Exeter Chess Club:


Unbalanced play by Black: the King's English with ...Nf6 (B5)


Seeking early central control with ...c6 and ...d5 (B5a)


Hartston W R - Basman M J [A23] It, Hastings, 1967

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Nf3 e4 5. Nd4 d5 6. cxd5

 

tSlDjL-T
Xx+-+xXx
-+x+-S-+
+-+p+-+-
-+-Nx+-+
+-N-+-P-
pP-PpP-P
R-BqKb+r
Black is going for it!

6... Qb6 7. Nb3 Ng4 8. d4 cxd5 9. Bg2 Bb4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. h3 Nf6 13. Rb1 Qc6 14. Qc2 b6 15. Be3 Ba6 16. Rfc1 Nbd7 17. Bf1 h6

 

t+-+-Tj+
X-+s+xX-
lXd+-S-X
+-+x+-+-
-+-Px+-+
+nP-B-Pp
p+q+pP-+
+rR-+bK-
I prefer White here, but what do I know?

18. Nd2 Rac8 19. Rb4 Bc4 20. Nxc4 dxc4 21. Bg2 Rfe8 22. Rb2 Qe6 23. Bd2 Nd5 24. e3 f5 25. Re1 N7f6 26. a4 a5 27. Kh2 Rc7 28. Qb1 Kh8 29. Qa2 g5 30. Rb5 h5 31. Qb1 Qd6 32. Kh1 Rg8 33. Rg1 h4 34. gxh4 gxh4 35. f4 Rcg7 36. Qe1 Rg3 37. Qe2 Qc7 38. Rbb1 Qf7 39. Qf2 Nh5 40. Rb5 Kh7 41. Kh2 Kh6 42. Qe2 Qg6 43. Rbb1

 

-+-+-+t+
+-+-+-+-
-X-+-+dJ
X-+s+x+s
p+xPxP-X
+-P-P-Tp
-+-Bq+bK
+r+-+-R-
But I prefer Black here!

43... Nhxf4 44. exf4 e3 45. Bxd5 Rxg1 46. Qxe3 Qg2+ 0-1

 


Seeking rapid flexible development (B5b)


Unbalanced play by Black: the King's English with ...Nc6 (B6)


The main line Closed King's English (B6a)


Psakhis - Kasparov [A10] La Manga, 1990

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

 

t+lDj+-T
XxX-+-Lx
-+sX-Sx+
+-+-Xx+-
-+p+-+-+
+-Np+nP-
pP-+pPbP
R-Bq+rK-
8. Rb1 h6 9. b4 O-O 10. b5 Ne7 11. a4 Be6 12. Ba3 Rc8

 

-+tD-Tj+
XxX-S-L-
-+-XlSxX
+p+-Xx+-
p+p+-+-+
B-Np+nP-
-+-+pPbP
+r+q+rK-
13. Nd2 b6 14. e3 g5 15. d4 exd4 16. exd4 f4

 

-+tD-Tj+
X-X-S-L-
-X-XlS-X
+p+-+-X-
p+pP-X-+
B-N-+-P-
-+-N-PbP
+r+q+rK-
17. Re1 Bg4 18. Nf3 Qd7 19. c5 Rce8 20. Rc1 Nf5 21. Qd3 Kh8 22. cxd6 cxd6 23. Rxe8 Qxe8 24. Rf1 Qh5

 

-+-+-T-J
X-+-+-L-
-X-X-S-X
+p+-+sXd
p+-P-Xl+
B-Nq+nP-
-+-+-PbP
+-+-+rK-
25. Ne4 Nxe4 26. Qxe4 Bh3 27. Ne5 Bxg2 28. Kxg2 g4 29. Bxd6 Rf6 30. Bb8 Qh3+

 

-B-+-+-J
X-+-+-L-
-X-+-T-X
+p+-Ns+-
p+-PqXx+
+-+-+-Pd
-+-+-PkP
+-+-+r+-
0-1 psakhis-kasparov/la manga 1990 0-1

Olafsson,Fridrik - Smyslov,Vasily V (2) [A21] Yugoslavia ct, 1959

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Be6 4. Bg2 c6

 

tS-DjLsT
Xx+-+xXx
-+xXl+-+
+-+-X-+-
-+p+-+-+
+-N-+-P-
pP-PpPbP
R-BqK-Nr
This system is one of Smyslov's many contributions to the development of the theory in the English Opening.

5. d3 Nf6 6. Nf3 h6 7. O-O Be7 8. b3 O-O 9. e4 c5 10. Nh4 Nc6 11. f4 exf4 12. gxf4 Nh7 13. Nf3 f5 14. Nd5 Bf6 15. Rb1 fxe4 16. dxe4 Bg4 17. Qd3 Qd7 18. Bd2 Rae8 19. Rbe1 Bd8 20. Bc3 Rf7 21. Kh1 Nf6 22. a3 Nh5 23. Qd2 Ne7 24. f5 Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Qc6 26. Qd2 Qb6 27. b4 cxb4 28. axb4 Qc7 29. c5 dxc5 30. bxc5 Rd7 31. Qa2+ Kh7 32. Qa4 Rde7 33. e5 Bxf5 34. Ng5+ hxg5 35. Rxf5 Re6 36. Qe4 Kh8 37. Qxb7 Ng3+ 38. hxg3 Rh6+ 39. Kg1 Qxc5+ 40. Kf1 Qxc3 41. Qf3 Qc4+ 42. Re2 Be7 43. Qd5 Qc1+ 44. Re1 Qc8 45. Qe4 a5 46. Rf3 Bb4 47. Rd1 Qa6+ 48. Rdd3 Rc8 49. Rfe3 Bc5 50. Rf3 a4 51. Qe2 a3 52. Rd2 Qe6 53. g4 Rb8 54. Qd1 Qa6+ 55. Ke1 Bb4 56. Kf2 Bxd2 57. Qxd2 a2 0-1


Petrosian T - Smyslov V (03) [A21] JUG ct, 1959

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4

 

tS-DjLsT
XxX-+xXx
-+-X-+-+
+-+-X-+-
-+p+-+l+
+-N-+n+-
pP-PpPpP
R-BqKb+r
This is the other idea: now g2-g3 is inhibited.

4. e3 Nf6 5. Be2 c6 6. h3 Bh5 7. O-O Be7 8. d3 O-O 9. b3 Nbd7 10. Nh4 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 d5 12. Nf5 Bb4 13. Bb2 Re8 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. d4 e4 16. Rfc1 Nb6 17. Nb5 Qd7 18. Ng3 Rec8 19. Rxc8+ Nxc8 20. Rc1 a6 21. Ba3 Bxa3 22. Nxa3 Ne7 23. Nb1 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Qxc8 25. Qd2 g6 26. Qc3 Qxc3 27. Nxc3 Nd7 28. Nge2 b5 29. Nf4 Nb6 30. a4 bxa4 31. bxa4 a5 32. f3 f5 33. Kf2 Kf7 34. h4 h6 35. Nfe2 Nc6 36. Nc1 Nb4 37. Nb3 Nc4 38. f4 Nc2 39. Nd1 Ke7 40. Ke2 Kd6 41. Kf2 Kc6 42. Ke2 Kd6 43. Kf2 Nb4 44. Ke2 Nc6 45. Nc3 Na7 46. Nc5 Nc8 47. Nb7+ Kc7 48. Nc5 N8b6 49. Kf2 Kd6 50. Ke2 Ke7 51. Kf2 Kf6 52. Ke2 g5 53. hxg5+ hxg5 54. g3 Kg6 55. Kf2 Kh5 56. Ne6 Nb2 57. fxg5 Kg6 58. Kf1 Kf7 59. Nc5 Kg6 60. Ne6 Kf7 Q

 


English Four Knights' Game (B6b)


Knee - Povah N [A28] Hereford, 1978

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 e4 5. Nd2 Nxd4 6. Ndxe4 Nxe4 7. Qxd4 Nxc3 8. Qxc3 d5!

 

t+lDjL-T
XxX-+xXx
-+-+-+-+
+-+x+-+-
-+p+-+-+
+-Q-+-+-
pP-+pPpP
R-B-Kb+r
9. cxd5? Qxd5 10. Bf4 Be6 11. Rd1 Qxa2 12. Bxc7 Rc8 13. e3 a6 14. Qd4 Be7 15. Qxg7

 

-+t+j+-T
+xB-LxQx
x+-+l+-+
+-+-+-+-
-+-+-+-+
+-+-P-+-
dP-+-PpP
+-+rKb+r
In these open positions, activity and development are the most important features.

15... Bb4+ 16. Ke2 Rf8 17. Be5 Bd5 18. Qxh7 Qb3!

 

-+t+jT-+
+x+-+x+q
x+-+-+-+
+-+lB-+-
-L-+-+-+
+d+-P-+-
-P-+kPpP
+-+r+b+r
19. Bc3 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Rxc3 21. Ke1 Qb4! 22. Be2 Bxg2 0-1

Kasparov,G (2740) - Karpov,An (2700) (04) [A29 ] Wch34-KK4 Sevilla, 1987

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e4

 

t+lD-Tj+
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-S-+
+-+-+-+-
-Lp+x+-+
+-N-+nP-
pP-PpPbP
R-Bq+rK-
The aggressive line.

7. Ng5

[7. Ne1 was often played.]

7... Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 exf3

[9... e3!? 10. d3! d5 11. Qb3!+/= ]

10. Nxf3

 

t+lDt+j+
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-S-+
+-+-+-+-
-+p+-+-+
+-P-+nP-
p+-Pp+bP
R-Bq+rK-
10... Qe7?!

[10... d5 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nd4 Qh5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. e3 unclear ]

11. e3 Ne5 N; 11...d6+/= - 16/47 12. Nd4!

[12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. Rb1

...1-0


Kasparov,G (2740) - Karpov,An (2700) (16) [A29] Wch34-KK4 Sevilla, 1987

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Re8

 

t+lDt+j+
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-S-+
+-+-X-+-
-Lp+-+-+
+-N-+nP-
pP-PpPbP
R-Bq+rK-
The solid move.

7. d3 Bxc3 8. bxc3 e4 9. Nd4 h6 10. dxe4! N

  10.Qc2 - 36/39

[10. c5]

[10. Nxc6]

10... Nxe4 11. Qc2 d5!

 

t+lDt+j+
XxX-+xX-
-+s+-+-X
+-+x+-+-
-+pNs+-+
+-P-+-P-
p+q+pPbP
R-B-+rK-
Podgaets,M

12. cxd5

[12. Nb5 Bf5 13. cxd5 Nxg3 14. e4 Nxf1 15. exf5

[15.dxc6 Bxe4 16. Bxe4 Qh4]

15... Re1 16. Bxf1 Qxd5 ^ /\ 17. Nxc7 Qc4-+ ]

12... Qxd5 13. e3

[13. Rd1 Bf5 14. Nxf5

[14. f3 Nf2]

14... Qxf5 15. f3 Nxg3 unclear ]

13... Na5!?=

 

t+l+t+j+
XxX-+xX-
-+-+-+-X
S-+d+-+-
-+-Ns+-+
+-P-P-P-
p+q+-PbP
R-B-+rK-
[13... Nxd4!? 14. cxd4 c6 15. Bb2 Bf5 16. f3?! Nxg3 17. e4 Nxe4 18. fxe4 Bxe4]

... 0-1


Kasparov,G (2740) - Karpov,An (2700) (02) [A29] Wch34-KK4 Sevilla, 1987

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e4 7. Ng5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 e3!?

N; Zaitsev,I; 9...ef3 - 35/44

10. d3!

...0-1

 


Baker,C - Birnboim,N [A20] London, 1987

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 xd5 6. Qb3 Nc6 7. Nxd5 Nd4 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6

  8...gxf6 was a game Regis-Menadue, where I first met this line (0-1, 20-odd).

9. Qd1

 

t+l+jL-T
Xx+-+xXx
-+-+-D-+
+-+-X-+-
-+-S-+-+
+-+-+-P-
pP-PpPbP
R-BqK-Nr
I believe Tal was behind this evil gambit.

9... Bf5 10. d3 Rc8 11. Kf1 Be7 12. Bxb7 Rc7 13. Bd5 O-O 14. Kg2 Rd8 15. e4 Rxd5 16. exd5 Qd6 17. f3 Rc2+ 18. Kf1 Qa6 19. Bd2 Qxd3+ 20. Ke1 Bb4 21. Bxb4 Qe3+ 22. Ne2 Nxf3+ 0-1

 


Polugaevsky,L - Estevez,G [A22] Sochi, 1976

see other handout

Uhlmann W - Dobosz H (0.17) [A22] DDR-Polska, 1974

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 b5

 

tSlDjL-T
X-Xx+xXx
-+-+-S-+
+x+-+-N-
-+p+x+-+
+-N-+-+-
pP-PpPpP
R-BqKb+r
Bellon's gambit is designed to intimidate the (presumed) dull player of the English Opening.

5. b3? b4 6. Nb1 h6 7. Nh3 Bc5=/+

  It sometimes works that way!

8. d4 exd3 9. Qxd3 O-O 10. Bb2 Bb7 11. Nd2 d6 12. e3 Nbd7 13. Nf4 Ne5 14. Qc2 Nfg4 15. Be2 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Nxe3 17. Qc1 Qg5 18. Nf1 Nxg2+ 19. Nxg2 Qxg2 20. Bxe5 Rfe8 21. Ng3 Rxe5 22. Kd2 Qf2 23. Qg1 Qf4+ 24. Kc2 Rae8 25. Re1 Re3 26. Qf1 Qe5 27. Rg1 Qc3+ 28. Kb1 Rxg3 0-1


Plaskett J - Hempson P W [A22] It, ENG, 1988

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 b5 5. d3 exd3 6. cxb5 h6 7. Nf3 dxe2 8. Bxe2 Bb7 9. O-O Bc5 10. Nd4 Bxd4 11. Qxd4 O-O 12. b4 d6 13. Bb2 Nbd7 14. f4 Re8 15. Bf3 Bxf3 16. Rxf3 Qb8 17. Nd5 Qb7 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 19. Rg3 Re6 20. f5

 

t+-+-+j+
XdX-+xX-
-+-XtS-X
+p+-+p+-
-P-Q-+-+
+-+-+-R-
pB-+-+pP
R-+-+-K-
Plaskett characteristically goes for the throat...

20... Re5 21. Qh4 Ne4 22. Re3 Qb6

 

t+-+-+j+
X-X-+xX-
-D-X-+-X
+p+-Tp+-
-P-+s+-Q
+-+-R-+-
pB-+-+pP
R-+-+-K-
...but finds he has put his foot in a pin.

23. Rae1 Nc3 24. Qg3 Rxe3 25. Qxe3 Re8 0-1


Reshevsky,S - Bellon Lopez,J [A22] Palma, 1971

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 b5

 

tSlDjL-T
X-Xx+xXx
-+-+-S-+
+x+-+-N-
-+p+x+-+
+-N-+-+-
pP-PpPpP
R-BqKb+r
The original game in this line, I think.

5. Nxb5 h6 6. Nh3 c6 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. e3 Bd6 10. Bb5+ Kf8 11. d3 Bg4 12. Qd2 Qa5 13. a3 Na6 14. O-O Rd8 15. d4 Bb8 16. Be2 Qc7 17. Nf4 g5 18. Bxa6 gxf4 19. exf4 Rg8 20. g3 Qd7 21. Be2 Bf3 22. Bxf3 exf3 23. Qd3 Qg4 24. Re1 Nh5 25. Re5 Bxe5 26. fxe5 Ng7 27. Nb5 Rh8 28. Nd6 h5 29. h3 Qxh3 30. Qxf3 Rxd6 31. exd6 Nf5 32. d7 Kg7 33. Bg5 f6 34. Re1 Rd8 35. Re5 Kg6 36. Qxd5 Nxd4 37. Qxd4 fxe5 38. Qd6+ Kxg5 39. Qe7+ Kg4 40. Qxd8 Kf3 41. Qf6+ 1-0


Karpov,Anatoly - Anand,Viswanathan (2) Linares, 1991

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nd4

 

t+lDjLsT
Xx+xXxXx
-+-+-+-+
+-X-+-+-
-+pS-+-+
+-N-+n+-
pP-PpPpP
R-BqKb+r
Outrageous! - but watch...

4. e3 Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 g6 6. b3 Bg7 7. Bb2 d6 8. g3 Rb8 9. Bg2 Nf6 10. h3 O-O 11. O-O a6 12. Qe2 b5 13. d3 b4 14. Nd1 a5 15. a4 e5 16. e4 h5 17. h4 Ne8 18. Ne3 Nc7 19. Kh2 Ne6 20. Bh3 Bh6 21. Ng2 Bg7 22. Rae1 Rb7 23. Bxe6 Bxe6 24. f4 Bg4 25. Qd2 Re7 26. Ne3 f5 27. exf5 gxf5 28. Nd5 Re6 29. Qf2 Rfe8 30. Bc1 e4 31. dxe4 Rxe4 32. Rxe4 Rxe4 33. Re1 Rxe1 34. Qxe1 Kf7 35. Qd2 Bf3 36. Ne3 Be4 37. Bb2 Bxb2 38. Qxb2 Qf6 39. Qxf6+ Kxf6 40. Kg1 Bb1 41. Nf1 Bc2 42. Nd2 Ke6 43. Kf2 d5 44. cxd5+ Kxd5 45. Ke3 Bd1 46. Kd3 Bxb3 0-1

  SECTIONX


Back to Chess Coaching Page

This document (engidea5.html) was last modified on 1 Aug 97 by [cool blue cat]

Dr. Dave