Exeter Chess Club: Playing White against unusual replies to 1. e4
Black avoids 2...Nc6 or plays one of the semi-open defences|
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Bibliography:
Dunnington, How to play the King's Indian Attack
Evans, The Chess Opening for You
Hodgson/Day, The Grand Prix Attack
Hort, Alekhine's Defence (inc. Nimzovitch Defence)
Karpov, The Semi-Open Game in Action
Kasparov/Keene, Batsford Chess Openings 2
Keene et al. Understanding the Caro-Kann Defence
Levy/Keene, An Opening Repertoire for the Attacking Club Player
Nunn, The Complete Pirc
Pachman, Semi-Open Chess
Schiller, How to play the King's Indian Attack
Solitis/Hall, The King's Indian Attack
Walker, Chess Openings for Juniors
Various magazines and other books
Introduction
A. Piece attacks against the common half-open defences
A1. Piece attacks vs. Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6: 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4
Avoiding with 4...Nb6
Avoiding with 4... Nxc3
Defending with 4... c6
Defending with 4... e6
Example games A1
A2. Piece attacks vs. Caro-Kann Defence
A2.1 Solid line with 4... Nd7
A2.2. Lines with 4... Nf6
A2.2.1 Tartakower Variation, 5... exf6
A2.2.2 Bronstein-Larsen line, 5...gxf6
A2.3 Classical Variation with 4...Bf5
Example games A2
A3. Piece attacks vs. French 1. e4 e6: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 (Alekhine-Chatard Attack)
A3.1. Rubinstein Variation 3...dxe4 4. Nxe4
A3.1.1 Rubinstein Variation with 4...Nf6
A3.1.2 Rubinstein Variation with 4...Bd7
A3.1.3 Rubinstein Variation with 4...Nd7
A3.2. Guimard Variation 3. ... Nc6
A3. 3. Classical Variation, 3...Nf6
A3.3.1. The Burn Variation, 4... dxe4
A3.3.2. The MacCutcheon Variation, 4... Bb4
A3.3.3. The Classical Variation 4... Be7 (and Alekhine Chatard attack with 6. h4)
A3.4. The Winawer variation, 3... Bb4 and Alekhine Gambit 4. Nge2
Example games A3
A3.3.3 Examples of the Alekhine-Chatard Attack
A3.4 Examples of the Alekhine Gambit in the Winawer Variation
A3. Example of other French variations
A4. Piece attacks vs. Pirc/Modern 1. e4 ...d6/...g6: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3
Example Games A4
A4.1. Examples with Bc4
A4.2. Examples with Be3
A5. Piece attacks vs. Sicilian: lines with piece play
A5.1. Ideas with Be2
A5.2. Ideas with Bb5
Example games A5
A5.1. Examples with Be2
A5.2. Examples with Bb5
B. Slow attacks with f4 against the common half-open defences
B1. Playing f4 vs. Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6: 1. e4 Nf6 2. d3 and 3. f4
Example games B1
B2. Playing f4 vs. Caro-Kann 1. e4 c6: 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. f4 (a line of the Dunst opening, 1.Nc3)
Example games B2
B3. Playing f4 vs. French 1. e4 e6: 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. f4 (a line of the Dunst opening, 1.Nc3)
Example games B3
B4. Playing f4 vs. Pirc/Modern 1. e4 ...d6/...g6: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 (Austrian Attack)
Example games B4
B5. Playing f4 vs. Sicilian (a) 1. e4 c5 Grand Prix attack
Example games B5a
B5. Playing f4 vs. Sicilian (b)Traditional Closed Sicilian
Example games B5b
C. King's Indian Attack against the common half-open defences
Introduction to the King's Indian Attack
C1. KIA vs. Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6: 1. e4 Nf6 2. d3 and 3. g3/Bg2
Example games C1
C2. KIA vs. Caro-Kann 1. e4 c6: 1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2
C2.1. Caro-Kann with 3... dxe4
C2.2. Caro-Kann with 3... Nd7
C2.3. Caro-Kann with 3... Nf6
C2.4. Caro-Kann with 3... e5
C2.5. Caro-Kann with 3...g6
Example games C2
C3. KIA vs. French 1. e4 e6: 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2
C3.1 Variations with 4. g3
C3.2 Variations with 4. Ngf6
Example games C3
C4. KIA vs. Pirc/Modern 1. e4 ...d6/...g6: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nge2 and 5. g3, 6. Bg2
Example games C4
C5. KIA vs. Sicilian
C5.1 KIA Sicilian with 2...d6
C5.2 KIA Sicilian with ...e6 and ...g6
Example games C5
D. A single repertoire for attacking the unusual semi-open defences
D1. Center Counter (Scandanavian) 1...d5
D1.1. Advance with 2...d4
D1.2. Exchange with 2...dxe4
Example games D1
D2. Gurgenidze Defence ...c6/...d5/...g6
Example games D2
D3. Nimzovitch Defence
Example games D3
D4. Other defences
D4(a) 1...b6 ( Owen's Defence )
D4(b) St.George's Defence 1...a6,
D4(c) the Borg Defence 1. e4 g5
Example games D4
E. A repertoire for attacking the unusual 1...e5 defences
E1. Hungarian Defence
E2. Philidor Defence
E2.1 Philidor Defence with 3...Nd7
E2.1.1 Philidor Defence with 4...Be7
E2.1.2 Philidor Defence with 4...h6
E2.1.3 Philidor Defence with 4...Ngf6
E2.1.4 Philidor Defence with 4...c6
E2.2 Philidor Defence with 3...Nf6
E2.3 Philidor Defence with 3...exd4
E2.4 Philidor counter-gambit 3...f5
E3 Latvian Gambit 2... f5
Example Games E
The repertoires below offer you three ways of playing against most of the semi-open defences, and also tell you what to do against some of the less common lines after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3.
The three approaches are:
Fast attacking game with pieces
Slower attacking game with f4
King's Indian Attack with g3
Which you choose will depend on what sort of player you are. It may also depend on what you hope to play after 1. e4 e5.
|
Fast attacking game with pieces |
Giuoco Piano (my main recomendation for junior players) or Scotch Game |
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Slower attacking game with f4 |
Vienna Gambit or King's Gambit) |
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King's Indian Attack with g3 |
KIA with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 or in the Vienna 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 |
Sadly, the KIA lines have no real force and are not good lines to adopt against 1...e5. But the point is, how well does your chosen repertoire fit together? Once I used to play the following lines, together with the King's Gambit:
|
Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6 |
Chase variation 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nc3 |
|
Caro-Kann 1. e4 c6 |
Panov-Botvinnik Attack 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 |
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French 1. e4 e6 |
Advance Variation 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 |
|
Pirc/Modern 1. e4 ...d6/...g6 |
King's Indian Attack 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nge2 and 5. g3, 6. Bg2 |
|
Sicilian 1. e4 c5 |
Chamaeleon Variation 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 ... 3. Nge2 |
This was an awful lot to keep track of, but more importantly, it didn't really combine well. Against the Alekhine I played fast, against the Caro I played medium, against the French and Pirc I played slow; the Panov line is main-line established theory with lots to learn and keep track of, the Chamaeleon is a new and obscure line where you have to think at the board.
Now, I'm sure a better idea, and the right idea, is to play similarly against each opening. For example, if you like gambits and play the Danish Gambit against 1...e5, try and find a gambit against the lot....
|
Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6 |
1. e4 Nf6 2. Bc4 Nxe4 3. Bxf7+ Kxf7 4. Qh5+ g6 5. Qd5+ |
|
Caro-Kann 1. e4 c6 |
Fantasie Variation 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bc4 |
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French 1. e4 e6 |
Advance Variation, Milner Barry Gambit 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 |
|
Pirc/Modern 1. e4 ...d6/...g6 |
I don't know any gambits for White in the Pirc but against the Modern you can try... the Monkey's Bum! 1. e4 g6 2. Bc4 d6 3. Qf3 Nf6 4. d4 e5 5. Nh3 |
|
Sicilian 1. e4 c5 |
Morra Gambit: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 or 3. ... Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bc4 Qc7 6. Qe2 |
I think neither the Alekhine line nor the Monkey's Bum are really any good, but at least we're thinking along the right lines, even if this isn't the repertoire we settle on.
Here's a repertoire based on pawn advances and space advantages:
|
Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6 |
Four pawns variation 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. f4 |
|
Caro-Kann 1. e4 c6 |
Advance Variation 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 |
|
French 1. e4 e6 |
Advance Variation 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 |
|
Pirc/Modern 1. e4 ...d6/...g6 |
Three Pawns Attack 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c3 g6 4. f4 |
|
Sicilian 1. e4 c5 |
Big Clamp Variation 1. e4 c5 2. d3 (...) 3. f4 |
Now, what sort of player are you? Whether you like lively piece attacks, slow pawn advances that you can use to force open lines or more flexible systems, there is a repertoire here for you.
Let's have a look at some variations that fit together.
|
Defence |
Piece attack |
Slow attack with f4 |
King's Indian Attack |
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|
|
|
|
Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6 |
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4 |
1. e4 Nf6 2. d3 and 3.f4 (sadly, this line has no real force and is not a very good line to adopt) |
1. e4 Nf6 2. d3 and 3.g3/Bg2 (sadly, this line has no real force and is not a very good line to adopt) |
|
Caro-Kann 1. e4 c6 |
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nh3 (Main line with 7.Nh3) |
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3.f4 (a line of the Dunst opening, 1.Nc3) |
1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3.Nd2 (KIA vs. Alekhine) |
|
French 1. e4 e6 |
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 (Alekhine-Chatard Attack) |
1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3.f4 (a line of the Dunst opening, 1.Nc3) |
1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3.Nd2 (KIA vs. French) |
|
Pirc/Modern 1. e4 ...d6/...g6 |
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4. f4 (Austrian Attack) |
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4. f4 (Austrian Attack) |
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4. Nge2 and 5. g3, 6. Bg2 (King Fianchetto Variation) |
|
Sicilian 1. e4 c5 Closed: without d4 |
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 and 3.Be2 (idea 4. c3) or 3. Bb5(+) (Rossolimo Variation) |
1. e4 c5 2. f4 (Grand Prix Attack) or 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 with 4. Bg2, 5. d3, 6. f4 (Closed Variation) |
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 and 3.g3 (KIA vs. Sicilian) |
I simply haven't the courage to take on a repertoire which includes the Open Sicilian, and my experience of playing the Black side of the Sicilian is that not many White club players have either! So I'll leave those lines to you and any time you have to do your own research. I have a feeling it's something you come to study as your chess improves. Analysis and Games
I'll go through each approach in turn, looking at a system to play against each defence.
I'll concentrate more on the example games than the theory, and more on the 'piece attack' lines than the others, because I think that's what you should be playing.
A. Piece attacks against the common half-open defences
In each of these lines White has a straightforward plan of campaign:
rapid development
keep Black passive
keep lines open if you can
keep an eye out for lightning raids
A1. Piece attacks vs. Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6: 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4
This is not a particularly well-regarded line for White - that is, it is not considered to be a good way to try for advantage at GM level. But it gives you game where you don't have to learn much sharp theory and you are playing the sort of game you like. It has also been responsible for some amusing miniatures:
Ourmet,J - Cierniak,P (1) Paris, 1989
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nxd5 4. Bc4 Nxc3 5. Qf3 e6 6. Qxc3 Nc6 7. Nf3 b6
8. Bb5 1-0
and
Iskov,G - Woge Nielsen,J, it, Kobenhavn, 1989
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5 d4 4. Nce2 Ne4 5. c3 c5 6. d3 1-0
You must be prepared, after 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3, to play the Vienna or other opening after 2...e5.
After 2...d5 3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4 Black has a choice of moving the knight (4...Nb6, 4...Nxc3) or finding some way to defend it (4...c6, 4...e6):
White's next is easy to find.
5. Bb3 c5
[5... Nc6 6. Qf3 e6 7. Nge2 Be7 8. d3 O-O 9. Bf4 Na5 10. Qg3 Bd6 11. Ne4 Nxb3 12. axb3 Bxf4 13. Nxf4
+= Tietze-Neumann, corr; the Knights are nicely placed]
6. Qh5 e6 7. d3 Nc6 8. Bg5 +=
[This is the best move, but an example with 8. Nf3 went 8...Be7 9. Ng5 g6 10. Qh6 Bf8 11. Qh3 Bg7 12. Nge4 Nd5 13. Bh6 e5
White plays a likely-looking Queen sacrifice.
14. Bxg7 Bxh3 15. Nxd5 Qa5+ 16. Kf1 O-O-O 17. Bxh8 Rxh8 18. gxh3
Visser-Spanjaard 1948; White is better, as the Black pieces can't get going]
]
White has a cunning reply to this move.
5. Qf3 e6 6. Qxc3
6... Qg5 7. Nf3
[7. Kf1 +=]
7... Qxg2 8. Rg1 Qh3
]
White has compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
Again, the Qf3 move is strong; Black is obliged to lock in the Bc8.
5. Qf3 Be6 6. Nge2 Nc7 7. Bxe6 Nxe6 8. d4
[8. d3 += is good enough]
8... Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Qxd4 10. Be3 Qb4 11. O-O-O e5 ?
[11... e6]
12. Qf5 f6 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Qe6
+- Potengowski-Kerckhoff, 1930; White has a clear advantage]
White places his pieces as actively as possible.
5. Qf3 Nb4 ?! 6. Bb3 N8c6 7. Nge2 Be7 8. a3 Ne5 9. Qg3 Nbc6 10. d4
+/- Bellon-Alburt 1978]
White is better placed.
Karaklajic,N - Marjanovic,Z (3) Pula, 1990 [B02]
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4 Nb6 5. Bb3 c5 6. Qh5
Again, White tries to get Black to play ...e6; Black resists.
6... c4 7. Bxc4 Nxc4 8. Qb5+ Nc6 9. Qxc4 Qd4 10. Qxd4 Nxd4 11. Kd1
White is a pawn up and just needs to survive the next few moves to reach a winning endgame.
11... Bf5 12. d3 O-O-O 13. Be3 e5 14. Nge2 Bc5 15. Re1 Nxe2 16. Kxe2 Bxe3 17. Kxe3 Rhe8 18. f3 h5 19. a4 g5 20. h3 g4 21. hxg4 hxg4 22. f4 Rd4 23. fxe5 Rxe5+ 24. Kd2 1-0
Lendwai - Neckar,L, Nova-Park/SW,2,21, 1989 [B02]
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4 e6 5. Nf3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Nb6 8. Bb3 c5 9. d3 Nc6 10. a3 Nd5 11. Ne4 b6 12. Qe2 Qc7
Neat Knights!
13. Bd2 Nf4 14. Qe3 Nd5 15. Qe2 h6 16. Ng3 Nf6 17. Bc3 Bb7 18. h4
An adventurous pawn
18...Rad8 19. Ng5 hxg5 20. hxg5 Nd5 21. g6 Nf4 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 23. Qg4 Nd4 24. Bxd4 Rxd4
Now an enterprising sacrifice to expose the Black King. White can regain the exchange with Bb3xe6 xf7 but hopes for more.
25. Rxe6 Nxe6 26. Qxe6 Qf4 27. Nf5 c4 28. Nxe7+ Kh7 29. Qg6+ Kh8 30. Qh5+ Qh6 31. Qxf7 Rd8 32. Bxc4 1-0
Madl,I - Guadalpi,D (1) Val-Thorens, 1989 [B02]
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nxd5 4. Bc4 Nxc3 5. bxc3 g6 6. Qf3 e6 7. Ne2 Bg7 8. Ba3 Nc6 9. d4 Ne7 10. O-O O-O 11. Ng3 Re8 12. Rfe1 Rb8
White has good chances for an attack.
13. Ne4 Nf5 14. Rad1 b5 15. Bd3 a5 16. Bc1 Bb7 17. Qe2 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 Qe7 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. Rd3 b4 21. Rg3 Kh8 22. Qh5 Qf8 23. Bf4 Rb7
Black undoubtedly missed White's idea when considering his last few moves.
24. Rxg7 1-0
Weiss,M - Shields,P (5), Chicago, 1989 [B02]
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4 e6 5. Qf3 Nxc3 6. Qxc3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Qd6 8. a3 Bd7 9. O-O O-O-O
Black skips to the Queen's-side
10. d4 Be7 11. Be3 Bf6 12. Rad1 Ne7 13. Ne5 Be8 14. Bf4 Nf5 15. Ng6 e5
This central break is the right sort of idea for Black, but goes very wrong here.
16. dxe5 Qxd1 17. exf6 Bc6 18. Qe5 Rd7 19. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 20. Bf1 Nd6 21. Nxh8 Bb5 22. Qxb5 Nxb5 23. fxg7 1-0
I have spent quite a while on the Alekhine's, not because it's a very common line but
you won't find much on the Bc4 plan in the books
the White plan is exactly what you should be doing in all the recommended lines below.
A2. Piece attacks vs. Caro-Kann Defence
All the main lines in the books continue:
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5
and now
3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4
You may find players who will try and gum the whole position up with 3...g6. tempting 4. e5. You can play 4. h3 but the resulting positions are rather dull If you don't like that idea, try instead
3. Nd2
when 3...g6 can be met by 4. c3, keeping the tension in the centre, and
3...dxe4 4. Nxe4
gives us the starting position from the books.
Black has tried 3...Nf6 e.g.
Tal-Campomanes, Leipzig Olympiad 1960 [B15]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. e6 fxe6 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. Nf3 g6 8. h4 c5 9. dxc5 Nc6 10. Qe2 Bg7 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. O-O-O e5 13. Bg5 Be6 14. Nb5 Qb8 15. h5 gxh5 16. Nfd4 Bg4 17. f3 e4 18. fxg4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 exd3 20. Rxd3 Ne4 21. Nf5 Qe5 22. Nxg7+ Qxg7 23. Rxd5 Nxg5 24. Qb5+ Kf7 25. Rf1+ Kg6 26. Qd3+ Kh6 27. Rh1 1-0
White places his pieces actively in the hope of forcing ...e6 before the Bc8 escapes.
5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6
[7... h6 8. Nxf7 Kxf7 9. Qxe6+ Kg6 10. Bd3+ Kh5 11. Qh3#]
8. Bd3 h6
[8... Qxd4 is too dangerous:
9. N1f3
idea Ne5,Ng5xf7
9... Bb4+ 10. c3 Bxc3+ 11. Kf1 Qc5 12. bxc3 Qxc3 13. Bb2 Qa5
White has great play for the pawn]
9. N5f3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Ngf3 O-O 13. Bd2 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bd4
[14... Qd5 15. O-O-O Qxa2 16. c3]
15. O-O-O Qd5 16. f4 Qxa2 17. c3 Bc5 18. g4 Nd5 19. g5 Qa1+ 20. Bb1 g6 21. gxh6 b5 22. Qd3 Ba3 23. Qc2 Bb7 24. Rhg1 Rfc8
Ripe for picking, I'd say.
25. Rxg6+ Kf8 26. h7 Ke7 27. Rg7 b4
[27... Rf8 28. Ng6+ Kf6 29. Nxf8 Kxg7 30. h8=Q+ Kxh8 31. Qh7#]
28. Rxf7+ Kd6 29. Rd7+ Kc5 30. Rxb7 1-0
Kirpichnikov-Lein, 1974]
5. Nxf6+
...and Black has a choice of captures.
A2.2.1 Tartakower Variation, 5... exf6
This is a dull line for Black. The most straightforward attacking line against it is
6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Ne2 Re8 9. Qc2 g6 10. h4
See example games.
A2.2.2 Bronstein-Larsen line, 5...gxf6
This is the more dynamic line; Black hopes to make good use of the half-open files.
6. Nf3 Bg4
[6... Bf5
is the normal-looking move, but it isn't very good here e.g.
7. Bd3 Bg6 8. O-O Qc7 9. c4 Nd7 10. d5 O-O-O 11. Be3 e5 12. Be2 Kb8
[12... c5 13. Nh4]
13. Rc1 f5 14. c5
14... cxd5 15. c6 bxc6 16. Bb5]
7. Be2 Qc7 8. h3 Bh5 9. O-O Nd7
[9... e6 is better, but White should still get a good attacking game after 10. c4 Nd7 11. d5 O-O-O]
10. d5 Rd8 11. c4 Nb6 12. Be3 Bxf3
[12... cxd5 13. cxd5 Nxd5
[13... Rxd5 14. Bxb6 Rxd1 15. Bxc7]
14. Bb5+]
13. Bxb6 axb6 14. Bxf3 cxd5 15. cxd5 Bh6 16. Qa4+ Kf8 +/- Smyslov-Pachman 1964]
A2.3 Classical Variation with 4...Bf5
Now play:
5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nh3
This is the most exciting line. The main line goes something like:
7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Qc7 11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Ngf6 13. Qe2 O-O-O 14. Ne5
...when White has a small advantage which is difficult to make any use of.
7... Nf6 8. Nf4 Bh7 9. Bc4 e6 10. O-O Bd6
Now we see the point of the Nf4 move:
11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Bxe6
White has good chances for attack, although if the attack fails, the missing piece will lose the game.
12... Qc7 13. Re1
[13. Nh5 may be better]
13... Nbd7 14. Bg8+ Kf8 15. Bxh7 Rxh7
and Black is holding on.
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2
Kavalek actually played 3. Nc3
3...dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Ne2 Re8 9. Qc2 g6 10. h4 Nd7 11. h5 Nf8 12. Bh6 Qc7 13. O-O-O Be6
[13... b5 14. Rh4]
14. c4 Rad8 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. c5 Be7 17. Nf4 Bf7 18. Bc4
The Bf7 must be exchanged.
18... Rd5
[18... Bxc4 19. Qxc4+ Kh8 20. Qf7 Bd6 21. Bg7#]
19. Rde1 Red8 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Re3 Rd7 22. Rhe1 g5
else Qe2 and Re8+
23. Bxf8 Bxf8 24. Rh1 h6 25. Ng6 Bxc5 26. Rc3 Bd6 27. Rxh6 Kg7 28. Nf8 Kxf8
[28... Bg8 29. Nxd7]
29. Rh8+ Ke7 30. Qe2+ Be6 31. Rh7+
White, who has conducted the attack with great accuracy, finds an equally crisp finish.
1-0
[31... Kf8 32. Rxc7 Bxc7 33. Qxe6 Rxh7 34. Qc8+]
[31... Kd8 32. Qxe6 Rxh7 33. Qg8+]
De Armas,A - Jensen,C (7) Novi, 1990 [B18]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h5 7. N1e2 e6 8. Nf4 Ne7 9. c3 Nd7 10. Nxg6 Nxg6 11. Nxh5 Nxh4 12. g3
The open h-file looks dangerous for both sides, but Black must retreat.
12... Ng6 13. Bd3 Rh7 14. Qc2
Suddenly, White looks much the better.
14... f5 15. Qb3 Ne7 16. Qxe6 g6 17. Bg5 Qa5 18. O-O-O
White is looking very good!
18... Rxh5
[18... gxh5 19. Rde1 O-O-O 20. Re5 Qa4 21. Bxf5 Rg7
19. Bxe7 Qd5 20. Qxg6+ Kxe7 21. Rxh5
Enough! 1-0
Haas,C - Trachsel, Arosa, 1990 [B18]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nh3 Nf6 8. Nf4 Bh7 9. c3 e6 10. Bc4 Nd5 11. Qg4
Black now exchanges one his two developed pieces, bringing another White piece into play.
11... Nxf4 12. Bxf4 Qf6 13. Kf1 Nd7 14. Re1 O-O-O 15. Rh3 Bf5
Winning the exchange? This was actually a cunning trap for Black to fall into.
16. Qf3 Bxh3 17. Qxc6+ 1-0
Rodriguez,Danie - Ruxton,K (6) WchJ, 1989 [B18]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6
Here White adopts a slightly different move order to the recommended line above.
6. N1e2 e6 7. Nf4 Bd6 8. h4
Again, Black is prompted to exchange on f4.
8... Bxf4 9. Bxf4 h6 10. h5 Bh7 11. c3 Nf6 12. Qb3 Qe7 13. Be5 b6 14. O-O-O O-O 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Rxd3 Nbd7 17. Kb1 Ng4 18. Re1
White simply plays to dominate the d-file after the exchange on e5.
18... Ngxe5 19. dxe5 Nc5 20. Qa3 Qg5 21. Rd4 Rfd8 22. Red1 Rd5 23. b4 Nd7 24. c4 Rxd4 25. Rxd4 Qe7 26. f4 c5 27. b5 f6 28. exf6 Nxf6 29. Rd2 e5 30. fxe5 Qxe5 31. Qd3
Black's position is loose and he must be very careful...
31... Rf8 32. Re2 Qf4 33. Nf5 Re8
34. Ne7+ Kf7 35. Qg6+ Kf8
36. Qxe8+ Kxe8 37. Nd5+ 1-0
...More careful than that, anyway
Schlindwein,R - Hugger,M (1) Badenweiler, 1990 [B18]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. N1e2 h6 7. Nf4 Bh7 8. Bc4 e6 9. O-O Nf6 10. Re1 Nd5
The pin on the e-file can be exploited.
11. Bxd5 cxd5 12. Qh5 Qg5
[12... g6 13. Qxd5 Nc6]
13. Rxe6+ Kd8 14. Qxf7 Nc6 15. Re8# 1-0
Well, you won't get the Alekhine line in every game. The French starts:
1. e4 e6
Now play the natural sequence
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
Black now has an important choice: safe or brave?
A3.1. Rubinstein Variation 3...dxe4 4. Nxe4
This is a solid line but Black lacks counterplay.
A3.1.1 Rubinstein Variation with 4...Nf6
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6
White can get an advantage through straightforward moves:
5. Nxf6+ gxf6
(5...Qxf6 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bd3
6. Nf3 b6 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Bc4 Bb7 9. Bf4 Bd6 10. Bg3 Qc7 11. Qe2 Nd7 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Ba6
Liublinsky-Ufimsev 1945.
A3.1.2 Rubinstein Variation with 4...Bd7
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7
This
Stonewall
variation recently had some recommendations with the idea of getting a line for the Bishop with Bc6, but White shouldn't be short of play:5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3
6...Nf6
(6...Nd7 may be better)
7. Nxf6+ gxf6 8. Qe2
+/- Levy.
A3.1.3 Rubinstein Variation with 4...Nd7
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7
The main line, which, however, promises Black little. There have been many lines explored here but as an example you could play over:
5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5