.bd4 gxe5 15.h1 f7!16.xe5 fxe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5, when Black grabbed the initiative, bishoppair and centre with c7! 19.e3 e5, J.Papai-K.Schreiber, correspondence1999. ]

11...b6 12.b2 QUESTION: What isWhite's plan?ANSWER: If given time, White plans a2-a3and c3-c4, when Black's queen isuncomfortably placed on the c-file.

dxe4 White tends to hold a small edge ifBlack releases the pawn tension on e4.QUESTION: Why is that?ANSWER: The move breaks the principle:

Avoid being the one to blink first and releasecentral pawn tension. In doing so, Black givesWhite's pieces a tempo to reach e4.QUESTION: We now get opposite wing pawnmajorities. Whose majority is superior?ANSWER: Right now that question is a blankslate and could go either way. As a Colleplayer, my personal preference falls to White,whose majority seems to flow faster andsmoother, at least from my perspective. Yourjob is to push your majority as fast and far aspossible, while stalling your opponent'smajority. Instead:

[ a) 12...g4!? (intending to go to e5 if he iskicked by h2-h3) 13.a3 dxe4 14.xe4 f515.ed2 e5 , D.Delithanasis-M.Ikonomopoulou, Nikaia 2007, and Whiteholds a nagging edge after 16.c4! e4 17.c5. ]

[ b) 12...a5 (making it harder for White toengineer c3-c4) 13.b5 e5 14.xe5 xe515.f3 h5 16.e5! d7 , T.Bardoux-S.Peric, La Fere 2011, and here, too, Whitelooks better after 17.c4 with a kind of superAdvance French. ]

13.xe4 d5 Eyeing f4 and forcing White'snext move.14.g3 ce7? A passive reaction, after whichhe hands White both the initiative and themore potent majority.

[ Perhaps Black should just go for it with 14...f5!? 15.ed2 f4!? 16.g4! . Even here Iprefer White, but the position is far morecomplex than the one reached in the game. ]

15.a3! White is ready for launch, threateningc3-c4-c5. The uneasy, mutually suspicioustruce holds for now. Yet both parties growmore agitated with each passing move. Itdoesn't take a clairvoyant to see that the twosides are destined to soon meet at war'sdoorstep.

f5 The Chihuahua on f5 barks with shrillferocity yet fails to intimidate the bemused,approaching 100-pound Akita. Ground level isBlack's poor vantage point in the coming battle.He fails to see White's true intent. Blackdecided to test out his optimistic hypothesisby charging headlong into an enemy force that,despite equal numbers, holds an advantageof superior training.EXERCISE (planning): White has a way totake over a ferocious initiative. How?ANSWER: Ignore Black's threat on e4 andgenerate some of our own.16.c4! This is a promising pawn sac, not a

piece sac as it appears, since White quicklyregains the invested piece.

fxe4 The only move.17.xe4! The pirate gazes into the endlessocean of Black's kingside and dreams ofbounteous possibilities for plunder.

f6 18.xf6 xf6 19.c5 Regaining thepiece with a winning position.

xc5 20.bxc5 xc5 21.h7+ f7Black's king feels to me to be the monarchwho evokes neither affection nor dislike fromhis subjects – perhaps like the king PrinceCharles will be one day.22.d2! White's co-ordinated forces, as ifreading each other's minds, engage in attackin mutuality. This is the position Whiteenvisioned when he sac'ed a pawn on his 16thmove. Black's game degenerates into adesolate tundra, and frost begins to form onthe lost black king's beard. He realizes that ifhe cannot find his way out of the wildernessby nightfall, he will freeze to death.QUESTION: What exactly does White get forthe pawn?ANSWER: Endless attack!1. Black's king bounces around the middle.2. Black's queenside remains undeveloped.3. The pieces which are developed – queenand rook – in Black's camp appear clumsy andin each other's way.Conclusion: White received promisingcompensation for a very small investment.

b6 23.ab1 c7 24.fd1 e5 25.bc1 b6 26.e4 White has a decisive attack. f5 QUESTION: Why did Black hand overthe exchange?

[ ANSWER: Fear of annihilation is a mostcogent agent of persuasion! If Black tries tohang on to his rook he gets wiped out after

26...c6 27.xc6 xc6 28.d6+! f629.e4 a4 30.c2 c6 31.e4+ f732.d8! and Black can resign since f5is met by 33.b3+ . ]

27.c4+! Just in case Black thought he hadtrapped White's queen.

e8 28.xf6+ Time to cash out. xf6 29.h8+ Simplification. It helps whenthe only move possible is also a very goodone.

f8 30.b5+ f7 31.xf8+ xf8 32.c7White's initiative rages on, even with queensoff the board.

b8 33.e1 e4 EXERCISE (combinationalert): Black, despite his wretched position,still has a pawn for the exchange. Find a way

to deprive him of even that.ANSWER: Pin/seventh rank.

34.f3! e3 35.c4! [ 35.xe3?? d5 would be a careless wayfor White to turn an easy win into equality. ]

35...c8 36.xc8+ xc8 37.xe3 b6 38.e6 xe6

[ Or 38...g6 39.c3 e7 40.c8 d5 41.c5! d6 42.a5 , when the nimblerook and bishop team wins yet anotherpawn. ]

39.xe6 c4 40.a4 f7 41.e1 a5 42.b1 e6 43.h4 d7 44.f2 e7The hermit's single creed is disassociationwith society. Black's problem: his king can'twander to the queenside to help out sinceWhite's kingside pawn majority – and raidingking – must be watched.

45.e3 b6 46.e4 White's king, like aseasoned mountain climber, continues toascend.

b7 EXERCISE (planning): Black threatens ...Nc5+ and ...Nxa4. How do we show him thathis threat is hollow?ANSWER: Allow it!

47.c1! c5+ The prize stallion prancesabout with immoderate pride in his own goodlooks.

[ If 47...d7 48.f5 and White's king raidsthe kingside pawns. ]

48.xc5! Hasta la vista, baby! Simplification.The king and pawn ending is easily won.Polite, rival rulers rarely trade insults face toface. Instead, they find it more prudent totransmit their true feelings throughintermediaries. In this case White's kingsends his rook to do his dirty work, as theexhausted knight, mouth bearded with foam,finally collapses with a thud on c5 and lies still,never to wake.

bxc5 49.d5 c4 50.xc4 SUMMARY: Myexperience has been that Black cannotequalize so easily if he breaks the centraltension first with ...d5xe4, either on the 12thmove or at other points in the game.1-0

D05Bakre,TLauridsen,J

Abu Dhabi 2004[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.f3 e6 3.e3 f6 4.d3 c5 5.0-0!?

[ 5.c3 leaves c2 open for White's bishop, ] [ while 5.b3 , which transposes to theZukertort Colle, also prevents ...c5-c4. ]

5...d6 QUESTION: This time ...c5-c4 arriveswith gain of tempo. Should Black go for it?

[ ANSWER: I believe that in case of thismove order, ...c5-c4 is actually playable forBlack. For example: 5...c4 6.e2 b5 7.b3

b7 8.a4 a6 9.c3 bd7 10.bd2 e7 11.a3 0-0 12.c2 c6 13.b2and Black's extra space compensates for hissoon to be bad light-squared bishop, B.Kurajica-E.Bareev, Sarajevo 2003. ]

6.c3 Removing the ...c5-c4 scenario from thetable.

0-0 7.bd2 c6 8.dxc5 [ QUESTION: Can White go for an isolaniposition himself with 8.e4 ? ]

[ ANSWER: Yes. If you like playing with anisolani then you can opt for 8.e4 cxd4

9.cxd4 dxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 d7 12.d5!? (immediately dissolving the isolaniand instead relying on my developmentlead) exd5 13.xd5 e6 14.h5 g6

15.h6 f6?! ( 15...f6 is to be preferred; ofcourse White then has an immediate draw –I wasn't going to take it! – which my GMopponent didn't like ) 16.g5 g7

17.xg7+ xg7 18.xe6+ fxe6 19.xc6 bxc6 20.e3 , when Black stood clearlyworse structurally, C.Lakdawala-E.Lobron,Internet (blitz) 2007. ]

8...xc5 9.e4 dxe4 QUESTION: This centralexchange is slightly different from last game –correct?ANSWER: Correct. In this one Black can takequeens off the board if he chooses.

10.xe4 xe4 [ Next game we look at 10...e7 . ]

11.xe4 c7 QUESTION: Is the endingapproximately equal?

[ ANSWER: White retains pressure, similarto a favourable c3-Sicilian ending whereBlack experiences difficulty developing hisqueenside. For example, after 11...xd1

12.xd1 f6 13.b4 e7 ( or 13...b6 14.a4 a5 15.b5 e7 16.a3 e8 17.c4

and Black gets squeezed, J.Böhm-W.Burchert, German League 2007 ) 14.e3

d8 15.d4 Black's pieces are in a tangle,J.Roth-B.Förster, Schwäbisch Gmünd2003. ]

[ QUESTION: With 11...c7 Black justallowed the Greek gift sac on h7. ShouldWhite go for it or hold back? ]

12.e2! [ ANSWER: In this case it is better to refrain.From time to time you will get theopportunity of a Greek gift sac. The illusionis that it works 100% of the time for White.In this case, Black's queen covers the criticalg3-square and the sac is speculative at best.Here is Houdini analysis: 12.xh7+!?(a move on the cusp of dubious;nevertheless, there are practical chancesfor White in such chaotic situations) xh713.g5+ g6 14.g4 f5 (if White hadeasy access to g3 for his queen the sacmight be sound; in this case Black controlsthe square) 15.h4 d7 16.h7+ f617.h5 e7 18.e4 fxe4 19.g5+ d6(Black's emboldened king strolls the well-tended palatial grounds without fear ofattack, or bodyguards) 20.fd1+ d421.cxd4 e8 . Perhaps White retainspractical chances for the piece, but I wouldtake Black any day.QUESTION: How are we supposed to knowwhen to sac and when to refrain?ANSWER: This comes with intuition. Themore Colles you play, the better your feelfor such decisions. Also, when you engagein such a sac, don't just wing it. Work hardand calculate the consequences as best youcan before committing. ]

12...d7 13.d1 ad8 14.g3 QUESTION:What is the purpose of this move?ANSWER: White wants to put Bf4 on thetable.

h8 [ QUESTION: Can Black go for 14...f5 ?ANSWER: White's earlier g2-g3 wasdesigned specifically against this move. Hestands better after 15.f4! , when e5?16.xc6 exf4 17.xd7 fxg3 18.c4+ h819.g2! gxf2 20.b4 wins a piece. Blackfails to extract sufficient compensation. ]

15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 f5 Black's f-pawncurls his lips in distaste and throws a punch atour e4-bishop. If we exchange on c6 we wrestabsolute control over e5. The trouble is wealso give away our light squares which we

further weakened with our earlier g2-g3.EXERCISE (critical decision): Should we play17 Bxc6 or back the bishop up?ANSWER: The probability ratio of successfulimplementation of Black's plan fluctuatesbetween:1. Terrible.2. Even worse! Black's last move was astrategically dubious decision. If you chose toexchange, then you displayed excellentstrategic judgment. Control over e5 easilyoutweighs Black's light square gains.17.xc6! bxc6? Strategic hara-kiri.

[ Black's only logical path would be 17...xc618.e5! b6 19.xd8! xd8 ( 19...xd8?20.g5 xb2 21.e1 e8 22.xe6 e723.d1 b6 24.xf5 e8 25.g5 wins )20.d4 d5 21.xc6 bxc6 22.e1 xa223.d6 c8 24.b4 with advantage to Whitein the major piece ending. ]

18.c5! Jumping in before Black plays ...c6-c5. White's queen, at the forefront of battlelines, rouses her troops, shaming them tobravery.

fe8 [ Black can't challenge for c5. 18...b6??19.xb6 axb6 20.e5 wins a piece due tothe fork on f7 (i.e. c8 21.xd8 xd822.f7+ etc). ]

19.d6 c8 20.ad1 xd6 21.xd6 e722.e5 Why does time pass so slowly whenyou are in misery? A paralysis victim is unableto act, yet is still able to understand and to beaware of the world of motion all around him.Black's pieces freeze in wonder at theircounterparts' newly gained super-powers.Now White's pieces, leeches on a mortallywounded soldier, satiate themselves on rich,nourishing dark squares.

b7? The bishop's reversal of directioncoincides with Black's reversal of fortune. Aninfinitesimal yet highly significant shift ofradius and angle just occurred. The truedefinition of a nightmare is when your worstfears – the unthinkable, the unspeakable –morph from the realm of pure thought toactual reality.EXERCISE (combination alert): Black's lastmove was a blunder in a hopeless position.Find White's visually stunning, problem-like,multi-themed shot.ANSWER: Overload/back rank/pin/fork. Asingle motive may still be subdivided intomultiple elements. We all dream of makingmoves like this and then basking in the glow

of the adoring spectators.23.d8!! The power and the glory! This is oneof those "shower the board with gold coins"moments. The multi-tasking white rook jugglesthe disparate professions of militarycommander, spiritual guide, faith healer, valet,chiropractor and hair stylist to White's forces.

xd8 No choice.24.f7+ g8 25.xd8 xd8 EXERCISE(combination alert): Black is not having agood day. He thinks he got a rook and bishopfor the queen. He didn't. White can winanother piece. How?ANSWER: Double attack/back rank.26.e7! d1+ Black plays a deadly game ofhide and seek against the hostiles.

[ 26...b8 27.c7 does the job too. ]27.g2

[ Black can't save his bishop. If 27.g2 a6Black's pieces congregate in mute witnessto the murder of their king, passivelyrefusing to offer assistance of any sort, asBlack's king heaves a slow, disgusted sighbefore dying. 28.e8# is mate.SUMMARY: Be confident that White extractsan edge in any version of ...d5xe4 lines. ]

1-0

D05Adly,AJuarez Flores,C

Dresden Olympiad 2008[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.f3 c5 3.e3 c6 4.c3 e65.d3 f6 6.bd2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.dxc5

xc5 9.e4 dxe4 As I mentioned last game,this move, although routinely played, fails toequalize.10.xe4 e7 QUESTION: Why retreat analready developed piece?

[ ANSWER: The trouble is that the logical 10...xe4 was played last game and, as wesaw, fails to fully equalize either. ]

11.e2 c7 12.fg5 [ Or 12.xf6+ xf6 13.g5! e7 ( after 13...xg5 14.xg5 h6 15.f3 e5 16.e4 e8 17.fe1 Black is still unable toengineer his ...f5-f5 break ) , E.Colle-G.Maróczy, San Remo 1930, when Whiteextracts an edge from 14.xf6 xf615.e4! , since d7? walks into 16.d3! . ]

12...xe4 13.xe4 f5 [ Weakening his pawn front, as does 13...g6

14.h4 h5 . ]14.e2 xg5 Black hands his opponent thebishop pair to ease the pressure on e6.

[ QUESTION: Why make a concession whenhe can play 14...f6 , going on the attackhimself on the kingside?ANSWER: I don't think Black gets the attackhe is looking for. His pieces are artificiallyposted after 15.c4 e5 16.b3 g617.f4 xg5 18.xe5 c6 19.f3, with an iron blockade on e5, not tomention Black's misplaced rook on g5. ]

15.xg5 e5 Black activates his kingside pawnmajority.16.c4+ Getting in first, before Black has achance for ...Be6.

h8 17.ad1 QUESTION: How would youassess this position with bishop pair versusimposing pawn centre?ANSWER: Advantage White, who ownsmultiple pluses over just one for Black:1. Bishop pair in an open position.2. Development lead.3. Control over the only open file.

f4 Black threatens to deface White's pawncover with ...f4-f3, and also possibly dreamsof trapping a piece with ...h7-h6 and ...g7-g5later on.18.f3 f5 19.fe1 Black's e-pawn is in gravedanger.

ae8?! EXERCISE (combination alert): Whiteto play and win a pawn.ANSWER: Pin.20.xf4! c2!? Black gets cute and possiblymakes matters even worse.21.xc2 exf4 22.d3

[ Much stronger is 22.xe8! xe8 23.f5when White dominates. ]

22...e5 23.e4! QUESTION: Why didn'tWhite just take the free pawn on h7?

[ ANSWER: He avoided Black's trap! After23.xh7? g6! White must hand over theexchange, since 24.xg6? is met by b6+. ]

23...c4! Black hopes to emerge with somecompensation for the pawn, based on hisinvasion of e3.24.d4 e3 25.d3 White keeps his eye onboth the h7- and d7-squares.

e7 Black, the would-be victim, feignsignorance of the approaching foe, yet ispoised to strike unexpectedly, attacking hisattacker. He offers the tempting target of h7,believing it to be just outside the perimeter ofWhite's ambition, and thus sets up a trap. Or

does he? Black plans to meet 26 Bxh7 with26...Qh4, with a decisive double attack onWhite's hanging bishop and e1-rook. Thetrouble is White can get away with taking thepawn.

26.xh7! The bolting purse snatcher leaves avisible passageway in his wake, as he surgesthrough the crowded street to elude the police,whose outraged screams he simply cannotoutrun. Black's intended trap fails.

h4 The preacher ignites the faithful into afrenzied call to arms, claiming judgment dayis near. Black's queen, attacking both e1 andh7, smites the air with a fist, as if to give fairwarning to others who would dare approach.But she is not as powerful as she believes.EXERCISE (combination alert): Refute Black'sidea with a trap of your own.ANSWER: 27.xe3! xe3 White's rook isdead, yet the lingering ghost of his essenceremains to spur his comrades onward.

28.xe3! The queen's unexpected captureon e3 adds a giant punctuation mark. Blackgets drenched by an icy rain of White's majorpieces' dirty tricks. The apparentfortuitousness of this saving grace is actuallyno matter of good luck, as much as carefullycrafted defensive design.

xh7 29.e4 White emerged two cleanpawns ahead.

h4 30.g3! The same pin theme. g5 31.d5 h6 32.g4!?

[ 32.g2 looks simpler. ] 32...b6+ 33.g2 xb2+ 34.h3 xc3Material has been equalized, but now Whiteattains a decisive attack.

35.h5+ g8 EXERCISE (combinationalert): Black's king is all alone with onlygrandma on f8 as protection. White to playand win.

36.xb7? [ ANSWER: White missed 36.e6+! f7 37.f5! xf3+ ( 37...c7 fails to 38.e8+ ) 38.h4 f2+ 39.g5 and Black runs out ofchecks. ]

36...e1? Talk about a love/hate relationship.Black's mercurial queen alternates betweentender-hearted love for her own king and arage bordering on clinical psychosis towardWhite's! In this case rage wins the argument,as she abandons support for her partner to goafter the object of her hate.

[ White would be forced to work harder forthe win after 36...c4! 37.d5+ xd5

38.xd5 f6 . ]

37.d5+! Spotting the winning idea. Thequeen surveys her newly gained territory withthe smug eyes of a conquering empress. Thebalance of Black's resistance melts quicklyand White salts his opponent with threats.

f7 38.f5! f1+ The queen yells a war cryand lunges to f1 with maniacal, impotent fury,as White's king easily outruns the checks.

[ If instead 38...e7 , White simply takes onf4 and f7, forcing a king and pawn endingtwo pawns up. ]

39.h4 The vagabond king wanders about,seemingly without destination, to who knowswhere?QUESTION: Can White get away with his kingmarch?ANSWER: Admittedly, it looks as if White'sking is wearing himself out performing strangeevolutions across the board. Yet, everythingis under control. Adly correctly calculated thatBlack had no way to harm his king.

e1+ 40.h5 The once barren wasteland ofthe kingside evolves into an overpopulatedlandscape of tangled pieces, each haggling fora piece of prime real estate. White's kingcontinues to move with the graceful, stealthycertainty of a more powerful foe about to facehis enemy. Black is out of both checks andluck.SUMMARY: 10...Be7 doesn't fully equalizeeither.1-0

D05Lakdawala,CLawrence,D

SCCF Championship, Los Angeles 2008[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3 c5 2.c3 "Brave, brave Sir Robin,bravely runs away!" How I do so adore mybeloved line.

f6 3.d4 e6 4.e3 d5 5.bd2 d6 6.d3 0-0 QUESTION: Is Black attempting to keepall his options open?ANSWER: Correct. He refuses to commit toeither ...Nc6 or ...Nd7, hoping to keep Whiteguessing. But this doesn't bother White much,since our plans in Colle tend to veer downnarrow avenues.

7.0-0 b6? [ Now 7...c6 ] [ or 7...bd7 should be played. Instead, myopponent, a Grünfeld player, gets lured

into unfamiliar territory (like 99% of all youropponents! – who studies Colle theory,besides us?). ]

[ EXERCISE (planning): Black's last move, 7...b6 , was incorrect. Find a way for Whiteto exploit the inaccurate move order. ]

ANSWER: Open the position when leading indevelopment. His d6-bishop is especiallyawkward where it sits.8.e4! cxd4!? Black validates his ill feelingswith an act of violence, unburdening himselfby leaving the d6-infant on White's doorstep.Black's game lies in stark disarray. Thecontending factions within quibble on the bestway to face their destiny.My opponent, sensing that things have gonepoorly, overreacts with an unsound piece sac.Yet behind the show of force, one senses asilent substratum of misgivings about hisdecision. His options:

[ a) 8...e7 (this leads to a rather sorry-looking French for Black) 9.e5 fd7 10.e1

a6 11.b1! c6 12.a3 (an importantmove to remember in such positions; weprevent ...c5xd4 and ...Nb4 irritations) c813.f1 xf1 14.xf1 a5 15.d3 g616.h6 and White's position was so strongthat a 1948-rated player drew with an IM! P.Hess-Y.Lapshun, Philadelphia 2011. ]

[ b) 8...dxe4? 9.xe4 b7 10.xf6+! xf6 ( 10...gxf6 11.h6 is also hopeless forBlack ) 11.g5! xf3 12.d2!– zwischenzug! I was hoping to catch myopponent in this one! Black has no choicebut to play f4 13.xf4 , but he still drops apiece since White still threatens Bg5 as wellas g2xf3. ]

9.e5 Zwischenzug again! The pawn studies e5intently, like a scholar would a page of holyscripture.

dxc3 10.bxc3 xe5 11.xe5 c7 12.e2 xc3 QUESTION: What is so wrong withBlack's position? He got three pawns for thepiece.ANSWER: Several things:1. He also badly lags in development.2. His dark squares are weak.3. All of White's pieces suddenly aim atBlack's inadequately defended king.Conclusion: Black is busted, despiteapproximately even material.13.b3 Dual purpose:1. Threatening Ba3 followed by either rook tothe c-file, which rounds up Black's strayingqueen.

2. White strives to take control over d4. b4 Necessary. The queen suffers re-entrytrauma while inhaling the thin atmosphere onb4.

[ Instead, 13...b7?? 14.a3 e8?15.ac1 walks into White's trap. ]

14.d2 e7 15.ac1 fd7! One shouldn'tstop striving to make good moves justbecause we are in a bad position:

[ a) 15...b7? 16.g5 adds an unpleasantpin to Black's woes. ]

[ b) 15...bd7? 16.c6 e8 ( or 16...d617.b4 ) 17.b4 and Black can resign. ]

16.fe1 a5 Black hopes to exchange hissleeping bishop for White's powerful model ond3.

[ He is not helped by 16...xe5 17.xe5, since d7? allows 18.xd5! . ]

17.h5 Inducing dark square weaknessesaround Black's king.

[ 17.c3! (threatening Bxh7+!) ] [ and 17.c7! were also strong. ]

17...g6 18.f3 xe5 19.xe5 d720.ee1 a4 21.d4 f6! The ferocity of thedefender plays every bit as important a roleas the solidity of the castle's defensive barrier.Black defends well (or is it that I attack badly?I have a disconcerting knack of turning themost deadly attacks – one which any otherhuman on earth would checkmate – into somekind of favourable ending instead!), survivingattempts at a direct attack and reaching anending, albeit one which is still very much inWhite's favour.22.xf6 xf6 QUESTION: What are White'sadvantages in the endgame?ANSWER: Black's position, sapped of colourand energy, is a dreary defensive task. Whatbegan as a single crack in the defensive wall,now elongates into a network of fractures andfissures all along the queenside coastline:1. Development lead.2. Bishop pair.3. The weakened dark squares grow quitepronounced, like coffee stains on whiteupholstery.4. Pawn targets on the queenside.5. Infiltration squares for White on thequeenside: c7, c6 and b5.23.c6 a6 24.xa6 xa6 Now Black getsstuck with an awkward rook on a6.25.a3 d7 26.b4 b8 27.c7 e828.ec1 a8

[ If Black attempts freedom with 28...e5??, he collapses quickly: 29.c8 xc8

30.xc8+ g7 31.f3 d7 32.c7 c5 33.xe5 . ]

29.b7 a6 30.xb6 White's rook eyes theblack knight with a questioning expression.

ec8 Understandably, Black is reluctant toexchange further by taking on b4.

31.xc8+ xc8 32.c6! A move with threefunctions:1. White cuts off the back rank mate threat.2. White threatens Black's knight.3. White threatens a fork on e7.

[ Whereas 32.xa6?? c1+ 33.e1 xe1#would be an embarrassing end to the gameindeed! ]

32...a8 The relationship just isn't working.Black's knight is odd, his rook even. Thehaggard black pieces arrive at the realizationthat all is not well. They are confined withinan angst-fuelled nightmare which won't end.EXERCISE (planning): How can we turnBlack's remaining resistance into resignedhopelessness? Find one paralyzing move andyou reduce Black to near zugzwang.ANSWER: An indistinct, bishop-shapedapparition arises on d6.

33.d6! From this point on Black can onlymove pawns and his king.

g7 34.f4 f6 35.f2 g5 36.f3 h5 37.h3 f5 38.g3 Since he soon runs out ofpawn and king moves.SUMMARY: So non-threatening is the Collethat your opponents often don't believe theirmove order matters. It does! Punish apremature or mistimed...b7-b6 with a quick e3-e4!.1-0

D05Lakdawala,CPena,P

San Diego (rapid) 2005[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3 c5 2.c3 f6 3.d4 e6 4.e3 d5 5.bd2 e7 6.d3 0-0 7.e5Black refrained from an early ...Nc6, so Whitejumps in with his knight to clear the path for f2-f4, creating a Stonewall structure.QUESTION: Are reversed Stonewall linesobligatory for White when Black holds back hisb8-knight?ANSWER: The Reversed Stonewall iscompletely optional. You can alwaystranspose back to normal lines we already

examined with a timely d4xc5 if the Stonewallideas don't appeal to you.

c6 [ QUESTION: What if Black tries the FrenchDefence idea 7...b6 , intending ...Ba6 nextto eliminate White's powerful light-squaredbishop?ANSWER: Black may get his bishop to a6but this doesn't compel White to exchange.For example, 8.f4 a6 9.c2! .QUESTION: But now didn't White ruinkingside castling?ANSWER: He doesn't necessarily need tocastle. He can even attack with his king inthe centre. We examine this exact idea next,in my game against Hummel. ]

[ Alternatively, 7...fd7 is rare and artificial,but possibly not so bad. Black opens up ...f7-f5 options. For example, 8.f4 f5 9.0-0

( White could also get adventurous withsomething like 9.f3 b6 10.g4!?without worrying about a check on h4 )

9...c6 10.f3 (a direct piece assaultstrikes me as ineffective – I feel like Whitemust engineer g2-g4 if he is to attain anedge) f6 11.h3 g6 was equal in G.Starcevic-V.Stevanovic, Belgrade 2009. ]

8.f4 cxd4?! It is but a short skip and a jumpfor a plan to go from intuitive – which manynot be so bad – to vague, which generallysignals the beginning of drift. A rule of thumbin the Colle: in the main lines, early ...c5xd4ideas nearly always favour White.QUESTION: How so?ANSWER: Black helpfully opens thedevelopmental path for White's c1-bishop andthe e-file for White's major pieces.

[ 8...c7 is better, as in S.Hassan-A.Amin,Sohag 2009. ]

9.exd4 [ QUESTION: Can White recapture towardthe centre with 9.cxd4 ?ANSWER: White can but it doesn't makemuch sense. Black's last move can onlybe exploited by recapturing with the e-pawn,since that opens a developmental path forthe sleeping c1-bishop and the e-file forWhite's major pieces. ]

9...d7 10.0-0 g6?! Possibly a secondstrategic inaccuracy. Black weakens his pawnfront at the cost of vast, future torment ofspirit.

[ He should play 10...f5 to blunt the power ofWhite's light-squared bishop. ]

11.e2! Preventing both ...f7-f6 and ...f7-f5.

dxe5?! Strategic error number three. Hegreatly enhances White's pawn structure andattacking chances. The taint of doubt seepsinto Black's moves and his position steadilydeteriorates.QUESTION: What is your opponent's rating?ANSWER: If you assumed my opponent is aweak player you would be mistaken. He is amaster who just last year won a majortournament in Los Angeles, taking down an IMand GM on the final day. The reason myopponent makes so many strategicinaccuracies is that he is lost in Colle-land,out of his normal tactical element, where he ishighly competent and very dangerous. TheColle is a highly specialized system, and hasa nasty way of humbling very strong tacticiansand making them appear rather tame! If Iplayed the white side of a Sicilian Dragonagainst Pablo, then you would be inquiringabout my rating!QUESTION: How would you set up Black'sdefence?

[ ANSWER: I would play 11...f6 12.df3 g7 and then pray that Black survives thecoming kingside assault. ]

12.fxe5 f6 After this move he is left withnumerous weak dark squares, but there waslittle choice. White would quickly build up adecisive attack if Black refrained.13.exf6 xf6 14.f3 c7?!

[ 14...g7 is more accurate. ]After the text White achieves a good FrenchDefence position. An assessment:1. Black created a hole on e5.2. For now, e6 is a backward pawn.3. Black suffers dark square lacerations allacross the kingside.15.h6 The bishop vows to remain, isolatedfrom his brethren, until Black's king is broughtto account for past dark square crimes.

e8 [ Black won't survive after 15...g7 16.xg7 xg7 17.g5! . ]

16.e5! The knight aims its snarling snout inthe direction of f7 and g6.

xe5 QUESTION: Why did he give up hisdark squares?ANSWER: A necessary evil. Let's look atBlack's alternatives:

[ a) 16...xe5 17.xf6 and Black has nohope of survival on his leaking darksquares. ]

[ b) 16...e7 17.xf6! (yes, the darksquares are that important) xf6 18.f1

e7 19.f7 xf7 20.xf7 xf7 21.f3+ e7 22.g5+ and Black's king has next tozero chances of survival. ]

[ c) 16...g7 17.xg7 xg7 18.f7is also hopeless. ]

17.dxe5 xe5 [ 17...xe5?? 18.f3 d7 19.f7+ h820.ae1 mates. ]

[ How awkward. From childhood on, mymental synapses had been moulded todefend rather than attack. Now I must swimagainst the current. Contrary to urban chesslegends, the Colle isn't a cause for sleepapnoea. Our much besmirched opening isalso an attacking line, even if few realize it.With 17...xe5 , Black just removed ourpesky e5-pawn with a morose sense ofexaltation. He hopes the time of reprisaland redemption is at hand. He plans tounravel with ...Nf7, which ejects White'snasty dark-squared bishop, followed by ...e6-e5 and ...Be6. His misplaced faith in hisdefensive barrier misleads him into a senseof security for his king's survival.EXERCISE (planning): Find a way to ruinBlack's plan. ]

ANSWER: The f6-square emanates aseductive whisper of power.18.f6! Preventing ...Nf7. It is crucial tomaintain the bishop's outpost on h6.

d7 [ Black gets slaughtered if he insists with 18...f7?? 19.xg6! , ] [ and 18...xd3 19.xd3 c5+ 20.h1 e7 is no help, as after 21.af1 there is noreasonable defence to Rxg6+ followed byRf7. ]

19.af1 xd3 I have no better suggestions.20.xd3 c6 The garrotte tightens, andBlack's forces struggle and kick to no avail.Now White – having only taken tentative,playful swipes at Black so far – gets down tobusiness. A single negligent touch sends thedefensive tower tumbling down.EXERCISE (combination alert): If yourcombinationally challenged writer can findWhite's thematic next move, then you can too!How can White force mate?ANSWER: The miserly black king demands ahigh price for entry into his kingdom. So wepay it!21.xg6+ And g6 cracks open like an egg.This is so obvious that I refuse to award themove an exclam!

[ Even the mundane 21.f3 mates quickly. ]

21...hxg6 22.xg6+ h8 23.f7 xf724.xf7 g8 EXERCISE (planning): Find afinal efficient move and Black can resign.ANSWER: Reroute the bishop and point himin the direction of e5. The bishop retreats asprecipitously as he arrived. Black's king, witha weary grin, realizes he is cornered.25.f4! SUMMARY: The reversed Stonewalllines are completely optional for White.1-0

D05Lakdawala,CHummel,P

Los Angeles 1998[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3[ Compare this game to the following one:1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.bd2 b75.d3 d5 6.e5 d6 7.f4 bd7 8.f3!(seizing control over the key e4-square) c59.c3 c7 10.g4!? cxd4?! (as usual, thismove only helps White) 11.exd4 xe5?!(the prelude to a misguided combination)12.fxe5 xe5 13.dxe5 d4 14.e2 xh115.exf6 dxc3?! 16.e4 (Black got enoughmaterial for his sac but his positiondegenerated – there is no king safety to befound for him across the hemisphere) e517.fxg7 xg7 18.b5+ f8 19.xc3 h520.g5 d4 21.e3 h4+ 22.f2 b4(the ending was busted for Black; themiddlegame is even worse!) 23.f6 g8

24.0-0-0 d5 25.h6+ 1-0 S.Tartakower-W.Winter, London 1932. ]

1...c5 2.c3 No comment. My opponent was atthe time a young, gifted IM, so I enter theColle to de-gift him! The Colle, like no otheropening, has a nasty way of shearing away atalented tactician's power, and leading him todark regions of unaccustomed ordinariness.

f6 3.d4 e6 4.e3 b6 QUESTION:Shouldn't this game be put into the Queen'sIndian chapter?ANSWER: I suppose I could have put it there,but if Black starts with a Queen's Indian set-up and then later plays ...d7-d5, we cantranspose to lines in this chapter, as we dohere.5.bd2 d5

[ QUESTION: What do we do if Black plays5...a6 ?ANSWER: Your suggestion is actually not

so bad, especially if White is alreadycommitted to c2-c3. Yet Black rarely playsthis move. Perhaps White still holds amicrobe of an edge after 6.xa6 xa67.e2 c8 8.0-0 e7 9.e4 , D.Sahovic-D.Velimirovic, Yugoslav Championship,Skender Vakuf 1980. ]

6.e5 Stonewall again. d6

[ We can only dream about the trap 6...a6?? 7.xa6 xa6 8.a4+ d79.xa6 . ]

7.f4 0-0 8.d3 a6! The bishop savours hisfleeting daydream of promotion while it lasts.Black utilizes an idea from the FrenchDefence, hoping to swap off White's powerfulattacking bishop.9.c2! Nyet! We deny him.QUESTION: But now his formally bad bishopcuts a swath through your position and shutsoff castling, doesn't it?ANSWER: Black's good/bad bishop indeedreceived a promotion, yet, oddly, it doesn'tbother White much since we can work aroundit.

c7 [ QUESTION: How will White conduct theattack if Black plays 9...fd7 clearing theway for ...f7-f6?ANSWER: This loses time for Black, thoughit may still be his best set-up. I would playsomething like this: 10.h5 f5 11.df3

f6 12.h3 contemplating both g2-g4 andNg5. ]

10.g4!? QUESTION: You? Attacking?ANSWER: No more mister nice guy! I wonderif this is what Evelyn Waugh described as"the double illusion of familiarity andstrangeness"? I realize this move is a bit outof context when played by a habitual chickenlike your writer, but the design is to throw theopponent psychologically off balance. Also, insuch situations, you must attack or risk losingthe initiative, since a kingside attack remainsWhite's only viable plan in the position.QUESTION: Your move may be brave, but is itsound as well?ANSWER: When a gardener plants a saplingin the garden, he fears for its survival in thosedangerous first few days, uncertain whetherthe infant will take root or not. I don't know.Probably the move is sound, since it isexceedingly difficult for Black to pry open thecentre to exploit it.

cxd4?!

[ My anti-...c5xd4 bias remains – yes, evenIMs do it! – and I would have avoided thismove in favour of something like 10...fd7. ]

11.exd4 c6 12.g5 d7 [ QUESTION: How about a defensive plan of 12...e8 , intending ...g7-g6 and ...Ng7 toblockade on h5?ANSWER: That is a possible plan but I'mnot so confident it slows White's comingattack: 13.df3 g6 ( 13...f6!? seems tooradical to count as a solution: Whitecontinues to attack after 14.gxf6 gxf6!?15.g1+ ) 14.h4 g7 15.xc6 xc616.e5 c7 17.h5 looks quite promisingfor White. ]

13.df3 ac8 14.e3 a5 15.b1!A manoeuvre borrowed from my belovedLondon System. White forces a weaknessaround Black's king.

g6 [ Not 15...f5? 16.gxf6 xf6 17.g5!with a double attack on e6 and h7. ]

16.h4 You see what I mean about Black's light-squared bishop? It's all dressed up butexercises hardly any effect on White'sintentions. It merely cuts through emptyspace.

c4 At this point, I blinked, like a confusedand unwise owl, and played the rote...17.xc4? An overconfident opponent maynot take into account a brazen, insolentcounterattack by a desperate opponent. I amguilty of just such a crime.EXERCISE (combination alert): White justmade a careless blunder. How can Blackexploit it?

xc4? [ ANSWER: Luckily for me, my opponentmissed the tricky zwischenzug 17...xf4!18.xf4 xf4 19.f2 dxc4 , when Black'sonce drooping position suddenlyexperiences a transformational renewal asrefreshing as a summer rain to end adrought. White is in over his head andoutlays exceed investment returns. ]

18.d1 Everything is under control again. fe8 QUESTION: What is the point of Black'slast move?ANSWER: Multipurpose:1. Perhaps Black hopes to engineer someAlekhine-like ...e6-e5!! break followed by apiece sac on e5, but it just never materializes.2. He clears f8 for both his knight and bishop.3. He clears f8 to enable a possible king run

to the queenside if necessary.19.d2 f8 Following point #3 above: theblack king hopes to escape to the safety ofthe queenside, but he doesn't make it.20.e5 xe5 A move I would have avoidedsince White now gets a dark-square death gripon the position – but I lack helpfulimprovements. Black is simply busted, nomatter how he plays the position.21.fxe5 e7 22.f2 f8 In a life and deathstruggle, Black's brain puts the pain of injurieshe sustained on hold, planning to deliver itonly when the danger has passed. Have youever experienced the situation where yourmind is a jumble of vague, questionable ideasand notions? Then, in a flash everythingcomes together and illuminates into a unifiedplan.EXERCISE (planning): Black, permeated withthe stillness of exhaustion, desperatelyattempts to fortress it out in a bad position.Come up with a concrete plan to break in.ANSWER: Step 1: Lift the rook, which may beuseful on f3 and, more importantly, covers thec3-square.23.h3! ce8 24.c1! Step 2: Re-route thebishop to a3, where it controls the key f8-square and dominates on d6, rather thaninside the pawn chain, where it lives now.

d8 25.b3! b5 26.a3 g8 27.d6No one can reason with the deranged bishop.

g7 The old rook realizes he is no more thana purposeless relic of a bygone era.28.d2 h8 Hoping for counterplay basedon ...h7-h6.29.h5 Essentially preventing ...h7-h6.

e8 30.h6 gg8 The only thing the inmateson g8 and h8 have in surplus is time.31.f3 f8 When pent-up pressure continuesto increase without a release outlet, you canbe certain a catastrophic explosion followsshortly after.EXERCISE (combination alert): We can winthe exchange, but let's not succumb totemptation when we can strive for so muchmore. How can White do even better?ANSWER: Black's queen, a ruler of a pettyprincipality on the outskirts of nowhere,believes herself to be some universal overlord,since she is incapable of seeing herself incontext with the real world.32.d3! a5

[ The queen's adoration for her bishop blindsher to the truth. After 32...a5 33.b4Black's trapped queen screams in

consternation, as she is surprised by thebishop's sudden entry into her chamber.Then again, everything else loses as well.SUMMARY: You can launch reversedStonewall, g2-g4 based attacks, even withyour king in the middle – but only if thecentre remains firmly closed. ]

1-0

D05Bareev,ETukmakov,V

Tilburg (rapid) 1994[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 e6 4.bd2 d5 5.e3 c6 6.d3 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e5Once again we revisit reversed Stonewall lines.Like global warming, this position is a causein search of a champion (maybe you!?).

xe5 QUESTION: Doesn't exchanging on e5disrupt Black's own game?ANSWER: I feel that Black should trade hereor face that rather nasty version of a reversedStonewall Dutch we saw last game.

[ Once again, an early ...c5xd4?! favoursWhite. For example: 8...cxd4?! 9.exd4

xe5 10.dxe5 d7 11.e1 c5 12.c2 f5 13.exf6 xf6 14.f3 c7 15.e3 d7 16.d4 ae8 17.e5 , when White'sabsolute blockade on the central darksquares and the coming Qh5 gave him anundisputed advantage, C.Lakdawala-S.Ibrahim, Irvine 1996. ]

9.dxe5 d7 10.f4 f5 As in most FrenchDefence positions, this move is necessarysooner or later.

11.exf6 In order to play e3-e4 next.QUESTION: Can White avoid exchanging onf6 and just retain his kingside space, maybeplaying for g2-g4 and an attack down the g-file?

[ ANSWER: That would be too slow toextract an edge. White's attack nevermaterialized after 11.g4 b6 12.gxf5 exf5

13.b3 ( or 13.f3 e6 14.h3 e8and I just don't see a White attack any timesoon; meanwhile, Black can build for astrong ...d5-d4! central counter ) 13...e6

14.c2 and if Black is satisfied with equality,then d4 , as in R.Garcia Ramon-F.LuisVitalla, Spanish Team Championship 2006,looks fine ( though I would try the moreambitious 14...a5!? ) , e.g. 15.c4 dxe3

16.f3 xd1 17.xd1 e2 . ] 11...xf6 12.e4 c4! QUESTION: Isn't Black'slast move somewhat rash? He hands Whitethe d4-square.ANSWER: True but, more importantly, hegives himself access to c5, which activateshis game.

13.c2 [ White can also play more carefully,preventing the coming knight invasion on g4.For example: 13.e2 b5 14.e5 d7

15.f3 c5 16.d4 d7 17.g4 c8 18.f5!? h8! ( 18...exf5?! 19.xf5favours White ) , D.Root-J.Silman, California(1st matchgame) 1990. Calm defence.Black equalized, but as you can see, he hadto play quite accurately to achieve his goal.Maybe White can now try 19.fxe6 xf1+

20.xf1 xe6 21.xe6 xe6 and play forcontrol over the d4-square. ]

13...e5! Another key Black idea in the line. Heopens access to g4 for his knight.

14.exd5 c5+ 15.h1 g4 QUESTION:Isn't White losing? Black has at least threethreats.ANSWER: Everything is under control. Allthree threats (...Ne3, ...Nf2+, and ...Nxh2) arecovered by White's next multipurpose move.

16.e4! h4 [ QUESTION: Can Black get away with 16...xh2!? anyway?ANSWER: Your suggestion is playable, but Iprefer White's chances at the end of the line

17.xc5 g4 ( or 17...xf1 18.xf1 xd5 19.b4 exf4 20.e4 ) 18.e1 xf1 19.e6! xe6 20.dxe6 exf4 21.xf1 d5 22.f3 xe6 23.xf4! . ]

17.h3 e3 18.xe3 xe3Black's overconfident queen thinks to herself:"Power, honours, glory, adoration andtreasure are all mine! Mine!" Of course it turnsout that her prediction was a tad premature.Black threatens to sac on h3 and it looks as ifhe puts White under pressure, but this is anillusion. Unearth one simple move and youtake the air out of Black's bluster, andeffectively dissolve the tangled web oftroubles and uncertainties which up to nowhave plagued White.EXERCISE (planning): Force a favourableending.ANSWER: No more queens = no more attack.I hate these situations where my opponentspoils delusional attacking revelry by forcefeeding me an unwelcome dose of rationality!

19.e1! xe1 20.axe1 exf4 QUESTION:How is this a favourable ending for White?Material is even and Black owns the bishoppair in an open position.ANSWER: Let's do an exercise to answeryour question:EXERCISE (combination alert): White hasaccess to tactics which net him an advantage,no matter how Black squirms. Do you see it?ANSWER: Before the battle the forces start atevery quiver of motion from the other side.

21.g5! g6 In the aftermath we assess thederivative:

[ a) 21...f5 22.xf5 xf5 23.xe3! xg5 24.xf4 xd5 25.xc4 , when Black mustcover his tender second rank with d7and remains down a pawn. ]

[ b) 21...h6 22.xe3! hxg5 ( not 22...fxe3?? 23.h7+ h8 24.xf8# ) 23.e5 g4 24.d6! gxh3 25.e4! and Black remains understrong pressure, despite his temporary extrapawn. ]

22.xh7! The point. The crazed knight rushesheadlong into the attack. After this shot theblack king's shoulders sag in comprehensionof his own likely future defeat.

d8?! [ He had to agree to the comingunpleasantness obediently with 22...xh7

23.xe3! . ]In the heat of battle, a good soldier maymaster even horrific pain and shock of bodilymutilation, and continue to fight, despite hisgrievous wounds. Here, Black's nerves arethe first to fray. He spurns the poisoned offerwith a contemptuous snort. But it soon growsevident that his last move merely degradeshis position further. Now his dream of asuccessful counterattack diminishes and fadeseven more rapidly. Black's forces abandon allpretence of order as they gracelesslyscramble in retreat.

23.f6+? There exists no narcotic as sweetas unforeseen success. White has everythinggoing for him and then gets overly cute. Afterhis mistaken move, the lustre of White'sadvantage noticeably begins to dull.

[ Instead, after the simple 23.xg6, he has every chance of winning. ]

23...g7 24.d6 White's clever but artificialpoint – but Black can unravel and equalize.

e6 [ Most GMs are likely to avoid theboneheaded trap 24...xd6?? 25.e8+ . ]

25.e4 f5 26.e2

[ 26.d1 e8! 27.d7 ed8 regains the lostpawn. ]

26...d7! Exercising patience. White's faradvanced d-pawn isn't running away.

27.g4 e6?! Why get fancy when there is noneed?

[ The simple 27...xe4+ 28.xe4 b8 29.d1 e8 30.f3 ed8 31.g2 b6did the job. White's d-pawn falls. ]

28.g5?! Counter-fancy. Sometimes I thinkGMs' Achilles heel is the fact that theypossess too much talent, and therefore arevulnerable to dubious ideas the rest of usdon't even see! When one lives in a world oflow-talent black and white absolutes (i.e. me),devoid of greys and other colours, yourchoices become easy!

[ 28.d1! is better, though even then it ishard to believe White will extract the fullpoint. ]

28...d5+ 29.e4 xe4+ 30.xe4 e8 31.d2 b5 32.f3 xd6 33.f1 This wasWhite's idea. He hopes eventually to force awinning rook or pawn ending. Black hasenough resources to remain alive.

d3 34.g2 g5 35.xe3 dxe3! 36.fxe3 fxe3 37.f3 White reflects on his labours withonly partial satisfaction, as his king stalks e3doggedly.

h8! This move saves Black. 38.e4 SUMMARY: I'm not so confident thatBlack fully equalizes after 8...Nxe5, and whenhe does, he must go through a trial requiringnearly perfect play for many moves. If youknow and understand this line well, my feelingis that you may rack up a big plus score with it.½-½

D05Miltner,AAppel,R

German League 2004[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 [ A critical position from the Semi-Slav isreached after 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.f3 e6

4.e3 f6 5.c3 bd7 6.d3 dxc4 7.xc4 b5 .This variation is played on both sides byvirtually all the top ten grandmasters in theworld. In this line of the Colle, we getBlack's side, but with the extra tempo ...Bd6.

EXERCISE (homework assignment): Studythis Semi-Slav position and I promise you,with a written guarantee, that yourabsorption of the Colle structureautomatically improves, and with it yourscore over the board. ]

2.f3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.bd2 c5 5.c3 c66.d3 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b4QUESTION: How does the pawn thrust benefitWhite?ANSWER: He gains useful queenside territoryand a tempo. Black must also be on thelookout for b4-b5 later on. Essentially, wereach a pure Semi-Slav position a full tempoup. That is the good news.QUESTION: Is there bad news?ANSWER: Perhaps! Our extra tempo is Bd3,which may be vulnerable to both ...e6-e5-e4and ...Ng4-e5 tempo-gain ideas.

d6 10.b2 QUESTION: Is it better to playBb2 or a2-a3 first?ANSWER: I haven't quite decided yet. Bb2develops a piece, but a2-a3 stabilizes our b4-pawn and prepares a quick c3-c4. Both areplayable, so it's a matter of taste. In this bookwe cover Bb2 lines. My suggestion is that youexperiment with both, and go with the onewhich scores higher for you.

[ The alternative is not to even bother withBb2 and just play 10.a3 . For example: e511.e4 g4 ( 11...a6?! is too slow for therequirements of the position: after 12.c2

dxe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 h6 15.e1 f6 16.b2 g4 17.c4 , C.Lakdawala-C.Van Buskirk, SCCF Championship, LosAngeles 1999, White had a strong initiative– which I bungled later on! ) 12.exd5 xd513.e4 ( 13.c2! is an improvement )

13...e7 14.b5!? ( or 14.h3 h5 15.g4!? g6 16.b5 a5 17.xe5 xe4 18.xe4 xc3 19.xh7+ xh7 20.c2+ g821.xc3 , winning a pawn – which Black'slead in development should compensatefor ) 14...a5 15.c4 f4 16.xf4 exf417.c2 xf3 18.gxf3 with a messy position,E.Colle-M.Euwe, Zutphen (2nd matchgame)1924. Colle went on to defeat the futureworld champion from here (though he lostthe match 5-3). ]

10...e5 The most common response. Blacktakes White up on the offer of grabbingcentral control.11.e4 Even in the b2-b4 lines, Whiteeventually plays e3-e4 at some point.

dxe4 QUESTION: Isn't it more logical for

Black to pin White's knight and retain thecentral tension?

[ ANSWER: This is common, but White maybe able to pull off an edge after 11...g412.exd5 xd5 13.c4 c7 14.e4!, A.Najjar-A.Kassis, Lebanon Championship,Beirut 2001. It feels like Black falls underthe sway of central pressure, despite thecomps' assessment of even. Houdinianalysis runs f4 (one thing to note:Black's knight has access to f4 onceWhite's bishop is developed to b2 – if youdon't like this, then go for the a2-a3 linesover Bb2) 15.xd8 fxd8 16.xc6 bxc617.cxe5 xf3 18.xf3 d3 with somecompensation for the pawn. If given a choice,I would still go with an extra pawn! ]

12.xe4 The game sharpens with animbalance: queenside versus kingside pawnmajorities.

xe4 13.xe4 f5?! QUESTION: Why adubious mark? It looks to me like Black is onthe cusp of seizing the initiative.ANSWER: Sometimes in the heat of battle,misplaced boldness gets the better ofcautious reason. This overly aggressive thrustis a common mistake in the Colle, as Blackexperiences difficulties maintaining his centre.

[ Next game we look at the more restrained 13...e6 . ]

14.d5+ h8 Now White proceeds with avigorous counterattack on Black's impressive-looking centre.15.b5! e7 16.c4! g6?!

[ 16...xd5 17.xd5 e4 is better, when18.fd1! grabs the initiative. ]

17.h4! The hypermodern dream: destabilizethe opponent's centre from the wing. Whatlooks to be a random act of gratuitousviolence actually turns out to be theinstrument increasing Black's discomfort tohis strategic tethers.

xh4?! After this Black's universe is in flux,where the laws of physics abruptly mutate forhis side only. The net effect of the move leadsto further deterioration of an already troubledsituation. I hate that feeling when yourconfidence in a past crucial decision begins toerode and you second-guess all your movesfrom that point on. Probably Black alreadyregretted playing 16...Ng6?! and tried tojustify it. In such cases it's better to avoidwasting energy on past decisions which arealready final, and instead expend effort on theunwritten future, still a blank page which may

yet be moulded to your desires. [ Here Black was forced to enter 17...e418.g5 (threat: Qh5) f4 19.h5 xg520.xg5 xg5 21.hxg5 f4 22.fd1, when he has yet to equalize. ]

18.xe5 g5 19.f4! c5+ 20.d4 xd4+21.xd4 As if by magic, Black is busted.White's powerfully centralized forces rule.

f6 22.ad1 Black can barely move. h6?! Black reels with a mistake in an alreadyawful position. Here arise the inevitableconsequences of past transgressions.EXERCISE (combination alert): White cantake advantage of Black's offside h5-knight.How?23.fe1?!

[ ANSWER: White misses the devilishlyinnocent 23.c5! , when Black has no goodresponse to the coming g2-g3. For example:

e6 24.xe6 xe6 25.g3 g6 26.d6picks off the knight. ]

23...h7 24.a4 [ 24.c5 intending c5-c6 is also a thought. ]

24...e8 25.c5 b6? EXERCISE(combination alert): White has no less thantwo forcing sequences which win material.26.f2!

[ ANSWER: This is one of them. He alsowins with 26.c6! e6 27.d7! xd728.xf6! and Black can resign. ]

26...b8 27.g3 The intrusive knight gets atutorial on the rules of etiquette and isbanished to the back of the line.

[ 27.c6! xe1+ 28.xe1! b7 29.e8!is even more brutal. ]

27...g6 When my son Tim was two years old,and another toddler attempted to take awayhis toy at the park, his response was alwaysthe same: "MINE!" In this instance, Whiteshares my son's anti-sharing sentiments, ashe hangs on to his own property – and evenups it a notch – attempting to seize Black'sproperty himself, with ill-concealedvehemence.EXERCISE (combination alert): White to playand win.ANSWER: Double attack/zwischenzug.28.f7! xe5 29.xg6+! The zwischenzug!

xg6 30.xe5 White is winning but must becareful since his king remains insecure.

b7 31.d7 e4 32.ee7 The best way toprotect one's king is to tie the other side downto his own!

g8 Black sings hymns of praise to glorify amonarch he secretly lacks faith in. His rook is

a moody, sullen presence, like a teenage girlforced to accompany her parents to churchwhen she would rather hang out at the mallwith her friends.33.f1 h5 34.e1 h1+ 35.d2 b136.c3! Black simply lacks the fundamentalresources to hunt down White's king.

c1+ 37.b3 Zugzwang! Black has nouseful moves. The ominous sound of theapproaching white queen to b2 galvanizesBlack's defending attacker into a heightenedstate of emergency, but to no avail.

c8 The rook, having made other plans,abruptly abandons his own king, telling him"good luck and Godspeed!" With this moveBlack decides to write his own obituary andeulogy, thus ensuring only nice things aresaid about his king when he departs to thehereafter.

[ 37...h8 38.b2 e3+ 39.c3effectively ends the game. ]

38.xg7+ He lights the fuse and proceeds toblow the king's cover to smithereens.

h8 39.h7+ g8 EXERCISE (combinationalert): White demands blood for past blood.He mates in three moves.ANSWER: The rook, believing himselfdestined for greatness, forcefully rejects theaccusation of averageness by martyringhimself on h8.40.h8+!

[ Mate follows with 40.h8+ xh8 41.d4+ g8 42.g7# .SUMMARY: The 9 b4 line is simply a Semi-Slav a full tempo up for White. ]

1-0

D05Hillarp Persson,TKarlsson,L

Swedish Championship, Gothenburg 2006[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.e3 f6 4.d3 d5 5.0-0 c6 6.c3 d6 7.bd2 0-0 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b4 The odds are good and the goodsare odd! I have confidence in White's position,despite its strange appearance.

d6 10.b2 e5 11.e4 dxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 e6 14.e1 c8

[ 14...f6?! doesn't make much sense asWhite has 15.c2 . I have grave doubtsabout Black's compensation after f5

( while if 15...h8 , Ve.Markov-Ma.Savic,

Yugoslav Team Championship 1999, then 16.ad1 looks good for White ) 16.xc6 bxc6 17.xe5 c7 18.f4 . ]

15.a3 [ QUESTION: Why can't White win a pawnwith the line 15.xc6 xc6 16.xe5 xe5

17.xe5 ?ANSWER: He can, but this time Black'ssuperior opposite-coloured bishop and ironblockade of c4 offer him full compensationfor the pawn. ]

15...h6 To free himself from Ng5 distractions. 16.e2 QUESTION: What is White's plan?ANSWER: First and foremost, to activate hismajority by engineering the c3-c4 pawn break.Secondly, to prevent Black from rolling hisown kingside pawn majority forward. In thiscase, the Bxc6 followed by Nxe5 threat hangsover Black to discourage ...f7-f5.

e8 17.ac1 c7 18.c4 Success!1. White achieves his freeing move.2. He regains territory he ceded to Blackearlier in the game.3. Freedom tastes sweet for the b2-bishopafter a long incarceration within a sunless cell.4. White stands better, due to the superiorpawn majority.QUESTION: Why superior?ANSWER: The key element of pawn majoritydifferentials is how quickly or slowly (or not atall!) they move forward. In this case, Whitealready menaces c4-c5 and c4-b5, bothwhich undermine the e5-pawn. Meanwhile,Black's majority remains in stasis.

d4!? Already a sign that Black may be insome difficulty.

[ QUESTION: I don't really see an issue withBlack's e-pawn being weak. Can't he justback it up with the simple 18...f6 ?ANSWER: In doing so, he weakens all thelight squares around his king. White standsclearly better after 19.c5 f8 20.h4!, blockading f5, while also threatening to setup a queen/bishop battery along the b1-h7diagonal. ]

19.xd4 exd4 20.c5 f4 21.cd1 f5!?In our own world we are always the star, evenif reality suggests otherwise. The f-pawn isled forward by some inexplicable instinct,similar to my dog Al, who mysteriously eatsmouthfuls of grass, only to barf ceremoniouslyon the lawn moments later. It's hard tocriticize this loosening move, since hisposition lacks better suggestions.

22.d3?!

[ 22.c2! d5 23.d3 xf3 24.xf3is stronger, when Black suffers a clearlyinferior opposite-coloured bishop. ]

22...d5 23.xe8+ White still holds an edgein the rooks versus queen situation.

xe8 24.xe8+ f7 25.de1 xf3!?Possibly the start of a make-believe attack –very tempting, but the opposite-colouredbishops hurt Black much more than White. Abruised, blackened banana may be sweeterthan the yellow one next to it, but this doesn'tmean I will pick the black one next time I amhungry.

[ Perhaps he should refrain and play 25...g6. ]

26.gxf3 e3! Karlsson boldly refuses toequivocate and proceeds in unvarnishedhostility with an interference bishop sac. Ineffect he tries a desperado, offering Whitequite a bit of material to deliver perpetualcheck. The general gestalt from Black's sidehas been one of unapologetic confrontation,so it's understandable he rejects morepassive options.

[ 26...xh2+? 27.g2 leaves Black in a badway, since f4?? (everything else is bustedas well) 28.c4+ g6 29.1e7 wins thequeen. ]

27.h8 xf2+! The colonel takes inventoryand discovers one of the nukes is missing.Two rooks and a bishop for a queen is quite abit to give away in Black's follow-up idea.Nevertheless, this is still perhaps his bestpractical chance. White must play carefully toavoid perpetual check.

28.xf2 xh2+ 29.f1 h1+ 30.e2 g2+ 31.d1 xf3+ 32.c2 f2+ 33.e2 g1 34.xf5 a1 35.e6+ Thus far Black'sking existed in his colourless, safe, marginalworld. All he knew as normal is about to end.

g6 36.f8?! Letting Black back in thegame.

[ 36.d8! is more accurate. ] 36...c3+ 37.b1 d3+ 38.c2 d1+?

[ 38...xa3! is Black's best shot at perpetualcheck: after 39.g2+ h5 40.g4+ h4

41.f3 xb4+ White's king continues tosend frantic dispatches for reinforcementsyet none have arrived so far. ]

39.b2 No more checks. d3 Black's king squirms with frantic urgency,like an eight-year-old trapped in the recessesof a bear hug from a very large great aunt.Now a final piece of bad luck neatlysummarizes the unfortunate king's eventful

life.EXERCISE (combination alert): White to playand force the win of Black's queen or delivercheckmate.ANSWER: 40.g2+ h5

[ Since 40...h5 41.f4! (the rooksapproach in stereo; the threat is Bf7+) g6(Black finally decides to broach thesensitive topic of his own king safety byurgently attempting to stem the profusion oflight square leaks in his position) 42.g4+wins the queen. A good fairy tale generallyends with a kiss, but in this case theprincess on d1 doesn't appreciate it a bit.SUMMARY: 10...e5 is Black's main line, yetI have doubts about his ability to fullyequalize with it. ]

1-0

D05Gausel,EGorecki,Z

Oslo 2002[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.d3 c65.c3 e7 6.bd2 d5 7.0-0 c7Black puts an end to reversed Stonewallideas.8.dxc5 xc5 9.b4 d6 10.b2 0-0

[ Or 10...d7 11.a3 g4 12.h3 ge513.e2 e7?! ( I still prefer White after thesuperior 13...xf3+ 14.xf3 e5 15.c4!

xf3+ 16.xf3 dxc4 17.c1 , when Blackhas fallen behind in development ) 14.c4!

xc4 15.xc4 dxc4 16.e4 f5 17.xg7!with a clear advantage to White, R.Decroix-M.Leconte, Paris 2000. ]

11.a3 [ White can also opt for the more vigorouspath to c3-c4; i.e. 11.b5 e5 12.xe5

xe5 13.f4 d6 14.c4 with an edge. ] 11...g4 QUESTION: Isn't Black supposed toplay for ...e6-e5?ANSWER: In this case Black wants to occupye5 with a piece rather than a pawn. In doingso he regains a tempo by attacking the d3-bishop.12.h3 ge5 13.xe5 xe5 14.e2QUESTION: Why not to c2, where the bishopaims at Black's king?ANSWER: It is imperative for White to achievec3-c4. If he can manage the break, he usuallygets an edge.

QUESTION: Hasn't Black just gained a tempoon White's bishop?ANSWER: Not really. Keep in mind that Blackexpended a lot of time to gain his tempo,effectively negating his intended goal!

d8 [ 14...a5 is another idea. ]

15.b3 The fight for c4 continues. d7 16.f4! Now c3-c4 will not be denied. g6 After this White holds a clear advantage.

[ Instead, Houdini suggests the mysteriouspawn sac 16...c4!? 17.xc4 dxc418.xc4 xc4 19.xc4 a4 20.e2claiming some compensation for Black. Idon't have much faith in allegedcompensation. ]

17.c4 The rebellious c-pawn, chaffing underthe yolk of Black's rigid, institutional authorityover the c4-square, breaks free and runs.White's game comes alive after achieving histhematic break.

f8 18.ac1 Matters grow more and moreawkward for Black, whose queen squirmsuncomfortably on c7.

b6? Black gets cute, but his idea just doesn'twork.

[ He had to suck it up with the admittedlywretched-looking 18...d6 . ]

19.cxd5 d6 My yoga friend Cathy and Ihave know each other for years, yet for somereason she is convinced my name is Simon.Also, she isn't quite sure of my name, so shealways calls me "Sim...ugh", hesitating withand muttering the latter part of my not-name.So a few weeks ago I finally overcameembarrassment and told her my name wasactually "Cyrus", not "Simon". Two days later,next class: I heard behind me: "Good morningSim...ugh!" "How are you today Cathy?" Ireplied, a broken man, exhaling a weary sigh.Moral: some problems are just best leftunfixed.EXERCISE (combination alert): In thisposition Black believes he will fix all hisproblems and soon regain his pawn. Does he?ANSWER: He doesn't.20.c4! e7

[ 20...xd5 drops an exchange to 21.f3. Instead, Black's queen moves shyly awayfrom the white knight's amorous stare,reminding me that all the girls I chased inhigh school were, to my deep chagrin, firmlyin the depressing category of not-my-girlfriend. ]

[ EXERCISE (planning): After 20...e7

White has a path to a winning attack. Wouldyou push your d-pawn to d6 or exchange one6? One of them is clearly superior to theother. ]

21.d6?! White still retains the advantage afterthis move but my old internet buddy, GMEinar Gausel, missed an opportunity to pushhis opponent off the board:

[ ANSWER: 21.dxe6! xe6 ( 21...fxe6 22.f5 h8 (I'm not so confident of the net worth ofBlack's quasi-knight, always looking for ahandout, never working his fair share)23.e5 leaves Black completely busted )22.f5 xc4 23.xc4! (preventing Black'sknight from going to e5) h8 (this poor,quarantined knight remains in his hospitalroom, his degenerative metamorphosis anddesiccation of power resembling the grape'stransformation to a raisin) 24.f6 is utterdestruction. ]

21...e8 22.e4 b5 23.a5 xd6 24.g3White still holds an advantage with rollingkingside pawns and better posted pieces.

dc8 25.h4 White hopes to use his h-pawnas a battering ram to disrupt the black king'spawn cover.

c7 26.h5 b6+ 27.h2 e7 28.h6 f629.hxg7 xg7 30.b7 Eyeing d6.

g6 31.d6 xc1 32.xc1 a6 33.g2 g8 34.f3 c6?

[ Black should play 34...f8 when his kingremains mad King Lear on the heath, hopingto outrun his own tormented mind. ]

35.f5! Fingers of dread push their way slowlyinto the black king's chest. The ruthless,insincere f-pawn attempts to soothe thehungry mob of black defenders, noddingamicably, and telling them he sympathizesand understands their concerns, all the whileplotting to tax and starve them further. Bothsides hope to attack, but White wins the raceby a luxurious margin.

exf5 EXERCISE (combination alert): Obamahas a way of outflanking his politicalopponents by out-cooling and out-hippingthem. In a similar way, work out a path forWhite to overcome Black's defences.ANSWER: Step 1: Remove Black's bestpiece.36.xc6! The execution and logistics of sucha multi-tiered endeavour come across as far-fetched, but Gausel manages to pull it off.

fxe4 [ 36...xc6 37.exf5 g5 38.xc6 d239.d7+ mates in seven moves; e.g. h6

40.c1 xc1 41.f7+ g7 42.g5+ h643.xh7+ xg5 44.h5# . ]

Step 2: Strike at the heart of Black's weakestpoint: f6.37.xf6+! xf6 38.e8+!Step 3: Discovered attack. Black's queencatches the censorious gaze of three whitepieces. One can only look away pityingly uponthe black royalty's Hobbesian travails, as theylimp forward, living day to day.SUMMARY: I don't believe Black equalizeseasily with the ...Ng4-e5 plan. It gains atempo on White's d3-bishop, but paradoxically,eats up a lot of time doing so, thus negatingthe intended effect.1-0

Chapter Two

Lines with ...Nbd7

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 e6 4 Bd3 c5 5 c3 Nbd7 6 Nbd2 Bd6 7 0-0 0-0

We arrive at the other major branch of the Colle. From my experience, I have found that most higher-rated and titled players prefer this particular set-up for Black. Rather than head for the more natural and central c6-square, Black's knight instead creeps forward on tippy-toes, in Elmer Fudd, cartoon hunter style, dragging its feet with perverse, infuriating caution.The idea behind the move: a knight posted on d7 discourages White's automatic d4xc5 plan, since the recapture ...Nxc5 gains a tempo on our d3-bishop. Black often interprets the odd d7 posting as a flippant evasion, designed to mess up the Colle side. But embedded within the shifting transition, also lies opportunity (for us!). Our solution: we abandon the d4xc5, Chapter One plan, change gears and play for Re1 and e3-e4! - in which case, Black's knight, exerting no central pressure on its current passive square, wishes it were on c6. I have found that equalizing with Black in this line is not such a trivially easy process as many believe, and White often retains pressure and attacking chances, well into the middlegame.Lakdawala-Comp StockfishHansen-VescoviGoodman-Conde PoderosoLakdawala-GriffithColle-O'HanlonColle-ThomasColle-DuchampKukov-EnchevLakdawala-AkobianLakdawala-Maki (Commerce 1998)

Index

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 e6 4 Bd3 c5 5 c3 Nbd75...b6 6 Nbd2 Be7 7 0-0 Bb7 – Lakdawala-Maki (Commerce 1998)

6 Nbd2 Bd6 7 0-0 0-0 8 Re18 e4 – Lakdawala-Comp Stockfish

8...Qc78...Re8 – Colle-O'Hanlon8...e5 9 e4 dxe4 10 Nxe4 Nxe4 11 Bxe4 exd4 12 cxd4

12...cxd4 – Colle-Thomas12...Nf6 – Colle-Duchamp12...h6 – Kukov-Enchev

8...b6 – Lakdawala-Akobian9 e4 cxd4

9...dxe4 – Lakdawala-Griffith10 cxd4 dxe4 11 Nxe4 Nxe4 12 Rxe4

12...b6 – Hansen-Vescovi12...Nb6 – Goodman-Conde Poderoso

D05Lakdawala,CComp Stockfish

San Diego (rapid) 2012[Cyrus Lakdawala]

QUESTION: How did you end up playing acomputer in a rapid event?ANSWER: Black was a student who, for yearsand years, hovered around the 1400 ratinglevel. Then, as if magically touched by thehand of an unseen chess god, he startedannihilating everyone – and I mean everyone!Masters' positions folded into pretzels, likeyoga teachers, while experts and below werebeneath contempt and pummelled intochutney. In just three short months, his ratingsoared, surging from 1400 to around 2100(and still climbing fast!). When he showed mehis wins against masters, we would reachpositions where he casually left multiplepieces en prise, only to confidently force mate12 moves later. I, of course, naivelymisinterpreted his remarkable ascendancy asundeniable confirmation of my own gifted,extraordinary teaching ability!Unfortunately this wasn't quite the case. Thereality: my student turned out to be sort of achess super-villain, who ingeniously managedto set up the 3000+ rated Stockfish computerinto, of all things, his shoe! Eventually he gotcaught (by those less naive than your writer),busted and banned from play by the Feds, theU.S. Chess Federation. I must have been bornunder a lucky star to have escaped the net ofhis evil clutches. It is in the nature ofunderstatement that I declare to you that thebiblical Job's ordeal was a pleasant Sundaystroll in the park when juxtaposed with mine inthis game!1.f3 c5 2.c3 Yes, your 2572-rated writertrembled like a little girl at a Justin Bieberconcert, in the presence of his super (villain)1400/3000-rated student and went into super-chicken (aka solid) mode with the Colle!

f6 3.d4 e6 4.e3 d5 5.bd2 bd7In this chapter we examine the developmentof Black's knight on d7 rather than on thetraditional c6-square.QUESTION: What are the differences?ANSWER: The key difference is White isn'tso inclined to play d4xc5 since recapture withhis knight, ...Nxc5!, gains a tempo on our d3-bishop, and also clamps down on our e3-e4break.

6.d3 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4!? Opening theposition against a comp is akin to suicide,given that it calculates 24-ply per move andbutchers masters the way a cruel warlordorders the village and all its inhabitantsburned alive! The problem was I didn't realizeI was playing a comp!

[ In the next eight games we look at thesuperior 8.e1 . ]

8...dxe4 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 c711.g5 h6! 12.e3

[ I originally intended the shady 12.h4?! f513.c2 g5 14.g3 f4 15.xg5 hxg516.h5 , until I saw f6! 17.xg5+ g7and realized Black stood clearly better after18.xf4 xf4 19.xf4 d5 20.h4 cxd421.cxd4 d7 , when White has no trace ofan attack and his pawns fail to compensatefor the missing piece. ]

12...d8 13.e2 b8! Black equalizeswithout breaking a sweat. He plans ...b7-b6and ...Bb7, completing his development.14.fd1?! The wrong rook as it turns out. Ibelieve it was Bent Larsen who said,whichever rook you pick, that one will be thewrong one! And he was right! The mostnatural placement for White's rooks here is thee- and d-files.

b6 15.h3 f6 16.dxc5?! [ 16.c2 b7 is still about equal, butsomehow I still prefer Black, whose positionswims with the promise of future menacetoward my king. ]

16...bxc5! I totally underestimated thisrecapture. Now Black begins to take over theinitiative.QUESTION: What about the fact that Blackwillingly took on a pair of isolanis and also lostcontrol over the c4-square?ANSWER: Offering a starving, destituteperson (me!) a 10% off coupon to anexpensive restaurant doesn't really constitutea large-hearted gesture of generosity. Rare isthe game where one side gets its way withoutresistance. Normally, a game is won byagreeing to compromises just slightly in ourfavour. Black does just that. His acceleratedpiece activity, initiative and future attack morethan make up for the minor structuralconcessions.17.d3? Now my position goes downhill fast.

[ I forgot I could play 17.c2 d5 18.ab1 b7 19.c1 , when White only standsslightly worse. ]

17...e5! Threatening to fork. A wild animal's

mind and senses are acutely attuned to anyunnatural motion around them – in the sameway I now began to sense very real danger.Black knits conflicting ideas into a singlefabric, as his initiative/attack, once just aflicker, soon surges forward, taking on a life ofits own.

18.c4 e4 19.e1 Oh merciful Caissa, saveme, a poor miserable wretch of a sinner, andcomfort me through this anguished trial of myfaith in you! What is happening? All my pieces,having magically been coerced, are relocatedto ridiculous squares. Various components ofWhite's machinery sustain damage bycorrosion and lack of use.EXERCISE (planning): Come up with a planfor Black where he whips up a strong attack.ANSWER: Black's plan is straightforward,unadorned and highly effective. White's woesare the sorry by-product of the followingcircumstances...Step 1: Transfer the queen to view e5.

e7! 20.d2 g5! Black applies doses of thelash uniformly to White's back and the sand-castle defences are washed aside by a giantwave. White's distracted king's guard natter onas their charge falls under the sway of Black'scoming attack, while the king himself is toodepressed to move out of the way.

[ Step 2: Avoid White's positional cheapo. Inaively expected 20...e5? and plannedthe interference move 21.f4! . Black'sexcellent last move is designed to preventjust that. Gulp! Now he threatens ...Qe5,forcing g2-g3, and then ...Bxh3, winning.White's squirming king must live out hisdays under the tyrannical sway of the queen/bishop battery aimed at h2. My pathetic nextmove is forced. ]

21.f1 To run for one's life generally entails adrastic diminution of self-esteem as well. Myqueen veers to avoid the coming collision.

xb2?? The arsonist puts on a dazzlingdisplay of pyrotechnic wonder. Oh glory be!Praise Caissa!QUESTION: How on earth did a 3000+ ratedcomp hang a rook for nothing!?

[ ANSWER: It was a shoe transmission error!The comp probably gave the line 21...h2+!!(the bishop greets White king with aceremonial bow, the fingers of his left handsweeping the floor) 22.xh2 xd2 23.xd2

d6+ with a strong initiative for Black. ] 22.xb2 The triumph of righteousness oversuper-villainism! Taking the free rook was my

only good move of the game! Once again thesky shines azure blue and the birds sing theirsweet melodies. All of creation is once againin accord and balance is restored in thecosmos.QUESTION: Is it possible to attain entry toheaven without deserving it? I am beginningto suspect that you may be the luckiest playerever to walk the face of the earth! To whatskill on your part do you attribute your victory?ANSWER: Good karma! Kim Kardashian isattractive, rich and famous without havingachieved a single notable accomplishment inher life. Sometimes to be the recipient of agift from the universe is good enough!SUMMARY: 8 e4 gives White nothing. Betterto stick with 8 Re1, which we examine ingreat detail in this chapter.1-0

D05Hansen,LBVescovi,G

Copenhagen 1995[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 c5 QUESTION: Does this move orderchange anything for us?ANSWER: No change for us.

2.e3 [ I normally prefer to enter Colle via the moveorder 2.c3 , when cxd4 3.cxd4 d5transposes to the Exchange Slav covered inChapter Seven. ]

2...f6 3.f3 e6 [ Here 3...cxd4 4.exd4 d5 is the ExchangeCaro-Kann (or reversed Queen's GambitDeclined), also covered in Chapter Seven ]

4.d3 d5 5.0-0 As I mentioned last chapter,this move order, although common, isprobably not White's best.

[ I would play 5.c3 , ] [ or else 5.b3 (to prevent Black from playing5...c4!). ]

5...bd7 6.c3 d6 7.bd2 0-0 [ C.Lakdawala-R.Dzindzichashvili, Internet(blitz) 2005, saw 7...e7?! (Black's queen ismisplaced on the e-file) 8.e1! 0-0 9.e2

( the direct 9.e4! is most thematic ) 9...h6?! ( 9...e5! should equalize ) 10.e4 dxe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 f6 13.h4(White has a dangerous attack brewing andan enticing target on h6) cxd4 14.xh6!

gxh6 ( 14...dxc3? fails to 15.g5! ) 15.xh6

d7 16.g5 f4 17.e4! e5 18.ae1 d6 19.cxd4 exd4 20.g3 d2 21.h41-0. Compare this to Hansen's attack in themain game. ]

8.e1 QUESTION: What is the point behindWhite's move?ANSWER: GM Aaron Summerscale explains:"An important prelude to e3-e4, allowing therook to join the attack when the centre opens."

c7 [ Later in the chapter we look at 8...e8 , ] [ 8...e5 , ] [ and 8...b6 . ]

9.e4 As mentioned earlier, when facing ...Nbd7 lines, White must forego d4xc5 since ...Nxc5 picks up a tempo for Black.

cxd4 [ 9...dxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4would most likely transpose, or at any rateis very similar to the game, since Black'srefusal to toss in ...c5xd4 doesn't reallyalter much. We examine this position inLakdawala-Griffith later on. ]

10.cxd4 dxe4 11.xe4 White achieves arather ominous-looking isolani position, sinceBlack's queen and bishop don't mesh wellagainst the isolani where they stand.QUESTION: What if I don't want to take on anisolani?ANSWER: You would be well advised to do so,especially if it is a good version, as in thiscase. Look at Lakdawala-Maki, the final gameof this chapter, to see how to avoid isolani.

xe4 Summerscale comments: "Aquestionable move, inviting White's rook toattack. Maybe Black should considerrelinquishing the bishop pair with ...Nd5."

12.xe4! White's rook reaches for h4 andglory. I like this bold recapture, which airliftsthe rook into the attack.QUESTION: I have read that you shouldn'tbring the rook out in a crowded middlegameposition. Is White's move sound?ANSWER: Absolutely. I admit that the rook lift,on outer appearance, seems to sin against hisown survival, yet this is an exception to thenormal rule.

b6 Preparing to develop his final minor piece. [ QUESTION: Why not 12...f6 to feed hiskingside with a defender?ANSWER: White gets a powerful attackanyway after 13.h4 g6 14.h6 e8

15.c1 b6 16.e5 , flooding the kingsidewith attackers. ]

13.e2 b7 14.h4! Forcing a breach in

Black's king's guard. The rook refuses tocome to heel and return to his previoussubordinate station. He diligently applieshimself to the highest degree to the fruition ofhis psychotic (yet efficient!) dream.

g6 [ 14...h6?? allows the no-brainer sac 15.xh6! with a winning attack. Compare mygame against GM Dzindzichashvili in thenotes above. ]

15.d2! Tentatively, the meek bishop tiptoesforward just one square, as his comrades yelltheir reassurances from the front line,encouraging him forward.QUESTION: Why not to h6, in order todevelop with tempo?ANSWER: Hansen's move is more subtle andstronger. He leaves h6 vacant, planning Qe3!and Qh6.

ac8 16.e3 Hungrily eyeing the h6-square. fd8?

[ Black should go for something like 16...xf3to remove an attacker. Instead, he steelshimself to the incoming wave – but theefficacy of his last move remains in doubt,since he organizes a greeting party ofrabbits to face down the visiting wolf pack.White now has a shot which sends Black'sdefences scattering in the four cardinaldirections like dandelion fluff on a windy day.The g6-square is crusted thickly by ancient,psychic scars. Black's kingside, nowreduced to a dank tumble of noxious weeds,finds itself sorely in need of a clipping fromthe gardener. After this the black king's lifeis destined to be radically altered, and withcataclysmic abruptness. ]

17.xg6!! In a ghastly breach of courtetiquette, the jovial bishop slaps Black'soversensitive king warmly on the back, as thehorrified onlookers and hangers on becomeaware of the tactlessness of the gesture. Nowthe defensive barrier evaporates into alifeless hulk, an empty vessel.

fxg6 [ 17...hxg6 walks into a forced mate after 18.h6 . ]

18.xe6+ g7 Black's king puts asidereproaches and goes about the undignifiedtask of running like the wind. Our work isn'tfinished.EXERCISE (combination alert): Black'sposition seethes in destruction and flame.White to play and force mate.ANSWER: 19.xh7+! Black's garden of

otherwise entrancing beauty is somewhatdiminished by the sight of a bloated corpsefloating face down in the fountain.

[ 19.xh7+! xh7 (the king accepts the badnews with inward perplexity and doubt)20.g5+ h6 (the amnesia victim,confused and de-personified, searches forhimself along the h-file) 21.h3+(the fallow kingside remains a wasteland,populated only by the anguished wretch onh6) g7 22.h7+ f6 (Black's king toastshis own past glories, realizing that there willsoon be no future at all for him) 23.f7#is mate.SUMMARY: White's only real chance ofgaining an advantage is to take on anisolani against the ...Nbd7 lines. Also,don't discount a rook recapture on e4 if youcan get away with it. ]

1-0

D05Goodman,CConde Poderoso,J

Correspondence 1999[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 d5 5.d3 bd7 6.bd2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 c79.e4 cxd4 10.cxd4 dxe4 11.xe4 xe412.xe4! "Same as it ever was."

b6 Black goes for a direct blockade on d5.13.h4! Which leaves Black's king withoutdefenders.

h6 White's forces murmur among themselves,pausing occasionally to give the opposingking dark looks.EXERCISE (critical decision): Should Whitego for it and sac a bishop on h6? Analyze aconcrete line, rather than just playing byintuition.QUESTION: What would you suggest forBlack as an alternative defence?ANSWER: I have found that a timely ...f7-f5does wonders at subduing such isolaniattacks.QUESTION: What is the down side of ...f7-f5?ANSWER: The move doesn't come withoutcost. Black essentially makes a seriousstrategic concession, a self-inflicted gash one5 and a weakened e6-pawn in exchange forincreased king safety.14.e5

[ ANSWER to Exercise: War is all about the

transfer and deliverance of energy, frompoint A to point B, specifically designed toinflict harm, be it rocks, spears, swords,crossbow arrows, bullets, chemical weaponsor nuclear warheads. The difference issimply degree. In this case, White refusesto launch and incorrectly avoids delivery,the mechanism which may have finished hisopponent off, even though Black's last moveis just asking for it.The immediate sac on h6 looks promising; e.g. 14.xh6! (a sniper picks off the sentinelon h6) gxh6 15.xh6 f5 16.g5 g717.h5 f6 18.h7 g6 19.h4 d720.e1 c8 21.e2! , threatening Bh5!,and Black won't survive for long. ]

14...xe5?! Black grows weary of the futile,irksome haggling. Clearly there can be nocommon ground with an opponent staunchlydedicated to your annihilation. So Blackreasons: Annihilate him first. But this is notthe correct path to the goal.

[ He should defend with 14...f5! 15.h5 xe5 16.dxe5 d5 when, admittedly,White's position still looks promising, butnot quite so much as in the game. ]

15.dxe5 xe5 16.xh6! The bishop renewshis sacred vow to hunt down the enemymonarch and bring him to justice.

f5 This move arrives too late. Black's kingremains unintimidated by what he feels is achest-beating, empty gesture from the bishop.

[ After 16...gxh6 17.g4+ h8 18.d2 h5 19.e2! Black has no good defence tothe rook discovery on g8. Meanwhile, theblack king's despairing wish is simply to beleft alone. ]

17.h5! The indignant headmistress husheseveryone, demanding decorum and obedience.

d7 QUESTION: Why can't Black accept therook?

[ ANSWER: White has the clever 17...gxh6?? 18.g4+! , winning Black'squeen. ]

18.g5 f6 19.xf6 The bishop finds thehounding knight tedious company and seeksgraceful departure.

xf6 20.g4! Nice. Another attacker joins thefray, as White threatens g4-g5-g6, sealingBlack's king in.

h6! Finally, Black realizes the danger andtakes evasive action. The simple self-preservatory instinct accomplishes the goalwhere earlier hints, suggestions and throat-clearing failed miserably. At the bargain price

of one pawn, Black finally rids himself of atormenting attacker who bedevils his king.21.xh6 gxh6 22.xh6 fxg4 23.g6+

[ Houdini likes this move; whereas I wouldprobably add another attacker with 23.c1!?. ]

23...f7 24.xg4 White's earlier attack nettedhim a pawn in the endgame.

d7 25.e4! Before Black's bishop reachesits optimum post on c6.

fd8 26.b3 Threatening Bxb7. c6? This move only sets the stage for adismal aftermath. The overconfident bishopattempts to mask his irritation with aninsincere smile, unwisely sliding to c6 tochallenge his more skilled counterpart leaderto ritual combat.QUESTION: Why give Black a dubious markfor his last move. I thought the defender'schances of success increased in a puredouble rook ending – correct?ANSWER: Correct, but not here. Black paid aheavy price for the bishop swap: all his pawnsnow degrade into target isolanis. Soon thewretchedness of his position exceeds hismost pessimistic projections.27.xc6 bxc6 28.a4 d2 29.c1 d630.a6 Unequal distribution of wealth insociety may result in a large segment of thepopulation facing starvation, even whensurrounded by lavish bounty. A second pawnfalls and the rest is easy.

f6 31.cxc6 xc6 32.xc6 g8+An empty gesture.33.f1 g6 34.c7 h6 35.xa7 xh236.a4 h4 37.b7 h1+ 38.e2 e539.a5 d5 40.b5+ c6 41.b6+ d542.b4 a1 43.a6 The pawns continue tolabour at their rook's behest, as Black'sineffective king and rook wear grotesquemasks, caricatures of their former selves.

c4 44.b5 a2+ 45.f3 e5 46.b7 d5SUMMARY: If you can induce ...h7-h6 at anypoint in such positions, a bishop sac on thatsquare usually hands White a promisingattack.1-0

D05Lakdawala,CGriffith,K

San Diego (rapid) 2012[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.d2 d5 3.e3 e6 4.gf3 bd75.d3 c5 6.c3 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 c79.e4 dxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4! e5?Natural, but incorrect.QUESTION: Why? Black very sensiblyengages in a central counter to your comingwing attack.ANSWER: He may be following principle butthe math must back it up. In this case hiscounter is mistimed. Let's do an exercise:EXERCISE (critical decision): I considered 12dxe5 and 12 Rh4 here. Both lead tosuperiority, but only one of them wins. Canyou do better than I did and find the correctpath? Back up your choice with concretevariations.12.h4?! The newly-opened highway on theh-file is the prism through which the rook eyesthe enemy monarch. King Croesus lived atease, in sumptuous wealth and power, untilthe army of Cyrus the Great overran his citiesand put all that Croesus cherished to theflame. Unfortunately, your writer, Cyrus theBarely Adequate, failed miserably to repeatmy namesake's victory.

[ ANSWER: 12.dxe5! xe5 ( or 12...xe513.xe5 xe5 14.f4 f6 15.h5 f716.xf7+ xf7 17.e7 and Whitedominates the ending with bishop pair,development lead and rook on the seventhrank ) 13.xe5 xe5 14.h5 d6

( actually, I didn't take 14...Qd6 into accountin my analysis at the board and only lookedat 14...f5 15.c4+ h8 16.h4 g617.xg6 , which is totally hopeless as well )15.e3 f5 16.c4+ h8 17.h3 h618.g5 d7 ( or 18...f4 19.e1 xg520.xg5 and there is no reasonabledefence to the coming Re7 ) 19.xh6!(White explodes on h6 with a cudgel andthe kingside lies defoliated) gxh6 20.d1

c6 21.b5! , when Black's queen wobblesand gyrates, like a drunk who just gotejected from the bar for unruly behaviour.Meanwhile, the black king's guillotined head,though separated from his body, silentlymouths words, as if to impart one finalmessage of defiance.QUESTION: Are you saying you saw up to

17 Qxg6 after 14...f5 and rejected this line?ANSWER: I realize that my decision is oneonly a qualified psychiatrist can answer, butyes. I can only tell you that I had somehallucination in the variation I played andmistakenly thought it was even morecrushing. ]

12...g6 [ QUESTION: Can he go for a moreaggressive defence with 12...f5 ?ANSWER: I was praying for that move!Black gets clobbered after 13.c4+ h8

14.xe5! (threatening Ng6 mate) xe5 15.xh7+! xh7 16.h5# . ]

13.d2?! At the board I thought this won byforce. However, the dubious move issues achallenge to impossibility itself and soon mymuch anticipated victory celebration gets puton hold. This move has the smell of anincorrect plan, like rotting fish washed ashore.White's energy and fury pitches right, in thedirection of the aft cabin, seeing this is theroom where Black's king hides. My delusionalqueen looks down on her would-be foe on g8with the amused, brash condescension of onewho (mistakenly!) believes her own power tobe greater than her opponent's. All the goodfortune the world contains spreads beforeWhite – or so he believes. Despite all theproper causes and conditions – good soil,abundant sunshine and rainfall – inexplicably,the seeds to White's attack fail to take rootdue to the fumblings of an incompetentgardener. In short: another bad decision.QUESTION: Why a bad decision? Youattacked exactly as Hansen did earlier in thechapter.ANSWER: Yes, but the gigantic differencebeing, it worked in Hansen's game; it doesn'tin mine!

[ I should have gone for 13.h6! (suggestedby my opponent after the game) e8

14.g5 e7 ( 14...exd4?? 15.f3 e7 16.c4 wins on the spot ) 15.f3! f8 ( 15...xg5 16.xg5 exd4 17.xh7also wins ) 16.e1 , when Black remainsunder tremendous pressure. ]

[ QUESTION: Isn't 13.g5 powerful?ANSWER: I didn't see anything special forWhite after the simple e7 14.d5, though Houdini claims a tiny edge forWhite here. ]

13...e7! Oh, the undiluted joy derived inthwarting an opponent's hopes. Undaunted byhis dilapidated dark square barrier, Black's

defenders seep through, infesting like fastbreeding rats. His ability to survive hiscurrently opaque future rests in his ability (ordisability!) to deal with the coming assault.Dang, I forgot about this move. Now my rooklooks awkward on h4. Immediately after mysupposed triumph follows disillusionment, asBlack slowly collects the threads of his porousposition.

14.g5 White's disembodied attackers floatlike ghosts in the ether.

[ After the game IM Dionisio Aldamasuggested 14.h6 , when he felt White hada winning attack. However, Houdini onlysees a draw after cxd4 15.cxd4 exd4

16.xh7 xh7 17.h6+ g8 18.xg6 f6 19.g5 fxg6 20.xg6+ h8 21.h6+. ]

14...exd4 15.xh7?! When logic collapses,we may as well turn to and inject divinationand shamanism in the hopes of creatingdissonance and rescue. Black's fortressshudders spasmodically from the blow, yetremains intact. Black's king, a humble manunaccustomed to high living, suddenlyreceives an unexpected bounty. My rook,having gone mad, finds itself insensate to painof any kind.

[ Instead, after the correct 15.cxd4, Houdini assesses the position as equal. ]

15...xg5?! [ Forcing the draw, but he had better: 15...e5! 16.h6 g4 17.h4 , which Isaw at the board but missed e3!, when White is in deep trouble. ]

16.xg5 xh7 17.xg6+ The bishop greetsthe king with a coldly curt nod of his head anda dour glance. I accepted the reversal offortune with stoic fortitude, rationalizing it asan expiation of past sins.

[ 17.xg6+ fxg6 18.h6+ g8 19.xg6+is perpetual check.SUMMARY: 11...e5? simply fails. Butwhatever you do, please don't follow up theway I did! ]

½-½

D05Colle,EO'Hanlon,J

Nice 1930[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 e6 5.d3 d6 6.bd2 bd7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 e8Imitation: the sincerest form of flattery. Anearly ...Re8 can be quite useful to Black sinceit allows him ...Nf8 defensive options.QUESTION: It looks like both sides preparetheir respective e-pawn freeing breaks. Willthere be mass exchanges once the gameopens in the middle?ANSWER: Usually there are multipleexchanges from the central scramble. I feelWhite still holds the edge for one simplereason: it is his turn first!

9.e4 dxe4 [ We can only dream our opponents willspeculate with the unsound sac 9...cxd4?

10.e5 dxc3 11.bxc3 xe5 12.xe5 c7 13.df3 xc3 14.d2 , S.Limberg-K.Fels,Schwäbisch Gmünd 2006, when Black lagsmassively in development and doesn't getanywhere near full compensation for thepiece. Compare this to Lakdawala-Lawrencefrom the previous chapter. ]

10.xe4 xe4 Otherwise, Black would eitherlose a tempo with his d6-bishop or lose thebishop pair.

11.xe4 [ QUESTION: I realize this position isn'texactly the same as when White recapturedon e4 with his rook earlier in the chapter,since Black hasn't yet committed to givingWhite an isolani. But can 11.xe4still be played here?ANSWER: I don't see why not. In fact, thatis exactly how I would play it for White. Forexample: c7 ( after 11...f6?! 12.h4White attained his company-issued attack,S.Niehaus-U.Bierbach, Dortmund 1992 )

12.h4 h6! , when I'm not sure about thesac on h6, since 13.xh6!? gxh6 14.xh6

f4 15.h4 f5 looks unclear. ] 11...cxd4 12.xh7+!? Do you remember thepsychotic Glenn Close character in 'FatalAttraction'? She butchered Michael Douglas'family pet rabbit and then made a soup of it!Well, this is White's boil-the-bunny moment.The ambitious archbishop, in a vulgar powergrab, sentences the black king to penanceupon threat of excommunication, mopping the

floors and cleaning the toilets in the palace.Colle, after analyzing the test samples andcrunching the variables, decides to speculateand plunge in with a sac. A calmer spirit likeme would probably just recapture on d4.QUESTION: Shouldn't White's last move justbe given an exclamation mark? It looks like asimple, straightforward and sound Greek giftsac.ANSWER: It isn't as simple as it appears.White's hot-headed move isn't actually asstrong as it is dangerous. It offers Whitepractical chances, since it compels Black tofind "only moves". If you begin with astraightforward plan and then continue to addand subtract variables, I guarantee you theplan no longer appears either simple orstraightforward.QUESTION: Which way would you recapture?ANSWER: All three recaptures look okay. Iwould take back with the queen. The positionresembles a slightly favourable c3-Sicilian set-up for White.

xh7 13.g5+ EXERCISE (criticaldecision): The crow eyes the worm on h7 withhungry expectancy. Which way should Black'sking go? Up or down?

g6? [ ANSWER: The wrong direction. Normallyafter a Greek gift sac the king must indeedemerge on g6, but not here. The normal flowfeels upside down, the way an astronomersleeps during the day, to study the stars atnight. Retreat yields Black a perfectlyplayable ending.QUESTION: Ending?ANSWER: Yes, that's correct. I said"ending"! Watch. If Black understood thetrue nature of the position he would sensean ill wind on g6 and instead prepare for thecoming storm with a retreat: 13...g8!

14.h5 f6! (the black king is enfolded inthe safety of his mother's arms) 15.h7+

f8 16.e4 e5 17.cxd4! and now Blackshould fight greedy urges and return thematerial to enter an equal ending after

xh2+! ( 17...xd4?? 18.h8+ e7 19.g5+ f6 20.xg7+ is curtains for Black ) 18.xh2 xh2+ 19.xh2 , when White'sextra activity makes up for his isolani. ]

14.h4! With a horrific threat to continueadvancing to h5. Dark shadows of the comingattack flicker and swirl around Black's king.

h8 [ After 14...f5 15.h5+ f6 16.xd4+ e5

17.h4! White has a decisive attack. ] [ EXERCISE (combination alert): With hisnext move, Colle ignited yet another mindbomb. What do you think he played after

14...h8 ? ]ANSWER: Incinerate e6 like piled up trash.Sometimes a stricken look can impart morethan any words have the power to describe. IfI had a time machine, I would love to go backto 1930 to be a spectator to this game andobserve Black's expression right here.15.xe6+!! f6

[ The rook is immune due to 15...fxe616.d3+ f6 17.f3+ g6 18.f7+ h619.xe6+ h7 20.xg7# . ]

16.h5+! h6 Some people never know whento resign! One senses a feeling of past-ness –that an opportunity which once existed is nowgone, never to return. Black's king angles thisway and that in an effort to disentanglehimself from the web of his own making.

[ Instead, 16...xh5 17.d3+ h618.xf7# is a brutal mate worthy of adiagram. ]

17.xd6 [ Colle toys with his opponent and plays amove which is even stronger than forkingimmediately on f7, but 17.d3!forces mate. ]

17...a5 18.xf7+ h7 The king is draggeddown by the current, like the swimmer whosefeet get entwined in seaweed.19.g5+ Back again. The powerhouse knightis a bastion of stability in an otherwisetumultuous environment.

g8 The suicidal black king jumps and fallsto his death with terrible, hallucinatoryslowness. Just one final strong move isneeded to finish the game.EXERCISE (combination alert): White to playand force mate.ANSWER: We are reminded of the wordsfrom the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Youngsong: "Mother earth will swallow you. Layyour body down."20.b3+! SUMMARY: The Colle, possiblymore than any other opening, offers WhiteBxh7+ Greek gift sac possibilities. Always beon the lookout for it – but don't assume it isan automatic win! In many cases you will havethe opportunity to sac, and should decline.Proceed with a case by case decision whenyou reach it.1-0

D05Colle,EThomas,G

Paris 1929[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.d3 c5 5.c3 bd7 6.bd2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 e59.e4 Absolutely mandatory, as it is the lonechance of extracting an advantage. Thejumbled position offers scant clues or hints asto the formation of a clear plan for either side.It is up to us to take this mess and reconstructit to suit us.

cxd4 The opposing sides grapple andinterlock in a tense, central stasis/un-stasissituation, as the elaborate system of roadsand bridges ramifies into multiple directions.QUESTION: Will this just transpose to thepositions we got last game?ANSWER: No, not always. If you go back toour previous game you will see the pawnstructure was a bit different and may wellhave led to an isolani situation. In this case,all the central pawns are destined forliquidation.QUESTION: Does this mean mass exchangesand a looming draw?ANSWER: Not at all. All the pieces remain onthe board and White still leads in development,so Black has yet to prove conclusive equalityfor some time to come.10.cxd4 dxe4 QUESTION: Can Blackmaintain the tension still further?ANSWER: He can, but I'm not so sure heequalizes if he does so:

[ a) 10...e8 11.exd5 exd4 12.xe8+ xe813.c4! c5 14.d6 b6 15.f4 and White'smore deeply entrenched d-pawn looks moredangerous than Black's, D.Garcia Ilundain-R.Vera Gonzalez, Leon 1996. ]

[ b) 10...c7 11.exd5 exd4 12.e4! xe4 ( 12...xd5 13.xd6 xd6 14.b1!regains the pawn with the bishop pair andan edge ) 13.xe4 e5 14.xd4 xd315.xd3 , when d7?! ( but even after

15...xh2+ 16.h1 e5 17.b5White continues to hold a slight pull. )allowed the familiar 16.h4 with a strongattack, J.Markos-A.Muir, ScottishChampionship, Glasgow 2008. ]

11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 exd4 13.xd4Ah, the wide open spaces of the countryside.When land is cheap and plentiful, one lacksincentive to build a skyscraper.

QUESTION: Isn't this position absolutelyequal?ANSWER: Not yet. Black must prove it bycatching up in development – which he nevermanages to do in this game.

f6 [ Perhaps a better unravelling plan for Blacklay in 13...c5 followed by ...Qb6. ]

14.g5 xd4 After enduring averted glances,awkward feelings and all-round discomfort,the queens part ways and leave the board.15.xd4 c5 16.d5 White's annoyinglycentralized pieces continue to hamper Black.

d3 17.e3! White's initiative may not yet beat full scale, so it is essential that he keepsthe pilot light burning with such probing,challenging moves. Colle (possibly a Shirovprototype) always carefully framed his plans,making absolutely certain that any rationalthoughts of safety are jealously excluded fromthe proceedings. Just like the previous game,he speculates with a pawn offer to increasehis lead in development, which actually looksquite sound. I get the strange impression thathis pieces operated under a different set ofphysical laws than mine!

f4! QUESTION: Can Black get away withtaking on b2?

[ ANSWER: It would be unwise. I don't likehis position at all after 17...xb2?! 18.c1

a4 19.b5! b4 20.e7 d2 21.xf8, when White threatens infiltration down thec- and e-files simultaneously. ]

18.b3 g6 19.b5 b8?! As it growsincreasingly likely that Black was about toindulge in an outburst, he decides upon aninburst, with an unnecessary introvertedcontraction. Questions of self-doubt pour forthfrom the darkness. The bishop's positiondegrades from yellow to red.

[ He should remain centrally located with 19...e5 20.ae1 xb2 21.e8 d722.xa8 xa8 23.d6 e6 24.xe6 fxe625.xb7 d4 , when Black should probablyhold the position, albeit with a bit ofdifficulty. ]

20.c1 h6 21.e7 xe7 [ Or 21...f4 22.xf8 xe3 23.fxe3 xf8, when 24.d5! is even better than takingon f7. White exerts enduring pressure. ]

22.xe7 The bar fight, originally thought to bea minor scuffle between patrons who had afew too many, turns serious when Black'srook approaches White's king with a brokenbottle. The seventh rank at last draws White's

rook out, like a hungry man to the dinner bell. f4 23.ce1 a6 24.c7 b8The desperately poor (i.e. Black here)normally carry their belongings, while the restof society entrusts the transport ofpossessions to wheels. Black's defences canabsorb no more punishment, the way asaturated sponge is unable to take on morewater.EXERCISE (combination alert): White has asneaky little trick. Do you see it?ANSWER: Black's startled king and rook yelpsimultaneously in bulging-eyed shock.25.xf7! xf7 26.e7 h7 27.xf7It's a painful thing to endure, when an alreadybruised area (the seventh rank) receives asecondary blow. White takes the fruit of hisgains and puts it in his back pocket.

g6?? The defeated black king closes hiseyes – not so much to avoid seeing – butmore to avoid thinking about the carnage ofhis beloved subjects. This looks like a fatigueerror, but Black was in big trouble in any case.28.xf4 SUMMARY: Central pawn liquidationdoesn't give Black a free pass to equality.1-0

D05Colle,EDuchamp,M

Paris 1929[Cyrus Lakdawala]

In case you were wondering, yes, Black isMarcel Duchamp, avid chess player andleader in the Dadaist and Surrealist schools,art's equivalent to the chess hypermodernmovement. Art and chess coincided andblossomed simultaneously in the 1920s. In aweird way, Colle faced the Nimzowitsch of theart world!Duchamp wrote about his art: "The creativeact is not performed by the artist alone; thespectator brings the work in contact with theexternal world by deciphering and interpretingits inner qualifications and thus adds hiscontribution to the creative act." This concept,of course, applies to chess too, where ourcollaborators are your opponent, as well asthe spectators – and maybe we should toss inthe tournament director as well!1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.d3 c55.c3 bd7 6.bd2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1

e5 QUESTION: Shouldn't Black's freeing ...e6-

e5 break give him easy equality?ANSWER: I don't believe equality arrives soeasily. White still holds a sliver of a trump: hisslight lead in development. To exploit it, hemust open the position.

9.e4 [ 9.dxe5 is far too wimpy to produceanything: xe5 10.xe5 xe5 11.f3

g4 12.h3 xf3 ( 12...h5? 13.g4!forces Black to sac a piece ) 13.xf3 c7

14.d2 fe8 15.ab1 ad8 and Black'sspace and development is at least equal toWhite's morose bishop pair, G.Vives-CompShredder 7, Vicente Lopez 2003. ]

9...dxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 exd4 12.cxd4 f6 As mentioned before, centralliquidation doesn't necessarily equal an easydraw.

13.g5 e7 [ QUESTION: Why a passive retreat when hecan kick with 13...h6 ?ANSWER: In this case White holds on to amicrobe of an edge after 14.dxc5 xc5

15.xd8 xd8 16.xf6 gxf6 17.ac1, D.Root-B.Bailey, Dallas 2008, sinceBlack's bishop pair doesn't compensate100% for his damaged structure. In fact,Root went on to win this game. ]

14.xf6! QUESTION: Giving away the bishoppair?ANSWER: White once again relies on his leadin development. In this case he wins a pawnby force.

xf6 15.dxc5! xb2 16.xd8 [ The trick 16.xh7+! also won a pawn. ]

16...xd8 17.ab1 Forcing the bishop todeclare in which direction his allegiance lies.Now the harasser becomes the harassed.

a3 [ A defensive option for Black runs 17...f5 18.xb7 xb7 19.xb2 xf3 20.gxf3, when he continues to struggle for thedraw. ]

[ EXERCISE (combination alert): After 17...a3 it's White to play and force the winof a pawn. ]

ANSWER: Each of Black's failed insurgencieshave the undesired effect of increasingWhite's grip on the position.

18.c6! bxc6 19.xc6 f5 20.b3 ac8 21.xa3 xc6 22.xa7 In the aftermath,Colle reels the pawn in with a fishing line.

e6 23.h3 h6 24.e2 [ 24.a4 is another option. ]

24...c3 Threat: ...Bxh3.

25.e5 d1+ 26.h2 dc1 27.a4 a1?EXERCISE (combination alert): White has atrick which pockets another pawn. How?

28.d2?! [ ANSWER: As the old saying goes: Abroken clock is still correct twice a day.Colle missed the odd-looking (and verydifficult to work out) trick 28.g6!!, threatening a rook check on a8 followed bya Nf8+ windmill which wins the bishop. Blackhas nothing better than the dismal c4

29.e8+ h7 30.f8+ h8 31.f4!(threatening f4-f5, Ng6+ and Rh8 mate) f1

32.c7! f2 33.f5! xf5 34.d7+ h7 35.ec8 and White wins a piece. ]

28...g6? Black believes that all is well and hisking is afforded ample insulation by the pawnperimeter which snugly surrounds him insecurity. However, dark, hidden threats thriveand flourish within the black king's periphery,like unspeakable evil bubbling up from thesubconscious mind of an otherwise uprightperson. White has access to a tactic whichwins more material and dwindles Black'salready short supply of pawns into the horizon.EXERCISE (combination alert): The knightorbits Black's king, agreeing to rendezvous ona certain square. Which one?ANSWER: Destroying the defender/pin.Apparently Black's f-pawn fails to serve as aneffective shock absorber, as White's knight, atrue believer, gives himself up to his cause,hoping to get to heaven as soon as possible.

29.xf7! xf7 30.d8+ g7 31.dd7Black can resign.

f6 32.xf7+ e6 33.g7 f6 34.af7+ e6 35.e7+ f6 Were you aware that thesymptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning –headache, dizziness and nausea – are exactlythe same symptoms I suffer when in a losingposition?EXERCISE (combination alert): Black, in ahopeless position, falls into a forced mate inthree. Can you solve it?ANSWER: 36.gf7+! g5 Black's king walkswith the asymmetric locomotion of a personwith a wad of gum on the sole of his shoe.

37.e5+ [ 37.e5+ h4 38.f4# completes themate.SUMMARY: This is worth repeating from lastgame: Just because Black erases all thecentral pawns doesn't grant him anautomatic draw. White's lead indevelopment, however tiny, still harasses

Black deep into the game. ]1-0

D05Kukov,VEnchev,I

Bulgarian Championship, Blagoevgrad 2009[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 c5 4.e3 d5 5.d3 bd7 6.bd2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 e59.e4 dxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 exd412.cxd4 h6 Presto. One pawn moveeliminates the h7 Greek gift sacs.QUESTION: At what cost?ANSWER: A precious tempo in an openposition, and also the fact that he nowprovides White with another sac target: h6.13.e3 Principle: Don't be the one to breakthe central tension. Goad your opponent intoit.QUESTION: I don't understand the basis forthis principle. Why is it normally inferior tobreak the pawn tension?

[ ANSWER: The one who breaks it magicallyleapfrogs the opponent's pieces to bettersquares, and at a cost of time as well. Forinstance, 13.dxc5 would be a violation ofthe principle, since Black gains a tempo andimproves his position with the simplerecapture xc5 .But keep in mind that all principles havetheir exceptions to the general rule. In thiscase, Houdini still thinks White has an edgeafter 14.b1! , which threatens Qc2. NowI'm not so certain. Let's say Black plays g4, then 15.h3 xf3 16.xf3 yields thebishop pair. ]

13...cxd4?! Success! Black is the first to blink. [ QUESTION: Can Black go for a queensidepawn majority, versus White's passed/isolated d-pawn, with 13...c4 ?ANSWER: That is exactly how I would playBlack. The resulting position looksdynamically balanced. ]

14.xd4 c5 15.c2 Intending Qd3. Thetension principle applies with pieces as wellas pawns.

xd4 16.xd4 Probably the wrongrecapture.

[ It was better to go for 16.xd4! f617.xd8! . Remember, every principle hasits exceptions! In this case White swaps,helping Black develop his rook, in order to

get to the seventh rank with his rook: xd818.b3! f8 19.ac1 and Black has yet toequalize. ]

16...f6 17.d3 b6 18.b3 As we saw inthe Colle-Thomas and Colle-Duchamp games,f7 is a soft spot in Black's camp.

g4 QUESTION: Why didn't Black pin the d4-knight?

[ ANSWER: If 18...d8 , White can easilyunpin with a deadly threat with 19.c4!, when Black is in trouble. If he grabs theknight he loses after xd4?? ( or

19...xd4?? 20.ad1! ) 20.xf7+ h721.e7 g4 22.c2+ etc. ]

19.f5 ad8 20.c2 xf5 He can't allowthat dangerous knight to hover over hiskingside.21.xf5 QUESTION: Would you assess thisposition as equal?ANSWER: It's one of those positions which isboth equal and not equal. Black is equal onpaper and by computer assessment, but notby the harsher standards of reality.Technically Black should be capable ofholding the game, but who wouldn't preferWhite here?1. Following the mutiny, we observe a changeof command. White's bishop, now in charge,outranks his counterpart knight, while glaringominously at f7.2. In fact, the weakness of f7 ties Black down,the way a strong wind pins a piece of trash tothe side of a building.QUESTION: But doesn't Black invade theseventh rank now?

fe8 [ ANSWER: Black decides to play it safe.Invading the seventh turns out to be anempty gesture after 21...d2 22.ac1, since xb2?! 23.e7 finds Black underheavy pressure. ]

22.h3 b4 Challenging White on the e-file.23.ed1 a5 24.xd8 xd8 25.c1! b6EXERCISE (planning): White has access totwo favourable plans. Find one of them.ANSWER: 26.c5! White forces a favourableending.

[ The second plan is 26.e5! (covertlylaunching a yet unseen counterattack alongmultiple vectors of the board) d2 27.c8+

h7 28.f4 d7 29.b8! and Black is indeep trouble. ]

26...xc5 27.xc5 b6 28.c7 d7 [ 28...d7 is the alternative, when Black'stied pieces spin about in insurmountable

centrifugal confusion. ] 29.c8+ h7 30.b8 d2? It is unwise toengage an opponent with a head start in arace.

[ Black's last chance was to offer White arook ending a pawn up with 30...d5! . ]

31.xb6 xb2 32.a6 e4 Black goes on adesperate counterattack on f2. White, on theother hand, hopes to achieve his goal withonly minimized meddling interference fromthe knight.EXERCISE (combination alert): What wouldyou do here?ANSWER: Ignore the knight and play onBlack's weak back rank.

33.xf7! f6 [ A dismal retreat, but if 33...xf2?? then 34.g6+! forces mate. ]

34.xa5 White is two clean pawns up andholds the superior minor piece as well.

b1+ 35.h2 b2 36.f3 g5 37.a7 g7 38.c4+ h8 39.a6 g7 40.a7+ h8 41.f7! Vigilant. He foresees that Black maytry and finagle a knight to f4 or g3 with seriouscounterplay. White's last move ensures thereis no clear pathway for Black's knight to reachthe dream squares.

h5! Going ahead with his last ditch plan. Ifyou live in a dilapidated house, a paint job –even if cosmetic – still helps.

42.a4 h4 Black spanks the obdurate pawnonward.

43.a5 Meanwhile, it becomes increasinglyclear that the a-pawn breaks into Black'speace of mind.

d2 44.a6 d7 45.c7 e5! EXERCISE:What would you play here?ANSWER: Cover Black's final dirty cheapoattempt.

46.h5! The bishop avoids daydreaming andswerves away from Black's last-ditch attemptat massive retaliation. He sees to it thatBlack's satellite on e5 ends its short-livedorbit around White's king and re-enters theatmosphere in a blazing funeral pyre.

[ If you jumped the gun with the "obvious"move 46.a7?? , then Black – not so dead aspreviously thought – pulls a surpriseappearance at his own requiem: xf3+

47.h1 (White's king experiences thatunpleasant, disorienting feeling ofawakening and not knowing where he is)

d1# . ] 46...g4 47.xg4 SUMMARY: Black probablyachieves dynamic equality in this line, but

only on condition that he finds 13...c4!.Otherwise, he gets an equality which turns outto be not quite equal!1-0

D05Lakdawala,CAkobian,V

SCCF Championship, Los Angeles 2001[Cyrus Lakdawala]

At the start of a game, there is only theblankness of an unknown future, which we,the players, project and fill in with ourimaginations (or lack thereof!). This gamewas played in the final round of the StateChampionship, with Akobian leading by a halfpoint. My only chance to tie for first was to tryand beat him. The question arises: How doesone defeat an opponent whose chess skillsare superior to yours in every respect? In fairytales the oppressed little guy always triumphs.However, in real life, Goliath generally kicksthe snot out of us Davids when we do battle. Ifelt my one and only chance was to lead himinto a position of unfamiliarity, thus strippinghim of his theory and experience.

1.d4 e6 [ QUESTION: If Black plays the move order 1...c5 then should we push past to d5, orremain within Colle grounds with 2.c3 ( or

2.e3 ?ANSWER: Of course this is up to you.Personally I would go with the latter,staying within my beloved Colleneighbourhood where everyone knows myname. )]

2.f3 No way buddy boy. I veer clear of theFrench Defence!

[ QUESTION: A philosophical question foryou: Why does White avoid playing 2.e4, entering the French, only to play a Colleand then hope to achieve the e3-e4 break?ANSWER: It's difficult to fight your iron logic.When you put it that way, you make theColle sound like the inept, mentally-challenged cousin of the pedigreed, wittyFrench! All I can tell you is that the Collehas its own particular flavour. I feelinsecure when on the white side of theFrench, and perfectly at ease in a Colle –possibly with no rational basis attached tothese feelings! ]

2...c5 3.e3

[ I was sorely tempted to play 3.e4!?entering the chaotic waters of an openSicilian – a line neither of us plays as Blackor White! ]

3...d5 4.bd2 f6 5.c3 [ I wasn't confident enough to Zuke him with 5.b3 . ]

5...bd7 6.d3 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 b6QUESTION: What are we supposed to do inthe ...b7-b6 lines where Black avoids the ...e6-e5 liquidating variations?ANSWER: Same as always: Respond with e3-e4!.

9.e4 dxe4 [ GMs don't generally fall for our favouriteColle trap 9...cxd4?? 10.e5! . ]

10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 b8 12.c2At this point it dawned on me that I, not myopponent, was the one who had been dupedin the opening.QUESTION: How so?ANSWER: The position looks very close to aRubinstein French – an opening my opponentplays as Black and I don't very often as White!QUESTION: What is a Rubinstein French?ANSWER: It goes like this: 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3Nc3 (or 3 Nd2) 3...dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nbd7. Blackfollows with ...Ngf6 and plays for ...c7-c5,often reaching positions quite similar to theone we in the game.QUESTION: I don't see the big problem. Youstill have space and some attacking chances,despite Black's fortress-like solidity.ANSWER: I answer your question with aquestion: What happens when one of theworld's worst attackers (me!) meets one ofthe world's best defenders (him!)? But youare right. I was still familiar enough with suchpositions, since they are reached in the Colleas well.QUESTION: What is the idea behind your lastmove?ANSWER: It is in preparation for a queen/bishop battery, aimed at h7.

[ The move looks more logical than 12.g5 c7 13.e2 b7 14.ad1 xe4 15.xe4 h6 , when Black managed to sneak in ahealing exchange, P.Saint Amand-R.Sauve,Quebec 2003. ]

[ QUESTION: Does the Greek gift sac workin this instance?ANSWER: It fails miserably after

12.xh7+?? xh7 13.g5+ g8 14.d3 f6 (generally the sac will not succeed ifBlack has a path to cover the sensitive h7-

square) 15.e3 cxd4 16.cxd4 e5!– Principle: Meet a wing attack with avigorous central counter. White's attack isno more, but he is still burdened by debt,having given away a full piece for diddlysquat! ]

12...b7 [ Apparently this most natural of moves is atheoretical novelty, though it's possiblyinferior to 12...c4 which cuts off Qd3 ideas,F.Cavatorta-D.Carletti, Cento 2011. ]

13.d3 Oh please...oh please! Whenever acheapo arises – no matter how utterly vulgar– there always arises the sweet nectar ofhope!

g6 He sees the mate in one threat. 14.h6 e8 15.ad1?!

[ White's best chance to attain somethingwas by opening the game with 15.dxc5! . ]

15...f8?! Thank goodness. [ Akobian rejected the simplifying sequence 15...xf3! 16.xf3 h4 (double attack) 17.h3 ( or 17.h3!? xh3 18.gxh3 c4when White's bishops compensate for hisstructural troubles – Houdini assesses theposition as equal ) 17...xh6 18.c6when White regains the piece with adrawish position. ]

16.f4 Advantage White. I also consideredexchanging bishops to further weaken hisdark squares. After its initial conception, theattack/initiative, at first just a dream, beginsto take shape, breathe and take on a life of itsown as momentum gathers.

c8 17.dxc5 Principle: Open the game whenleading in development.

xc5 18.e3 e7 19.d6 f6 20.e5 e7 21.d6 Dance! f6 QUESTION: Are you playing for a draw?ANSWER: Nyet! Your writer tightly embraceshis newly discovered bravery and continuesplaying for the win. In situations like this, itis psychologically beneficial to coerce theopponent into such undignified prancings, likea puppet on a string, and then at the lastmoment refuse to take the repetition.

22.e5 No draw! xd6 23.xd6 e4? With this move, madewith the hope of eradicating all furtherdissonance, he puts his fate to the test. Oh,no! I totally overlooked this shot, but luckedout: It doesn't work! Mutual looks of malicefrom bishop to bishop tell the entire story,without the banality of exchanging verbalthreats. Black would be better served filing

away this idea under the heading DubiousPlans! My opponent initiates a mistakeninterference/simplification combination whichbackfires.24.g4! Zwischenzug!

[ 24.xe4? xe5 is completely equal. ] 24...e7 Just before hitting the iceberg, thefirst-class passengers aboard the Titanicdanced their final minutes away. The door onWhite's seemingly impoverished attack closesfast, but isn't quite locked yet.

[ 24...h4?? loses instantly to 25.f4 . ] [ EXERCISE (combination alert): After 24...e7 your shamelessly immodest writerhad the unprecedented gall to generouslyaward himself two exclamation marks for his25th move. Take your time. This one isreally difficult to see. ]

ANSWER: Out of the blue, the b-pawn,untroubled by rational thought, strikes with anunalloyed desire for reprisal for past offences.The grandmother of all zwischenzugs leavesBlack hanging on for dear life, as if enduring acheaply constructed rollercoaster ride at theState fair.25.b4!! The heretic warlord orders thechurches razed, the scriptures burned andthe robed ordained put to the sword. Blackexperiences loss of control over the far-flungfrontiers of his undermanned empire, as theenemy marches its way to the capital. Theberserker b-pawn informs Black, with regret,that the mistaken 23...Be4? was fuelled byoptimism, conjecture and prayer. Now clearcommunication between Black's forces growstenuous and, with time, soon dissolves intoan every-piece-for-himself-(and herself)-situation.

xd6 Black's not-so-hot options: [ a) 25...xc2 26.d4 e5 27.xe5 e628.exe6! xe6 ( not 28...fxe6?? 29.h6+

f8 30.h8# ) 29.xe6 xe6 30.h4 h531.h6+ h7 32.xf7 and Black's king istoo exposed to survive. ]

[ b) 25...h5 26.bxc5 xc2 27.d7! wins. ] [ c) 25...b7 26.d7! gets the job done aswell. ]

26.f6+ f8 No choice. [ 26...g7 27.xe8+ xe8 28.bxc5leaves White up a piece, since the bishopon e4 hangs. ]

27.bxc5 d8 28.h6+ e7 29.xe4White extracted two pieces for the rook, plusa powerful attack. Black's forces gather toobserve a moment of silence in memorial for

the fallen knight and bishop. Now theydisband and get on with the distasteful task ofpropping up their needy king in his moment ofurgency.

d5! Black's best try. [ 29...bxc5? is met by 30.a4 h8 31.d1 b6 32.d7+ e8 33.f6# . ]

30.b3 e5 31.f4 The alien points hisweapon at the queen and demands: "Take meto your leader – and be quick about it, mygood woman!"

f5 32.h4+ f8 The lummox of a blackking, caught in the centre, is slow to react tothe taunting.33.xh7

[ 33.d6?? xc5+ would be a really stupidway of blowing the game. ]

33...ed8 [ Or 33...xf4 34.f1 e3+ 35.h1 c736.d6 ee7 37.h8# . ]

34.cxb6 axb6 35.g5 Loading up on e6.This knight is the Glock 19 pointed at theblack king's head.

f6 Black's queen wisely reinforces e6 withtrusses to prevent the square from bucklingunder the weight of White's pressure, but it istoo late. If a hopelessly incompetent un-Tallike me can find White's next sac then so canyou! Once senses the pouring forth of animminent explosion, as when a child sits on awater balloon.EXERCISE (combination alert): e6 is thecoming detonation's location. But with whichpiece?ANSWER: The feverish black king's coretemperature continues to rise, until it entersthe fatal range.36.xe6! White's rook overcomes hisinhibitions to initiate overtures to the blackking with smiles and guile.

d1+ I missed this clever interference, butluckily for me it fails to save Black.

[ Instead, 36...fxe6 37.xe6+ e838.a4+! mates in three moves. ]

37.xd1 fxe6 EXERCISE (combination alert):Black's king looks out of sorts and out of place,like a solo hapless, tormented male at a bridalshower. Just one more strong move isrequired to put Black over the edge.ANSWER: 38.d7! Triple attack/fork – c8, e6and h7 all targeted, and Black can only defendone of them. White's queen and knight visitcarnage upon everything they touch.SUMMARY: Be prepared to enter Rubinstein

French-like positions from the Colle.1-0

D05Lakdawala,CMaki,J

Commerce (rapid) 1998[Cyrus Lakdawala]

My opponent, Senior Master Jim Maki, wasmy team-mate when he, my brother Jimmyand I, and 1200-rated (!) Dan Nielson won the1988 U.S. Amateur Team Championship withour team name Laki, Laki, Maki and Haki.

1.d4 f6 [ Compare Black's set-up in the game withthis one: 1...d5 2.f3 f6 3.c4 c6 4.e3

e6 5.bd2 bd7 6.d3 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4 dxe4 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 f6 11.c2 b6 .QUESTION: Why are you showing us thisgame? It's not a Colle.ANSWER: This line of the Semi-Slav is whatI was going for in my game against Maki, buta move up, since we Colle folk get the whitepieces!Play continued 12.e2 b7 13.f4 c5

14.ad1 cxd4 15.xd4 c8 16.b3 d8 17.b5 (it looks like Black is in grave danger,but everything is in order) c6 18.f3 a6

19.d4 c5 20.e3 c7 (Black equalized) 21.f2 d7 22.e2 xe3 23.xe3 ad8 24.xd7 xd7 25.d1 xd1+ 26.xd1 f8 27.c2 h6 28.d4 d7 29.b4 f6 30.b3 e7 31.g4 g5 32.d4 ( 32.h5is met with d6! ) 32...d6 33.xd6+

xd6 34.f2 f5 35.d4 e5 36.c5+ bxc5 37.bxc5+ xc5 38.xe6+ d6 39.d4 c8 40.e2 f4 (Principle: Placeyour pawns on the opposite colour of yourremaining bishop) 41.d2 c5 42.c3 a5

43.e6 b7 44.f5 d5 45.a3 c6 46.e2 a7 47.d3 c6 48.c2 e5 49.d4 g4 50.d1 gxf3 51.gxf3 h5 52.h4 g6 53.f5 ("After you.") e5("No. Please. I insist. After you." –Apparently, neither side is willing to commitforces to cross the threshold) 54.d4 g6½-½ G.Kasparov-C.Lakdawala, Internet(blitz) 1996. Admittedly not very exciting, butif you are playing the world champion,believe me, you don't want excitement!Moral: The Colle set-up is so stable that aweaker player may be able to hold an

infinitely stronger one at bay. Thestructure's inherent solidity and absolutesoundness mysteriously possesses thenature of protecting weaker players fromtheir own deficit of chess ability! ]

2.f3 e6 3.bd2 [ Or 3.e3 d5 4.d3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.bd2 bd7 7.e2 c5 8.c3 c7 (this preventsWhite's Ne5 followed by f2-f4 Stonewall set-up).Now White has a choice of two plans:Plan 1: Play the way I did in my gameagainst Maki.Plan 2: Play for e3-e4.QUESTION: What is the problem withplaying for e3-e4 here?ANSWER: The trouble is that, when Whitedoes play e3-e4 and Black responds with ...d5xe4, White ends up in a RubinsteinFrench a full tempo down, since he took twomoves on e2-e3-e4, while Black's bishopsits on the superior e7-square:

A) An example of Plan 1: 9.b3(the superior path for White, in my opinion)

b6 10.b2 b7 11.ac1 ac8 12.c4(now Black's queen sits uncomfortably onc7 and must lose time, which in turnmakes up for White's loss of time with c2-c3-c4 – the position basically transposesto ones we look at in Chapter Four, TheZukertort Colle) b8 13.e5 xe5!?

( Black decides to break the tension,perhaps fearing f2-f4 next; he had theoption of going for 13...cxd4 14.exd4

dxc4 15.dxc4 with a dangerous-lookingisolani position for White, since all thepieces remain on the board ) 14.dxe5 d7

15.cxd5 xd5 16.f4 g6 , O.Kriz-B.Djubek,Slovakian Team Championship 1999.White has the advantage with clearkingside attacking chances, whereasBlack's queenside majority will be verydifficult to activate, since he can't play ...a7-a6 and ...b6-b5.;

B) An example of Plan 2: 9.e4 dxe4 10.xe4 b6 11.eg5!? ( White can alsoplay in c3-Sicilian style with 11.xf6+

xf6 12.dxc5 xc5 , though it's stillapproximately even ) 11...b7 ( 11...h6??loses on the spot to 12.xe6 fxe6

13.xe6+ f7 14.c4 ) 12.e5 h6(Black ejects the knight at the cost ofcreating a weakness around his king)

13.gf3 fe8 14.e1 d6 15.d2 ad8and Black equalized in what may soon turn

into another isolani position, S.Simonenko-H.Al Tamimi, Abu Dhabi 2005.;

C) 9.-- ] 3...c5 4.e3 b6 QUESTION: Shouldn't thisgame go in the Colle versus Queen's Indianchapter?ANSWER: It could go there, but since Blacklater played ...d7-d5, I kept it in this one.

[ Another move order with a quick ...Nd7/...Qc7 (which messes up our Stonewall ideas)is 4...d5 5.c3 bd7 6.d3 c7 7.0-0

e7! . In that case we can go for my planagainst Maki, or play for e3-e4, as shown inthe previous note. ]

5.d3 b7 [ QUESTION: Should we swap if they play 5...a6 ?ANSWER: In this position I usually answer itby 6.c4 and head for a Zukertort set-up withBlack's bishop slightly misplaced on a6,which compensates for the fact that Whiteexpended two moves on c2-c3-c4. ]

6.0-0 e7 7.c3 d5 8.e2 QUESTION: Whydeviate from the normal Re1 and e3-e4 plan?ANSWER: This is an option. White intends b2-b3 with a Semi-Slav line I play as Black, but amove up. Now the inclusion of c2-c3 is awaste of time, so Black already achievedequality.QUESTION: Why play it then?ANSWER: I am willing to give up a "+=" edge,and be satisfied with "=", to lead my tacticalopponent into the sedate strategic waters ofColle. This game was played in the US G/60championship in 1998, which I won with thehelp of the glorious Colle. I had a good startin the tournament and was one of the leaders,so I decided to enter a no-loss mode with thisline of the Colle/Semi-Slav.

[ QUESTION: What is wrong with theStonewall plan 8.e5 ?ANSWER: I hesitate to play it since Blackhas such firm control over the e4-square.For example: 0-0 9.f4 e4 10.f3(somehow, White's attempted attack justfeels klutzy and out of sorts here) f6 11.g4

d7 12.h3 f5 13.e5 xe5 14.dxe5 e8 and White had nothing, S.Simonenko-Nguyen Anh Dung, Asian TeamChampionship, Esfahan 2005. In fact, ifgiven the choice, I would take Black, sincethe white rook on h3 has the appearance ofa lost sightseer. ]

8...bd7 9.b3 We reach the intendedreversed Semi-Slav set-up.

0-0 10.b2 e4 Logical: White's overtlypassive play emboldens Black a bit, so hejumps forward with his knight hoping to wrestthe initiative.

[ QUESTION: How would you recapture ifBlack exchanged on d4 with 10...cxd4 ?ANSWER: I would play 11.exd4 . There isnothing special here. I would eventually gofor a hanging pawns set-up, timing c3-c4 atthe appropriate moment. ]

11.ac1 [ Black can play for a Stonewall set-uphimself with 11.fd1 f5 12.c4 a6 13.f1

e8 14.e5 , E.Eliskases-L.Engels,German Championship, Bad Oeynhausen1938. ]

11...e8 12.fd1 f6 Black plays it safe andtemporizes.

13.c4 A good time for c3-c4. The black queenlooks uncomfortable on the d-file.

b8!? My gamble that my opponent wouldnot be familiar with such structures pays off:he makes an artificial move. He should slidehis queen over to e7 instead.

14.b1 Keeping him guessing. [ I could also give him the future hangingpawns position with 14.cxd5 exd5 15.b5

e7 . ] 14...d6?! Black's desire to complicate getsthe better of him.

[ He should probably go for 14...xd2 15.xd2 dxc4 . ]

15.e5 f8? I'm not sure if this is a plan oran ornamental flourish. Black, still in don't-know-what-to-do mode, shuffles withoutapparent aim and soon ends up in trouble.

16.g4! [ Stronger than 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.cxd5 exd5and the c5-pawn is still safe, since it isnow White's e5-knight which is loose. ]

16...e7 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.e5 QUESTION:Can't you just win a pawn by exchanging ond5?

[ ANSWER: Apparently I can! I thought I wasavoiding a trap, but the comps tell me Ishould have walked straight into it with

18.cxd5 exd5 19.xc5! . I avoided thisbecause I thought he had c4, but evidently this isn't counterplay – only afacsimile, a fiction which White is easilycapable of riding out. The confederacy ofcomps testify that White has a decisiveattack after 20.xc4 xc5 21.xg7!!(miraculously – don't ask me how – White'sinvaders continue to thrive and prosper in

what looks to be a harsh, unforgivingenvironment, the way an opportunistic weedpokes through a crack in the sidewalk) xg722.b2+ d4 23.xd4! . This is too tough acalculation for a G/60, and I don't trust myattacking intuition to enter such chaoswithout math back-up! ]

18...f6 19.d3 The linchpin is c5, the centreof gravity to the fulfilment of White's plan.Black is forced into structural concessions.

dxc4 20.xc4 Black's awkward position onlygrows more so, as it unfolds gracelessly likediscount lawn furniture. The open c-filebecomes a frayed nerve ending, with no otherpurpose than to inflict pain to the c5-pawn.

[ The comps keep ruining it – apparently20.xc5! is an improvement. ]

20...xc4 21.xc4 a6 22.cc1 b623.g4 e5 24.c3! Merely the rough draft toa more finished product. White clears b2 forthe knight, its optimal post.

[ 24.a3! was also strong. ] 24...ac8

[ Perhaps he should consider 24...c425.bxc4 a3 with some counterplay for thepawn. ]

25.b2 The knight's aimless perambulationsturn out to be not so random at all. Now Blackchafes at the b2-knight's usurpation of c4,which in turn produces a blunder.

e6?? I really wish my dogs, Al, Kahless andNikki, were infused with more community spirit,but I'm saddened to report to you that theylive more the life of pampered tourists on theFrench Riviera, who rudely regard your writeras their cook, waiter, maid, valet and trashcollector. Black's queen shares the samesense of entitlement normally associated withmy dogs. My opponent, distracted by hisweakened queenside, suffers a lapse andblunders by painting a bull's eye on his own t-shirt.EXERCISE (combination alert): Black's queenclutches tightly to her destiny, as if to a purse.How does White exploit it?ANSWER: Skewer. The Viking plunders withthe sweet thought that all the world isessentially his to seize. White finally revealshis not-so-profound (in fact, kind of obvious!)concept, as an artist unveils a ratherunoriginal portrait.26.f5 "Are you okay?" the bishop asks inthinly veiled mock concern to Black's queen,and to the unfortunate rook behind her on c8as well.

c6 27.xc8 xc8 28.a4 Principle: Swapwhen ahead in material. The concerned blackpieces confer in the grim, hushed undertonesof family members on vigil over a dyingmatriarch.

xa4 29.xa4 e6 30.b2 c8 31.a3Targeting c5.

d7 32.d2 f7 33.dc2 f5 34.c3 b6 The farmer failed to sow in springtimeand views his empty field with despair nowthat autumn has arrived.35.xc5 The simplest. White returns theexchange to simplify down to an easy twopawns up ending.

d5 36.c4 d3 37.xa7 xc4 38.xc4 xc4 39.bxc4 b4 40.c3 e6 41.f1 f542.f3 g6 43.e2 QUESTION: Is this yetanother game where you won without makinga single good move?ANSWER: You don't have to be brilliant towin chess games. Just produce fewer errorsthan your opponent and the cumulative effectis victory.SUMMARY: Don't expect an advantage if youchoose to enter this (admittedly) passive lineof the Colle. However, if you happen to playthe Slav or Semi-Slav as Black, then you maywant to use it as a surprise weapon, to lurean opponent on to unfamiliar ground.1-0

Chapter Three

Colle Versus Queen's Indian

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 b6 3 e3 Bb7 4 Bd3 c5 5 0-0 e6 6 Nbd2

The solid Queen's Indian formation is the kid in class who always scores reasonably solid grades but doesn't really stand out. Yet we face this quite often against the Colle, so we should be thoroughly familiar with the arising positions.Unlike the first two chapters, in this one White's pawn structure varies considerably. If Black continues to develop and leaves his structure unchanged (from the diagram), then we proceed with our normal Colle plan: c2-c3 and e3-e4. The arising positions often have the feel of a Closed Ruy Lopez or a King's Indian, and often the networks and passageways of our attacking lines flow with effortless co-ordination. Black can also trade immediately on d4, as in Hoi-Gulko. In that case we slowly build for a kingside attack, in a position which feels a bit like a Queen's Gambit Declined Exchange line, except Black holds back his d-pawn to d6 rather than d5. In the final game of the chapter (Yusupov-Rozentalis) we cover lines where White plays his c-pawn to the fourth, not the third - normally blasphemy to the Colle player, yet not such a bad idea here - in which case the positions look and feel a bit like a classical queen's pawn game.Colle-CapablancaGuimard-FoguelmanLakdawala-KhachianLakdawala-LongrenHoi-GulkoYusupov-Rozentalis

Index

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 b6 3 e3 Bb7 4 Bd3 c5 5 0-05 c3 e6 6 Nbd2

6...d6 – Lakdawala-Khachian6...d5 – Lakdawala-Longren

5...e6 6 Nbd26 c4 – Yusupov-Rozentalis

6...Nc66...cxd4 7 exd4 Be7 – Hoi-Gulko

7 c3 Be7 8 e4 cxd49 Nxd4 – Colle-Capablanca9 cxd4 – Guimard-Foguelman

A47Colle,ECapablanca,J

Karlsbad 1929[Cyrus Lakdawala]

When I was ten-years-old I wrote anunspeakable, vile, hideously bad series ofshort stories and poems (most beginning with"Roses are red, violets are blue") – bad evenfor a ten-year-old! – which to this day makesme cringe and blush with shame, the colourof borscht, when painfully thinking back uponit. Well, this game is Colle's equivalent of myearly writing efforts! Both he and his systemget casually brushed aside in embarrassingstyle by Capablanca.No matter how formidable a player is, itseems there is always someone greater.Edgar Colle occasionally got outmatched andfaced opponents who were just toochallenging, even for him playing his ownsystem. In this game Capa, as he did withmost of his opponents, effortlessly madeColle look like an incompetent, buffoonishamateur, when in reality the Belgian GM andfounder of our system was anything but anamateur.I thought about putting this game in my bookon Capablanca but lacked the space. It'sactually an instructive schematic chart of hownot to handle the white side of Colle versusQueen's Indian.1.d4 f6 2.f3 b6 3.e3 b7 4.bd2 e65.d3 The main starting position of Colleversus Queen's Indian. As you will see in thischapter, both sides can enter via other moveorders as well.QUESTION: I realize White will be playing fore3-e4 at the right moment, but where willBlack put his pawns?ANSWER: For now, this question remains amystery. Black's structure is quite flexible. Healmost always plays ...c7-c5, but we don'tknow if he will swap on d4 or not, and wedon't know where his d-pawn ends up: d7, d6or d5. Be on high alert. It is very easy for us toget tricked into a tempo down version ofChapters One and Two by misplacing ourpieces or wasting a move, if and when Blackplays a timely ...d7-d5.

c5 6.0-0 c6 QUESTION: Is there somesignificance to Black's move order? I wouldthink developing his bishop to e7 is morenatural.

ANSWER: We must be very careful of ...Nb4tricks once Black's knight gets to c6.7.c3 Next chapter we examine the Zukertortlines, which continue to grow in popularity –although I'm not sure if "popularity" is thecorrect choice of words when talking aboutany line of the Colle!

[ 7.a3 intending c2-c4 (no matter what Blackplays next) is another idea. It can also leadto the Zukertort lines, ]

[ as does 7.b3 . ] 7...e7 8.e4!

[ QUESTION: Isn't there a need for thepreparatory 8.a3 , in order to play for e3-e4next without fear of ...Nb4?ANSWER: This most natural move may beinaccurate if Black keeps a flexible mind. Hecan easily equalize with d5! . EssentiallyWhite has been tricked into Chapter One,except he has half-wasted a tempo on theunnecessary a2-a3. ]

[ Alternatively, 8.e2 0-0 9.b3!? c710.b2 d5 11.ac1 , G.A.Thomas-R.Crepeaux, Gent 1926, looks very much likemy game against Maki from Chapter Two.But don't expect an edge here. Essentially,White is playing a Zukertort formation withthe non-essential c2-c3, which mayrepresent a waste of time when Whiteeventually plays c3-c4. ]

8...cxd4 9.xd4?! Now Colle just ends up ina passive, milquetoast Open Sicilian position.QUESTION: Why did he avoid the naturalrecapture with his c-pawn.

[ ANSWER: Your suggestion is the correctresponse. Colle was undoubtedly afraid toenter 9.cxd4! b4 10.b1 a6 11.e1

d3 12.xd3 xd3 and assessed theposition as favouring Black. However,matters are not so simple. In the next gamewe look at the very sharp 13.d5!, after which Black is forced to play verycarefully to maintain equality. ]

9...0-0 10.e2 e5! QUESTION: What isthe point of Black's last move? I understandthat he gains a tempo on White's bishop, buthe will lose it right back in a couple of moveswhen White strikes back with f2-f4.ANSWER: Capa was at least two generationsahead of his rivals in his strategicunderstanding. The other day I was at thebookstore (I like to feel real books and loathee-books – I am a relic from a long dead era,who hates all things techno and electronic,even while burning through novels at the pace

of 500 pages a week on my Kindle!),thumbing through John Emms' book on theTaimanov Sicilian. In a very similar position, Iremember a diagram where Black played asimilar ...Ne5 which was given an exclam. Asyou will see in the coming moves, Capa'smove is a prelude to a deep, light squarestrategy. Just watch.

11.c2 c8! 12.f4 [ Capa routinely out-understood and out-hypermoderned all the elite hypermoderns,such as Nimzowitsch and Réti. PerhapsColle should have anticipated Capa'sstrategy (impossible for 1929!) and played

12.a4! to block with Nb5 next. ] 12...a6! 13.d1 c6

[ It would be silly to willingly enter 13...xf1? 14.fxe5 a6 15.exf6 xf6 16.2f3, when White stands clearly better. ]

14.f3 Colle was one of the most ferociousattackers of his day, but here Capa envisionedthe future with a far deeper comprehensionlevel. White's attack isn't as strong as it looks,yet his weaknesses remain very real.

[ Here, or in the next few moves, Colleshould have tossed in 14.xc6! to avoid theoverextended structure he got in the game. ]

14...g6 He should capture on d4 immediately,since this gives White another (final) chancefor 15 Nxc6.

15.2b3 xd4 16.xd4 [ Black stands better after 16.cxd4 c6! . ]

16...b7 17.e2 c5! 18.h3?! The attacklooks misguided.

[ It would be better to consolidate with 18.d3 , followed by Bd2. ]

18...c6! Nobody can even blink or coughwithout Orwellian Big Sister queen knowingabout it. Her goal: to induce e4-e5, whichpermanently weakens White's light squares.

19.e5 Wow. That was quick! [ Maybe he should offer a pawn for the darksquares with 19.e3! xd4 20.xd4 xe4. Of course, no player in their right mindwould willingly enter an ending a pawndown against Capa, but perhaps here

21.xe4! ( I don't believe White gets fullcompensation after 21.h6 f5 22.xe4

xe4 23.f2 , despite his impressive darksquares, mainly because Black rules theopposite colour ) 21...xe4 22.xe4 xe4

23.f6! may be hard for Black to win, due tothe opposite-coloured bishops and thatentrenched annoyance on f6. Still, had thisvariation occurred, I would bet the farm that

Capa would have converted and walked offwith the full point. ]

19...d5 20.f2 QUESTION: Isn't White'sattack growing out of control?ANSWER: The unbeliever prays only forreligion-free Sundays. Not according to Capa!

[ 20.e3 xd4! 21.cxd4 is similar. ] 20...xd4! QUESTION: Didn't Capablancajust hand over the bishop pair and all his darksquares?ANSWER: And he displayed stunningunderstanding for a game played in 1929 ashe did so. Advantage Black, who hasachieved Nimzowitsch's dream light squareblockade. White's kingside attack goesnowhere since he is tied down to the defenceof g2. Meanwhile Black's counterattack downthe c-file gathers momentum.

21.cxd4 ac8 EXERCISE (planning): Bothsides furiously attack on their respective wings.Would you go for 22 Qh4 here?

22.d1! [ ANSWER: Colle avoided Capa's deep trap: 22.h4? loses to the shocking f6!(clearance) 23.f2 g4 24.e2 xc2

25.xg4 h5!! 26.xh5 e4! (threateningmate in one, as well as ...Rc2) 27.g3 e2!

28.g5 d1+ 29.f2 c2+ mates in twomoves. ]

22...f6! QUESTION: I read that it is generallydeemed ineffective to challenge a pawn chainat its head. Is this correct?ANSWER: Normally true, but this is anexception and the move is necessary. It isalso dual purpose. First, Black prepares ...Rf7to cover the h7-square. Next, he remindsWhite that the f-file may open shortly toBlack's advantage.

23.h4?! The relief of finally entering mydoctor's office doesn't make up for the miseryof the 44 wasted minutes he drained from myvery finite life by keeping me trapped in thebardo netherworld of his waiting roombeforehand. White hastily organizes a posseand sets forth to hunt down Black's mockingking to bring him to justice.I forgot to mention Colle's violent allergicreaction to any form or shape of defence orretreat, even when necessary. Still, one mustconcede there is an artless charm to how hekeeps trying, despite the flashing signs offailure all around him. White's queen finallyenters the fiction of attack with a half-heartedvolley. Capa's king is afforded ampleinsulation by the pawn perimeter which snugly

surrounds him. [ 23.f3 is the more rational choice but myimpression is it wouldn't have saved him inthe long run. ]

[ QUESTION: Why not challenge the longdiagonal with 23.f3 ?ANSWER: A trap! Black wins after xc1+!. ]

23...f7 24.f3 EXERCISE (combinationalert): Black to play and win a pawn – anddemolish all semblance of a White attack.How did Capa do it?ANSWER: A little reminder to White that hewho attacks should first put his own house inorder.

c4! White's d4-pawn is the worm on thehook, tossed into a lake which hasn't beenfished in quarter of a century, where the fishfight each other to grab at the bait. As alwayswith Capa's games, it looks too easy, as if wewould all have played the same moves! I havea feeling he took his staggering natural abilityfor granted. If a person of privilege is born ina sumptuous estate and lives there his entirelife, is he capable of seeing its beauty whenhe has nothing to compare it with?25.e3 xe3! The knight ingenuouslyperforms the rigours of formality to parlay withhis counterpart on e3.26.xb7 Double attack?

f5 No, zwischenzug – complete collapse.White's resistance evaporates into a lifelesshulk, an empty vessel.27.e1!? The queen retreats in disgrace,wearing a grotesque mask, a caricature of herformer self. Colle decides to toss a secondpawn to keep queens on the board.QUESTION: Isn't his last move a blunder,making a bad situation even worse?

[ ANSWER: This may sound strange, but insome instances the correct decision is at thesame time a mistaken one. When nothingworks, your best shot of survival is toembrace the irrational. He would have nochance to survive in the marginally lesshopeless line 27.f2? c1+! 28.e1

xe1+ 29.xe1 c7 30.a6 xd4. In reality, all the Laskers and Alekhines ofthe world – in fact, nobody in the world of1929 – would have a prayer of holdingWhite's position versus Capa. ]

27...c7 28.e4 xd4+ 29.h1 fxe530.xf5 exf5!

[ Trademark Capaplicity. He keeps it simple,avoiding complications arising from 30...xf5

31.h4 , when White threatens both h7 anda nasty check on d8. ]

31.fxe5 e7 32.e3 xb2 Another one falls.33.e6 dxe6 34.xe6 f7! The old kingdances a merry jig, buoyant withunadulterated joy at the prospect ofparticipating in the proceedings.A work of art – in any field of endeavour –goes beyond merely external beauty. It shouldalso utter a statement which speaks to theobserver (please return to Colle-Duchamp formore on this discussion!). This game speaksto me.SUMMARY: Against the Queen's Indianformation, it is important that you recaptureon d4 with your c-pawn if possible. If yourecapture with a knight, as in this game,White tends to drift into a sorry-looking OpenSicilian.0-1

A47Guimard,CFoguelman,A

Buenos Aires 1960[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.d3 b75.bd2 c5 6.0-0 e7 7.c3 c6 8.e4 cxd49.cxd4! The correct recapture. White remainsundaunted by Black's coming raid on thequeenside light squares.

b4 10.b1 a6 11.e1 d3 The knight,having found its holy grail on d3, soondiscovers the square is not quite as holy ashe once imagined.12.xd3 xd3 QUESTION: It looks to melike White botched the opening. Black hasbishop pair and if White plays e4-e5, thissimply gives Black the d5-square for his knight,similar to what we saw in the previous game.Also, Black should be able to castle safelynow there is no more light-squared bishop ond3, staring at h7. A correct assessment?ANSWER: Sometimes a beautiful thing canstill carry a taint. They say Berchtesgaden, inthe German/Bavarian Alps, is a breathtakinglypicturesque place. However, Hitler loved tovacation there, which is a bummer of a sellingpoint if you happen to be a hotel owner tryingto drum up business in the off-season! Everypoint you mentioned is true. But you left outall of White's pluses! White leads indevelopment and, with his powerful next move,

causes disarray in Black's camp. The positionmay turn out to be equal by computerassessment, but in reality it is not so easy toplay Black's side over the board.13.d5! This is the move which gives Black aheadache. I remember studying this move witha friend, having seen it as a suggestion insome chess magazine back in the early 1990s.Black must play exceedingly carefully toequalize – in fact, I'm not so sure he can. Ifyou don't believe me: Black scores a dismal30% from this position.

c5? In this, the original game of thevariation, Black responds with one of themyriad inaccurate responses available to him.We often experience the blurred boundaryand vast divide between the glory of ourimagination of speculated futures and ourdespairing flubs of the actual execution of ourplans. Such is the case here.QUESTION: I don't understand what all thefuss is about. Why not just castle here?

[ ANSWER: A trap! Castling drops a piece tothe surprising 13...0-0?? 14.d6! 1-0 D.Hart-C.Wagner, San Diego 1992. My buddyNational Master Dave Hart and I had beenlooking at this position that same afternoonthis game was played! Here he pulls theambush and takes down a Senior Masterwith the trap.QUESTION: Okay I see the idea, but thenwhy not just eliminate the problem byeliminating its source on d5? ]

[ ANSWER: This line also puts Black underheavy pressure after 13...exd5 14.exd5

xd5 ( 14...0-0? 15.b3! wins materialsince it threatens both d2-bishop and alsod5-d6! ) 15.f1! (Black finds himselfdreadfully behind in development) b4 ( or

15...xf1 16.xd5 a6 17.xe7+! xe718.g5+ f6 19.f4! when my Houdini wentmad, announcing a forced mate in 696moves! – I swear, I'm not joking! – then,after further reflection, slightly altered theassessment to a forced mate in 14 moves! )16.a3! xf1 ( or 16...c2 17.xd3 xe118.xe1 0-0 and Black is unlikely to savehimself ) 17.axb4 b5?? .EXERCISE (combination alert): Black'sbishop should have gone to c4 last move.White to play and win a piece.ANSWER: Double attack: 18.d4!, White threatens both the bishop and Nf5, F.Gomez Fontal-R.Vazquez Igarza, Las Tunas2001. ]

[ Possibly 13...c8! is Black's single hope ofretaining equality. For example: 14.d4

( the immediate 14.d6 is also possible ) 14...0-0 15.b3 a6 16.2f3 e8 17.d6! d8 18.g5 b7 19.a3 c8, W.Arencibia Rodriguez-L.Psakhis,Manresa 1996. The players agreed to adraw here, though I still prefer White. ]

14.b4! Simple as that. Black is busted.Guimard weaves his way through the trickyvariables and alights upon the correct plan.

xb4 [ There is no real choice, since 14...f8is just too ugly to contemplate. ]

15.b3! Double attack, which in turn forcesBlack's next move. The lost black bishopsinadvertently wander into a badneighbourhood. They watch in horror as thesubmerged destitute and marginalized of thecity emerge and encircle them.

xd2 16.xd2 a6 17.a3! ParalyzingBlack along the dark squares. White's piecesencircle the black king like a too tightengagement ring around the finger of awoman he doesn't love.

h5 EXERCISE (planning): We all know Whiteis winning in the abstract. Now come up witha concrete plan to prove it.ANSWER: Clearance. White's knight arriveson e4 with crushing finality.18.e5! xd5 19.e4 The lioness nuzzlesher cub, encouraging her forward. It seemspersonal tragedy has a way of forcingintrospection down the throats of our normallyunexamined lives. Black's game is in ruins andno one would fault him if he resigned here.

h4 20.a4! Double attack/discoveredattack. White threatens the a6-bishop andalso Nd6+, winning Black's queen. I realizethat I complain an awful lot about my dogs,but Black's situation reminds me of thedepressing times when I look out of thewindow into my backyard and witness one ofmy dogs nonchalantly trotting over to mybeloved fig tree, as he lifts his leg in viledesecration.

[ There is nothing wrong with the pedestrian20.d6+ either. ]

20...g4 21.xa6 f4 22.d6+ f823.b7 Oh no you don't, my friend! With niceeconomy of motion, White attacks the a8-rookwhile conveniently covering g2, almost as anafterthought. The aggregate of White's attackfunctions with greater efficiency than any ofits individual parts.

d8 24.e3 g8 25.h3 g5 26.ae1 h427.f3 Threat: Re4 and Qxf7+.

f5 28.exf6 gxf6 29.e4 e5 I always deeplyappreciate it when opponents refuse to resignin hopelessly busted positions. They are somuch fun to play. In this case the districtattorney declines the plea deal and refuses toremove the death penalty from the table.EXERCISE (combination alert): How canWhite end Black's futile resistance?ANSWER: The dyke fails against theperpetually invading waters of the ocean.Eliminate Black's only good piece.30.xf4! xf4

[ 30...exf4 31.b3+ does the job as well. ]31.d5+ The queen corroborates therumoured media reports about the black king'spoor health.

g7 The nervous king, a supermarket ofphobias, psychic wounds and deeply heldresentments, mostly keeps to himself thesedays.32.c1 Winning the queen or mate. Black'squeen and king simultaneously groan, as onewould after a particularly awful pun.SUMMARY: Black's position is exceedinglydifficult to navigate after 13 d5. This positionwill be a point fountain for you. I promise!1-0

A47Lakdawala,CKhachian,M

SCCF Championship, Los Angeles 2001[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3 c5 2.c3 I never cease to be amusedby the perplexed, incredulous "are-you-kidding me?" looks my opponents give me atthis point.

e6 3.d4 f6 4.e3 b6 What? This came asa surprise. I had prepared for some kind ofGrünfeld set-up from Grandmaster Khachian.The normally anarchistic Melik shockseveryone with an unexpected display oforthodoxy, perhaps designed to inoculatehimself from his own vices.5.bd2 b7 6.d3 d6 Black commits his d-pawn early, which is not in his best interestsin this line.QUESTION: Why not?ANSWER: Black's power in the Queen'sIndian lines is the fact that he keeps Whiteguessing about ...d7-d6 and ...d7-d5. By

playing the pawn to d6 so early, Whitesuddenly isn't so worried anymore, as ...d6-d5would then come with loss of tempo for Black.7.e4 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e1 e8!?I have also faced:

[ a) 9...bd7 10.e2 ( Colle would mostcertainly have played 10.e5 in this position )

10...e5 11.d5 h5 12.f1 g6 13.h6 g7 14.g3 a6 15.c4 f6 16.ab1 c817.h3 fe8 18.b4 , when White has anexcellent version of a Lopez/King's Indianstructure, C.Lakdawala-A.Kretchetov,SCCF Championship, Los Angeles 2008. ]

[ b) 9...c6 10.a3 c8 ( or 10...d7 11.b4 c7 12.b2 f6 13.c1 g6 14.f1 g715.b1 ad8 16.e3 f6 17.d5 exd518.exd5 e5 19.c4 h5 20.xe5 dxe521.f5! with serious advantage to White,since Black must hand over his dark-squared bishop for a knight, C.Lakdawala-E.Sevillano, Los Angeles 2002 ) 11.e2

cxd4 12.cxd4 d7 13.f1 f6 14.e3 e515.d5 d4!? (accepting pawn weakness fordynamic chances) 16.xd4 exd4and Black has obtained piece play on thedark squares in exchange for hisweakened structure. Chances look balanced,C.Lakdawala-E.Sevillano, San Diego (rapid)2006. ]

10.a3 QUESTION: Why play a2-a3 if Blackisn't even threatening to play ...Nb4?ANSWER: In order to expand later with b2-b4.

[ Another plan is to play for a direct kingsideattack in c3-Sicilian style with 10.e2 bd711.e5 . ]

10...f8 11.f1 e5 Thank heaven. I am a lotless afraid of Khachian in closed positions!Black doesn't want e4-e5 hovering over hishead and so goes for a passive King's Indian/Closed Ruy Lopez formation.

[ The alternative is to toss in 11...cxd412.cxd4 and only then play e5 13.d5 . ]

12.d5 bd7 13.g3 c7 Black hopes toachieve ...c5-c4 and ...b6-b5 to generatesome activity on the queenside.14.c4 White seizes a territorial advantage.

[ He can also play 14.e2 to leave c4 openfor a piece later on. ]

14...e7 This is a bit odd. I don't claim tounderstand the idea behind the move.QUESTION: What would be a normal planhere?

[ ANSWER: Begin with 14...g6 and play for(an admittedly difficult) ...f7-f5 much, muchlater on with a manoeuvre like ...Bg7, ...Rf8,

...Ne8. Even then it will be next to impossibleto engineer the break. ]

15.f5 d8 QUESTION: Why is Black tryingto preserve his bad bishop?ANSWER: It may be a bad bishop, but hecan't play ...g7-g6 with the bishop gone,because of the dark square weakening.16.h3 f8 17.h2 QUESTION: What is theidea?ANSWER: This is a typical Ruy Lopezmanoeuvre, clearing f3 for the queen andopening up g4 for the knight.

c8 18.f3 g6 19.g3 Cutting off accessto f4 and h4.

xf5? An addict in withdrawal doesn't makefor pleasant company. This hastily consideredplan requires heavy outlays of expense andenergy and, in the end, not much reward onthe initial investment. Melik, chafing undercramped quarters and an absence ofcounterplay, embarks on a huge concessionto swap queens. In doing so he trades oneproblem (being under attack) for an evenbigger one (a lousy ending!).QUESTION: But isn't it okay to swap bishopfor knight in a closed position?ANSWER: Not if the exchange leaves youwith weak light squares and a bad bishop.20.xf5 I was happy to enter the endgameand didn't really consider recapture with my e-pawn.

c8 Black's idea, but he will suffer in theending for some time to come.21.xc8 xc8 QUESTION: What,specifically, are White's advantages?ANSWER: We feel a sense of increase inWhite's game, like a coffee percolatoraccumulating in calibrated, staccato drips. Acollation of White's advantages and Black'swoes:1. A huge space advantage, with which Whitemay prepare both b2-b4 and f2-f4 breaks lateron.2. The bishop pair, which for now isn't thatscary – but what if the position opens up 21moves later?3. Black has a terrible remaining bishop, withmost of his pawns fixed on the same coloursquares.4. This fact in turn leads to weak light squares.Conclusion: Black is in deep strategic trouble.22.d2 e7 23.g4 b7

[ 23...xg4 24.hxg4 would only increaseWhite's advantage because it would clampdown on Black's ...f7-f5 break. Also, White

may later double rooks on the h-file,pressuring h7. ]

24.e3 Principle: Avoid trades when you havea space advantage.

e8 Intending ...Bg5, activating the badbishop.25.h4! Oh, no you don't! His bishop remainsunemployed.

f8 26.b4 g6 27.eb1 QUESTION: Whynot the undeveloped rook?ANSWER: I wanted to leave possibilities openfor a3-a4-a5 later on.

f6! QUESTION: What is Black's idea?ANSWER: He desperately needs ...f7-f5 forcounterplay, but doesn't yet have enoughforce to do so. The move played allows ...Rf7and ...Ng7, to back up the break.28.g2 To connect the rooks – and later, ifWhite plays f2-f4, his e-pawn may becometender and need help with Kf3.

f7 29.a2 With the possibility of doublingon b2, or subsequent transferring to thekingside.

g7 30.bxc5 dxc5 Now Black is ready for ...f7-f5.

[ Instead, 30...bxc5? doesn't give White apassed pawn, but allows absolute controlover the b-file, which is much worse. ]

31.c3! Preventing ...f7-f5 again. c7 32.g4 Once again halting ...f7-f5 andthreatening to fork on h6.

h8 33.h6 This costs Black time. Theannoying knight prances about oafishly,bumping into others, all the while imaginingitself a magical creature in an enchantedforest.

e7 34.f1 e8 35.f4 White achieves hissecond break. It isn't easy to keep all optionsopen and simultaneously, firmly commit, yetWhite's industrious army manages it.

g7 36.g4 h5 37.e3 exf4!?He hopes to generate play against the centre,but in doing so opens the game for White'sbishop pair and also hands over a huge centre.Nonetheless, it's hard to fault his decision,since it also sharpens the game.

[ 37...d7 38.f5! looks like no fun at all forBlack. ]

38.gxf4 The metastasis spreads itsmalignance unabated in Black's camp:1. White enjoys the bishop pair in an openposition.2. A rolling pawn centre.3. A brewing attack down the g-file.

d7 39.f3 d6 40.g2 Target: g6. The

alternating waves and ripples of White'ssteadily growing initiative flow with varying,intermittent success and efficiency.

g8 QUESTION: Why not go after White'ssoft spot on e4 instead?

[ ANSWER: Black can indeed pick off the e-pawn, but at too high a cost to his king. Forexample, 40...ce8? 41.fg1 xe442.xg6+ h7 ( alternatively: 42...f743.g7+ f8 44.g8+ f7 45.1g7#and the crows bloody their greedy bills,feeding on the roadkill garter snake;; or

42...h8 43.xe4 xe4 44.h6#when Black's king passes away withoutleaving a penny to his heirs ) 43.f5!(White's attackers hover over Blackmenacingly, the way the psychopath in ateen horror movie looms, butcher's cleaverin hand, over the blissfully unaware kissingcouple on the sofa) xc3 44.h6# . ]

[ EXERCISE (combination alert): After 40...g8 White has access to a simple tacticwhich wins material. How? ]

ANSWER: Sometimes a conspiratorial group isforced to add an unwanted new member, ifonly to buy his silence. White's knight, a serialissuer of dire forecasts, upbraids the blackking to repent before it is too late.41.f5+! xf5 42.exf5 Venal Whitecorporate interests galvanize their impossibleconsumptive demands upon an alreadystrained ecosystem. Finally, White wrests thestubborn g6-pawn from Black's now languidclutches.

f8 43.fxg6 d7 44.f5 The bishop leansinto the wall with crossed arms and a smuglook on his face.

ge8 45.d2 Black's rooks paste artificialsmiles on their faces, pretending to bedelighted in their counterpart's good fortune,as they are denied all entry points on the e-file.

f8 46.a4 a5 47.ff2 d6 EXERCISE(planning): White can't just yet swap rookssince he would lose his extended and extra g-pawn. Come up with a plan to make progressagainst Black's attempted fortress.ANSWER: Exchange a single pair of rooks.This takes away Black's last trump, sinceWhite no longer worries so much about rookinfiltration.48.d3! c7 49.e2 xe2 50.xe2! e7

[ Not 50...xg6?? 51.d3 . ]51.c3 d8 52.d3 d7 53.f5 b7

[ 53...e7 opens an avenue for the white

king after 54.d6 b7 55.e4 . ]54.e6 The posting of White's bishops is instark contrast to their lapsed brother andsister's stereo dislocation on the Black side.QUESTION: Why did Black resign? It lookslike he has reasonable chances to create afortress, doesn't he?ANSWER: Let's do a planning exercise tosolve your question:EXERCISE (planning): Come up with aconcrete plan for White to show thatresignation was not premature.

[ ANSWER: Black's h-pawn (and king!) soonfall after 54.e6 e7 55.e4 d6 56.f5

e7 57.g5! (several sharp rejoinders riseto the black king's tongue, but he restrainsthem all and submits to the slight) b858.xh5 b7 59.d2! .SUMMARY: I often get the White side ofClosed Lopez/King's Indian-like positions inthe Colle versus Queen's Indian. It's not abad idea to survey games in both thosevariations, just to get a feel of familiarity forWhite. ]

1-0

D05Lakdawala,CLongren,W

SCCF Championship 1995[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3[ You can arrive at reversed Stonewallstructures from all sorts of openings.Compare my not-so-classic game with thisRubinstein classic: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.c3f6 4.g5 e7 5.f3 bd7 6.e3 0-07.c1 b6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e5 b7 10.d3

c5 11.f4 (there we go – a reversedStonewall) e8 12.0-0 c4 13.b1 a614.f3! b5 15.h3 f8? .EXERCISE (combination alert): White has away to crash through Black's flimsy kingsidedefensive barrier. How?ANSWER: Step 1: Elimination of defender.16.xf6! xf6 Step 2: Crash through on h7.17.xh7+ xh7 18.h5 c7 19.xh7+

f8 20.e4 dxe4 21.xe4 xe5 22.fxe5 c6 23.e1 d5 24.h8+ e7 25.h4+ d7 26.f2 c7 27.f3 e7 28.c3 e6 29.f4 d8 30.f1 dd7 31.g3 b6 32.e2 c6 .EXERCISE (combination alert): Once again,

White has a method of breaching thedefence.ANSWER: Discovered attack.33.xf7! b6 ( 33...xf7 34.e6+does the job ) 34.xe7 xe7 35.f4 e436.g6+! xg6 37.xg6 d7 38.d1 b439.e6 d6 40.e7 c6 .EXERCISE (combination alert): White toplay and force resignation.ANSWER: Double attack/overload: c6 andc4.41.e5! 1-0 A.Rubinstein-A.Flamberg, Lodz1906. ]

1...c5 2.c3 To this day, I still derive great joyin witnessing the incredulous expressions onthe faces of my opponents whenever I trot outmy beloved Lakdawala Accelerated.

e6 3.d4 f6 4.e3 b6 5.bd2 b7 6.d3 d5 QUESTION: Your opponent played ...d7-d5, so doesn't this game belong in either ofthe first two chapters?ANSWER: Please keep your voice down ormy editor, John, will hear you and yell at me(via email) for this flagrant breech of chaptural(I made up this word) etiquette! You are ofcourse right, but the main reason I sneaked itinto Chapter Three is that I hoped to reinforcehow these chapters weave in and out of oneanother. Stay alert and on your tippy-toes fortranspositions.7.e5 d6 8.f4 Once again we revisit thereversed Stonewall Dutch structure.

c7 Black contemplates opposite wingcastling.

[ QUESTION: How would one go aboutattacking if Black, without fear, simply playsthe no-nonsense 8...0-0 ?ANSWER: The first step is to take controlover e4 with 9.f3 . Then xe5!?

A) ANSWER: He alertly foresaw the line10.fxe5 e4! 11.xe4 dxe4 and White isunable to recapture, due to Black's queencheck on h4.;B) After 10.dxe5! fd7 11.h3!

( even the straightforward 11.0-0 a612.e4 looks good for White ) 11...f512.f3! ( avoiding distractions like12.exf6?! xf6 13.xe6+ h8, when Black gets good play down thenewly opened e-file ) 12...e7 13.d2 c414.c2 c5 15.g4! e4 16.gxf5 exf517.d4 d7 18.xe4 dxe4 19.g1 c5, R.Cifuentes Parada-J.Hodgson, Ubeda1996, White can simply take on f5 with awinning position.;

C) 10.dxe5! .QUESTION: Why didn't White recapturewith the f-pawn? ]

[ QUESTION: Shouldn't Black play 8...e4while he can?ANSWER: The move is premature since itallows a disruptive check on b5; i.e. 9.b5+

f8 10.xe4 dxe4 11.0-0 with advantageto White. ]

9.f3 A key point to remember: Take overcontrol of e4 as quickly as possible.

c6 10.a3 Intending b2-b4. 0-0-0!? Black, nervous about castling shortwith such an ominous White build-up in thatsector, decides to castle long.

11.0-0 QUESTION: Does White sometimescastle long, too, in reversed Stonewallstructures?ANSWER: From my experience, almost never,since Black owns the space on that wing.

df8 Perhaps contemplating ...Nd7 and ...f7-f6.12.b4 c4 QUESTION: Didn't White just gettricked? You closed the queenside and, fornow, his king remains very safe, whereas youare open to attack on the kingside.ANSWER: Rather than challenging Black onthe queenside, White plays on the kingsideand in the centre, where he holds a spaceadvantage. White intends a timely e3-e4,which should retain an edge.13.c2 d8 14.e4! The correct timing forthe move since the centre is blocked.QUESTION: When is e3-e4 incorrectly timed?ANSWER: It is nearly always a bad move if,for example, Black's c-pawn was still on c5and central tension remained.

e8 15.exd5 exd5?! QUESTION: WasBlack's last move the correct recapture?

[ ANSWER: I would keep the d5-square openfor pieces with 15...xd5 16.e4 f617.xd5 xd5! 18.e4! , when Whitecontinues to hold a slight edge. ( Not18.dxc4? xe5! 19.xe5 xc3, which looks slightly better for Black. )]

16.h3+! Exploiting Black's last move. e6 The knight sits uncomfortably here,vulnerable to pawn pushes and underminingtricks.

[ 16...b8?? 17.d7+ picks off anexchange. ]

17.a4 b8 18.a5 g6?! He should not haveallowed the a-file to open. Nobody wants tobuild their dream home on a charmless patchof real estate. Yet, inexplicably, Black's king

does just that, taking residence in his hovel,surrounded by grey, colourless concrete.Black is too eager for a fight, even if it is inhis own neighbourhood, and underestimatesthe dangers to his own king.

[ It would be wiser to keep the a-file closedby playing 18...b5 . ]

19.axb6 axb6 20.a4! Targeting c6 and d7,both tender squares. Now Black's king liveshalf in and half out, with one foot in this world,the other in the next.

fg8 [ Black's trouble is that he just can't afford 20...xe5 (compare my games against Penaand Hummel) 21.fxe5 , since it loses allcontrol over the dark squares and isequivalent to strategic suicide. ]

21.f5!? [ The comp says it is better to go for21.d7+! c8 22.f3! f5 ( or 22...xf4?23.fe5 and Black is completely busted )23.fe5 . ]

[ QUESTION: Your last move puzzles me.Why open the g-file for his rook?ANSWER: It does indeed open the g-file,but I thought the pressure White got downthe f-file mattered more. 21.f5 is the humanmove but perhaps too straightforward.When I was a kid, I had this horriblydisconcerting habit of always blurting outthe truth, when all along I had intended tolie! Freud pointed out that the unconsciousmind (the "Id") enjoys a huge advantageover the conscious mind (us!), in that theunconscious mind knows all our dirty littlesecrets, while we know next to nothing aboutthe Id. Thus we are at constant, never-ending disadvantage over the true nature ofour motivations. In this instance, my Id,having grown sick and tired of my chesswimp image wanted to be a hero and attack,and does so, possibly prematurely. (Myadvice to my Id: Just give up. I will neverchange! I wasn't born to be a hero.) ]

21...gxf5 22.xf5?! [ 22.d7+! c8 23.f3! , heading for e5next, is still very much in White's favour. ]

22...xe5 23.xe5 EXERCISE (calculation):There is no right or wrong answer to this one.White just allowed 23...Nf4. Work out theramifications. Would you play it as Black?

d6 In the occluded haze of the battlefield,the stressed soldier sees only what hissubconscious wants him to see.

[ ANSWER: If a genie grants you one, and

only one, non-transferable magic wish, thenit would be unwise to squander it onsomething trivial. Sidelines run endlessly,like credits at the end of a movie, but this isone sideline Black should have jumped on.Not because it wins, but because he it ismuch better than what he got in the game.We get a god-awful mess after 23...f4!(the knight veers violently away from themoral values of his puritanical upbringingand goes chasing after White's queen withthe ardour of a teenage nerd in love with thehigh school "bad girl") 24.f3! xg2+!?

( a piece sac – which, I admit, looks morelike a guilt-assuaging move made atsignificant psychic cost, rather than anactual sacrifice; instead, 24...xg2??25.xe8+ xe8 26.xe8 g8 27.h1!leaves Black without sufficientcompensation ) 25.f1 – nobody can becleansed without first undergoing somedegree of suffering. Somehow White's kingreminds me of the words from Goethe'sFaust: "Strive, float, weave, live, tremble,give!" White wins a piece, but Black getsattacking chances after hg8 26.xf4

g1+ 27.f2 8g2+ 28.e3 , when it'sanybody's game to win or lose. ]

24.f1! Multipurpose:1. Covers f4.2. Sets up a potential battery on f4.3. Prepares a future Ne3 which pressures d5and f5.

e4 25.c2 g6 26.xe4 Principle:Opposite-coloured bishops favour the attacker,which is White here.

dxe4 27.a2 Reinforcing g2. hg8 28.f2 Multipurpose again:1. Continues to cover g2.2. Adds pressure down the f-file.3. Tries for Rxe6! and Bf4 pin tricks.

a7?! [ Black should offer his e-pawn with 28...e3!, to activate the bishop down the longdiagonal. ]

29.e3 White aims at b6, in the direction ofBlack's king. Meanwhile, hermetic relief finallymaterializes for White's king, who finds asafehouse on g1, since all ...e4-e3 tricks arenow halted.

h6 Black begins to run out of ideas. Hisattempts at coercion down the g-file havegotten him nowhere, having issued anultimatum, a last chance ultimatum, and anabsolutely last, last, final, "I'm-not-bluffing!-I-

really-really-mean-it!" ultimatum. In response,White's king merely smiles and gives alanguid yawn.30.f5 6g7 31.d5

[ Hitting e6 and opening the bishop'sdiagonal to Black's king – a strong move, but31.g3! is superior, when White has awinning position. ]

31...g5? [ Black's last chance lay in 31...g5!32.xg5 xg5 33.h7 xe5 34.dxe6

xe6 35.xf7 b8 36.e3 , though he isstill in deep trouble. ]

32.a2+ b8 33.g3 The fundamentallyinept burglar's expectancy of a clean escapeis dashed when he trips and sprains his ankleby hooking his foot in a croquet wicket.

[ In time trouble, I miss the sparkling shot33.e7!! / ]

33...c8 34.f4! g6? The Roman emperoron b8 misjudges the danger of theconspiratorial plebeians who casually circlehis royal litter.EXERCISE (combination alert): Find onestrong move and you force Black'sresignation.ANSWER: The bride on f4 appears radiant,while the ill-fitted groom on b8 frowns andbites his lip. As the now clichéd Zen koanabout "the sound of one hand clapping" somysteriously tries to elucidate: an absence ofa thing exudes its own particular beauty. Inthis case Black's missing dark squaredefenders become a non-object of beauty forWhite.35.e7!

[ 35.xg5 xg5 36.a8+! also works.SUMMARY: The reversed Stonewall Dutchformation can arise from the early ...d7-d5move orders from Chapters One and Two,or from the Queen's Indian variation, as inthis case. ]

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A47Hoi,CGulko,B

Thessaloniki Olympiad 1988[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.e3 f6 4.d3 b6 5.0-0 b7 6.bd2 cxd4 A no-nonsenseapproach. Black immediately breaks thecentral tension and alters the pawn structure.

QUESTION: In whose favour?ANSWER: Nobody's so far. White benefitsfrom the opening of the e-file, while Blackgets long-term benefits with the potential for aqueenside minority attack – a fair negotiation.7.exd4 e7 8.e1

[ White can also play without this move. Forexample: 8.c3 0-0 9.e2 d6 10.c4bd7 11.f4 c7 12.h3 fe8 13.h2f8 14.fd2 (instructive; White prepares f2-f4) g6 15.f4! f8 16.f2 e7 17.ae1ad8 18.g4!? (only a very strong, confidentplayer or a very weak one would make sucha move!) c6 19.f3 g6 20.g3 h521.e3 hxg4 22.hxg4 ed5 23.xd5

xd5 24.h4 xf3?! ( 24...xg4 25.g3 h5 26.xd8 xd8 was a superior methodof sac'ing the exchange ) 25.xf3 xf326.xf6 xg4 27.xd8 xd8 and Black fellshort on full compensation, M.Krasenkow-B.Macieja, Polish Championship, Warsaw2001. ]

8...0-0 9.c3 [ QUESTION: Can White opt for a moretraditional queen's pawn opening with 9.c4?ANSWER: You can; and you may end up ina hanging pawns situation after d5 10.b3, similar to those we look at in the nextchapter on Zukertort lines. ]

[ QUESTION: Can White just transpose to aZukertort Colle with 9.b3 ?ANSWER: Yes again; there is no problemveering away into the Zuke. For example:

c6 10.a3 (halting ...Nb4 ideas) c811.b2 e8 12.c1 d5 13.e2with a normal Zukertort position, A.Yusupov-L.Polugaevsky, USSR Championship,Moscow 1983. ]

9...d6 QUESTION: Why not go all the way tod5 with the pawn?ANSWER: Playing to d6 is perhaps moreaccurate, since it denies White use of the e5-square and also keeps Black's pawnformation flexible. For example, White mustremain vigilant about ...e6-e5 breaks.10.e2 e8 11.f1 The normal plan. Whitebuilds up his forces on the kingside, similar tothe way he plays in reversed Queen's GambitDeclined Exchange lines.

bd7 12.g3 f8 13.g5 h6 14.d2Having induced a target on h6.

c7 Gulko is content with the status quo. [ 14...e5!? 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.c4sharpens the position. ]

15.c2 Keeping Qd3 options open. d5

[ Once again Gulko holds back on his breakwith 15...e5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.ad1 . ]

16.b3 b7 Loading up on f3.17.h4!? So the question for Black is: ...g7-g5 or not? White tempts his opponent withluxuries beyond imagination, while secretlyplanning to deliver on the promise withholographic simulacra, the chess version ofworthless monopoly money. He is willing toallow ...Bxf3, only as long as Black is willingto weaken his king with ...g7-g5 first.

b5 18.d3 g5!? Gulko, who feelsconstrained by rules and regulations, decidesto chuck them away on a whim and weakenhis king's guard, to do the same to hisopponent. Yet he may be underestimating theforce of White's attack, while overestimatingthe strength of his own. Clearly, eventfultimes lie ahead for both sides, neither ofwhom hold back on their zealotry.19.f3 xf3!? Consistent and possiblydubious.

[ It isn't too late for something like 19...e5!20.f5 e6 ( 20...e4?! 21.xg5!gives White a powerful attack for only asmall initial investment ) 21.d3 d5, which may lead to a draw by repetition. ]

20.gxf3 QUESTION: Didn't Black get thebetter of the deal? Just look at White's pawnstructure.ANSWER: I admit White's structure looksawkward, like a man who inadvertently andloudly passes gas while on a first date withthe woman of his dreams. But the attackingchances White receives down the open g-filemore than compensate.

g7 21.h4! The black king's self-contentedsmile crumples abruptly, as he comes to gripswith the fact that all is not well in his kingdom.Now White manages to pry open the g-file.

gxh4 22.e4 c6 23.h1 h5 24.g1 f8?!

[ QUESTION: Doesn't 24...f5 trap White'sknight?ANSWER: It does, but once again he gets aferocious attack for it after 25.xh6 fxe426.e3! e7 27.xe4 d5 28.g6, when Black will have a tough time survivingthe coming assault. All the same, yoursuggestion may be Black's best, since whathe got in the game looks even worse. ]

25.xg7! Powerful play, waving aside Black'sbest defender. The g7-bishop guarded his

doomed king the way a nesting mother birdcontinues to protect eggs which will neverhatch.

xg7 EXERCISE (combination alert): Whitehas more than one powerful continuationwhich blows Black away. Can you find them?ANSWER: 26.xh6+!!

[ 26.g1+ f8 27.e3 e7 28.xh6 h829.g5+ f6 30.xf6+! dxf6 31.g7+!was also winning. ]

26...xh6 The king continues to run anddodge, as a spray of bullets sink into theground all around him.

[ 26...h8 27.xd6! is no help to Black. ]27.g1! A quiet move after the initial deadlyone. White's rook reaches its primary goalwithout challenge: to cage Black's king.

f5 [ 27...g8 28.e3+ h7 29.f6+ h830.h6# is mate. ]

28.e3+ f4 Defeated rulers suffer haunteddreams of ancient glories and victories, whichtorment them when they awaken and come tothe shuddering realization of their newlyfound powerlessness. The contrast betweenthe two armies is the evolvement differentialbetween an adult sabre-toothed tiger and adomesticated kitten.EXERCISE (combination alert): White hasaccess to a beautiful finish. Do you see it?ANSWER: The ordered mind of a militaryleader loathes disarray in his own camp, whilefostering it in the enemy's.29.xd6! Visually stunning. The threat ismate on the move.

xd6 When diagnosed as terminal, thepatient lives on infinitely precious, borrowedtime. The dismal alternatives:

[ a) 29...fxe3 30.f7# . ] [ b) 29...g3+ 30.xg3! and nothing isaltered in the least. ]

30.d3 The creature, once en prise on e3,thought to be a shattered bloodied thingdestroyed into a thousand pieces, suddenlyreorganizes, re-forms and reanimates to itsoriginal terrifying form. It isn't often that a2390 player gets the opportunity to offer notone, but two queen sacs versus a strong GM.Distressingly, we reach a heightened state ofanguish where the attack feelssimultaneously close by and far away. In asense it is just that.

f8 EXERCISE (combination alert): Find thecorrect move and glory is yours; miss it andyou blow an opportunity the way disembodied

cigarette smoke curls up to the ceiling. Doyou see the finish?ANSWER: Even a plain Jane can be blandlypretty. She knocks on the door of apartmenth7, but there is no answer.31.h7+! Black's king, helplessly in love,proposes to White's queen, who believes sheis merely involved in a one-night stand.

[ 31.h7+ xh7 32.g6# is a very unusualdouble-knight epaulette mate.SUMMARY: When Black tosses in an early...c5xd4, White can go for a normal c2-c3Colle set-up, or even switch to the ZukertortColle. ]

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E14Yusupov,ARozentalis,E

Elista Olympiad 1998[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.d3 b7 5.0-0 c5 6.c4 QUESTION: How doespushing the c-pawn two squares alter thingsfrom a normal c2-c3 Colle set-up?ANSWER: The positions draw closer tonormal queen's pawn games. In some casesthey can transpose to Zukertort lines too.

e7 [ Black can also get funky with 6...g6!?7.c3 g7 , but then 8.d5!? exd5 9.cxd5

0-0 ( while after 9...xd5 10.xd5 xd511.xg6 hxg6 12.xd5 I prefer White'sposition due to his iron grip on d5, A.Yusupov-U.Kersten, German Championship,Saarbrücken 2002 ) 10.e4 gives White anexcellent Benoni.QUESTION: Why is this version good forWhite?ANSWER: Black's b7-bishop hits a wall ond5. ]

7.c3 cxd4[ 7...d5 is unwise since it opens the positionwhen behind in development: 8.cxd5 exd59.b5+! was awkward for Black in A.Yusupov-T.Wedberg, Stockholm 2003. ]

8.exd4 d6 Other moves:[ a) 8...0-0 9.d5! (a familiar theme in thisline) h6 10.c2 and White's d5-wedgegives him an edge, B.Lalic-L.Pliester, Isle ofMan 1995. ][ b) 8...d5 9.cxd5 (taking on an isolani)xd5 10.e5 0-0 11.g4! (this is very

dangerous for Black, with all of White'spieces glaring at his king) f6 ( 11...f5subdues the attack at the cost of weakeningboth e5 and e6 ) 12.h4 and now:

A) 12...e4 13.h3 xd4 14.f4 f615.e2! xb2? ( losing instantly; thoughWhite's development lead is still prettyscary after 15...a4 ) 16.a3!! when Rfb1is coming and, surprisingly, Black has nogood way to extricate his queen, A.Lastin-A.Gazarian, Elista 2011.;B) 12...c6? 13.g5 g6? .EXERCISE (combination alert): Thisallows a beautiful shot which short-circuitsBlack's position. Can you see it?ANSWER: Overload. Answer: 14.a6!! h6(there is nothing better; Black's gamecomes apart no matter what) 15.xh6and White went on to win, S.Halkias-J.Polgar, Warsaw 2010.;C) 12...-- ]

9.d5! QUESTION: I take it that the d4-d5 pushis a continual theme in this line?ANSWER: Correct. If White can get away withit, then Black's b7-bishop gets blunted.

e5 Now we get opposite wing pawn majorities,but still in White's favour due to that deadweight on b7.QUESTION: Isn't White's far flung d-pawn aliability if Black just exchanges?

[ ANSWER: In many cases White sacs thepawn in return for tremendous attackingchances. For example: 9...exd5 10.cxd5

0-0 11.d4! (the knight simultaneouslyeyes c6 and f5) xd5?? (Black can't yettouch d5) 12.xd5 xd5 13.h5 f514.xf5 is annihilation. ]

10.g5! Yusupov, rather than go for adartboard plan, instead opts for the kitchensink plan.QUESTION: White's last move looks like arandom move. Can you explain?ANSWER: Yusupov (I wish chess books anddatabases would make up their minds: is itYusupov or Jussupow? – the spelling changesfrom game to game!) cleverly activates his f-pawn, intending f2-f4.

bd7 [ QUESTION: What if Black plays 10...h6to engineer his own ...f7-f5 break as quicklyas possible?ANSWER: Black isn't ready for this kind ofearly confrontation. After 11.ge4 xe412.xe4 0-0 13.h5 , then f5 14.g3 e415.e2 c8 16.f3! leaves Black is dire

trouble. ] 11.f4! c8 12.b3 a6 13.a4 Yusupov makescertain to squelch ...b6-b5. Throughout thegame, Black's queenside pawn majorityremains as immobile as those frozen, furry-capped guards outside Buckingham Palace.

0-0 14.a2 An instructive rook lift. Thesleeping a1-rook swings into action on theother wing.

h6 15.af2!? Yusupov has fantasticattacking instincts and can never be mistakenas a man of peace.

exf4 QUESTION: I take it that it is suicide toaccept the knight?

[ ANSWER: Correct: 15...hxg5? 16.fxg5, and if Black insists on his greed-at-any-price philosophy, he gets butchered after

e8?? 17.h5 g6 18.xg6 – so obviousthat I refuse to give it an exclam! White hasa crushing attack. ]

16.h3 e5 [ QUESTION: What is wrong with 16...g5 ?ANSWER: A lot! White simply sacs a pieceto shred Black's kingside pawn cover with

17.xf4! gxf4 18.xf4 . When intuition orclairvoyance fail to offer a clear verdict,then always remember your eyes. Noanalysis is necessary. This looks like aKing's Gambit from hell for Black, whosesurvival odds aren't promising. ]

17.b1 f3!? This may hurt, more than help.Pursuing a capricious whim often results inunexpected results. Far from messing Whiteup, the move simply makes him adjust andbegin attacking along the newly opened g-file.

[ 17...g5 18.xf4! still fails to hold muchappeal for Black. ]

18.gxf3 e8 19.g2 h8 20.f4 ed7 21.g5! The Zombie menace must bechallenged. But how? This guy is thenightmare relative that comes to visit andnever leaves. The same story applies: theknight really can't be touched.

g8 Night and day are indistinguishable to aman in solitary confinement. I'm not sure howto differentiate the will to survive from the fearof death.

22.h1! The g7-pawn is the epicentre, thesoft underbelly of Black's woes. White clearsg1 for the other rook. He etches the messagein acid on stone, just so Black won't forget:White is the one – the only one – attacking.Soon his forces cover the kingside like anunpleasant rash.

f8 Black clutches grimly to the g7-talisman

but soon learns its protective magic is dead. 23.b2 e7? It's easy to blunder when undersuch heavy pressure. Now White's attackgets completely out of control.

[ A central counter with 23...c5 was Black'slast, dim hope. ]

24.ge4! e8 25.fg1 c7 26.d4!The pressure on f6 and g7 grows tounbearable levels.

h8 Black swims in a stinking, pollutedocean of unwelcome variations, sub-variationsand sub-sub variations, all in White's favour.EXERCISE (combination alert): Find White'sflashy finish which sends Black's defence toan early grave.ANSWER: Deflection. White's knight languidlysteps over the drunk passed out on thesidewalk, with contemptuous indifference.

27.xd6! [ After 27.xd6! xd6 , 28.xg7threatens the horrific Rh7 mate next move.The story of the black king is preservedand documented within the fossil record.SUMMARY: It isn't a bad idea to mix up yourColle lines a bit, for variety's sake, and tossin c2-c4 occasionally. When you do,remember the thematic d4-d5! push. ]

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Chapter Four

The Zukertort Colle

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 e6 4 Bd3 c5 5 b3

In my teen years, when some of my more sinister friends encouraged me to join them in rowdy undertakings, the haunting image of my very proper mother always loomed, yanking me obediently back to my uneventful life. Perhaps this is the reason I have always played the c2-c3 Slav-style Colle - where White revives himself with excruciating slowness - rather than its belligerent cousin, the Zukertort Colle.With the Zukertort, White, the hunter, strays from the base camp all alone to pursue dangerous game. He aims both bishops ominously at Black's kingside and often engages in a hybrid Stonewall-style attacking scheme with Nd2, Ne5 and f2-f4. Bruzon-Anand from this chapter is a good example of the fate which can befall Black's king, if he makes the smallest defensive slip. White's dark-squared bishop can also easily explode into the attack with a sudden d4xc5.Perhaps I am getting braver in my old age, since recently trying the Zuke with some success, which will undoubtedly encourage future Zuke experimentation. Having researched the chapter, I am hooked and anxious to give the Zuke more test drives. Admittedly, it is a risky pursuit, but it also contains the promise of a glorious reward. In any case, the Zukertort is an excellent supplement (or main line, if you are a mad attacking type) to the c2-c3 Colles - as a way of throwing off your opponent's opening preparation, or if you are just in a bad mood and seek to blow your opponent off the board!Broeker-De WolfSandipan-GangulyBruzon-AnandSummerscale-Jimenez MaciasYusupov-SpiridonovLakdawala-GravesKeres-Taimanov

Index

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 e6 4 Bd3 c5 5 b3 Nc65...Be7 6 Bb2

6...0-0 – Summerscale-Jimenez Macias6...cxd4 7 exd4 b6 – Lakdawala-Graves6...b6 7 c4 Bb7 8 Nc3 dxc4 9 bxc4 0-0 – Keres-Taimanov

6 Bb2 Bd66...Be7 – Yusupov-Spiridonov

7 0-0 0-07...Qe7 – Broeker-De Wolf

8 Nbd28...b6 9 a3 Bb7 – Sandipan-Ganguly8...cxd4 9 exd4 b6 10 a3 Bb7 – Bruzon-Anand

D05Broeker,CDe Wolf,B

Correspondence 2001[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 e6 4.d3 c5[ The Colle is so (seemingly!) non-threatening that Black sometimes feels hecan set up any way he pleases. Black caneven go for the counter-intuitive 4...g6!?, with the logic that it blunts White'sdangerous d3-bishop.QUESTION: Is there some problem with thismove?ANSWER: Please see White's next move! –5.b3! (the Zukertort makes sense now;White's bishop heads for a3 the minuteBlack fianchettoes) g7 6.a3 bd7(Black must shut down the diagonal with ...c7-c5) 7.bd2 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.c4 a510.b2 ( getting a strange sort of Grünfeldhybrid; White can also try 10.c1, stubbornly maintaining the bishop on thea3-f8 diagonal ) 10...d8 11.e2(Black would like to play ...b7-b6, but thiswould cut his queen off from theproceedings) cxd4 12.xd4!? ( opting forpiece play over the traditional hangingpawns situation after 12.exd4 ) 12...c513.c2 ce4 14.xe4 dxe4 15.e5 d7

( 15...e8 16.f4! also looks slightly betterfor White ) 16.f4! and advantage White, whohas a healthy queenside pawn majority andthe better placed pieces as well, A.Yusupov-G.Sosonko, Tunis Interzonal 1985. ]

5.0-0 c6 6.b3 The Zukertort Colle, which isfast growing in popularity. White fianchettoesrather than go for the traditional c2-c3reversed Slav structures.

d6 7.b2 e7 QUESTION: Why developto e7 when c7 looks more logical?ANSWER: Actually c7 isn't such a greatsquare, since White may play Rc1 and c2-c4later on. Black plays the Capablanca planwith which he defeated Bogoljubow (see thenote to move 12 below), hoping to take thesteam out of White's attack with a future ...c5xd4 followed by ...Ba3.8.e5 Played in the spirit of the Zukertort.QUESTION: Is White going for a Stonewallplan with a future f2-f4, as we have seen inprevious chapters?

[ ANSWER: If he can get away with it, yes.Instead, 8.c4 , as in C.Schlechter-O.Krause,

Copenhagen 1907, leads to a moretraditional double queen's pawn game. ]

8...0-0 9.d2 White doesn't fear the coming ...Ba3 Capablanca plan.

[ He refuses to use a tempo on 9.a3, since after d7! 10.f4 f6 Black is fine. ]

9...cxd4 [ QUESTION: Doesn't Black gain a tempowith 9...b4 ?ANSWER: Black gains a tempo temporarily(after 10.e2 ), but then loses it right backwhen White tosses in a2-a3. So in reality itmakes little difference to either side. ]

10.exd4 a3 11.xa3 xa3 12.c3! [ An improvement over E.Bogoljubow-J.R.Capablanca, New York 1924, whichcontinued 12.df3 d7 13.xc6 xc614.d2 ac8 15.c3 a6 16.e5 b5!17.f3 xd3 18.xd3 c7 19.ac1 fc820.c2 e8 21.fc1 d6 22.e5 a5(the Capa magic: White finds himselfpassively tied down, without a glimmer of akingside attack) 23.a4 (Bogo does his bestto be actively passive, which only loosenshis position) b6 24.d3? (an unsoundsac) xb3 25.c5 b6 26.b2 a727.e1 b6 28.d3 c4 29.a5?! bxa530.c5 b5 31.e2 .EXERCISE (combination alert): Black has adevilish combination. Do you see what Capasaw?ANSWER: X-ray. xd4! 32.cxd4 8xc5!and White resigned. This game is annotatedin 'Capablanca: Move by Move'. ]

12...h6? QUESTION: What is the point behindthis move?ANSWER: Black seems to fear (perhaps withgood reason!) a future sac on h7 – but infixing one problem, he simply creates a largerone, by allowing White an f2-f4, g2-g4-g5plan.

[ QUESTION: Isn't 12...b2 good for Blacksince he forces queens off the board?ANSWER: It's important to be alert, but ifyou are too alert (i.e. me!) you cross the lineto jittery, which has a way of transformingvirtue into a weakness. White has nointention of obliging with Qc2 or Qc1.Instead, he offers a pawn: 13.c1! xa214.e1 a5 15.e3! (Black lost an awfullot of time with his pawn grab, while Whitegets a dangerous kingside build-up) c716.h3 xe5 17.xh7+! xh7 18.h5left Black on the defensive, R.Tibensky-S.Vesselovsky, Brno 2005.

QUESTION: Well then, what do you suggestfor Black? ]

[ ANSWER: Unimpressive as it looks,perhaps he should go for 12...xe513.dxe5 d7 14.e1 c5 15.c2 d716.e3 , when the position exudes a FrenchDefence-like feel, where White's kingsideambitions are possibly counterbalanced byBlack's on the other side, T.Abergel-G.Vallin,French Team Championship 2004. ]

13.f4! d7 14.g4! Sometimes the motherbird pushes the reluctant fledgling, sending itsquawking from the safe haven of the nest,forced to fly or plunge below to its death. Theplayers gamble and bicker over the odds:White bets his attack will work; Black bets itwon't. As always, White is willing to give uphis a-pawn should Black get greedy with ...Qb2 at any point.

b2 Which he does now! The captain,abandoning caution, shouts to his first mate:"Belay that order!" and goes pawn hunting,harpoon in hand.15.c1! The general ruthlessly deems a2 asdoomed. The ramifications: White refuses toallocate precious resources in a rescuemission for a rather non-essential queensidepawn, gambling everything on the comingkingside attack.

xa2 16.g5 hxg5 17.fxg5 xe5The tally is in. Black fears grievous erosion tohis king safety. However, we must find thecorrect move for White.EXERCISE (critical decision): We have achoice of taking either knight. One of themwins for White. Which one do you pick?ANSWER: Offer our d3-bishop. Soon Black'sking, a-swirl Dorothy/Wizard of Oz-style, findshimself inadvertently tossed into anotherdimension: a cold, vast emptiness with apopulation of one.18.gxf6! g6 The knight tentatively reachesout to touch d3, then snatches his hand back,as if from an open flame on a gas stove.

[ After giving the d3-bishop a wistful, longinglook, he wisely refrains, since 18...xd3??19.g4 g6 20.g5! h7 21.h4+ g822.h6 mates. ]

19.c2 a5 20.h5 She swoops in, handson hips. From my life experience, nothing isscarier than an angry woman. Doesn't it strikeyou as odd that we fear a spouse's (ormother's!) displeasure far more than globalclimate change, the effects of massiveoverpopulation on a finite ecosystem, global

viral pandemics, biological/chemical attacksand dirty bombs? Apparently all anxiety islocal – and female!

b5 21.c4 The vindictive c-pawn raises aperemptory, warning hand and, failing that,prepares a swift kick to the gonads!

[ This is even stronger than 21.xb5 xb522.e4! – the knight pops up from nowhere,like a spring loaded jack-in-the-box – whichis decisive too, but allows Black to prolongthe game after xf1+ 23.xf1 dxe4 . ]

21...a6 22.f3 The fastidious knight leansforward, like a sunlight-hungry rose, strainingto emerge from the shadows of the bush.Black's universe suddenly stinks of queens,rooks, knights, bishops and f-pawns, and hiswindblown king sways like a sapling plant.

[ So simple – Ng5 is a deadly threat after22.f3 – while gxf6 23.xg6 fxg624.xg6+ h8 25.h5+ g7 26.g2#is mate. Black's king posthumously wonders:"So this is purgatory?"SUMMARY: The Capablanca anti-Zuke plan,so deadly in the 1920s, isn't so hot for Blackin 2012. 12 c3! is our improvement overBogo's play. ]

1-0

D05Sandipan,CGanguly,S

Dubai 2012[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.e3 d5 4.d3 c5 5.b3 c6 QUESTION: Can Black develop theknight to d7 as he did in Chapter Two, todiscourage d4xc5?ANSWER: He can – we will look at thisdevelopment scheme later in the chapter (seeSummerscale-Jimenez) – but it is far morecommon for Black to post it on c6 against theZukertort.

6.0-0 d6 QUESTION: Are there differencesbetween developing the bishop to d6 and e7?ANSWER: The differences:1. d6 is a more central, active posting, whereBlack fights for the critical e5-square, which isWhite's normal jumping post for his knight.2. The trouble with d6 is that if White managesto achieve Ne5 and f2-f4, then Black can't play...Nxe5 (as he can with the bishop on e7),since either d4xe5 or f4xe5 would win a piece.QUESTION: Which bishop move is more

popular?ANSWER: In my experience most playerschoose d6 over e7, by about a 4:1 margin –but in all Colles, not just the Zukertort. Thisisn't necessarily evidence that ...Bd6 is better,since in chess we sometimes see the tyrannyof the majority.7.b2 0-0 8.bd2

[ Or 8.a3 b6 9.e5 b7 10.d2 e711.e2 c7 12.c4 cxd4 13.exd4 g614.f4 ad8 15.e3 a8 16.ac1 dxc417.bxc4 (when playing the Zukertort,sometimes you must be willing to take onhanging pawns like these) e7 18.b1

b7 19.h3 and the position may bedynamically balanced, but I prefer White'sside, Su.Polgar-L.Psakhis, Amsterdam1990. ]

8...b6 9.a3 b7 [ QUESTION: Why doesn't Black play 9...c7 first? This puts an end to White'sautomatic Ne5 attacking ideas.ANSWER: True, but in doing so you put thequeen on the vulnerable c-file. For example:10.c4 cxd4 11.exd4 b7 12.e2 fd813.fd1 f8 14.ac1 and now Black'squeen, feeling distinctively uncomfortablewhere she is, decided to leave, wasting timewith f4 ( perhaps Black should toss in

14...dxc4 first ) , when White secured anedge with 15.c5! , A.Miles-R.Ramesh,Commonwealth Championship, Bikaner1999. We look more at the c4-c5 idea lateron in the chapter in my game againstGraves. ]

10.e2 [ The immediate 10.e5 is more common(as in Polgar-Psakhis above). PerhapsWhite was hoping to entice the black queento c7. ]

10...c8 11.e5 e7! QUESTION: Why didBlack retreat the knight?ANSWER: He fights for control over the keye4-square, desiring ...Ne4 himself later on. Ifeel this is one of Black's best ways to meetthe Zukertort set-up.12.f4 e4! 13.xe4 White plugs e4 with ablack pawn.

dxe4 14.c4 cxd4 15.exd4 The gamesharpens as the pawn structure grows moreimbalanced.

f5 16.a4 xe5!? 17.dxe5 c7Thinking about ...Qc5+ and ...Ne3.18.a3 fd8 19.ad1 h6 20.c3Houdini loves Black's position here, but that

may be a misassessment. a6 21.b4! Eliminating any ideas of ...b6-b5. c6!? 22.xd8+

[ White chooses not to speculate with22.xa6!? xa6 23.xa6 e3 24.d6

xd6 25.exd6 xf1 26.xf1 . ] 22...xd8 23.d1 xd1+ 24.xd1 e325.c2 h4 The knight clears his throat toget the g2-pawn's attention.26.f1 QUESTION: Who stands better?ANSWER: Black holds the initiative, but Whitehas the long-term chances with his bishop pairand queenside pawn majority. Then again,the ponderous bishop pair is in no danger ofbeing mistaken for a team of gymnasts at themoment, so maybe the chances are stillsomewhere in the range of even.

d5 27.d3! An ending is in White's bestinterest. The white queen's once despondentexpression alters and the faintest of ghostsmiles appears for just a flicker of time. Sherealizes she may be the conduit of revenge,due to her ministrations. In this case, Black'squeen gets out-niced by her sweet-talkingsister.

a5?! Black overestimates his position andbegins to overpress.

[ He should go for the positive side of aprobable draw with 27...e2! 28.xe2 a529.d6 xb3 30.f2 f5 31.c7 xa432.xb6 d5 33.c4 xc4 34.xc4 xc435.xa5 , when Black remains (slightly)better. ]

28.xd5 xd5 29.e7! The bar's impresariobishop pair challenges the opposing bishopand knight to arm-wrestle, with the losersbuying the drinks.

g6 30.d8! xf4 31.b5 xb3 32.xb6 g6 33.xa5 xe5 Do you feel it? There isa palpable diminution from Black's side, like apicture containing an identical smaller pictureof itself within it, which in turn repeats theprocess with yet another miniaturization, andso on. Suddenly, Black is in deep trouble. Hishalted e3-passer gathers dust, like an unlovedcar in the garage, while White's bishopssupport their own two on the queenside.Meanwhile, the bored black knight and bishopdrum their fingertips on the wall to pass thetime more quickly. Every ecosystem containsits own hierarchy, and in this one White'sbishops rule. So it is no surprise that the pigand cow are viewed with contempt by thehorses on the farm.34.b6 c4 35.a5 f5 The war machinery

gets cranked, pumped, polished and readiedfor the final battle: an unequal pawn race.Black hopes to jury-rig the contraption to get itmoving, but his majority is just too slow. Thetrouble is that Black's pawns receive nosupport from the bishop and knight, a couplelong out of love, who remain together to keepup appearances for the sake of their children.

36.c7 a3 The first-class passengerexpected better accommodations. Instead, hegets stuck in the aft cabin on a3.

37.e2 d5? The bishop desperately tries toclose the sluice gate before the dam leakfloods the town. Now Black's hopes dim, likelights going off one by one in a skyscraper.

[ His last prayer is 37...b1 38.c4 c3 39.d3 . ]

38.a6 c4 EXERCISE (planning): Gentleadvice didn't work, so the time has arrived fora stern rebuke to Black. How do we force thepassed a-pawn through?ANSWER: Eliminate the defender of thequeening square. The black bishop rolls overlike a dead beetle.

39.f3! SUMMARY: Black's plan of ...Ne7!and ...Ne4! is one of the better ones againstthe Zukertort.1-0

D05Bruzon Batista,LAnand,V

Leon (rapid) 2006[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.d3 c5 5.b3 d6 6.0-0 0-0 7.b2 c6 8.bd2 cxd4I realize this move is played quite often, but Iam not convinced of its accuracy. Just as inColle proper, I think an early exchange on d4only helps White.QUESTION: Why?ANSWER: Since White usually goes for akingside attack, central tension favours thedefender, Black. In this case it is very hardnow for Black to make a dent in White'squeenside fortress. Meanwhile, White easilybuilds up on the other wing.

9.exd4 b6 10.a3 Good timing. Whiteprevents annoying ideas like ...Nb4, followedby ...Ba6.

b7 11.e5 c7 [ QUESTION: Can Black get centralcounterplay with the line 11...xe5 12.dxe5

d7 , intending ...Nc5 next?ANSWER: Perhaps so, but then White cancontinue 13.h5 ( or 13.f4 c5

14.xh7+!? xh7 15.h5+ g8 16.f3 e4 17.ae1 , J.Banoci-P.Trojacek,Tatranska Lomnica 1997, though I don't fullytrust White's compensation after f6 ) 13...h6

14.b4 a5 15.b5 e7 16.f3 , which hasthe feel of a slightly inferior French Defencefor Black. ]

12.e2 e7 Anand – the world's bestdefensive player, in my opinion – enlistsreinforcements to assist his king.

13.f4 What I love most about the reversedStonewall attacks, in the Zuke and in theColle proper, is that they are so easy to playfor White and so difficult for our opponents.

b5 14.f3 Here we go! ac8 An instructive moment in the Zuke:Black threatens ...Ne4!. White must defend hisc-pawn on the next move to prevent it.

15.c1 [ I think 15.c3! is an improvement forWhite.QUESTION: Why? That move looks uglyand unnatural.ANSWER: Despite the external ugliness, Iprefer it for these reasons:1. White may then use the a1-rook for theattack, rather than hire it as a babysitter forc2.2. By playing the pawn to c3, White gains atempo, since b5 suddenly hangs.3. White even may go for the plan b3-b4 andNb3-c5, negating the bad aftertaste of hisbackward (but not-so-weak) c-pawn. ]

15...b4! 16.a4 After this natural move, Anandmakes use of his hold on c3.

[ Perhaps White can try 16.axb4 xb4 17.h3 . ]

16...g6 17.cf1 Slowly, Bruzon's piecesapproach Anand's king.

e4! Principle: Counter in the centre whenattacked on the wing. Anand, in puredesperation mode, makes the most of hisresources. I read that intense competition hasthe effect of producing greater aggression inthe defender as well, from a Darwinianstandpoint. Apparently, in the Palaeolithic era,even herbivores were more aggressive thantoday's models, mainly due to an abundanceof carnivorous predators in their midst. Theywere forced to toughen up to survive. Theproof: Don't you play better and moreinventively when you are desperate or busted?

I do!18.h3

[ 18.xe4? would be a dumb way to getdistracted and mess things up. Black standsslightly better after dxe4 19.xe4 xe420.xe4 xc2 and regains the pawn withan edge. ]

18...f5 Black defended well.19.xe4! Destroying a key defender bydepriving Black of ...Nf6.

[ I prefer this line over 19.xe4 dxe420.c4 f6 21.h5 f8 which looks okayfor Black. ]

19...dxe4? [ He had to try 19...xe5! 20.dxe5 fxe421.h5 f7! . Even here, Black looks likehe is under some pressure after 22.f5!. White's pawns entwine, like bramblesaround a castle. Houdini says "equal" atthis point, but after fiddling with thisposition a few times, the comp humblychanges its mind and offers an apology ifyou play out about eight moves. ]

20.h5 The queen swoons into the waitingarms of relevance. Self-expression ceases toexist within the hive mind. White's piecesmindlessly swarm with unified intent,simultaneous motion and lethal synchronicity.Life sometimes obliges us to endure severetrials. Last year my wife browbeat me intoattending an Abba tribute concert by the SanDiego Symphony. Anand must have felt thesame feelings of helpless despondency hereas I did during the concert when they played'Dancing Queen'. I remember watching thisgame live with depressing trepidation for mybeloved countryman, Anand, at this point. Heis a great defender, but I had a bad feelingabout his one!

xe5 21.fxe5 xc2!? Anything to dredge upeven a morsel of counterplay. Thequarrelsome confederacy of defenders eachdo their own thing, at a high cost to the kingthey are supposedly protecting. Thisquestionable indulgence, bordering on rash,was obviously not the by-product of deeprumination on Black's part. His heavily taxedqueen can't simultaneously be greedy andprotect her king. She simply takes on toomany tasks. The queen's wanderings remindme of the Crosby, Still, Nash and Youngsong: "Where are you going to now my love?Where will you be tomorrow? Will you bringme happiness? Will you bring me sorrow?" Myguess is sorrow!

[ Black's last move makes matters worse, butif he tries to pull the trick 21...f7this time, it fails to 22.c4! cd8 23.g4with a winning attack. ]

22.xh7+ f7 23.g3 xd2 [ 23...xb2 24.xg6+ e7 25.g5+ e8(the king cycles up and down like a piston)26.h5+ does the job as well. ]

24.xg6 g8 EXERCISE (combination alert):The networks and passageways of theattacking lines flow with effortless co-ordination. How can White tear away the finalvestiges of Black's resistance?ANSWER: The rook sac, like a flat tyre, stopsBlack cold. Now subtlety and nuance go out ofthe window as the game degenerates into aBenny Hill chase scene.25.xe6!! xe6 26.xf5+ The queenstomps by with an "I-won't-discuss-it"-ness toher expression.

e7 A wild animal caught in a hunter's trap,twists, corkscrews and flails about to no avail.

[ 26...d5 27.d7# is mate at once. ]27.f7+ d8 The tipped cow fails to find thestrength to get up again.28.e6! Forcing mate in nine moves.

e3!? A homeless person doesn't worry muchabout robbery. He has no possessions orwallet to protect. Oops, this allows mate onthe move. Luckily Anand resigned beforeBruzon could deliver the mate.SUMMARY: Just as in the Colle proper, I feelBlack makes a concession if he goes aheadwith an early ...c5xd4.1-0

D05Summerscale,AJimenez Macias,S

Andorra 1991[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3[ Compare the current game with this classicby Lasker: 1.f4 d5 2.e3 f6 3.b3 e64.b2 e7 5.d3 b6 6.f3 b7 7.c3

bd7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e2 c5 10.g3 c711.e5 xe5 12.xe5 c6 13.e2 a614.h5 xh5 15.xh7+!! (at the time acompletely new sacrificial idea) xh716.xh5+ g8 17.xg7! xg7 18.g4+

h7 19.f3! e5 20.h3+ h6 21.xh6+ xh6 22.d7 , winning a piece and thegame, Em.Lasker-J.H.Bauer, Amsterdam

1889. ] 1...c5 2.e3 The Summerscale Accelerated?

[ White deviates from my beloved 2.c3move order. ]

2...e6 3.d4 f6 4.d3 d5 5.b3 e7Black posts on e7 this time, and for theremainder of the chapter.6.b2 0-0

[ Here is another game where Black postedhis knight on d7 to discourage d4xc5:6...bd7 7.bd2 b6 8.0-0 b7 9.e2 0-010.e5 c7 11.a3 a6 12.f4 b5 13.xd7!(driving a defender away from Black's king)

xd7 14.dxc5! xc5 (and now the Laskercombination reincarnates) 15.xh7+! xh716.h5+ g8 17.xg7! xg7 18.g4+1-0 L.Filatov-S.F.Mayer, Philadelphia 2000. ]

7.0-0 bd7 QUESTION: Why d7 rather thanc6?ANSWER: GM Aaron Summerscale writes:"One danger for Black, in the ...Nc6 lines, isthat White will play d4xc5 at an opportunemoment, in preparation for the elimination ofthe Nf6. By deploying the knight to this slightlyless active square, Black correctly defendsagainst this possibility."8.bd2 b6 9.e5 As always in the Zuke,our knight whispers along, the way a cheetahnears her prey.

xe5 QUESTION: Shouldn't Black refrainfrom this capture?ANSWER: If Black refuses to take, then Whitebacks up the knight with f2-f4 next move.10.dxe5 d7 11.f4 Stonewall or pseudo-Stonewall, the f-pawn will not be denied.

b7 12.h5 Provoking a pawn weaknessaround Black's king.

g6 [ QUESTION: Wouldn't 12...h6 be better?ANSWER: Summerscale answers: "Ifinstead Black had played ...h7-h6, he wouldhave to watch out for the strong advance g2-g4-g5." ]

13.h3! QUESTION: Shouldn't White's queenhave infiltrated to h6 instead?ANSWER: The h3-square is superior for threereasons:1. If the queen enters h6 Black gains time and,more importantly, a defender after ...Re8 and...Bf8.2. On h3 the queen prevents ...f7-f6 or ...f7-f5central counters, since e6 hangs after e5xf6(en passant).3. On h3, the queen prepares a pawn stormattack with g2-g4-g5 and f4-f5.

b5! Admittedly, this is a move permeatedmore with optimism than efficiency. Still, itremains a good practical try. If given a freehand, White will overwhelm his opponent onthe kingside. So Black sensibly offers a pawnas a distraction, in order to create his owncentral and wing counters.14.xb5 QUESTION: Must he accept?ANSWER: Acceptance, is best since Black willplay the annoying ...c5-c4 if given the chance.

a5 Double attack on b5 and d2.15.xd7 xd2 16.f2 Everything iscovered.

b4 Black counted on this position when hesac'ed the pawn, hoping to shut White's light-squared bishop out of play.17.a3 b6 EXERCISE (planning): Whiteeyes an f4-f5 break. How can he accomplishthis feat?ANSWER: By playing it without furtherpreparation. The not-so-out-of-play d7-bishoprevolves in a distant orbit around f5.18.f5! gxf5 QUESTION: What happens if hehad captured with his e6-pawn?

[ ANSWER: Much the same theme: 18...exf519.xf5! d4 ( 19...gxf5 20.xf5 transposesto the game ) 20.f2 ad8 21.exd4 cxd422.e6 with an extra pawn and the initiative. ]

19.xf5! Given the threat of Rh5, Black hasno choice but to accept the sacrifice.

exf5 20.xf5 h6 EXERCISE (criticaldecision): White is down a full rook and mustfind the correct path for attack. How wouldyou proceed?ANSWER: Interference. White's forces, liketime, only move in one direction.21.e6! g5

[ 21...fxe6?? 22.xh6 mates quickly. ] [ After 21...g5 one bishop on g5 is overlypious, while the other on b7 needs a liberaldose of faith in the defensive endeavour.The bony tree, now devoid of leaves andall variety of green, clings to life in the aridwasteland.EXERCISE (combination alert): FindWhite's stunning shot and all becomesclear. ]

ANSWER: Deflection. Once again, Lucy pullsthe football from under Charlie Brown's feet.The gallivanting bishop greets his counterpartwith courteously cold, guarded recognition anda respectful nod of the head.22.f6!! fxe6?

[ Not very tempted, the bishop foregoes theunenticing offer of a mouldy hors d'oeuvre

on f6, as 22...xf6?? 23.xh6 mates intwo. ]

[ Black's only path to continued resistance is 22...ae8! 23.xg5 xe6 24.xe6 xe6 25.xh6 xh6 26.xh6 , although theopposite-coloured bishops probably won'tsave Black, two pawns down. ]

23.xe6+ The starved, rival crows contendwith angry cadence over ownership of theunlucky cricket on g8.

f7 24.xg5! hxg5 25.f1 af8When a boxer, on his back, looks up at theblurry, spinning form of the opponenthovering over him, while the ref counts:"seven, eight, nine...!", we can surmise thathe experiences a rather undesired vantagepoint.EXERCISE (combination alert): Black's king,shorn of defenders, feels a palpable, nakedsense of not-there-ness. One powerful moveends it.ANSWER: The black king's mind spins into adark oblivion, as a hidden assailant holds himdown in a vice grip, while a partner appliesthe chloroformed rag to mouth and nose.

26.f6! In ancient times, oppressors poweredtheir ships by chaining galley slaves, rowupon row, and forcing them at whip-point tostrain at their oars. Black must hand over hisqueen to prevent Rg6 mate.SUMMARY: When Black exchanges early one5, we still retain a promising attack.1-0

D05Yusupov,ASpiridonov,N

European Team Championship, Plovdiv 1983[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 [ Another game of mine went 2.d2(we look more at this strange move order inChapter Nine) d5 3.gf3 e6 4.e3 bd7

5.d3 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.c4 b6 8.b3(now we transpose to a Zukertort) b7

9.b2 c5 10.c1 c8 .QUESTION: Can White attain anything fromthe pure symmetry?ANSWER: Despite the symmetry, Whiteholds three advantages:1. It's his move, so White leads slightly indevelopment.2. Black's dark-squared bishop is more

passive than its white counterpart on d3.3. White's queen is soon out of the line offire and Black's is posted uncomfortably ond8.C.Lakdawala-K.Arnold, San Diego (rapid)2004, continued 11.e2 c7 12.cxd5

exd5 13.fd1 e4 14.a6 . Principle:Trade down when your opponent has thehanging pawns or isolani. White standsslightly better. ]

2...e6 3.e3 c5 [ A.Yusupov-R.Dautov, Essen 2000, saw 3...b6 4.d3 b7 5.0-0 d5 6.e5 d6 7.d2 bd7 8.f4 c5 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 cxd4 11.exd4 e4 (Black pounces on hishole) 12.xe4 (White hurries to seal e4with a pawn before Black reinforces it) dxe4

13.c4 a6 14.a4 d5 15.e2 a5 16.b5with a slight edge to White. ]

4.d3 d5 5.b3 c6 6.b2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.bd2 b6 9.e5 b4 As mentionedbefore, we need not fear this move. The lossof time is merely a temporary investment,soon to be recouped.

10.e2 b7 [ QUESTION: How do we respond if Blacktries to simplify with 10...cxd4 11.exd4 a6?ANSWER: We play 12.c3! , trapping Black'sknight. ]

11.f4 No rush to toss in a2-a3. e4 QUESTION: Why does Black engage inthis unforced knight move?ANSWER: Black wants to eject hiscounterpart on e5, so he clears the path for ...f7-f6.QUESTION: Do we swap on e4?ANSWER: Yes, in general, when Black plays...Ne4, you should take it, since it is in ourbest interests to gum up e4 with a black pawn.

12.xe4 dxe4 13.a3 d5 Only a temporarysquare for the knight, since c2-c4 is in the air.

14.d2 c8?! Black procrastinates, like aperson who buys a self-help CD titled "How toAvoid Procrastination" but doesn't botheropening the package when he gets home.

[ 14...f6 15.g4 should have been played.Black soon pays for his delay of ...f7-f6. ]

15.c4 f6 Now Black's knight prevents theneeded ...f7-f6.

16.ad1 d6 17.dxc5! xc5 18.c3!Advantage White, who has a healthyqueenside pawn majority, as opposed toBlack's less effective one on the kingside,while the white queen and bishop line up a

battery on the a1-h8 diagonal. e7 Threatening a3.19.f5! Hey, I said "threatening a3"! The f-pawn incites a frenetic uprising with greataplomb. White offers his a-pawn to allow thef1-rook to enter the fight. In doing so, hecontrols the narrative and asserts hisauthority by laying down the law.

[ QUESTION: Why didn't White try to clearthe diagonal with 19.g4 ?ANSWER: It fails to bother Black after e8, when a knight check on h6 doesn'taccomplish anything. ]

[ QUESTION: I question the need for such abrashly munificent gesture. Why not toss in19.b4 first, and then play f4-f5?ANSWER: Yusu's move wasn't motivated bypure generosity. If he refuses to sac, hisattack isn't as strong after d6 20.f5 exf521.xf5 e8 . ]

19...exf5?! Making matters worse. [ Houdini says Black must go for 19...cd820.b4 d6 21.fxe6 fxe6 with an inferior butstill playable position. ]

20.xf5 xa3 I repent...but not today! [ The bishop considers the offer with asurplus of enthusiasm, mainly because hehas no better options. For example:

20...cd8 21.xd8 xd8 22.g4 e7 ( 22...e8?? 23.h6+ picks off anexchange and a pawn ) 23.xf6+ xf624.xf6!! gxf6 25.xf6 e8 26.xd8 xd827.h5 leaves White with an extra pawn andthe initiative. ]

21.xa3 xa3 Black's queen, swaddled inher cocoon of luxury, but far away from herkingdom under siege, issues irrational orders,which her councillors have no choice but tofollow with grudging fidelity.EXERCISE (critical decision): Successfulimplementation of White's attack remainsevasive and partial. Would you go ahead andsac the exchange on f6?ANSWER: In a heartbeat.22.xf6! Yusupov dismantles Black's kingcover, converting a once efficient whole intoan ineffective, disembodied collective of spentforce. Now the power of White's attack shinesthrough, like lamplight thrown on ancientparchment.

gxf6 23.g4 c6 24.xf6+ xf6 25.xf6 xb3 Black's lonely king, ring in hand, dropsto one knee and proposes to his far-awayqueen, his soul mate, via Skype. Herresponse: "I think we should see other people.

" [ Instead, 25...c5 26.f2! (Black canbarely move) c6 27.d6 c8 28.h4!leaves Black curiously helpless against h4-h5-h6. ]

26.f2! Every white piece participates,including his king. The attackers busythemselves with the sound of industry.Hammers pound, spanners twist, and drillscorkscrew and bore, as the white war enginenears completion. Meanwhile, Black's pieceswatch in impotent, passive consternation atthe coming wave. His abandoned estate, nowovergrown with surrounding brambles,progresses in its state of sumptuousdegeneration.

a4 After sputtering about, due to a wrongturn, Black's queen hopes to expedite her tripkingward. Meanwhile, her king clearlyoverindulged last night. This morning he paysfor it with a splitting headache and bloodshoteyes, assaulted by the harsh glare ofmorning's light.EXERCISE (combination alert): Black justblundered in a lost position. Can you unearththe trick that Yusupov found?ANSWER: Altering the geometry just a shadeallows White a deadly double attack.27.g5+! The white queen is everywhere,like the disobedient hairstyle of a punk rocker.

h8 28.e7! White's queen looks downupon Black's scattered pieces with the eyes ofa disappointed teacher whose waywardstudents cut class.SUMMARY: Exchange and cork e4 with apawn when Black plays ...Ne4.1-0

D05Lakdawala,CGraves,P

San Diego (rapid) 2012[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.b3 QUESTION: What happened to theColle?

[ ANSWER: Patience. Colles arise in all sortsof strange shapes, forms and move orders.Compare the following game to the currentone. In both cases we see favourablequeenside versus kingside pawn majoritiesfor White: 1.d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 e64.d3 c5 5.b3 cxd4 6.exd4 d6 7.0-0

0-0 8.b2 c6 9.a3 b6 10.bd2 b7

11.e2 c7 12.e5 e7 13.f4 ac8 14.ac1 g6 15.g4! h5 16.h3 g7 17.c4 d8 18.c5! (daring Black to open the longa1-h8 diagonal) xe5 19.fxe5 (Black isstrategically busted on the dark squares)

d7 20.b4 hxg4 21.hxg4 h8 22.f3 bxc5 23.bxc5 c6 24.e3 e7 25.g2 f5? (strategic suicide: the f-pawn pushcirculates disorder in Black's camp, as ifdelivering advertising pamphlets to a carwindshield) 26.exf6+ xf6 27.g5(the queen presses her heel into the proneking's windpipe, rendering him helpless) h6

28.h1 ch8 29.xh6 xh6 30.e1 d8 31.e5 g8 32.c1 e8 33.f1 c6 34.f6! xf6 35.xh6+ g8 36.g51-0 A.Alekhine-S.Rosselli del Turco, Zürich1934. ]

1...c5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 e6 4.f3 f6 5.d4There we go.

cxd4 6.exd4 e7 7.d3 b6 8.0-0 b7 9.a3 c8 Black refuses to commit his d-pawnin this case, keeping White guessing whetherit will go to d6, d5, or remain where it stands.

10.bd2 c7 11.c1 QUESTION: Your lastmove looks odd. Why Rc1 here?ANSWER: Rc1 is nearly always useful in theZukertort. My idea was to meet ...Nd5 with c2-c4 and Bb1. I didn't want my rook getting stuckon a1 with a bishop on b1.

a8 Réti would be overjoyed. We see thatmy old friend, National Master Peter Graves,also suffered a misspent youth reading toomuch Nimzowitsch, just as your writer did.

12.c4 Now d4-d5 is in the air. So Black haltsit.

d5 13.c5! Another reason for the earlier Rc1:White plays for a queenside majority overBlack's kingside majority.QUESTION: Whose majority is the morefavourable?ANSWER: It depends upon two factors:1. Who can push his majority faster?2. Who can blockade or slow down theother's majority?In this case I believe White is ahead on bothcounts.

0-0 14.b4 bxc5 15.dxc5 a6 16.e1Keeping watch over Black's ability to surgeforward with ...e6-e5 at some later point.

d7 17.b3 f6 18.c2 xb2 19.xb2 e8 QUESTION: You said that it wasimportant for you to stop ...e6-e5, yet hereBlack can achieve just that. Why did youropponent decline to play such a thematic

move? [ ANSWER: His central pawns get blockadedand are under pressure. Here is someHoudini analysis: 19...e5 20.f5! e4

21.xd7 xd7 ( 21...exf3? 22.xc6 xc6 23.d4 should be winning ) 22.fd4 e5 23.c3 c6 24.a5 a4 25.c6 c7 26.g3 e8 27.c5 with a clear plus. ]

20.bd4! Removing a controller of e5. Therhino, a half ton of muscle and malevolence,begins his enraged, roaring charge.

xd4 21.xd4 f6 QUESTION: It looks likeyou didn't achieve your aim. Isn't ...e6-e5unstoppable now?ANSWER: Yes, ...e6-e5 may indeed becoming, but most of Black's pieces are on thequeenside, doing what hypermodern piecesdo. His king looked quite vulnerable to me.

22.h4 f8 The knight veers his boat intoan inlet on f8. Black is about to roll forwardwith his ominous-looking central majority. Wesee possibilities in all directions, like a singlerailroad track which arrives at a multiple-junction.EXERCISE (planning): Come up with a plan tobattle Black's intent.ANSWER: Provoke the move in order to takecontrol over f5.

23.d4! The interrogator's face, draped inshadow, becomes all the more frighteningwhen imagination is left alone to fill in thedetails. Now a tug of war begins, with ...e6-e5or not ...e6-e5 at its fulcrum.

c8 [ QUESTION: Shouldn't Black toss in 23...e5immediately?ANSWER: I agree with you that he should.His idea is to cover the f5-square first, but itlooks too slow. Nevertheless, I still thinkWhite's majority is faster after 24.f5 g6

25.g3 f4 26.d6 d8 27.a4 d4 28.xb7 xb7 29.b5 . ]

24.f4 Now ...e6-e5 weakens Black's king. d7 With tenuous trust degrading, Black'spieces eye the newcomer's potentialresidence on f5 with surly suspicion. Blackdesperately strives to get there, without quitedeciding the whereabouts of "there". If onesees a bridge, it logically follows that therewill be something on the other side. In thisstrange case we have the bridge to nowhere.Black's original intention, to achieve ...e6-e5gets garbled and diluted, like a rumour whichgets passed on second, third and fourth hand,fading further from reality just a bit more each

time. [ Risky or not, he should have played thethematic 24...e5 25.fxe5 fxe5 . ]

25.e3 c8 26.ce1 Now the blockade ofd4 and e5 is complete. Black is in deeptrouble.

g6?! The knight would be better off with alittle less zigging – and perhaps he should cutback on some of the zagging as well. Thatwas his best defender. All that remains ofBlack's castle, worn by time and itsaccompanying decrepitude, finally crumbles.27.xg6 hxg6 The ambitious remainingminor piece colleagues get caught up in a warof departmental politics, with the knight campseizing power.28.g4! The queen, obsessed and in thrall tothe prophecy of her own future greatness,continues on her journey to win the battlesingle-handedly. Such is the power of faith.

g5 [ Or 28...e5 29.xg6 and White's knight isimmune. ]

29.fxg5 e5 30.h5 g4 31.h4 f8A blunder in a lost position. Something isterribly wrong, like a man who returns homefrom work and spots a bloody handprint on thewall.32.g6 White's connoisseur queen wafts thesavoury smell toward herself and inhalesdeeply, relishing the prospect of fine dining onh7 ahead.SUMMARY: If Black holds back on his c-pawn,then let's expand with ours by playing c2-c4,grabbing central space.1-0

E14Keres,PTaimanov,M

USSR Championship, Moscow 1951[Cyrus Lakdawala]

In 1974 the Montreal chess scene was abuzzwith the news: the great EstonianGrandmaster Paul Keres was in town, giving asimul against the best of the city. (Sadly, yourbroken-hearted writer, despite doing his very"best" to be one the "best", was not includedin the "best" category, with his not-so-towering 1600 rating!) My heart pounded in myears. A legend, of whom I had only read (andre-read) came to life and entered my mundaneworld in flesh and blood.

1.c4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 e75.b3 0-0 6.b2 b6 7.d4 b7 8.d3 dxc49.bxc4 c5 10.0-0 cxd4 11.exd4 This time,Black, without reservations, hands White thehanging pawns, one of the trickiest and mostdynamic structures of the game.QUESTION: What are the strategies?ANSWER: This is a subject that almostrequires a book rather than a summary, buthere is the summary anyway:1. The side with the hanging pawns shouldavoid exchanges, since with each one hispawns become more vulnerable as theendgame approaches.2. The defender would generally love to forceone of the pawns forward and blockade thevacated square.3. The hanging pawns side should generallylaunch an attack, mainly due to the extraspace.4. The defender seeks exchanges and mustweather the middlegame, his most dangerouspoint, hopefully reaching a superior ending.

c6 12.e2! e8 To discourage White froma future d4-d5 (which he plays anyway!).

[ QUESTION: I realize a player like Keresdoesn't just give away free pawns, butdoesn't Black get away with the crime in theline 12...xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.d5

c5 ?ANSWER: The infallible law of karmapunishes all evildoers, if not in this life, thenthe next! All of White's pieces gazemenacingly at Black's king. From thisposition both Keres and Taimanov saw thecombination 15.xf6! gxf6 ( 15...xf616.e4! wins instantly ) 16.g4+ h817.h4! and wins. ]

13.fd1 c8 14.ac1 d6?! If giants of thegame like Keres and Taimanov mishandlehanging pawns positions, then imagine thechaos in store for the rest of us! This movegives White the opportunity to seize apowerful initiative.

[ Better was 14...b4! 15.b1 xf316.xf3! xc4 17.d5! , when White retainscompensation for his missing material. ]

15.b1?! In positions of such ferociouscomplexity, we tend to collate and extrapolate,but in the end, just best guess! The moment isnow.

[ Keres underestimated the power ofbreaking immediately with 15.d5! exd5

( natural, but the resulting positions allfavour White, as they do in the line 15...b4

16.b5 f4 17.e5 h6 18.d6 ) 16.cxd5 b4 17.b5! d8 18.xc8 xc8 19.d6! f8 ( 19...xd6?? 20.xf6! gxf6 21.xh7+!wins ) 20.xf6! (overloading Black's queen)

gxf6 21.xh7+! xh7 22.c4! , when thedouble attack on f7 and b4 regains the piecewith a decisive advantage, since a6??gets crushed after 23.xf7+ g7 24.d4

f5 25.d7 . ] 15...f4 Now Black is okay again. Theenemies glare wordlessly, with only the winddaring to make a sound. Black dares White tocommit to d4-d5.16.d5! And he does just that!QUESTION: This looks crazy. Why is Whiteopening the e8-rook's line to his own queen?ANSWER: Keres foresees that there is novaluable bishop discovery for Black.

exd5 17.cxd5?! [ 17.xd5! puts Black under tremendouspressure. ]

17...b8 [ QUESTION: Why not make use of thediscovered attack and play 17...a3 ?ANSWER: Because White has no plans tomove his queen! He gets way too much for itafter 18.dxc6 xe2 19.cxb7 xc3 20.xc3!

f8 21.c8 . ]18.d4 "Hit the road, Jack! And don't youcome back no more, no more, no more, nomore!"

d6 19.cd1 f8 20.e4! White's forcesawaken, vibrantly alive, soon turning their furytoward Black's king.

xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 h6?The black queen's expensive clothes give heraway as a person of substance whoinadvertently strayed into a dangerousneighbourhood. Now she nervously enduresthe raucous laughter and lewd catcalls of thelocal thugs, as she quickly tries to outpaceher threatening surroundings. Realization ofthe plight begins to take hold and Blackbegins evasive manoeuvres.

[ It was necessary to endure 22...g6 23.d4 f6 24.h4! with an inferior but still playableposition. ]

[ EXERCISE (combination alert): In hisattempt to avoid weakening, Taimanovallows White's attack to grow out of control.How would you conduct the attack after

22...h6 ? ]23.g5! ANSWER: Overload. From this pointon, Keres, in his element, grabs the initiativeand never lets go.

d6 [ Black can't even consider 23...g6??now, since 24.xf7! puts a quick end to thegame. ]

24.h4! Appallingly, every cat I ever had killedinnocent yard birds, not out of hunger for flesh,but just on principle, to prove to themselvesthat they were still hunters in their hearts.White's forces move assiduously in concerttoward a focused goal. Black is virtuallyparalyzed. Keres isn't satisfied with onemeasly pawn. He disdains the offer of h7 ascontemptible.

d7 25.f5! f6 26.xf6 gxf6 EXERCISE(combination alert): How can White obliteratethe flimsy defensive barrier?ANSWER: The undead knight arises, glowingwith demonic aura, from the centuries' longstasis in his coffin. He opens his wicked redeyes with a chilling smile. (Sorry about this.Please continue to endure. I'm sure by nowyou have correctly guessed that your writer isa wannabesomeday sci-fi/horror novel writerwho now takes his unfulfilled frustration outon his chess playing readers!) Black can onlyhelplessly watch as his world pitches andbuckles under him with appalling abruptnessin its ruination.27.xf7! c1!? Obviously, Black's positionis no longer in accord with his previousexpectations and he experiences bouts ofmisery, punctuated with panic attacks.Irrationality constitutes its own curious form ofenergy. The queen's secret propulsion andfuel source is her own craziness! Havingrecently gracelessly tripped and fallen on herroyal butt, the queen, without embarrassmentor loss of dignity, arises with ostentation andsplendour on c1. Taimanov dutifully tries toconfuse the issue with back rank tricks, butKeres remains one step ahead.28.xh7+ f8 29.xd6! Eliminating theback rank threat.

[ There was nothing wrong with thepedestrian 29.f1! either. ]

29...xd1+ 30.h2 xd5 31.xb7Nothing riles a person more than whenanother, without invitation, pilfers his rightfulproperty. White is material up and remainswith a strong attack.

e5+ 32.g3 c7 33.h8+ f7 Have youever been outside during hurricane-forcewinds? It's like getting a merciless beatingfrom Mother Nature. Black's king consoleshimself in the aftermath with the surprising

fact that he survived the maelstrom andremains among the living – albeit barely.34.h5! White comes in with the relief pitcher.

xb7 35.h7+ e6 36.xb7 xh5+37.g2 SUMMARY: My feeling is thatallowing White hanging pawns is one ofBlack's best and most dynamic ways to meetthe Zukertort – despite White's scary initiative,Black's long-term chances should fullycompensate. The only problem is that thepositions are exceptionally difficult for Blackto play, mainly due to White's seeminglynever-ending initiative. In this game wewitnessed a vivid example of the inversecorollary between long-term chances andinitiative in the present. In this case, the sidewith the initiative emerged as the clear winner.1-0

Chapter Five

Colle Versus Slav

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 c6 4 c4Good tidings for the Colle clan - our set-up is currently the darling of the top players in the world, and is actually considered one of White's best chances to extract an edge against the solid Slav, no matter how Black responds:

1. Black may develop the light-squared bishop to f5, in reversed London style. The bishop believes himself to be ofhigh status and social breeding - and so our knight, as if settling an old score, hunts him down.

2. Black develops the bishop to g4, in reversed Torre fashion. This time we chase it down with h2-h3, g2-g4 andNe5, to obtain the bishop pair. Our knight approaches its target with mingled enthusiasm and confidence. Once again our belligerent conduct belies our seemingly meek, outer Colle appearance.

3. Black voluntarily locks his bishop inside his pawn chain, in reversed Colle/Semi-Slav style, as Deep Blue didversus Kasparov. In this case we reach positions from Chapter Two, but in reverse, where our extra tempo matters in the open symmetry. White simply plays Bd3 and e3-e4 with an edge.Carlsen-GelfandBareev-NepomniachtchiInarkiev-PostnyKasparov-Deep Blue

Index

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 c63...Bf5 4 c4 c6 – Carlsen-Gelfand3...Bg4 4 c4 c6 – Bareev-Nepomniachtchi

4 c4

4 c44...a6 – Inarkiev-Postny4...e6 5 Nbd2 – Kasparov-Deep Blue

D12Carlsen,MGelfand,B

Wijk aan Zee 2012[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.c4[ Our Colle move order may run 2.f3 f63.e3 f5 4.c4 c6 . ]

2...c6 3.f3 f6 4.e3 f5 A critical line ofthe Slav arises. We Colle guys never get anycredit. All annotators call this position a Slav,when it's actually also a Colle!QUESTION: It looks to me like we handedBlack effortless equality. Black's bad bishopsits outside of the pawn chain, while ours isstuck inside. Correct?ANSWER: Matters are not that simple. At thehighest levels, this set-up is one of White'smost popular choices against the Slav. Thereis no way Carlsen, Kasparov, and Kramnikwould play this position with the white piecesif they didn't believe in it. In my Slav book, Imentioned that this system is one of the mostchallenging for Black.QUESTION: I don't see a single difficulty forBlack. What is the issue?ANSWER: For one thing, the bishop on f5may be more of a liability than an advantage.White often tosses in an early Nh4, huntsdown the bishop, and then tries to milk thebishop pair, just as Carlsen did in this game.5.c3 QUESTION: Heresy? We Colle fanslike to play our knights to d2.ANSWER: Development to d2 is also possible,but we should keep an open mind. I see nogood reason to play the knight to a passivesquare when we have access to a rung higherup on the ladder at c3. Other moves:

[ a) 5.cxd5 (while strong GMs play this, Idon't have any faith in White's ability toextract anything) cxd5 6.b3 c7 7.d2

c6 8.c3 e6 9.c1 , S.Shipov-E.Bareev,Internet (blitz) 2004. One can argue thatBlack's queen is misplaced on the c-file. Butis it enough for White? I doubt it. Blackshould equalize without too much difficulty,since White's dark-squared bishop sitsinside the pawn chain. ]

[ b) 5.d3 (a no-nonsense approach: Whiteswaps off Black's good/bad bishop andsingle-mindedly tries to achieve e3-e4, witha slight space advantage) xd3 6.xd3 e6

7.0-0 bd7 8.bd2 e7 9.e4 dxe410.xe4 0-0 11.f4 xe4 12.xe4 a5

13.fd1 ad8 14.h3 fe8 , Bu Xiangzhi-Ma.Carlsen, Bilbao (blindfold rapid) 2007.On paper White seems better with his extraspace. In reality, Black is solid and canlook forward to equality. I havesuccessfully defended such positions manytimes and I can tell you with confidence,Black really doesn't stand worse here. ]

[ c) 5.b3 b6 6.c3 e6 7.c5 c78.h4 (I feel that Black equalizes, evenhanding over the bishop pair, if he caninduce c4-c5 from White) e4 9.f3 g610.xg6 hxg6 11.f4 bd7 12.g3 b6(chipping away at White's extra space, whomust now swap his advanced c-pawn forBlack's a-pawn) 13.cxb6 axb6 14.g2 d615.d2 g5! 16.fxg5?! (he should haveignored it) g4 17.g6 xg3+! gave Black adecisive attack, "sovaco"-C.Lakdawala,Internet (blitz) 2009. ]

[ d) 5.bd2 (I don't have much trust in thepure Colle move here; Black should equalizedue to White's passive choice) h6!(the early ...h7-h6 is possible, only becauseof White's knight on d2, rather than c3)6.e2 e6 7.0-0 bd7 8.b3 d6 9.b2is equal, A.Graf-A.Beliavsky, SpanishTeam Championship 2005. Essentially Blackhas obtained a favourable set-up against aZukertort. ]

5...e6 [ QUESTION: Why can't Black just preservehis bishop with 5...h6 instead?ANSWER: It doesn't work when White'sknight is posted on c3. For example: 6.cxd5

cxd5 7.b3! (coverage of both b7 and d5 isvery awkward for Black, who lands in aninferior position, no matter what he playshere) b6? ( the admittedly nauseating

7...c8 was necessary ) 8.b5+!(White wins a pawn, with the superiorposition) bd7 9.xd5 xd5 10.xd5

e6 11.xe6! fxe6 12.e5 and Black canresign since the coming ending is hopeless,G.Vescovi-M.Amaral, Sao Caetano do Sul1999. ]

6.h4! White's key idea in this line: huntingdown the bishop pair.

g6 This modest bishop retreat may beBlack's best, since it offers him solid ifsomewhat passive play.QUESTION: Isn't it better to make White workharder by playing the bishop to g4 or e4,forcing White to weaken, and possiblyoverextend, if he wants the bishop pair?

ANSWER: One player's overextension isanother's space advantage! White's extrapawn pushes probably help more than harm.Let's look:

[ a) 6...g4 7.b3 b6 8.h3 h5 9.g4 g6 10.xg6 hxg6 11.g2 and White'sextra kingside space only benefits him here,E.Bareev-A.Shomoev, Krasnoyarsk 2007. ]

[ b) 6...e4 7.f3 g6 8.b3 b6 9.xg6 hxg6 10.d2 d6 and now:

A) 11.h3!? bd7 ( 11...g3+ 12.d1doesn't bother White ) 12.0-0-0 xb313.axb3 a6 14.c2 h5 15.d3 g316.he1 , when White's advantageremains slight but steady, Ma.Carlsen-F.Vallejo Pons, Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2011.Carlsen went on to convert his bishop pairinto a full point.;

B) 11.f4 (more normal) bd7?!(he should swap queens immediately, buteven then White holds an edge for a longtime to come) 12.c5! (a move whichensures the superior ending) xb313.axb3 e7 14.b4 and White's extraspace, queenside initiative and bishop pairgave him a clear endgame advantage, C.Lakdawala-"CtAwesome", Internet (blitz)2012.;C) 11.-- ]

7.xg6! It's amazing how quickly theorychanges. At the time I wrote my Slav book,this was thought to give Black good play downthe h-file.

hxg6 8.d3!? Grandmaster RuslanScherbakov writes: "Strangely enough, thissimple developing move is rarely played inthis position."

[ 8.g3 and ] [ 8.d2 are the main lines. ]

8...bd7 [ 8...dxc4 9.xc4 bd7 may transpose tothe game, ]

[ while 8...c5 opens the position for White'sbishop pair: 9.b3 d7 10.cxd5 exd511.dxc5 xc5 12.b5! xb5 13.xb5with the more pleasant ending for White, V.Kramnik-B.Gelfand, European Cup, SaintVincent 2005. ]

9.0-0! QUESTION: Didn't White just castleinto an attack?ANSWER: Based on this game, apparentlynot!

d6 10.h3 [ 10.g3 also looks quite good for White. Forexample: 0-0 ( Black doesn't want to risk

10...e7 , thinking about castling queenside,since 11.e4 should give White an edge inthe coming complications ) 11.a3 e8 12.c5

c7 13.f4! h7 14.b4 and Black foundhimself getting squeezed, P.Tregubov-C.Marcelin, French Team Championship2006. ]

10...dxc4 QUESTION: Why hand White thecentre?ANSWER: If Black retains the tension for toolong, White usually plays c4-c5, followed by f2-f4, grabbing more space and clamping downon e5.11.xc4 0-0

[ Gelfand hoped to improve upon 11...b612.b3 e5 13.c2 e7 14.d2 0-0-015.d5! e4 16.dxc6 e5 17.f4 exf318.xf3 g4 19.cxb7+ b8 20.hxg4 h1+21.f2 xa1 22.e2 , when Carlsen wenton to win in mad complications, Ma.Carlsen-B.Gelfand, Moscow 2011. ]

12.c2 e7 [ Gelfand isn't likely to fall for 12...e5??13.xg6 . ]

13.d1 ac8 14.d2 b6 [ 14...c5 was also possible. ]

15.f1 Just in case his king needs protection. e5 16.dxe5 xe5 17.ac1 cd8 18.e1QUESTION: Does White have anything withhis bishop pair? His position looks passive tome.ANSWER: Scherbakov answers: "Thisunbalanced pawn structure is more promisingfor White, who is going to exchange all themajor pieces and enjoy his pair of bishops inthe ending." I add this – please open yournotebooks and yank out your yellowhighlighter pens: The bishop pair matterswhen the pawn structure remains fluid.

xd1 19.xd1 d8 20.xd8+ xd8 21.g3 e7 22.g2 d6 23.d2

[ 23.a3! prevents ...Nbd5 and ...Nb4. ] 23...e6 24.b3 bd5 25.e2 b4 26.b1White's queen squirms and shimmies about,calling for help with needy beckonings.

f5! Gelfand has conducted a model defencefrom Black's side and may stand equal at thispoint. He provokes e3-e4, which weakensWhite's dark squares.27.e4 c5 28.f4 g5! 29.e2!

[ 29.d3 d4! holds the balance. ] 29...g4 30.h4 d7? Right square, wrongpiece. This natural, innocent-looking movecosts Gelfand the game.

[ The correct plan eludes like a half-

remembered dream – e5 cries out, full ofwhispered promises. Black is okay if heutilizes e5 for his bishop instead: 30...e5!31.e3 d6! , when the a7-pawn really isn'ten prise due to ...c6-c5. ]

31.e3! All eyes fall upon the bishop. Hebows low in ostentatious hauteur uponentering the room. Out of nowhere, White winsa pawn. Suddenly Black must watch over a7and also Qd1, with a pile-up on the d-file.

c2 The sisters pound each other's backsbefore hugging.

[ 31...b5 32.d1! doesn't changeanything. ]

32.xc2 xc2 33.xa7 a3 34.c3 b235.d1 c1 36.f1 b4

[ 36...e5 puts up greater resistance. ]37.a4 f6 38.e5 d7 39.d4 c2 40.c3

c5 41.e2 e4 Gelfand's mantra in thisdifficult position drives him forward and feedshim much-needed energy: "Persevere. Survive."

[ After 41...xb3 42.xg4 f8 43.f4, White's kingside super-majority shouldwin. ]

42.xg4 xc3 43.xc3 b2 Gelfand hadcounted on this position to save himself.White's band looks about as intimidating asthose dancing Jets and Sharks gangs from'West Side Story'.EXERCISE (combination alert): White's knighton c3 hangs, as does his e5-pawn behind it.Is White destined to return the pawn? Or isthere a sneaky way to hang on to it?ANSWER: 44.e6! Zwischenzug! Whiteextricates himself with the nasty threat: e6-e7!.Now Black's position is riddled with too manydefensive liabilities and his game dawdlesinto splendid disarray, despite theexasperated supervision of his minor pieces.

fxe6 Black slams on his brakes and his tyresscreech in grudging resentment.

[ 44...f6 45.e2 d4 46.f4 f8 47.b4 e7 may have required more accuracy fromWhite, but he should convert after 48.d3

c3 49.a5 c2 50.c5 . ]45.xe6+ f8 46.e4 The once vibrantblack initiative is no more than a wheat field'sdried husks after the drought.

d4 47.g5 e7 48.g8 f8 49.c4 e7 50.g2 b5?! Gelfand outsources aportion of his misery to the queenside. Thisimpatient move hands White a passed a-pawn.51.g8 f8 With taut nerves and a hint of

aplomb, Black's king confronts the whitebishop and also the ordeal looming before him.Is the position a forced draw by repetition?The toiling servant on f8 dreams of a life oflazy days and laughter, but he knows in hisheart this will never be.EXERCISE (combination alert): White'sbishop is under attack. Or is it?ANSWER: The police are left coughing fromthe spewing exhaust trailing from the a-pawn's getaway car. Ignore the "threat" andcreate a deadly passed a-pawn.52.a5! A bellowed answer to a whisperedquestion. In his moment of need, Black'sposition experiences a dreadful lack.QUESTION: Why did Black resign?

[ ANSWER: The chairman calls the meetingto order to discuss the recently failedventure. Just before giving up we normallytend to panic, and then, realizing panic is ofno help, we give up on the panic! Gelfandtrusted Carlsen's technique after 52.a5 a3(the atheist bishop mutters a prayer as hesees the outline of the avenging angelapproaching a8 impossibly quickly from theheavens) 53.f7 c5 54.h3 a755.g4 , when White should convert withoutmuch difficulty.SUMMARY: Equality isn't so easy for Blackafter the critical 6 Nh4!. ]

1-0

D11Bareev,ENepomniachtchi,I

Russian Cup, St Petersburg 2009[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.c4[ Our normal Colle move order would run2.f3 f6 3.e3 g4 4.c4 c6 , when wetranspose to the game position. ]

2...c6 3.f3 f6 4.e3 g4 The reversedTorre Attack.QUESTION: What is the difference betweenthis line and last game's reversed LondonSystem?ANSWER: Not much. The positions and plansfor both sides tend to be quite similar. In thiscase, too, White hunts down the bishop pairfor an edge.5.h3

[ Usually 5.c3 e6 6.h3 just transposes. ] 5...h5 QUESTION: What if Black takes on f3

immediately to lure White's queen to f3,perhaps an offside square?

[ ANSWER: This may be slightly moreaccurate: f3 can indeed be an awkwardsquare for White's queen, since ...e6-e5 canbe hard to meet later on. White generallyretreats back to d1, reasoning that thebishop pair is worth more than a tempo. Forexample: 5...xf3 6.xf3 e6 7.c3 bd78.d2 g6 ( 8...d6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 e811.d1 and there it is, the queen retreat –White claims a tiny edge, V.Akobian-C.Lakdawala, Reno 2006 ) 9.d1 (there it isagain) g7 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 e712.c1 fd8 13.c2 dxc4 14.xc4 c515.dxc5 xc5 16.fd1 ac8 17.e1with a position very similar to the first gameof this chapter; White's bishop pair shouldhand him the edge, P.Leko-V.Anand, Nice(rapid) 2009. ]

6.c3 e6 7.g4 This is the real differencebetween the reversed Torre and the reversedLondon. In the Torre version White isobligated to play h2-h3 and g2-g4 to bag thebishop pair, while in the previous game, Blackresponded to Nh4 with ...Bg6 with White'skingside pawns still intact.QUESTION: Having played g2-g4, is this astrength or a weakness for White?ANSWER: Well, this point is debated. Havingplayed the Slav for decades, my opinion isthat it actually helps White. So I generallyswap immediately on f3, rather than retreatthe bishop to h5.

g6 8.e5 bd7 9.xg6 QUESTION:Why is this line so popular for Black, when hegives away the bishop pair?ANSWER: Every variation comes with its ownindividual issues and worries. In this case,Black hands over the bishop pair for othercompensations, such as solidity.

hxg6 10.a3 QUESTION: Is this necessary?ANSWER: No, it's just a preference. Whitejust wants to rule out ...Bb4 and may alsolater go for b2-b4.

[ Also played are 10.d2 , ] [ 10.cxd5 , ] [ 10.g5 , ] [ and 10.g2 . ]

10...c7!? A new move in the position. [ Black normally plays 10...g5here to prevent White's next move. Forexample: 11.d2 e7 12.f3 g6

13.0-0-0!? ( quite risky; White could take asafer route with 13.d3 and castle

kingside ) 13...dxc4 14.xc4 b5 15.d3 a516.e4 d5 17.b1 with a very sharpposition, E.Bareev-L.Bruzon Bautista, FIDEWorld Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2005. ]

11.g5!? This is not a move I would haveplayed, since it weakens f5, but again this is astylistic difference. I sense that White'sterritorial ambitions outnumber his ability toimplement them.QUESTION: How would you play White?

[ ANSWER: I would keep the pawn structuremore fluid, to enhance the bishop pair, withsomething like 11.d2 g5 12.f3 dxc413.xc4 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 . Even here,White's slight edge remains, but Blackretains solidity in return for White's bishoppair and space. ]

11...g8 Intending ...Ne7-f5.QUESTION: The retreat looks passive andunnatural. Why not jump into the hole on h5instead?ANSWER: That is also possible. PerhapsNepom fears that the knight might find itself inlimbo on h5. White simply puts his bishop one2 or g4, and Black's h8-rook must then baby-sit h5 at White's whim.12.cxd5 White doesn't want ...d5xc4 hangingover his head forever, so he exchangeshimself.

exd5 QUESTION: Is this the correct capture?ANSWER: Both recaptures are playable.Black simply picked the more dynamicversion.

[ Recapturing with the c-pawn leads topositions closer to the Exchange Slav. After

12...cxd5 White may prepare an eventual e3-e4 break. ]

13.d2 e7 14.d3 b6 15.g4The young heiress puts on airs of superiority,her tone, her manner immersed incondescension, despite the fact that all sheowns is due to her father's labours.

[ Perhaps White should consider 15.h4and retain queens on the board. ]

15...d7 Not a bad idea, aiming to curbWhite's attacking ambitions before they havea chance to flourish.16.xd7+ xd7 Abruptly, both remainingkings find themselves bachelors in an EvelessEden.17.b3 f5 18.f4 So far Black has defendedwell and may have achieved dynamic equality.However, his inadvisable next move disturbsthe fragile balance.

f6!? The lush kingside is the Venn diagram,

where both sides' interests overlap. Dangertends to proliferate when aspirations outrunprudence. Black percolates, configures anddigests the raw data, finally extracting aquestionable consensus: take over theinitiative! So he prods buttons and crankslevers in the hopes of reactivating rustymachinery.Perhaps this move is okay, but probably not. Ifeel like Black's activity spike doesn't make upfor the fact that he opens the position forWhite's bishops. His last move essentiallyunmoors his king from the safe haven of hisdefenders, friends and well-wishers.QUESTION: Then what would you suggest?

[ ANSWER: I like Black's game after acalmer move like 18...c8 , intending toplay to d6 next. ]

19.gxf6 gxf6 20.f2 e6 21.a4 c822.ag1 h6 23.e4! What on appearancelooks like rage is in reality just tough love.Hidden behind the mob boss' courteousrequest lies a veiled threat of unspeakableconsequences if the request is denied. Whitethematically opens the game for his bishops.Black's king feels the chill more than White'sfrom the breezes.

xd4? Black mistakenly intends to sac anexchange for a pawn, hoping to generatecompensation.24.f5+! Discovered attack.

gxf5 25.exd5+ cxd5 26.e1+ d627.f4+!? More just isn't enough when thereis the possibility of a lot more! White is nolonger interested in the exchange on h6.

[ Otherwise he can consolidate with 27.e3! c6 28.b5+ d7 29.xh6 xh630.xf5+ d8 31.e6 . ]

27...c5? Black's harried king pauses briefly,if only to change bandages and redress hiswounds. After Black's last move, we can makethe king wear despair like a garment. Whocares about an exchange on h6?EXERCISE (combination alert): The sight ofBlack's still-alive king is a rebuke to White, asign of his failure to hunt him down anddeliver mate. Let's fix that problem! Howwould you proceed with White's attack?ANSWER: The amorous b-pawn presses herbody against Black's king, who immediatelybacks up, only to receive a sloppy, out-of-sync kiss. Involve everyone, even the pawns!Now shots follow one another without end,repeating rhythms in a symphonic piece, asWhite's forces close in with cold efficiency.

28.b4+! c6 Black's king awakens with astart, struggling, but to no avail. Too manystrong arms hold him down.

[ Acceptance loses as well: 28...xb4(after climbing the sheer slopes of the cliff,nothing remains on top but an emptyhorizon) 29.xd5+ c5 30.c7 b8allows 31.c1+ b4 32.d5+ a533.d2+ xa4 34.a1+ a3 35.hb1and White forces mate in two moves. ]

29.b5! xb5 [ 29...b3 30.e6+ d7 31.xf5crushes Black. ]

30.xb5+ b6 It is human nature to attachpurpose to natural disaster, such as anearthquake or a flood. In reality, theunfortunates who perish may just be unlucky.31.e6+ White's rook scrapes his handstogether in a job-accomplished motion.SUMMARY: Just as in the ...Bf5 reversedLondon set-ups, White extracts an edge in the...Bg4 reversed Torre by chasing downBlack's bishop, after which he looks forward toa small edge.1-0

D11Inarkiev,EPostny,E

Greek Team Championship 2006[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.c4[ Our Colle move order would probably go2.f3 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c4 a6 , when wetranspose to the game position. ]

2...c6 3.f3 f6 4.e3 a6 The popularChebanenko Slav.QUESTION: What is the point of ...a7-a6? Itlooks purposeless.ANSWER: To save time and energy I will cutand paste, quoting from 'The Slav: Move byMove' (it is folly bordering on madness if youdon't order this book!): "I admit the movedoes look crazy, yet it contains the seed ofmany good possibilities:1. It prepares ...b7-b5, challenging White onhis c4-point. If White pushes to c5, thisstabilizes the centre which nearly alwaysfavours Black, who then plays for an ...e6-e5break.2. If White exchanges pawns on d5, he gets alame version of the Exchange Slav, since hisdark-squared bishop is stuck behind his pawn

chain.3. If White plays b2-b3, he must be on highalert, since it is Black who can break thetension in several ways on each move.4. If White plays a2-a4 to prevent ...b7-b5,then he must also pay the price of weakeningthe b4-square."5.d3 The most popular line. White cuts out...Bf5.

g4 ..so Black develops his bishop to theother available square. Black's position isexceedingly flexible. Other options:

[ a) 5...b5 6.b3 g4 7.bd2 e6and the continued queenside tension shouldfavour White. ]

[ b) 5...e6 6.b3 (essentially reaching aZukertort where ...c7-c6 is perhaps out ofplace for Black and even ...a7-a6 may notbe so useful) c5 , when we get a positionsimilar to Kasparov's versus Deep Blue inthe last game of this chapter, but possiblyan even better version for White. ]

[ c) 5...dxc4 6.xc4 e6 7.0-0 c5transposes to a main line of the Queen'sGambit Accepted. (I'll bet you neverdreamed you needed to study this line whenyou chose Colle!)QUESTION: I don't have a clue how to playthe QGA! What is White supposed to dohere?ANSWER: There are many ways to go. Mypersonal preference is for Kramnik'sfavourite endgame line 8.dxc5!? , where it isnot so easy for Black to equalize as itlooks. ( A Colle purist may also want to takeon the classical isolani positions, similar tothose we looked at in Chapter One, startingwith 8.a4 c6 9.e2 cxd4 10.d1 e711.exd4 0-0 12.c3 , when the side withgreater understanding of how isolanisfunction will probably emerge the winner. )]

[ d) 5...g6 (the solid Schlechter Slavformation, but with the Chebanenko ...a7-a6move tossed in) 6.0-0 g7 7.b3 0-0 8.b2

bd7 9.bd2 c5 10.e2 reaches aZukertort/Grünfeld-like position where Iprefer White's game, since Black took twomoves over his c-pawn break, S.Volkov-D.Jakovenko, Internet (blitz) 2004. ]

6.bd2 e6 7.b3 QUESTION: Back in theZukertort?ANSWER: Yes, but with these importantdifferences:1. In a standard Zukertort, Black's bishopgenerally remains inside his pawn chain – as

opposed to here, where Black's bishop is onthe outside.2. In this case, both ...a7-a6 and ...c7-c6 maynot be very useful for Black, so in essence wemay be tempi up on a normal Zuke.

bd7 8.b2 e7 9.c2 h5! We must beaware of this manoeuvre. As mentioned in thenotes above, Black plans ...Bg6, swapping offWhite's good bishop.QUESTION: How are we compensated forthis?ANSWER: In two ways:1. We gain time, as Black expends severaltempi on his manoeuvre.2. We seize queenside space with c4-c5 next.10.c5! g6 The stern bishop walks in,interpreting the situation as a den of depravity,and demands decorum from White's attackerson the b1-h7 diagonal.11.c3 0-0? A minor-looking error with majorconsequences. It turns out Black's king is alot safer if he swaps on d3.12.xg6 White waits for castling beforeagreeing to exchange on g6. In this way hedenies Black's rook use of the open h-file.

hxg6 13.b4 e8 14.a4 Clearly, White's b4-b5 break is more potent and feasible thanBlack's almost abstract ...e6-e5 central break.

c7 15.h4! A bold idea. White's motivationup to now, haze and gossamer, remainedconcealed to the world. Now everythingbecomes quite clear. White tries to exploit thefact that he hasn't castled yet to generate akingside attack. All the elements of a powerfulassault are present:1. Space.2. The defender lacks a central pawn break.After the slight alteration of just a single move,if we compare the teeming multiplicity ofadventurous plans and ideas of the now –admittedly, with his newfound precariousnessas well – with the drab uniformity of the before,we can clearly conclude that White's lot in lifehas changed for the better.

f5 Black takes some central space of his ownto keep his king safer.16.e2!? e8 17.ag1 a5! 18.bxa5 e5Possible now that White's c5-pawn has beenweakened.19.xe5 xe5 20.dxe5 xc5 21.f4With g2-g4 and h4-h5 coming. Black mustorganize a quick central counter or beoverwhelmed.

e6 22.f3 e7! QUESTION: What is theidea behind the retreat?

ANSWER: Excellent defence. Black'sreception is far from cordial. He hopes toclear the path for ...c6-c5 and ...d5-d4. It iscrucial for Black's survival that he continuesto harass White with central counters.23.g4 c5 24.h5 d4 This turns out to be tooslow, perverting and contaminating hisintention, and therefore his destiny. Bothkings are in danger. Perhaps hells come indifferent shapes and degrees of suffering?White's king thinks to himself with a malicioussmile: "Your hell is more painful than mine!"

[ After the plausible defence 24...fxg4Houdini unearthed a clever win for White:25.hxg6!! gxf3+ 26.f1! (threatening Rh8+)

f2 27.g2 , planning to double on the h-filewith a decisive attack. ]

25.gxf5 gxf5 Suddenly White's forces workas a team in perfect harmony. (Perhaps I amgetting off message, but I have never beeninterested in competing in team sports, mainlybecause I loathe high-fiving team-mates!)EXERCISE (combination alert): ContinueWhite's attack.ANSWER: Ignore the threat to the bishop. Theh-pawn gazes truculently in the direction of g7.26.h6!! With this move White subordinatesBlack's king into the shadows.

g6 [ 26...dxc3? 27.hxg7 xg7 28.e1!, planning to transfer the queen into theattack, leaves Black helpless. ]

27.b3 The conceited queen believes herexceptional good looks promise her anequally exceptional destiny. And she is right!

h7 Exasperated and bereft of options, theking throws up his hands in frustration as heabandons e6. Black's game, laden with sorrow,is beyond redemption. The variations weave inand out of one another in a tangle, like acomplex set of criss-crossing railway tracks.

[ Alternatives fail as well: 27...a6 28.exd4, ]

[ or 27...f7 28.xg6+! xg6 29.g1 . ]28.xe6 dxc3 29.b1! Seeking entry via b7.

a6 [ 29...a7 30.b6 a8 31.xb7 c232.b6 is also hopeless. ]

30.d5 xa4 31.xb7 c2+ 32.f1 xa533.xe7+ The rook issues a brusquesummons, and Black's king must submit innervous compliance.

h8 The wolves on both sides, just outsidethe range of sight from the firelight, gather inthe forest, seen only by the ambient glow of

yellow eyes. Black's attack looks ominous,but ours arrives first. Find one powerful shotand Black's castle falls. All that remains is abattered stone staircase ascending to aroofless nowhere.EXERCISE (combination alert): White to playand force mate.ANSWER: Black's king remains frozen inshock, mainly due to the blade-handleprotruding from his bleeding belly on h7.34.h7+!

[ White queen and rook raise arms infarewell: 34.h7+ xh7 35.d7+ f736.xf7+ h8 (Black's tired king has had itwith the grind of life and decides to join aretirement community for old kings on h8)37.g7# . Due to her exertions, beads ofsweat appear on the queen's forehead – butto Black's king, they appear as a jewelledtiara, enhancing her already radiantbeauty.SUMMARY: Let's Zuke our opponents whenthey play in Chebanenko fashion. In thiscase Black's ...a7-a6 may not be such auseful move for his side. ]

1-0

D30Kasparov,GComp Deep Blue

Philadelphia (6th matchgame) 1996[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3[ Our move order is 1.d4 d5 2.f3 f63.e3 c6 4.c4 e6 5.bd2 . The rest of theworld thinks this is a Semi-Slav. WeColleites know better. This is actually a kindof Zukertort Colle, as soon as White tossesin b2-b3. ]

1...d5 2.d4 c6 3.c4 e6 4.bd2 f6 5.e3QUESTION: Which side is playing the Colle?ANSWER: For now Black, since the position isa Semi-Slav, therefore a reversed Colle. Butthe situation soon reverses!

c5 QUESTION: Didn't Black just lose atempo?ANSWER: He did, but the comp's move isactually a theoretical recommendation basedon the philosophy that he should free himself("itself" in this case!) with ...c6-c5, sinceWhite's passively posted d2-knight allows it. Idon't agree though. White gets a Zukertort afull move up in this line, which has to

constitute an advantage for White's side. [ QUESTION: How do we play it if Blackcontinues in pure Semi-Slav fashion with

5...bd7 ?ANSWER: In that case we reach a positionfrom Chapter Two, but with coloursreversed! After 6.d3 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4

e5 White can probably extract an edge dueto his superior development by 9.cxd5 cxd510.exd5 exd4 11.e4! , A.Karpov-A.Shirov,Monte Carlo (blindfold rapid) 1995. WeColle players are accustomed to suchpositions, so we get the added edge offamiliarity as well. ]

6.b3 c6 7.b2 cxd4 Deep B contemplatesa fight against the hanging pawns.8.exd4 e7 9.c1 Kasparov is ready to takeon hanging pawns, but now the comp refusesto comply.

[ Alternatively, 9.d3 dxc4 10.bxc4 xd4!?11.xd4 e5 12.a4+ d7 13.b5 a614.b3 axb5 15.cxb5 0-0 was L.Pachman-M.Botvinnik, Munich Olympiad 1958, when Iprefer White's game just a tad more after16.c4 . ]

9...0-0 10.d3 d7?! An unnatural andpassive move, perhaps explained by the factthat Black, a comp, thinks in strange,unnatural ways.QUESTION: What would you suggest?

[ ANSWER: Don't stall – challenge Whiteimmediately by 10...dxc4 11.bxc4 b6

12.0-0 b7 13.e2 e8 14.fd1 f8with a sharp position, A.Shkliar-S.Beshukov,Krasnodar 2002. ]

11.0-0 h5?! More strange siliconmeanderings.

[ Once again, Black should pull the triggerand make White choose between hangingpawns or an isolani after 11...dxc4. I would probably opt for the knightrecapture, with a nice-looking isolani gamesince White owns e5. ]

12.e1 [ 12.g3 doesn't look so bad here either. Idon't see a way for Black to exploit theweakening. ]

12...f4 13.b1 d6 [ Now after 13...dxc4 14.bxc4 Black's piecesare oddly out of sync. ]

14.g3 g6 15.e5 c8 16.xd7!QUESTION: Why did you give White's lastmove an exclamation mark? He wasted threemoves (Nf3, Ne5 and Nxd7) to eliminateBlack's worst piece.

ANSWER: Kasparov thinks more long term.Without this bishop – bad or not – Black isnow discouraged from opening the positiondue to White's bishop pair.

xd7 17.f3 b4?! A superficial move. Itdoesn't bother White since he is happy to lifthis rook to e3. In fact, he later gains time onBlack's bishop with a2-a3.18.e3 fd8

[ QUESTION: How about 18...f5 for Black, totry and generate an attack and make hayout of White's weakening g2-g3 move? ]

[ ANSWER: Attacks rarely succeed frompositions of strategic inferiority. Yoursuggestion favours White after 18...f5?19.g5! f6 20.a3 d6 21.h5 f8and now the shot 22.xe6! with a clearadvantage in every line. ]

19.h4 [ Perhaps the immediate 19.c5is more accurate. The parties continue in aholding pattern, neither side willing tocommit. Kasparov is slow to play c4-c5,while the comp refuses to comply andexchange on c4. ]

19...ge7?! The confused computer drifts,finding itself at a loss for strategic referencepoints among the clutter and confusionswirling all about. Black's various vendorsjostle for position as they declare their shoddywares to passers by. Now the planless compgets squeezed, like a mobster's curvygirlfriend.

[ His last chance for some breathing roomcame from 19...dxc4 . Good or bad, DeepBlue absolutely had to play it. ]

20.a3 a5 21.b4 c7 22.c5 This is a clearexample of a favourable majority: White'skinetically charged, Black's stagnant.

e8 23.d3 Inducing a weakness. g6 24.e2 f5 25.c3! h5 26.b5! ce7The cowed knight, full of apprehension anddefeat, steps aside without resistance.QUESTION: Is it my imagination or is thecomp playing scared?ANSWER: Even I don't play this passively!QUESTION: Wasn't a5 a superior choice forthe knight?

[ ANSWER: The knight may later turn into atarget after 26...a5 27.a2! , but I wouldhave played there anyway and possiblysac'ed a pawn with a future ...Nc4. Anythingfor some freedom. ]

27.d2 g7 28.a4 a8 29.a5! a6 30.b6 b8 Black's forces coil into themselves like

frightened moles fleeing from predators,backing into the safety of an undergroundtunnel. Word travels quickly in the corridors ofpalace gossip. Everyone, apart from the a8-rook, understands that he is out of favour.Black's pessimistic bishop, who clearly viewslife through crud-encrusted glasses,stalemates his own queen's rook, who looksmore like some unfortunate, taxidermizedspecimen at a natural history museum.

[ 30...d8? is even worse: White punchesthrough after 31.e5 a4 32.c6! xc633.xc6 bxc6 34.c2 b5 35.f4! xd336.xd3 xd4 37.b7! . ]

31.c2 c6 32.a4 e7 33.c3 e5?In the confusion, the computer's displacementof the real with the imagined continues. Itpursues the mirage of counterplay producingtactics, where none exists. Deep B tries tomove based on Black's two-part itinerary:1. Subterfuge.2. My mistake. There is no part two. Pleasereturn to part one."Give me your wallet!" said the comp, as hebrandishes a blade. "I beg to differ," repliesKasparov, as he responds by pulling out aMagnum.45. It was Napoleon Bonaparte whoadvised: Never engage an enemy who is inthe process of self-destruction. The knightmoves about helter skelter like a tipped overglass rolling around the deck of a sailboat inrough weather. Never trust a comp – alwaysopportunistic, while firmly holding a belief inits own luck. In this case the comp is a littletoo clever for its own good, since after its"combination" White's position significantlyimproves!QUESTION: Do you think Kasparovoverlooked Black's last move?ANSWER: Moby Dick remained one stepahead of Captain Ahab, even though Ahabwas always a harpoon's throw away for mostof the voyage. In other words, it is highlyunlikely. Kasparov probably liked the resultingposition he attained and allowed it.34.dxe5 xa4 35.d4! Eliminating Black'sonly good piece.

xd4 36.xd4 d7 Black won't survive anending, as he is playing a rook down in all butname.37.d2 e8 38.g5 c8 39.f6+ h7Now White must pinpoint a target. In this casehe has access to an unencumbered burstingforth, a rupture, which Black is unable toreseal.

EXERCISE (planning/combination alert): Howwould you go about exploiting White'soverwhelming strategic advantage?ANSWER: The gash in the fabric of Black'squeenside leads to a declivity which acts as asinkhole, a void, sucking the defenders deeperand deeper below.40.c6! bxc6

[ 40...xc6 41.ec2 xc2 42.xc2 e843.c5 h6 44.c8 is utterly hopeless forBlack. Robinson Crusoe, for so long trappedon his island of a8, longs for human contactand companionship. ]

41.c5 h6 42.b2! Threatening b6-b7. b7 What a treat to witness Kasparov'stowering strategic control. Only Black's kingcan move. I suppose, when stripped of aprofusion of options, one's choices becomequite simple. Now the king in the cagedegenerates into a chessic version of apetting zoo, an exhibit where children fondlypat the king's head while their parents snapphotos.43.b4 QUESTION: I understand that Black'sposition is awful, yet I fail to see thebreakthrough for White. How would he win ifBlack simply shuffled his king?

[ ANSWER: There are many ways, one beinga direct attack on Black's king. But probablythe simplest and most practical line wouldbe 43.b4 h7 44.e7 xe7 45.xe7

e8 46.b7 a7 47.c5 .SUMMARY: In general, Black should giveWhite the hanging pawns, or take them onhimself (or itself in this case). If he takeshalf measures and allows c4-c5, as in thisand the previous game, White's majoritytends to be the superior one. ]

1-0

Chapter Six

Gambit Lines for Black

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 dxc5Below lie images of Black's quest, born of madness. So little respect does Black have for the Colle, that he decides to gambit a pawn - and with the black pieces - to grab the initiative and teach us a lesson about our poor opening choice!All these lines - the Noteboom, Botvinnik Anti-Meran, Geller Gambit, Catalan Gambit - are sound... when played with the white pieces. I have grave doubts about their soundness when essayed a move down. In essence, Black's gambit response to the Colle is the stunningly beautiful girlfriend with the alluring smile, who, when examined on a deeper level, is a shallow person, an empty dress without internal substance.It would not be a bad idea for you to be familiar with Black's handling of the variations mentioned above. You should score quite well against all of them, since the removal of a tempo alters matters drastically for your opponents.

Reversed Noteboom

Reversed Anti-Meran

Reversed Catalan Gambit

Zurek-TischbierekCapablanca-SpielmannShvedchikov-Radomsky

Index

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 e3 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 dxc5 a55...e5 6 b4 – Capablanca-Spielmann

6 Bb5

6 Bb5 6...e6 – Zurek-Tischbierek6...g6 – Shvedchikov-Radomsky

D05Zurek,MTischbierek,R

East Berlin 1987[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6[ Another possible move order for us wouldbe something like 1...c5 2.c3 and now:

A) 2...f6 3.f3 d5 4.dxc5when we reach our game position.;B) 2...d5 3.f3 c6 4.dxc5 a5?!(if Black plays this move order we canexploit the omission of ...Nf6 with...) 5.e4!

e6 ( 5...dxe4? 6.xd8+ xd8 7.b5+is awful for Black ) 6.exd5 exd5 7.e3, C.Lakdawala-K.Griffith, San Diego (rapid)2010. Black never regained his lostpawn.;C) 2...-- ]

[ QUESTION: What if Black trades on d4after 1...c5 2.c3 ?ANSWER: Please see the next chapter,where we touch upon both Exchange Slavand reversed Exchange Queen's GambitDeclined lines. ( 2.e3 is of course alsopossible if you don't care for the White sideof an Exchange Slav. )]

[ QUESTION: What does a Noteboom looklike from Black's side?ANSWER: Here is a recent example of aNoteboom structure, which you should alsostudy from Black's side to improve yourColle versions: 1...d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.f3 c64.e3 b5 5.a4 e6 6.axb5 cxb5 7.b3 b4+8.d2 xd2+ 9.bxd2 a5! 10.bxc4 b411.e5 f6 12.d3 b7 13.0-0 0-0 14.f4

bd7 15.c2 h6 16.e1 xe5 17.fxe5 d7 18.e4 b3! 19.b1 a4 20.d6 c621.d2 a5 22.d3 f5 23.exf6 xf624.xf6 xf6 25.h7+ f8 (believe it ornot Black is winning! – White's attack failsdue to his shut-out queenside forces)26.h8+ e7 27.xg7+ xd6 28.c5+

d5 (the ironic part is that Black is the onethreatening mate on e1) 29.e4+

A) 29...c4!! was correct; e.g. 30.c1+ ( or 30.xf6 xe4 31.xe6+ d3 ) 30...b4 31.xc6 af8 32.b7+ a3when Black dodges the checks and winseasily;B) 29...xe4?! 30.xf6 d3?

( 30...d2! still wins for Black: 31.xe6+ d3 32.xc6 xe3+ 33.h1 b2 )31.f1+ c3 32.c1+ b2 33.b1+

a3 34.a1+ b4 35.e1+ b536.e2+ b4 37.e1+ with perpetualcheck, N.Croad-I.Khenkin, IstanbulOlympiad 2012. ]

2.c3 A person after my own heart, who lovesthe Slav so much that he plays it as White!We soon transpose to Colle lines.

[ Our move order would probably go 2.f3 c5 3.c3 d5 4.dxc5 . ]

2...d5 3.f3 c5?! This rash gambit signals arepackaging, a dramatic shift in emphasis,where Black refuses to be Black and demandsthe white pieces. My heart leaps with joy whenmy opponents play any type of Slav Gambit –in whatever form – a move down with Black.4.dxc5! Weapons come in various shapesand forms. Even Monica Lewinsky managedto weaponize a blue dress. White accepts thechallenge and grabs the pawn in Slav style.

[ QUESTION: Can we still stay in pure Collewith 4.e3 ?ANSWER: In the next game Capablancadoes just that, only to take on c5 the moveafter. Against this particular move we havethe option to take on c5 at once and headfor a favourable reversed Slav. ]

4...c6 [ I believe the Reversed Noteboom (or aclose facsimile) is the only playable path forBlack in these gambit lines, and even thenmay fall short of equality after 4...e6! 5.b4

a5 6.e3 and:A) 6...b6 7.a4 bxc5 8.b5 d6 ( 8...c4!?seems an interesting theoretical novelty,preventing White's next move ) 9.c4 0-010.b2 bd7 11.bd2 b7 12.d3

e7 looks like a typically tangledNoteboom-ish position, A.Summerscale-J.Plaskett, Edinburgh 1999.;B) 6...axb4 7.cxb4 b6 8.b5+ ( 8.a4

bxc5 9.b5 d6 10.b2 , O.Kulicov-I.Derjabin, Alushta 2004, is similar, exceptthat here the light-squared bishops remainon the board ) 8...d7 9.xd7+ bxd710.a4 bxc5 11.b5 d6 12.0-0 0-013.b2 , R.Cifuentes Parada-C.Bauer,San Sebastian 2009. This is not an exactNoteboom, so let's call it "Noteboom-like"instead. I prefer White's queensidepassers over Black's imposing centralmajority.QUESTION: Isn't Black better after e5 ?ANSWER: Then White plays a trickborrowed from the Noteboom andresponds 14.e4! d4 15.bd2

with a strong blockade on c4 and thereforethe superior majority.;C) 6...-- ]

[ QUESTION: What happens if Black tossesin 4...a5 first?ANSWER: We transpose after 5.e3 e66.b4 axb4 7.cxb4 b6 8.b5+ . ]

5.e3 a5 6.b5 e6 7.b4 QUESTION: DoesBlack get enough compensation for the pawn?ANSWER: Houdini seems to think so,assessing this as equal, but I don't have anyfaith that he does. I just don't believe Blackgets either compensation or equality in any ofthese reversed gambit lines of the Slav orSemi-Slav. They strike me as similar to afourth place finish at the Olympics, just out ofmedal range. A gambit played as White, likesome of the Anti-Merans which are so popularthese days, just doesn't have the same punchwhen played as Black a move down. Thatsingle tempo matters a lot.

e7 [ Or 7...e4 8.b2 e7 9.bd2 0-010.xe4 dxe4 11.xc6 xd1+ 12.xd1

bxc6 13.d4 f6 14.c2 xd4 15.exd4 a6 16.a3 and the opposite-colouredbishops failed to save Black in the pawndown ending, C.Lakdawala-C.Holt, Internet(blitz) 2012. ]

8.b2 0-0 9.a3 White patiently proceeds withthe interminable but necessary ceremony ofunravelling from his temporary strategicfetters on the queenside. If White manages tocomplete development and achieve Nbd2,Qb3 and c3-c4, I don't see a speck ofcompensation for Black. He must dosomething quickly to prove the validity of hissac.

e4 10.bd2 f5 Otherwise White is happyto swap on e4 and then trade queens to boot.

11.0-0 g5!? Mesmerized, Black begins arisky course of action, as if against his ownwill and drawn by an unseen power. Thewizard's apprentice, spying the book ofincantations, decides to summon dark,unimaginable forces far beyond hiscomprehension or ability to control. Soon histribulations begin. With his last move Blackhas the appearance of someone whocompounds an original offence with asecondary crime, hoping to offset the first!QUESTION: I take it you believe this attackunsound?ANSWER: Unfounded and without merit, morethan unsound. There simply is no strategic

basis from which to begin such an attack, andyet he must justify his earlier sac. A politicianunder heavy scrutiny for alleged wrong doing(gambiting against the reverse Slav comes tomind!) often feigns fake outrage on anotherissue, to distract attention away from himself.Something like this is a logical progression ofBlack's earlier decision to sac. But if so, thenhis previous pawn sac is unsound!12.xc6 Playing for control over e5.

bxc6 13.c4 f6 14.e5 c7 15.f4Clamping down hard on the e5-hole.

b8 16.xe4 Simple play. White keepsreducing the attackers by sending them tooblivion through exchanges.

fxe4 17.c3 [ Houdini points out the startling line 17.fxg5!! xe5 18.xf8+ xf8 19.h5! , when thecreature emerges from shadow to reveal hertrue form. White has a winning position. IfBlack doubles down with xb2??, he gets mated by 20.f1+ g8 21.e8+

g7 22.f8+ g6 23.h6# . ] 17...gxf4? Black's (hoped-for) energeticinitiative, now wan and bleary-eyed, lies downfor a much-needed nap. White's new-foundactivity leads in turn to inevitable and swiftgood fortune. Suddenly, the meek, bullied kidrealizes, to his delight, that he stands threeinches taller than his aggressor simply byunhunching his shoulders. By abruptly turninghis gaze in the opposite direction, Whitetacitly rescinds his last command to play onthe queenside and exploit his extra pawn,altering the order to a direct attack uponBlack's king.18.g4+! The queen enters resplendent,attended by her military advisors on c3, e5and f1.

g7 [ 18...h8 19.xf4 is just as hopeless. ]

19.xf4 b7 Black's forces howl a franticalarm, as they see the white army approachfrom the East, like a wave of unwanted traffic.EXERCISE: One simple move and Blackcollapses. What is it?ANSWER: Engage the final undevelopedpiece. Soldiers kill without a disposition ofpleasure in the act, and without malice towardtheir target. Yet this provides little consolationto the victim.20.af1! Houdini's assessment: +8.00 forWhite! Black collapses, losing heavy material,no matter how he responds. It's almost as ifWhite's forces refuse to bestir themselves,

with the contemptuous ease of a foe whorealizes he has already won the battle.SUMMARY: The Anti-Meran gambits comeacross as limp when played a move down. Ijust don't believe in Black's compensation.1-0

D05Capablanca,JSpielmann,R

San Sebastian 1911[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.f3 c5[ 2...f6 3.c4 c6 4.c3 e6 5.g5 dxc46.e4 b5 is essentially what we get in thegame, but with the very important differencethat 'Black' (i.e. Capa's side) is a criticalmove up, which radically alters theassessment. ]

3.c3 f6 4.e3 I would take on c5immediately, not giving Black a chance to bailout into a normal Colle.

c6?! As I have mentioned over and overagain in this chapter, a gambit which iscompletely sound and playable as White issuddenly relegated to the realm of shadywhen played a move down.

[ Black would have been better off headingback to a normal Colle with 4...e6 . ]

[ Alternatively, 4...bd7 followed by ...g7-g6is a reversed Catalan, ]

[ as is 4...c7 with ...g7-g6 to follow. ]5.dxc5! A dog's super-power is her nose. Withone sniff she fills in the dimensions of themissing information and collates the data intotwo distinct categories:1. Food (good).2. Not food (bad).Here, Capa senses food nearby and bites intoc5. In 1911, Capa's move may have beenperceived as a radical notion. Fewabandoned control over the sacrosanct centre,even for a pawn's bribe.

e5?! QUESTION: I understand that you don'tapprove of this line for Black, but do youconcede practical chances for the pawn?ANSWER: Perhaps Black got practicalchances at the time this game was played; butin today's world of databases, 3200-ratedcomps and a flowing stream of theoreticalarticles, the line is just asking for it.

[ I still think the only playable path for Blackmay be to enter a facsimile Noteboom (as

we looked at in the previous game) with 5...e6 6.b4 a5 7.b5 d7 8.b2 axb49.xc6 xc6 10.cxb4 b6 11.a4! bxc512.b5 , G.Drogou-L.Geffroy, Issy lesMoulineaux 2003, but even then I preferWhite's majority over Black's. ]

[ Instead, 5...a5 6.b5 e6 7.b4 comes tothe same thing as the last variation. ]

6.b4 Capa grabs hold and refuses to let go ofhis new-found wealth.

c7 Quiet play allows White to catch up indevelopment, which was Black's onlycompensation for his dubious pawn sac.Instead:

[ a) 6...e4 7.d4 is a move up GellerGambit (a line I slander mercilessly in mySlav book!), which is barely playable withthe white pieces, and must be demoted todownright unsound when played a tempodown. ]

[ b) 6...g4 7.bd2 ( 7.h3 h5 8.g4 g6is a reversed Moscow Variation ) 7...e4 8.h3

h5 9.g4 xg4 10.hxg4 xg4is a reversed Botvinnik Semi-Slav. If thesepositions are dynamic and fully playable asBlack, then how much more so when weland here with White, a full move up? ]

7.b2 e6 8.bd2 e7 9.e2[ White can also try and consolidate hisqueenside with the immediate 9.a3 0-010.c4 . However, this comes with risks sincehe opens the position – exactly what Blackwants. ]

9...0-0 10.0-0 ad8 11.c2 g4!QUESTION: Why did Black move the bishop asecond time?ANSWER: His plan is ...e5-e4, swap off light-squared bishops, and then follow up with ...Ne5, when the knight can enter on d3.

[ 11...e4 12.d4 is the not-very-promisingalternative. ]

12.e4?! This move allows Black counterplay. [ He should keep still and cultivate patiencewith something like 12.h3 h5 13.ae1!?, when White continues to hold theadvantage. ]

12...dxe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 f5!Spielmann's gamble seems to be paying off.Black activates his kingside pawn majorityand begins to generate serious play for thepawn.15.c4+ h8 16.ad1 e4 17.d4 e518.b3 xe2 19.xe2 g4 Threateningmate in one.20.g3 Capa's play throughout the opening

phase strikes one as strangely confused and,at the same time, equally strangelycompetent!

[ 20.g3 is the alternative. ] 20...f4

[ After 20...e3! 21.fxe3 xd1 22.xd1 xe3 23.e1 f4 Houdini says equal, butthe position doesn't look so easy to defendfrom White's side. ]

21.xd8 xd8 22.e6! Principle: Engage ina central counter when attacked on the wing.

fxg3 23.xg4 gxh2+? The wrong pawn. [ Black should take the other way, creating apassed e-pawn for himself with 23...gxf2+!24.xf2 e3 25.f1 e5 26.e1 g5, which offers ample compensation for hisdeficit. ]

24.h1 Advantage White again. His kingremains safe and his structure stands superior.White's king thinks to himself: "I can see youbut you can't see me!" He surreptitiouslyhides inside h1, the way a person in a limowith tinted glass sees out, yet nobody can seeinside the car.

e5 [ 24...d2 25.c1 xa2 26.xe4also favours White. Basically, the h2-pawnwill be picked up in any ending. ]

25.e1 d2?! One of life's great sufferings isthe sting of wanting and not getting.Spielmann, conditioned only to the preceptsof attack, scoffs at the notion of a defensivemove, even though he is in reality now on thedefensive.26.xe4 c7?

[ Black has to go for 26...d1+ 27.xd1 xe4 28.c4! xc4 29.f3 , even if Whiteremains with good chances to convert to awin. ]

27.c1! xf2 The rook is a walkingcontradiction. So much he understands, andalso so little. His hope for insurgency is at anend, with the initiative firmly in White's control.Black's forces find themselves without aconcrete plan of action and continue theirinsensible drift to nowhere.

[ 27...d7 is also hopeless – the fugitive,propelled by desperation, continues runningthrough the forest, with the crackling ofautumn leaves beneath his feet: 28.f4

d8 29.e2 (threat: Bd6!) f8 30.d6! f7 31.e8 f6 32.xh2 and Black has nochance to save himself. ]

28.f4 d8 The sullen queen obeys, like achild listlessly submitting to the teacher's

scolding command. Now Black begins tounderstand the shape of his destiny, and it isnot to his liking.EXERCISE (combination alert): You can short-circuit Black's defences with a trick. Do yousee it?ANSWER: Weak back rank/overload. Black'spieces spring back in alarm and indignantoutcry.29.xe7! The brash rook is immune.

f8 Black's queen nervously touches herking's arm, indicating a "let's leave" signal.However, the unfortunate pair is not goinganywhere. Do you feel it? This isn't juststillness. Instead, the position exudes apredatory stillness just before the explosivelunge. Have you ever entered an outwardlyinnocent, bland-looking position, when just atthat point your intuition, just under the surfaceof consciousness, begins prickling and fretting,sensing something big? Well, this is exactlyone of those situations.Capa can win with the mundane 30 Bd6.Instead, he found a sparkling finish whichsent Black's king and queen flailing about witharms swinging haphazardly, as if old, beat-updolls carried carelessly by a little girl.EXERCISE (combination alert): Do you seeCapa's finish?ANSWER: Weak back rank again – this timeout of nowhere! Black's startled queen eruptsin a soprano wail of grief, intermingled withoutrage.30.xg7+! The hung-over black king andqueen greet the harsh wash of the morning'ssepia light with ill grace and bloodshot eyes,the steep price of last evening's revelry. Theincandescent explosion on g7 provides afractured backdrop to the din and cries ofbattle, as the ground writhes with thegroaning shapes of the wounded.

[ After 30.xg7+ xg7 31.e8+ f8 ( the queen sags to her knees with a woefulsob; 31...g8 32.e5+ f6 33.xf6#is mate – despite administering CPR, thereis no response, no pulse, no breath fromBlack's king ) 32.xf8+ g7 33.h6+ xh634.xf2 , the body of the black rookdecomposes into the forest humus.SUMMARY: The Anti-Meran gambit iscompletely sound – but only when played asWhite! When our opponents play it a movedown, as in this game, we should rejoice attheir overly optimistic decision to offer a

shady sac. ]1-0

D05Shvedchikov,ARadomsky,V

World Senior Championship, Arco 2010[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 c6?!5.dxc5! Of course we happily indulge with thepawn grab, which hints at a demand of owedand yet unpaid restitution.

a5 6.b5 g6 Once again there arises atempest of contradictory evaluations.QUESTION: What is this version?ANSWER: When terrible events occur later onfor Black, it is safe to assume that over-optimism is the chief architect behind hissorrows. Black plays a Catalan Gambit amove down – downright dubious, in myopinion.7.b4 The human move.

[ Houdini suggests the bizzaro novelty 7.e4!?dxe4 ( 7...xe4? 8.e5! is terrible forBlack ) 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.xd8+ xd810.e5 e8 and White should stand betterhere as well. ]

7...g7 8.b2 0-0 9.a3 Amazingly, Houdini,in an almost spiritual, anti-materialist fervour,assesses this as slightly in Black's favour!QUESTION: I take it you don't agree?ANSWER: With precious little leverage orpower of inducement of any sort, Black'snegotiation lacks potency. I don't fully trustthe Catalan Gambit (another opening I cruellytrash-talk in my Slav book) when White playsit. Then how much more so is my disdainwhen Black trots it out a move down?

c7 [ I don't see enough compensation after 9...e4 10.b3 g4 11.bd2 . ]

10.bd2 d8?! This may be the wrong rook.Now Black's ...f7-f5 lacks potency without arook behind it.QUESTION: What plan do you suggest?ANSWER: I would go for a plan like: ...e7-e5,...h7-h6, ...Be6, ...Rad8 and eventually pushfor ...f7-f5.

11.0-0 e4 12.c2 xd2 [ QUESTION: Didn't White just walk into atempo loss on c2 after 12...f5 ?ANSWER: Yes, but it won't bother him, whocontinues to swap after 13.xe4 dxe4

( 13...xe4 14.e2 fails to bother Whiteeither ) 14.d4 e5 15.xf5 gxf5 16.fd1

g4 17.g3 e5 18.e2 b6 19.cxb6 xb620.xd8+ xd8 21.d1 and White shouldbe able to convert this to a full point. ]

13.xd2 e5 14.e2 [ White might also go for the immediate14.c4 , intending a7 15.a4 dxc416.c3 e6 17.g5 d5 18.e4 c619.xc6 xc6 20.xc4 and again, I justdon't believe in Black's compensation. ]

14...g4 15.h3 e6 16.fd1 h6 17.e1 h7 Black hasn't managed to move an iotacloser to even a semblance of compensation.It's unwise to putz around after giving theopponent a pawn. Black should try somethingmore energetic.QUESTION: What do you suggest?

[ ANSWER: Either 17...e4 ] [ or 17...f5 . In both cases Black should gofor a desperado attack on the kingside – hisonly hope. ]

18.c4?! Mistimed. [ White should toss in 18.ac1 first. ]

18...dxc4 19.c3 axb4 20.axb4 xa121.xa1?! EXERCISE (combination alert):White just recaptured the wrong way. There isa method for Black's low-energy position toreceive a much-needed revitalizing boost.How?

b5?! [ ANSWER: With this move Black pulls theproblems down around his ears, as ifwearing a snug-fitting cap, missing thechance to muck things up with 21...d4!!. Black fails to mould the mood of theposition, so instead he reflects it with anexplosive sac. The slightly built, stooped,chinless nerd with the coke-bottle glasseshas had enough and decides to confront thehulk of a class bully. The knight charges inbefore any of his comrades can stop himand talk some sense into him. Now the roomis abruptly abuzz with murmurs of ill-concealed consternation.With 21...Nd4!! Black augments theefficiency of his new-found initiative tenfold:22.xc4 ( after 22.exd4 exd4 23.a3 c3White should probably return the piece with24.d3 cxb2 25.xb2 when he may be theone fighting for the draw ) 22...xf3+23.gxf3 xh3 24.f1 and Black is rightback in the game. ]

22.cxb6 xb6 23.xc4 xc4 24.xc4 xb4 25.xb4 xb4 26.xe5 c6

27.xg7 xg7 QUESTION: How would youassess White's winning chances? I realize heis a pawn up, but all the pawns are on thesame side.ANSWER: This should be a win, mainly due tothe pair of knights remaining on the board.28.g4 d5 29.g2 c5 30.b1 f6

[ If Black attempts to reduce the number ofpawns with 30...h5 , White denies him bypushing past: 31.g5 e5! 32.d4 c6!33.b5! . ]

31.b6 e7? Black's king is the presidingbureaucrat over his bankrupt position. He isdetermined to oversee that the degenerationproceeds along at a smooth, orderly pace.EXERCISE (planning): Black's last move wasa serious error. How can we exploit it?ANSWER: Step 1: Deliver check on theseventh rank.32.b7+ e6 Step 2: Place Black in aneternal pin. Now Black's knight and rookexperience frayed nerves and hurt feelings,although both feign to the contrary.33.c7! c2 34.g5! h5 35.g3It's distressing when a waiter or waitress feelsthe need to establish friendship and bond withthe customers before agreeing to take theirorders. I'm happy to be your friend, butdammit, hurry up, I'm hungry! White's lastmove reminds me of this situation.QUESTION: Are you saying that White winsthe king and pawn ending if he takesimmediately on c6?ANSWER: He does indeed win. White's rookand knight burn c6 with a contemptuous stare.Black awaits his fate in expectation, emotionsastir. White's king is the surly,uncommunicative child who refuses toparticipate in the class discussion. He shouldenter the king and pawn endgame. Let's do acalculation exercise:

[ EXERCISE (calculation): Work out thefollowing sequence without moving thepieces.ANSWER: 35.xc6+! (it works; if you areoffered a cigarette before the firing squad isscheduled to execute you, then you may aswell go ahead and smoke it – lung cancer isthe least of your worries) xc6 36.d4+

d7 37.xc6 xc6 38.f3 d5 39.f4 d6 40.e4 e6 (Black's king, handsbound, is jerked into a trot by the pull of therope) 41.h4 d6 42.f3! e6 43.f4 d644.f5! and Black can resign. 19-ply soundsvery difficult, but it isn't really, since it's a

single-string, forcing variation. ] 35...c4 36.d4+ d6 37.xf7

[ Good enough, but the pawn ending after37.xc6+ is simple as well, as we haveseen. ]

37...xd4 38.exd4 xd4 39.f6+ e540.f4+ e4 41.e6+! A jarringaccompaniment to his last move. Black's kingis cut off from his pawn.

d5 [ 41...f5 42.e5# is a helpmate study. ]

42.xg6 d3+ 43.h4 e4 44.f6 a345.g6 d5 SUMMARY: The Catalan Gambita move down is a suspicious proposition forBlack.1-0

Chapter Seven

Exchange Slav and Exchange Caro-Kann

1 d4 c5 2 c3 cxd4 3 cxd4 d5 or 1 d4 c5 2 e3 cxd4 3 exd4 d5In this chapter we examine positions which arise when Black tosses in a quick ...c7-c5 and then swaps on d4. In the two diagrams, we see the shaping outline of the familiar contour of our choices - and it is our choice, not Black's, which position we wish to reach. In both cases, theory claims equality for Black, but at club level the positions can't be distilled so easily to such binary evaluations of ones and zeros.In the first diagram, the Exchange Slav, the position may be symmetrical but it is our move, and not so easy for Black to offset and neutralize our extra tempo.

Exchange Slav

Exchange Caro-Kann

In the second, the Exchange Caro-Kann, we follow the inevitable collision of antithetical world views. Black tends to get long-term chances with a queenside minority attack, but only if he manages to survive our kingside attack first - not so easy to achieve from a practical perspective. We essentially play a Queen's Gambit Declined Exchange Variation with, as usual, an extra tempo. And that extra tempo alters the landscape quite radically from the move down, Black version, allowing us greater scope for our aggressive agenda.Lakdawala-MontanyBrowne-Larsen

Index

1 d4 c52 c3 cxd4 3 cxd4 d5 – Lakdawala-Montany2 e3 cxd4 3 exd4 d5 – Browne-Larsen

D13Lakdawala,CMontany,E

San Diego (rapid) 2008[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3[ Colle move orders that reach the ExchangeSlav: 1.d4 d5 ( or 1...c5 2.c3 cxd4 3.cxd4d5 ) 2.f3 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.cxd4 . ]

1...d5 2.d4 f6 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd55.c3 c6 6.f4 The main starting positionof the Exchange Slav.QUESTION: Doesn't the line have a drawishreputation?ANSWER: A weapon is still a weapon, nomatter how crude. A thrown rock has thepower to render an enemy just as dead as abullet. In other words, yes it does, but thisonly really applies at the top GM levels – andeven there, equality isn't so easy for Black toachieve. I have always scored well with thisline, since I play the Slav as Black, so it's aposition I'm quite familiar with – and here Ihave an extra move. I assume the same logicapplies for us Colle players, who are morelikely to be familiar with the structure than ouropponents.

e6 Black has three other main branches: [ a) 6...f5 (Black responds with symmetry,hoping the tranquillity inherent in theposition will provide equality) 7.e3 e68.b3 ( I have always played this way,rather than 8.b5 ) 8...b4 9.b5 a5

10.0-0 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c7! xc713.xb4 d7 14.fc1 ab8 15.a3(White gets a touch of pressure on c5 andthe backward c-pawn).QUESTION: Why can't Black just dissolve itwith ...c6-c5 next?ANSWER: My opponent tried this but failedto equalize after c5?! 16.dxc5 xc517.xc5 xc5 18.xd5 d3 19.e7+

h8 20.c3 xb2 21.xf5 exf5 22.d4 g6 23.ac1 a5 24.g3 , C.Lakdawala-A.Kretchetov, Century City 2002. Black's a-pawn was weak, and White also took overthe seventh rank, going on to win. Thisgame is annotated in 'Play the LondonSystem'. ]

[ b) 6...a6 7.c1 ( more accurate than 7.e3 g4 , which allows Black to unload a badbishop ) 7...f5 8.e3 c8 9.e2 e6 10.0-0

e7 ( 10...d6 leaves Black with aremaining inferior bishop ) 11.b3! a5?

( Black must go for 11...d7 12.a4 a513.xc8+ xc8 14.b6 d8 15.c5

xc5 16.xc5 , though even here Whiteholds a slight edge ) 12.a4+ c6

( 12...b5?? 13.xb5! axb5 14.xb5+ f815.xc8 wins ) 13.xa6! a8 ( after

13...bxa6 14.e5 b6 15.e2White favourably regains the piece )14.xb7! xa4 15.xc6+ f8 16.xa4and Black was in deep trouble, V.Kramnik-V.Anand, World Blitz Championship, Moscow2007. ]

[ c) 6...e4 (an aggressive attempt todismantle the symmetry and enter aGrünfeld-like position – but then I alwayswonder: why didn't he play Grünfeld to beginwith?) 7.e3 xc3 8.bxc3 g6 (now White'snext move ensures a long-term edge)9.e5! g7 10.xc6 bxc6 11.a4, V.Milov-A.Rustemov, Polanica Zdroj1999. ]

7.e3 h5!? Dreev's line, which is perhapsBlack's most ambitious attempt to play for thewin. The bickering begins and the fragilebalance of power is disturbed, as is thesimilitude of a peaceful outcome.QUESTION: Won't Black pick off the bishoppair eventually?ANSWER: Probably so – but at the heavy costof time, when already lagging behind indevelopment.8.g5 b6 9.b5 h6 10.h4 d7

[ QUESTION: Why does Black hold back on10...g5 ?ANSWER: Black plays a careful move,perhaps a wise precaution since hissuspicions are amply founded. He fails toequalize after 11.e5 g7 12.g3 f5, J.Smejkal-P.Nikolic, Novi Sad 1982, when13.h5! h7 14.0-0 gives White a vastlysuperior position. ]

11.0-0 d6 [ Or 11...g5 12.xc6 xc6 13.e5 g714.g3 and Black has yet to achieveequality, V.Bhat-J.Becerra Rivero, Internet2005. ]

12.c1 Other ideas: [ a) 12.e4!? (White seizes upon his lead indevelopment to open the game) 0-013.exd5 exd5 14.e5 xe5 15.dxe5 f416.g3 , A.Baburin-A.Dreev, Gorky 1989,though Black looks fine after d4 17.xf4

dxc3 18.xc6 xc6 . ] [ b) 12.e5 xe5 13.dxe5 xb5 14.xb5 xe5 15.xh5 xb2 16.ab1 xb5

17.g3! , when Black found himself in deeptrouble from the dangerous pin and hislagging development, J.Knap-M.Brzoza,correspondence 2009. ]

12...g6!? A novelty, but not a great one. Blackshould probably castle with just short ofequality.

[ My opponent writes: "Not being very familiarwith this position, I wasn't sure how to dealwith my king. I thought White would bebetter after 12...g5 13.d2 g7 14.g3

xg3 15.fxg3! ." ]13.e2 0-0

[ 13...a6! prevented White's followingmanoeuvre. ]

14.a4! My opponent again: "Iunderestimated the strength of this move andthe coming pawn sacrifice."

a5 15.c5! The knight slides in through anunlocked window, determined to rob Black ofall that is dear to him: the dark squares.White commits to a pawn sacrifice – oncebegun, the path is unretractable, like a nastystory about Paris Hilton already in print.

xc5 16.xc5 xa2 White's queensidedepopulates and shrinks, as Black increaseshis tax revenues.17.xc6 QUESTION: Why give up the bishoppair?ANSWER: White swaps one advantage foranother: The creation of opposite-colouredbishops, which favour the attacker – in thiscase, me.

xc6 18.e5 fc8 19.fc1 QUESTION:What did you get for your pawn sacrifice?ANSWER: When deciding to sac with acomposite of good intentions and a braveheart, there must lie the seed of somestrategic or tactical motifs to take hold of aswell, for clarification and the final go ahead.White obtains the following compensation:1. Black's pieces are tied down and on thedefensive.2. The presence of opposite-coloured bishopsgreatly enhances White's attacking chanceson the dark squares.

ab8?! Eric writes: "I'm trying to provoke aweakness from White, g2-g4, but I'm probablyplaying with fire."20.g4 g7 The knight picnics in thegraveyard.21.g3 a8 22.f3 f8 23.b4 b324.xc6 bxc6 25.xc6 e8

[ 25...xb4? 26.d6 snags the exchange. ]26.e5 The bishop puts on his ceremonial

vestments and prepares to deliver a rousingsermon to Black's king.

xb4 27.h3 e7? Black, thinly cheeredby the flow of events which elapsed over thelast dozen or so moves, now commits a timepressure error – though he probably can'tsave the game anyway.

[ Sometimes mute acceptance of suffering isa better way to go than a passionatedefence. 27...h7 28.f4 h5 29.gxh5 g5!may be his best. ]

28.xh6 Black finds life under thedomineering queen's gaze unendurable as itstands. The queen enters in uncomfortablyclose proximity to Black's king, the way themost beautiful girl in sixth grade class takes aseat next to the shy, tongue-tied class nerd.

f6 An attack may be conducted with heat andpassion, or the apparatus of cold machinery.In this case we see an example of the latter.Black's king, having experienced good living,now grows nervous, as the hungry mobapproaches with unspoken menace. White'srestive attackers are ready with theinvigorating prospect of breaching thedefences, and the anticipation of a climber'sfirst sight of Kilimanjaro.EXERCISE (combination alert): White to playand win.ANSWER: The white attackers approach,silent as demons ordered to corrupt theinnocent. One rook is malicious; the othermean spirited. The combined effect is thesame.29.c7! The queen's legs move frantically,yet she remains in place, as if travelling in adream.SUMMARY: Perhaps Black can equalizeagainst the Exchange Slav, but it isn't as easyas most of the books claim.1-0

B13Browne,WLarsen,B

San Antonio 1972[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.e4[ Our possible move order could be 1.d4 c5( or 1...d5 2.e3 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.exd4 c65.d3 ) 2.e3 cxd4 3.exd4 d5, transposing. ]

1...c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d3

The starting position of the Exchange Caro-Kann. White develops his bishop to d3, todeny its counterpart access to f5.

[ White can also play 4.c4 , heading into thePanov-Botvinnik variation.QUESTION: So do you believe theExchange Caro is White's better shot at anedge?ANSWER: Actually, quite the opposite. Thereasons I suggest the Exchange Caro as ourmain line are:1. It's easier to learn and play than thePanov-Botvinnik.2. The position is a bit closer to what youare used to in Colle.3. Looking at my students' games over theyears, I have noticed that the Exchange lineis deadly for White at club level, even ifBlack equalizes at IM and GM levels. Manyof my students who play Caro-Kann asBlack dread the Exchange – no matter howharmless I tell them it is!QUESTION: So are you saying we shouldgo for the Panov-Botvinnik if we areundaunted by the theoretical challenge?ANSWER: Correct. If you are familiar andmore comfortable with the Panov-Botvinnik,then go for it. Theoretically, it's tougher onBlack than the Exchange Caro. ]

4...c6 5.c3 QUESTION: Why not developour knight to f3 instead?

[ ANSWER: One of Black's biggest problemsin the Exchange Caro is what to do with hislight-squared bishop. By playing an early5.f3 we conveniently solve Black's problemfor him by allowing g4 . ]

5...f6 The main line. Others: [ a) 5...g6 . Black's main plan with this set-upis to play for ...Bg7, ...Nh6, ...0-0, ...f7-f6,...Nf7 or ...Nf5, and engineer the ...e7-e5-pawn break. For example: 6.f3 g7 7.h3

h6 8.0-0 0-0 9.e1 f5 ( if 9...f6, intending to drop the knight back to f7,then White should exploit the awkwardnature of Black's last move by disrupting thecentre with 10.c4! , as in E.Perelshteyn-A.Kretchetov, Chicago 2012 ) 10.f4 f611.bd2 e8 12.b3 ( Houdini prefers12.b3 e5 13.dxe5 fxe5 14.g5 a515.ad1 , claiming an edge for White )

12...e5 13.dxe5 fxe5 14.g5 d7?! ( 14...d6! 15.c4! e6 16.cxd5 xd517.fd2 should be okay for Black, as hisgrip on d4 compensates for his loss ofcontrol over e4 ) 15.c4! e4 16.c5! f7

( 16...d6 17.cxd5 xc5 18.dxc6is also in White's favour ) 17.cxd5and White was clearly better, A.Morozevich-U.Adianto, Amsterdam 1996. ]

[ b) 5...c7! . Advocated in 'The Caro-Kann:Move by Move', I believe this is Black's bestpath against the Exchange. For example:6.e2 (otherwise White either gets pinnedor wastes time tossing in h2-h3) g4 7.f3

d7! 8.f4 e5! 9.dxe5 xe5 10.0-0 d611.d4 e7 12.a3 a6 13.ac2 0-0and Black equalized, since f2-f3 disruptsthe smooth flow of pressure on Black's d5-isolani, S.Buchal-D.Fridman, Bad Wiessee2010. ]

6.f4 g4 Ensuring that his bad bishop willone day become a respectable member ofsociety with ...Bh5-g6.7.b3 c8

[ R.J.Fischer-T.V.Petrosian, Belgrade 1970,saw 7...a5?! 8.a4+ d7 9.c2 e610.f3 b6 11.a4! (preventing ...Bb5) c812.bd2 c6 13.b1! h5?! 14.e3 h615.e5 f6 16.h3 d6 17.0-0with an ominous kingside build-up for White,who is about to go on the offensive. Thisgame is also annotated in 'Play the LondonSystem'. ]

[ QUESTION: In the current Browne-Larsengame, why did Black play his queen to c8,when d7 looks so much more natural?ANSWER: Black plays his queen to c8because he fears White's Ne5 arriving withtempo later on. However, 7...d7is also playable. For example: 8.d2 e69.gf3 d6! 10.g3! (exchanging on d6and going pawn grabbing on b7 isinadvisable for White) 0-0 11.0-0 ab812.ae1 c7 with mutual chances, N.Short-R.Wojtaszek, Warsaw (rapid) 2004. ]

8.d2 e6 9.gf3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e5QUESTION: What kind of structure have wearrived in?ANSWER: Essentially, we have entered aQueen's Gambit Declined Exchange Variation– as usual a move up. Because of this extratempo we are far more aggressively placed asWhite than when playing the same structureas Black.

h5 Playing for ...Bg6, to eliminate his badbishop.12.c2 g6 13.xg6 hxg6 Both sides arehappy from the transaction. White attainedthe bishop pair and Black unloaded a problempiece.

14.f3 h5 QUESTION: Why did Blackdecentralize his knight?ANSWER: White's bishop on f4 wasannoyingly powerful. Black gets to unravel byplaying his queen to c7 next.15.e3 c7 16.g3 White isn't going to allow...Nf4.QUESTION: Didn't White just weaken hisking?ANSWER: I don't interpret his last move asweakening. In fact, g2-g3 may be a usefulprelude to a future f2-f4, or a plan like Kg2,h2-h4, Rh1 and h4-h5.

ac8?! Threatening ...Nb4, to eliminateWhite's bishop pair. But really this is just acheapo which has a zero percent chance ofworking against a player of Browne's calibre.QUESTION: What do you suggest?

[ ANSWER: How about 16...ab8, intending ...b7-b5, to begin a minorityattack on the queenside? Perhaps Larsenfeared 17.g5 with sac possibilities all overthe kingside unless he hands over yetanother bishop pair, but after e5!?I think Black is doing okay in thecomplications. ]

17.e2 a6 18.ae1 Browne refuses to play itsafe by leaving a rook to defend his queenside.He goes all in for a kingside attack by loadingup in that zone.

fe8 19.c1 f6 20.g5 White eyespotential sacs on e6, f7 and g6.

d6 21.f4! No freeing ...e6-e5 breaks forBlack.

d7 22.f3 f8 23.e5 e7 In order toplay ...f7-f6, to eject the intruder on e5.24.g2 Perhaps contemplating h2-h4, Rh1and h4-h5.

f6 He has to play this sooner or later.25.f3 b8 So we see that Black lost atempo when he mistakenly posted his rook onc8, rather than b8 immediately.26.h4 b5 Black's minority attack comes withponderous slowness, while White's kingsideambitions are well underway.27.a3 c6 Hoping to achieve a centralcounter with ...e6-e5 at some point.28.c2 e7

[ This seems too slow; perhaps Black shouldthink instead about forking over a pawn toappease White's attack with 28...a5!?29.xg6 xg6 30.xg6 b4 . ]

29.e2 c6 Larsen refuses to repeat,despite his inferior position. But my guess isthat Browne was just toying with him and

gaining time on the clock, and wouldn't haveagreed to a draw by repetition anyway.Black's king is the corrupt politician whoplaces buffered layers between himself andthe accountability of the law. This way heentrenches himself in power and distanceshimself from the consequences.EXERCISE (planning): We must find a waythrough to get at Black's admittedly heavilyprotected and well-connected king. Come upwith a thematic attacking plan for White.ANSWER: White gives his project a thumbs-up after computing a cost/benefit analysis:Transfer a rook to the h-file and pry it openwith h4-h5.30.h1! a5 31.h5 The h-pawn slips in, theway a child sneaks into a locked playgroundthrough the slack in a damaged chain linkfence.

b4 Black's minority attack reaches its peakstrength on the queenside.32.cxb4!

[ 32.axb4 axb4 33.c4! also looks promisingfor White. ]

32...axb4 EXERCISE (planning): What is thebest way to slow down Black's queensidecounterattack?ANSWER: Offer the a-pawn as a distraction.White sticks out his palm horizontally, as ifoffering to shake hands, but inside the palmlays a hidden 20 dollar bill – a small bribe.33.a4! xa4 The security alarm is disabled;the glass container smashed. Now we see thegloved, grasping hand of the jewel thief floatover the prize.34.h4 The vulture continues his flight pathin bewildering loops over his intended prey.

gxh5 35.xh5 ec8!? Black is in deeptrouble and perhaps busted no matter how heplays. In any case, Larsen looked upondefence as a child would a cruciferousvegetable on the plate, to be distastefullyswallowed under the stern gaze of his mother.Upon a detailed reconnaissance, the scoutfails to derive the true size of the approachingwhite war party. Black removes a keydefender.36.f5! The pawn's features alter, transfiguredby defiance. White's attack is out of control.Now the black king's downward trajectory todecrepitude travels in slow, undeviatingincrements.

b3 [ 36...xf5 37.xf5 exf5 38.f4! c6 ( 38...xf4?? 39.e7 mates at once )

39.xf5 c7 40.h8+ f7 41.xd6 xd642.h7! xh7 43.xh7! forces mate. ]

37.fxe6 xe6 38.h7+ The queen bares hersoul, professing her love for the black king.Yet he remains cold, aloof and unmoved.

f7 39.h5+ [ 39.e3! a4 40.h5+ wins on the spot. ]

39...f8 Black's exasperated king puts hishands together in a gesture of piety, beforerolling his eyes upward in martyredforbearance, as if evoking strength from theheavens. He now retreats into hisasphyxiating closet, hoping his pursuers won'tnotice the hiding place.40.g6+! White's attackers infest, likemaggots in the putrefying flesh of a corpse.

e8 [ 40...xg6 41.xg6 e7 ( 41...xc142.h8+ e7 43.xg7# is mate )42.xe6+! mates in five moves. ]

41.xe6 The attackers approach, flourishingblades, sardonic smiles, and sinister portent.

d7 The opposing armies speak no words,yet their eyes converse. Black's king emergesfrom his hiding place, only to face hisaggressors once again. What a wonder whenthat which we imagine and dream transformsinto the literal.EXERCISE (combination alert(s!)): White hastwo easy paths to a win. Find one of them.ANSWER: 42.xe7+! The rook takes a sip,likes the taste, and then pours more into hisparched throat. I'm afraid this self-evidentmove falls short of a cataclysmic, history-in-the-making shot, but it's still a good move!

[ 42.xd6+! is crushing as well. ] 42...xe7 43.f5+ SUMMARY: TheExchange Caro-Kann is the closest we haveto a Colle structure and is also tough todefend from Black's side at club level. If youwant to go for the theoretically best chance,then study the Panov-Botvinnik for a goodshot at "+=" and a long initiative with yourisolani position.1-0

Chapter Eight

Colle Versus Chigorin

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 e3 Bg4 4 c4

On researching this chapter, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the Colle set-up is a rare but effective antidote to the Queen's Gambit Chigorin Defence. The Steinitz-Chigorin game below, one of the very first QGD Chigorins ever played, is an arresting example of Black's inability to make any use whatsoever of his newfound freedom and imposing development. With our Colle set-up, mixed with a quick Qb3, we regain a modicum of slimly achieved normalcy, despite Black's frantic attempts to draw us into his realm of knowledge. Our queen on b3 makes life tough for Black, since we attack both b7 and d5 simultaneously, and Black finds great difficulty in securing his borders from imminent invasion.Steinitz-ChigorinPrang-Malinin

Index

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 e3 Bg4 4 c44...e5 – Steinitz-Chigorin4...e6 – Prang-Malinin

D07Steinitz,WChigorin,M

World Championship (Game 10), Havana[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3[ Our most likely move order would run 1.d4d5 2.f3 c6 3.e3 g4 4.c4 etc. ]

1...d5 2.d4 g4 QUESTION: What do we doif Black plays a reversed London System?

[ ANSWER: After 2...f5 your best bet is togo for a Queen's Gambit/Slav-like set-up forWhite. Here are a couple of examples:

A) 3.c4 e6 4.c3 f6 ( 4...c6 5.e3 f6is a Slav – see Carlsen-Gelfand in ChapterFive ) 5.g5 ( or 5.e3 as in note 'b' ) 5...c66.h4 g6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.e3 bd79.a3 d6 10.h4 b8 11.cxd5 exd512.g3 d8 13.g2 e7 14.c2 0-015.f3 h7 16.f4 and White stoodbetter with the bishop pair and the promiseof a future kingside attack, V.Korchnoi-G.Seul, Willingen 1999.;

B) 3.e3 f6 4.c4 e6 5.c3 bd76.cxd5 xd5!? ( on 6...exd5 I intended7.b3 ) 7.d2 with an odd-looking pseudoSemi-Tarrasch position, where I still preferWhite due to his extra central control, C.Lakdawala-A.Reprintsev, Internet (blitz)2012.;C) 3.-- ]

3.c4[ 3.e3 would be the Colle fan's choice, andc6 4.c4 transposes. ]

3...c6 Chigorin's somewhat questionablevariation of the Queen's Gambit.QUESTION: What is the idea behind it?ANSWER: Essentially, Black goes for areversed Veresov formation (which is toughenough to play a move up as White!) andgenerally plays for ...e7-e5.QUESTION: Is it sound?ANSWER: It probably is against an Nf3 moveorder from White. We are just happy toremain within Colle realms with our next move.4.e3 QUESTION: I take it we are not going forthe kill here?ANSWER: Correct. We aren't interested in atheoretical discussion with the Chigorin expert(unless you are booked up and choose to pickthat fight!). Instead, we remain faithful to ourColle ways and, in doing so, probably dodgeour opponent's prep.

[ 4.cxd5 and ]

[ 4.c3 are the theoretical main lines. ] 4...e5 Black plays his thematic central break.

[ Next game we look at the quieter andpossibly sounder 4...e6 . ]

5.b3! The original is usually better than thesequel. Nobody raves about 'Home Alone II'!White has many ways to combat the Chigorin– and 5 Qb3!, played in one of the originalChigorin games, is one of the best methodsWhite has at his disposal.QUESTION: Hey, you said we wanted to avoida fight, didn't you?ANSWER: I said we wanted to avoid atheoretical fight, not the fight itself! I likeSteinitz's combative choice, which puts heavypressure on b7 and d5. The move scores aterrific 64% for White and Houdini gives it athumbs up as well. Playing around with thecomputers, I tried to find a path to equality forBlack and failed to do so.

xf3 6.gxf3 exd4?! Chigorin possibly getsconfused within his own system. His movelooks like the swapping of one vice for another,like a person who gains 26 pounds in lieu ofsmoking cigarettes. Other moves:

[ a) 6...b4+?! 7.d2 dxc4 ( 7...xd2+8.xd2 is also in White's favour ) 8.xc4

e7 9.dxe5 0-0-0 10.xb4 xb4 11.c3left Black without compensation for hismissing pawn, G.Soppe-R.Garbarino, SanMartin 1995. ]

[ b) 6...f6?! 7.xb7! b4 8.b5+ c6 ( after 8...d7 9.dxe5!! c2+ 10.d1 xa1 11.exf6 Black is busted ) 9.a4 exd410.a3 dxe3 , C.Marzolo-D.Borderie, ValThorens 2009, and after simply 11.axb4Black lacks any compensation for thepiece. ]

[ c) 6...dxc4!? 7.xc4 d7 8.dxe5 ( not yet8.xf7+? xf7 9.xb7 xf3 10.xa8+

d7! , when Black has a dangerous attack;e.g. 11.f1 exd4 12.exd4 f6 13.c3

b4! 14.xh8 xd4 and mates! ) 8...a5 ( 8...xe5? 9.xb7 d8 10.b5wins for White ) 9.xf7+ xf7 10.b5+ c611.xa5 xf3 12.g1 is also good forWhite, who enjoys greater central controland leads in development, while Black'sking remains exposed even if he regains thepawn. ]

[ d) 6...ge7 (Chigorin's attemptedimprovement may be best, but even here, Ican't find equality for Black) 7.c3 exd48.xd5 b8 , W.Steinitz-M.Chigorin,Havana (14th matchgame) 1889, when the

immediate 9.d2 seems better for White,since his bishop pair is meaningful in theopen position, ( rather than 9.e4 g610.d2 . )]

7.cxd5 e5[ 7...b4 8.e4 d3 9.xd3 also leaves Blackwithout adequate compensation. ]

8.exd4 d7 9.c3 A viceless opponent is adangerous foe. Steinitz isn't interested inpawn grabbing on b7 at a cost to his owndevelopment.QUESTION: Doesn't Black have somecompensation due to all those doubled pawnson White's side?ANSWER: I don't think so. Let's assess:1. White is a pawn up and the extra one (ond5) itself applies pressure upon Black.2. White owns the bishop pair in an openposition.3. White leads in development.4. White can make good use of the open g-and c-files for his rooks.Conclusion: Black has no compensation forthe pawn.

e7+ 10.e3 b4 The queen allows herselfto get distracted with tangential issues. Thelines an actress delivers on stage and thoseshe formulates and improvises in her mindare different things. Black's queen, awaitingcongratulations under the belief that she is aVIP, soon receives a demotion to just solitaryP.11.c2! Showing that White is the one doingthe attacking. Black's queen is simply a targeton b4 and a hindrance to ...b7-b5-b4 pawnstorms.

gf6 12.b5 I would avoid this and castlequeenside immediately.

d8?! QUESTION: Why didn't Black castlequeenside?ANSWER: He should have done just that.Black comes upon a perplexing dilemma. Justas some religious-minded people attempt torationalize and explain away discrepanciesand contradictions in their belief systems, sodoes Chigorin's faith in his own systemremain intact, despite growing evidence thathis "compensation" is all but imaginary.Perhaps Chigorin, caught up in a fever ofoptimism, wanted to attack on the queensidewith ...a7-a6 and ...b7-b5, but in doing so, heagreed to leaves his king precariously in thecentre, or on the kingside – a dangerousproposition with White's open g-file. Suchmoves provide cathartic, rather than actual,

relief to suffering. 13.0-0-0 a6 14.a4 e7 QUESTION: CanBlack go on the attack on the queenside?

[ ANSWER: Too early. White is wellequipped to deal with it. For example:

14...b5?! 15.b3 and now if he insists onattacking with a5?? , then 16.a3 e717.f4! and Black must resign. ]

15.hg1 g6?! Chigorin hopes to galvanizeand reinforce his sagging structure withadded girders and concrete, but only managesto weaken his dark squares further. Unhappilyfor Black, the hoped-for barrier and repellentbegin to lose their cohesiveness, as well astensile strength.

[ I'm convinced today's IM or GM wouldhappily hand over an exchange for the darksquares with 15...0-0!? 16.h6 g6!?. The trouble is that White isn't obliged totake it and may just keep attacking withsomething like f3-f4-f5. ]

16.h6! Trapping Black's king in the centre. b5 17.b3 b6 18.ge1 d7We are reminded of Abe Lincoln's words: "Ihave been driven many times upon my kneesby the overwhelming conviction that I hadnowhere else to go." Black's moves feelcarefully controlled, like a mob boss speakingto his lieutenants in code, all the whileknowing the Feds are wire-tapping every word.Chigorin reasons that the defence, if engagedin a conventional manner, is plainly destinedfor failure. So when logic collapses, we mustturn to its tributary: magic! With his last moveBlack fumbles about conjuring a spell whichwill somehow whisk his king to safety to thequeenside, the destination he should havecastled to in the first place. The defensivemotions grow ever more twisted, weavingtoward a weary decrepitude.19.f4! c8

[ Black is completely busted: 19...c8??20.a3 overloads his queen, ]

[ while 19...d6 is met strongly by 20.e5!. ]

20.a3 a5 "But, but, but, you can't speak tome that way! I'm the little princess!" Thequeen backs up wearing a pouty expressionof barely controlled irritation. She is banishedto a5, disconnecting her from e7. Now life forBlack's king in his war-torn hovel is in starkcontrast to the lustre of his antebellumhappiness.EXERCISE (planning): Come up with anunstoppable attacking plan for White which

withers and evaporates Black's resistancewith alarming speed.ANSWER: Raid the weakened dark squares.21.g5! g8

[ There is no real choice since 21...he822.xe7+! xe7 23.e4 is hopeless aswell. ]

22.xe7 [ 22.e4! is also very powerful. ]

22...xe7 23.e4! White generates threatseverywhere.

b8 24.f6+ d8 EXERCISE (combinationalert): Black's position is the final wisp ofsmoke curling up from a dying campfire. Whitehas a way to end resistance for good. How?ANSWER: Destroy Black's only defender andcrash through on c7.25.xe7! Not exactly the gift of the Magi,when you give up an exchange to get a queenin return.

xe7 26.xc7+ d7 [ 26...xf6 27.e5# ] [ or 26...f8 27.xb8+ g7 28.h5+! gxh5 29.g1+ mates. ]

27.xa5 Pressure constricts Henry VIII's heartas he witnesses the beheading of hismisbehaving queen.SUMMARY: The Queen's Gambit Chigorinisn't very popular, but I wish it were. I don'tsee a way for Black to fully equalize after 4 e3e5 5 Qb3!.1-0

D07Prang,EMalinin,V

Correspondence 1998[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.f3 g4 4.e3 e6[ QUESTION: I assume this line is quieterthan 4...e5 in the previous game? ]

ANSWER: Yes, Black, not trusting (possiblywith good reason!) the early ...e7-e5 break,slows the game down into a Queen's GambitDeclined style position.QUESTION: What are the differencesbetween this and a normal QGD?ANSWER: There are several:1. Black's knight has been developed early toc6, which in turn hinders either ...c7-c6 or ...c7-c5.2. Black's bishop is on the outside of his pawnchain, rather than on c8. Although this looks

like a plus, it may actually be a minus, sinceWhite can hunt down the bishop pair with afuture h2-h3 and g2-g4, as we saw in the Slavchapter. Also, with the bishop on g4, the moveQb3, hitting b7, becomes an issue for Black,as we saw last game.3. In a standard QGD, White's dark-squaredbishop is usually developed outside the pawnchain on g5 or f4. Here it sits inside on c1. Ofcourse, this rarely bothers us Colle folk, sincewe play this way against every variation!5.c3 b4 Most Chigorinites, like theirfounder, are bishop-hating knight-lovers. Ihave noticed many Chigorin players hand overboth bishops for both knights, at least in mygames against the system.

[ Instead, after 5...f6 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 b4 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 e811.d2 a6 12.fc1 we reach a Nimzo-Indian-like position, where White hopes tomake use of his bishop pair later on, H.Ree-D.Sahovic, Lone Pine 1979. ]

6.b3 xf3 Every Chigorin player in theworld will chop here.7.gxf3 QUESTION: Don't we suffer adamaged structure in the aftermath?ANSWER: I don't interpret the change instructure as damage. To break up ourkingside Black has:1 Strengthened our central control.2. Handed us an open g-file.3. Given us the bishop pair.Conclusion: No single problem is deemedprohibitive for Black, yet the net cumulativeeffect of all the various little precedences areenough to deny him equality.QUESTION: If this is good for White, then whydid Black exchange on f3?ANSWER: In order to create imbalance andplay for the win. Chigorin players tend to veertoward high-end aggression, otherwise theywould play the Slav or orthodox QGD.

ge7 8.d2 0-0 9.f4 Clamping down on ...e6-e5 breaks.

b8 Discouraging White from queensidecastling.

10.0-0-0!? QUESTION: But he plays itanyway?ANSWER: What can I say? Some people areimmune from intimidation. White decides tocastle early and risk his opponent's attackingcaprices on the wing. I believe it was a gooddecision.

dxc4 11.xc4 b5 The point of ...Rb8.QUESTION: Isn't Black's wing attack faster?

ANSWER: His attack is probably faster, butwith his last move Black also weakened ahuge number of squares down the c-file andmade his c7-pawn backward and chronicallyweak, so his attacking chances certainly camewith a high strategic price tag.12.d3 a5 13.b1 a4 14.c2 xc315.xc3 b4 QUESTION: Sorry to harp onthis point, but isn't Black making tremendousprogress on the queenside?ANSWER: Black's rather inopportune passionto deliver checkmate is destined to remainunfulfilled. His pawns advance, yet he isunable to open lines effectively. Also, I repeat,White gets a lot of play down the c-file. Hecan also play positionally in such positionsrather than go for opposite wing attacks.16.c5 b6 17.c1 a8 18.hg1Now Qg5 or Qh5 is in the air, reminding Blackthat he too must worry about king safety –and while Black's queenside attack is atsomewhat of an impasse, White can leisurelybuild up on the other wing.

g6 19.h4 d8 20.g5 d5 21.g2!Black must now watch out for Be4 tricks aswell.

a5 22.c4 b7 23.gc1! As I mentionedearlier, White can also challenge Black downthe c-file.

d5 24.e4 [ I think White was wise to avoid thecomplications stemming from 24.e4 a3!25.b3! ( not 25.exd5?? b3! which givesBlack a decisive attack ) 25...c3+!, when the focus suddenly turns to White'sking safety. Then again, I don't really see aproblem for White even here – his kingremains safe after 26.a1 , as do hisstrategic gains. ]

24...ab5 25.f5! c3+ QUESTION: Is this anoasis or a mirage?ANSWER: A mirage. Black sees no effectivepathway to implement a true attack, and sofashions a desperately constructed makeshiftversion by finding a clever way to strip Whiteof a powerful bishop. Yet, in the end, nothingmuch changes and Black remains worse.26.a1 xe4 27.fxg6! hxg6

[ The bishop is untouchable: 27...xd2??28.gxh7+ xh7 29.g1 mates in threemoves. ]

28.xe4 All eyes are on c6. Have you evermet someone with buck teeth – and then youthink to yourself: "Don't stare at her buckteeth!" – and then, of course, you notice

yourself staring at her teeth, whichimpregnate your consciousness against yourwill?

e7 Black experiences a well-foundedpremonition of ill-omen and decides tochange course from shaky attack to shakyending.

[ 28...d5? 29.h5! yields a decisive attackfor White. ]

29.xb7 xb7 30.xc7 The rook continuesits longitudinal ascendancy by winning a pawnand ensconcing itself on c7.

b3 31.xb7 xb7 32.c4 a7 33.axb3 axb3+ 34.b1 Now the b3-pawn is a furtherworry for Black.

b7 35.e4 f6 36.b4 d7 [ Black has no choice since White's kingwould just walk over and pick up the b3-pawn if rooks came off the board. Forexample: 36...xb4? 37.xb4 c6 38.c3

f5 39.f3 h7 40.c1 h6 41.d2 h542.d5 exd5 43.exd5 b8 44.f6and the rest is simple. ]

37.e3 f7 38.c1! [ Stronger than 38.xb3?! c6 39.d3 e540.d1 f3! , when Black regains one of hispawns. ]

38...c6 39.c4 a5 The unnoticed middlechild tends to view life second hand.40.c3 e8 41.d2! h7 EXERCISE(combination alert): It looks like White hasblundered away his h-pawn. He didn't. Find atactical trick which hangs on to the pawn.ANSWER: The alien, whose form is shadowsand black light, receives nourishment byfeeding upon the pain of its prey.42.f4! d8

[ 42...xh4?? 43.c7 h5 44.e5 fxe545.dxe5 b7 46.b6 xe5 47.c8+and 48 Rc7+ picks up the knight. So the kingcurbs his vexation and swallows the slightwith an externally meek countenance, eventhough his eyes betray his restrained anger,as he sneaks a sour glance over hisshoulder to cover c7. ]

43.g3 d7 44.d3 b7 45.e3 a5The spasmodic evolutions of the knightresemble the frantic flitting of an injured insectin its death throes.46.c5 This rook is the knight's mostvociferous critic, dogging its every move withan annoying counter.

a7 47.b8!? White decides to sweep theposition of distracting debris, and unearthsthe elemental plan of entering a won rook and

pawn ending. [ I would have retained the bishop versuspassive knight imbalance and played47.d3 . ]

47...b7 48.xa5 xb8 49.a7 White is stillwinning the rook endgame:1. He is up a clean pawn.2. Both his rook and king are more activethan their black counterparts.3. Black's b3-pawn and kingside are not easyto protect.

c8 50.f7 c2 51.xf6 Black pawns squirtout, as if from a toothpaste tube.

e7 52.xg6 xb2 We are reminded of the1980s rhythm and blues song: "Just the two ofus. We can make it if we try. Just the two of us.(Just the two of us.) Just the two of us,building castles in the sky. Just the two of us,you and I." Black's rook sprawls in front of hispasser, the worst possible posting – which inturn means the differential in the race is thesame as the size difference between a houseand Notre Dame cathedral.53.g7+ f6 54.b7 b1 55.f3 b2Shades of Tiananmen Square. Unfortunatelyfor Black, the dissident student blocks thetank's path on b1.56.f4 The king erupts in a cheer, the way afootball fan jumps out of his seat with armsupraised and fists clenched when his teamscores a touchdown. No last cheapo check one1 for Black, who can now resign. White's kingand rook ride the royal carriage waving attheir subjects with imperious solidarity.

h1 57.xb2 xh4+ 58.e3 h1 59.b6 e7 60.b5 d6 61.d5 SUMMARY: The 4...e6 lines are quieter than those with 4...e5.Play is similar to the QGD or Nimzo-Indian,but slightly favourable versions for us, sinceBlack's c6-knight looks offside.1-0

Chapter Nine

The Ostrich in the Sand

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nd2

As a society, we are easily fooled. A friend of mine once met The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the flesh. I was shocked when she related that he was "thinner and smaller than she imagined, in his sixties, with multiple plastic surgeries on his face!" "But, but, but, Arnold the Barbarian is seven feet tall, in the flower of youth, and beheads evildoers!" I stammered. "Sorry, no," she replied, by now obviously concerned about my fragile mental state.The above diagram, the "Ostrich in the Sand" variation, a targeted anti-King's Indian system, may come as a similar shock for our opponents. After our strange move, murmured news of a wonderful utopian future spreads among Black's citizenry. But when exactly it arrives, no one can say for certain. This is a line where data gets the pink slip while our understanding and experience receive the job offer.Our idea behind 2 Nd2 may be crude, utterly devoid of aesthetics or subtlety of any kind, yet also quite effective. We "threaten" 3 e4, turning the game into a Pirc or a Philidor, something your KID-loving opponents probably want to avoid. The next problem they face is the fact that, after 2...d5, we have tricked them into a Colle position, quite an alien experience for the KID folk. So whichever way they play it, we deny them their structures. If you go over the games of this chapter, you will see what I'm talking about.Lakdawala-WolskiLakdawala-Maki (Los Angeles 1999)Lakdawala-AldamaJaracz-CodenottiAstasio Lopez-Gonzalez de la Torre

Index

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nd2 d5 3 Ngf3 g63...Bf5 – Lakdawala-Wolski

4 e3 c54...Bg7

5 b4 – Lakdawala-Maki (Los Angeles 1999)5 c4 – Lakdawala-Aldama

5 dxc5 Qa5 6 a3 Qxc57 c4 – Jaracz-Codenotti7 b4 – Astasio Lopez-Gonzalez de la Torre

D04Lakdawala,CWolski,T

Las Vegas 1990[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.d2 QUESTION: The meek shallinherit the earth?ANSWER: I admit the move may leave youwith an odd first thought of "so many ostriches;so much sand", but it is a targeted anti-King'sIndian system. Essentially we force the KIDplayer into an alien structure, perhaps not tohis liking.QUESTION: How does this move affect theKID player?

[ ANSWER: Basically, with 2.d2we "threaten" a Pirc with e2-e4 next move,so this in turn forces Black into either c5, after which White can capture, leading tostrange reversed Catalan lines, ( or 2...d5, a move which most KID players are loatheto play. )]

[ By the way, Magnus Carlsen is also an"Ostrich in the Sand" fan, but with a slightlyaltered anti-King's Indian move order: 2.f3

g6 3.bd2! . Here we are again, thePseudo Ostrich! This move order may beWhite's most accurate – it doesn't allowBlack the double queen's pawn lines with ...e7-e6 of the current game, since he hasalready committed to ...g7-g6. As in theOstrich proper, Black has two main moves:

A) 3...d5 4.b4! g7 5.e3 transposes toLakdawala-Maki, the next game in thechapter, which incorporates a couple ofCarlsen's games with this variation.;B) 3...c5 and now in a spirit of adventure,I usually go for 4.dxc5!? ( 4.e3is also possible of course ) 4...a6 5.a3with a standard reversed Catalan, C.Lakdawala-C.Clawitter, San Diego (rapid)2012. ( Perhaps White can play in a moreenterprising manner with 5.e4! xc5 6.e5

g4 7.h3 h6 8.b3 , when Black'sgame looks cramped and somewhatunpleasant. );C) 3...-- ]

2...d5 [ 2...c5 3.dxc5!? ( just for the sake of beingweird; 3.e3 may lead to more normal Collelines )

A) 3...e6 4.b3 a6 ( 4...xc5 5.xc5 a5+ , D.Lima-L.Brito, Joao Pessoa 2009,is playable but hands over the bishop

pair ) 5.d4 c7 ( several blitz opponentsfell for 5...xc5?? 6.xc5 a5+ 7.b4and White retains his extra piece ) 6.f4!

c6 ( 6...xc5?? 7.xf6! picks offanother piece ) 7.d6 with an edge forWhite, C.Barlocco-V.Rapoport, Dresden2008.;B) 3...a6 4.e4! (this is close to atransposition to my analysis of 2 Nf3 g6 3Nbd2 c5 in the previous note) xc5 5.e5

d5 6.b3 xb3 ( 6...e6 is better )7.axb3 e6 8.c4 b6 9.d3 and Whitelanded in a favourable c3-Sicilian-typeposition, C.Lakdawala-"jaw", Internet(blitz).;C) and now: 3...-- ]

3.gf3 f5 4.e3 e6 5.e5 White's only realshot at an advantage.

[ QUESTION: Can't we play 5.h4as in the Slav lines?ANSWER: Not this time since after g4 6.f3

h5 , 7.g4?? is met by xg4 . Databasestatistics: White scores 0% from thisposition! ]

5...d6 This natural move allows us ourintended trick. Instead:

[ a) 5...e7?! 6.g4! e4?! (even GMs maylose their bearings in this bizarro position)7.f3 g6 8.h4 xg4!? ( 8...h5 9.xg6

fxg6 10.g5 is strategically disastrous forBlack as well ) 9.xg4 xh4+ 10.f2and Black had insufficient compensation forthe piece, C.Lakdawala-E.Lobron, Internet(blitz) 2006. ]

[ b) 5...fd7 6.g4 g6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.g2and White's bishop pair may give him anedge, similar to ones he gets in the Slavchapter, C.Lakdawala-L.Christiansen,Internet (blitz) 2006. ]

[ c) 5...h6! (Akobian and Silman bothshowed the path to equality here) 6.d3

bd7 ( 6...xd3 7.cxd3 bd7 was deadequal and quickly drawn, C.Lakdawala-J.Silman, Los Angeles 1988 ) 7.0-0 d68.df3 ( 8.f4 is more ambitious andprobably superior ) 8...c6 9.b3 e410.xd7 xd7 11.b2 g4 12.h3 xf313.gxf3 f6 14.g2 g5 15.c4 0-0-016.c2 dg8 17.h1 b8 18.c3 h519.c5 c7 20.b4 g4 21.hxg4 hxg422.xh8 xh8 23.f4 d8 24.h1 xh125.xh1 h5 26.e1 f5 27.g1 f628.a4 c8 ½-½ C.Lakdawala-V.Akobian,US Championship, San Diego 2004(although White stands a shade better now,

since he has the only viable pawn break inthe position with b4-b5). ]

6.g4! With this tricky move, we hope tobefuddle our opponents.

g6 [ Perhaps Black should go for the calmeralternative 6...xe5 7.gxf5 d6 8.fxe6

fxe6 9.f4 , even if White has an edge withthe bishop pair, light square power and anopen g-file; he can castle queenside later onif necessary. ]

7.h4! Threatening h4-h5, snagging a piece. bd7!

[ Wolski gambles on a speculative piece sac,rather than endure the misery of 7...h5?8.xg6 fxg6 9.g5 with a wretched positionfor Black. ]

8.h5 e4 All but one of the dancers are inplace... when the choreography goes haywire.The sum of the pugnacious bishop'spersonality is his staunch refusal to bend toauthority of any kind. Black sacs a piece to goafter White's king.9.f3 xe5 Too late to turn back now. Blackdedicates himself to the derailment of allfurther dialogue or negotiation. From thispoint on it's kill or be killed.10.dxe5 xe5 11.fxe4 g3+ 12.e2It's just a low-gradient hill, yet my out-of-shape king finds himself sweating and winded.The kingside bursts with confetti, balloonsand brightly coloured streamers and thecrowd cheers. Why do people think the Colleis dull?

xg4 QUESTION: Isn't White crushed? Youropponent has two pawns for the piece,threatens a fork on f2, and looks like he has awinning attack too.ANSWER: I admit my king walks through anunfamiliar part of town after dark. The blackknight and bishop at the corner speak in lowmurmurs, eyeing him with criminal intent.Black certainly has some compensation forhis piece in this bewildering position, but thecomputers say that White is far from beingcrushed. The position flows with treacherousundercurrents, poised to take either sidedown upon the slightest misstep. In fact, let'sdo an exercise here:EXERCISE (critical decision): White has twoviable defences in the position. Your haplesswriter unfortunately picked non-existentdefence number three! Can you do better andfind a path to survival for White?13.g1?! My infallible intuition naturally picks

the worst of White's choices. A thick piece-clot forms on the g-file. Apparently myopponent isn't the only one who is confused,as ever new, reinvigorated threats emerge insheets, like a violent squall, strafing thepavement in a thunderstorm.ANSWER: White has two reasonabledefences:

[ a) 13.h3! (White's best in my opinion) f6 ( 13...f2?! 14.e1 xh3 15.xg3 g5looks good for White ) 14.f3 dxe4 15.xg3

d8 16.e1 exf3+ 17.xf3 e5 18.f4 xh5 19.g2! is anyone's game. ] [ b) 13.c3 f2 14.a4+ c6 15.g1 h416.xg3 xg3 17.exd5 exd5 18.f4 h119.b3 xf4 20.exf4 g3+ 21.f3 xh5with two bishops against rook and threepawns. Houdini says equal, but I preferBlack here. ]

13...d6? When you have an unwanteddinner date, with the promise of a wretchedevening, the worst thing you can do is to showup punctually. The queen's tenuousmanoeuvre reeks of the artificial, like an oldwoman, immersed in her past and now long-gone beauty, who bleaches her hair blondeand wears miniskirts. Black comes right backwith a counter-blunder. My king's seductiveinvitation draws the queen in, the way asalivating wolf, walks closer to the meat in thetrap.

[ Instead, Black missed 13...xe3! 14.xe3 ( after 14.xg3? xd1 15.xd1 dxe4the queen and four pawns will beat White'sthree minor pieces ) 14...g5+ 15.d3

dxe4+ 16.c3 e3+ 17.b4 a5+ 18.a4 d4+ 19.c4 b5+! 20.b3 xg1 21.xe4 bxc4+ 22.c2 with a mess. Black probablystands better, but White is still kicking. ]

[ EXERCISE (combination alert): AfterBlack's mistaken last move, 13...d6?, White has a consolidation trick to win thegame. Do you see it? ]

ANSWER: 14.c4! The unexpected winner ofa multi-million dollar lottery is very likely tohug and kiss the first person he comes intocontact with. My taunting knight (the oneeveryone ridiculed!) waves a fluttering,dandified "hello" in the black queen's direction.

a6!? [ Desperation, since 14...dxc4allows simplification with 15.xd6 xd616.xg4 , which is hopeless for Black aswell. ]

15.xg3 0-0-0

[ 15...xc4+ 16.e1! wins a second piecedue to a double attack. ]

16.xg4 dxc4 17.e1 Black's positionplummets from attacking plentitude intofinancial crisis, due to market uncertainty andan inability to raise capital. He remains a pairof minor pieces down without compensation.So he feels the most expedient course toaction is to proffer resignation, amble over tothe bar and order a double scotch – no ice.SUMMARY: 2 Nd2 is fully playable. Black hasone and only one path to equality – Akobianand Silman's 5...h6, which the vast majority ofyour opponents are not likely to find over theboard. Also, keep in mind that White canavoid this line entirely with Carlsen's PseudoOstrich move order, 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 Nd2!,when Black has committed to ...g7-g6, whichwe want.1-0

D02Lakdawala,CMaki,J

Los Angeles 1999[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 [ Compare the following Leningrad Dutch linewith the position I reach against Maki: 1...f5

2.f3 f6 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3!? 0-0 6.b4!? , M.Quinteros-G.Sax, Wijk aan Zee1973. ]

2.d2 d5 [ 2...e5!? is kind of a poor man's BudapestGambit – I feel 2 Nd2 is more useful andless weakening for White than 2 c4, which isthe normal Budapest Gambit position. After

3.dxe5 g4 White has a good position if hejust plays 4.e4 , ( but whatever you do, don'tfall for 4.h3?? e3! (which, if I neglected tomention, would prompt you to resign beforeyour fifth move and also send me an angryemail about the low-grade quality of theanalysis in this book!). )]

3.e3 g6 QUESTION: Doesn't Black's set-uppretty much refute your 2 Nd2 idea? I haveread that Colle lines don't work so well whenBlack fianchettoes on the kingside.ANSWER: I have read this too, but don'tbelieve in that theory. I worked out a strangebut very playable system against Black'skingside fianchetto lines. Stay tuned.

[ The main alternative is 3...c5 4.c3

( 4.dxc5!? is still possible, but I don't reallycare for White's game after e5 )

A) 4...c7 may lead to a reversedCatalan or just normal Colle lines. Forexample: 5.gf3 bd7 6.a4!? g6

7.d3 ( 7.dxc5 xc5 8.c4 , intending b2-b4 next, is the way I would play White )

7...g7 8.e4!? dxe4 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 cxd4 11.cxd4 0-0 12.0-0looks like an equal isolani position, M.Czerniak-C.Guimard, Buenos Aires 1939.;

B) 4...g6?! 5.dxc5 g7 6.b4 is a versionof a reversed Catalan Gambit, a line whichI believe to be borderline unsound forBlack, as explained in Chapter Six.;

C) 4...bd7 5.f4 (transposing to areversed Stonewall Dutch, similar to thosewe looked at in Chapter One, seemslogical here) b6 6.d3 a5 7.f3, S.Brady-A.Muir, Scottish TeamChampionship 2002, is the sort of positionmost Colle players feel comfortable in.;

D) and then: 4...-- ] 4.gf3 g7

[ We examine the reversed Catalan, 4...c5 5.dxc5 , in the final two games of thechapter. ]

5.b4!? QUESTION: What? This looks like arandom move.ANSWER: Not so random.1. White's idea is eventually to blanket theentire queenside with pawns: c2-c4, a2-a4 andBa3, with a massive queenside spatialadvantage.2. White also prevents Black's ...c7-c5 break,his bread and butter move in the Grünfeld,without which he often flails about in search ofa plan.

[ White can also play 5.c4 , which invites ...c7-c5, as I do next game versus Aldama. ]

5...0-0 [ 5...e4 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d2 e5 8.c3 0-0 9.e2 g5 10.g3 exd4 11.cxd4 e8 12.0-0 h3 13.e1 c6 14.c2 e7 15.a4 d7 16.a3 ac8 , when each side hopesto accrue wealth on his respective wing, B.Grachev-I.Kurnosov, EuropeanChampionship (rapid playoff), Rijeka 2010. ]

6.b2 bd7 [ 6...f5 (probably Black's most common set-up) 7.c4 c6 was seen in two of MagnusCarlsen's games: 8.a4 ( or 8.e2 bd7

9.0-0 dxc4 10.xc4 b6 11.a5and Black fails to equalize, since he hasn'tmanaged to achieve either a ...c6-c5 or ...e7-

e5 pawn break, Ma.Carlsen-M.VachierLagrave, World Blitz Championship,Moscow 2010 ) 8...bd7 9.e2 e4

10.0-0 e8 11.xe4 xe4 12.d2 f513.b3 e5?! (just because a move isthematic doesn't necessarily mean it is alsogood) 14.cxd5 exd4 , Ma.Carlsen-J.Hammer, Oslo (blitz) 2009, and now 15.dxc6

bxc6 16.c4 looks good for White. ]7.c4 c6 8.e2 e8

[ 8...a6 9.c1 ( 9.a4 may be a better move,discouraging ...b7-b5 in any form ) 9...b510.c5 a5?! 11.a4! axb4 12.axb5 cxb5, when both of Black's b-pawns were inmortal danger, C.Lakdawala-K.Griffith, SanDiego (rapid) 2012. ]

9.0-0 h6 Unnecessary. [ Black should go for the immediate 9...e4, even if White's rook is first to arrive on theopen c-file after 10.cxd5 xd2 11.xd2

cxd5 12.fc1 . ]10.c1 a6

[ 10...dxc4 11.xc4 b6 12.ce5gives White a small but nagging edge. ]

11.a4 White continues to gain ground on thequeenside.

f8?! My opponent, unfamiliar with aGrünfeld set-up, has trouble coming up with areasonable plan. He takes his sweet timeabout engineering a central pawn break,despite urgent beckonings from commandcontrol.QUESTION: What do you suggest for Black?

[ ANSWER: I think his best plan is 11...e4with a freeing exchange, and the thought of...e7-e5 at some point. ]

12.a5 Now a hole awaits White's pieces on c5. e6!?

[ I would have gone for 12...g4 13.h3 xf314.xf3 to unload a potentially bad bishop. ]

13.e5 6d7 14.cxd5 xd5 [ 14...cxd5 15.d3 is an unpleasant-lookingtype of Exchange Slav for Black. White canplay for control over c5 with Nb3 next. ]

15.e4 White gains central space as well. e6 16.d3! QUESTION: Why a retreat andwhy an exclam?ANSWER: Principle: It is in the best interestsof the side with the territorial advantage toavoid exchanges, to keep the opponentcramped.

f5!? From absolute passivity to absoluteconfrontation generally doesn't transition well.Black compartmentalizes his grief, launchingan offensive, while on the defensive! Such

agitated thrashing about probably works to hisdetriment, and I suspect the f-pawn is illsuited in the extreme to be the flag bearer ofBlack's quest for counterplay. It's hard to faulthim though. Interminable patience is not aneasy skill to master. At the gym each morning,I try eternally to show my old, broken downbody just who is boss, forcing it to its limits;in the end, my body always wins the argument.Black's last move has the same strainedquality.

[ Perhaps he should avoid this impatientlashing out and continue to work quietly foran ...e7-e5 break with something like

16...f6!? , intending ...Bf7 and ...e7-e5. ]17.f4 f7 18.exf5 gxf5 19.h5A juicy new hole (h5) opens up in theneighbourhood of the black king.

h8 20.c3! Going straight for Black'sweakened king, and drawing him out liketweezers to a stubborn splinter in a finger.

e6?! [ Better to play 20...f6 21.g3+ h722.c2 e6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.f3 g6 . ]

21.c4 Eyeing holes on b6, d6 and e5. f6 22.h3 e4 23.c1 g5The servants scurry about and Black's kingdemands ministrations to his considerabledefensive needs.24.c2 e7 25.e5! In a burst ofuncharacteristic bravado, your normallycautious writer goes all in with a pawn sac.Who cares about the queenside pawns?

xb4 The queen thinks to herself: "Theapples, all fallen and rotting, encircle the treewhich gave them their short, meaningless lives."

[ Perhaps Black's best chance was the cold-blooded 25...xe5 26.dxe5 xh5 27.xh5

ed8 28.c1! xb4 29.g4! and even here,White has a strong attack. ]

26.xf7 xf7 27.f4 Threatening Bh5+. ed8 28.b3 e7 EXERCISE (combinationalert): White has a method of breaking downBlack's stubborn defensive line. How?ANSWER: Double attack. h8 and e6 bothhang.29.d5! My prideful b2-bishop, viewing himselfof high denomination, swats his underling onh8 to put him in his place.

xb2 [ 29...e5? fails to 30.dxc6! . ]

30.dxe6+? [ The immediate 30.xb2!is much stronger. ]

30...g8? The old man on g8 is content to siton the park bench, feed the pigeons andwatch the world around him. The complexity ofthe position and the approach of time pressureget to both players.

[ Houdini says Black is okay after 30...xe6! 31.c4 ( or 31.xe6 d2! ) 31...e5 32.xe6 d2 33.b1 g6 34.xb7 d6when, miraculously, Black's ultra-centralized defenders keep him alive andwell. ]

31.xb2 d2 32.xb7 The positiondegenerates into a confusing blur, similar towhen you go to the ophthalmologist and sheasks: "Which side is more clear? Left orright?"

[ Here 32.e5! is probably stronger, but mynatural instinct is to bail out into any kindof ending (the single phase of the game Iactually play competently!) whenever myclock runs low. ]

32...g5!? The mutating co-ordinates onBlack's radar screen leave him without a cleartarget. With this move we get a subliminalpeek of Black's freefall to come.

[ His king is in a lot more trouble than White's,so he probably should have entered thedismal ending after 32...xb2 33.xe7 . ]

33.e5 My queen tries her Pygmaliondamnedest to rise higher in society, despiteher humble upbringing.

xe2 A combination which falls below thethreshold of efficiency, but there is nothingbetter.

34.xe2 [ 34.h5! is an immediate game-ender. ]

34...d2 Threatening both a fork on f3 andmy rook on f1.

35.d4 xf1 EXERCISE (combinationalert): White's attackers reach the pinnacle ofpower limits, like the speed of light, which isunable to accelerate an iota faster. How canWhite force mate?ANSWER: White's knight clasps the blackking's cheeks with thumb and fingers, as amother would, scolding her child.

36.xf5! The worried black queen's puffyeyes tear up with concern over her old, dyingking's health, as she watches him pass away,helpless to alter nature or time.SUMMARY: With this odd set-up, we can lureBlack into Grünfeld-type positions – againstopponents who may never have played asingle Grünfeld in their entire lives!1-0

D02Lakdawala,CAldama,D

San Diego (rapid) 2012[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.d2 Perfect against my scarystrong tactician opponent who, just a weekbefore I wrote this, won a GM normtournament in Los Angeles and passed theUSCF 2600 mark.

d5 3.gf3 g6 4.e3 g7 5.c4 [ QUESTION: Why not clamp down on his ...c7-c5 break and play 5.b4 , as in theprevious game? ]

ANSWER: I don't mind giving my opponentone more chance to play ...c7-c5 (see thenext note).

5...0-0 [ 5...c5 is met by 6.dxc5 .QUESTION: Is this a reversed Catalan?ANSWER: Correct. I feel that an extratempo, playing it as White, really matters insuch a sharp situation. For example: a5

( on 6...a6 Houdini tries like crazy to hangon to the extra pawn with 7.a4+!? d7

8.a3 intending b2-b4 next ) 7.a3 c6, J.Rotstein-P.Wells, Bad Wörishofen 1996,and now White can try 8.cxd5 xd5 9.c2, once again making Black sweat to regainthe sac'ed pawn. ]

6.b4 He had his chance. No more ...c7-c5. a5 QUESTION: A violation of principle? Blackcreates confrontation on your strong wing?ANSWER: He does indeed break thatprinciple, but he follows one as well: Createconfrontation (anywhere!) when leading indevelopment.

7.b5 b6 [ 7...c5 8.b2 bd7 9.c1 would lead toan odd sort of Grünfeld. But keep in mind,my opponent is a King's Indian player, whoisn't familiar with Grünfeld positions. ]

8.b2 bd7 9.c1 dxc4?! QUESTION:Didn't he just hand you a tempo? Why didn'the wait until you played Be2 and only thentake on c4?

[ ANSWER: He did lose a tempo. Perhapsmy opponent feared c4-c5, but without justcause. For example, after 9...b7 10.c5?!(I wouldn't have played this move) c6 11.a4

c8 Black looks okay. ] 10.xc4 b7 11.0-0

[ I could play 11.a4 to prevent his next move,but I was afraid he would eventually play ...

Nd5 and ...Nb4 at an inopportune moment. ] 11...a4 12.a3 In order to fix his a4-pawn as atarget.

e6 13.c2?! [ I should have clamped down on c7 asanother target with 13.d3! . ]

13...c6! Dissolving his main weakness. 14.bxc6 xc6 15.d3

[ 15.xe6?! xf3 16.xd7 xg2!looks good for Black due to my exposedking. ]

[ QUESTION: Why not seize central spacewith 15.e4 ?ANSWER: I preferred to hold back on thismove to avoid giving my opponent anytargets himself. Nonetheless, your moveseems thematic and strong. For example:

c8 16.a6 b7 17.d3 xa6 18.xa6 a8 19.b5 a5 20.e2 with an edge forWhite. ]

15...c8 16.a6 b7 17.d3 xa6 18.xa6 a8 19.b7?!

[ 19.b5 a5 20.e2 looks slightly betterfor White here too. ]

19...b5! The b-pawn can't be touched. NowBlack hopes to mobilize his queenside pawnmajority.

20.c7 A tacit draw offer. I realized myopening advantage had evaporated.

b8 21.a7 e8!? No draw! Black refusesthe repetition.

22.e4? [ 22.fc1 pretty much forces the repetitionwith a8 23.b7 b8 , even if Houdiniclaims an edge for White after 24.a6!? . ]

22...e7! Suddenly ...Ne8 is in the air. Mymajor pieces, far from conquering invaders,trip over each other.

23.fc1 e8 24.7c2 Gulp! I must allow adiscovery on my queen.

[ 24.b7?? a8 just traps her. ] 24...e5 25.a6 c7 26.a7?! Hi. I'm backagain! My opponent was low on time and Iinsisted on dancing with the devil. My queen,hoping to gain allies and sympathy, issues acall for help with a calculated tremor in hervoice.

[ 26.a5! was correct. ] 26...e8! His knights continue in theirspasmodic/jerking/halting dragonfly motions.

27.a6 d3?! [ 27...xf3+ 28.xf3 d6! 29.c6 c4gives Black the advantage. ]

28.c8 b6 29.xb6 xb6 30.c3QUESTION: What the hell!? You just hung a

rook!ANSWER: I wander into the danger zone withfeigned ignorance, hoping to inflate the worthof my cheapo stock, in my opponent's (and myown!) time trouble. The rook "hang" (whichisn't so much a mistake as it is an impetuouscrime of passion and impulse) is not as clearcut as it appears. Does my move cross thebarrier between determined effort andsuicide? Let's do an exercise to see if Blackcan take it.EXERCISE (critical decision/calculation):Calculate the consequences of my hang/sacafter 30...Nxc1 31 Bb4. Does my sac work?

f6? Black incorrectly settles for an abridgedversion.

[ ANSWER: My idea fails! He should acceptthe offered rook and then give it right back:

30...xc1! 31.b4 f8! 32.xe7 xe7 33.xe8+ f8 , when White experiences apalpable feeling of deflation, like apunctured tyre. My a-pawn is weak andBlack soon creates at least one queensidepasser. ]

31.b1 f7 32.a5 bb7?! [ 32...a6 held the fragile balance. ]

33.e5! I decide to alter my philosophy ofbrotherly love, only to replace it with abrotherly shove! Don't you find an appealingcrudity to White's last move? SuddenlyBlack's kingside transforms into a repositoryof dysfunctional defenders.QUESTION: Why did you give up your e-pawn?ANSWER: I sac'ed it to clear g5 for my knight.Black is in deep trouble.

fxe5 34.g5+ g8 35.dxe5?! [ 35.ge4! exerts terrible pressure onBlack's position. ]

35...xe5? The wrong recapture. 36.b4! The bishop moves with the surequickness and dexterity of the magician whocontinues to pull scarves from his sleeves.After crazy recent ramblings, my mercurialbishop suffers a mild attack of logic. Blackdiscovers that control over e8 may no longerbe his. Apparently White's despotic bishopplaced a lien on the property and now thebank threatens to foreclose.

bc7 37.b8 b7 38.c8 Sinner and saintreconcile, deciding it is in their mutual interestto work together.EXERCISE (critical decision): Did I make thecorrect decision in agreeing to the draw byrepetition? Or did I miss something?

[ ANSWER: Sometimes agreement to a drawcan be a "??" blunder. I was winning butdidn't realize it. White can dodge the"forced" repetition with 38.c8 bc739.d8! , which my opponent showed meimmediately after the game with a big smileon his face! White wins material. Black'sforlorn e7-rook seems as redundant as thedreaded single sock in your drawer.SUMMARY: My 2 Nd2!? line leads to oddGrünfeld-but-not-Grünfeld positions. ]

½-½

D02Jaracz,PCodenotti,M

Forni di Sopra 2011[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3 g6 2.d4 f6 3.bd2 d5 4.e3 c5QUESTION: Black beat us to it, before wecould toss in b2-b4 to prevent this break. Nowwhat?ANSWER: No worries, we enter a reversedCatalan, an opening sharp enough that theinverse swing of a tempo matters.5.dxc5 This position soon drifts into anunregulated marketplace, since it is hardlyever played.QUESTION: Why give up the centre?ANSWER: Principle: Open the position whenleading in development. We make Blackexpend time and energy to regain hisinvestment.

a5 QUESTION: What if he doesn't care andgambits the pawn?

[ ANSWER: Then we reach positions similarto the reversed Catalan Gambit, alreadycovered in Chapter Six – which, as I havementioned, look pretty shaky for Black. Forexample: 5...g7 6.a3 a5 ( creating a holeon b5, but if 6...0-0 then 7.b1 and Whitehangs on to the extra pawn with b2-b4 next )7.b1 a4 8.d4 c7 9.b4 axb3 10.cxb3

( the greedy 10.2xb3!? also looksinteresting ) 10...xc5 11.b2 0-0 12.c1

b6 reaches a sharp position with mutualchances. Black gets a kingside pawnmajority, while White's is on the queenside,V.Kovacevic-B.Kurajica, Novi Sad 1984. ]

6.a3 xc5 7.c4[ In the next game we look at the immediate7.b4 . ]

7...dxc4

[ After 7...g7 8.b4 d6 9.b2 0-0 10.c1White extracted a small edge due to his leadin development, P.Kotsur-R.Khusnutdinov,Kazakh Championship, Astana 2011. ]

[ Instead, 7...a5?! fails in its intention, sinceWhite plays 8.b4! anyway with advantage. ]

8.xc4 b5 9.e2 g7 10.d4!?White looks for tricks on b5, and also on theh1-a8 diagonal.

[ 10.b4 b6 11.b2 would be a morenormal path. ]

10...d7 11.2b3!? Targeting the sensitivea5- and c5-squares.

b6 12.d2 a5 13.c1 The prosecutingdistrict attorney skilfully lures the defendant tothe perimeter of self-incrimination. Now Nc5 isan annoyance. Black begins to feel the stingof his lack on the queenside, where White'spieces walk around like they own the place.The inertia from tuggings and proddingsinduce Black to comply in obedience with thedictates of the axiom: cover your weakenedsquares.

e5 14.f3 e4 15.c2 xd2 16.fxd2 a6 17.f3 c8!? This is a test of positionaljudgment. The black rook's eyes batheWhite's queen with ugly animus. With themove, Black hopes to keep the white queen atbay, like a woman with outstretched arm, whogrips a crucifix tightly to ward off the vampireclimbing over her windowsill.EXERCISE (critical decision): Does Black'smove push us around or, far from inflictingdamage, is the intended tempo gain no morethan the bite of a still toothless infant? DoesWhite get enough for the queen if he sacs onc8?ANSWER: White receives full compensationand more for the sac. The queen sees throughthe rook's facade, sensing the gap betweenthe person before her and the inflatedreputation.18.xc8+! Black's rook is caught off guardand exposed, as if her dress unexpectedlybillows up from the wind.

xc8 19.xc8+ d7? The needle of hisinternal compass goes haywire. The e7-square was tactically safer for Black's king,who becomes disoriented.

[ 19...e7! 20.c6 a7 21.xa5is probably only slightly in White's favour. ]

20.c6 a7?? The queen reaches herdestination and then, to her chagrin,discovers that the airline screwed everythingup by losing her luggage. White is just a

couple of signatures and a handshake awayfrom signing the contract.

[ Black should have gone for a pawn downending with 20...xc6 21.xc6+ xc6

22.xa5+ b6 23.b4 . ] [ EXERCISE (combination alert): How canWhite exploit Black's last move, 20...a7? Why was it a terrible blunder? ]

ANSWER: Fork. The merger goes through andthe pair of medium-sized companies forms asingle giant entity. Black can't recapture, soWhite gets too much material for the queen.The black king, feeling out of place, juststands there, hooking thumbs into pockets,trying hard not to look foolish on d7, while hisqueen mouths words but can't manage toextract a single sound, except for her uneven,wheezing breath.

21.xa6! From Black's perspective, this rookis one of those maddening people he despises,but for some inexplicable reason, everyoneelse loves.SUMMARY: The extra tempo is meaningful forWhite in the odd, and rarely played, reversedCatalan lines.1-0

D02Astasio Lopez,DGonzalez de la Torre,S

Donostia 2010[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 f6 2.f3 d5 3.bd2So we transpose, as if White had played Nd2on his second move.

c5 4.e3 g6 5.dxc5 a5 6.a3 xc5 7.b4White decides to gain an immediate tempo onthe queen.QUESTION: What would be the purpose ofholding back on b2-b4, as in the last game?ANSWER: The advance b2-b4 gains a tempobut also creates a target point for Black's ...a7-a5.QUESTION: So which one would you go for?ANSWER: My preference would be to play asin this game with the immediate 7 b4.

c3 QUESTION: What is the point of thismove? Black doesn't really gain anything, ortake control over a key square, since hisqueen will be ejected from c3 soon.ANSWER: I agree that it fails to gain a temporight now. The idea is to lure White's rook tob1, hoping to gain a tempo in the distant

future with ...Bf5 (assuming the white c-pawnadvances to c4).

8.b1 c7 9.b2 g7 10.c4 White leadsin development and so opens the position.

dxc4 Maybe Black should refrain from thismove and just castle.

[ QUESTION: So why not gain the temponow with 10...f5 ?ANSWER: The move doesn't exactly terrifyWhite, who wants his rook on the c-fileanyway. After 11.c1 Black's queen isuncomfortably placed, while the bishop on f5may not be the tempo gain Black hoped for,since it is vulnerable to Nd4 ideas. ]

11.xc4 0-0 12.c1 With the not-so-subtlethreat to discover on Black's queen.

d8 Black's hunted queen is in full rewindmode, and does her best to cover her tracksfrom pursuers. After repeated dents to herdignity, the queen without a kingdom arrivesat her throne with as much grandeur as heracting skills can muster.QUESTION: How would you assess thisposition?ANSWER: Black's aging queen is a devolvingsight, with towel draped overhead and facesmeared with cold creams to smooth wrinklesshe knows will never disappear, even thoughshe dreams of rejuvenation to the way shelooked three decades ago.After move 12, the queen just made her fifthmove, only to end up on her original square!Clearly White's strange opening has gone inhis favour. He holds both a lead indevelopment and a queenside spaceadvantage.

13.b3? Dual purpose: White pressures f7and clears the d-file for his other rook, afterwhich Black's queen may find herself movingonce again. Nevertheless, I believe the movemay be inaccurate. White should just castlefirst and keep options like e2 open for hisqueen.QUESTION: Why e2? White's move looksthematic and strong.

[ ANSWER: Black can exploit White'sinaccuracy with 13.b3 bd7! intending

14.0-0 b6 , when White must either losehand over the bishop pair or lose severaltempi after 15.e2 e6 . ]

13...e6? This unnecessary weakeningrepresents the bullet's entry point, theburdensome vestige of Black's resistancegone up in a haze.

14.0-0 bd7 15.fd1 b6 Except that now

Black lacks the critical ...Be6 move.16.f1 d7 The dirty trick ...Ba4 is in the air.17.b5! The pawn thrusts an interruptive handin Black's face, denying both ...Ba4 and also...Bc6, while continuing to keep him crampedand under pressure.

a5 This may hurt more than help.18.d4 a4 19.b2 c8 EXERCISE(planning): White has a path toward completestrategic domination. What is it?20.b1

[ ANSWER: 20.e4! xc1 21.xc1 e8 ( 21...xe4 22.xg7 looks like suicide bydark squares; this may be Black's best, butreally the situation is one of half a dozen inone pile, six in the other: both lines lose )22.xg7 xg7 23.f6+ h8 24.e4gives White an absolute stranglehold onthe position. ]

20...e8 21.e4 h5 22.e5 The knightsignals surreptitiously.

xe5 Black's bishop, who refuses to recite afealty oath to his king, abandons old ties, andanswers with raised eyebrow and a tiny hintof acknowledgement.

[ Not taking action is just as bad. Forexample: 22...h6 23.df3 f6 24.h3and I am out of helpful suggestions forBlack! He can barely move. ]

23.xe5 f6 24.c3 e5 EXERCISE(planning): Find one poisonous idea andBlack's lines of transmission break down, sothat central command and the troops are leftincommunicado.ANSWER: Place Black in an eternal pin."Ground control to Major Tom, your circuit'sdead, there's something wrong. Can you hearme, Major Tom?" Now Black gets tossed intoa substanceless void, unable to cling toanything solid for support. His cryogenicallyfrozen pieces hope to awaken in a utopiansociety, so unlike the one which exists today.25.a5! The door on Black's hopes slamsshut with a convulsion of absolute finality.

e6 26.a2 The hovercraft glides, free offriction, on a cushion of air.

g7 27.c4 xc4 28.xc4 e7Everyone dives for cover. Implicit in theremainder is the spectre of gratuitousviolence.29.xd7! SUMMARY: The reversed Catalanis an insidious line. The open nature of theposition makes Black work hard to equalize, ifhe achieves it at all.1-0

Chapter Ten

Owen's Defence

1 d4 b6

This is a line we Colle folk dream about encountering. We meet Owen's Defence with the set-up d2-d4, e2-e4, c2-c3, Bd3, Nf3, Nbd2 - exactly the way we play against the Queen's Indian, but with one twist: we are up a move, since we achieved e2-e4 in one go. Through strange mutations, we become a new strain of vampire, enabling us to function and hunt during daylight hours as well.Alternatively, Black can play as he does in the Ragger-Friedrich game below, when we get a highly favourable Advance French. Our centre remains unassailable and our e5-pawn often plays the role of a tentacle, rising up from the murky depths, gripping the black king's leg and sucking him under to a watery, unmarked grave.Ragger-FriedrichOll-Spassky

Index

1 d4 b6 2 e4 Bb7 3 Bd3 e6 4 Nf34...Nf6 – Ragger-Friedrich4...d6 – Oll-Spassky

B00Ragger,MFriedrich,Z

Croatian Team Championship 2011[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 e6[ Our Owen's Defence move order wouldarise as 1...b6 2.e4 b7 3.d3 . ]

2.e4 b6 Now we transpose.3.d3 QUESTION: In an earlier chapter yousaid you preferred to avoid e2-e4 in one move.But here you want us to do so. Why?ANSWER: I was speaking about 1 d4 e6 andsaying I normally don't enter the French with 2d4. But against Owen's Defence, I alwayspush my e-pawn two squares. The reason isthat we often reach positions either similar toQueen's Indian versus Colle a full move up,or else a sour French Defence for Black, ashe gets in this game.

[ QUESTION: Why not seize territory with3.c4 ?ANSWER: This is a funky byway called theEnglish Defence, championed by a group ofadventure-loving British GMs in the 1980s. Iwould stay away from this line, which is verytricky and very un-Colle in its nature! Forexample: b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+!

( trust me: you don't want to get involved in 5...xg2?! 6.h5+ ) 6.f1 f6with an irrational position most unsuited tous calm, law-abiding Colle folk, E.Bareev-E.Kengis, Warsaw (rapid) 2002. ]

3...b7 4.f3 f6 5.e2! Awarded anexclam in my book 'A Ferocious OpeningRepertoire'.QUESTION: What is the idea?ANSWER: White shuts down ...Ba6, whichswaps off White's powerful light-squaredbishop, and in turn reduces his attackingchances.

[ QUESTION: Why not 5.bd2 ?ANSWER: Developing the knight isn't asaccurate since Black can play c5 6.c3 cxd47.cxd4 a6! with only a minimaldisadvantage. ]

5...d5 This is quite common, but it allowsWhite a very promising Advance FrenchDefence.

[ QUESTION: What do we play against 5...c5?ANSWER: We have two good choices: 6.--

( a) 6.c3 and we enter Chapter Three a fullmove ahead!

QUESTION: How did we gain the tempo?ANSWER: We didn't bother with e2-e3 andthen e3-e4. Instead, we pushed our e-pawnto e4 in one go.

; b) 6.d5! exd5 7.exd5+ e7 8.c4 b5 9.b3 xe2+ 10.xe2 , C.Bauer-Art.Minasian,New York Open 2000. White has the morepromising ending, with a central spaceadvantage, while Black's bishop hasfianchettoed into a wall on d5. )]

6.e5 fd7 QUESTION: Why is this promisingwhen compared to a normal Advance French?ANSWER: Black's queenside fianchetto looksineffective, since he is denied ...Ba6. In anormal Advance French, White's d-pawn oftencomes under fire via ...c7-c5, ...Nc6, ...Qb6, ...Nh6 (or ...Nge7) and ...Nf5. In the current case,Black doesn't get any of this, so the resultingpressure on d4 is virtually non-existent.

[ QUESTION: Why retreat when Black hasthe more aggressive 6...e4 ?ANSWER: After 7.bd2 xd2 8.xd2he has only helped White develop. I willinclude the entire game R.Leitao-A.Mascarenhas, Sao Paulo 2000, because itwas a thematic example of thewretchedness inherent in Black's position:

c5 9.c3 c6 10.a3! (halting any ...c5xd4followed by ...Nb4 counterplay) a5 11.h4!(stronger than castling kingside; if leftunchecked, White plays h4-h5 and Rh3-g3)

h5!? (handing g5 over to White) 12.0-0 c413.c2 a4?! (it is strategic suicide to lockthe queenside, but Black had a poor positionin any case) 14.g5 e7 15.ae1 d716.xe7 xe7 17.g5 g8?! 18.d1 b519.f4 g6 20.f5! gxf5 21.xf5! 0-0-0

( 21...exf5 22.e6 fxe6 23.xe6 e724.c5 c7 25.xe7+! xe7 26.e2+wins ) 22.h3 h6 .EXERCISE (combination alert): White toplay and obliterate.ANSWER: 23.xf7! and Black resigned dueto xf7 24.xe6 . ]

7.0-0 Of course there is nothing wrong withWhite's move, but he can also considerdelaying castling to keep the option of tossingin h2-h4 later on, as in Leitao's game in theprevious note.

e7 8.c3 0-0 9.bd2 c5 10.a3 c4?This common mistake in such positionsdoesn't contravene the elemental spirit asmuch as flaunt it. Black's intended ...b6-b5, ...a7-a5, ...b5-b4 comes much too slow to botherWhite.

QUESTION: What would you suggest as aplan for Black?

[ ANSWER: I would go for 10...a5, hoping to swap off that nasty attackinglight-squared bishop on d3 with ...Ba6 next.QUESTION: What should White do aboutthis?ANSWER: He can actually just allow theswap and still retain an edge, or he can tryto disrupt Black's plan with something like

11.d1 a6 12.c4!? . White diversifies hisassets to keep pace with a rapidly shiftingmarket. ]

11.b1! White indulgently allows thedemonstration, knowing it will pass like someadolescent phase. It has been my observationthat a successful attack should also befortified with a hint of arrogance fromsomeone who knows he cannot fail.QUESTION: Why to the unnatural square b1,when c2 was available?ANSWER: White's odd-looking move containsthe seed of a nasty point: He clears c2 for hisqueen, creating a battery in the direction of h7,which in turn forces Black to weaken hiskingside. One must admit to a certain rusticcharm in White's simple plan, even if it issparse in the potential of risk.

c6 12.e1 b5 13.f1 a5 14.c2White's kingside attack far outstrips Black'scorresponding play on the queenside.

g6 No choice. The uric acid levels are toohigh, resulting in the black king's hobblingbout of gout on the dark squares.

15.d2! QUESTION: This looks unnatural aswell. Why not play his bishop to h6 instead?ANSWER: Despite Black's attempts tofilibuster, White continues to make significantprogress. Revisit Hansen-Vescovi fromChapter Two, in which Hansen also avoidedBh6 so as to send his queen into the kingsidedark squares instead – just as Ragger doesthis game.

e8 In order to play ...Bf8. 16.h6 f8 Black beats back another waveof attackers. Soon it becomes clear his lastmove is nothing more than a Band-Aid on agrievous wound.

17.h3 The sneaky queen affects shock,when in reality she is delighted by her newdestination on h3. The storm cycles into aperiod of lull just before the hurricane. White'sforces hover menacingly over the black king.

e7 All eyes in the room turn to the bishop,Black's last real defender and only hope.

QUESTION: Is Ng5 so strong a threat that hemust waste a tempo to cover against it?

[ ANSWER: Ng5 is a huge threat. Let's sayBlack ignores it and proceeds with his ownqueenside attack: 17...b4 18.g5 h6(now the sac is perfectly sound) 19.xf7!(the huffy knight isn't exactly an exemplar ofrestraint or propriety) xf7 20.xh6and White's attack is out of control. Blackhas no reasonable defence to the comingRe3 etc. ]

18.e3! Heading for g4 and into dark squarebliss.

b4 19.g4 b3 An egregious error whencommitted in an already bad position doesn'treally constitute a mistake, since that which islost remains lost, only more so. After thismove, effectively closing the queenside,Black's counterplay convulses and dies.

[ 19...h8 prolonged resistance, butwouldn't have saved the game. ]

20.h6+ QUESTION: Why did Black resign? [ ANSWER: Black's king stepped on toomany toes, gathering enemies like chafe inthe wind. After 20.h6+ g7 White has athematic way of brushing aside Black'sdefences. Let's do an exercise to discoverthe answer:EXERCISE (combination alert/calculation):Find one simple move and the champagneglasses chime like wedding bells, as thejoyous peal of laughter from White'sattackers provide the harmony.ANSWER: The f7-pawn is the royal orbupon the black king's sceptre: 21.xf7!

xf7 (Black can only prevent mate at thecost of handing over his queen) 22.xh7+

f8 23.h6# . Seven-ply if you saw theposition in your mind's eye from thebeginning.SUMMARY: Owen's Defence is a dreamcome true for the Colle player, who eithergets a position from Chapter Three a fullmove up, or a fantastic version of anAdvance French. ]

1-0

B00Oll,LSpassky,B

Tallinn (rapid) 1998[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.e4 [ Stylistically, Spassky is ill-suited in theextreme to be the flag bearer for Owen'sDefence and its hypermodern musings.When he was the world champion, heplayed the Queen's Gambit Declined againstqueen's pawn openings, and virtually neverlost with it, until he ran into Fischer'streatment in their Reykjavik match.On the other hand, there was also thisgame: 1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.f3 d6 4.e2

e6!? (Spassky surprises Petrosian with theHippopotamus in a world championshipmatch!) 5.c3 ( I play this set-up too, calling itthe "Coward's Variation" in my book on theModern Defence, as it's one of the safest –and most harmless! – ways White can meetthe Modern; instead, 5.c4! ensures White ofa pleasant King's Indian formation ) 5...d7

6.0-0 e7 7.bd2 b6 8.a4 a6 9.e1 b7 10.d3 0-0 11.c4 e8 12.d2 f6!? 13.e2 h8 14.h1!? f7 15.g1(this is not the way to try and refute theHippo!) e5! and Black achieved dynamicequality, T.V.Petrosian-B.Spassky, WorldChampionship, Moscow (16th matchgame)1966. ]

1...b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 d6QUESTION: Why does Black cede so muchspace to White?ANSWER: Spassky prepares to play thedouble fianchetto Hippopotamus formation. Icovered this line extensively in my book onthe Modern Defence, but I think it's only okayfor Black under certain circumstances, forinstance when White develops his bishop toc4.QUESTION: Do you like it here for Black?ANSWER: No, I don't. I believe Black is fatedto suffer a rather lame King's Indian-typeposition when White later plays c2-c4.

5.0-0 d7 6.c4! The KID formation isprobably White's best bet against the Hippo,and assures him of an enduring space edgewithout much counterplay from Black.

g6 7.g5 Natural, but this move is inaccuratein virtually all Hippos.QUESTION: What is not to like? Whitedevelops with tempo.

ANSWER: Does he? Black was going todevelop his knight to e7 anyway, and he willbe the one gaining the tempo with asubsequent ...h7-h6.QUESTION: But then didn't White provoke aweakness in Black's camp?ANSWER: One player's weakness isanother's expansion. I think ...h7-h6 is usefulfor Black, who often plays the moveunprovoked later on.

e7 8.c3 h6 9.e3 [ After 9.h4 g7 White must watch out for...g6-g5-g4, followed by ...Bxd4 tricks. Blackcan also play ...g6-g5 and ...Ng6 with dark-square ambitions and attacking intent. ]

9...g7 10.d2 g5! Like I said, Black wants...h7-h6 and ...g6-g5 even more than Whitedoes!

11.d5 To clear d4 for his knight and bluntBlack's b7-bishop.

g6 Spassky continues his Hippo dark-square strategy.

[ QUESTION: Why not close the centreKing's Indian style with 11...e5 ?ANSWER: It would be a bad KID:1. The f5-square is weak, while if Black gets...f7-f5 in, White simply takes, clearing e4for his pieces.2. If Black avoids ...f7-f5, White canmanoeuvre a knight to g3 or e3, clampingdown on f5.3. Black has little counterplay, whereasWhite can patiently build for a b2-b4, c4-c5pawn breakthrough on the queenside. ]

12.d4 Eyeing c6 and negating the plan of ...e6-e5, since his knight will be happy to hopinto f5.

e7 [ QUESTION: Can Black try the plan ofhanding over his dark-squared bishop andthen switching the pawn structure with

12...xd4!? 13.xd4 e5 ?ANSWER: It's an interesting idea but onewhich probably fails to generate thedesired counterplay since ...f7-f5 is stillvery difficult to achieve – and, even ifachieved, hands over the e4-square. White,in the meanwhile, simply builds for histhematic c4-c5 pawn break with a clearadvantage. ]

13.cb5 c5 14.c2 a5!? [ Interesting. Spassky avoids 14...a6(sending the knight away) 15.c3and only then playing a5 . ]

15.b3

[ QUESTION: Doesn't 15.a3 save a tempoon the path to b2-b4?ANSWER: Not if Black replies e5 16.e2

a4! , which messes up White's plan. ] 15...0-0 16.a3 White is now ready for b3-b4and stands better.

a4!? There are no absolutes in the realm ofpsychological motivation behind a move.Reasoned argument rarely succeeds against aplayer with an unmalleable sense of destiny,and the belief that when logic collapses, thereis always shamanism. Spassky bangs out amove possibly more brave than wise, sensingthat to remain in stasis is the equivalent ofslow death. So he decides he must disrupt orperish, riding the position at high velocity,inured in his new sense of living dangerously.Nevertheless, it doesn't get him off the hookfrom his strategic woes. It's like the defendantwho explains to the judge: "In my defence,your honour, I had been drinking heavily."17.b4 b3 The knight lashes out, ventingresentment long buried within his psyche.18.xb3 axb3 19.b2?!

[ 19.ab1! is the most accuratecontinuation. ]

19...exd5 [ 19...a6! 20.ad1 exd5 21.exd5 xd4!22.xd4 xb5 23.cxb5 d7 looks to beBlack's best shot. ]

20.exd5 f5?! [ It's not too late to muddy things up with 20...a6! . ]

21.xb3 f4 22.d2 g4 23.ae1 h4 24.f3White halts the threatened ...f4-f3 with a shrug.Black, whose attack has grown icy cold, isbusted. Spassky's daring sac, beginning with16...a4, failed to transform his wretched worldinto the hoped-for utopia.

g3 25.h3 In a King's Indian position thismight be met by ...Bxh3!, but here the blackbishop is absent from the c8-h3 diagonal atthe crucial moment.

c8 26.e6 f7 27.e4 e5 28.d3! [ Oll steers clear of Spassky's trap:28.bxc7?? xc7! 29.xc7? xh3!(the bishop is unleashed) 30.gxh3 xh3with a decisive attack, as 31.e2? runs into

d4+ 32.ff2 h2+ 33.f1 h1# . ] 28...h5 29.fe1

[ The c7-pawn is still immune. For example:29.bxc7? xc7! 30.xc7 xh3! 31.gxh3

xh3 32.e2 h4 (now ...g2 is a direthreat) 33.xf4 g2 34.xe5 h1+ 35.f2

gxf1+ 36.xf1 xf3+ and Black is no

longer losing. ] 29...c6 30.bd4 cxd5 31.cxd5 d732.c6 Principle: Counter in the centre whenattacked on the wing.

e8 33.xe5 dxe5 34.b3 [ Oll isn't interested in pawn hunting with34.a6 , even if the computers like it. ]

34...f5? After an uncomfortably long,wounded pause, the queen takes her leave.Having been thwarted, Black settles for atertiary alternative, grudgingly forsaking hisdream of conquest of the Eastern hemisphere.EXERCISE (combination alert): Black's lastmove was not the best and his margin ofhope dwindles and fades still more. FindWhite's shot.ANSWER: Pin. Now Black's game goes frombad to reverse. The black roaches dive forcover behind the refrigerator when Whiteunexpectedly flips on the kitchen light.35.xf4! exf4!?

[ 35...xf4 36.xf4 exf4 37.xe8+ xe838.xe8+ g7 39.d1 may have put upmore resistance. ]

36.xe8+ xe8 37.xe8+ h7 38.d6Principle: Passed pawns must be pushed.

h5 39.e6 b1+ 40.e1! f5The ambitious rook hopes to subvert poweraway from his enemies to himself.41.d7

[ After 41.d7 e5 42.f7+ h6 43.xe5 xe5 44.xf4+ the field mice see theshadow of the swooping hawk upon them.SUMMARY: The Hippopotamus, whenplayed against White's e4/d4/c4 set-up,only results in a passive KID for Black. ]

1-0

Chapter Eleven

Pirc, Modern and Philidor

The Colle players' sole endearing quality may be our uncanny and infallible ability to annoy our opponents through religiously strict adherence to our beloved structure. However, in this instance, we must be flexible against Pirc, Modern and Philidor formations and concede a slight alteration, playing our e-pawn out two squares to e4, rather than holding it back to e3, as in most traditional Colle set-ups. Yet we remain as close to a Colle as possible, with our pawns on c3, d4 and e4, and our pieces - knights on d2 and f3, and bishop normally on d3 - exactly as we would in other Colle lines. For example, this is the position we get against the Pirc:1 d4 g6 2 e4 Bg7 3 Nf3 d6 4 c3 Nf6 5 Nbd2 0-0 6 Bd3

Our set-up is virtually the same against the Modern and Philidor, so our e-pawn moving up two squares remains the only erratic variable in the otherwise familiar equation. Essentially, we remain within our Colle world, where play generally veers toward heavy strategic manoeuvring, rather than early tactical outbursts.Lakdawala-WootenBaker-LakdawalaKamsky-NepomniachtchiKalegin-Akhmetov

Index

1 d4 g61...Nf6 2 Nd2 d6 3 e4 e5 – Kalegin-Akhmetov

2 e4 Bg7 3 Nf3 d6 4 c3 Nf64...b6 – Kamsky-Nepomniachtchi

5 Nbd2 0-0 6 Bd3 Nc6 7 0-07...e5 – Lakdawala-Wooten7...Nh5 – Baker-Lakdawala

B07Lakdawala,CWooten,A

San Diego (rapid) 2012[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4[ 1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.d2 e5 4.gf3 d65.g3 f6 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 bd7 .QUESTION: Why are we looking at the Caro-Kann?ANSWER: This is a Caro-Kann versusKing's Indian Attack. We get Black's positionhere (or a similar version) but a move up,because we play it as White. ]

1...f6 [ Black has multiple methods of reachingbasically the same position. For example:

1...g6 2.e4 g7 3.f3 d6 4.bd2 f6 ] [ and 1...d6 2.e4 f6 3.d2 g6transpose to the game; ]

[ or 1...d6 2.e4 f6 3.d2 e5 4.c3 bd7(other moves are examined in Kalegin-Akhmetov) 5.gf3 g6 (this set-up is one ofthe most common for Black) 6.dxe5 ( or6.d3 g7 7.0-0 0-0 , which is 6...Nbd7 70-0 e5 in the main line ) 6...dxe5 7.c2 g78.c4 0-0 9.0-0 c6 10.a4 h6 ( he shouldprobably challenge White's queensideterritorial ambitions with 10...a5 ) 11.a5 a6?(creating self-inflicted holes in the queenside– can you tell that Black isn't a Pirc orModern player? – this is the magic of the 2Nd2 order) 12.e1 h8 13.f1 h514.c4 and Black's puncture wounds on b6and d6 proved fatal, C.Lakdawala-K.Griffith,San Diego (rapid) 2010. ]

2.d2 We revisit my beloved "Ostrich in theSand" move order.QUESTION: Why? We already covered that inChapter Nine.ANSWER: We didn't cover the Pirc, Modernand Philidor responses to it, which we do inthis chapter.

g6 Some players just can't stand the thoughtof ...d7-d5 and insist on the Pirc.3.e4 d6 4.gf3 g7 5.c3 The Coward'sVariation, my personal favourite versus thePirc and Modern. A chapter is devoted to thisline in my Modern Defence book, and again inthis one! I'll just quote myself: "This is aboutthe safest way White can meet the Modern (oras in this case, the Pirc): c2-c3 bolsters thed4-point and White hopes for something withhis space edge, without handing Black even a

trace of counterplay. Tiger calls this the 'LazyVariation', because it is so simple to play forWhite. Basically, this line vacuums theposition of sharpness and White forces agame of trench warfare instead."QUESTION: Can White extract anything herein the form of an opening edge?ANSWER: Probably not against a booked-upopponent. But I think this is the perfect line forthe Colle player for these reasons:1. We Colle folk like to play it safe, and thereis nothing safer than this line against the Pirc,Modern or Philidor.2. If you play the early Nd2 move order, manyof your opponents will be tricked into playingthe Pirc for the first time in their lives, soit's unlikely you face a "booked-up" opponent.

0-0 6.d3 Now we reach our Caro-Kannversus KIA position a move up.QUESTION: Why not develop the bishop to c4instead?ANSWER: That is possible, but we play to d3,just to remain within Colle territory.

e5!? Usually they prepare this by developingthe queen's knight first:

[ a) 6...c6 .QUESTION: Should we push our d-pawn onBlack's knight?ANSWER: I would just stick to the scriptand ignore the provocation, continuing with

7.0-0 . Now Black will most likely play e5, after which we reach our desired position,as in the main game. ]

[ b) 6...bd7 (one of Black's most commonset-ups, the reversed equivalent of the KIAversus Caro mentioned above; its downsideis that it applies less pressure upon d4)

7.0-0 e5 8.e1 e8 9.f1 ( White plays itlike a Closed Ruy Lopez; I prefer rigidstructures and usually release centraltension here with 9.dxe5 xe5 10.xe5

dxe5 – yes, I know, White has nothing, but Ihave around a 90% lifetime score in suchboring positions, so wisdom dictates to gowhere the money is ) 9...d5 (Black's freeingbreak) 10.xe5 xe5 11.dxe5 xe5 12.f4

( 12.f4 e8 13.g3 is equal ) 12...g413.b3 xe4 14.xe4 xe4with compensation for the exchange, E.Alekseev-I.Nepomniachtchi, St Petersburg-Moscow match 2011. Houdini gets greedyhere and wants to take on b7 as well. ]

[ c) 6...c5 is the other main option: 7.dxc5 ( play gets a little sharper if you decide tomaintain central tension with 7.0-0 cxd4

8.cxd4 c6 , when White must be on thelookout for ...Nd7 or ...e7-e5, both whichincrease pressure on d4 ) 7...dxc5 8.e2

c6 9.0-0 c7 10.e1 d8 ( 10...h5 11.g3 g4 12.c4 d7 13.c2 ad8 14.e3 picks off the bishop pair ) 11.c2 b6with a heavy duty manoeuvring game tofollow, A.Fedorov-M.Dzhumaev, New Delhi2006. ]

7.0-0 QUESTION: Can you get away withgrabbing the e5-pawn?

[ ANSWER: It just looked wrong to me at thetime and I rejected it without much thought.But the database has two games whereWhite did just that and won. So the nextchance I got, versus a 2600-rated IM, I triedit: 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.xe5!? g4! (Dang! Heworked out the best response over theboard) 9.xg4 xd3 10.e3 . --

( Here Houdini gives 10...a6 11.e2 c5! 12.xd3 xd3+ 13.e2 f4+ 14.f3 d3 15.e2 f4+ with a draw byrepetition.QUESTION: If this is the case, why wouldyou enter a line where you give Black aneasy draw?ANSWER: Two reasons:1. Just because the computer finds a drawdoesn't mean my next opponent will alsofind one.2. My opponent outrates me by 100 points,so a draw, even with White, is not such atragedy.; Anyway, he played instead 10...f5(the logical, human move: Black opens thegame as quickly as possible to exploit hislead in development and bishop pair)

11.exf5 gxf5 12.b3+ f7 13.f3 h6 14.c4 xc4 15.xc4 e7+ 16.d1 e6 17.ce5 d5 18.e1 a6 19.g6! xe1+ 20.xe1 f7 21.f4 c4 22.e3 b5 23.ed3 c6 24.c2 , by which stage Ino longer believe in Black's compensationfor the missing pawn. He had to work hard(and I had to play rather weakly!) to holdthe draw from this position, C.Lakdawala-D.Aldama, San Diego (rapid) 2012. )]

7...c6 Now we just transpose. [ Similarly, 7...bd7 returns to 6...Nbd7 70-0 e5 above. ]

8.dxe5 QUESTION: Why break the centralpawn tension so soon?ANSWER: I tend to break tension early,simply because I score well in games withclarified, relatively fixed pawn structures.

[ If you are looking for a more complex game,

you can go for 8.e1 h5 9.b3 . ] [ QUESTION: Why not 8.d5 ?ANSWER: It's a strategic error, since afterc3-c4 we reach a King's Indian Defence amove down (because White will have spenttwo tempi to accomplish what he could havedone in one). Also, White's knight is postedmore passively on d2, rather than on thetraditional c3-square. ]

8...dxe5 My opponent is a pure tactician anddesires to keep as many pieces as he can onthe board.

[ Otherwise Black can play to simplify with 8...xe5 9.xe5 dxe5 10.c4 d7 11.e3 b6 12.a4 b7 13.c2 e7 14.b4, when we arrive at a typically unequallyequal position from the variation.QUESTION: What do you mean by that?ANSWER: In this relatively arid position,White is the only one expanding, whileBlack continues to search for something todo. This was actually C.Lakdawala-P.Graves,San Diego (rapid) 2010, a game I annotatein 'The Modern Defence: Move by Move'. ]

9.c4 g4?! It is in our human nature toinvent problems where none previouslyexisted. This move, quite common in this kindof position, probably isn't correct here. Blackdecides to hand over the bishop pair andweakens his light squares, all in the name ofcreating an imbalance. Pushing to win at allcosts in such arid positions is a bit like a guywho cheats at solitaire.

[ Better is 9...h5 10.g5 e8 11.e1, A.Dreev-M.Makarov, RussianChampionship, Elista 1997. Perhaps Idisplay bias by declaring I still prefer White,who will eventually expand on thequeenside. ]

10.h3 xf3 [ QUESTION: If he backed up with 10...h5would you dare to play 11.g4 ?ANSWER: In a heartbeat. Black'scompensation looks unconvincing after

xg4 12.hxg4 xg4 13.e2 c8 14.e3 h3 15.e1 . ]

11.xf3 QUESTION: You criticized youropponent's decision to hand over the bishoppair, but the position is static and somewhatfixed. Is this not to the knight side's benefit?ANSWER: Black got what he desired, yet hislevel of indebtedness remains high. It isn't amatter of bishop versus knight, as much asthe fact that he weakened his light squares.

d7 12.d1 e7 13.e3 Dual purpose:

White clamps down on ...f7-f5 pawn breaksand plans harassment via d5.

b6 14.b4 Queenside pawn expansion isWhite's thematic plan in such positions.

a5?! This confrontation works out in White'sfavour.

[ He should go for the more restrained 14...fd8 . ]

15.b5 d8 16.a4 e6 So Black created ahole on c5, but he has no easy time withoccupation due to White's next.

17.a3 c5 18.c2 fd8 Thematic isn'talways best, and this weakens f7.

[ On the other hand, 18...ad8 19.b3 bd7 20.d5 b6 21.c6 f6 22.c4looks rough for Black as well. ]

19.b3 Targeting f7. xd1+? The rook's previously unimpeachablecharacter now comes into question byviolating the principle: Don't unnecessarilyrelinquish central tension.

[ His last chance to hang on lay in 19...bd7 20.d5 h4 21.c2 with acute, continuingdiscomfort for Black. ]

20.xd1 f8 [ 20...bd7?? failed miserably to 21.xd7 . ] [ EXERCISE (planning): After 20...f8Black's despondent rook replaces hisfallen brother on f8, a messenger of illtidings. Come up with a plan for White toreach a winning position. ]

ANSWER: Step 1: Occupy d5. 21.d5 xd5 22.xd5 b6Step 2: Opposite-coloured bishops favour theattacking side.

23.xc5 The bishop tips his hat to queen andknight, and bids them farewell.

bxc5 Step 3: Seize control over the d-file,enabling a rook invasion to d7, whichincreases pressure on both c7 and f7.

24.d3 h6 25.d7 The rook gets up,brushes his teeth, gets dressed and cleanshis revolver, with bad intentions for the day.

g5 A person with a strong business senseknows when to acquire and when to bail out inthe event of a sour investment. The queen,callously indifferent to the suffering of hercomrades, ploughs ahead, determined to puton a one-woman show. Somehow shereminds me of those annoying peopledowntown, who hand out proselytizing leaflets,gravely warning me of eternal hellfire when Itoss the leaflet into the nearest trashcontainer.

26.g3 There is no rush. White gives his king

air on the light squares, which he controlswith an iron grip.

c1+ 27.g2 b2 Step 4: Increasepressure on f7, which leads to completecollapse for Black. His attempted counterplayon f2 is ineffective. Black turns the nut butfinds the threads on the bolt have beenstripped.

28.c4 The vectors of energy all point to f7,after which Black's king is left all alone. Thecrowd makes way and parts. White's piecesstroll through to f7, as though all others aremerely ephemera. The contentment andhappiness of White's forces has a feel ofpermanence, like an old family portrait, allsmiles and frozen in time.

e3 Far from menacing, the well-behavedblack bishop curls up languorously at thewhite king's feet, like a sleepy, docile kitten.Meanwhile, the black king's fawning advisorscontinue to shield him from unpleasant truths.

29.xf7 The medium speaks to the dead. Thedead, however, refuse to respond. Thesinister white rook is the clichéd, 1950s movieGestapo officer who says: "Vee haf vays ofmaking you talk!"SUMMARY: The Coward's Variation is aninsidious line. Black can find himself driftingand without counterplay very easily, whereasWhite always has access to the plan ofqueenside expansion.1-0

B07Baker,BLakdawala,C

San Diego (rapid) 2011[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.f3 g6 2.e4 g7 3.d4 d6 The ModernDefence move order.QUESTION: What's the difference?ANSWER: In the Pirc, Black commits hisknight to f6 early. The two lines oftentranspose though.

4.c3 What a low, dirty trick! My sneakyopponent plays my own favourite line againstme.

c6 QUESTION: Isn't this going to cost youtime if White pushes forward on your knight?ANSWER: Perhaps so, but the idea is toprovoke White and lure him away from thewomb-like safety zone of the Coward'sVariation, much the same way the Alekhine's

Defence player provokes White forward after 1e4 Nf6.5.bd2 He refuses to bite and insists onremaining within the program. Instead:

[ a) 5.d5 e5 ( retreating the knight is alsofine: 5...b8 6.g5 c6 7.bd2 f68.dxc6 xc6 9.c4 0-0 10.0-0 h6 11.h4

g5!? 12.g3 h5 13.e1 xg3 14.hxg3, when Black's bishop pair compensates forhis slightly weakened kingside structure, B.Baker-C.Lakdawala, San Diego rapid 2012 )6.xe5 xe5 7.b5+ d7 8.xd7+ xd7

9.0-0 g7 10.e1 f6 and Blackcompleted his development harmoniously, G.Laketic-A.Chernin, Mendrisio 1989. ]

[ b) 5.b5 a6 6.xc6+ ( after 6.a4 b57.c2 f6 8.0-0 0-0 9.e2 e5the game takes on a bit of a Closed RuyLopez flavour, Seb.Fischer-T.Gietl,Uttenreuth 1996 ) 6...bxc6 7.0-0 f6 8.e1

0-0 9.bd2 a5 10.a4 d7 , when Black'sbishop pair and potential on the lightsquares compensate for White's space andslightly superior structure, M.Taimanov-N.R.Davies, Tel Aviv 1990. ]

5...f6 6.d3 [ QUESTION: With 5...Nf6 you cut off yourbishop's control over e5. If your opponenthad pushed with 6.d5 would you still go toe5?ANSWER: Probably not. I would head homewith b8 , after which Black could chipaway at White's centre with ...c7-c6 and ...e7-e6 later on.QUESTION: But then ...Nc6-b8 has justentailed a loss of time.ANSWER: True, but White's c2-c3 is nowproven quite useless, and in this structurehis d2-knight looks slightly misplaced. Ithink it's a wash, with neither side gainingor losing much. ]

6...0-0 7.0-0 h5!? I always veer toward thestrange, in all aspects of my life.

[ 7...e5 would be normal, returning to theprevious game. ]

8.c4 e5 9.g5 White maintains the centralpawn tension, avoiding a quick swap on e5(which I tend to play).

f6 QUESTION: Did your opponent manage toprovoke a weakness?ANSWER: Not really. As in most King'sIndians as well, ...f7-f6 doesn't constitutemuch of a weakness here.10.e3 h8 11.h3 f4!? Provoking animbalance.

12.xf4 exf4 13.e1 e7 14.e5!?I didn't expect this move.

[ Instead, 14.d2! h6 ( I actually intended 14...g5?! , misassessing the end positionafter 15.d5 h6 16.d4 f5 17.xf5 xf518.exf5 xf5 19.xf5 xf5 , which is incertainly White's favour since he controlsthe only open file ) 15.d5 leads to messyplay, probably slightly in White's favour. ]

14...fxe5 15.dxe5 d5 Now we reach oppositewing pawn majorities.16.cd2 e6?!

[ I should have tossed in an immediate 16...c5 . ]

17.b4! Powerful positional play. Oops, I didn'ttake this move into account. White prevents ...c7-c5 and takes control over d4. Now seeingthe approach of the enemy on d4, I offer thefeeble excuse: "This is all just a bigmisunderstanding!"

d7 18.d4 g8 19.2f3 a5 20.a3 b6?! [ Better to play more patiently with 20...c6!, intending a future ...b7-b6 and ...c6-c5. ]

21.d2? White agrees to the terms of thecontract with wide-eyed enthusiasm, when heshould have taken the time to read the fineprint. On the eve of the revolution, White hassecond thoughts. His last move is a strategicerror which allows Black to activate hisposition.

[ White should have clamped down onBlack's coming break and played 21.b5!with advantage. ]

21...c5 Now Black's bishop pair grows moremeaningful.22.c2 c7 23.b5!? ae8 Target: e5.24.a4 f5! The knight drives home the point– he is the one in charge of operations.25.xf4?! This overreaction strikes one as anemotional response, registered in hues ofangry red, enmeshed with a simmering orange.Or is his move a conciliatory gesture, hopingto divert Black from his kingside itinerary? Idon't know. His coming sac doesn't makemuch sense to me. It's as if a person makes adonation to Greenpeace with the motivationof benefiting the environment, and then goesoutside and carelessly litters the street bytossing a cigarette butt on the ground.

[ White doesn't get enough for the queen,which he sac'ed to complicate for thecoming time scramble. Still, the self-preservatory instinct, even when blind andflailing, is a dangerous force and demandsrespect – even if, objectively, White should

have gone passive and awaited events with25.xf5 xf5 26.e2 , when Black wouldslowly begin to expand on the kingside with...g6-g5 soon. ]

25...d4 26.xf8 There is no turning backnow.

[ 26.c1?? xf3+ 27.gxf3 xe5is hopeless for White. ]

26...xf8 27.cxd4 c4 Creating a protectedpassed pawn, which White must watch overfor the remainder of the game.28.e2 e7 Eyeing infiltration points at b4and a3.29.e3 e6 Blockading White's single trump,his passed e-pawn.30.ed1 EXERCISE (planning): Come upwith a plan to increase Black's advantage.ANSWER: Dual purpose:1. Prepare to push forward with the h- and g-pawns and go for a direct attack on his king.2. Prepare to activate the dark-squared bishopvia h6.

h5! 31.d2 h6 The once-stunted bishopsuddenly grows in power and renown.32.aa2 f4 Children forced to endure theirparents' strict religious upbringing, often longfor the pagan freedom of adulthood. Blackpressures d4 and prepares ...g6-g5-g4, as wellas ...Re4.

[ Alternatively, Houdini likes the line 32...xe3 33.fxe3 b4 34.f2 c3 35.d1 f5 . ]

33.g3 e4 34.h4 h7 [ I was also sorely tempted to play 34...xh435.gxh4 xe3 36.fxe3 xh4 , when theshabby attire of White's king bespeaks hisfailed fortunes more than any words coulddo. ]

35.f3?! [ He should have played 35.hg2 . ] [ EXERCISE (combination alert): With 35.f3White committed a time pressure mistake.How can Black exploit it? ]

ANSWER: The unencumbered rook'smagnetic personality has the power to winover the confidence of others within his aura.Now White's harrowing story is a novel filledwith exclamation marks.

35...xe3! 36.fxe3 xe3+ 37.h2 xd238.xd2 a3 Black's queen infiltrates. Theremainder is easy and resistance growsobsolete, emptied of all meaning.39.d1 EXERCISE (combination alert):White's pieces trip over each other. Find away to short-circuit the brittle defence and

crack it open, like a fortune cookie.ANSWER: The black queen slides on to thefloor, props herself on two elbows and says"Hi!" Now, White's pieces blister, blacken andcurl, like marshmallows toasting on an openfire.

c1 40.f3 c3 SUMMARY: If Black getsprovocative with an early ...Nc6, we shouldprobably ignore it and play as White did inthis game (albeit not all the way through).0-1

B06Kamsky,GNepomniachtchi,I

FIDE World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk 2011[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.d4 g6 2.f3 g7 3.c3 Oh, what achampion! Kamsky, like your writer,occasionally plays the reversed Slav.QUESTION: Isn't it a bit of a wimpy choice?ANSWER: My feeling is (and this is a veryodd thing for a writer of opening books to say)that it is a mistake to embrace theory as acrutch, in a mechanical way to obviate criticalthought, replacing it with memorization – adisease with which many of my youngerstudents are afflicted. By playing an openingsuch as a reversed Slav (or Colle for thatmatter!), White essentially refuses to getbogged down in the noxious morass ofmindless memorization. Instead, he inviteshis opponent to a chess game on equal terms,where understanding overrides and revokestheoretical knowledge.

d6 4.e4 b6 QUESTION: From your notes toOll-Spassky, I take it that you don't approve ofthe Hippopotamus, correct?ANSWER: On the contrary, the Hippo isactually quite sound against the Coward'sVariation, which is too innocuous to extract anedge against it (or any other line for thatmatter! – we play it more to lure Black into aColle-like manoeuvring game). I feel theHippo isn't so great against the King's Indian,the line Oll played against Spassky.5.d3 b7 6.0-0 d7 7.e1 h6!?Not surprisingly, a new move.QUESTION: Can Black get away with thisplan?

[ ANSWER: White's quiet set-up isn'tconducive to early blow-outs, no matter whatthe provocation. Black can of course go for

7...e6 , ] [ or even get more ambitious with 7...e5 . ]

8.bd2 e6 9.f1 QUESTION: What is thepoint of this knight retreat?ANSWER: It isn't as much a retreat as it is aredeployment to g3. White masses pieces onthe kingside in Closed Ruy Lopez style, inanticipation of an attack in that sector later on.

[ White can also play to expand on thequeenside with a move like 9.a4 . ]

9...e7 10.g3 c5!? QUESTION: Isn't Blackviolating the principle: Don't createconfrontation when behind in development?ANSWER: He is, but this position proves to bean exception. I don't see a good way for Whiteto exploit his development lead, since thevery nature of the c3/d4/e4 lines means theyare ill-suited for the sudden explosionnecessary to exploit just such a violation.

11.e3 [ 11.f4 , going after the sensitive d6-point,is also possible, while after e5 12.dxe5

dxe5 13.e3 Black must deal with a hole ond5 – although this will be exceedinglydifficult for White to exploit, since none ofhis pieces are currently anywhere near thatsquare. ]

11...c7 12.a4 0-0 [ I would have tossed in 12...a6 . ]

13.d2 [ Kamsky is disinclined to begin a fight overon the queenside with 13.a5 . ]

13...h7 14.h4 Here he comes. By pushinghis h-pawn, White hopes to yank the blackking out of the shadows into the light.

e5 [ QUESTION: Why not 14...f6 intending ...Ng4?ANSWER: Your move looks quite logicalsince h2-h4 weakened the g4-square. Still, Iprefer White's game after 15.e5 . ]

15.h5 f6 16.e2 To preserve his dark-squared bishop in case of ...Ng4.

c8 [ QUESTION: Would it be worth theweakening to play 16...g5 ?ANSWER: I doubt it. The move creates ahole on f5 and also creates a tempting sactarget on g5 for the future. ]

17.dxe5 dxe5 18.h2! Keeping an eye outover g4.

e6 19.c4 Intending to swap light-squaredbishops, which leaves Black with a not-so-great remaining bishop.

c8 20.a6 QUESTION: Well, why didn't he

go through with the swap? [ ANSWER: He probably feared that Black,with a queen on e6, might be able to force ...c5-c4, which would give him access to thec5-square. For example: 20.xe6 xe6

21.a5 c4! . ] 20...c7 21.c4 xc4

[ Black should probably have repeatedmoves with 21...c8 . ]

22.hxg6+ fxg6 23.xc4 e8 24.ad1 c6 25.f3 c7 26.d2 ad8 27.ed1 xd2 28.xd2 c8 Black's fingers work franticallyto untie the knot, yet it stubbornly holds ingnarled defiance. Advantage White:1. He owns the d-file.2. All his pieces are more active than theiropposing counterparts.3. Black, for now, must deal with a bad bishopand a pair of knights that remain pensive andrefuse to participate. His knights, destituteand homeless, wander into the mission, notbecause they seek salvation, but becausethey need a hot meal and a bed for the night.

29.d3! Offering a4 in exchange forinfiltration to d7.

xa4?! The bored queen fabricates a richfantasy life to submerge her drab, adjacentreality. She grabs the pawn under the theorythat it doesn't quite work to be a semi-penitent.Either repent or sin – don't live in the twilightin the middle. So she decides to sin! However,the words of Psalm 69 soon come to mind: "OGod, thou knowest my foolishness; and mysins are not hid from thee." Black shouldn't beposting guards at the periphery, when womanpower is required in the central fight.

[ Black should have shown more respect forWhite's infiltration threat and takenmeasures to neutralize it with 29...e8!, intending 30.d7 xd7 31.xd7 e7, when Black remains worse but hangs on. ]

QUESTION: But is the infiltration worth a pawnin an ending?ANSWER: White soon regains the lost pawnwith a clear advantage. Watch.

30.d7 White's queen passes by the beggarsall around her with a cursory glance, fuelled bya spirit of callous indifference to their suffering.

xd7 31.xd7 e6 32.xe5 And there itis: White picks off e5.

d8 33.b7 e8 34.c6 d6?A misguided pawn sac for a counterattackwhich never materializes. Black's knightcareens and whirls madly, free of destinationor aim, like a child's malfunctioning battery-

operated toy. [ He had to eliminate one of the invaders with 34...d8 35.xd8 xd8 36.e5, when Black prays for the safety and longlife of his pawns, while White prefers to preyon them. ]

35.xa7 c4 The knight, an odd compositeof ineptitude and competence rolled into onebody, goes on a counterattack – or so hebelieves. He hopes to fulfil the wanderings ofunsatisfied desires by snapping at the bait onb2.

36.c1 No problem. c8 37.e7 d8 38.d5 No infiltration foryou today, my friend. This indissolublyirritating knight entrenches itself in Black'sterritory, like a kidney stone which refuses tobreak up under the urologist's ultrasoundmachine.

h8 39.e2 d6 40.f3 g5!? A perplexingdecision, given that he can just protect his b-pawn. I don't know if Nepom was in serioustime pressure or was just in a generous mood.

[ Then again, the passive 40...b8looks pretty hopeless as well. ]

41.xb6 b8 42.d5 c4 43.a2Market capitalism at its worst. Kamsky takesand takes, profit his bottom line and be-all-and-end-all, without giving an iota back tosociety.

e5 44.f4 gxf4 45.xf4 b7 46.xe5 xe5 47.a6 g5 48.xh6+ Now he's justbeing rude. Kamsky won't return a thing. Heremains three pawns up, while his opponentstarves in the streets.

g7 49.h5 f7 50.b4 c4 51.e3 g6 52.f5 SUMMARY: If Black faces down ourCoward's Variation with the Hippo, you canplay in Closed Lopez fashion, the way Kamskydid this game.1-0

B07Kalegin,EAkhmetov,A

Ekaterinburg 1996[Cyrus Lakdawala]

1.e4 [ Of course our Colle move order would go 1.d4 d6 2.e4 . ]

1...d6 2.d4 f6 3.d2 e5 [ QUESTION: What if Black plays 3...c5 ?ANSWER: Just take it and enter our set-up

like this: 4.dxc5! dxc5 5.gf3 c6 6.c3 e6 ( Black's problem is that 6...e5would leave a gaping hole on d5 ) 7.c2

e7 8.a4 c7 9.c4 h6 10.e5! d5 11.e4 b6 12.g4 f8 13.h4 left Blackdefending a difficult position, E.Limp-F.Izeta Txabarri, Santos 2001. ]

4.c3 e7 QUESTION: What is this set-up?ANSWER: Black heads for a Philidorformation, which is passive but exceedinglysolid. Instead:

[ a) 4...bd7 5.gf3 g6 returns to Pirc/Modern variations, examined in Lakdawala-Wooten (see the note to Black's first movetherein for the exact transposition). ]

[ b) 4...c6 5.gf3 e7 6.b5 d7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d5 (gaining time) b8 9.d3(White can also exchange on d7, leavingBlack with a slightly bad remaining dark-squared bishop) c6 10.c4 and Blackremains cramped and slightly passive, inwhat looks like an Old Indian position, S.Tiviakov-J.Ehlvest, Polanica Zdroj 1995. ]

[ c) 4...d5!? (a radical attempt to free Black'sgame, reasoning that White's passive Nd2justifies the tempo loss in ...d7-d6-d5)

5.dxe5 xe4 6.xe4 dxe4 7.a4+(White can also take on d8 and try to exploita developmental edge in the ending) c6

8.xe4 e6 9.e3 , when I don't believe inBlack's full compensation for his missingpawn, since White's pieces have freedomand will emerge shortly. ]

5.gf3 bd7 This is the classical Philidor set-up for Black.

6.c2 0-0 7.e2 QUESTION: Why not postthe bishop on d3, a more active square?ANSWER: White eventually plans toexchange on e5. When this happens, a d3-bishop is vulnerable to tempo loss after ...Nc5.

e8 [ QUESTION: Can Black try for a Benoni-style position by mixing it up with 7...exd4

8.cxd4 c5 ?ANSWER: Your idea looks interesting, and Ican't find a single game in the databasefrom this position. White can respond 9.d5in Benoni style, when I like his positionsince Black's e7-bishop is more passivelyplaced than the traditionally fianchettoedone on g7. ( Alternatively, White can simplycastle, when he gets one of those clearedcentre positions we looked at back inChapter Two. For example: 9.0-0 cxd4

10.xd4 d5 11.exd5 xd5 12.f5

and it feels to me like White may be just ashade better. )]

8.0-0 f8 9.d1 c6 10.a4 In order to halt ...b7-b5 expansion.

b6 Black's plan is ...a7-a6, ...Bb7 and ...b6-b5– but as you may have noticed, it istorturously slow.11.dxe5 dxe5 12.b4 Expanding and denyingBlack use of the c5-square.

c7 [ QUESTION: Shouldn't Black challengeWhite on the queenside with 12...a5 ?ANSWER: That would be met by 13.bxa5

bxa5 ( not 13...xa5? 14.c4 ) 14.c4with an edge for White. But in general, Iagree with you: Black needs to generatesome activity. ]

13.c4 Target: f7. e7?! This clunky move encourages a futureNf5.

[ 13...h6 is a better way of safeguarding histender f7-square. ]

14.f1 b7 15.g3 g6 He can't allow Nf5.16.g5 Another downside to 13...Re7?!. Thislooks like a Closed Ruy Lopez gone slightlysour for Black.

g7 17.d2 c8 This just looks too slow.One gets the impression that Black fails tosense the scale and scope of the loomingmenace ahead for his king.

[ It is high time for 17...a5 . ]18.h6 e8

[ Not 18...h8?? (Black's bishop placeshimself at uncomfortable odds to his morepowerful counterpart and decides to depart,uttering subservient platitudes as he leaves)19.f5! , which wins on the spot. ]

19.xg7 Eliminating a key defender of thedark squares around Black's king.

xg7 [ 19...xg7? 20.g5! threatens Nf5+. ]

20.g5 The ruthless general deems Black'skingside, with its high population density, arich military target.

[ 20.h6! looks even better. ] 20...ce8 21.h4 Another attacking unitemerges and the tempo of the gameincreases radically.

e6 22.h6 The weak dark squares actparasitically, having the effect of draining thevitality from Black's position. His king stares infascinated disgust at White's queen, like theconflicted street preacher who can't take hiseyes off the prostitute plying her trade on theopposite sidewalk.

df8 We reach a familiar place. White'sattack looks very promising but now we mustwork out the details.EXERCISE (combination alert/planning):White has two good methods of movingforward – one flashy, the other plodding butequally strong. Let's see if you can come upwith either (or both) of them.ANSWER: 23.f5! White unleashes the pent-up energy in his position which, after atranquil opening stage, erupts into madnessand flame. On this recent shot, Black'sformally imperturbable king suddenly growsrather perturbable after all!

[ ANSWER #2: Houdini thinks theunderstated 23.h2! intending Ng4, is justas strong, if not stronger. ]

23...gxf5 Black presses for material as a formof a poultice against the inherent injury of hisposition.

[ QUESTION: What compels Black to acceptthe sac? Why not just play quietly with

23...d7 ?ANSWER: Silence on the issue is disastrousfor Black and speaks more forcefully thanwords. After 24.xd7 xd7 25.xe5 c7...EXERCISE (combination alert): White hasaccess to a dazzling finish. Do you see it?ANSWER: Interference/deflection. As acorollary to White's last move, only ablossom of foam remains on the ocean'ssurface at g7, a grim reminder of the bodytossed in just moments earlier. 26.g7+!!

xg7 27.h6+ h8 28.exf7+ xf729.xf7+ g8 30.d6+ cleans Black out. ]

24.exf5 e4 25.fxe6 exf3 [ 25...fxe6 26.g5 is also virtuallyimpossible to defend. ]

26.g5+ The dark square infection continuesto spread like a nasty rumour.

g6 Defenders tumble forth with deft finality,jumpers from a burning building, who choosea less painful death.

[ After 26...h8 27.f6+ g8 28.exf7+ xf7 29.e1 xe1+ 30.xe1 Black has noreasonable response to the coming Re7. ]

27.exf7+ xf7 28.h5 The sadisticinterrogator puts his cigarette out in theknight's eye, regaining his piece with interestand a crushing attack. To the black king'sconsternation, he is shorn of his guard anddispossessed from his lands and property.Resistance is just an afterthought in suchdesultory positions.

g7 29.xf7 xf7 30.hxg6 hxg6The original wound may have healed, yet thepsychological scar tissue remains to tormentBlack's king.31.d6 fxg2 32.ad1 Threatening Rd7.

c8 33.d8 e2 To a condemned man, thefinal 24 hours carry as much significance asall the cumulative preceding years – from birthto that present moment – almost as if he livesa second, compacted life.EXERCISE (planning): Black counterattacks atf2. White must simultaneously deal with thethreat, while creating a devastating one of hisown. How can he succeed in this aim?ANSWER: 34.h4! Dual purpose: covering f2and threatening mate on h8. The h-file servesas a lever which unleashes White's attack.As the enemy forces draw near, Black's kingsits upon his throne for a final time, his hearttoo full of anguish for words.SUMMARY: Our set-up allows us to extract asmall edge against the passive but solidPhilidor.1-0