How to Succeed in the Queen Pawn Openings

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Contents

Overview 6

1.d4 d5 From White’s Point of View:

1.d4 d5 2.c4: 9
2…Nf6 (the Marshall Defense) 10
2…c5 (the Austrian Defense) 13
2…Bf5 (the Baltic Defense) 16
2…e5 (the Albin CounterGambit) 26
2…Nc6 (the Chigorin Defense) 35
2…e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 (the Schara Gambit) 37
2…e6 3.Nc3 c5 Tarrasch variants 51
2…c6 3.Nc3 e5 (the Winawer CounterGambit) 54

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3: 68
2…Bg4 68
2…Bf5 71
2…Nc6 72
1.d4 d5 From Black’s Point of View:

Closed Games 1.d4 d5: 76

2.e4 (Blackmar–Diemer Gambit) 77
2.Bg5 (Levitsky Attack)
85
1.d4 d5 2.c4: 95
2...e6 3.e4 (Diemer–Duhm Gambit) 95
2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 (Tarrasch QGD Variants) 98
2…e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 (Semi-Slav: Marshall Gambit) 108

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3: 118

2…Nf6 3.Bg5 (Veresov) 119
2…Nf6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Bf4 (Barry) 121

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6: 127

3.Bg5 (Pseudo–Torre) 127
3.Bf4 (Pseudo–London) 132

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6:

3.Bg5 (Torre Attack) 130
3.Bf4 (London System) 135
3.e3 (Main Colle/Stonewall Systems) 140
3.e3 (Other Colle/Stonewall Systems) 148
3.e3 Bg4 4.c4 (Pseudo-Queen’s Gambit) 156

1.d4 d5 2.e3 (Pure Stonewall) 161

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 164
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 (Accelerated London System) 169
Overview
This chess book is meant to replace a host of other chess books. It provides you
with practical ways to play against a wide number of chess openings so that you
don’t have to buy specialized books about each one. Who has the time to read all
those books anyway? Even if you did, do you want to look through them (often in
vain) to pick out something to play? Instead, we suggest straightforward and in most
cases easy–to–learn answers to each opening system. How to Succeed in the Queen
Pawn Openings is aimed all the way from average players to experienced ones in-
terested in strengthening their opening repertoire. We think that it will also increase
your understanding of chess in general. The emphasis is upon achieving a safe and
promising game, hopefully a favorable one but in any case one that is comfortable to
play.
The general idea behind this project is easy to understand, but the details may
need some explanation. What is covered here? The short answer is that we give sug-
gestions to meet systems that both players of White and Black must face after the
moves 1.d4 d5. These systems are either lesser–played ones (known as “irregular”
openings) or they are fully legitimate and normal ones that constitute obstructions
to reaching the very main lines. We want to show both those who play 1.d4 and
those who play 1…d5 how to handle such openings without having to invest more
time in doing so than is absolutely necessary. This requires specific choices about
which openings qualify for consideration. We have emphasized chess variations that
you will actually see over the board rather than an abstract list of obscure possibili-
ties. At the same time we make sure that we cover anything that must be known in
order to reach your desired main line opening. Which main line openings would
that include? For one, the traditional Queen’s Gambit Declined Variations, e.g., the
positions after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6, including those after 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 and 3.Nc3 c5
4.cxd5 exd5. Secondly, the Queen’s Gambit Accepted with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4. An-
other main line is the Slav Defense 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. These three openings have been
major systems for well more than 50 years they are examined in depth in seemingly
endless books and articles and we couldn’t begin to present the extensive material
on them in a single volume. But any player will tell you that to arrive at their favorite
main line variation is not so easy, whether playing White or Black. In fact, a common
complaint of students and amateurs is that they never get to play the main opening
that they’ve studied!
Let’s examine what this means if you’re on the White side of 1.d4 d5. You may
have a brilliant new idea against a main of the Slav Defense, for example, after 1.d4
d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4. But in actual tournament or match play you keep
running up against such things as 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 or 2…Bf5. Or Black may answer
1.d4 d5 2.c4 with 2…e5, a gambit that has gained considerable popularity of late.
Even within openings like the Queen’s Gambit Declined, certain variations could
take you by surprise, for example, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c5. Or, when Black
plays the venerable Tarrasch Defense after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5, White should
know something about 4.cxd5 cxd4, by which Black gives up a pawn in return for a
dangerous attack. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5 is another bothersome gambit. These sorts
of lines can be irritating – how can you study everything? In order to be well pre-
pared as White you would have to pore through books on each individual opening.
This is where we come in, trying to supply you with straightforward ways to meet
these variations.
From Black’s point of view the situation is also not easy. Suppose, for example,
that you’d like to get to the position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3
O–O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6. That is called the Tartakower Defense and it has been played
by nearly every modern world champion as well as many other great players in each
generation. So you have studied that position carefully and are eager to play it. But
how often will you get that far? There are all kinds of annoying obstacles. Right off,
White can throw you a loop by playing 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 or 2.Nc3. In the latter case you
also have to deal with things like 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5, 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3
g6 4.Bf4, 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.e4, or all kinds of odd move orders. Then there is a popular
gambit by 1.d4 d5 2.e4, or White might play a move like 2.e3, intending to follow up
with Nf3, Bd3 and c3, or maybe even the move f4 at some point. Finally, Black has
to be able to react to various ideas if White avoids 1.d4 d5 2.c4 by 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 and
follows up with 3.Bf4 or 3.e3.
And on it goes. Not every possible infrequent or unconventional move order can
be looked at, naturally, but we will examine the most important of them and par-
ticularly the ones that you will likely see when you get to the board and start the
game. You will see that our solutions will generally be outside of main line theory.
Against systems that are not tactically critical we try to keep these solutions simple,
not guaranteeing an advantage every time (in some cases that’s impossible) but giv-
ing you a practical setup requiring minimal study. At other times we may suggest
something that is sound and fun to play, whether or not it is the solution that a 2700
Grandmaster might use to get a tiny technical advantage. Finally, we recognize that
success against certain ultra–sharp systems simply demands that you learn some
complex material by heart, or at least become extremely familiar with the basic tacti-
cal and positional themes that characterize the variations. Regardless of the level of
complexity, we include a lot of extra games and analyses as reference material. They
are not meant to be memorized! The idea is that you can come back to this reference
material and compare it with what happens in your own games.
Often two reasonable answers are given against the most important openings be-
cause you might prefer a particular style of playing. For example, sometimes the best
answer to a reasonably sound irregular opening might require a complex and precise
response with some memorization required. But in that case we will also offer a sec-
ond and simpler variation against the same opening, hopefully one that defuses the
enemy attack and achieves an acceptable game or better.
The specific explanations in each section should help you assimilate the material..
At the end of the book we have supplied grids which visually present an overview

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 How to Succeed in the Queen Pawn Openings
of the most important moves that you have studied. This should help you to remem-
ber what has been shown while avoiding the clutter of notes and lesser alternatives.
More advanced players will gain from the analytical details, which are based upon
extensive research and both human and computer evaluations. The authors are
confident that if you study the material in this book you won’t have many problems
dealing with the surprises your opponent may pull on you.

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Against the London System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4
This is a more common order for White than after 2…e6 3.Bf4 (see the previous
chapter). We look at a line where Black immediately challenges the center and tries
to exploit the absence of White’s bishop from the queenside.
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Position after 3.Bf4
3…c5
Now White has two main ways to protect his center A.4.e3 B.4.c3.
If he gives up the center by 4.dxc5, the position after 4…e6 (4…Na6 is another
way to recover the pawn) 5.e3 Bxc5 is pefectly fine for Black due to the odd position
of the bishop on f4 instead of c1 or g5. As Prie points out, a reversed Slav Defense
can arise after 6.Nbd2 (6.c4 is more or less like a Queen’s Gambit Accepted with
reversed colors, except that White’s bishop really isn’t well–placed of f4) 6…Nc6
7.c3. This corresponds to 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4
Nbd7. In our position Black is only missing the move …a5, but Prie points out that
omitting that move “is a genuine bonus!”
You’d think that the main idea behind 4.dxc5 should be 4…e6 5.b4!?, when White
feels that with so many pieces out he can be greedy. But his pawns are still exposed
and unfortunately, Black’s play is effective after 5…a5 6.c3 axb4 7.cxb4 (7.Bxb8?
Rxb8 8.cxb4 b6! 9.Nd4 Qd7 10.Qc2 bxc5 11.bxc5 Ne4 12.Nb3 Qa4! 13.Nc3 Qb4 14.Rc1
Bd7 15.Nd2 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Bxc5 17.e3 Qa3! 18.Nb1 Qa7 19.a3 Bb6! and White is
lost, Wochnik–Alves, W–Cup12 corr ICCF email 2000) 7…Nc6 8.Qb3 (8.Bd2 Ne4!
9.a4 (9.e3? Qf6) 9…b6 10.cxb6 Qxb6 11.e3 Nxd2 12.Nbxd2 Bxb4. Weak is 8.b5? Qa5+
9.Nbd2 Qxb5) 8…b6 9.e3 (9.cxb6 Bxb4+ 10.Bd2 Qxb6) 9…bxc5 10.Bb5 Bd7 11.bxc5
Bxc5 12.O–O O–O and Black holds an edge due to his center (analysis by Eric Prie).

A) 4.e3
This can be difficult for White because he hasn’t made any preparation to answer
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 How to Succeed in the Queen Pawn Openings
Black’s attack by …Qb6. Therefore most players play c3 on their 3rd or 4th moves.
4…Qb6
Another good order is 4…Nc6 , when 5.c3 Qb6 (5…Bg4 6.Nbd2 e6=) 6.Qb3 trans-
poses to 4.c3 below, and 6.Qc1 Bf5 followed by ..Rc8 and …cxd4 is already tough for
White to meet.,
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Position after 4…Qb6
5.Qc1
5.b3 weakens White’s queenside dark squares, for example, 5…Nc6 6.Be2 (6.h3
—versus …Nh5— 6…Ne4!? 7.Be2 cxd4 8.exd4 e5! 9.Bxe5 Bb4+ 10.Kf1 Nxe5 11.Nxe5
O–O and White’s poor king combined with Black’s development and bishops makes
his life miserable) 6…cxd4 (or 6…Bg4 7.c3 e6+= 6…Nh5 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 cxd4 9.Nxd4
Nf4! is a cute trick, for example, 10.exf4 (10.Nxc6 Nxg2+ 11.Kf1 Nxh4) 10…Nxd4
11.O–O g5! 12.fxg5 hxg5 13.Bxg5 Qc7! atacking h2 and c2, but also preparing a dev-
astating …Bg7 or …Qe5.) 7.exd4 Bg4 8.c3 e6 9.O–O Rc8 10.h3 Bf5! and the c3 pawn is
weak.
5…Nc6 6.dxc5
White would like to avoid 6.c3 Nh5!
6…Qxc5 7.Be2 Bg4

136
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Position after 7…Bg4
Black has a promising game:
8.Nbd2
Otherwise Black can advance the e–pawn effectively: 8.O–O?! e5! or 8.h3?! Bxf3
9.Bxf3 e5.
8…e6 9.Nb3 Qb6
10.c3
Avoiding 10.O–O e5!, which succeeds because White’s bishop on e2 is undefend-
ed.
10…h6 11.Qc2 Be7 12.O–O O–O 13.Nbd4 Nxd4 14.exd4 Rac8
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Position after 14…Rac8
Black has genuine pressure. The immediate threat is ...Bxf3 and ...Qxd4, but
moves like ...Bf5 and ...Ne4 are irritating to meet.
B. 4.c3.
Here White wants to meet …Qb6 without loss of time:
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 How to Succeed in the Queen Pawn Openings
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Position after 4.c3

4…Qb6 5.Qb3!?
But this is nothing to be afraid of. Normally neither side wants to exchange
queens and open up the opponent’s a–file, but Black will often force this by playing
…c4.
5…Nc6 6.e3
White also has:
(a) 6.Qxb6?! axb6 7.Bc7!?. This looks like it might win the b–pawn or tie Black down,
but Black can react actively by 7…cxd4 (in fact, even 7…b5 8.dxc5 b4! worked well in
Stentebjerg–Granberg, corres 1982: 8.e3 e6 9.Bd6 Ne4! etc.) 8.Nxd4! (not 8.cxd4? Nb4!
9.Kd1 Ne4! 10.Bg3 Nxa2 —threatening …Nc3+— 11.Na3 Nb4 12.e3 Bd7 and Black
has a clear advantage. He’s threatening …Ba4+, but 13.b3 is terrible after 13…Nc3+
14.Kc1 e5! 15.Kb2 Nba2! 16.Nc2 e4 17.Ng1 Rc8 18.Ne2 h5! 19.h4 Rh6! and …Rhc6)
8…Nxd4 9.cxd4 e6 , for example, 10.Bxb6 (10.f3 Bd7 11.Bxb6 Bb4+ 12.Kf2 O–O with
White’s bishop marooned on b6 while Black is way ahead in development.) 10…
Bb4+ 11.Nc3 Ne4 12.Rc1 Rxa2!
(b) 6.dxc5 gives up the center: 6…Qxc5 7.e3 g6! 8.Nbd2 Bg7 9.h3 O–O 10.Be2 Nd7!
intending …e5, Ricart–Prie, Montpellier Masters 1998.
6… c4!? 7.Qxb6
Otherwise White gets kicked around after 7.Qc2 Bf5! 8.Qc1 (8.Qxf5? Qxb2) 8…h6
(to avoid Nh4 ideas: instead, 8…Nh5 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 was Semeniuk–
Rublevsky, Russia 1991 and now Kaufman suggests 11…Bg7 12.Nbd2 Nxg3 13.hxg3
O–O intending 14.b3!? cxb3 15.axb3 Rac8 16.Qa3 e5! with superior development
and pressure on the c–pawn) 9.h3 e6 10.Nbd2 Qd8 11.Be2 (11.g4 Bh7 12.Ne5 Nxe5
13.Bxe5 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Bg2 O–O 16.O–O Bd3 and Black had good pressure
in Kljako–Zelcic, Pula 2002) 11…b5! 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bd6 and Black had a nice
queenside attack in Gonzalez Maza–Prie, Olot 2005.

138
7…axb6
This is a well–known position in which Black has the idea …b5–b4, often followed
by …b5 and …b4 again! For example,
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Position after 7...axb6
8.Nbd2
White can get into trouble after 8.Na3 Ra5 (possibly more accurate is 8…e6 9.Nb5
Ra5! 10.Nd6+ Bxd6 11.Bxd6 Ne4 9.Bc7!? (Prie analyzes 9.Be2 e5! 10.dxe5 Bxa3 11.bxa3
Ne4, or here 10.Nxe5 Bxa3 11.bxa3 Rxa3!) 9…Bf5 10.Bb6 Ra6 11.Bc7 Kd7 (or 11…e6,
leading to equality according to Prie) 12.Nb5! e6 with double–edged play, Legki–
Cvetkovic, Vrnjacka Banja 1989.
8…b5 9.Be2
9.a3 allows 9…b4! 10.cxb4 Nxb4 with a ferocious initiative: 11.Rb1 Bf5! 12.axb4
Bxb1 13.Nxb1 Ra1 14.Nfd2 e6 15.Kd1 Bxb4 16.Kc2 Ke7 and the other rook comes to
a8.)
9…Bf5 10.O–O e6 11.Ne5!
White has equalized only by playing very accurately. Worse for him is 11.a3 h6
12.h3 Be7.
11…Be7 12.Ndf3 O–O and the game is equal.

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