Attacking 101:

Volume #001

Joel Johnson

Edited by: Patrick Hammond

© Joel Jo h n son, Octobe r 2012

A l l rights reserved . N o p a rt of this book m ay be repro d u ced,

t ra n s m itted i n a n y fo rm by any m ea ns, electro n ic, m ech a n ica l,
p h otoco pyi ng, record ing o r oth e rwise, without the p rior written
perm ission fro m Joel J o h n son .

Ed ited by: Patrick Ha m m ond

Cover P h otogra p h y : Ba rry M. Eva ns

Cover Design : Joel Jo h n son

P roofrea d i n g : J o e l Joh n son

Lina res Diagra m and Lina res F i g u r i n e fo nts © 1993-2003

by A l p i n e Electro n ics, Steve S m ith
Alpine El ectro n ics
703 lvinson Ave.
La ra m ie, WY 82070
E m a i l : A l p i n e Ch ess Fonts ( a l p i n e@[Link] m )
Website: htt p ://www . p a [Link] m/fonts/

Chaulkboard graphic
I m age Copyright Ara m i nta, 20 12
U sed u n der l icense fro m Sh utterstoc [Link]

I n Memoria m to my good friend, J o h n Hei n e m a n , 08/29/1954-

10/01/2012. H is favorite excuse fo r losing on t i m e, "I fe l l i n love with
the positio n ! " Jo h n was a true Steeler fa n a n d the Piano M a n . M iss ya .
CONTENTS

Preface 7
Open ing Select ion 7
D ro p p i n g P i eces 8
Vo l u m e #00 1 8
Co m p uter Softwa re 8
Kudos 8

Cen�r G a m e 9
Tec h n i q u es Lea rned 9
G a m e #001 - M a ssCa rnage - ki ng92 ( 1339) 10
Game #002 - Joel Johnson - D a n iel Pecherski ( 1134) 12
G a m e #003 - Joel Johnson - G ia n n i G iaco n i ( 1280) 15
G a m e #004 - Joel Johnson - P h i l Ku sner ( 1380) 16
G a m e #005 - M a ssCa rn age - cajob321 ( 1330) 17
G a m e #006 - Fea rNoEvil - Cleve r ( 1444) 19
G a m e #007 - M assCa rnage - m u ku n d a n ( 1647) 20
G a m e #008 - M a ssCa rn age - onti ( 13 58) 21
G a m e #009 - M assCa rn age - Drums ( 1459) 23
Game #010 - Joel Johnson - Phil Ku sner ( 1480) 24
G a m e #0 11 - M a ssCa rn age - esadpo ( 1542) 25
G a m e #012 - Fea rNoEvil - t h e K i n g ( 1583) 27

Da nish G a m bit 28
Tec h n i q u es Lea rned 28
G a m e #0 13 - M assCa rn age - adna ( 1479 ) 28
G a m e #0 14 - M assCa rn age - a d n a ( 1473) 30

Alekhine's Defense 31
Tech n i q u es Lea rned 31
G a m e #015 - M assCa rn age - t h i s u rt h at ( 1654) 32
G a m e #016 - Fea rNoEvil - Boletus ( 1792) 34
G a m e #017 - Joel Jo h n son - Tyler Syp herd ( 1580) 35
G a m e #0 18 - Joel Johnson - N i kola Ogrizovic ( 1706) 36

3
Nge2 Caro Kah n 39
Tech n i q u es Lea rned 39
G a m e #019 - M assCa rn age - ucant h i d e ( 1279 ) 39
G a m e #020 - M assCa rn age - Aka ba ( 1648) 41
G a m e #02 1 - M assCa rn age - Clockwork64 ( 1477) 43

Sici lian G rand Prix 44

Tec h n i q u es Lea rned 44
G a m e #022 - M assCa rnage - M o n d roga n ( 1445 ) 44
G a m e #023 - Joel Joh nson - M a rk Webb ( 1246) 46
G a m e #024 - Mystery M a n - blacke n d i n g ( 1674) 48
G a m e #025 - M assCa rn age - mwu 2007 ( 1327) 50
G a m e #026 - Mystery M a n - h a p pych ess ( 1629) 51
G a m e #027 - M assCa rn age - sergiofabian ( 1445) 52
Game #028 - M assCa rn age - m e ntor123 ( 1642) 53
G a m e #029 - M assCa rn age - qs16 ( 1663 ) 54
G a m e #030 - M assCa rn age - jasep ( 1644) 55
Game #03 1 - Joel Jo h nson - Tim Suzman ( 1780) 56
G a m e #032 - M a ssCa rn age - killad uck44 ( 1361) 58

S m ith - Morra G a m bit 59

Tec h n i q u es Lea rned 59
G a m e #033 - M assCa rn age - jim h ( 1456) 60
G a m e #034 - M assCa rnage - na ndo3 ( 1633) 61
Game #035 - M assCa rn age - DA DAS H ( 1651) 62
G a m e #036 - M assCa rn age - jusmove ( 1559) 64
G a m e #037 - M a ssCa rn age - j u s m ove ( 1540) 65
G a m e #038 - Joel Jo h nson - Rich a rd Smouse ( 15 2 1) 68

Pirc/Modern Defense 70
Tec h n i q u es Lea rned 70
G a m e #039 - M assCa rn age - lzeel den ( 1568) 70
G a m e #040 - M assCa rn age - gladi ator46 ( 1672 ) 71
G a m e #041 - M assCa rn age - G ree n-Pigeo n ( 162 3) 74
G a m e #042 - MassCa rn age - Jor gelV ( 1727) 76
G a m e #043 - M assCa rn age - RRC H ESSMA N 200 9 ( 1 412) 78

4
Yu goslav Attack 79
Tec h n i q u es Lea rned 79
G a m e #044 - Fea rNoEvi l - b a ro n 2 5 ( 1545 ) 79

Center Cou nter 82

Tech n i q u es Lea rned 82
G a m e #045 - M a ssCa rnage - Floppyboa rd ( 1573) 82
G a m e #046 - M assCa rn age - torre1217 ( 1685 ) 85

�d3 French 87
Tech n i q u es Lea rned 87
G a m e #047 - Fea r N o Evil - SnowTiger ( 1793 ) 87
G a m e #048 - Joel Johnson - Kevin H uy n h ( 1434) 89
G a m e #049 - Joel Johnson - An u M e n o n ( 1093 ) 91
G a m e #050 - MysteryM a n - Lzm a n n ( 1763 ) 92
Game #05 1 - M assCa rnage - B i l l ieth eKid ( 1375) 95
G a m e #052 - M assCa rn age - S u perm a n ( 1792) 97

Black m a r- Die m er G a m bit 98

Tec h n i q u es Lea rned 98
G a m e #053 - M assCa rnage - N ielsferatu ( 1511) 98
G a m e #054 - MysteryM a n - Ke n d o ( 1641) 99

Stonewa ll Attack 101

Tech n i q u es Lea rned 101
G a m e #05 5 - M assCa rnage -- La u n chywiggin ( 1501) 102
G a m e #056 - M assCa rnage -- n ige lst ( 1551) 103
G a m e #057 - M assCa rnage -- o rien ( 1680) 104
G a m e #058 - M assCa rnage -- Reyad86 ( 1505) 105

Un usual Openings 106

Tec h n i q u es Lea rned 106
G a m e #059 - Fea rNoEvi l_US -- Ora n gSem elai ( 15 16) 106
G a m e #060 - M assCa rnage -- j n ad e r ( 117 1) 108

5
Book News 110
Avai l a b l e Books 110
F u t u re Books 110

6
 Preface

M a ster d issect a n d exp loit t h e

Preface
m oves, s how why t h ey a re wro ng,
With two serio us 500 page attack a n d how to p u n ish the opponent's
books co m p l eted ( "Formation poor play.
Attacks" and "Form ation Attack
Strategies" ), I felt it was time to Opening Selection
tackle a s m a l l er p roject t h at wo u l d
not interfere with m y tra i n ing a n d M a ny o f t h e o p e n i ngs chosen i n
study for I nternatio n a l Ch ess Titles. t h is book a re p a rt of my o p e n i n g
So m e co m m ents m a d e by Step hen rep e rto i re a n d what I tea ch to my
D a n n re lating to low cost attack st ud ents. So m e of t h e openings I
books fo r lower rated p layers o n ly use aga i n st p l ayers below a
reso n ated with m e . After a l l when certa i n rating; oth e rs I wi l l p lay
I was yo u n ger, I owned q u ite a few
aga i n st a nyo n e . A l l of them work
of those Ken S m ith chess very well aga i n st p layers rated
p a m p h lets. Th ey were easily be low 1800.
afford a b le, a n d p rovided lots of M a ny chess coaches p refer to
great informatio n . When it comes teac h o n ly the low risk openi ngs of
to low cost attack boo ks, the the e l ite G ra n d m asters i n t h e
cu rrent selection is slim . H o pefu l ly worl d . Th eir stu d e nts a l l play eS or
wit h t h is se ries, I will be a b l e to fi l l cS aga i n st e4 and dS or 4Jf6
the void.
aga i n st d4 . Th is tends to foster a
The goa l of the books i n t h is series myopic view of chess. N eglecting
is to p rovide d etai led a n a lysis of to i ntrod uce ga m b its and oth e r
my own attack ga m es p layed aggressive o p e n i ngs leaves t h e i r
against lower rated p layers. Th e st u d ents u n p repa red t o h a n d l e
players a re a l l rated i n the ra nge of what I tea c h . Th eir overa l l opening
10 00 to 1800 the types of p layers
-
a n d attac k kn owledge (tem pos,
yo u wo u ld fre q u ently encou nter at space, tactics, va l u e of p i eces,
yo u r loca l chess c l u b, loca l p i ece activity, etc. ) is l i m ited . Each
to u rn a m ents, o n l i n e, a n d at h o m e . of the open ings I teach, cause my
T h ey m a ke the s a m e errors you st u d e nts to lea rn so m et h i ng n ew
r eg u l a rly witness i n yo u r ga m es a bout chess. Th ese skills leave
but here you get to see a Ch ess them bette r p re p a red fo r when

7
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u me #00 1

t h e u n exp ected h a ppens on a a n a lysis. H owever, never get i nto

chessboard -- j u st l i ke it u s u a l ly the lazy h a b it of over-relyi ng on
does. the co m p uter. Always a n a lyze the
positions yo u rself before yo u
Dropping Pieces verify yo u r a n swers with the
co m p uter. Whenever I refer to
Two of t h e m ost co m m o n errors com p uter eva l u ations i n t h is book,
m a d e by low rated p layers a re I a m referring to Hou d i n i (see
d ro p p i n g p ieces a n d m ateri a l http ://[Link] m/ch ess/ho u
mo ngering ( i n stead o f p laying fo r d i n i . htm fo r m o re deta ils ).
checkmate ) .
Th e seco n d essenti a l piece of
So m e h igh rated p layers will j u st softwa re is a d ata base p rogra m . A
wait for t h ese m ista kes to wi n . I d atabase p rogra m e n a b les yo u to
p refer p rovi d i n g a l itt le m o re h e l p . store, play o ut, a n d a n a lyze ga m es
with a ch ess engine. I h a ve
thousa n d s of ch ess ga m es stored
Volume #001
on my la pto p . My ga m es a re
catego rized by openi ng, by
Vol u m e #001 (this book)
oppon ent, by top player, by type
showcases Wh ite attack ga m es of
of attack, by endga m e type, etc.
m i n e aga i n st oppon ents rated
N o m atter whether I a m studying
between 1000 a n d 1800. Th e
or writing a boo k, I ca n fi n d
ga m es a re grou ped by o p e n i n g
s u ita ble ga m es i n a tim ely fas h i o n .
a n d t h e openi n gs p l ayed a re a l l
aggressive a n d exciting w i t h a
d i rect o bjective of taking down the Kudos
e n e my King.
I wo u l d l i ke to t h a n k Patrick
H a m m o n d fo r h is outsta n d i n g
Computer Software
editing work on th is book. I n
a d d ition I wa nt to th a n k Ba rry
A co m p uter ch ess engi n e is
Eva ns for t u r n i n g my cover ideas
essenti a l in beco m ing a serio u s
and designs into aweso m e p i eces
ch ess p l ayer. You will n eed a of a rtwo rk for a l l of my books.
co m p uter engine to assist yo u with
Th a n ks to both of yo u !

8
 Ce nter G a m e

Center Game P h i l idor Defense (C41)

1.e4 e5 2. d4 d6 3 . .Q.c4

King Pawn G a m e (C44)

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3 . .Q.c4
�c6 4. � f3 .Q.c5

Scotch G a m e ( C45)
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3 . .Q.c4
�c6 4. � f3 d6 5. � xd4 � x d4
6. � x d4

G i uoco Piano (CSO)

1. e4 e5 2. d4 e x d4 3 . .Q.c4 � c6
4. �f3 d6 5. � x d4

Two Kn ight's Defense (CSS)

1. e4 e5 2. d4 e x d4 3 . .Q.c4 �f6
4. �f3 �c6
Opening Li nes

Transpositions
My d efi n ition of the Center G a m e
i n c l u d es a l l o f the open i n gs that
ca n be tra n s posed fro m the Th e Center G a m e is loaded with
starting position a b ove. Th e l ist move tra n spositio ns. One h a s to
wo u ld i n c l u d e the fo llowing be con sta ntly awa re of them .
o p eni ngs :

Center G a m e (C21)
Techniq ues Lea rned
1.e4 e5 2. d4 e x d4

B is hop's Open i n g (C24)

1. e4 e5 2. d4 e x d4 3 . .Q.c4 � f6 Th e Center G a m e is designed for
4. � f3 d5 wide-open play. Yo u i m m ed iately
open up the d iago n a ls fo r both of
Vera sov's G a m b it (C24)
you r Bishops. Yo u want to d evelop
1. e4 e5 2. d4 e x d4 3 . .Q.c4 � f6
4. �f3 � xe4 yo u r pieces q u ickly and attack fast.

9
 Atta c king 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Yo u a re not co n cerned a b o ut co m e i n t h e fo rm of fa ster

reca ptu ring the Black pawn on d4 d evelopment a n d wea k sq u a res to
right away shou ld Black ca pt u re it attack n a m ely d5 a n d d6. U n der
with 2... . exd4 a s most p layers d o . t h e worse case scen a rio, where
Yo u wou ld p refer to captu re t h e yo u r oppon ent "pl ays l i ke a
p a w n back l a t e r w i t h you r Kn ight G ra n d m a ster", you wi l l win back
on gl ( 4:J g l -4:lf3-4:Jxd4). Th e the Black d-pawn and have a very
decision to delay the ca ptu re of good position. Of cou rse, I m ust
the Black pawn on d4 p rovides point out t h at G ra n d m asters will
Black with a n o p port u n ity to err by not p lay c5 to hang onto the pawn .
d efe n d i ng t h e advanced d-pawn They will d evelop their pieces
with c5. instea d .

Our fi rst attack ga m e just h a ppens 4 . .£)f3 h6?

to be a case where Black d id
So m a ny p l ayers h ave been b u rned
exactly t h at.
by the F ried Liver Attack that they
--------- G a m e #001 ---------- co nsider the move h6 n ecessa ry to
their s u rviva l . Th e truth is,
(W) M assCa rnage (2200) d eveloping a piece is more
( B) king92 ( 1339) beneficial, l i ke 4:Jc6.
[C2 1] ICC 5 12, 1 1/20/2010 5.0-0
1 .e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Ac4 c5? Wh ite ca n a l ready win with the
So m a n y wea ker players a re m ove 4:Je5 ! beca use of t h e Black
m ateria l mongers. They gra b every errors . Howeve r, Ch ess M a sters
piece of m ateri a l they can a n d p lay a re not out to blast you off the
to h a ng o nto it as long a s t h ey c a n . boa rd, even if at t i m es it seems
A s I t e l l my st u d ents, w h e n yo u r that way. G en e ra l ly speaki ng, we
oppon ent p lays 3 . . . . c5? t o h a ng want to d evelop m ost or all of o u r
onto the pawn, l et them keep it ! pieces befo re attacking.
Th e p l a n h e re is to play 4 . 4:Jf3 , U n d erm a n n ed attacks ca n be a
5. 0-0, a n d 6. c3 to perm a n e ntly very risky ventu re especia l ly if the
give them the pawn . O u r d efender repels yo u r p re m atu re
co m pen sation fo r t h e p a w n will adva nces. P a rt of a player's growth
is related to knowing when to

10
 Center G a m e

a ttack and when to wait for m o re m ove fro m his best sq u a re;
fo rces befo re p roceeding. 2} e n a b l ing Wh ite to open the
e-fi le fo r h is kingside Rook
5. ... Ae7?
should Black d ecide to p lay d6
Once aga i n Black s h o u l d d evelop to d evelop h is q u eenside
his Kn ight to c6. For the m ost p a rt Bishop; and
yo u want to d evelop yo u r Kn ights 3} ga i n i n g s pace fo r Wh ite' s
befo re yo u r Bishops beca use of p ieces.
the Kn ight's l i m ited ra nge .
8 . . . . 4)h7
6.c3
U nfort u n ately Black h a s n o other
Once aga i n 6. 4Je5 wins right q u a l ity a lternatives .
away.
9.f!el
6. ... dxc3?
Th is move is d es igned to p reve nt
4Jf6, d5, a n d 4Jc6 a re a l l better Black from playing d6 to co m p lete
choices. the d evelopment of his q ueenside.

7.4) xc3? 9 • ••. 0-0

Sh a m e on m e ! , I s h o u l d n ever, Th e m ove 9 . . d6 wo u l d lose t h e

. .

ever m iss the ga m e e n d i n g m ove Bishop o n e7 after 1 0 . exd6. B l a c k

7. �d5 ! . Th e m ove �d5 m u st wo u l d co m po u n d his issu es b y
a lways be checked out b eca u se fo llowi ng u p with 1 0 . . . �xd6
.

freq u ently it wins a piece a n d the 1 1 . �xd6 losing h is Qu een .

ga m e i n sta ntly. G a m es #003 and
10.Af4
#004 p rovi d e ot her exa m p les of
this opening tra p . W h ite co nti n u es to d eter t h e Black
move d6.
7. . . . 4)f6 8.e5
10 . . . . 4)c6 1 1 . �e2
Another key m ove i n this opening
i s e5. Th e m ove e5 c a u ses Th e Wh ite Qu een vacates the dl
problems fo r Black by: sq u a re fo r the q u eenside Rook.

1} fo rci ng the Kn ight o n f6 to 1 1 . . . . .£l g5 12.Axg5!

11
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vol u m e #00 1

Why tra d e the Wh ite Bishop for I chose 14. �e4 beca use I l i ked the
t h e Black Kn ight i n stead of the a d d ition a l possible options of h4 ,
W h ite Knight? Th e a n swer l ies i n "'1.d3, �d5 , �f5 , etc .
sq u a re contro l . Th e W h ite Knight
14 . ... d5?
on f3 controls the critica l d4
sq u a re. If Black is a b le to p lay F req u ently when yo u a p ply
4Jd4, h e will be a b le to block t h e i m m ense press u re on an
W h ite p ress u re d o w n t h e d -fi l e opponent, t h ey crack and lash out
a n d u n ravel h is bad positio n . with a poor m ove. Th e m ove
1 2 . ... ..Q. x g5 13. §adl p l ayed fits into t h at catego ry.

15 . ..Q. x d5
W h ite co m pl etes the d evelopm ent
of all h is pieces. Th e W h ite Rook 4Jxd5 , "'1.xd5, a n d § xd5 a re a l l
exerts a great deal of p ressu re good m oves. I chose Axd5
a long t h e d-file. W h ite's a dva ntage beca use I felt the th reats of "'1.xf7+
i n the position is roughly a pawn and .ilxc6 co u ld n ot be adeq u ately
despite being down a pawn . d efended.
13 . ... §e8 14. �e4 1 5 . ... �e7?

Once yo u h ave fi n ished Black needed to try 1 5 . . . . �b6 to

d eveloping, the n ext step is to d efe n d h i s Kn ight on c6 aga i n .
i m p rove you r position in some
way. I n ga m es between strong 16 . .£i xg5
ch ess players, the wi n n e r is u s u a lly
The decision to ca pt u re the Black
d ecided by these piece Bish op at this point i n the ga m e is
i m p rovement m a n euvers . The p red icated by the u pco m i ng Wh ite
oth er m oves I co nsidered i n t h is ca ptu re of the Black Kn ight on c6.
position were : Basic a l ly the Wh ite Kn ight on f3
will n o longer be req u i red to
1 4 . h3 to rem ove the poss i b i l ity of
d efen d aga inst a s u b seq uent 4Jd4
a back ra n k checkmate.
m ove by Black . Th e othe r reason
14. 4Je4 to attack the wea k d6 a n d fo r th e m ove is t h at Wh ite is
c5 s q u a res. wi n n i n g a n d t ra d i ng dow n h e l ps
t h e wi n n ing side.

12
 Center G a m e

16. ... � x g5 17.Axc6 AfS? 2 1 . A x f7+ 'it>h7 22.h4

B lack cou nters with a very poor Wh ite rem oves a l l back ra n k issues
move. When m a king m oves of t h is a n d p l a n s on wedging i n his Bishop
type, yo u a lways h ave to ask on g6 after the move h 5 .
you rself, "wh at h a p pens if h e j u st
22 . ... §f8 [Link] � f6 2 4. .Q.g6+
ign ores my t h reat?" H ere I can see
'it>g8 25.f3
th at I will end up with a Roo k,
Bishop, Kn ight, a n d a great Black was th reatening to captu re
position after the smoke clea rs. the W h ite f-pawn with
2 5 . . . . '1¥Yxf2 + .

25 . ... �gs 26.§e2

After rea lizing that Black cou l d not

ca pt u re the Wh ite f-pawn, Wh ite
s i m p ly ignores the poss i b i l ity a n d
d a res B l a c k t o capt u re t h e
poisoned pawn.

26 . ... § x f3?

Black's error leads to a q u ick

fi n i s h .

27. §eS+ §f8 28.§del �f6

18 . .'1, xe8! A x e4 19 . .tl xe4 29. § x f8+ � x f8 30.§eS 1-0

This move p rovid es Wh ite with a I n the Center G a m e yo u m ust

tem po by attacking the Black a lways check fo r t h e m ove '1¥Yd5 to
Qu een. Th e extra tempo will be d eterm i n e if it wo rks. I refe r to t h is
util ized to rescu e t h e Wh ite Bishop move as t h e Knockout Pu nch. Th e
fro m d a n ger. move works i n a m u ltit u d e of
positions. Th e n ext two ga m es
19. ... � xeS 20 . .tld6 � xb2 i l l u strate the two types of
positions where the m ove ca n be
B lack is pawn gra bbing i n a n
em p loyed . As a genera l ru le yo u
a ttem pt t o reach m ateri a l
n ever want to p lay '1¥Yd5 if you r
e q u a l ity.

13
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

o p p o n ent ca n defe n d a l l the Black does with h is d a rk-sq ua red

th reats. Yo u r Qu een being located Bishop. If t h e Black d a rk-sq u a red
on the dS sq u a re l eaves h e r Bishop is outside the pawn c h a i n
susceptible to cou nterattack. (c7, d6) a n d ca n n ot ret u rn to e7
b rea king t h e pin, then W h ite's
---- ----- G a m e #002 ---------- d a rk-sq u a red Bishop s h o u l d be
placed o n g S to pin the Black
Th is is a n other exa m p l e of Black
Knight on f6. If the Black Bishop is
refu s i ng to retu rn the pawn o n d4.
d efens ively posted on e7, then
Th e i n itial Wh ite strategy is the
Wh ite s h o u l d play h3 to p reve nt
sa m e a s when Black p l ayed cS. Yo u
4Jg4, fo l lowed by Ae3.
st i l l want to play 4Jf3, 0-0, a n d c3
to let h i m h ave it. s . ... h6 9.Ah4

(W) Joel Joh nson (2250) Th e p u rpose of p i n n i ng a n enemy

( B) Daniel Pecherski ( 1134) p iece is to create p ress u re a n d
[C2 1] Dave S m a l l I n vitatio n a l, opport u n ities fo r exploitation .
Phoen ix, AZ, ( Ro u n d 3), Ca ptu ring t h e Kn ight on f6 wo u l d
06/10/2006 release t h e p ress u re a n d be a
m ista ke.
1 .e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3.Ac4 4)c6
4 . .!!Ll f3 Ac5 9 . ... Ae6 10.4)d5 A x d5?

Once aga i n Black refu ses to ret u r n Black needed to play gS to b rea k
the pawn . the p i n . The move AxdS? e n a b les
W h ite to open the e-file for h is
5.0-0 d6 6.c3 Rook a n d d isp laces the Black
F requ ently I p lay the a ltern ate Knight on c6 to a less desira ble
m ove h3 h e re to p revent the p i n locatio n .
m ove, Ag4, befo re p roceed ing 1 1 .exd5 4) e7?
with the o rigi n a l p la n .
Black should ret u rn the pawn with
6 . ... d x c3 7.4) xc3 4)f6 8.Ag5 the m ove 1 1 . 4Je5 1 2 . § e l 0-0
. . .

Th e d eterm i n ation of where to 1 3 . 4Jxe5 dxeS 14. § xeS. H owever

p l ace the W h ite d a rk-sq u a red m a ny p layers have d ifficu lty with
Bishop relates d i rectly to what the d ecision to ret u r n m ateria l,
even if it relieves the p ressu re.

14
 Center G a m e

1 2.J;l.xf6 a rock and a h a rd place, she needs

to d efend the checkm ate on e7.
Th is move d est roys t h e Black
kingside pawn st ruct u re. Black was 17 . ... A x el 18. § xel §dS
willing to h ead d own t h is route 19. � x e7 * 1-0
because he p l a n s on castling
Checkm ate, n ot Qu een captu re!
queenside a n d will attem pt to
u tilize the open g-fi le to attack the --------- G a m e #003 ----------
White King.
Th e fi rst exa m p le of t h e Kn ockout
1 2. . .. gxf6 13.§el
P u n ch occu rs beca use the t7
In o rder to p reve nt Black's p l a n , sq u a re is extre mely wea k a n d
Wh ite will a p p ly severe p ress u re d efe n d i n g the sq u a re ca u ses a
to the Black Knight on e7. sign ificant loss of m ateri a l .

13. ... �d7 (W) Joel Joh nson (2201)

Black p roceeds with h is p l a n to
( B) G ian n i G iaconi ( 1280)
castle q u eenside. [C24] Va l l ey Ch ess, Phoen ix, AZ,
( Ro u n d 3 ), 06/08/2008
14.�e2
1 .e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3.Ac4 �f6
Wh ite b ri ngs a h a lt to t h e Black 4. �f3 Ab4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.bxc3
plan. If Black castles h e re, h e will Ae7??
lose h is Kn ight o n e7. Black n eeded to p lay 6 . �c5 so
. . .

t4. ... Ah4?? if Wh ite event u a l ly p l ayed �d5,

both the t7 sq u a re a n d h is Bishop
B lack d oes n ot h i n g to remedy h is on c5 co u l d be defe n d ed with the
pro b l e m . Th e moves �f8 a n d �d8 move �e7 .
rem ove the pin o n Bla ck's Kn ight
a nd a re the first step towa rds 7.e5 �gs s. �d5!
preventing what h a p pe n ed i n the
W h ite heads right fo r Black's fatal
ga m e . wea kn ess. I ca n n ot stress enough
15 .J;l,h5! c 6 16.d xc6 bxc6 that I wo u l d n ot p lay t h is move if
17. "1,xc6! the th reat were not let h a l . If yo u
p l ace yo u r Qu een on d5 a n d h e
T h e Black Qu een is stuck betwee n

15
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

ca n d efe n d you r th reat or yo u do t .e4 es 2.d4 exd4 3.Ac4 .iil f6

n ot have a th reat, yo u r Qu een will 4 . .iil f3 Ab4+ s.c3 dxc3 6.bxc3
Acs
be m isplaced and v u l n e ra b l e to
attack. I a lso wo u l d n ever p lay t h e Th is t i m e a ro u n d Black p l ays the
m ove w i t h t h e hope h e w i l l n ot correct m ove Ac5 .
see t h e checkm ate. If I decide to
th reaten checkm ate at a ny t i m e, it [Link] 'ile4??
is beca use the m ove is:
A poor response to the m ove e5,
1) u nsto p p a b le; as Black n eeded to p lay the m ove
2 ) creates a wea kn ess; d5. W h ite wo u l d h ave a s m a l l
3 ) ga ins a free tem po; o r adva ntage after 7 . . . . d5 8. exf6
dxc4 9 . �xd8+ �xd8 1 0 . fxg7
4) wins m ateri a l .
f!e8+ 1 1 . �d l .
8 . . . . .iil h 6

Black d efends the th reaten ed

checkm ate, 9 . �xf7 # .

9.Axh6

Wh ite ca ptu res the d efender a n d

t h e checkm ate th reat is in play
aga i n .

9 . . . . E!fB 10. A xg7 1-0

--------- G a m e #004 ----------

The secon d exa m p le of the

Knockout Punch d e m o n st rates 8.�d5!
a noth e r sit u ation where the m ove
is let h a l . Th e d o u b l e attack Knockout Punch
wins the Black Knight on e4 after
(W) Joel Joh nson (2200) Black d efends the ch eckm ate on
( B) Ph il Kusner ( 1380) f7. Both Black Kn ight m oves t h at
[C24] Va l l ey Ch ess, Phoen ix, AZ, d efe n d t h e f7 s q u a re, n a m ely 4Jg5
( Rou n d 4), 08/3 1/2008 a n d 4Jd6, just leave Black i n

16
 Center G a m e

d eeper tro u b l e after Wh ite 10 . ... .£lc6 1 1 .§el

c a ptu res the Kn ight.
Th is m ove d efends the W h ite
s . . . f!/ e7 9,f!/ xe4
. Qu een, which b reaks the pin on
the Wh ite e-pawn . As a resu lt, t h e
Ma ny h igh rated p layers resign
move th reatens to captu re o n d6
h ere beca use of the p iece loss. fo l lowed by t ra d i n g Qu eens. After
Much like Black, I n eed m o re
all t ra d i ng is a p r i m a ry m ethod of
co nvincing befo re p roceed ing closing out a ga m e fo r the p layer
down that path. Also I h ave won who is wi n n i ng. If yo u trade all t h e
m a ny, m a ny com p l etely lost
pieces off the board, Black will fi n d
positions. It is a special skill of h i mself sti l l down the Kn ight.
mine. How d i d I reach the point
wh ere I co u l d acco m p l ish t h is feat 11 . ... ,1t e6 1 [Link] d6 ,1t xd6
on a regu l a r basis? By fighting to
Over the next few m oves W h ite
the b itter end i n every ga m e .
p roceeds to t ra d e everyt h i ng h e
Resign ing at the fi rt s i g n t h at you
ca n .
a re losing robs you of t h e
opportu n ity t o work o n t h is s k i l l . 13.Axe6 f!/ xe6 14.f!/ x e6+ fxe6
And conversely i f yo u com pete 1 5 . § xe6+ '3J f7 16 . .£lg5+ '3J f8
regu la rly aga i n st p l ayers who 17.Aa3 §e8 18.§ x e8+ '3J xe8
19. A x d6 c x d6 20 . .£l d2 h6
resign ea rly, yo u will n ever learn
21 . .£l e6 g5 22.§el '3J d7
how to put people away, a noth er 23 . .£ld4 1-0
im portant ch ess s k i l l .
--------- G a m e #005 ----------
9 . . . . d6 10.0-0
B lack's passive p lay leads to a Lay
When you have won enough
Down Sacrifice to ex pose a l l the
m ateri a l to win the ga m e, as i n
wea k d a rk sq u a res a ro u n d t h e
this case, y o u w a n t to com p lete
B l a c k Ki ng.
yo u r d evelo p m ent and p revent
a ny co u nter p lay. What yo u s h o u l d
(W) MassCarnage (2200)
no t do is spend m oves gra b b ing
( B) cajob321 ( 1330 )
more m ateri a l befo re a l l yo u r
[C2 1] ICC to u rn ey 387829 (3 O),
defensive iss ues h ave been
( Ro u n d 4), 08/31/2011
re so lved .

17
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

1 .e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3.Ac4 .!£) c6 Wh ite is eyeing the Lay Down

4 . .!£) f3 Ab4+ 5 .c3 dxc3 6.bxc3 Sacrifice move, 4:Jf6+. Th e m ove
�d2 prepa res fo r a su bseq u ent
Th e m ove 4:Jxc3 is a lso good but I
p refer bxc3. i nvasion of the wea k d a rk sq u a res
a ro u n d the Black King. As it tu rns
6 . . . . Ac5 out the m ove 4:Jf6+ co u l d have
been p layed i m m ed iately.
The m ove Ae7?? wo u ld be a
b l u n d e r d u e to t h e Knockout 12 . . . . �es
P u nch m ove, �d5 ! .

7.0-0 .!£) f6

Black s h o u l d play d6 h i n d e ring t h e

W h ite m ove e5.

8.e5! .!£) g8?

Black's fi rst ch oice i n response to

Wh ite's move e5, s h o u l d be t h e
co u nterattacking m ove d 5 ! . The
o n ly exception is when Black has a
Bishop o n e7 a n d W h ite ca n
captu re two pieces for o n e .

13 . .!£) f6+!!

Another a ltern ative fo r Wh ite i s A very powerfu l Lay Down

9. A x f7 + � x f7 1 0 . �d5 + �f8 Sacrifice beca use Black has no
1 1 . �xc 5 + wi n n ing the pawn back ch o ice but to accept the material,
and p reventing t h e Black King oth erwise W h ite will captu re h is
fro m cast l i ng. Qu een on the n ext m ove. Th e
9 . . . . .!£l ge7 10 . .!£) bd2 0-0 oth e r reason why t h is m ove is so
1 1 .l£l e4 Ah6? stro ng relates to the exposing of
a l l the wea k d a rk sq u a res a ro u n d
Black h a d to play either d5 or d6. the Black Ki ng.
N ow Black is losing.
13 . . . . gxf6 14.Axf6
1 2 . �d2

18
 Center G a m e

Now W h ite controls t h e g7 and h8 wa nt to gra b pawns that open fi les

s qu a res a n d Black h a s no m ea n s of fo r yo u r opponent's Rooks t h at
fen d i n g off the inva d i n g W h ite lead d i rectly to yo u r King.
Qu ee n . However Black has no time to
castle q u eenside and p roceed with
14 . . . . 4)f5
that p l a n .
Th e m ove 1£Jg6 sto ps the W h ite
8.§el+ Ae7?
ch eck a long the g-fi le but l eaves
th e wea k g7 s q u a re as easy Why not d evelop a n ot h er p iece
p icki ngs after �h6. And t h e with .£le6?
pro b lem with 1£Jf5 is ...
9. � xg7 §fs 10.Ah6 4) d7?
15 .�g5+ 4)g7 16.�xg7 =11= 1-0
Black was fa ced with the t h reat of
--------- G a m e #006 ---------- 1 1 . �xf8+. He h a d th ree m ethods
of d ea l ing with the issue a n d chose
(W) Fea rNoEvil (2200) the worse solutio n . 1 0 . . . . 1£Jd7
( B) Clever ( 1444) blocks in h is light-s q u a red Bishop
[C2 1] I CC tou rn ey 309325 (3 O), as o p posed to the move .£le6 that
( Ro u n d 3), 10/10/2007 wo u l d d efend the Rook on f8
i n d i rectly by b rea king the p i n on
1.e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3.Ac4 4)f6 the B l ack d a rk-sq u a red Bishop.
4.4)f3 d5 5.exd5 4) xd5
6.�xd4 c6 1 1 . 4) c3

No rm a l here is .£le6 a n d Wh ite's W h ite conti n u es to com p l ete h is

strategy is to castle q u ickly, developm ent. More pieces e q u a l a
fol lowed by .§ dl to p ress u re the safer a n d easier win with less
B lack Knight on dS. I h ave h a d counter play fo r yo u r oppon ent.
ma ny games t h at p roceeded with
6 . . .£le6 7. 0-0 1£Jc6 8 . �e4 .£lc5
. .
1 1 . . . . b5
9 .§ d l 1£Jcb4 1 0 . a3 w i n n i n g a
Black is st ruggling with how to
.

pi e ce.
d evelop the rem a i n der of h is
7.o-o Ad6? q u eenside pieces. N otice how a l l
o f t h e Black pieces su rro u n d h i s
B l a ck has just left h is g-pawn
Ki ng.
unprotected . N o rm a l ly yo u do not

19
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vol u m e #00 1

12.4)e4 Ab7 13.4)d6 =11= 1-0 endga m e a Kn ight and a Bishop

a re after all roughly equal to a
--------- G a m e #007 ----------
Rook a n d a pawn . I n t h e opening
Black p laces h is Kn ight on e4 after h owever, t h e two pieces a re
Wh ite's u s u a l pawn th rust e5. As a sign ificantly better t h a n a Rook,
resu lt h e fi n d s it n ecessa ry to play wh ich usua lly does noth i n g th is
either d5 or f5 where W h ite c a n ea rly. Bad t ra d e, bad idea.
captu re En Passa nt to open the 10.exf6
e-file.
Wh ite opens the e-fi l e for h is
{W) MassCarnage {2200) kingside Rook.
{B) m u kundan {1647)
10 . ... 4) xf6 1 1 .§. el + Ae7?
[C2 1] ICC 15 5, 03/10/2010
Black s h o u l d h ave played the
1 .e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3 . .Q.c4 Ab4+
m ove �f8, even though he wou ld
4.c3 d x c3 5.b x c3 Ac5 6.4)f3
c6 7.0-0 4)f6 s.e5! n ot be a b l e to castle afterwa rd s.
Th e text move wa l ks into a vicious
Yes, o u r thematic pawn th rust pin and i n co m bi n ation with the
forces Black to d isplace h is wea k d6 sq u a re leaves Black i n a
kingside Knight. wo rld of h u rt.
8 . . . . 4) e4 9.�d3 12.�d6

Th e attack on the Black Kn ight Th e move �a3 is even better but I

ca u ses positio n a l issues fo r Black. co u l d n ot resist the stuffing of the
Black n eeds to d efe n d t h e Kn ight Black d-pawn.
with f5 o r d5 wh ich a l lows W h ite
to capt u re E n Passant o p e n i n g u p 1 2 . ... b5
t h e e-file fo r Wh ite's Roo k. Black is desperate a n d p l ays a
9 . . . . f5 b u n ch of useless pawn m oves. H e
s h o u l d attem pt t o close o ff t h e
Th e Black ca ptu re of Wh ite's a3-f8 d iago n a l with b 6 a n d c5.
f-pawn with the idea of tra d i n g in
a Kn ight a n d Bishop fo r a Rook a n d 13.Ah3 a5
p a w n m ay seem l i ke a better way Black desperately wants to rem ove
out of Black's d i l e m m a . In a n

20
 Center G a m e

the Wh ite l ight-s q u a red Bishop 1 8 . Axe7# .

fro m the a2-f7 diago n a l .
17. � x f6 1 -0
t 4. �g5 a4 15.Af7+ <it>fs
--------- G a m e #008 ----------
N ot o n ly was Black u n s u ccessfu l
with h is p l a n of p u s h i n g away t h e Another co m m on error is tra d i n g
Wh ite light-sq u a red Bishop, but h e pieces without regard to the effect
a lso ca u sed i rrepa ra ble h a rm to on t h e rem a i n i n g p ieces .
his d a rk sq u a res too.
(W) MassCarnage (2200)
(B) onti ( 1358)
[CSO] ICC tou rn ey 368182 (3 0),
( Ro u n d 2), 08/04/2010

1.e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3.Ac4 � c6

4. �f3h 6?

H e re we see o u r a nti-Fried Liver

move being p layed aga i n . M a ny
low rated p layers a re pet rified of
the F ried Liver Attack a n d wo u l d
rather p l a y t h e wea k m ove h6
t h a n d ea l with it.

5.� x d4 Ac5 6.Ae3

t 6.Aa3!
6. Axf7+ �xf7 7. 'f!Jh5 + fo l lowed
Wh ite co m p l etes the cla m p down by 'f!Jxc5 is a good a ltern ative.
of Black's positio n . Th e recent
B l ack pawn moves look s i l ly now 6 . .. . �f6? 7 .�c3?
that we see how st rong Wh ite's
I co m p l etely overlooked the error
Bi shop is on a3.
h e m a d e . I co u l d h ave won a piece
1 6 . ... g6 after 4:'ixc6 a n d Axc5. Low rated
players d ro p loads of pieces a s I
Th e Wh ite Qu een is poison a n d u s u a lly a m a b l e to exploit, but not
B l ack is checkm ated after here.
16 . . . Axd6 17. Axd6+ 'f!Je7
.

21
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

7 . . . . 4) x d4 B lack is a l ready feeling the

p ress u re White is exerting i n the
Black i n it iates a co u p l e of trad es,
center of the board .
which resu lt in p rovid ing a h uge
s p ace adva ntage for W h ite. Why 13 .<it>bl
d oes Black d o this? The a n swer is
lower rated p l ayers t h i n k t h at the Wh ite wa nts to free h is Bishop on
m ore p ieces t h ey tra d e off, the c4 from having to d efe n d the
b etter their c h a nces of d rawing. pawn o n a2. Th e reason b e h i n d
U n fo rt u n ately for Black at the the switch is s o the Wh ite Bishop
conclusion of t h e trad es, W h ite' s ca n ass u m e a more offensive
Qu een d o m i n ates the center of position pointing at the Black King
t h e board . fro m the d3 s q u a re.

8.J}. xd4 J}. x d4 9 . � x d4 0-0 13 . . . . b5 14.Ad3 Ab7

10.0-0-0

An excellent method of exp loiting

a space adva ntage is to castle on
t h e o p posite wing as i n t h is game.

10 . . . . c6?

Black invites o u r favorite pawn

th rust ...

1 1 .e5!

I n a d d ition to attacking the Black

Knight and sending it backwa rd,
Wh ite n ow controls t h e d6 sq u a re.
1 5 . .[) f6+
11 . . . . .[) e8 1 2 . .[) e4
Yes, I co u l d h ave sta rted pawn
Th e p u rpose of t h is m ove is to gra b b i ng with the move �xd7 but
exert m o re p ressu re on the d6 I sign ificantly p refer t h e attack
hole a n d bring the Kn ight closer to m ove. M y co m p uter feels both
t h e Black kingside. m oves a re ro ugh ly the sa m e even
1 2 . . . . �a5 though Wh ite wins a pawn on the

22
 Center G a m e

move �xd7. Beca u se of t h e p i n on t h e Black

g-pawn, the hS s q u a re is
15 . . . . 4J x f6
u n d efen d e d .
B l a ck is checkm ated after 2 1 . � xh5+ <it>gS 22.�h6 1-0
15 . . . . gxf6 1 6 . �g4 + (with the
p urpose of fo rcing the Black King F i n a l ly the d a rk s q u a re
to h8 p rior to atta cking t h e wea k wea kn esses a ro u n d the Black King
h7 s q u a re ) 1 6 . . . . 4Jg7 ( 1 6 . . . . �h8 topple the m o n a rchy.
17. �fS fo l lowed by �h 7 # )
17. exf6 fo l lowed b y �xg7:11= . --------- G a m e #009 ----------

t 6.exf6 g6 17.�h4 Black d ecides to fia nchetto h is

kingside Bishop after playing 4Jge7
Wh ite heads right fo r t h e wea k to avoid the move eS.
d ark s q u a res a ro u n d t h e Black
King. (W} MassCarnage (2200}
17 . . . . <it>h7 18.g4 ( B} Dru m s ( 1459}
[C2 1] ICC to u r n ey 371957 (3 0),
M issing the shot Ax g6+ leading to ( R o u n d 1), 11/0 1/2010
ch eckmate after 1 8.Axg6+ �xg6
19.�g4+ �xf6 20 . § d6+ �eS 1.e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3.Ac4 4J c6
21 .�d4+ �fS 2 2 . § f6+ �gS 4.4Jf3 d6 5.4) x d4
23. �f4+ �hS 24 . § xh6:11= . I chose
It m a kes a lot of sense to
th e m ove g4 (with the idea of
reca pt u re the pawn here a s Wh ite
19. gS ) as my m ethod of attacking
avoids t h e p i n with Ag4 a n d
th e h6 s q u a re aga i n .
rem oves the e 6 sq u a re as a
18 . . . b4
.
l a n d i ng place for the Black l ight­
sq u a red Bishop.
Bl ack defends the g 5 sq u a re with
his Queen. 5 . . . . 4)ge7

19 . f4 B lack blocks in his d a rk-sq uared

Bishop with t h is m ove. A better
W h i te reinstates the t h reat of g S .
cho ice was S . . . . 4Jf6.
19 . ... c5 20.g5 h5 6.4)c3 g6?

23
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Black ca n n ot afford to create the 6 . ... 4)f6 7 .4)c3 c5

b ig hole on f6. H e s h o u l d h ave
M y co m p uter has the m ove c5 a s a
tried 6 . . . . 4Jxd4 7. �xd4 4Jc6.
top-t h ree move fo r Black.
7.Ag5! Ad7?? However I have done very wel l
aga i n st players w h o com m it to
B l a ck is p laying so p assively that wea kening their d5 a n d d6
he h a s ento m bed h is King. sq u a res in such a fash ion .
8.4) d5 h6? 9.4)f6 # 1-0 s.4) b3 Ae7 9.0-0 o-o 10.h3

--------- G a m e #010 ---------- W h ite wa nts to chase the Black

Knight fro m the e5 s q u a re, but not
Black plays an ea rly d6 to p revent befo re p reventing the Kn ight from
W h ite's e5 th rust. going forwa rd to g4 . Yo u n ever
want to fo rce you r opponent to
{W) Joel Joh nson {2205) m ove where h e wa nts to go, which
{B) Phil Kusner {1480) is a n other co m m o n error of
[CSO] Va l ley Ch ess, G le n d a le, AZ, wea ker p layers.
( R o u n d 7), 06/05/2008
10 . ... b6 1 1 .f4 4) c6 1 2.Af3
1 .e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3.Ac4 4) c6
4.4) f3 d6 N o rm a l ly, I wo u l d want my Bishop
on d3 pointing at t h e Black Ki ng.
Black is gun-shy about a l lowing But t h is position req u i res Wh ite to
W h ite the opport u n ity to p lay e5. p revent t h e m ove d5 t h u s
m a i nt a i n i n g the Black wea k
5.4) x d4 4)e5 6.Ae2
s q u a res d 5 a n d d6.
When Black p lays 4Je5, I p refer to
12 . ... Ad7 13.Ae3 a6 14.�el
have my Bishop sitting o n e2 to
d efen d all forwa rd moving s q u a res W h ite opens up t h e d l s q u a re fo r
of the Black Knight. Th e other t h e q ueenside Roo k. W h i l e the
reason t h at I l i ke the e2 s q u a re Qu een can head for the kingside
better t h a n b3 is it avoids a n y s q u a res g3 or h4 if d esired .
N o a h ' s A r k t ra p s c h e m e s with
Black p laying m oves l i ke a6, c5, c4, 14 . . . . �c7 1 5.E!dl E!ad8
16.�g3 Ae6 17.f5!
a n d b5 to t ra p the Bish o p .

24
 Center G a m e

O pening u p the e5 sq u a re fo r a 1 .e4 e5 2.d4 e x d4 3 . ..Q.c4 �f6

Black Knight is d a n gerous; 4. �f3 d6 5.� x d4
however, here Wh ite h a s a n attack
Aga i n st st ronger com petition, I
as com pensatio n . wo u l d choose t h e m ove 0-0 h ere.
17 . . . . ..Q. x b3 18.a xb3 �e5? 5 . . . . �c6 6.�d3 ..Q.g4 7.�c3
Ae7 S . ..Q.e3
Black needed to sto p Wh ite' s n ext
move, Ah6 with 'itJh8. Every move has its p l uses a n d
19 . ..Q.h6 �e8? m i n u ses. W h ite a l lows t h e
d o u b li n g o f h is pawns i n retu rn for
Black was better advised to a n open g-fi l e for h is Roo k. Th e
co n cede the loss of an excha nge p l a n a lso i n c l u d es castling
with the m ove g6. q u eenside to h i d e the W h ite King
away.
20.� d5!
8 . . . . ..Q. x f3 [Link] f3 �e5 10. �e2
Yo u s h o u l d a lways check out t h e c6
sq u a res t h at the p revious moved
piece is no longer guardi ng. Bl ack's M a ny p layers wo u ld tra d e the
Kn ight was gu a rd i n g t h e d5 s q u a re Black Kn ight on e5 fo r W h ite's
befo re he retreated to e8. So Bishop on c4 ( myself inclu ded ) .
Wh ite seizes the o p po rt u n ity to
1 1 . ..Q.b3
place h is Kn ight in the d5 hole with
tem po ( it attacks Black' s Qu een ) . W h ite p reserves h i s Bishop.

20 . . . . �b7 2 1 .f6! 1-0 11 . . . . b5

Black resign ed beca use of Black pres u m es W h ite will castle

21 . . Axf6 22. 4Jxf6+ �h8
. .
q u eenside a n d co m m ences a pawn
(2 2 . . . . 4::lxf6 2 3 . �xg7 # ) 2 3 . 4::l x e8 sto rm .
fol lowed by �xg7 * .
1 2.a3
- -------- G a m e #011 ----------
Wh ite p rovides a retreat sq u a re
(W) MassCa rnage (2200) for h is Bishop i n t h e event of Black
(B) esadpo ( 1542) playing a5-a4 . Th e m ove a lso
[C21] ICC 2 12, 05/02/2012 p revents Black fro m rem ovi ng the

25
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Wh ite Knight on c3 fro m the Wh ite ca ptu res the Kn ight on dS

center with the m ove b4. b eca use it is a crucia l d efender of
t h e f6 sq u a re.
12 . . . . �cs 13.h3
22 . . . . cxd5 23.f6! A x f6
Th is move p revents the Black
Qu een fro m invad ing via t h e h3 Black t h i n ks h e h a s the m ove f6
s q u a re. Th e oth e r reason fo r stopped but h e d i d not a n a lyze fa r
playing h3 is to p revent the Black enough .
Knight on e5 from m oving to g4
24.e xf6 §eS
after Wh ite's u pcom i ng f4 m ove.
B l ack is feeling good here after
13 . ... a5 14.f4 4)g6 15.f5
p i n n ing t h e W h ite Qu een .
Once aga i n it is t i m e to co nsider
25.§ xg7+ <it>hS 26.Ae3
t h e move f5 . However, u n like
oth e r ga mes where you concede W h ite needs to free h is Qu een
Black t h e e5 s q u a re, W h ite h a s fro m the pin j u st fo r a m o m e nt.
a n ot her f-pawn rea dy to k i c k the
Black Kn ight o ut of the e5 hole 26 . ... d4
foreve r.

1 5 . ... 4)e5 16.f4 4) ed7 17.Af2

Th e goa l is once aga in to thrust

forwa rd with t h e m ove e5.

17 . ... a4 1S.Aa2 0-0 19.§gl

With the fin a l d esti n ation of t h e

Black K i n g d eterm i n ed, W h ite
poi nts m o re firepower at the
en emy m o n a rc h .

19 . ... 4) c 5 ? 20.e5 d xe5 2 1 .f xe5

4) d5? 22.Axd5
27. § x h7+!!

26
 Center G a m e

The Black King has no m e a n s of seem t o be advancing with te m po.

es ca pe. M a ny of t h e advancing m oves
come with a t h reat that m ust be
27 . . . . <i!/ xh7 28. �h5+ <i!/g8
dea lt wit h .
29. �g5+ <i!/h8 30.�g7 =11= 1-0
H e re, W h ite w a s t h reate n ing
- -------- G a m e #012 ----------
4='ixc7 =11= . So now t h e o n ly piece
sta n d i ng in t h e way of a Wh ite
( W} FearNoEvi l (2200}
chec kmate is t h e Black Bishop on
( B} theKing ( 1583}
b6, so ...
[C2 1] ICC 5 0, 07/17/2005
1 1 . �h3 4)a5?
1 .e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Ac4 4)c6
4.4)f3 Ac5 5.0-0 �e7 6.c3 B l ack's m ove d oes nothing to sto p
the Wh ite th reat. Yo u ca n n ot
Once again we see Black refusing
beco m e a stro ng player without
to ret u rn the extra pawn, a n d
paying close attention to what
White cou nters b y perm a n ently
you r opponent is doing to yo u, a n d
su rrend ering the pawn .
d efe n d i n g the th reat (s) i f req u i red .
6 . . . . d x c3 7.4) x c3 4)f6?

Black entices t h e W h ite pawn

thrust eS instead of d isco u ragi ng
the m ove with d6.

8 .e5! 4)g8

The m ove 4=Jg8 opens the h4-d8

d i ago n a l fo r Wh ite's Bishop a n d
rem oves the p rotection o f t h e d S
s q u a re for Wh ite' s Kn ight o n c 3 . It
is n ot a co i n ci d en ce that W h ite
exp loits these two issues with h is
n ext two m oves .

9 .Ag5 �fs 10 . .£i d5 Ah6 1 2 . � x b6! a x b6 13.4) xc7 =11= 1-0

Notice how the White p ieces a l l

27
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

Th e Dan ish G a m bit, l i ke m ost

Danish Gambit
o p e n i n g ga m b its, is d esigned to
p rovide speedy developm ent at
the cost of a pawn or two.
Whether the ga m b it wo rks o r not
w i l l be d eterm i n ed by you r a b i l ity
to convert the d evelopm ent
adva ntage i nto a n other form of
adva ntage l i ke position a l p ressu re,
m ateri a l ga in, checkm ate, etc. If
Black is a b l e to thwa rt yo u r
adva nces t h e n h e wi l l very l i kely
win the endga m e with h is s u r p l u s
o f q u eenside pawns.

Th e Danish G a m b it is the perfect

wea pon aga i n st pawn gra bbers
Opening Lines a n d m ateri a l m o ngers .

--------- G a m e #013 ----------

Th e D a n ish G a m b it sta rts with the
(W) MassCa rnage (2200)
fo l lowi n g m ove seq uence:
( B) adna ( 1479 )
Da n is h G a m b it (C2 1) [C21] ICC 3 0, 06/10/2012
1 . e4 e5 2. d4 e x d4 3. c3 d xc3
4. Ac4 1 .e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d xc3
4.Ac4 cxb2 5.Axb2
F ro m there, Black ca n ch oose to
accept the seco n d pawn with the W h ite ga m b its two pawns for
m ove 4 . cxb2 and W h ite w i l l
. . .
d evelopm ent.
d evelop h is q u eenside B i s h o p too 5 . ... Ab4+ 6.4)c3 A xc3+?
with t h e m ove 5. Axb2.
A poor decision by Black to trade
off a set of m i n o r pieces . Th e m ove
Techniq ues Learned ca u ses d a rk sq u a re wea knesses.

7.A xc3 �g5?

28
 Da n is h G a mbit

B lack defe n d s h is g-pawn with h is W h ite h a s a l l h i s m i nor p i eces

Qu een. Th ere a re th ree issues with d eveloped a n d is castled w h i l e the
th is m ove. Th e fi rst is you do n ot Black pieces sit on the back ra n k
wa nt to use you r Qu een to d efe n d wa iting.
pa wns. Th e seco n d is t h e Black
9 . ... Ll:}e7?
Qu een is now located o n a s q u a re
Wh ite ca n easi ly attack with a The m ove d6 was n ecessa ry to
d evelo p m e nt m ove. The th ird is preve nt Wh ite's n ext m ove .
the poisonous W h ite g-paw n .
[Link]:}e5 � x e4 1 1 .f!el!
[Link]:}f3
Another free tem po is ga i n ed as
Wh ite gra bs the free tem po to the W h ite Rook seizes the open
d evelop h is ki ngside Knight. e-fi le. M ate ri a l gra b b i n g ca n wa it.
8 . ... �g6 1 1 . ... �f5 1 2 ..Q. x f7+ \t>f8
•

13 ..Q.b3
•

On 8 . . . . 'li¥xg2?, W h ite wins after

9 . § g l 'li¥h3 10 . .ilxf7+! c:td8 ( B la c k Now the Black King is a sitting
loses his Qu een after 10 . . . . c:txf7 d u c k stuck i n the middle of the
1 1. 4.Jg5 + a n d 4.Jxh3.) 11..llx g7. boa rd without the right to castle.
W h ite a lso has ret reated h is
9.0-0
Bishop fro m h a rms way.

13 . ... d6 [Link]:}f3 Ll:} bc6

[Link]:}d4

Th e pu rpose of this move is to

open u p the f-fi le sq u a res i n fro nt
of the Black King in p reparation fo r
a poss i b l e Roo k l ift ( § e l -e3-f3 ) .

1 5 . ... Ll:} x d4 16.� xd4

W h ite d evelops h is Qu een a n d a l l

o f a s u d d e n t h e Black position is
u n der siege.

16 . . . . �g6 17. f! x e7

29
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

W ith so m a ny wi n n ing m oves, We can use the Qu een for free

such as �h4 a n d § e3, Wh ite adva n cement tem pos too .
selects a Replacem e nt Atta cker to
7· ... �dS S.b4!
e l i m i n ate Black's best defender for
his q u eenside Rook. Another free te m po to open up
t h e a l -h8 d iagon a l for the Wh ite
17 . ... � x e7 18.§el+ �f8
19. �f4+ d a rk-sq u a red Bishop. Th e g7
s q u a re is wea k, as noth i n g is
Th e m ove 1 9 . �e3 is better. defe n d i n g the sq u a re.
19 . ... �f5 20. �e3 �d7 s . ... Ab6 9.Ab2 f6
2 1 . �g5 b6 22 . .'1, xg7+ � xg7
23.�dS # 1-0 Th e m ove f6 does concea l the g7
s q u a re wea kness b ut at the
--------- G a m e #014 ----------
expense of h is l ight sq u a res along
t h e h5-e8 d iago n a l a n d t h e a2-g8
I p lay a n other ga m e with the s a m e
d iago n a l .
player a n d t h is t i m e a ro u n d h e
d ecli nes accepting the seco n d free 10.4)h4 4)e7?
pawn . I won d e r why? ©
Black attem pts to fortify h is g6
(W) MassCa rnage (2200) s q u a re but at the expense of his f6
( B) adna ( 1473) a n d h6 s q u a res .
[C21] ICC 3 0, 06/10/2012 1 1 .�h5+ �f8 12.4) xf6! d5
1 .e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d xc3 13.4) x d5 4) x d5 14 . .'1, x d5 �e7
4.Ac4 Ac5 5.4) xc3 �f6?
N otice how Black's q u eenside
H oweve r, Black d id not learn h is p i eces a re m e re sp ectators and
lesson a bout bringing h is Qu een how Wh ite is a b le to rut h l essly
out ea rly. So m e p layers fee l t h at exploit this with overwhelm ing
they ca n intim id ate their opponent fi repower at the point of attack.
by waving their Qu een a ro u n d, but
15.4)g6+ 1 -0
the truth is, st rong p layers will
ruthlessly use you r Qu een fo r free Black has two poor cho ices :
d eve l o p m e nt tempos. 1 5 . . . . hxg6 1 6. �xh8 # ; or
15 . . . . ®e8 1 6. 4::i x e7.
6. 4)f3 d6 7.4)d5

30
 A l e k h i n e's D efense

opening knowledge s u p erio rity, n o

Alekhine's Defense
m atter what va riation they chose.
I accepted each of th ese g a m es as
a d i rect c h a l lenge to my
kn owledge, a ga u ntlet if yo u wi l l .
Alm ost as i f t o say, "How d a re you
play my opening aga i n st m e ?"

Opening Lines

Beca use I p lay this opening as

Bla ck, I know all the l i n es and
co u l d p lay any of them a s W h ite.
However, the l i n es listed below
For the last t h i rty-five yea rs or so,
a re the ones I play the m ost.
my fi rst choice i n response to e4
has been Alek h i n e's Defense. I Alek h i n e's Defense (�c4 l i n e )
sta rted playing t h e opening when I ( B03)
was rated a ro u n d 1600, back i n 1 .e4 .£lf6 2.e5 .£ld5 3.d4 d6
t h e ea rly 70s. I i n itia l ly chose the 4.Ac4
opening beca use Jack Peters, a
Alekh i n e's Defense ( M odern l i n e )
loca l m a ster, was having so m u ch
su ccess with it. Later on I stu d ied ( B04)
1 .e4 .£lf6 2.e5 .£ld5 3.d4 d6
the g a m es of W i l l i a m M a rtz, Lev
Alb u rt, and Vlad i m i r Bagirov.
Eventu a l ly, my su ccess with the
Techniq ues Lea rned
opening ca m e a ro u n d a n d I felt
extrem e ly comfortable p l aying the
o pening aga i n st a nyo ne. Th e p u rpose of Alekh i n e's Defense
Another side effect t h at I n oticed is to p rovoke W h ite into ove r­ ssq
exte n d i n g his center. Black wa nts
was when I p layed Wh ite aga i nst
o ppon ents b ra n d is h i n g t h e to poke holes in the Wh ite center
A lekh i n e's Defen se, I felt a n a i r o f a n d ach ieve cou nter-play by

31
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vol u m e #001

exp loiting t h e gen e rated p ress u re o n all the l ight sq u a res,

wea knesses. Alek h i n e's Defense is n a m ely: d5, e6, a n d t7.
u n l i ke a ny ot her o p e n i n g a n d
5 . . . . �a6 6 . ..Q. x d5 cxd5
req u i res a great d ea l o f knowledge 7. t":Y x d5
to p l ay fo r eit h e r side. F req u ently,
o n e slip u p resu lts i n a catastro p h e Black has co m p ensation fo r the
fo r t h e victi m . pawn a n d will be a b l e to
eventu a l ly win it back.
--------- G a m e #015 ----------
7 . . . . e6 8. t':Yf3 d x e5 9.dxe5
(W) MassCa rnage (22 00) t':Ya5+ 10.�c3 t':Y x e5+ 1 1.� ge2
( B) thisurthat ( 1654) In o rder for Black to win back h is
[ B03] ICC 15 0, 08/11/2010 pawn, h e e n d ed u p developing
1 .e4 � f6 2.e5 both of W h ite's Kn ights and placed
h is Qu een o n a s q u a re wh ere it
A clea r sign that yo u r oppon ent ca n be attacked aga i n .
d oes not know the o p e n i n g is t h e
1 1 . ... Ah4 12.0-0 o-o 13.Af4
res ponse 2 . 1£lc3 b y Wh ite. I n my
n ext u pco m in g book, Attacking Wh ite gets a free tempo to
101 : Vol u m e #002, I will be d evelop h is Bish o p . Over the n ext
exa m i n ing attack ga m es fro m t h e few moves the Black Queen wi l l be
Black p o i n t of view a n d will repeated ly attacked for free
a d d ress t h e m ove 2 . 1£lc3, which is tempo m oves.
seen q u ite often i n scholastic play.
13 . . . . t':Yf5 14.�g3
2 . ... �d5 3.d4 d6 4.Ac4
Wh ite d a res Black to pawn gra b
Th is is my favorite l i n e to p laywith t h e m ove 1 4 . . . . 'li:Yxc2 . Th e
a ga i n st the Alek h i n e's Defense. My
p l a n for W h ite u n d e r that scena rio
experience h a s shown t h at p laye rs
wo u ld be to relentlessly attack the
h ave no c l u e what to d o aga instB lack King with moves like .:£Jce4
t h is l i n e . ( b locking the Black Queen's
4 . ... c 6 5. t':Yf3 retreat) and .§ ac l . Wh ite will have
a h uge a dva ntage i n attackers
Th e move 'li:Yf3 is m o re of a n a rou n d the Black kingside. I refer
intimidation move. I t increases the to t h is situation a s a Loc a l ized

32
 A l ek h i n e's D efense

Mate ria l Adva ntage. 16 . . . . �e8? is passive a n d a l lows

the Lay Down Sacrifice m ove
14 . . . �f6 15 . .£i ce4
p l ayed in the g a m e .
.

White earns a nother free tempo

b y attacking t h e Black Queen . Th e
p u rpose for attacking the B l a ck
Qu een is to m o b i l ize t h e W h ite
p ieces towa rds t h e Black King. I
fu l ly expect Black to save h i s
Qu een. I wo u l d n ever attack t h e
Black Qu een just for t h e sake of
attacking it a n d hoping he d oes
not see it. Ea ch W h ite m ove h a s
the p u rpose o f b r i n g i n g m o re
attackers into the vici n ity of the
Black King.

15 . . . . �d8? 1 7 . .£if6+!! gxf6

The p ress u re is getting to Black. H e Black is forced to ca ptu re t h e

p laces h is Qu een o n t h e open Wh ite Knight o r lose h is Qu een on
d-file, p roviding W h ite with yet the n ext m ove with 18. 4Jxe8.
a not her free tem po.
18 . .£ih5
16. laadl
18. 4Jh5 is sign ifica ntly better t h a n
Th e power of W h ite's pieces 18. llh6 fo r the fo l lowi ng reason s :
conti n u es to i m p rove u ntil we
1 ) 18. 4Jh5 opens t h e g3 s q u a re
reac h the point where enough
p rovid ing t h e W h ite Qu een with
White attackers a re i n position to
two sq u a res ( g 3 and g4 ) a long the
fi n ish off Black.
g-fil e where s h e ca n check (and
16 . ... �eS? checkm ate on g7). 18. l;th6 o n ly
offers the White Qu een the g4
M uch like White, Black needs to sq u a re a n d thu s is easier to
keep his pieces active with a m ove d efe n d .
l i ke 16 . . . . �a5. The m ove

33
 Atta c k i n g 101: Vo l u m e #001

2) 1 8 . 4:Jh5 a lso t h reate ns s.�f3 g6 9. �g4 Ag7 10 . .Q.f4

19 . 4::ix f6+ forking the Black King � d4 1 1 .0-0
and Qu een . N o rm a l ly I play 4:Jc3 fol lowed by
3) 1 8 . 4:Jh5 leads to a fo rced 0-0-0.
checkm ate. Black has no m ethod 11 . ... � x b3 1 2.axb3 0-0
of avoiding it. For exa m p le, 13.�c3
18. 4:Jh5 �h8 19. Jle5! 'l/Je7
20. Jlxf6+ 'l/Jxf6 2 1 . 'l/Jxf6+ �g8 W h ite p l a n s on seizing t h e open
2 2 . 'l/Jg7"". d-file with §adl fo l lowed by
exp loiting the wea k f6 s q u a re.
18 . . . . .Q.e7 19. �g3+ 1-0
13 . ... �es
Black is checkm ated after
1 9 . . . . �h8 20. 'l!Jg7 * . Black a ntici pates t h e free tempo
m ove § ad l by W h ite and moves
--------- G a m e #016 ----------
h is Qu een o ut of the way.

(W) Fea rNoEvil ( 2305) 14.�e4

( B) Boletus ( 1792)
W h ite tra n sforms a q u eenside
[ B0 3] ICC 3 0, 11/06/2006
p iece into a kingside attacker.
1 .e4 �f6 2.e5 �d5 3.d4 d6 Also, the W h ite Kn ight now is
4 . .Q.c4 � b6 5 . .Q.b3 dxe5 focused on the wea k f6 sq u a re.
6. �h5 e6 7.d xe5
14 . ... �d5
Th is is the m ost com m o n res ponse
chosen by Black aga i n st t h is l i n e . Black a d d s a defe n d e r to the f6
sq u a re wh i l e a lso attacking the
7 . ... �c6? W h ite Bishop.
On its' own m erit, t h e m ove 4:Jc6 is I\ 5
1 5 .�g
not that b a d . After a l l it does
d evelop a p iece and attacks the W h ite responds by protecting h is
W h ite e-pawn . H owever it d is p l ays Bishop a n d a d d i n g a n other
a genera l lack of u n d ersta n d i ng attacker to the wea k f6 sq u a re .
a bout the positio n . Black s h o u l d
1 5 . ... h 6 16.�f6+ .Q. x f6
p lay c5 t o p rovide a n ave n u e 17 . .Q. xf6 � xf6 18.exf6 \t>h7
(sq u a res) for h is Qu een.

34
 Alekh i n e's Defense

Black sti l l has wea k s q u a re issues wou l d l i ke to p lace h is Kn ight on c6

aro u n d h i s King a n d W h ite sti l l h a s b ut ca n n ot d u e to the Wh ite
eno ugh attackers to exploit t h e m . response of d5 wi n n ing a p iece.

19. t'.lfh4 t'.ltb5 20. §fel t'.lfh5 6 . . . . c6

21. t'.ltg3 Ad7??
I n a n earlier ga m e versus the sa m e
Black was feeling the p ress u re of oppon ent, B l a c k tried 6 . . . . Jld7?.
p l aying without m u ch of h is fo rce Th at ga m e went as fo l lows :
as t h ey rem a i n ed i d l e on the fi rst Joel J o h n so n (2207) - Tyler
ra n k . Syp h e rd ( 1580) [ B04] B l itz 4 0,
G le n d a le, AZ, ( R o u n d 1),
22.§e5 1-0
01/2 2/2009 1 . e4 4Jf6 2.e5 4Jd5
Black is all done after 22 . . . . g5 3 . d4 d6 4 . 4Jf3 4Jb6 5 . a4 a5
23 . 4Jxg5 + hxg5 24. § xg5 �h6 6.Jlb5 + Jld7? 7.e6! fxe6 8.4Jg5
25 . § h 5 ! . �c8 9. �f3 4Jd5?? 1 0 . �f7+ lit'd8
l l . 4Jxe6+ Jlxe6 1 2.�e8=11: 1 -0
--------- G a m e #017 ----------
7.Ad3 Ag4 s.h3 Ae6 9.0-0
h6 10.§el g5
(W) Joel Joh nson (2200)
( B) Tyler Sypherd ( 1580) W h ite co nt i n u es to d evelop as
[ B04] Va l ley Ch ess, G le n d a le, AZ, Black atte m pts to pawn sto rm the
( Ro u n d 1), 06/2 5/2009 Wh ite kingside. As pa rt of a
p l ayer's d evelopm ent, it is good to
1.e4 4)f6 2.e5 4)d5 3.d4 d6 ex perim ent with such ideas.
4.4)f3 4) b6 5.a4
However, yo u sti l l n eed to d eve lop
The concept b e h i n d this m ove is to yo u r pieces prior to com m itting to
disrupt Black's d evelopm ent p la n . such a p la n .
Black rea l ly does n ot wa nt t o m ove 1 1 . 4)c3 g4 12.hxg4 Jl xg4
the Kn ight aga i n a n d u s u a l ly 13.Af4 d5
responds with a5 to p revent Wh ite
fro m adva n c i n g to a5. B l a ck attempts to lock up the
positio n . Th is is the correct
5 . . . . a5 6.Ab5+ strategy to e m p loy when b e h i n d i n
Another move a i med at disru pting d evelopm ent. On the ot h e r h a nd,
Black's d evelopm ent p la n . Black Wh ite wa nts to open u p the

35
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

positio n to exploit Black's lack of My fi rst p refe rence is a lways

d evelopm ent. So ... checkm ate. If you co nsistently
settle for the wi n n i n g m ateri a l
14.e6! A x e6 option, h ow wi l l you know w h e n
t h e p u rs u it o f ch eckm ate is t h e
best o ption ? Freq uently in chess
ga m es, checkmate is the o n ly
wi n n i n g p lay. Here, both ways win
(§el and icif7+).

1s . . . . Ag7 19.'df7+ \tld7

20.§ x e6!

H ow iro n ic, Wh ite's ot her Rook is

a lso offered up on the s a m e e6
s q u a re. Altern atively, all Wh ite
Qu een m oves attacking the wea k
e6 s q u a re a re eq u a l ly strong.
15.§ xe6!!
20 . . . . §fS
I n exc h a nge for a Roo k a n d a
Th e Wh ite Rook is poiso n . W h ite is
pawn, Wh ite receives a Bishop, a n
checkm ated after 20 . . . . �xe6
extrem ely wel l p l a ced Kn ight i n the
21. �f5 # ,
e5 hole, a n d loads of wea k l ight
sq u a res a ro u n d the Black King t h at 2 1 .Af5 § x f7
ca n eas i ly be exploited for m ateri a l
ga i n or checkmate. A n d , o f cou rse, Black has no method of esca ping
my fi rst p reference is checkm ate, checkm ate. W h ite was th reatening
2 2 . § d6+ �c7 (�e8 23. icie5 + § f7
not m ateria l ga i n .
24. �xf7 # ) 23. § d7 # .
1 5 . . . . fx e 6 16.1£}e5 �cs
2 2 . � x f7 \tld8 23. � x e7 =11= 1-0
N o time for Black to d eve lop as --------- G a m e #018 ----------
Wh ite was t h reate n i n g t h e
i m m ed iate � h 5 # . Th e Black King (W) Joel Johnson (2200)
needed so m e space to ru n .
( B) Nikola Ogrizovic ( 1706)
17.�h5+ \tldS 18.§el [ B02] Va l l ey Ch ess, G lenda le, AZ,

36
 A l e k h i n e's Defense

( Rou n d 1), 12/2 1/2009 Th erefore, the time to attack has

a rrived .
t .e4 .£lf6 2.e5 .£ld5 3.b3
10 . .£le4
Ifi rst encou ntered t h is m ove fro m
the Black side i n a s i m u l ga m e Th e first step is exp loiting free
aga i n st G ra n d m aster W i l l i a m moves . I a m fa i rly certa i n Black
Lo m b a rdy. Th e m ove is d esigned to does n ot wa nt my Kn ight stuck in
d iscou rage Black fro m placing h is the hole on the f6 sq u a re.
kingside Bishop o n g7.
10 . ... Ag7 1 1 .h4
3, ... e6 4.Ab2 .£l c6 5.d4 g6
Th e m ove 1 1 . 4Jf6+ is a lso very
Black is not sca red away fro m h is stro ng.
p la n .
11 . ... h5
6 . .£if3 Ah6
Black attem pts to keep the h-fi le
My fi rst tho ughts a re this is a closed .
stra nge location for Black's Bishop.
1 2 . .£ifg5 .£i f5 13.Ae2
I determ i n ed that the best way to
respond is by com p l eting my Wh ite p repa res the m ove g4 to
d evelopment, contro l l i n g t h e force open the Black kingside.
center, a n d after h e castles,
attacking h i s kingside with t h e 13 . ... exd5 14.c xd5 d6
1 5 . .£i f6+
move h4.

7.c4 .£lde7 8.d5 .£l b8 Th e W h ite pieces cont i n u e to

m o b i l ize towa rd s the Black King.
Wh ite has pushed back the Black
1 5 . ... <it>h8 16.g4
Knights a n d n ow owns the e ntire
center of the boa rd . Th e resu lt is a N ow back to fo rcing open t h e
h u ge space adva ntage fo r W h ite h-fi l e fo r Wh ite's Rook on h l . I t
and a cra m ped position for Black. does n ot h u rt W h ite's ca use that
9 . .£l bd2 0-0 the Black King is a lso located on
the h-file.
N ow we have a beat on the fi n a l
16 . ... h xg4?
resti ng- p lace of t h e B l ack K i ng.

37
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Black p l ays right into W h ite's of the Black King d espite letting go
h a n d s. A better a lternative was of h is Knight.
14 . . . . dxe5 .
18 . ... § x f7 19.h xg6 §f8

Th e wea k sq u a re in Black's
d efens ive ca m p is h6. Wh ite is
a l ready attacking the sq u a re with
h is Rook a n d Black has no options
ava i l a b le fo r d efe n d i ng t h e sq u a re
agai n . So ...

20.�d2 1 -0

17.h5!

Th ere is no need to reca pt u re t h e

p a w n on g4 . Th e thought p rocess
is m ate fi rst, m ateri a l seco n d .

17 . . . . 4) h6

Black attem pts to shield t h e h-fi le.

18.4) xf7+
F i n a l Position
Th e m ove 1 8 . hxg6 is strong h ere
W h ite th reatens 2 1 . § xh6+ Axh6
too. I chose the text m ove beca use
2 2 . '!'i¥xh6 =11= . U nfo rt u n ately for
I l i ked t h e m ating possi b i l ities with
Black, he h a s no m ethod of
my h-pawn o n g6. Sacrifices
d efe n d i n g aga i n st the check m ate.
beco m e very l i ke ly when t h e
For exa m p le, 20 . . . . § xf6 2 1 . exf6
d efender has m a ny pieces eit h e r
Jlxf6 2 2 . '!'i¥xh6+ �g8 23. '\'i¥h7 +
u n d eveloped or out o f p l ay as i n �f8 24. '\'i¥f7 # .
t h i s ga m e . Bas ica l ly, Wh ite sti l l h a s
a s u rp l u s o f attackers i n t h e vici n ity

38
 '2lge2 Caro Ka h n

4)ge2 Caro Kah n Caro Ka h n Defense (4:Jge2 line)

( B 18)
1 .e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3./dc3 d x e4
4 . .£) xe4 Af5 5./d g3 Ag6
6.Ac4 e6 7 . .£) le2

Techniq ues Lea rned

A d o u b l e-edged attack l i n e gea red

towa rds h u nting down the Black
K i ng, t h is line ca n a lso res u lt in
positions where the aggressor is
expected to pile u p p ressu re a long
the f-fi le as his prime m ethod of
These days, the attack l i n e I l i ke assa u lt on t h e Black fortification .
p l aying aga i n st the Caro Ka h n Another ski l l is t h e a b i l ity to
Defense is a very old l i n e o n ce recogn ize when a n excha nge
e m p loyed by chess greats, M i k h a i l sacrifice is a wi n n i ng idea . In so m e
Ta i a n d Pa u l Keres . ga m es, Wh ite ca n sacrifice h is
Roo k on f6 a n d attack the wea k h7
s q u a re with Ad3 a n d �fS .
Opening Li nes
--------- G a m e #019 ----------

The basic idea beh i n d this l i n e is to (W) MassCa rnage (2200)

attack stra ight down the f-fi le with ( B) uca nth ide ( 1279)
f4 , fS, etc. what I l i ke a bout it is [ B 18] ICC 3 0, 08/03/2012
that Black seems to feel m o re
comfo rta b l e p l ayi ng 0-0 t h a n 1 .e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3./dc3 d x e4
4 . .£) xe4 Af5 5./d g3 Ag6
aga inst so m e other aggressive
6.Ac4 /d f6 7 . .£) le2 e6 8.0-0
l i nes. As a resu lt, W h ite is u s u a lly /dd5
a b l e to m u ster a strong attack on
th e B lack King. B lack co m m its a fu n d a m e nta l error
by moving a piece twice before

39
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

com pleting the d evelopm ent of his 19.§fl

other p ieces.
White conti n u es with the basic
9.f4 � d7 10.f5 A xf5 1 1 . � xf5 p l a n of this opening l i n e,
exf5 1 2 . § xf5 increasing the p ress u re a long the
f-fi le.
Wh ite p roceeds with the gen e ra l
plan to a p p ly p ressu re o n t h e Black 19 . . . . � 7f6 20.g4
kingside down t h e f-fi le.
Also very strong h e re is t h e move
1 2 . . . . � 7b6 13.Ad3 c4 to fo rce the d isco n n ection of
t h e two Black Kn ights. Th e p u rpose
I p refer to have my Bishop point to
of the m ove g4 is to p lay g5
where I t h i n k t h e Black King w i l l
exposing t h e Black f7 pawn .
end u p .
20 . . . . � e7?
13 . . . . Ae7 14. �g3 0-0 1 5.c3
No m atter as Black d isco n n ects the
White defends t h e pawn on d4
Kn ights h i m self.
before p roceed i n g towa rds t h e
f-fi le attack. 2 1 . § xf6!

1 5 . . . . Ad6 16. �f3 �c7 Th is is one of the m a i n themes in

17.Ad2 A xg3 this l i n e . White sacrifices an
excha nge to bust u p the Black
B l ack trad es i n h is d a rk-s q u a red
kingside.
Bishop for White's Kn ight. I a m
a m azed a t how m a ny p layers m a ke 21 . . .. g xf6 22. �h3
this fa u lty m ove. I n a d d ition to
t rading a Bishop fo r a Kn ight, Black An other a lternative was 2 2 . �xf6
m ay h ave d a rk-s q u a re issues later �d5 2 3 . �xh7+! <it'xh7 24. �h6+
on. <it>g8 25. �g5+ <it>h8 26. § f3 with a
b ig a dva ntage fo r White.
18.h xg3 � d7
22 . ... �g6
Black is feeling the p ress u re of
White's fo rces a l l pointing at the Black covers his h7 wea kness by
Black kingside, so he shifts h is b locking out the White
q ueenside Knight to the kingside. l ight-sq u a red Bishop.

40
 4Jge2 Ca ro Ka h n

23 . .§ x f6 attacker fo r t h e f5 s q u a re .

White co u l d have contin ued 10 . ... exf5 1 1 . 4) xf5 '/}/c7

attacking the wea k h7 s q u a re with 1 2 . 4) eg3
the m oves 'it'f2 a n d § h l .
Wh ite fort ifies h is Kn ight on f5 .
23 . ... '/}/e7 24.g5 .§ads 25.Ac4 " x f5 13.4) xf5 A x h2+?
12 . ... ..ti.
c5 26. '/}/h6 c x d4??

B l ack h a d to play t h e m ove �e4 to Black gra bs the free pawn, which
add a n other d efender to the g6 to m ost p layers wo u l d seem
sq u a re; he co m pletely ignores t h e reaso n a b l e . After a l l, it exposes the
reason beh i n d W h ite's m ove. Wh ite K i ng, a n d yo u ca n ca pt u re
the pawn with ch eck. However the
27 . .§ xg6+! h xg6 28.'/}/xg6+ down side is t h at t h e m ove ties
<it'h8 29. '/}/h6+ \t>g8 30.g6 1-0 down the Black Qu een and Bishop.

B l ack is u n a ble to p revent m ate. Black will a l so need to "rescu e" h is

Bishop with a n other m ove. That
--------- G a m e #020 ---------- m ove wou ld be better spent
d eveloping his q u eenside.
(W) MassCarnage (2200)
14. \t>hl 4)e4?
( B) Akaba ( 1684)
[ B 18] ICC 15 5, 07 /09/2012

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.4)c3 dxe4

4.4) xe4 Af 5 5.4)g3 Ag6
6. Ac4 e6 7.4) le2 Ad6 8.0-0
4) f6 9.f4

The p ri m a ry p u rpose of t h is
openi ng va riation is to create
p ressure down the f-fi le.

9 . . . . 0-0 10.f5

Occasio n a lly Black will attem pt to

prevent Wh ite's m ove f5 with
4Jge7. In such cases you w i l l be Black n eeds to rescue h is Bishop
fo rced to p lay Ad3 to add a n other now with Ad6 a n d batten down

41
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

t h e hatches i n a nticipation of t h e co ncerned a bo ut Black capturing

Wh ite cou nter-attack. Th e ga m e my pawn o n d4, but the pawn is
co u l d have cont i n u ed 1 4 . . . . iid6 poiso n . For exa m p l e the
1 5 . itlh6+ �h8 1 6. § xf6 gxf6 a ltern ative, 20. § xfl �xd4+
l 7.�f3 fS 1 8 .itlxfS itia6 1 9 . iigS f6 2 1 .�h l �cS ( Th e Wh ite Bishop on
20.iih6 where W h ite h a s a solid c4 is a lso poison, 2 1 . . . . �xc4
adva ntage. 2 2 . iieS + f6 2 3 . �xc4 . ) 2 2 . iid2
1 5 . �g4!! leaves Wh ite with a d o m i n ating
position .
Wh ite sim u lta n eo usly th reatens
checkmate on g7 and t h e Kn ight 20 . . . . .£> x d7 2 1 . § xfl f5
on e4. Black wants to tra p the W h ite
1 5 . . . . .£ig3+ 16. <;t> xh2 Kn ight on h6. The move fS ta kes
the retreat sq u a re g4 away fro m
Wh ite ca n a lso win with the line the Wh ite Kn ight. Th e downside of
1 6 . itlxg3 �x g 3 1 7 . § xf7! �xg4 t h e m ove fS for Black is it opens u p
1 8 . § f4 + § f7 1 9 . iixf7+ �f8
h is Ki ng, especia l ly t h e a2-g8
20. § xg4 �xf7 2 1 . �xh2 .
d iago n a l .
16 . . . . .£l x fl+ 17.<;t>gl
22.g4!
B l ack is faced with the checkmate
Th e best m ethod of extricating the
th reat on g7 a n d a t ra p ped Kn ight
Wh ite Kn ight; or, at the ve ry least
on fl . U lt i m ately Wh ite w i l l end u p
Wh ite ca n s u p po rt the Kn ight with
with two m i nor p i eces fo r a Roo k
a s u bseq u ent gS .
a n d pawn . I n a n endga m e t h ey
wou l d b e ro ughly eq u a l . I n t h e 22 . . . . .£i b6 23.Ab3 fxg4?
opening a n d ea rly m id d lega m e,
Black needed to b l u nt t h e Wh ite
l i ke h ere, Wh ite h a s a h uge
l ight-sq u a red Bishop with the
adva ntage as t h e m i nor p ieces
m ove itldS .
d o m i n ate.

17 . . . . g6 18 ..'1J4 �d7 24 . .£i x g4

19 . .£l h6+ <it'g7 20. � x d7?
N ow the Wh ite Kn ight has
My thoughts we re : "I am win n i n g esca ped . Th e W h ite piece to ga in
so w h y n o t tra d e ?" Also I was t h e most m o b i l ity fro m this

42
 4Jge2 Caro Ka h n

tr a n saction w a s the d a rk-s q u a red certa i n that Black wi l l not be

B ish o p . castling q u eenside, so I d ecide to
tra n sfer my Bishop on b3 to point
2 4. . . . ,!£\d5?
at the key f5 sq u a re.
It's a good i d ea, but it j u st ca m e
1 2 . . . . .1le7 13.Ac2 0-0
too l ate.
B l a ck has castled kingside and o u r
25 . .1le5+ �g8 26. 4)h6 =11= 1-0
t h e m atic f5 b reak is n o w ava i l a b le.
--
-- ---- G a m e #021 ----------
-

14.f5 exf5 1 5 . .!£\ xf5 ,1ld8

16.4)eg3
(W) MassCa rnage (2200)
( B) Clockwork64 ( 1477) W h ite p lays a com m o n fo rt ification
[ B 18] ICC 5 12, 07/18/2012 m ove .

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3 . .!£\ c3 dxe4 1 6 . . . . Ac7 17.Ag5 .!£\ fd5

4.4) xe4 Af 5 5 . .!£\ g3 ,1lg6 18. �f3 4)c4
6.,1lc4 e6 7 . .£\ le2 4) f6 8.0-0
Th e m ove looks reaso n a b le, but it
.!£\ bd7 9.f4 .!£\ b6 10.Ab3
leaves the Black Kn ight with no
Perh a p s Jld3 is m o re assertive, p lace to m ove to. It o n ly speeds u p
adding a n oth er atta cker to the f5 Wh ite's p l a n t o p l ay b 3 a n d c4 to
s q u a re. rem ove the wel l-placed Black
Kn ight on d5.
10 . . . . �d7
19.b3 4) d6 20. §adl
Black d efends t h e f5 s q u a re a n d
appears t o be h eaded towa rds W h ite wa nts to d efend the pawn
castling q u eenside. on d4 so h e ca n p lay c4 .

l l.a4 20 . . . . §ae8 2 1 .c4 4)b4 [Link]

f6 [Link] Af7? 24.h4
Black n eeded a l itt le convi ncing
t h at castling q u eenside was a poor W h ite wins i m m ed iately after
idea . 24. {)xg7!! �x g7 25. �xf6+ �g8
26. Jlh6 �g4 27. § e4 �xdl +
1 1 . . . . a5 12.c3 28. {)fl .

After t h e B l ack m ove a5, I feel 24 . . . . g6?? 2 5 . .!£\ h6+ �g7

26. � x f6 # 1-0

43
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

6. �e2
Sicilian Grand Prix

Techniques Lea rned

Th e Sic i l i a n G ra n d P rix is an attack

syste m . You post all you r pieces on
aggressive sq u a res and before yo u
know it, Black is lost.

Sici l i a n Defense ( G ra n d Prix -

fianch etto l i n e ) ) ( B 2 3 )
1 .e4 c 5 2.4)c3 4)c6 3 . f4 g6
4.4Jf3 Ag7 5.Ac4 4) ge7 6.f5
Th e Sic i l i a n G ra n d Prix is o n e of
the easiest o p e n i n g attack systems -----------------------------------­

to learn . It is a lso one of the

tough est to d efend aga i n st. Th ere --------- G a m e #022 ---------­

a re two m a i n l i n es fo r B lack, a n d
a s u s u a l with low rated p l aye rs, a ( W ) MysteryMa n (2200)
whole lot of "I have no idea what I ( B) Mond rogan ( 1 445 )
a m doi ng" . As a resu lt, it is crucia l [B23] ICC tou rney 353761 (3 0),
to u n d e rsta n d the n u a nces a n d ( R o u n d 5), 10/16/2009
wea kn esses of typ ica l Black m oves.
. . 1 .e4 C 5 2 . <LJ
,..... C 3
Th e m a i n I m es a re :
W h ite p lays <£ic3 befo re the move
Sici l i a n Defense (G ra n d P rix -
f4 to d isco u rage Black' s response,
fia n ch etto l i n e ) ) ( B 2 3 )
d5.
1 .e4 c5 2.4)c3 4) c6 3 . f4 g6
4.4Jf3 Ag7 5.Ac4 4Jge7 6.f5 2 . . . . d6 3.f4 4)c6 4.4Jf3 g6
5.Ac4 e6 6.f5 Ag7
Sici l i a n Defense (G ra n d P rix - e6 &
d5 l i n e - n o fia n ch etto ) ) ( B 23) We have co m m enced the ga m e
1.e4 c5 2.�c3 e6 3.f4 d5 with a very co m m on move
4.�f3 �c6 5 . .Q.b5 �ge7

44
 S i c i l i a n G r a n d Prix

se q u ence of the Sici l i a n G ra n d Prix Wh ite d efends t h e t h reat on his

att ack. Bishop a n d bides his time befo re
attacking on t h e kingside. If W h ite
7.fxg6!?
decided to igno re Black's t h reat on
The p u rpose of playing fxg6!?, his Bishop and a l lowed t h e Bishop
in stea d of the norm a l fxe6, is to be ca ptu red, Black wou l d be i n
Wh ite is p rovi d i n g Black with the a sign ificantly b etter position to
poss i b i l ity of hx g6 a s i n t h is game. d efe n d . Why? Beca use Black
I n a d d ition, p reventing Black fro m wo u l d have a n "extra" piece h e
ilxe6 is a lso a consideration . co u l d give back to assist with his
d efensive effo rts. For exa m p le o n
7 . . . . h xg6 1 1 . �h4 B l a c k co u l d respond with
The move hxg6 a l l by itself is n ot the m ove 1 1 . . . . 4Jf5 . Th e move
4Jf5 wo u l d o n ly be possi ble
a n error a s Black could choose to
castle q ueenside where t h e open beca use the Wh ite Bishop on c4 is
h-file wou ld ben efit h is attack o n h a nging.
the W h ite King. 1 1 . . . . �as
8.d3 �ge7 9.0-0 0-0? Another co m m o n Black ploy is to
tra d e h is Knight i n fo r t h e
Why is Black's move so b a d ? Th e
pote nti a l ly powerfu l l ight-sq u a red
reason relates to t h e d efensive
pawn struct u re for Black. With n o Wh ite Bish o p .
h- pawn, the h7 sq u a re i s 1 2 . �h4 � x b3?
extremely wea k a n d ca n be
exploited as i n t h is ga me. In the s a m e position aga inst h igher
rated playe rs, Black has freq uently
10.�el tried t h e move f6 i n a n atte m pt to
d efe n d Wh ite' s t h reat of 4Jg5 .
W h ite cont i n u es with h is u s u a l
H owever they were q u ite
p l a n t o attack the B l a c k King . . .
d ism ayed after the l i n e : 12 . . . f6
.

10 . . . . d S 1 3 . 4Jg 5!? fx g 5 1 4 . llxg5 4Jac6

1 5 . 4Jxd5!! with a cru s h i n g attack
.. . a n d B l a c k a lso p roceeds wit h a for White.
com mon p l a n of co u n terattack.
13.� gS
1 1 .Ab3

45
 Atta c k i n g 101: Vo l u m e #00 1

Th ere is no n eed to reca pture t h e when playing better p l ayers. Th ey

Kn ight h e re, as Black h a s no w a y of bel ieve that the m o re p ieces off
avoiding chec k m ate. the board, the better their cha nces
of d rawing. Th erefore they trade
13 . . . . §es
without consid eration of the
Black attem pts to fl ee, but t h ere is i m p act of the trade.
no safe p l a ce to h id e.
6. 'l2t x f3 4)c6 7.d3 4)d4 8. 'l2tdl
14. 'l2th7+ <i!(fS 1 5 . § x f7 # 1-0
N o rm a l ly I prefer to play �f2 in
--------- G a m e #023 ---------- situations l i ke th is one (when I
have h3 p l ayed ) but I d i d not want
(W) Joel Joh nson (22 43 ) to be h a rassed by Black's ki ngside
( B) Mark Webb ( 1246) Kn ight (4J g4).
[ B23] Sunday Action, Ch ess 8 . . . . e5?
E m porium, Phoenix, AZ, Ro u n d 2,
05/12/2002 Th is m ove is a nti-position a l ; it
creates holes on d5 a n d f5 for
1 .e4 c5 2. 4)c3 d6 3.f4 4)f6 en emy Kn ights. Th e move leaves
4.Ac4
Wh ite's Bishop on c4 pointing
I like to d iscou rage the Black p i n d i rect ly at the wea k f7 sq u a re on a
on my kingside Kn ight after 4. 4Jf3 wide open d iago n a l a n d leaves
Jlg4 by playing Jlc4 first Black with a backwa rd (a pawn
whenever Black p lays d6. H owever t h at ca n n ot be d efe n d ed with
Black ca n sti l l i n sist o n p l ayi n g Jlg4 a n other pawn ) d-pawn. Lastly, the
a s i n t h is ga m e if h e so desires. m ove p rovides Wh ite with the
option of opening t h e f-fi le for h is
4 . . . . Ag4 Rook.
M ost h igh rated p layers play e6 9.f5!?
h e re to b l u nt t h e power of the
Wh ite light-sq u a red Bishop. W h ite s h o u l d ca ptu re the Black
e-pawn i n order to open the f-fi le
5.4)f3 A x f3? fo r h i s Roo k . However, the
A com m o n error by lower-rated res u lta nt wedge pawn formation is
p layers is to tra d e at every cha nce a lso very i m posing to Black.

46
 Sici l i a n G ra n d Prix

9 . . . . Ae7 10.0-0 'ltc7 1 1 . .Q.g5 consid eration for W h ite h e re was

1 6. a4 p reserving h is l ight-s q u a red
Wh ite's p l a n i s :
Bishop.
e l i m i nate t h e Black Kn ight on f6 as
16 . . . . /£\a5
it is the sole d efender of t h e d5
h ole; Black d ecides to e l i m i n ate the
powe rfu l Wh ite Bishop.
p lace the q u eenside Kn ight in the
d5 hole; a n d 17.§g3

p lay c3 to kick o ut the Black Kn ight W h ite is th reaten i ng 18. 'li¥xh6

fro m h is d4 hole. fo llowed by 4Jxf6+.

1 1 . . . . h6? 17 . . . . Ag5??

I j u st love it when opponents force Black n eeded to b rea k the p i n with

yo u to do what yo u want to do ! 1 7 . . . . �h7. B l ack's choice ign ites a
term i n a l Wh ite atta ck.
12 . .Q. x f6
18.f6!
Now my Knight will own t h e d5
sq u a re. W h ite serio usly d a m ages the Black
kingside with th is pawn th rust.
12 . . . .Q.xf6 13./£\d5 'ltd8 14.c3
4)c6 15. 'lth5 18 . . . . g6

With t h e last p a rt of h is p l a n O n either 1 8 . . . . iixf6 o r

co m p l ete, W h ite is free t o begin a 1 8 . . . . gxf6, Wh ite ca n res pond
kingside attack sta rting with with 1 9 . 'li¥xh6 with the idea of
advancing his p ieces towa rds t h e 20. 4Jxf6+ 'li¥xf6 2 1 . 'li¥xf6.
Black King.
19. /£\ e7+ 'i!lh7
15 . . . 0-0 16. §f3
Black gets checkm ated after
Th is m ove is referred to as a "Rook 19 . . . . 'li¥xe7 20. 'li¥xg6+ �h8
Lift" . Th e p u rpose is to advance 2 1 . 'li¥g7 * .
th e Rook i n front of yo u r pawns so
N ow beca use the Black King
it ca n d i rect ly attack the
c a n n ot m ove to g8, g7, o r g6, the
op position . Another possib le

47
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Black Pawn o n h6 is t h reat p i n n e d .

W h y ? Beca use if t h e B l a c k h- Pawn
captu res a n yt h i n g on g5, Black will
get h -file m ated .

22.§ xh5+ gxh5 23. �g7 # 1 -0

--------- G a m e #024 ----------

(W) MysteryMan (2200)

W h at t h is m e a n s is that the Black
Bishop o n g5 is u n p rotected . So ...
( B) blackending ( 1674)
[ B23] ICC tourney 340889 (5 0),
20. � xg5! .£1 x c4 ( Rou n d 3), 02/10/2009

On 20 . . . hx g 5, Wh ite h-file
. 1 .e4 c5 2 . .£lc3 d6 3.f4 e6
checkm ates with 21. .§h3 * .
Black telegra p h s h is i ntention to
2 1 .§h3 h5 p lay conservative, no g6 to
fia n c h etto h is kingside Bishop, no
O n ce aga i n Black has a t h reat p i n
d5 to c h a l lenge t h e center.
issue. Black's g-pawn ca n not
captu re anyt h i ng beca use Wh ite 4 . .£l f3 .£i f6 5.Ac4 a6 6.a4 Ae7
ca n m ate with 'l!Jg7 :tt: t h u s leaving 7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 �c7
t h e Black h-pawn u n d efen d e d .
W h ite delays t h e move f5 when
Black ch ooses n ot to fianchetto h is
" Rook Lift - p l a ce you r Rook i n kingside Bishop.
front o f you r Pawns"
9. �el .£i c6 10. �g3

48
 S i c i l i a n G ra n d Prix

Wh en Black fia nchettos h i s Black probably thought this m ove

kin gside B i s h o p w e place the was going to save h i m , as it
Qu een on h4 with the intention of a p pears that he will be a b l e to get
�h6 a n d 4Jg5 . When the Black h i s piece back, b ut n oth i n g cou l d
d a rk-sq u a red Bishop is elsewhere, be fu rther fro m the trut h .
we p lay �g 3 , f5 , a n d Jlh6.
16.§afl !
1 0 . . . . Ad7
W h ite co u l d a lso h ave p l ayed
Black cont i n u es with h is d efensive 16. Jlxg7 ! 4Jxg7 17. § h6 § g8
moves. 1 8 . �h4 attacking the wea k h7 .

l l .f5 4)e5?? t6 . . . . .Q.c6

Th is move will severely d a m age Black has not h i n g better. On

Black' s pawn struct u re a n d ign ite a 1 6 . . . . gxh6 W h ite wins after
b rutal kingside attack by W h ite. 1 7 . § xt7 § xt7 1 8 . § xt7 �d6
1 9 . 4Jd5 exd5 20.Jlxd5 h 5
12.4) xe5 d xe5 13.Ah6 4) eS? 2 1 § xd7 �g6 2 2 . �xe5+ a n d on
l 6 : . . . gxf6 1 7 .JlxfS �dB 1 8 . �e3
Black was req u i red to p lay either b5 1 9.axb5 axb5 20.Jlxb5 4Jc7
g6 or 4Jh5 to perh a ps s u rvive. 2 1 . �h6 �xf8 2 2 .�xf6+ �g7
23.Jlxd7 �xf6 24.§ xf6.

14.f6! .Q. x f6 1 5 . § xf6 �hS

17. § x e6! gxh6 18. § x h6

49
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vol u m e #00 1

Wh ite p l ayed § xh6 not to win t h e co m p uter, d es p it e b e i n g m ateria l ly

p a w n but Wh ite wa nted t o atta ck down a fu l l p a w n . B a s ica l ly W h ite
the wea k h7 s q u a re. has fu l l co m pe nsation fo r the lost
m ateri a l in t h e for m of m o re
18 . . . . .§.g8 19. �h4
powerfu l p i eces. H e h a s o p e n
W h ite a p p l ies m o re p ressu re o n d iago n a ls for h is B i s h o ps, a n o p e n
the w e a k h 7 sq u a re. fi le fo r h is f- Roo k, a n d two well
p l aced Knights.
19 . . . . .§.g7 20 . .§.f3
8 . . . . .£) ge7 9.0-0 0-0 10. � e l
Th is Rook l i ft is d esigned to a6 1 1 .a4 � a 5 1 2 . _'1.a 2
i n crease the p ress u re on t h e h7
sq u a re even m o re. W h ite leaves the B l a c k Kn ight on
a5 loo k i n g rat h e r s i l ly on the edge
20 . . . . .£) d6 2 1 . .§.h3 f5 22. �f6! of t h e boa rd .
1-0
1 2 . . . . d6 1 3 . �h4
Black is checkm ated after
22 . . . 4Jf7 2 3 . § xh7+ �g8
. It is i m p o rt a n t fo r W h ite to attack
24 . �x g7 :t1= . t h e b a c k Kn ight with the m ove
llg5 w h e n B l a c k m oves t h e fro nt
--------- G a m e #025 ----------
Knight.

(W) MassCa rnage (2200) 1 3 . . . . d5?

( B) m wu2007 ( 1 3 27)
Black p a n ics a s t h e W h ite p ress u re
[ B23] ICC tou rney 367785 (3 O),
comes fro m a l l a n gles.
( Ro u n d 1), 07/27/2010
t4.Ag5! f6 t5 . .£l x d5!
1 .e4 c5 2 . .£) c3 g6 3.f4 Ag7
4 . .£) f3 .£) c6 5.Ac4 e6 6.f5 e x f5 Wh ite t h reaten s c h ec k m ate a n d

Black accepts the pawn sacrifice i n t h e m ove p o i s o n s t h e W h ite

this game. Bishop o n g5 . B l a c k h owever feels
t h e need to rega i n h is lost m ateri a l
7.d3 fxe4 8.dxe4 a n d captu res t h e B i s h o p a n yway.

Black h as now officia l ly accepted 1 5 . . . . fxg5 ? 16 . .£} xe7+ \t>h8

the ext ra pawn . Wh ite is a h ea d a 17 . .£} x g6 =11= 1 - 0
q u a rter of a pawn accord i n g to my

50
 S i c i l i a n G ra n d Prix

-- -- ------- ------------------------
- p a w n struct u re .
G ra n d P rix - e6 & dS l i n e - n o
9 . . . . b x c6 1 0 . '{;P/ x e4 '{;P/c7
fi a n c h etto ) ) ( B 2 3 )
t . e4 c 5 2 . 4) c3 e6 3.f4 d 5 Th e W h ite p l a n h e re is to contro l
4. 4) f3 4) c6 5 . Ab5 4)ge7 B l a ck's l ight-sq u a re d B i s h o p .
6 . '{;P/e2
-
-- --------------------------------- 1 1 .d3 Ae7 1 2.o-o §bs 13.b3
Af6 14. §bl o-o 1 5 . 4)e5 Ab7
--------- G a m e #026 ---------- 1 6.c4

W h ite h a s s u cceed ed is s h utting

(W) MysteryMa n (2200)
down t h e B l a c k light-sq u a red
( B) happychess ( 1629) B i s h o p . From h e re, Wh ite w i l l
[B23] ICC tou r n ey 3 3 0498 ( 3 0), i m p rove h is p i eces a n d m o b i l ize
( Ro u n d 3 ), 08/24/2008 t h e m towa rds the e n e m y King in
1 .e4 c 5 2.4)c3 d6 3 .f4 4) f6 a nticipation of a fi n a l atta ck.
4. Ac4 e6 5 . 4) f3 d 5
1 6 . . . . '{;Pfd6 17. Ab2 §fdS
B l a c k h a s c h o s e n a weird m ove 18. §bdl a5 19. §f3 a4 20.§h3
h6
order. On t h e l a st m ove he cou ld
h ave t ra n s p osed i nto t h e
F i a n c h etto Va riation with t h e
m ove g6. Th e two m oves W h ite
p l ayed wit h h is B i s h o p (.ilfl ->c4-
>b5 ) were m a d e u p by t h e fa ct
t h a t B l a c k a lso m oved h i s d-pawn
twice fro m d7->d6->d5 .

6.Ab5+ 4)c6 7.'{;P/e2

W h ite p l a ces h is Qu een o n e 2 to

exert p ress u re a lo n g the e-fi l e a n d
su p p o rt t h e W h it e center.

7 . . . . d x e4 8 . 4) x e4 4) xe4
9 . A x c6 + B l a c k has n o clue h ow bad h is
position is, b u t t h a t sit u ation is
Wh ite d estroys B l a ck's q u ee n s i d e
a bo u t to c h a nge.

51
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

21.g4!! Wh ite h a s fo rmed a pawn wedge

fro m c2 to fS . Th e pawn st ructu re
W h ite prepa res to b u st open the
e n a b les Wh ite to b u i l d u p a
Black kingside. Th e Black p ieces
kingside attack by contro l l i n g a l l
a re poorly p l a ced a n d u n a b le to
t h e space b e h i n d t h e wedge a n d i n
m u ster a n y rea l d efe n sive effo rt.
fro nt o f t h e Black King.
2 1 . . . . a x b3 [Link] b3 A,c8
23.g5! A, xe5

Th ere goes Black's prim a ry

d efende r.

24.A, xe5 �f8 25.gxh6

Wh ite's p ieces overru n the Black

kingside.

25 . . . . g6 26.h7 # 1-0

--------- G a m e #027 ---------­

(W) MassCarnage (22 00)

( B) sergiofabian ( 1445 ) 1 2 . ... d5
[B23] ICC tou rn ey 367784 (3 O),
Black attem pts to b reak up the
( R o u n d 4), 07/27/2010
wedge, a s h e should. However,
1 .e4 c5 2 . .£\ c3 e6 3.f4 ,£\ c6 Wh ite d oes not req u i re the
4 . .£\ f3 a6 5.a4 d6 6.A,c4 Ae7 p hys ica l p resence of every pawn
7.d3 ,£\f6 8.0-0 0-0 9.�el fo r the concept to work.
,£\ d4 10.,£\ x d4 c x d4 1 1 .,£\e2
e5 13.exd5 ,£\ x d5 14 . .£\g3 f6??

Th is is a co m m on method of So m a ny p layers a re worried t h at

reach ing a wedge position as Black Wh ite w i l l play f6 t h at they p l ay it
p lays the m ove eS to defend h is fi rst . N o rm a l ly the p ro b lem with
pawn on d4. the move is that it d rastica l ly
1 2.f5 i n creases the va l u e of Wh ite's
l ight-sq u a red Bishop, w h i l e

52
 Sici l i a n G ra n d Prix

h e m m i n g the Black King i nto t h e 1 .e4 c5 2./ilc3 d6 3.f4 /ilf6

4.Ac4
co rn er. I n t h is position it a lso loses
a Kn ight after 1 5 . �e4 ! .
Once again, W h ite attem pts to
1 5 ./ile4 d isco u rage Black fro m p i n n i n g his
kingside Kn ight with the m ove
Wh ite replaced t h e m issing Jlg4.
e-pawn with his Knight.
4 . ... a6 5.a4
1 5 . ... �h8 16. �h4
W h ite p revents b5, Black's
Th e wea k sq u a re in the Black q u eenside exp a n sion move.
d efensive ca m p is the h7 s q u a re.
O n ly Bl ack's King can d efen d h7 5 . ... /ilc6 6./ilf3 Ag4
a n d the shielding m ove, h6, is l ittle
Black insists o n p i n n ing t h e W h ite
comfort.
kingside Kn ight even though it will
16 . ... /ilb6 t7.Ab3 res u lt i n t h e trade of h is Bishop fo r
the W h ite Kn ight.
No way will Wh ite a l low the
e l i m i nation of h i s powerfu l l ight­ 7.h3 A x f3 8. � x f3 4) d4
9.�dl e6 10.0-0 Ae7 l l.d3
sq u a red Bishop.
o-o 12.Aa2
17 . ... Ad7 1s. §f3
In a ntici pation of the Black
Wh ite heads right for t h e Black m ove d5, W h ite p reem ptively
wea kness. retreats his light-sq u a red Bishop.
Afterwards, W h ite will have t h e
18 . . . . �es 19. � x h7+!! � x h7 a d d itional option o f p l a y i n g t h e
20.§h3+ 1-0
m ove e5 once d5 occ u rs.
Black is h-fi l e m ated after
1 2 . ... §cS 13./ile2
20 . . . �h5 2 1 . § xh5 =11= .
.

W h ite wa nts to e l i m i n ate the Black

--------- G a m e #028 ---------- Kn ight fro m its adva n ced outpost
on the d4 sq u a re.
( W) MassCa rnage (2200)
( B) m entor123 ( 1642) 13 . ... 4)c6 14. �el
[ B23] ICC 15 0, 08/10/2010
W h ite's Qu een heads fo r the

53
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

kingside. Black decid es to sacrifice h is Rook

fo r W h ite's l ight-sq u a red Bishop;
14 . . . . h6?
h owever, h e is j u st too late.
Th is move p l ays i nto Wh ite's 23.A xh6 .§. x f5 [Link] g7 =11= 1-0
h a n d s . Wh ite wa nts to place h is
Qu een o n g 3, fo l l owed by f5 a n d --------- G a m e #029 ----------
�h6.

1 5.�g3 (W) MassCarnage (2200)

( B) qs16 ( 1663)
When Black fia n ch ettos h is Bishop, [B23] ICC 15 5, 10/25/2010
the Wh ite Qu een belongs on h4,
ot herwise g3 is correct. 1 .e4 c5 [Link]}c3 d6 3.f4 li}f6
[Link]} f3 a6 5.a4 e6
1 5 . . . . li} d4? [Link]} x d4 c x d4
17.f5 Black h a s ass u m ed a very
d efe nsive ( p a ssive) set u p as Wh ite
Black is co nfronted with two posts h is pieces in the u s u a l
t h reats : captu res on h6 (�xh6), aggressive m a n or.
a n d captu res on e6 (fxe6).
6.Ac4 Ae7 7.d3 lil bd7 8.0-0
17 . ... <i!/h7 0-0 9. �el �c7 10. �g3 b6
1 1 .f 5 li}e5?
B l a ck decides to save h is h-pawn
and p rotect his King. Black s h o u l d attem pt to disrupt
Wh ite's adva nces with the move
18.f xe6 .§. xc2?
exfS .
Black a p p ea rs to be ignoring
[Link]} xe5 dxe5 13.Ah6 g6
Wh ite's th reats while ca using 14.fxe6 A xe6 15.A xe6 fxe6
extreme d a m age to h is l ight 16 . .§.f3
sq u a res.
Wh ite intentio n a l ly fo rgoes the
19.exf7 �c7 20.Ae6 ca ptu re of t h e Black Rook on f8.
Th e reasons a re related to the
Wh ite heads d i rectly fo r the wea k
va l u e of the Wh ite Bishop, both as
l ight sq u a res a ro u n d the Black King.
a n att ac k er a n d as a th orn i n
·

2 0 . . . . �c6 2 1 . AfS+ <i!/h8 Black's side. Th e p u rpose of the

22. �g6 .§.cS m ove § f3 is to d o u ble the Wh ite

54
 Sici l i a n G r a n d Prix

Ro o ks o n the f-fi le to i n crease the 20. E! x f4 exf4 21 . ..Q. x f4 t1/d8

p ressu re o n t h e Black kingside. 22 . ..Q.e5 Af6 23. E!f7 1-0

16 . ... E!f7 17. E!afl .£ih5? --------- G a m e #030 ----------

(W) MassCarnage (2200)

(B) jasep ( 1644)
[B23] ICC tourney 370165 (3 O),
( Ro u n d 1), 09/15/2010

1.e4 c5 2 . .£ic3 .£lc6 3.f4 e5

Th is m ove ta kes p lace m o re t h a n it

s h o u l d . From a positio n a l
sta n d poi nt, i t concedes the d5 a n d
f5 s q u a res t o Wh ite a n d p rovides
the o ption for Wh ite to open the
f-fi le for h is Rook after castling
ki ngside. It is even stra nger if yo u
Black cracks due to the i ntense view the positio n as a King's
pressu re. G a m b it with t h e m ove c5 p l ayed .
h5 m aybe (©), c5 n a h .
18. E! xf7!! .£lf4
4 . .£lf3 d 6 5.Ac4 Ae7 6.0-0
Wh ite wins h a n d ily after Black .£if6 7 .d3 0-0 8.f 5
captu res t h e W h ite Qu een with
1 8 . . . . 4Jxg3 1 9 . .§ g7+ �h8 Wh ite ch ooses t h e wedge over
20 . .§ ft7! 4Jh5 2 1 . .§ xh7+ �g8 8 . fxe5 to open t h e f-fi le fo r
22 . .§ xe7 �d8 2 3 .g4 �d4 + 24.�fl Wh ite's kingside Roo k .
.§ f8+ 25 .Axf8 4Jf6 (On 2 5 . . . . �xf8,
Wh ite wins with 26. gxh5 fo l lowed 8 . ... .£ia5
by 27 . .§ d7 . ) 26 . .§ hf7 4Jxg4
Black wa nts to e l i m i n ate Wh ite' s
27. Ag7 �d8 28 . .§ f8+.
powerfu l light-s q u a red Bishop.
19.E!g7+ \t'h8
9 .Ad5
Arm ed with the ext ra m aterial,
If Wh ite m ust lose the l ight-sq u a re
W h ite q u ickly fi n is h es Black off.
Bishop, why not trade fo r a

55
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

kingside d efe n d e r a n d l eave Black

with h is m is p l aced Kn ight on a5.

9 . . . . 4) x d5 10.4) x d5

Another side ben efit is W h ite n ow

owns the d5 hole fro m which h i s
q u eenside Kn ight ca n p a rticipate
i n a kingside attack.

10 . . . . 4) c6

Black cont i n u es to move that

q u eenside Kn ight a ro u n d .

1 1 .<if}hl
20.g7!
W h ite prepa res a typical wedge
pawn storm, a n d vacates the gl Th e key m ove in p reventing Black
sq u a re for h is Roo k. fro m b ringing his Qu een to the aid
of h is King via t h e g7 sq u a re.
1 1 . ... Ad7 12.g4 4::i d4 13.§gl
Ac6 20 . . . . §f7 21. � xh6 § xg7

Black h a s fo u n d a good sq u a re fo r N ot m u ch choice for Black i n view

h is l ight-sq u a red Bishop a n d is i n of the t h reat 22. t'l'h8 # .
positio n t o contest the wedge via
22.§ xg7+ � xg7 23.§gl 1-0
the d5 a n d e4 sq u a res.
--------- G a m e #031 ----------
14. 4) x d4 c x d4 15.4) x e7+
� xe7 16.g5 f6 17.g6! d5?
(W) Joel Joh nson (2205)
Right i d ea, j u st too late. Black h a d ( B) Ti m Suz m an ( 1780)
to prepa re a ru n n ing l a n e for h is [ B23] April Swiss, M etrowest
King with t h e moves h6, §.fd8, a n d Ch ess Clu b, N atick, MA, ( Ro u n d 1),
�f8. 04/06/1999
18. �h5 h6 [Link] h6! gxh6 1 .e4 c5 2.4)c3 e6 3.f4 d5
4.4::i f3 4::i e7 5.Ah5+ 4::i bc6

56
 Sic i l i a n G ra n d Prix

6. �e2 d4 7.4°)dl a6 8.Axc6+ of the Black Ki ng.

Ll) xc6
17.fxe5 Ae8
Black wisely avoids the d o u b led
c-pawns a n d the resu ltant pawn Th e d ifficu lty facing Black is
st ructu re issues. d efe n d i n g fro m the side w h i l e
Wh ite ca n attack straight o n . Th is
9.d3 Ae7 10.0-0 0-0 1 1 .a4 is a losing proposition for the
d efense.
W h ite ca n proceed down a n
assortment of paths fro m this 1s. �g3 §a7 19.Ah6 Afs
position. 20. §f4 g6 2 1 . A x fS <i!l x f8
22.§afl f5?
W h ite ca n play positio n a l ly by
attem pting to control the Black cracks u n d e r the p ressu re of
q u eenside a n d l i m it Black co u nter d efe n d i ng.
pl ay; Wh ite ca n first p lay some
23.exf6 §f7
positio n a l m oves before attacking
on the kingside a s i n t h is ga m e; or Black h a s h igh ho pes of being a b l e
my first perso n a l favorite these to h i d e beh i n d t h e W h ite pawn.
d ays, is to j u st attack by advancing
[Link] b5 a x b5 25. �g5 Ad7?
the Kn ight on dl to f2 i n
prep a ration for a kingside pawn U nfort u n ately Black will be
storm . req u i red to play perfect d efense to
1 1 . ... Ad7 1 2.b3 �c7 13.4)b2 hold t h is position, a n d as a h u m a n,
b5 14.Ad2 §fcs 15. �f2 �b6 h e is not u p to the task.
16.4)e5 4) xe5?
26.h4! �a7 27.h5
Black had to resist this tem ptatio n .
W h ite p ries open the Black
O n e m ight t h i n k that t h e d o u b l e
kingside.
e-pawns a re a wea kness a n d they
a re, but Wh ite h a s enormous 27 . ... gxh5 28. � x h 5 �a2
co m pen sation in the fo rm of: 29. §g4! 1-0

i ncreased piece activity for h is Black ca n n ot avoid checkmate a s

Qu een, Bishop, a n d Rooks; a n d Wh ite th reaten s 3 0 . �h6+ �e8
a h uge spati a l adva ntage i n front 3 1 . § g8+ §f8 3 2 . �xf8 # .

57
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

1 1 .f5 <it>hS?

Black defends his h-pawn but

ign ites the Wh ite attack.

12.e5! {)d5 13 . .£) xd5

W h ite tra d es a q u eenside piece for

a d efender of the f6 s q u a re.

13 . ... exd5

F i n a l Position

--------- G a m e #032 ----------

(W) M assCa rnage (2200)

( B) ki l lad uck44 ( 1361)
[ B23] ICC 15 12, 07 /18/2012

1 .e4 c5 2.{)c3 e6 3.f4 {) c6

4. {)f3 '/!tc7 5.Ab5
14.f6!
Wh ite d a res Black to captu re t h e
free f- pawn. Th e res u lt wo u ld b e Wh ite util izes the adva n ced pawns
Black fa l l i n g w a y b e h i n d i n to bust u p the Black kingside.
d evelop m e nt a n d a q u ick attack by
14 . ... gxf6 1 5 . ..Q. x h6! f:tg8
W h ite d own t h e f-fi le. 16. '/!th4 'l;te6 17 . ..[Link] =ll= 1-0
5 . . . . a6 6.A x c6 '/!t xc6 7.d3
4)f6 8.0-0 Ae7 9. '/!tel 0-0
10. '/!tg3 h6?

Another p layer creates a big ta rget

fo r W h ite.

58
 S m i t h - M o rra G a mb it

Th e S m it h - M o rra G a m b it teaches a
S mith - M orra Gambit
p l ayer how to convert a pawn
d eficit into positio n a l p ressu re
with the expectations of wi n n i n g
b a c k the m ateri a l with interest or
d eveloping a kingside attack.

M u ch l i ke the leading a ut h o rity o n

the S m it h - M o rra G a m b it, M a rc
Esserman, I fi rst rea d pa m p h lets
on the o p e n i n g written by Ken
S m it h back i n the d ay.

As an o p e n i ng, I o n ly used it i n
b l itz ga m es aga inst lower rated
p l ayers, a n d ra rely at a l l in recent
yea rs . When I sta rted work o n this
p roject, I decided that the S m it h ­
Opening Lines
M o rra G a m b it s h o u l d be p a rt of
t h is book. After a l l, i n my last book,
"Formation Atta ck St rategies", I
Th e S m ith-Morra G a m b it genera l ly
h a d p u b lished fo u r exem p l a ry
sta rts with the fo l l owing m ove
ga mes with the open i ng, two of
seq uence:
which we re M a rc Esserm a n ga m es.
S m ith-Morra G a m b it ( 821) I m ust a d m it, I was q u ite
1.e4 c5 2.d4 c x d4 3.c3 d xc3 i m p ressed with h is opening
4.� xc3 acco m p l i s h m ents.

Th e S m ith-Morra G a m b it e n a b les I n my fi rst two ga mes with the

Wh ite to ach ieve a lead in open i ng, players sprang a b ruta l
developm ent for the m ere cost of tra p on m e after 1 . e4 c5 2 . d4
a single pawn . cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. 4::\ x c3 4Jc6
5 . 4Jf3 e6 6. Ac4 'ttlc 7 7. 0-0 4Jf6 8.
'ttl e 2? 4Jg4! 9. h3?? 4Jd4 ! . I o n ly
Tech niq ues Lea rned m a n aged to win the ga mes
beca use I was a m uc h stro nger

59
 Atta c ki n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

p layer a n d I was a b l e to get two 1 .e4 c5 2.d4 c x d4 3.c3 d xc3

m i no rs fo r my Qu een . But clea rly I 4 . .1£\ xc3 a6 5 . .!£\ f3 d6 6 . .Q.c4
.!£\ d7 7.0-0 b5??
was go ing to n eed a ssista nce if I
intended on playing t h is opening M y fi rst instinct was that t h is
aga i n . Fort u n ate ly, soon m ove h a d to be b a d . After a l l Black
afte rwa rds, a n ew book by M a rc was way behind i n development,
Esser m a n e ntitled, "Mayhem i n not j u st the single tem po ga i n ed
the M o rra ! " w a s released by fro m the ga m b it .
Qu a l ity Chess. I i m m ed i ately
invested i n a copy and d evo u red it. 8 . .Q. x f7+! � x f7 9.�d5+ �e8
10.� x aS .!£\gf6 1 1 . .Q.g5
Th e book is AWESO M E ! ! N ow my
p l a n is to a lso use t h e S m ith-M orra My tho ughts h ere a re "I a m
G a m b it i n to u r n a m ents. wi n n i n g t h erefo re tra d ing is very
good for m e" .
Th is cha pter is d ed icated t o M a rc
Esserm a n as a l l t h ese ga m es were 1 1 . ... h6?
p l ayed after I had read h is book.
Th a n k you ! If a n y m ista kes were If my m i n dset is "I am wi n n ing so
m a d e i n the opening it was clea rly t h erefo re I should tra d e down to
my fa u lt not his. As I m a y h ave an easy win", then h is m i n dset
fo rgotten somet h i n g he said or t h e s h o u l d be "I am losing so I should
exact m oves of t h e l i n e . I w i l l be avoid tra d es if possib le."
rerea d i n g t h e book to e n s u re I 1 2 . .Q.xf6 gxf6
h ave it down perfect i n t h e futu re.
It is clea r to me that Black has
--------- G a m e #033 ---------- iss u es related to his light-sq u a re
Bishop having no sq u a res a n d o n ly
Th is is my first ga m e with t h e
o n e p iece defe n d i n g it. I n a d d ition,
opening after rea d i n g " M ayhem i n
t h e c7 sq u a re looks wea k. So . . .
the M o rra ! " . Black h a d n o i d ea
what h e was d o i ng so it went 13 . .E!acl .!£\c5
q u ickly.
Black attem pts to b l ock t h e c-fi le
(W) MassCarnage (2200) to h i d e h is wea kn esses.
( B) ji m h ( 1456)
[ B 2 1] ICC 3 0, 07 /29/2012

60
 S m i t h - M o rra G a mb it

1 .e4 c5 2.d4 c x d4 3.c3 dxc3

4. 4) xc3 4)c6 5.4)f3 g6 6 . ..Q.c4
Ag7 7.e5t

A seco n d pawn sacrifice

suggestion by M a rc Esserm a n in
h is book.

7 . . . . e6?

Th is m ove c reates d a rk sq u a re
wea k n esses on the d6 a n d f6
sq u a res.

s . ..Q.g5

My thought was "th is is a free

14.b4!
move" but I s h o u l d p lay �e2 fi rst
The b lockage m ust be clea red ! to secure the e-pawn .

14 . . . . 4) d3 15.4)d5! 8 . ... 4)ge7 9. �e2

N o need to slow d own with the Th is m ove is n ecess a ry to secu re

attack as I h ave a Replacement the e-pawn with the i ntention of
Attacker (a nother Rook to control u ltim ately contro l l i n g the d6 a n d
the c-file). f6 sq u a res.

1 5 . . . . 4) xcl 16. E! xcl Ad7 9 . ... 0-0 10.0-0 �a5 1 1 . E!fel

17.4)c7+ 1-0
Wh ite secu res the e-pawn a n d
B lack loses h is Qu een after cont i n u es t o d evelop a l l his p ieces .
1 7 . . . �f7 1 8 . �xd8.
.

1 1 . ... a6 1 2 . E!ad l b5 13.Ab3

---- ----- G a m e #034 ----------
Ab7?

All was fi n e u nt i l here. We h a d a

( W) MassCa rnage (2200)
position where W h ite was d own a
( B ) nando3 ( 1633) ga m bit pawn but h a d sufficient
[ B21] ICC 3 0, 07 /29/2012 com pensation fo r it in terms of
positio n a l p ressu re. Here Black

61
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

j u st gives back the pawn for free B lack s h o u l d captu re t h e Knight

a n d the seventh ra n k too . with Axf6, I wo u l d h ave been very
h a p py to have co m p lete control of
14. 4) e4
a l l the d a rk s q u a res a ro u n d the
As I d iscussed i n my last book, Black King.
"Formation Attack Strategies", t h e
16.g4!
reason stro ng p layers can p lay b l itz
so fast a n d very well is beca use Th e Black Kn ight h a s to be
t h ey view the boa rd d ifferently. rem oved from h is s u per out post
We see h o les and wea k sq u a res. on f5 if I intend to m a ke any
Th e p u rpose of icie4 is to exp loit p rogress on the d a rk sq u a re
those d a rk s q u a res wea k spots (d6 wea kn esses a ro u n d the Black King.
or f6) .
16 . ... h6? 17.gxf5 h xg5
1 4 . . . . 4J f5 18.4) xg5

B l ack decides to p rotect the d6 Now t h e h7 sq u a re h a s beco m e

sq u a re again so I head fo r t h e f6 Black's b iggest concern .
sq u a re.
18 . . . . exf 5 19. �e3!
1 5.4)f6+ 'i!i'h8
Wh ite a i m s d i rectly for the wea k
h-file a n d Black h a s no m e a n s of
esca ping t h e fo rced checkm ate.

19 . ... .Q.h6 20. 4) xf7+ § x f7

2 1 . � x h6+ 1-0

--------- G a m e #035 ----------

(W) MassCa rnage (2200)

( B) DADASH ( 1651)
[ B 2 1] ICC 3 0, 08/04/2012

1 .e4 c5 2.d4 c x d4 3.c3 d5

4.exd5 � x d5 5.4Jf3

Even though my co m p uter says Th e m ove 5 . cxd4 is a sl ight

i m p rove m e nt over 5 . itif3 .

62
 S m i t h - M orra G a m bit

5 . . . . Ag4 6 . .Q.e2 e5 7.0-0 13.§el

C o rrect is the m ove 7. cxd4. W h ite increases the press u re on

the p i n n ed Bishop. H e wants the
7. . . . 4)c6 8.c x d4 exd4 9.4Jc3
act of Black d eveloping h i s
Wh ite cont i n u es with h is kings i d e Kn ight a n d castling to be
development, n ot concern ing very pai nful, and seeing t h at t h e
h im self with B lack's a m b itious B l a c k K i n g a n d Kn ight a re both
a dva nces. d efe n d ing the p i n n ed Bis h o p,
a d d i n g more attacking p ieces to
9 . . . . �d7 10.4) x d4 .Q. xe2? the pin will m a ke movem ent of
those afo re m entioned pieces
Wh ite stood comfo rta b ly b etter
m uch more d ifficult.
after 10 . . . . �xd4 1 1 . llx g4 .
13 . . . . f6
l l . � xe2+ .Q.e7
Black's i ntention with t h i s m ove is
In a n effo rt to d ecrease the
to b rea k the pin with �f7;
press u re on h is King, Black s h o u l d
h owever, h aving h is King stuck i n
have tried 1 1 . . . �e7 i n stea d .
.

the m id d l e o f the board op posite

N o w t h e p i n o n t h e B l ack Bishop
Wh ite's a rse n a l is h a rd ly a n
beco m es a dilem m a .
accepta b l e sol utio n .
12.4) x c6
1 4. .Q.f4 @f7 15. §adl
Yo u s h o u l d a lways h ave a reason
As if Wh ite n eeded a ny m o re
fo r tra d ing. Here, t h ere a re two
b rea ks, here is a free d evelo p m ent
good reasons fo r tra d i ng. Th e fi rst
tem po and m o re fi repower. Ch ess
is we save a tempo by not having
m a sters use ALL their pieces .
to m ove o u r h a nging Kn ight on d4
a n d the seco n d is the t ra d e 1 5 . ... �b7 16. �e6+ @f8
e l i m i n ates a d efender o f t h e B l a c k 17. 4)e4
B i s h o p o n e7.
A tough c a l l b ut 1 7 . .§ d7 was a n
1 2 . ... bxc6 even stro nger move.

A t h i rd rea son was; h e m a y 17 . . . . §e8 18.4)d6 �c7

w e a k e n h is p a w n struct u re . 19. �f7 # 1-0

63
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

--------- G a m e #036 ---------- 1 1 . . . . �b8

(W) MassCa rnage (2200)

( B) jus m ove ( 1559)
[ B 2 1] ICC 3 0, 08/04/2012

1.e4 c5 2.d4 c x d4 3.c3 d xc3

4.4) xc3 e6 5.4)f3 4) c6 6 . .Q.c4
�c7 7.0-0 .Q.c5

Armed with my n ew knowledge, I

was j u st wa iting for 4:Jf6 a n d 4:Jg4 .
I n stead h owever, Black chose a
n ew move �cS .

8.a3
12.4)d5
My instincts told me that t h e
m ove �cS l e ft h is g7 sq u a re wea k Th e move 1 2 . eS is a lso good here.
a n d if t h e Bishop l eft t h e f8-a3
d iago n a l then the d6 s q u a re wo u ld 1 2 . . . . ex d5?
beco m e wea k too. So I thought a
Black was better off decl i n i n g the
p l a n of a3, b4 , a n d �b2 seemed to
sacrifice with the m ove f6 and
fit the objectives .
leaving t h e W h ite Knight d a ngli ng.
8 . ... a6 9.b4 .Q.a7 10 . .Q.b2
13.exd5 4) d8?
a n d just l i ke that my da rk-
One t h i n g I h ave lea rned about t h e
···

sq u a red Bishop is p o i n t i n g d i rectly

t h e m atic 4::\ d S sacrifice fro m
at h is wea k g7 sq u a re.
"Mayhem in t h e M o rra ! " i s you
10 . ... 4) ge7 1 1 . §cl ca n not accept the sacrifice a n d
hold o nto t h e acq u i red m ateri a l .
Wh ite is p repa ring fo r a t h e m atic
b reakt h rough sta rting with the 14. §el!
move, 4::\ d S. J u st m o re wisdom
W h ite is i n n o rush to gra b his
i m p a rted from M a rc Esserm a n a n d
m ateria l back. I n stea d W h ite
h is fa b u lous book, "Mayhem i n t h e
b u ilds t h e p ress u re with even
M orra ! " .

64
 S m i t h - M o rra G a mbit

mo re th reats like d6 for exa m p le .

t 4 . . . . b 5 t5.Ah3 d6?

Black cracks u n der t h e p ressu re .

H e h a d to give back the piece with
"2ie6, however, lower rated p layers
a re very h esita nt a bout givi ng back
m ateria l even if it h elps t h e m s low
down the oppon ent's offensive.

t6. �e2 �b7 17.A xg7

Yo u a lways h ave to t h i n k twice

a bout capt u ring a pawn in fro nt of
yo u r King.
F i n a l Position
17 . . . . §gs 18.Af6 Ah3
--------- G a m e #037 ----------
It d i d not take Black long to util ize
the open g-fi le for a possible (W) MassCarnage (2200}
offen sive counterattack. ( B) jus m ove ( 1540}
19.lclg5 [ B 2 1] ICC 3 0, 08/04/2012

Wh ite counters the Black th reat 1 .e4 c5 2.d4 c x d4 3.c3 dxc3

[Link] xc3 e6 5.lclf3 lclc6 6.Ac4
with an offensive d efensive move.
�c7 7.o-o Ab4
You s h o u l d a lways look for m oves
of t h is gen re a n d be s u re t h ey Th is t i m e a ro u n d Black tries Ab4
work too . i n stead of Ac5 . My tho ughts h e re
a re s i m i l a r to the last ga m e except
19 . . . . A xg2
I feel I shou ld hold onto the pesky
Sorry, but t h is m ove does n ot q u eenside Knight as h e see m s to
d efend the Wh ite th reats. i n itiate more t h a n h is s h a re of
mayhem in t h is openi ng.
20.� x e7+ � x e7 2 1 . § xe7+
<it'fS 22. lcl xh7 :t1= 1-0 8. lcl b5! �b8 9.a3

65
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

N ow back to the thought of a3, b4 , my .ilf4 . § e l d iscou rages both of

a n d .ilb2 as i n the last ga m e . those p l a n s . In a d d ition § e l does
not sca re B lack away from cast l i ng
9 . . . . Ae7 10.e5! kingside wh ere h e l acks adeq uate
d efend ers.
With the Black Bishop now on e7
a n d my q u eenside Kn ight a l ready 13 . . . . o-o 14.Ag5 4)d5?
on b5, the m ove e5 was a lot m o re
enticing t h a n other a ltern atives. Black sta rts to crack fro m the
p ress u re. H e s h o u l d have p layed
10 . ... a6 b5 to p roceed wit h the activation
of h is l ight-sq u a red Bishop.
Black forces my Kn ight i nto t h e
hole o n d6. 15.A xd5 exd5 16.� x d5 b5
17. §ad l
1 1. 4) d6+ "'1, x d6 1 2.exd6
With a solid adva ntage, I decided
N ow W h ite has a pawn wedged i n to d eve lop my q u eenside Rook to
on t h e d 6 sq u a re. Black' s iss u es d l . Th e m ove frees my Qu een
related to t h is d evel o p m ent a re : fro m the d efensive respo nsibility
the B l a c k q u eenside fo rces h ave of the d-pawn a n d e n a b les the
been effectively sepa rated from Qu een to attack B lack's Ki ng.
the ki ngside; 17 . ... Ab7 18.�f5

B l ack' s d a rk s q u a res a re very weak Wh ite rem oves t h e Qu een fro m

(e7, g7, f8, d8); a n d h a rm's way, avo i d i n g t h e possible
d iscovered attack from the Bishop
the m o b i l ity of t h e Black Qu een,
on bl. I n a d d ition t h e move
q u eenside Rook a n d h is Bishop a re
attacks t h e d 7 pawn a n d sets u p
close to n i l .
.ile7 fo l lowed b y 4Jg5 .
1 2 . ... 4)f6 13.§el
18 . ... f6!
A pract ica l cho ice based on
B lack cou nters with the o n ly non­
d efe n d i ng my d-pawn and wa iting
losing move.
fo r Black to castle. M y co ncerns
were with Black p l aying a fut u re 19.Af4 4)e5?
4Jd5 or perhaps e5 i n response to

66
 S m i t h - M orra Ga mbit

Once aga i n the p ress u re of having a ltern atives were ins ufficient too,
to p lay perfect ch ess is too d ifficu lt such a s :
fo r the h u m a n . Th e best choice i s
2 5 . . . . h6 26. § e7 § f8
t o avo1. d th e p ress u re s o m e h ow. I
27. 'ltfg6 ;
know: easier said t h a n d o n e .
2 5 . . . . g6 26. 'ltfh6 'ltfb6+ 27. Jlf2
20.4) xe5 fxe5 2 1 . � xeS Ac6 'ltfd8 28. §e7; a n d
Black is clinging to h o pes of 2 5 . . . . § f8 2 6 . § e7 §f6 2 7 . 'ltig5
reaching an O p posite Co lored § f7 28. § e8 + § f8 29. § xf8+ �xf8
Bishop's endga m e, where h is 30. 'ltle7 + �g8 3 1 . �e8 # .
pawn d eficit wo u ld p rovid e som e
26.f!e7 �f8 [Link] 1-0
d rawing cha nces. Howeve r i n
positio ns with Qu eens, Rooks, a n d W h ite wins after 27 . . . . § c8
Opposite Colo red Bishops on t h e 28. �g5 g6 29. Jld4 Jlb7 30. 'ltie5
boa rd, t h e s i d e with t h e better as Black ca n no longer d efen d t h e
attack wins. Such is the case h ere. wea k d a rk sq u a res a rou n d h is King.

22.Ag3

Once aga i n W h ite sheds t h e

d efensive res po n s i b i l ity o f h is
Qu een .

22 . ... �b7 23.f3

One last d efensive m a neuver to

b l u nt the B l ack Qu een a n d Bishop
battery before I p roceed to attack
the weak d a rk sq u a res a ro u n d the
Black King.

23 . ... §fe8 24.�hS § x el+ F i n a l Positio n

25.§ xel �c8
--------- G a m e #038 ----------
Black d efends aga i n st the back
r a n k checkm ate th reat of (W) Joel Johnson (2284)
26. § e8+ § xe8 27. 'ltfxe8 # . Ot her (B) Richard S m ouse ( 1521)

67
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vol u m e #00 1

[ B 2 1] G a m e N ightz Tou rn ey, 1 1 .Ab3

Phoen ix, AZ, ( Rou n d 1), 8/2 5/2012
W h ite decides to avoid t ra d i n g
1 .e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 4) c6 m o re pieces even t h o u g h t h e l i n e
4.4)f3 d xc3 1 1 . 4:Jxc5 4:Jxc4 1 2 . �g4 is very
favora ble.
Black h a s a cha nge of h e a rt related
to accepti ng the ga m b it when 11 . . . . t\'b6 12.4) x c5
fa ced with the poss i b i l ity of a b ig
Wh ite center after 5 . cxd4. Another way to p roceed for W h ite
is 1 2 . Af4 4:Jc6 13. § c l . Th e
5.4) xc3 e6 6.Ac4 Ac5 e l i m i n ation of the d a rk-sq u a red
Bishop and the free tem po on the
Th is seems l i ke a very u n u s u a l
Black Queen seem ed l i ke sufficient
p l a c e to put the Bishop.
co m pensation for the Knight.
7.0-0
1 2 . . . . t\' xc5 13.Ae3 t\'e7
Up to t h is point I h ave been 14 . .§cl
d evelo ping as per t h e sta n d a rd Chess masters utilize a l l their
set u p . pieces for maxi m u m p ressu re on
7 . ... 4)ge7 8.e5 t h e d efen der.

One of the key ideas in the 14 . ... 4)c6

"Mayhem i n the Morra" book is to Black is defe n d i n g aga i n st the
play e5 early rega rd less of t h reat of 15. Axa7 § xa7
whether o r not yo u lose t h e pawn . 1 6 . § xc8+ a n d the poss i b i l ity of
The m ove p rovid es W h ite with 1 5 . § c7.
m o re piece activity and a possible
m ethod of exploiting d a rk-sq u a re 1 5.Ac5
wea k n esses i n t h e Black position
F rom h e re on out, Black will feel
(d6}.
t h e loss of h i s d a rk-s q u a red Bishop.
8 . . . . 4)g6 9.4)e4
1 5 . . . . t\'f6
Wh ite sacrifices t h e e-pawn for
" Ma rc Esserm a n a n d his fa b u lous
d a rk-s q u a re co u nterplay.
book, "Mayhem .m t h e M orra I" . "
9 . . . . 4)gxe5 10.4) xe5 4) xe5

68
 S m it h - M o rra G a mbit

18. §fdl E!d8

16.t?/d6
19.Aa4tt
W h ite plays the m ost aggressive
move in this positio n . M oves of W h ite d i rect ly attacks on the
t h is i l k req u i re t h e d efender to a4-e8 d iago n a l . Th e c6 and d7
. sq u a res a re wea k a n d i n
respond i n a n a ccu rate a n d p recise
m a n ner or lose q u ickly. com b i n ation with the d a rk-sq u a re
o n e S , the Black d efenses cru m b le.
16 . ... b6?
19 . ... t?/g5 20. § x c6!!
Black needed to c h a l lenge th �
aggressive position of the W h ite W h ite's l ight-s q u a red Bishop is
.
Qu een with 16 . . . . �e5 . worth m o re t h a n h is c-Rook .m th is
positio n .
17.Aa3 Ab7
2 0. ... f6
N ow c h a l lenging the W h ite Qu een
with either 1 7 . . . . �e5? or Black is co m p l etely lost as
1 7 . . . . �e7? loses i m m ed iately to 20 . . . . b5, is m et with 2 1 . Axb5
1 8. § xc6! . With the Black Bishop �xb5 22. �e7 # .
on b7, the d7 sq u a re beco m es a
21. t?/e7 * 1-0
ta rget of attack.

69
 Atta c k i n g 10 1: Vo l u m e #00 1

to play th ese systems a n d even

Pirc/M odern Defense
m o re ways that low rated p l ayers
p lay t h e m .

Techniq ues Learned

M uch l i ke the cha pters on the

atta.c k systems fo r the Sici l i a n
G ra n d Prix a n d t h e Yugoslav Attack,
yo u want to post yo u r p ieces o n
specific sq u a res a n d attack. Ot her
than a few particu l a r n u a n ces, the
princip les a re the s a m e aga inst the
P i rc/Modern Defense.
One of my beliefs a bout ch ess
p layers whom p lay either the P i rc I n the fi rst ga m e Black pl ays what
or Modern Defe n ses, is t h ey tend a m o u nts to the Poison Pawn
to be cagey Sici l i a n p layers. va riation of the Sici l i a n Defense
Secretly i n s i d e t h ey d esire to p lay without the move c5.
t h e Sici l i a n Defense b ut want to
--------- G a m e #039 ----------
avoid some of the atta ck systems
l i ke the G ra n d P rix and t h e
(W) MassCa rnage (2200)
Yugoslav Attack. A s a resu lt, I w i l l
freq u e ntly p lay t h o s e systems ( B) lzeelden ( 1568)
aga i n st t h e m rega rd less. [ BOG] I CC 3 0, OG/10/2012

1 .e4 g6 2.d4 Ag7 3.Ae3

Mod ern Defense ( BOG)
t .e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3 . .£\f3 Ag7
W h ite p re p a res for a q u ick strike
1 .e4 g6 2.d4 Ag7 3.Ae3 c6
with �d2 and Ah6.
Pirc Defense ( B07)
3 . . . . c6
1 .e4 d6 2 . .£\c3 .£\ f6
1 .e4 d6 2.d4 .£\ f6 3 . .£\ c3
After t h is m ove, Black see m s
Th ere a re so m a n y ways fo r Black t o be p repa ring t h e m ove d 5 .

70
 P i rc/M odern Def e n s e

4. �d2 �b6 5 . .£\ c3 It seems fitting that Black wo u l d

lose insta ntly on a nother pawn
W h ite conti n u es to d evelop a n d
move. Black made five Queen
the position closely rese m b les t h e
moves and five pawn m oves in h is
poison pawn va riation o f t h e
fi rst eleven moves. D u ring the
Sici l i a n Defense.
s a m e t i m e fra m e, White
5 . ... � x b2 d evelo ped a l l h is p i eces in a n
orga n ized fas h i o n . Th is scen a rio is
Black gra bs the pawn a n d W h ite a very co m m o n occu rre nce in
j u st keeps on d eveloping. ga m es aga i n st lower rated p layers.
6. §bl �a3 7 . .£\ f3 �a5 12 . .i}. x f7+ 1-0
Black has m a d e fo u r Qu een m oves Black loses h is Qu een after
and two pawn m oves i n h is fi rst 12 . . . . �xf7 13. �xd8.
seve n m oves . Wh ite q u ietly
p roceeds with h is d evelo p m ent --------- G a m e #040 ----------
befo re u n leash ing a n attack with
h is fu l l a rmy. (W) MassCarnage (2211)
( B) glad iator46 ( 1672)
8 . .1}.c4 c5 9.0-0 d6 10. §b5
[ BOG] ICC tourney 387536 (3 0),
�d8
( Ro u n d 5), 08/25/2011

1 .e4 g6 2 . .£\c3 d6 3.f4

Another m ethod of h a n d l i n g t h is
system is to play a G ra n d Prix
Attack.

3 . ... .£\f6 4 . .£\f3 Ag7 5.Ac4

0-0 6.f5

At t h is point we h ave a typ ica l

G ra n d P rix set u p fo r W h ite a n d
B l a c k h a s eve ryt h i n g in place
except the move c5.

6 . . . . c6
1 1 .dxc5 dxc5??

71
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Qu ite freq u ently Black will p l ay c5 b-pawn fo r h is center pawn on e4.

here to tra nspose i nto a Sici l ia n . In a d d ition W h ite m u st p re p a re fo r
Th e move c 6 p rovid es Black with a Black' s u pcom i ng move b4.
ra nge of possible fut u re
9 . ... b4 10 . .£le2 .i}.a6
cont i n u ations l i ke 4Jxe4, b5, a n d
d5. Up u ntil t h is point in the ga m e
W h ite has b e e n d a ngling his
7.Ab3
f- pawn. Wh ite d a res Black to
Th e retreat of the Bishop e n a b l es ca ptu re the pawn and open u p h is
W h ite to avoid 4Jxe4 a n d p rovides King, a s wel l a s t h e f-file for
so m e flex i b i l ity in d ea l i ng with the Wh ite's kingside Roo k. White
move d5. I n pa rticu l a r, the wa nts to ca pt u re the Black pawn
possible advance of e5 or t h e o n g6 res u lting in a poor pawn
s h o r i n g u p t h e defense o f e 4 i s struct u re (fia nchetto with no
n o w possi ble. h-pawn) for Black. H owever White
a lso wants to p revent Ag4 a n d t h e
7 . ... a5
t ra d e o f h is kingside Knight w h ich
B lack intends on q u eenside pawn is the ca use of the ca ptu re delay.
expa nsion with the m oves a4 a n d
1 1 .fxg6
b5.
With the possibility of Ag4 n o
8.a4
longer a n issu e, White
Th e best m ethod of thwa rting the i m m ed i ately trades on g6.
Black q u eenside expansion.
11 • • . • h xg6 1 2.0-0 e6 13. 'li)tel
8 . . . . b5
Wh ite's p l a n is s i m p le, 4Jg5, 'lifh4,
Black feels u n d eterred by t h e § xf6 ( remove the d efender of h 7),
m ove a 4 a n d p lays b5 a nyway and 'lifxh7 # .
because the Wh ite Kn ight o n c3
13 • . . . .£ig4 14. 'li)tg3
j u st h a ppens to a lso be defe n d i n g
the W h ite p a w n o n e4 . Black h a d p revented the move
'lifh4. Th e Wh ite Qu een on g3
9.d3
attacks the Black Kn ight on g4 a n d
W h ite is u nw i l l i n g to tra d e Black's opens u p t h e a lternate move 'lifh3

72
 P i rc/ M od e r n D efense

as a m e a n s of attacking the Black a n swer is: Without a n h-pawn,

wea kness (h7 s q u a re ) . Black is u n a b l e to s h ield the h7
sq u a re fro m attack with t h e moves
1 4. ... �b6+?
h6 a n d h 5 . In a d d ition, beca use
N ever ch eck without a reaso n . t h e h7 sq u a re is on the edge of the
W h ite is very h a p py t o s e e t h is boa rd , fre q u ently Black's pieces
move beca use W h ite earns a free a re u n a ble to d efe n d the sq u a re.
m ove to protect h is Ki ng a n d m o re
16 . . . . c5
i m p orta ntly, the Black Queen h a s
a b a n do n ed the d efense o f her Clea rly Black is ob livious to
King. W h ite's attack.

1 5.�hl 4) e5? 17. �h4 §eS

With the Black Kn ight on e5, the Black clea rs the f8 sq u a re fo r h i s

wea k h7 s q u a re awa its the W h ite K i n g t o avoid 1 8 . �h7 # .
i nvasio n .
1s. �h7+ �fs 19.Af4

W h ite h a s m a ny wi n n ing m oves i n

t h is position but the chosen
straightforwa rd "attack the
d efe n d er of t h e f7 sq u a re" m ove
see m s a p p rop riate.

19 . ... §a7

If Black defended h is Kn ight with

19 . . . . 1£lbd7 , W h ite wo u l d win
with 20. Axe5 1£lxe5 2 1 . 1£lxf7!
1£lxf7 22. 1£lf4.

20.A, xe5 dxe5

16.4)g5!
D u e to the p i n on Black's f- pawn
Wh ite heads d i rectly for the wea k from the W h ite Rook o n fl , the
h7 s q u a re. Why is the h7 sq u a re so Black Pawns o n g6, e6, and f7 a re
wea k i n t h is pawn fo rmatio n ? Th e a l l v u l n era b le to ca ptu re.

73
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

2 1 . � xg6 §ee7 22.A x e6 § xe6 Th e m a i n difference b etween t h is

23. § x f7+ <it'eS 24. � xg7 §g6 ga m e a n d the last ga m e is t h e
25.�fS # 1-0
placem ent o f the Black da rk­
--------- G a m e #041 ---------- sq u a red Bishop a n d the Black
kingside pawn st ruct u re . Aga i n st
(W) MassCa rnage (2200) the fia nchetto set u p, Wh ite wa nts
to attack the h7 sq u a re with f5 ,
( B) G reen - Pigeon ( 162 3 )
�h4, Jlh6, a n d 4:Jg5 . Here W h ite
[ B 0 7] ICC 20 20, 05/15/2012
wa nts to attack the g7 sq u a re with
1.e4 d6 2.4)c3 4) f6 3.f4 �g3, f5 , a n d i.th6.

W h ite sel ects t h e G ra n d P rix 12.4)ed4

attack aga i n st the P i rc Defense too.
U n fort u n ately Black is p reventing
3 . . . . 4)bd7 4. 4)f3 e6 5. Ac4 c6 my inte n d ed move 12. �g3
beca use of 1 2 . . . 4:Jxe4! 1 3 . dxe4
.

Once aga i n Black a i m s for t h e

Jlxe2.
move d5 to b l u nt W h ite's center
control. 1 2 . . . . c5?

6. Ah3 Here is a classic exa m p l e of how

h igher a n d lower rated p l ayers
As in the last ga m e Wh ite
view the board d ifferently. Black
i n creases h is d efe nsive options i n
sees the attack of the pawn on c6.
res ponse t o B l ack's i ntended m ove
W h ite views the attack of the c6
d5 by retreating t h e Bishop to b3.
sq u a re . Black was req u i red to
6 . . . . Ae7 7.o-o o-o s.d3 h5 d efen d the c6 s q u a re a n d in some
insta n ces the potentia l fo rk on the
Black p l a n s on creating e6 sq u a re. A more a p p rop riate
co u nterplay on the q u eenside with m ove wo u l d have been �b6, .§ c8,
h is pawns. W h ite on the oth e r or �c7.
h a n d i n t e n d s on attacking t h e
Black K i n g i n G ra n d P rix style, 13.4)c6! �e8 14.f5
q u ickly a n d effectively.
An aggressive m ove aimed at
9.�el a5 10.a4 h4 1 1 .4)e2 attacking the l ight sq u a res, e6 a n d
Aa6 f7.

74
 P i rc/M odern Def e n s e

14 . ... e5 We a lso n eed to recogn ize one

ot her i m p o rta nt as pect of t h is
W h ite is d o m i n ating after
p a rticu l a r wedge. N o rm a l ly the
1 4 . . . . exfS 1 5 . 4Jh4 ! ! . Th e W h ite
Black King is situ ated on the h8
Knight will soon occ u py the fS
s q u a re a n d the Black f-pawn is on
s q u a re a n d exert a great dea l of
f6. We shall soon see why t h is is
p ress u re o n the Black kingside a n d
i m p o rta nt.
the wea k g7 sq u a re.
1 5 . �h4 4) d5??
The m ove e5 creates a wedge
position . Th is pawn fo rmation (a Why do low rated p l ayers have to
m a ssive pawn wedge from c2 to play moves with s i m p l e attacks
fS ) leaves W h ite with a strategic eve n when the moves serio usly
win . Why? Th ere a re t h ree reaso ns. com p rom ise their positions, l i ke
here?
The first reason is related to the
fact that the Black pawn fo rmation 16.4) xe7+ 4) x e7
com p l etely sh uts out Black's
p i eces, leaving him v u l n era ble at
the wea kest point of h is fo rmation
(the h-fi l e ) . A Roo k and m aybe a
Bishop ca n h e l p d efe n d g7 with h is
King but t h e h7 s q u a re is the
Ach i l les' Heel.

Th e secon d reason is that Wh ite

controls a h u ge spatial a rea i n
fro nt o f B l a c k ' s King, st retch ing
fro m c l to gS to hS to h l . W it h i n
that a rea, Wh ite ca n b u i l d u p a
d ecisive force befo re b rea king
t h rough on the Black kingside. 17.Ag5!

Th e t h i rd reason is W h ite's attack Once aga i n the key to th is m ove

h a p pens sign ifica ntly faster t h a n relates to the d i rect attack of the
B l a c k ' s q u eenside co u nter- p l ay. f6 sq u a re and i n d i rectly the g7

75
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

sq u a re, n ot t h e assa u lt of the --------- G a m e #042 ----------

B lack Kn ight o n e7.
(W) M assCa rnage ( 2200)
17 . . .. 4) c6 18 . .Q.d5
( B) JorgelV ( 1727)
W h ite slips in a m ove d esigned to [ B07] ICC 3 0, 07/26/2012
tie down the Black pieces before
1 .e4 d6 2.4)c3 c6 3.f4 4) f6
p roceed ing with his kingside attac k
4.4)f3 b5 5.a3 a5 6.e5
plan.
Wh ite co rrectly decides to seize
18 . . . . .Q.b7 19.f6!
the i n itiat ive in the center instead
A m u lti-pu rpose m ove a i m ed at of a m o re trad itio n a l G ra n d Prix
co m p l etely s h utting o ut the Black Attack a s i n the previo u s ga mes.
d efe n d ers fro m t h e kingside.
6 . ... 4)g8
19 . ... gx f6
Black s h o u l d tra de o n e5 a n d place
N o better are: h is Kn ight o n d5 .

1 9 . . . . �xf6 20.iixf6 g xf6 2 1 .�xc6 7.d4

iixc6 2 2 . �g5 fxg5 23.�xg5 + �h8
24.�f6+ �g8 25 . .§ f3 ; or Wh ite d o m i n ates the center of the
boa rd and leads in d evelopm ent
1 9 . . . . �d8 20.fxg7 �xg7 2 1 . iixb7 too.
�xb7 22 . .Q.h6+ �h8 2 3 . �g5 .
7 . . . . Ag4 s . .Q.d3 e6 9.h3 Ah5
2 0. .Q. x f6 .£) xf6 2 1 . t(Y x f6 10.0-0 d5

M ore accu rate is 2 1 . �g5 + �h8 Wh ite enjoys a h uge lead i n

2 2 . �xf6+ etc. as Wh ite saves a development. I n sit u ations l i ke t h is
tem po by fo rcing the Black King to Wh ite should open u p the position
move away with c h eck. fo r h is pieces and expose Black' s
2 1 . .. . §b8 22.4)g5 1 - 0 lack o f development. B l a c k on t h e
other h a n d wa nts to k e e p t h e
Bl ack's h 7 sq u a re is term i n a l ly position closed, w h i c h exp l a i n s t h e
wea k a s checkm ate ca n n ot be m ove d5 a n d W h ite's n ext m ove.
av oided after Wh ite p lays
1 1 .f5
22 . . . . �h6.

76
 P i rc/M od e r n Def ense

W h ite is a lso wi n n i n g after 1 1 . g4 ! 16 . . . . f!g8 17.� d6+ �d7

a n d 1 2 . fS . 18. t:\'g4+ �f 5

1 1 . . . . exf5 12.A xf5 � e7 B lack's position is i n s h a m b les a n d

13.Ad3 Ag6? the end i s n e a r.

Th e biggest p roblem with not

developing you r pieces is
d efe n d i n g aga i n st a l l the
su bseq uent p ress u re. You a re
req u i red to play pe rfect chess.
Most h u m a n players a re not u p to
the task even for a short i nterva l .

19. f! x f5!

Th e Black King exposu re in

com b i n ation with the fa b u lous
output fo r the Wh ite Kn ight on d6
lead to q u ick conclusion to the
game.

19 . ... gxf5 20. t:\' x f5+ �c7

14.�g5! t:\'b6 1 5 . A xg6
Wh ite a lso checkm ates the Black
White defends his d-pawn a n d
King on all a ltern ative m oves such
e l i m i n ates t h e defender o f f7 i n
as:
o n e m ove.
20 . . . . �d8 2 1 . 1'£tc8+ �e7
1 5 . . . . f xg6 16.�f7 2 2 . 1'£te8 # ;
Th e White Kn ight heads for the 20 . . . . �e 7 2 1 . JlgS # .
key out post on t h e d6 sq u a re.

77
 Atta c k i n g 101: Vo l u m e #00 1

2 1 . �cS # 1-0 Black s h o u l d m a ke a n attem pt at

wi n n i ng the Wh ite Kn ight with
--- ------ Game #043 ---------- �d8 ( p reventing the Kn ight's exit
via the c7 s q u a re ) .
(W) MassCa rnage (2200)
( B) RRCH ESSMAN200 9 ( 1412) 1 0 . 4) xaS e5?
[ B07] ICC tourney 406232 ( 3 O),
Once aga i n Black cou ld m a ke
( R o u n d 5), 09/12/2012
t h i ngs m o re d ifficu lt with 4Je8
1.e4 d6 2.4Jc3 4J d7 3.f4 g6 ( p rotecting the c7 s q u a re ) .
4.4Jf3 Ag7 5.Ac4 4Jgf6?
1 1 .0-0
W h ite is fo l lowing t h e typ ica l
Sici l i a n G r a n d Prix m ove order a n d My position is a l ready win n i ng so
co m p leting my developm ent will
Black i s correspo n d i ng with a
typ ica l P i rc Defense m ove keep Black from atta i n i ng a n y
seq uence . H owever Black did not u nwa rranted cou nter-p lay.
recogn ize how wea k h is e6 sq u a re 1 1 . ... 4Jc5 12.d3 Ag4 13.�el
is. 4J e6 14.fxe5

6. "'1, x f7+! Wh ite now owns the f-fi le with h is

Rook a n d a potentia l ly bruta l pin
Th e move eS is eq u a l ly as stro ng.
on the Black Kn ight on f6. I n
6 . ... � x f7 7.4J g5+ a d d ition Wh ite fixed the Black
pawn on eS thus blocking i n the
W h ite fo rces the Black Ki ng Black Bishop on g7.
backwa rds, away fro m the e6
s q u a re. 14 . ... dxe5 15.�h4

7 . ... �gs S.4Je6 �es Wh ite a d d s to the p ress u re on the

p i n n ed Kn ight on f6. I n a d d ition
I n order to p rotect h i s Qu een, Wh ite t h reatens to win two m i nor
Black m ust walk i nto the Qu een p i eces for a Rook after 1 6 . .§ xf6
and Roo k fork. W h ite h a s seen fa r Axf6 1 7 . �xg4 . Th e rest is easy.
enough a h ead to rea l ize he will
win the Black Rook on a8 too . 1 5 . ... 4J f4 16."'1, xf4 exf4
17 . .§ x f4 �e6 lS . .§afl h6
9. 4J x c7 �f7? 19 . .§ x f6 "'1, x f6 20 . .§ x f6 �d7
21 . .§ xg6+ �h7 22. � x h6 # 1-0

78
 Yugos lav Att a c k

Yugoslav Attack Yugoslav Attack ( B78)

1 . e4 c5 2. �f3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
� x d4 �f6 5. � c3 g6 6. Ac4
Ag7 7. Ae3 0-0 8. �d2 �c6
9. o-o-o Ad7 10. f3

Tra nspositions

When p l aying t h e Yugoslav Attack

aga i n st t h e Pirc Defen se,
freq uently Black will play cS later
i n the ga m e and head fo r the
norm a l move seq u e nce of a
Sici l i a n D rago n .
The Yugoslav Attack h a s t h e basic
Wh ite set u p a s shown i n t h e a bove
Techniq ues Lea rned
d iagra m . Wh ite a i m s to b l a st Black
off t h e board as i n the fol lowi ng
sa m p l e ga me (G a m e #044).
Th e Yugoslav Attack is a system
Although the opening va riat ion is rich i n tactics and aggressive
d esigned fo r utilization aga i n st the attacking p l ay. Th e o p e n i n g will
Sici l i a n D rago n, I h ave had s uccess increase you r overa l l tactica l and
p l ayi ng this l i n e vers u s the attacking a b i l ities.
P i rc/M odern Defense too.
H ere is a n exa m p le of the basic
concept behind t h e l i n e .

Opening Li nes --------- G a m e #044 ----------

(W) FearNoEvil (2200)

Th e Yugos lav Attack genera lly
( B) baron25 ( 1545)
sta rts with the fo l lowi ng m ove
[ B07] ICC 2 1, 09/09/2006
seq u ence :

79
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

1.e4 d6 2.d4 4) f6 3.4)c3 g6 t h e pawns on d4. Th e d ifference

4.Ac4 Ag7 5.4)ge2 0-0 6.f3 between the positions is n egligi ble
fo r W h ite. However, t h e d ifference
Th e basic p lacement of the Wh ite
fo r Black is m ajor, a s m uc h of
p ieces is begi n n i n g to ta ke s h a p e .
Black' s p l ay i n the Sicilian Dragon
6 . . . . c6 h a p pens a long the c-file. N o open
c-file eq u a ls no Black attack.
Often Black decides to tra nspose
i nto the Sici l i a n Drago n with c5 10.h4
h ere. Th e s u p po rting m ove c6
Wh ite has every i ntention of
e n a b les Black to co u nter with
blasting open the h-file a n d m ating
either b5 or d5.
the Black Ki ng a long it .
7.Ae3 a5
10 . ... exd4
Black is attem pting to ga in fu l l
co ntrol o f t h e q u een s i d e space Typica l ly Black p lays the m ove h5
with the idea of slowing down
with the m ove b5.
Wh ite's attack.
8.a4
1 1 .4) x d4 �e5
Th is move stops Black's p l a n for
t h e meantime. Another co m m o n Black m a n euver
i n the Sicil i a n Dragon, which is j ust
8 . . . . 4) bd7 9.�d2 no good h ere. No open c-fi le
eq u a ls no Black atta ck.
W h ite l i n es up h is Qu een a n d
Bishop in prep a ration fo r knocking 12.Ab3 �h5??
out t h e Black fia nchetto Bishop o n
Th is move provides Wh ite with
g7. Th e e l i m i n ation o f the Black
two free tem pos in a position
d a rk-s q u a red Bishop creates d a rk
sq u a re wea k n esses a l l a ro u n d the where Black needs every m ove he
King a n d leaves Black without h is ca n m u ster.
best d efen der. 13.0-0-0
9 . . . . e5 Wh ite com p letes h is d evelopm ent
I n the Sic i l i a n Dragon, Black wo u l d a n d wi l l be a b l e t o focus a l l his
resou rces i nto a fu l l-fledged attack
have p layed c5 instead a n d traded

80
 Yugos l a v Att a c k

on the Black Ki ng. m ista ke m a d e by p l a ye rs is to

tra d e B i s h o p s a n d p l ay t h e m ove
13 . ... �c7 14.g4
h6. After w h i c h t h e W h ite Roo k o n
W h ite kicks the Black Knight out of h l h a s b e e n tra n sfo r m e d fro m a
the way so he ca n p roceed with h i s beast a lo n g t h e h -fi l e, attacking
p l a n o f opening u p t h e h-fi l e for many of t h e wea kest sq u a res in
h is Rook on h l . t h e B l a c k King's d efe n s ive ca m p,
to a d efen s ive p i ece, tied down to
1 4. . . . �f6 1 5.Ah6 d efe n d i n g the W h ite pawn o n h 6 .
W h ite p lays Ah6 first to lock i n t h e 17 . . . . h x g6
B l a c k h-pawn . So m e p layers utilize
t h is m a n euver even before the Beca u s e of t h e p i n o n t h e f7 pawn,
m ove h4. B lack fee l s forced to ca ptu re with
h is h - p aw n leaving h is h8 sq u a re
1 5 . ... Ad7 16.h5 b5 term i n a lly wea k .

18. A xg7 � xg7 19. �h6+ 1 - 0

17.h xg6

Wh ite opens u p the h -fi l e fo r h i s F i n a l Position

Rook, wh ich is the m a i n p u rpose o f
p a w n storms. And n ot s u r p risingly, Black is c h ec k m ated after
checkmate fo l lows. A co m m o n 19 . . . . �g8 20. '1'£1h8 # .

81
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Center Counter
Techniq ues Learned
Defense

Th e Center Co u nter Defense is

designed for wide-open p lay. Black
plays the m ove dS to i m m ed iately
c h a l lenge Wh ite's center. He has
two main options after W h ite
ca ptu res h is pawn on dS.

Th e fi rst choice is 2
. 1¥i'xd5,
. . .

reca ptu ring the White pawn with a

p l a n of utilizing the Qu een as a n
aggressive attacker. Th e downside
to Black's plan is his Qu een ca n
beco m e a ta rget of attack.
Black freq u ently e m p loys t h e
Center Co u nter Defense as a Th e seco n d a ltern ative is 2 �f6
. . . .

m e a n s of attacking W h ite. As a with t h e i ntention of reca pt u ring

res u lt W h ite h a s to grab control of the Wh ite pawn on dS with the
the center i n the openi ng, a n d kingside Kn ight. Th e Kn ight ca n
n ever let go . a lso beco m e a ta rget of attack for
Wh ite.
Th e opening is a lso co m m o n ly
kn own a s t h e Sca n d i n avia n Th e two exa m p le ga m es sh owcase
Defe nse. each of the two m a i n a ltern atives .

Center Co u nter ( BOl) --------- G a m e #045 ----------

1 .e4 d5 [Link] 5 �xd5 3. �c3
�a5 4.b4 (W) MassCa rnage (2200)
Center Co u nter ( BOl)
( B) Floppyboard ( 157 3 )
1 .e4 d5 2.exd5 �f6 3.�c3 [ BOl] ICC 3 0, 11/14/2010
� x d5 4 . ..Q.c4
1 .e4 d5 2.exd5 � x d 5 3. �c3
�as 4.b4t?

82
 Center Counter Defe nse

I h ave d a b b led with p laying t h e W h ite wa nts to avoid a trade of

Center Cou nter Defe n se with Qu eens if Black decides to ca pt u re
Black. One m ove gives m e fits a n d on e 5 .
t h at is b4 . F o r the cost o f a pawn
1 2 . ... � x e 5 13.dxe5 �d5
W h ite can activate h is q u eenside
14. A x d5 c x d5?
Rook and create loads of press u re
o n B l ack's q u een side. When Black had been p laying well u p to
players beat m e with a n idea that I t h is point. F i n a l ly we witn ess Black
deem ve ry good, I figu re out h ow I sta rting to w i lt due to the
c a n a p ply it aga i n st oth e r players. pressu re . Th e m ove 1 4 . exd5
. . .

wo u l d h ave opened u p t h e c8-h3

4 . ... � x b4
d iago n a l fo r Bla ck's light-s q u a red
Th is pawn sacrifice is rea lly d iffic u lt Bishop w h i l e the Black pawn on c6
to t u rn d own as Black fi n d s h is co u l d p reve nt t h e Wh ite Kn ight
Qu een without a safe h ave n . fro m invading via the b5 sq u a re .

5.§bl �d6 6.�f3 c6 15.A xe7 � x e7 16.�b5

Black is concerned a bout a fut u re Th e d6 sq u a re a p pears so inviting

4:Jb5 attack o n h is Qu een a n d c7 for t h e Wh ite Knight. Th e o n ly
sq u a re . But what we see is Wh ite concern rel ates to whether Black
d eveloping h is p ieces w h i l e Black ca n u n derm i n e the s q u a re by
has o n ly made Qu een and pawn attacking t h e e5 pawn. Howeve r
moves so fa r. Black's l ight-s q u a red Bishop is of
no use in a ny type of attack on the
7.Ac4 e6 8.0-0 �f6 9.d4 d a r k sq u a re e5.
W h ite conti n u es with p ractica l 16 . ... 0-0 17.�d6 b6 18.f4
m oves l i ke d eveloping pieces .
Th e m ove f4 s u p po rts t h e e5 pawn
9 . ... �d8 10.A g5 Ae7 1 1 . �e5 and sign als an attem pt by W h ite to
m o b i l ize h is pieces towa rd s the
The W h ite pressu re is m o u nting.
My co m p uter says t h e position is Black Ki ng.
bas ica lly even wh ich means W h ite 18 . ... �d7 19. §b4
has a pawn's worth of p ressu re .
W h ite chose § b4 ove r §b3
1 1 . . . . � bd7 12.�e2

83
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

beca use of t h e option of :9. d4; 22 . . . . g6 23. �e3?

b locka d i n g Black's opening of the
a8-h l d iago n a l m ight be usefu l Although n ot obvious, t h e move
l ater on, but the p r i m a ry m otive 23 . .£ih6+ ! ! wins convincingly after
beh i n d both Roo k-lifting m oves - either:
:§b3 a n d :§ b4 - is a n attack on the
23 . . . . �h8 24 .:§f6! 'ltfe7 2 5 . :9. gf4
Black kingside. :9. ae8 26 . .£ixt7+ �g7 27 . .£id6; o r
19 . ... J;lb7
23 . . . . �g7 24 . :9. f6 'ltfc8 2 5 . 'ltfd2
Black d esperately desires to catch �h8 26 ..:§ h4 'ltfcS + 27.�h l 'ltfaS
up i n developm ent a n d perhaps is 28.'ltff2 'ltfcS 29.'ltffl .
u n awa re of the d a nger a h ead . Th e 23 . . . . §ad8?
m oves f6 or g6 co u l d have served
to b l u nt t h e i m pending W h ite Black need ed to cover the e7
atta ck. sq u a re with :9. ae8. N otice when
Wh ite (the aggressor) made an
20.f5 error the ga m e was sti l l relatively
Wh ite's attack begins to ta ke eve n . When Black erred, the ga m e
s h a pe. ca m e t o a n a b r u pt co nclusion.
Such is the typica l fort u n e of the
20 . . . . exf5 attacker.

I n view of W h ite's i ntended n ext

m ove, f6, Black selected h is best
d efense.

2 1 . 4) xf5 �e6 22.§ g4

Wh ite had a tough decision h ere as

both t h e g7 and h7 sq u a res a re
wea k. Th e Black King is t h e o n ly
d efender of t h ese sq u a res. Wh ich
sq u a re s h o u l d W h ite attack? W h ite
correct ly selected t h e g7 sq u a re
beca use the d a rk s q u a res seemed
easier to exp loit.

84
 Center Counter Def e nse

24.�h6! So fa r both sides h a v e d eve loped

their pieces a s t h ey shou ld, a n d
F i n a l ly the wea kness of the g7 a n d
Wh ite h a s a slight adva ntage d u e
h 7 sq u a res d eterm i n e the
t o Black's l ight-sq u a red Bishop sti l l
o utco m e of t h e ga m e .
sitti ng o n h i s h o m e sq u a re.
24. . . . � xe5 25. E!h4 �h8
9 . ... 4)d5 10.4) g3 4)cb4
U nfort u n ately for Black, h e n eeded 1 1 . Ab3 4) xc3 12.bxc3 4)d5
1 3.c4
the h8 sq u a re for h is K i ng.
Wh ite concedes t h e Bishop p a i r i n
26. 4)e7 =11= 1-0
exc h a nge for a big p a w n center
--------- G a m e #046 ---------- and an open f-fi le.

13 . ... 4) xe3 14.fxe3 Af6?

(W) MassCa rnage (2200)
( B) torre1217 ( 1 68 5 ) Black s h o u l d d evelop h is
[ BOl] ICC 15 0, 07 /25/2012 q u eenside Bishop with b6 a n d
Ab7 . B lack d id not rea lize h i s
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 4)f6 3.4)c3
Bishop co u l d not be m a i ntained o n
4) xd5
the f6 s q u a re beca use o f t h e
Black decides to ca pt u re with h is Wh ite Knight. Th e cost t o B l a c k fo r
Knight i nstead of h is Qu een. As t h is erro r is two tem p i, which is
Black, I h ave fo u n d myself sign ificant.
frequently i n t h is position because
1 5.c3 c5 16.4)e4 Ae7
m a ny p layers respond with 4::lc 3
when I p l ay the Alekhi ne's Th e Black Bishop is fo rced to
Defense. Th e move order wo u ld ret u rn to e7. If Black h a d u sed
be l . e4 4::l f6 2 .4::l c 3 d5 3 . exd5 those two m oves to play b6 a n d
4::\ x d5. Ab7, h i s position wo u l d b e sol i d .
4.Ac4 4)f6 17.d5

Th e solid m ove 4 . . . . e6 is u s u a lly Wh ite p roceeds to fo rce a passed

what Black p lays h ere . pawn with t h is aggressive m ove.
5.4)ge2 4)c6 6.d4 e6 7.0-0 17 . ... e x d5?
Ae7 8.h3 0-0 9.Ae3

85
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Black p lays t h e "autom atic" m ove, the board .

wh ich helps Wh ite by u n d o u b l ing
28 'i;Ng5 29.� xf5 §bdS
h is c-pawns and act ivating h is
. . • .

30. � d6 'i!Ne3+ 3 1 . 'it>h2 § xfl

Bishop. Th e m oves, fS to chase 3 2 . § x fl
away the W h ite Kn ight or b6 to
d evelop t h e q u eenside Bishop, a re 32. 4Jt7+ m ates i m m ed iately after
logica l fo l low u p m oves. 32 . . . . �g8 33. 4Jh6+ �h8
34 . �xd8+ etc .
18.cxd5 f5?
32 . ... §es
Black opens up the a2-g8 d iago n a l
fo r Wh ite's Bishop. Now W h ite wins in elega nt style
with a well-known S m othered
19.d6+ 'it>hS 20.d xe7 'l;N xe7 Checkmate co m b i n atio n .
2 1 .�f2
33.�f7+ 'it>gS 34.�h6+ 'it>hS
Once win n i ng t h e ga m e, like h ere,
the objective for t h e player who is
wi n n ing (Wh ite) s h o u l d be to
s i m p l ify the positio n by tra d i n g off
a l l the pieces.

2 1 . ... 'l;N xe3 22. 'i!Nd3 'i;Ng5

And co nversely, t h e objective for

the player who is losing ( Black)
s h o u l d be to p reserve h is p ieces.

23. §ael

W h ite activates h is q u eenside

Roo k. If yo u lea rn j u st o n e thing
35. 'i;NgS+!
fro m t h is book, it s h o u l d be "use
a l l yo u r pieces" . Wh ite fo rces the captu re of h is
Qu een a n d in the p rocess Black
23 . ... b6 24.Ad5 §bS 25.�e4
'i!Nd s 26.�g3 Ah7 27.§dl co m p l etely entombs h is Ki ng.
Axd5 28. 'i;N x d5
35 . ... § xg8 36. � f7 =11= 1-0
Two more p i eces d isappear from

86
 �cl3 French

�d3 French
Techniq ues Lea rned

Th e m a i n p u rpose b e h i n d the �d3

F rench is t h e aggressive
deployment of the White Qu een.
Wh ite wa nts to turn the passive
F rench Defense into an attacking
slugfest .

I n t h e fi rst ga m e B lack h ea d s down

the m ost co m m o n l i n e of the �d3
F rench Defense.

--------- G a m e #047 ----------

G ra n d m asters G e n n a d i Kuzmin,
Jon ny H ector, and l lya S m i ri n have (W) FearNoEvil ( 2200 )
a l l p l ayed the �d3 F ren c h . (B) SnowTiger ( 1793)
[ClS] I CC 3 0, 03/2 2/2006
Th e vast m ajo rity o f French p layers
want a strategica l ly closed chess 1 .e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4)c3 .'1.b4
ga m e . What I l i ke a bout t h is 4. �d3 dxe4
variation is how Wh ite ca n steer
Black h eads down the most
the ga m e away fro m tra d itio n a l
com m o n l i n e . Black ca ptu res the
closed positio ns i nto a w i d e open
Wh ite pawn on e4 so h e ca n earn
atta cking ga me.
a free tempo with the fo llow up
�d3 F rench Defense (Cll) move, 4Jf6. Wh ite is h a ppy to
1 .e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4)c3 4)f6 co m p ly beca use h e will h ave an
4.�d3 aggressive o utpost fo r his Qu een
on h4 .
�d3 F rench Defense (ClS)
1 .e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4)c3 .'1.b4 5. � x e4 4)f6 6. �h4
4.�d3 d x e4 5.�xe4
F req u ently you wi l l h e a r chess
authors a n d coaches say, " n ever

87
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

bring out yo u r Qu een ea rly" . Th is W h ite a n d h5 a n d a5 for B l a ck) a s

is a ge nera l ru le intended fo r h a p pens in t h is exa m p le.
p layers just sta rting out. Th e risk
6 . ... 4)c6 7.4)f3 4) d5
of adva ncing you r Qu een early in
the ga m e is you r op ponent may be Black wo u ld rea l ly love to tra d e
able to ea rn free d evelopment Qu eens to red uce the intim idating
tem pos ( m oves ) by attacking yo u r p resence of t h e Wh ite Qu een .
Qu een. For t h e m ost p a rt, M a sters
ad h e re to t h i s a dvice except i n a s.Ag5
co u p l e of i n sta n ces.
W h ite h a s no interest in t rading
Qu eens.

s . . . . f6 9.Ad2 o-o 10.Ad3 f5

Black b locks t h e p ress u re on the

h7 s q u a re a n d offers to trade
Qu eens aga i n .

1 1 .Ag5

And yet aga i n , White declines with

the attacking m ove llg5 .

1 1 . . . . �es 1 2.0-0

W h ite sacrifices a q u eenside pawn

One such situation occ u rs when for more development and so m e
they want to i nti m i d ate an attacking possi bilities.
oppon ent t h ey know is a wea k
1 2 . . . . 4) xc3 13.bxc3 A x c3
defend er. Although I perso n a l ly
feel the risk is u s u a lly not wort h it, With B lack's Bishop o n c3 a n other
beca use you should be a b le to opport u n ity for a free tempo with
exploit this wea kn ess later in the a Rook lift ( .§ d3) exists i n the nea r
ga m e . Th e seco nd i n sta nce futu re.
h a p pens when they ca n p lace their
[Link]
Qu een on a sq u a re t h at c a n n ot be
easily attacked ( l ike h4 a n d a4 fo r W h ite intends on p laying "'1c4 to

88
 'ffi'd 3 French

attack the wea k, backwa rd Black after 1 7 ,....., X f3+ 1 8 . gxf3 th e

'Z...]

e-Pawn, fo l lowed by the R � o k L"ft

• • • •

1 Black Queen is out of sq u a ; es.

move, § d3.
17 . ... � x e5
14 . . . . e5?

lS. §d3! Aa5

A� b � d ly a s Black wanted to
On � 8 . . . . f4 to p revent 1 9 . §h3
e h m m ate the b ackwa rd pawn
Wh ite ca n respond with 1 9 . § d S !
w ea k n ess, h e s h o u l d h ave wa ited .
'lt!e8 20. § d8 ! where the Black
T� e � ove e5 ca u ses serious
Qu een is out of sq u a res aga i n .
kmgs1de issues fo r Black a s th e
W h ite light-sq u a red Bishop 19.§h3 h6 20.A x h6! �e4
bec � m es very powerfu l on the a2-
g8 d iago n a l . Black is checkmated on 20 · Ae 6
�
2 1 . Axg7 + \t>xg7 2 2 . 'ltfh7 � f6
,..... Xe5?
15.Ac4+ <3/h8 1 6 d X e5 ri..J
•
2 3 . § h6+ \t>gS 24. 'ltfg6+ \t>f4
2 5 . § h4 =11= .
.
Th e White e- p awn is poiso n . Th e
2 1 . Af4 =11= 1-o
m ove 1 6 . . . . 'lt!g6 leaves W h ite
a h ea d by a bout a h a lf a Pawn . --------- G a m e #048 ---------­

17. � xe5
(W) Joel Johnson (2200)
17. § d8 wins too. Th e point is (B) Kevin H uynh ( 1434 )

89
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

[ClS] Va l l ey Ch ess, G le n d a l e, AZ, 9 . . . . �e4 + .

( Ro u n d 7), 04/20/2008

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3 . .£>c3 Ab4

4. � d3 d x e4 5. � x e4 4) c6 Wh ite d efends t h e e4 s q u a re a n d
6.4) f3 4)f6 7. �h4 develops h is Bishop.

Wh ite h a s m a n aged to 9 . ... Ad7 10.Ag5 �a5 1 1 .0-0

aggressively p l ace h is Qu een o n h4
Black had attacked the Wh ite
aga i n .
Pawn on c3. Th e Wh ite Pawn has
7 . ... ..Q. xc3+ l itt le va l u e but the check o n c3
co u l d cause King expos u re issues.
I see this type of m ove over a n d
over aga i n b y low rated p l ayers. 1 1 . ... � x c3?
Th e pu rpose of p i n n ing a piece, for
B lack s h o u l d h ave taken a q u eue
the m ost p a rt, is to d is a b l e t h e
fro m Wh ite a n d safeg u a rded h is
p iece a n d exploit t h e p i n . Th ere is
King too with 0-0-0.
n o n eed to capt u re the piece h ere.
It ca n not go a nywh ere. If yo u wa it, 12 . ..Q. x f6 gxf6 13. �xf6
th ere is a reaso n a b l e cha nce you r
o p ponent w i l l play a 3 a n d yo u ca n Now the Black King is stuck in the
ca ptu re t h e Kn ight with tem po. middle of t h e board .
Th e seco n d bad p a rt of t h is m ove 1 3 . ... E!gS 14.E!abl
relates to Black d esperately
wanting to tra d e rega rd less of t h e Th e Black Pawn on h7 is going
affect o n the positio n . Th e nowhere. Yo u r fi rst p riority should
creation of t h e d o u b l e c-p awns be piece activation ove r Pawn
d oes n ot outweigh t h e positives gra b b i ng.
fo r Wh ite, such a s :
14 . ... b6 15. §fel 4) b4
16. A x h7
n o m o re p i n ; w i n o f a Bishop fo r a
Kn ight; a n d t h e a d d itio n a l s u p po rt Now that a l l my pieces a re on
fo r t h e d4 Pawn . good sq u a res and beca u se I wo u ld
8.b xc3 �d5 l i ke to p reserve my Bishop, I
ca ptu re the d a ngling Black h-Pawn.
B l ack wa nts to tra d e Qu eens with
16 . ... § xg2+?

90
 tl'd3 French

I n a dead lost position Black Th e top p rio rity fo r W h ite is to

c h u cks h is Rook fo r what a m o u nts aggressively post h is Qu een on the
to n ot h i ng. ki ngsid e a n d get out of t h e way of
his l ight-sq u a red Bishop. Th e
17. <;t> xg2 Ac6 18 . .§ xe6+!
m ission has been acco m p l is h ed
Wh ite is a lways sea rching fo r the after 5 . �g3.
best m ethod of closing out t h e
5 . ... g6 6.e5 4) e7 7 .Ad3 c5
ga me. Checkmate is t h e n u m ber 8.a3 c x d4?
one p reference fo r doing so. H ere
the Rook sacrifice rem oves a l l of Black s h o u l d try 8 . . . �as .
.

Black's Pawn cover leaving Black' s

[Link] b4 d x c3 10.b xc3 4) bc6
King exposed t o the rem a i n d er of
the W h ite a rmy. After the excha nges we ca n see
that Wh ite, as a res u lt of t h e
18 . ... fxe6 19.� xe6+ <;t>dS
m i n o r p iece tra d e, is n o w i n
20. �gs+ <;t>d7 2 1 . Af5+ <;t>e7
22.�g7+ <;t>dS 23. �fS+ Ae8 c h a rge o f the d a rk sq u a res. I t i s a
24. �f6 # 1-0 m ajor concern fo r Black in a n y
variation o f the F rench Defense
--------- G a m e #049 ---------- where Black tra d es in his d a rk­
sq u a red Bish o p .
(W) Joel Joh nson (2221)
( B) An u Menon ( 1093) 1 1 .Ag5
[ClS] Va l ley Ch ess, P h oen ix, AZ, W h ite positions h is Bishop i n a
( R o u n d 3), 12/07 /2008 location that:
1 .e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4)c3 Ab4
1) rea listica l ly p revents Black fro m
4.�d3 a6?
castling ki ngside;
Was Black worried a bout �bS + ? 2 ) h i n d ers q u eenside castli ng; a n d
N ot s u re b u t the m ove is d efi n itely p rovides a n efficient location
u n n ecessa ry. His Bishop and h is for d efe n d i n g the White
King co u l d be both d efen d ed with e-Pawn.
4Jc6. I n stead Black s h o u l d d evelop
h is pieces. 1 1 . ... �c7 12.4)f3 4)f5
13.A xf5
5.�g3
W h ite e l i m i n ates the one piece

91
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vol u m e #001

that was rest ra i n ing h is Black is feel i ng the pressu re a n d

d a rk-s q u a red Bishop while d esperately wa nts t o trade
fractu ring t h e Black Pawns. Qu eens.

13 . . . . exf5 14.0-0 ..Q.e6 19.4)b5

W h ite is now fu lly d eveloped a n d W h ite amps u p the p ressu re on

i t is t i m e t o work over a l l the d a rk Black's positio n . N ow Black has to
sq u a res ( a m o n g oth er th ings ) . be worried about forks fro m
Kn ight ch ecks on d6 a n d c7.
15.Af6
19 . . . . �c6 20.a xb7! § x a l
F i rst let' s fi n d out if Black wa nts to
castle ki ngside. What else? Th e a lternative
20 . . . . § b8 2 1 .exf6 § xb7 2 2 .4::i d 6+
1 5 . . . . §gS �d7 23. 4::i x b7 �xb7 24. § fbl
leads to a s u re loss too.
Nope.
2 1 .bS�+ '3}e7 22.exf6+ '3} x f6
16.b5 23.�be5+ '3le7 24. § x al � x b5
25. §a7+ '3}f8 26. �b8+ 1-0
Th e n ext step is to rem ove the
Black Knight fro m the c6 sq u a re. --------- G a m e #050 ----------
Th e rea sons fo r th is a ction a re :
(W) M ysteryMan (2200)
force the Black Kn ight t o a worse
s q u a re; ( B) Lz m ann ( 1763)
ease the p ressu re on the e5 Pawn ; [ClS] ICC tourney 341002 ( 5 O),
and ( R o u n d 6), 02/11/2009
rem ove the d efe n d e r o f t h e d4 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4)c3 4) f6
s q u a re so my Kn ight ca n be 4. �d3 Ab4 5.e5 4) e4 6 . ..Q.d2
perched i n the hole.
Th ese d ays I prefer a3 here with
16 . . .. 4) b8 an idea of tra p p ing t h e Kn ight on
e4 after 4::i e 2, h4, a n d f3 .
Of co u rse n ot 1 6 . . . . axb5
17. § xa8. 6 . ... A xc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.�f3
4)c6 9.�g4
17. 4) d4 4) d7 18.b xa6 4) xf6
And yet aga in, W h ite q u ickly posts

92
 �d3 French

up his Qu een on an aggressive h is l ight-sq u a red Bishop d ifficu lt.

kingside sq u a re.
1 2 . ..Q.e2 o-o
9 . . . g6 10 . .£if3 .£i xd2
.

Perso n a l ly I wo u l d p refe r the m ove

Wise decision by Black to tra d e in 12 . �a5 for Black. Th e m ove is
. . .

h is well posted Kn ight for the sign ifica ntly more active a n d
potentia l ly d o m i n ating d a rk­ exposes t h e iss u e, "how t o d efe n d
s q u a red Bishop. the Wh ite c3 pawn ?" N o ch ess
m a ster a l ive wa nts his Qu een tied
11 . .£i xd2 c4?
down to the d efense of a pawn .
Wh at' s wrong with th is move?
13.h4 h5
There a re two aspects related to
the identificatio n of bad moves. At t h is point i n the ga m e, Wh ite
Th e fi rst aspect is obvious. Th e now h a s the option of .§.h3 to
m ove ca n be refuted i n some way defe n d the c-pawn if n ecess a ry.
(loss of m aterial, checkm ate, wea k
14. �f4 .£i e7
s q u a re, etc . ) . The seco n d p a rt of
the eq u ation is where I get i nto Black recogn ized h is lack of
a rg u m ents with stu d e nts, t i m e kingside d efend ers a n d attem pts
a ft e r time. Th ey w i l l select a good to rem edy the situatio n . Howeve r I
m ove but the m ove is the sixth or need to e m p h a size a key strategy
seventh best m ove in the positio n . erro r by Black. H i s d efensive
They gave u p looking fo r a better m i n d set (d efense fi rst, offense
m ove beca use they were satisfied last) is beco m i ng a p p a rent. When
with the fi rst d ecent m ove they you r oppon ent d isp lays a
fo u n d . penchant for d efense over offen se,
he is p rovi d i n g yo u with an open
I n o u r cu rrent position, t h e m ove
invitation to attack him. Qu ite
c4 is bad for both reasons. Th e
fra n kly, I do not n eed an invitation
reason Black chose the move was
to attack somebody.
to p revent White's Bishop from
reaching the d3 sq u a re. Black d i d 15.g4 h xg4 16.h5!
not co nsider the effect o f t h e
m ove on his own Bishop. Th e giant Why slow down the attack by
wa l l of Pawns m a kes d eveloping recapturing the Black pawn on g4?

93
 Atta c k i n g 10 1: Vo l u m e #001

16 . . . . .!£l f5 17.A x g4 2 0. . . . b5

N o r m a l ly, I wo u l d p lay 1 7 . hxg6 to

Black has been placing h is pawns
open the h-file for my Rook o n hl on light co lored s q u a res t h u s
a n d s h o u l d have h e re too. co m p letely sh utting o ut h is Bishop.
I refer to Bishops of t h is ilk a s "big
17 . . . . g 5! pawns". An overa l l plan fo r Black
My delay i n playing the move s h o u l d i n c l u d e f6, 'lf1e7, �d7, �e8 ,
1 7 . hxg6 h a s p rovi ded Black with a �g6, a n d .§ af8 to activate h is
d efens ive reso u rce. Al l oth e r q u eenside pieces .
m oves fo r Black lose. 2 1 . .!£lg3 .!£l x g3?
18. �f3 �h7
Black decides the loss of a pawn is
Black p l a n s to utilize the W h ite i n evita ble but n ot a l l pawns a re
h-pawn as a s h i e l d . created eq u a l . Th e o n es covering
and defe n d i ng yo u r King cert a i n ly
19.h6 h ave m o re va l u e .
Why h6? Th e move entices Black 22.�xf7+ �h8 23.fxg3 �f8
to captu re the pawn with h is
Knight. h6 a lso sl ightly i n creases Who ca n b l a m e Black fo r wanting
the power of Wh ite' s Qu een, to tra d e Qu eens with h is King so
Bishop, and Rook by a single exposed .
sq u a re.
24.�c7
19 . . . . E! g8
N ot being a person who wa nts to
B l ack wisely does n ot ca pt u re t h e h e l p my opponents, I d ecide not to
W h ite p a w n o n h 6 . Wh ite wo u ld trade Qu eens.
checkm ate Black after 20. 'lf1h3 .
24 . . . . b4 25. �e2
20 . .!£l f l
No n eed fo r Wh ite to d efen d the
W h ite m o b i l izes h is Kn ight towa rd h a nging c-paw n . I n stead White
the kingside a n d with the i ntention p lays for .§ afl a d d ing a not her
of d i rectly attacking the b est Black kingside attacker.
d efender (4Jf5 ) .
25 . . . . b xc3

94
 '§'cl3 F rench

rh e loss of this pawn m e a n s 29 . . . . �es 30.,il x e6 § bS

1ot h i n g t o W h ite. W h ite is focused 3 1 . ,ilgS
Jn the inclusion of a l l h is pieces
W h ite b locks out t h e d efenders of
nto the kingside attack. On the
the h8 sq u a re to set u p what
::ither h a n d, what a re t h e Black
h a ppens n ext.
Bishop a n d Roo k on a8 doi ng?
3 1 . ... �a4 32. � x g7+! <i!/ x g7
26. E!afl �d8 [Link]�+ <i!/g6 34.�h7 =11= 1-0
Once again Black d espe rately --------- G a m e #05 1 --------- ­
wa nts to trade Qu eens to relieve
some of the p ress u re on h is (W) MassCarnage (2200)
position . As a natural co u rse of (B) BillietheKid ( 1375)
action I p refer to keep my Qu een
[Cll] ICC tou rney 384925 ( 5 O),
on the boa rd .
( Ro u n d 4), 07/10/2011
27.�f7
1 .e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4Jc3 4Jf6
4. �d3 Ae7 5.e5 4Jfd7 6. �g3
However infi lt rati ng with a Rook
by § f7 is j u st a s st rong. Th e goa l of t h is va riation is to
27 . ... ,ila6 28.h7 place the Wh ite Qu een i n position
to attack the Black kingside.
Wh ite cla m ps down on the
6 . ... o-o 7.Ah6 g6 s.4Jf3
ava i l a b l e sq u a res fo r t h e Black
King. M a n y p l aye rs wo u ld j u st s i m p ly
28 . ... E!g7 29. �f6 gra b the m ateri a l with 8. Axf8.
H owever the relative va l u e
Wh ite's position is so good that ( power) o f t h e pieces is close. Th e
even 29. �g8+ res u lts i n a fo rced Black Rook is norma lly worth five
checkm ate after 29 . . . § xg8
. poi nts but it o n ly has two sq u a res
30 . hx g8(�)+ �x g8 3 1 . Axe6+ of m o b i l ity (one if you do not
�g7 32. §f7+ �g6 33. § fh7 �f8 co u nt the f8 sq u a re ) . Th erefo re its
34 . g4 Ac8 ( i n order to d efend cu rrent rea l va l u e h a s to be
35. �JS + �xfS 36. § l h6 # and co nsidered less t h a n five. Th e
3 5 . § l h6+ �xh6 36. AfS * ) W h ite Bishop controls wea k d a rk
3 5 . Af7 + �xf7 36. § l h6 * . sq u a res a ro u n d the Black Ki ng,

95
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

t h u s yo u wou l d have to say that Black will need to play perfectly

the rea l va l u e of the W h ite Bishop fro m h e re on out j u st to h a n g in
is greater than t h e norm a l t h ree the ga m e . One error will resu lt i n a
points. I n a d d ition, if Black wa nts fast moving term i n a l attack by
to save h is Rook, h e n eeds to Wh ite .
m ove it aga i n . Th e extra tempo
ca n be util ized by W h ite to fu rt h er
h is attack.

8 . ... f!e8 9.h4 c5

Black p lays yet a n other non­

d eveloping m ove.

10.0-0-0

Wh ite cont i n u es to d evelop a n d

Black wastes tem pos with pawn
moves. I ca n n ot e m p h a s ize how
i m po rtant and d a m aging t h is bad
h a b it ca n be. M a ny players d o not
12· . . . �a5?
recogn ize t h is flaw i n their ga m e
a n d repeat the erro r over a n d over. Th e o n ly move providing Black

10 . . . . c x d4 1 1 . f! x d4 with a n y c h a n ces is 1 2 . . . . d4. All

other m oves lose l i ke t h e one
Another Wh ite piece s u rges chosen .
fo rwa rd co u rtesy of a Black pawn
1 3.h5! d4
move. So u n d fa m i l i a r?

1 1 . . .. 4) c6 12.f!g4 Th is m ove a rrives too late a s

W h ite ca n sim p ly ign o re it.
J u st exa m i n i n g the d iagra m (to p of
14·h xg6!
the n ext co l u m n ), we can easily
see how W h ite has a m a ssed h is Black is checkm ated on a l l
a rmy i n fro nt o f the e n e m y King variations. For exa m p l e 1 4 . . . . fxg6
and Black h a s a b u nch of poorly 1 5 . § xg6+ �h8 16.Jlg7+ �g8
p laced pieces. What it m e a n s is 1 7 . Af6+ hxg6 1 8.�xg6+ �f8
1 9 . �g7 # .

96
 �d3 French

14 . ... 4) d xe5 [Link] h7+ 1-0 p rocess ca used h i m to expect

W h ite to co u nter with the
--------- G a m e #052 ----------
"a uto m atic m ove" 7 . �xfl . H e was
clea rly shocked a n d in tro u b l e
(W} MassCarnage (2200}
after my u n expected response.
( B) Super m an ( 1792}
[Cll] ICC 15 5, 07/18/2012 7.exf6!

1 .e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4)c3 4)f6 Black is u n a ble to retreat h is l ight­

4.t'./rd3 b6 sq u a red Bishop b eca use W h ite
wins m o re m ateria l with 8 . fxg7 .
Th is is a com m on p l a n in the
French Defense, a s Black wo u ld 7 . ... t'./r x f6 8. <i!;> x fl t'./r x d4
l i ke to tra d e his "bad" Bishop o n 9.4)ge2
c 8 for Wh ite's light-sq u a red
When yo u a re ahead a sign ifica nt
Bishop with the move, Jla6.
a m o u nt of m ateri a l, yo u r first
5.e5 Aa6 6. t'./rg3 A xfl?? prio rity is to fi n is h developing a n d
k i l l a n y co u nterp lay b y yo u r
o p ponent.

9 . ... t'./rc4 10.Ae3 4)c6

11. t'./r x c7 Ae7

At this point in t h e ga m e Black

act u a l ly thought h e was doing wel l .

1 2 .b3

Now rea l ity sets in as the Black

Qu een ca n no lo nger defend the
c6 sq u a re.

1 2 . ... Ads 13. t'./rb7 1-0

Black p roceeds with h is p l a n even Black resigned beca use o n
though the W h ite move �g3 1 3 . . . . .§. b8, W h ite w i n s with
p revented it by setting a tra p . 14. �xb8 ! , while movi ng the Black
W h a t ca used B l a c k t o p lay t h i s Qu een resu lts i n 1 4 . �xc6+ .
b l u n der? A flaw i n his thought

97
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Blackmar- Diemer
Techniq ues Learned
Gam bit

Th e B l ackm a r-Diemer G a m b it
teaches a player how to convert a
pawn d eficit i nto positio n a l
pressu re with the ex pectat ions of
wi n n i ng back the m ateria l with
interest o r developing a ki ngside
attack.

Transpositions

Th e opening ca n be reached i n a
va riety of ways incl u d ing:
Opening Lines
1.e4 d5 2.d4 dxe4 3 . .£i c 3 ,£i f6
4.f3 exf3 5 . .£1 xf3

Th e Blackm a r-Diemer G a m b it 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3 . .£ic3 dxe4

ge n e ra l ly sta rts with the fo l lowi ng 4.f3 exf3 5 . .£1 xf3
move seq u e n ce :
--------- G a m e #053 ----------
Blackm a r-Diemer G a m b it ( DOO)
1 .d4 d5 2.e4 d x e4 3 . .£lc3 ,£if6 (W) M assCa rnage (2200)
4.f3 exf3 5 . .£1 xf3 ( B) N ielsferatu ( 15 11 )
Th e Blackm a r-Diemer G a m bit [ DOO] ICC 3 0, 07/29/2012
e n a b les Wh ite to ach ieve a lead in 1 .d4 d5 2.,£ic3 ,£if6 3.e4 dxe4
developm ent for the m ere cost of 4.f3 e5?
a single pawn .
Fo r some reason m a ny low rated
The lead ing a utho rity of the ch ess p l ayers l i ke t h is wea k m ove.
B l a c k m a r-Diemer G a m b it was I a m guessing the a p pea l of the
G e r m a n chess m aste r E m i l Diemer. m ove stem s fro m the idea of

98
 B l a c k m a r- D i e m e r G a m b it

trad ing Qu eens to k i l l the W h ite Black had to p lay h6 here. Th e

attack. point is the i m m ed i ate ile7 does
not p i n the Black Knight to t h e
B i s h o p beca use t h e m ove 4Jxe4
d efends the Bishop.

1 1 . � xe4

J u st eleven m oves i nto the ga m e

a n d B l ack is down two pawns a n d
co m p l etely lost.

11 . ... �cS? 1 2 . A x e7+ 'i!/ x e7

13. � xcS l-0

---------
G a m e #054 ----------

5.dxe5 �xdl +
(W) MysteryMa n (2200)
( B) Kenda ( 1641)
Black selects a n other less t h a n [ DOO] ICC tou rney 3 54080 (3 O),
opti m u m move. My co m p u ter ( Ro u n d 2), 10/23/2009
prefers 5 . 4Jfd7.
. . .

1 .e4 d5 2.d4 dxe4 3.�c3 � f6

6. 'i!/ x dl �fd7 7. � d5! 4.f3 exf3

Wh ite attacks the Black wea kn ess, Black accepts t h e ga m b it a n d

the c7 sq u a re . p rovides a l e a d i n d evelo p m ent for
W h ite.
7 . ... 'i!/dS
s.� xf3 e6
Black rea l ly had no ch oice but to
p rotect the c7 sq u a re with h is Th e m ajo rity of p l ayers prefer the
Ki ng. All ot h e r m oves lose. developing m ove Ag4. However
my com p uter p refers e6. Th e m a i n
s.Ag5+ f6
iss u e with e 6 is the fut u re
Black fi n d s h i m self with n o rea l d evelop m ent of the l ight-sq u a red
cho ices aga i n . Bishop.

9.exf6 gxf6 10.� xf6 Ae7? 6.Ae3 � bd7 7. Ad3 Ab4

99
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

8. '/Ne2 '/Ne7 9.0-0 0-0 Th e other win n ing l i n e a lso

revo lves a ro u n d the attack of t h e
Wh ite has co m p l eted h is
wea k h 7 s q u a re after 1 5 . Axf6
development a n d Black st i l l h as
gxf6 ( n o g-pawn serio u s ly wea ken s
the p reva i l i n g iss u e of h i s
the h 7 s q u a re) 16. �g4 + ! (forcing
q u eenside d evelo p m e nt.
the Black King i nto t h e corner)
10.�e5 c5 1 1 . �g4 \t7h8 17. �h4 f5 18. �xe7.

Although 1 1 . Ag5 is a stronger 1 5 . . . . gxf6

move, my t h o ught was to
e l i m i n ate a Black ki ngside
d efender, open the f-fi le for the
Rook on fl , a n d perh aps i m p rove
t h e position for my Qu een.

1 1 . . . . A xc3

Perso n a l ly I l i ke t h is trade for

Wh ite. Besides wi n n i ng a Bishop
for a Kn ight, the d o u b led c-pawn
helps s u p po rt the i m porta nt
center pawn o n d4.

1 2.bxc3 b6??
16.'/Nh5!
Black was wo rried a bout the
d evelopm ent of his q ueenside a n d Wh ite attacks the wea k h 7 s q u a re.
ignored Wh ite's powerfu l Re m e m ber a lways attack first a n d
res ponse. defend o n ly if n ecessa ry.

13.A g5 Ab7 16 . . . . f5

Black sti l l feels secu re with h i s Th ere a re no good a lternatives.

position . Howeve r, W h ite ca n fo rce Black is checkm ated after
16 . . . . § fd8 17. �xh7+ \t7f8
fata l wea knesses in t h e Black
1 8 . �h8 # .
kingside.
17.A xe7 Etfe8 18. '/Ng5+ <;!i>h8
14.� xf6+ � xf6 [Link] x f6
19.Af6 :11: 1-0

100
 Sto n ewa l l Attack

Stonewall Attack Wh ite has a few cho ices fo r

attacking fro m t h is i n itia l setu p .
W h ite ca n select a ny o f t h e
fo l lowi ng attack p l a n s :

park a Kn ight on e5, relocate h is

Qu een to the ki ngside via e l a n d
h4, a n d l i ft t h e Rook v i a f3 a n d h3;

park a Knight on e5, sta rt a pawn

storm with g4 and g5, m ove the
Qu een to h5, and l ift the Rook via
f3 and h3;

play for a center pawn thrust

sta rting with the m ove e4; or

Th e Sto n ewa l l Attack consists of a play f4 , 4Jf3 , e3, Ae2 , 0-0, d3 ,

W h ite set u p l i ke the one shown i n 4Jc3 , �e l , etc.
the a bove d iagra m .

Sto n ewa l l Attack ( DOO) Tra nspositions

1. d4 d5 2. f4
1 . f4, 2. �f3, 3. e3

Th e opening can be reached i n a

cou p l e of ways i n c l u d i n g :
Techniques Lea rned
l .f4 d5 2 . d4

The Sto newa l l Attack is a n attack l . d4 d5 2 . f4

system designed to p lace the
Th e second method avoids the
Wh ite pieces i n a n aggressive
From's G a m b it ( 1 . f4 e5 2. fxe5 d6
fo rm ation (pawns o n c3, d4, e3, f4, 3 . exd6 l;txd6).
Bishop o n d3, Kn ight o n f3) i n
p reparation o f B l a c k castling Another thought related to this
kingside. topic is Wh ite ca n tra nspose i nto a

101
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

King's G a m b it to avo id the F rom's 1 1 . f)/h5+ 'it>f8

G a m b it with the fo l lowing m ove
On 1 1 . . . g6, W h ite wins after
.

order ( 1 . f4 e5 2 . e4 ) . 1 2 . 4Jxg6 �f7 1 3 . �h4 hxg6

1 4 . �xh8 .
One oth e r m ethod o f d ec l i n i n g
From's G a m b it is i l l u strated i n 12.4) g6+
G a m e #057.
Wh ite ex ploits the p i n on the Black
--------- G a m e #055 ---------- h-pawn to win a n excha nge.

1 2 . ... h xg6 13. f)/ x h8 'it>f7

(W) MassCa rnage (2200)
( B) Lau nchywiggin ( 1501) In a losing position, Black selects
[ DOO] ICC 5 0, 06/06/2012 t h e worse m ethod for d efe n d i n g
h is g- pawn .
1.f4 e6 2.d4 d5 3 . .1£\f3 Ad6
4.e3 c5 5.c3 b5 14.g4

B l ack p roceeds with an u n u s u a l Wh ite attacks the g-pawn aga i n

p l a n o f p a w n sto r m i n g t h e but Black m isses the sign ifica n ce
q u eenside. of the m ove.
6.Ad3 b4 7.o-o 14 . ... Aa6?
W h ite contin u es with t h e
developm ent o f h is pieces. Th e
Black pawn m oves a re co m i ng at
the cost of p i ece d evelop m ent.

7 . . . . bxc3 8.bxc3 c x d4

Seven pawn m oves out of the first

eight moves of the g a m e .

9.exd4 f)/c7 10 . .1£\ e 5 f6?

Th e pawn m oves fi n a l ly catch u p

t o Black. Black p roba bly felt h is
Qu een cove rage of t h e f7 sq u a re
wo u ld be s ufficient, a u contra ire. [Link] xg6+! 'it> xg6

102
 Sto newa l l Atta c k

On 15 . . . . �f8, W h ite wins after 17.� xg6! fxg6 18 . .Q. x g6+

16.Ah7 �f7 1 7 . § e l 4Jc6 1 8.Axg8 <i!lf8?
�xg8 1 9 .�xg8+ �xg8 20.§ xe6
§ d8 2 1 .Aa3 Axf4 2 2 . § xc6. Black was fo rced to lose the
excha nge after 1 8 . . . . hxg6
16.�h5 =11= 1-0 1 9 . �xh8+ 4Jf8, w h ich leaves Black
d own just over a h a lf a pawn but
--------- G a m e #056 ----------

sti l l breat h i ng.

(W) MassCa rnage (2200)
( B) nigelst ( 155 1 )
[ 000] I CC 3 0, 09/09/2012

1.d4 �f6 2.f4 e6 3.�f3 c5

4.e3 d5 5.c3 �c6 6.Ad3 b6
1.0-0 Ae7

Wh ite h a s p roceeded down a

co m m on path of d evelop m ent a n d
pawn struct u re.

8.�bd2 c4

My thought, related to the move

c4, is: How will the Black l ight­
19.f5 !
sq u a red Bishop emerge fro m t h e
other side o f h is p a w n cha i n ? Why not open the f-fi le fo r the
Wh ite Rook d i rectly i n fro nt of t h e
9.Ac2 b 5 10.a3 a 5 1 1 .�e5
B l a c k Ki ng?
Ah7 12.g4 b4 13.axb4 axb4
14 . .§ x a8 A x a8 19 . ... e5
Black' s q u eenside pawn adva n ces Black d ecides to p revent the
have resu lted in W h ite tra d i ng off opening of t h e f-fi le. U nfo rt u n ately
h is u n used a-Rook. fo r Black, the adva n ced Wh ite
15.g5 � d7 16.�h5 g6? pawns on f5 a n d g5, rep resent a
fo rm id a b l e force by them selves.
Black h a d to e l i m i n ate the Wh ite
Knight on e 5 . 20.f6 .Q.d6 21. �h6+ <i!lg8

103
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vol u m e #001

22.f7 # 1-0 by removing all Black c h ec ks a long

the gl -a7 d iago n a l .
--- ------ G a m e #057 ----------
7.�hl �c6?
(W} MassCa rnage (2200}
( B} orien ( 1680}
[C30] ICC 3 0, 09/15/2012

1 .f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.�f3

Wh ite decides to decl i n e the pawn

sacrifice ( Fro m's G a m b it) a n d
avoid a l l o f Black' s p repa ratio n .

3 . ... d x e 5 4.e4 ..Q.g4 5 . ..Q.c4

W h ite proceeds with the u s u a l

goa l o f d eveloping his pieces
q u ickly a n d posting t h e m on
aggressive sq u a res.
8 . ..Q. xf7+!
5 . ... �f6?
How m a ny of you wo u ld have
Black s h u n s t h e d evelopm ent of m issed t h is move? Do yo u a lways
h is m i n o r pieces i n favor of wavi ng "ch eck" out this type of m ove?
h is Qu een a rou n d . Th e m ove s u its
8 . . . . �d7
W h ite j u st fi n e b eca use the Black
Qu een is now a ta rget for free On 8 . . . �xf7, White wo u l d win
.

m oves. h is p iece back with 9. 4:Jxe5 + a n d

1 0 . 4:Jxg4 .
6.0-0 �b6+?
9.�c3 � f6 10.d3 Jlb4?
I consider this move a useless
check. What p u rpose does t h is Black needs to safeg u a rd h is King
m ove serve? For Black n oth i n g with �c8. B lack's position fa lls
(act u a l ly l ess t h a n n oth i n g beca use a p a rt q u ickly n ow.
it helps W h ite), for Wh ite, it saves
Wh ite a m ove a s his King is s afer 1 1 .� d5! � x d5? 12.exd5 � d4
13.� xe5+ 1-0
on h l t h a n gl a n d it h elps W h ite

104
 Ston ewa l l Attack

--------- G a m e #058 ---------- hole u n atte n d e d .

[Link])d6+ <;t>fs [Link] a6

(W) MassCarnage (2200)
1 5 . Jl x c6 bxc6 16.,1ld2
( B) Reyad86 ( 1505)
[A02] ICC 3 0, 09/14/2012 I am a nticipating Black attem pting
to d islodge t h e Wh ite Kn ight on d6
1 .f4 c5 [Link])f3 e6 3.e3 d5 with moves l i ke f6 a n d ii.c7 just -

4.Ae2 ll)f6 s.o-o h6 6.d3 Ad6

7. �el �e7 [Link])c3 ll)c6 9.e4 like in the ga m e .

16 . . . . f6 t7.Ac3 rs
Wh ite h a s ach ieved a Sici l i a n
G r a n d P rix set u p with h is l ight- Now fearing W h ite wi l l ex ploit the
s q u a red Bishop o n e2 i n stea d of c4. c3-h8 d iago n a l, Black closes u p t h e
center.
9 . . . . dxe4?
18.<;t>hl Ac7 19. E!dl a5
Black d id noth ing to a d d ress t h e
Wh ite t h reat o f e5 fo rking t h e two Wh ite fi n d s a l u l l i n the action a n d
Black m i nor p ieces. In a d d ition focu ses on t h e wea kn esses on t h e
Black gave W h ite control of the B l a c k kingside. The sq u a res a long
center a n d opened u p the fl -a6 the h5-e8 d iago n a l look very
diago n a l fo r Wh ite's l ight-s q u a red s u sceptible.
Bishop.
[Link]) h4! <;t>gS 2 1 . ll)g6 �d8
10.d xe4 ll) d7? 22.g4

Black selects a poor m ethod of M a ny p layers wo u ld ca ptu re the

resolving the issue. Why? With the Black Rook on h8. However t h e
Black Kn ight on d7 (a wea ker rea l va lue o f my Knight has to b e
location t h a n f6), h ow will Black better t h a n a boxed i n Black Rook.
d evelop h is Bishop o n c8? After
22 . . . . E!h7
say 10 . . . !.iLc7, Black co u l d h ave
.

responded with 1 1 . . 1£Jd5 if

. .
Besides Black m a y decide to waste
Wh ite p l ayed 1 1 . e5. a m ove d efe n d i n g it.
1 1 .eS Jlc7 12. ll)b5 Ab6? [Link] exf5 [Link]) xfS �e8
[Link])fe7+ <it>f7 26.e6 :11= 1-0
Black can not affo rd to leave the d6

105
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

encou ntered what yo u r oppon ent

U n u s u a l Open i ngs
is doing to yo u .

--------- G a m e #059 - -- -------

(W) Fea rNoEvil_US ( 2200 )

( B) Ora ngSe m elai ( 15 16)
[ BOO] G a m [Link],
12/14/2005

1 .e4 a6 2.d4 h6

I was ex pecting the m ove b5

h ea d i ng towa rds a Polish Defense
ga m e . I co nsider the Black choice
of open ing h a rm less and j u st
p roceed a s though he is giving m e
Th is chapter i n c l u d es a co u p l e of
free moves .
u n u s u a l a n d u n co m m o n openi ngs.
My a p p roach to them is to a d h ere 3.4)c3 e6 4.Ad3 4)e7 5.4)f3
to basic o p e n i n g p ri n c i p l es
Another possibil ity is the m o re
(deve lop m y p i eces a n d control
aggressive f4 .
the center). If t h ey fa l l too fa r
b e h i n d in d evelopment, I will b u st 5 . . . . d5
open the position to expose their
wea knesses . Black conti n u es h is pattern of
m a ny pawn moves. But at least h is
-- - ---------- - -------- ---- -- ------- - --- last m ove c h a l lenges the W h ite
Techniq ues Lea rned center.
------- - ---------------------- -- ------- 6.0-0 dxe4 7.4) xe4 4)d5

Th e skills o n e ca n acq u ire when B lack m oves the same Kn ight aga i n .
encou ntering sit u ations of th is ilk W h a t a b o u t h is other pieces ?
a re the a b i l ity to tran sfo rm a big
center i nto open l i n es and an 8.a3
attack. Some creat ivity is req u i red, Wh ite p revents the Black Kn ight
as you will l i kely have n ever

106
 U n u s u a l O p e n i ngs

on d5 from advancing forwa rd, i n m ove d oes assist Black in

p repa ration fo r chasing t h e Kn ight d eveloping h is Bishop, h owever
b ackwa rds with the m ove c4 . the cost is a perm a n ent passed
pawn o n c5.
8 . ... Ae7 9.c4 4)f6 10.§el
20.,1la2 Ah7 2 1 .4)e5
W h ite places h is Rook o n the h a lf
open e-fi le. Rooks work best on W h ite cra n ks up t h e p ressu re in
open fi les. the center.

10 . . . . 0-0 1 1 .,1lf4 4)bd7 2 1 . ... 4) xe5 22.,1lxe5 4)g4

12.'fitJ!c2 c5 [Link]

A com mon m ethod of c h a l lenging N ow the Wh ite Bishop p a i r a p p e a r

the W h ite center. Th e m ove opens q u ite d a u nting. Wh ite's positio n a l
u p t h e d-file fo r W h ite' s Rook a n d adva ntage acco rd i n g t o m y
p rovides Wh ite with a t h ree o n co m p uter sta n d s at +3. 17 (over a
two q u eenside p a w n m ajority, i f piece).
we have to reso rt to t h at.
23 . ... 'fitJ!hS 24.g3 Ad5 [Link]
13.dxc5 ,1lxc5 14.§adl 'fitJ!h6 f 5 26.h3 Ae4?
1 5.h4!

W h ite pus hes back t h e Black d a rk­

sq u a red Bishop a n d exp a n d s h is
space control on the q u eenside.
Black's q u eenside pieces a re sti l l
sitting on their o rigi n a l sq u a res.
My co m p uter eva lu ates W h ite's
a dva ntage a s + 2 . 3 2 . Wh ite is
a h ea d a l m ost a fu l l p i ece based on
position on ly, as the m ateri a l is
eq u a l .

1 5 . . . . Ae7 16.c5 'fitJ!a7 17.4)d6

,1l x d6 18.,1l xd6 §eS 19.Ac4
h5 Black o pts for a poorly thought o ut
cou nter attack.
Black lashes o ut at W h ite. Th e

107
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vol u m e #00 1

27. § xe4! fxe4 28.hxg4 c3 a re :

Also d evastating fo r Wh ite is Bishops a re better tha n Kn ights;

28. �xe4 . Th e resu lta nt d o u b led c-pawn
helps s u p po rt the Wh ite center
28 . . . . §dS 29.§el t':Yb7 30.c6
t":Yf7 31. t':Y x e4 ( d4 pawn ); a n d
Th e a3-f8 d iago n a l beco m es
Two Bishops a re no match fo r a ava i l a ble fo r the White Bishop.
Rook, especia l ly o n e that has yet
to move fro m its sta rting locatio n . 6.bxc3 d5?
Th e Wh ite Bishops a re positioned Th e o n ly good reason, fo r Black
wel l on long d iago n a ls, pointing tra d i n g on c3, was to fo l low with
d i rectly at the Black King. f5 to p ressu re the p i n n ed pawn on
3 1 . . . . g6 32. t':Ye5 <(t>fS 33.c7 e4.
§des 34. t":Yd6+ 1-0
7.e5 c5 8.4)f3 4)c6
Black is checkm ated after 34 . . . \t>gS
1 perso n a lly wo u ld h ave p layed
35 . .§ xe6 .§ xc7 36 . .§ xg6+ �xg6 .
37 .�xg6+ \t>fS 38.�d6+ .§ el Aa6 to tra d e off the bad l lght-
39 .iig6 a5 40.�f6+ .§ f7 4 1 . �xf7 # . sq u a red Bishop.

--------- G a m e #060 ---------- 9.0-0 h6 10.Aa3 c4?

Black kills h is l ight-sq u a red Bishop

(W) MassCa rnage (2237)
wit h this m ove. Th e piece has
( B) jnader (1171) essentia lly been t u rn ed into a "big
[ BOO] ICC 2 12, 03/22/2010 pawn". Th e p i ece has n o m o b i l ity,
1 .e4 e6 2.d4 b6 3 . .iil c 3 Ab7 as the Bishop is b locked in by a
wa l l of its' own pawns.
F req u e ntly, t h e Owen's Defense is
1 1 .Ae2 4)ge7 12.<(t>hl
m is p l ayed by lower rated p layers.
P l aye rs will d evelop their pieces W h ite is p repa ring fo r a kingside
passively a n d a l low W h ite to pawn storm . At the same time,
control the center. Wh ite wa nted to p l ay a usefu l
4.f4 Ab4 5.Ad3 A x c3+ m ove with out scari ng Black from
castling kingside.
Th e down sides of Black tra d i n g o n

108
 U n u s u a l O p e n i ngs

12 . ... 0-0 13.g4 W h ite proceeds to e l i m i n ate t h e

key d efender.
Wh ite begi n s the p rocess of
building u p a kingside force before 23 . ... h xg5 24. � xg5 E!a7
inva d ing. 25.4) x f5 exf5 26.h6 g6 27. E!f2

13 . ... E!e8 14.�el 4) g6 W h ite prevents Black from

15. �g3 ..Q.c8 1 6. §gl 4)ce7 ca pt u ring the pawn o n h6. For
17.h4 exa m p le, 27 . . . . t1xh6+ 28. f!. h2
Th e Wh ite forces conti n u e to wins the Black Queen.
m o u nt . The Black pieces will not 2 7 . ... ..Q.e6 28.�f6
be a b l e to a d e q u ately d efend h is
King, a s the big pawn wedge (f7- Wh ite pins the Black f-pawn,
c4 ) p revents them fro m reaching b locks the f-pawn from a dva ncing
the kingside. wh ich co u l d enable the Black Rook
on a7 fro m j o i n i n g i n on the
17 . ... a5 18.h5 4) xf4 defen se, and sets u p the fin a l
Black ch ucks a piece i n utter com b i n ation.
fru stration a bout h is i m pen d i ng 28 . ... b5
doo m . Ch ess m a sters bend a n d
battle t i l l t h e e n d .

1 9 . � x f4 <i!;h7 20. §afl

Ch ess masters use a l l their pieces

too. Th is practice severely
d ecreases the c h a n ces of you r
oppon ent m a king a ny type of
co m e back.

20 . ... E!f8 2 1 .g5

It is t i m e to open u p the kingside

for a l l the Wh ite forces .

2 1 . ... Jdf5 2 2 . ..Q. x f8 � x f8 29. E! xg6! b4 30.§g7+ 1-0

23.4)h4

109
 Atta c k ing 10 1 : Vo l u m e #001

on atta cking fel l short in m a ny

Book N ews
ways. M a n y of the books were
s i m p ly a s m a l l collection of atta ck
Life M a ster Joel J o h n so n is a well­
ga m es with no instruction a bout
known attacking ch ess p layer. Joel
the a rt of attacking or a bout the
is a lso o n e of the U n ited States
skills req u i red to beco m e a great
most active ch ess p layers a n d
attacker. N o n e of them p rovided
win ner o f the 2007 U . S. Sen ior
the rea der with any reference
Ch ess C h a m pions h i p .
information about attacking or the
wea kn esses of va rious Pawn
Formations. None of t h e m
Avai lable Books
conta i n ed ga m es with attacking
t h e m es like the Traxler Va riatio n
A l l of my books a re ava i l a b l e for of the Two Kn ights Defense, a n d
p u rchase on t h e U . S . Chess the J a c k Yo u ng "Fis h i n g Pole" .
Federation website N o n e of them conta i n ed any wild
(www. uschess . o rg), as well as on attacking ideas that ca n stream
L u l u (www. l u l u . co m ) a n d Am azon fro m open ing ga m b its such as the
(www. a m azo n . co m ), a m o ng oth e r Blackm a r-Diemer G a m b it, Ki ng's
locations. G a m b it, Scotch G a m b it,
N a k h m a nson G a m b it, etc. So, as a
Formation Atta cks resu lt, I felt co m pelled to write the
978-05 57522699)
( ISBN : u lt i m ate attack book, and this is it !
500 Pages; Cost : $39.95
Formation Atta ck Strategies
As a Ch ess M a ster that h a s spent 978- 1105646805)
( IS B N :
m a ny yea rs p l aying aggressive a n d 500 Pages; Cost : $39.95
atta cking ch ess, I w a s q u ite
d ism ayed d u ring a recent visit to Th e m uch awa ited seq uel to the
my loca l boo ksto re. I was i n best sel l i n g boo k, "Form ation
search o f a b o o k that covered a Attacks", has a rrived. "Form ation
wide a rray of attacks aga i n st m a ny Attack Strategies" is a nother 500
Pawn fo rmations i n a n orga n ized page book, fu l l of great attack
fa s h io n . N eedless to s ay, my information with 560 fa b u lous
sea rch ca m e up em pty. Th e boo ks attack ga mes fro m a l l o p e n i ngs
a n d a l l eras. Th e ga mes provided

110
 Book N ews

in the book ca m e fro m an i n -d epth Positi ona l Atta cks

global sea rch fo r u n iq u e,
i n s p i ratio n a l, a n d o rigi n a l atta cks Th e book wi l l conta i n severa l
fro m some of the world's greatest cha pters that had to be cut fro m
attackers. M a n y of the them toil i n "Formation Attack Strategies". A
remote a reas o f the p l a n et a n d co u p l e of the cha pters were
have o n ly a loca l fo l lowi ng. Let m e "Positio n a l Attacks" a n d "Loca lized
introduce you t o attacking p layers M ateri a l Adva ntage". Th e book wi l l
l i ke G uy West of N ew Zea l a n d , d e lve deeper i nto p la n n i ng a n d
M a rc Esserm a n o f Bosto n, MA, L i u s q u a re wea kn esses, a long with
Wenz h e o f China, Kevin S e i d l e r of s u btle pawn p lay. Each of these
Denver, CO, M a n u el Bosboom of to pics w i l l be covered as they
Th e N etherl a n d s, D h a rs h a n re late to atta cking.
Ku m a ra n o f I n d ia, P a d re M u rphy
of I rela n d, to name a few. Atta cking 101: Vol u m e #002

A fo l low u p to th is book, the book

Th e book a lso conta i n s d iscussions
a bout many attack p h i loso p h ies, wi l l conta i n my ga m es aga i n st
greater deta i l concern ing attack p laye rs in the ra nge of 1000- 1799.
st rategy and p l a n n i ng, m o re I will h ave the Black pieces in all
extens ive info rm ation a bo ut the the ga m es utilizing s h a rp opening
identification and exploitation of va riations, l i ke the F is h i n g Pole,
wea kn esses, and so m uch m o re. Latvia n G a m b it, Traxler Atta ck,
Alek h i n e's Defen se, Po lish Attack,
If you a re o n e of m a ny people who C h i n ese D ragon, a long with
love my last book, you will be aggress ive l i n es i n each of the
ecstatic a bout "Fo rmation Attack fol lowing o p e n i n gs, Sic i l i a n, Ca ro
Strategies" . Ka h n , Sca n d i n avia n, French, etc .

H o p efu l ly the Attacki ng 101 books

Future Books wi l l beco m e popu l a r. As I l i ke the
idea of ex pa n d i n g the series to
i n c l u d e ga m es of p layers in the
Cu rrently my p l a n s a re to write the 1800- 2100 ra nge, as wel l as reader
fo l lowi ng books : ga m es (em a i l you r ga m es to:
rea derga m es@ h otma i l . com ) .

111
 Atta c k i n g 10 1 : Vo l u m e #00 1

Notes

112