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2/4/2011

By Subhodh Kotekal & Tony Palmer

The Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5) was named after Horatio Caro from England and Marcus Kann from Austria who published analysis on this opening idea in 1866. The Caro-Kann has served as a concrete defensive system against 1. e4 and has been played by World Champions including Jose Capablanca, Vasily Smyslov and Anatoli Karpov. It is a safe and solid set-up for Black which may lead to better endgame chances due to superior Pawn structure.

The Caro-Kann Defense is very similar to the French Defense because Black establishes a center Pawn at d5, but there are important differences. First, the Caro-Kann often leads to an open or semi-open center, while the French Defense aims for a closed center. Second, since Black supports the d5 Pawn with the c6 Pawn, either Pawn trade (exd5 by White or … dxe4 by Black) will unbalance the Pawn majorities on both sides, resulting in more dynamic play compared to the French Defense. Third, the French Defense has the inherent problem of developing Black’s QB which is locked in after … e6; in the Caro-Kann, Black typically develops the QB first (to f5 or g4) and then plays … e6, avoiding this situation altogether.

Diagram 1

After 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5, the chessgames.com database contains 11,959 games, with these statistics for White’s third move: 3. Nc3 34%, 3. exd5 25%, 3. e5 23%, 3. Nd2 18%, and 3. f3 2%. Note that 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2 will join together after 3 … dxe4 4. Nxe4 (5,868 games), which we’ll cover first:

Diagram 2

1) 3. Nc3/Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 leads to these primary lines:

a) 4 … Bf5 (50%) is the Classical Variation and the most popular option for Black. 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 (threatening 7. h5 to trap the Bg6) h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 (White challenges the b1-h7 diagonal) Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. c4. Black has a compact Pawn structure and a Kingside Pawn majority, while White has more space and faster development. Here the Ph5 is far advanced and sometimes lost.

b) 4 … Nd7 (32%) is the Steinitz Variation, which is also called the Smyslov Variation or the Karpov Variation since all three players contributed so much to the opening theory. Black avoids doubled f Pawns with 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 and there are chances for both sides, or White can try 5. Ng5!? instead.

c) 4 … Nf6 (18%) often leads to the Bronstein-Larsen Variation with an unbalanced game after 5. Nxf6+ gxf6 where Black has active play and open lines as compensation for the doubled Pawns. The alternative recapture 5 … exf6 is the Korchnoi Variation.

2) 3. e5 is the Advance Variation, which is similar to the French Defense as Black intends Pawn breaks in the center with … c5 and/or … f6. 3 … Bf5 is the standard response by Black, then 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 is the Short Variation while 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4!? is the Bayonet Attack.

3) 3. exd5 cxd5 can go in two directions:

a) 4. c4 is the Panov-Botvinnik Attack which usually leads to an IQP (Isolated Queen Pawn) position for White and a sharp game. 4 … Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 e6 is the same as a Queen’s Gambit Semi-Tarrasch opening.

b) 4. Bd3 is the Exchange Variation, with the distinctive feature that White’s Bishops are developed before the Knights. 4 … Nc6 5. c3, then White will play Bf4 and Nf3 with a versatile but quieter game.

4) 3. f3 is the Fantasy Variation, hoping for 3 … dxe4 4. fxe4 giving White a classic Pawn center. Black typically plays 3 … e6 with even chances.

5) 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 is the Two Knights Variation. Black frequently continues 3 … Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 giving White the Two Bishops.

These reference games feature World Champion Anand playing White against the Caro-Kann Defense:

1) Anand-Adams (Oakham, 1986): 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 (The previous main line was 6. Bd3 contesting the b1-h7 diagonal, while the modern approach is to advance h2-h4-h5 before playing Bd3.) h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Qc7 11. Bd2 0-0-0 12. 0-0-0 e6 13. Ne4 Ngf6 14. g3 (14. Kb1 is another waiting move) Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Bd6 17. Kb1 Kb8 18. Ne5 Ka8 19. Nc4 Be7 20. Bf4 Qc8 21. g4 (White continues to gain space) Nd5 22. Bd2 Bf6 23. Ne5 Rhf8 24. c4 Ne7 25. Bb4 Rde8 26. f4 Bxe5 27. fxe5 f5 28. Rhf1 Qd7 29. Qf2 Rf7 30. Qh4 b6 31. Qh1 Kb7 32. Qg2 (An interesting Queen maneuver) g5 (Fritz suggests 32 … a6 waiting) 33. hxg6 Nxg6 34. gxf5 (A discovery on the Ng6) Nh4 35. fxe6! Qxe6 (35 … Nxg2 36. Rxf7! wins material) 36. Qe4 Nf5 37. Rf3 a5 38. Ba3 h5 39. b3 (Fritz likes 39. Rdf1 Qxc4 40. b3 even better, since the Nf5 is lost) Nh6 40. Rxf7+ Nxf7 41. Bb2 Ng5 42. Qd3 h4 43. d5 cxd5 44. cxd5 Qg4 45. d6 h3 46. Rc1 h2 47. Qd5+ Kb8? (47 … Ka6 is forced) 48. d7 Rd8 49. Qd6+ 1-0. (49 … Ka7 50. Bd4 Rb8 51. d8=Q is decisive.)

2) Anand-Bologan (Dortmund, 2003): 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5!? (This line is sharper than 5. Bd3 or 5. Nf3) Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 (6 … h6? 7. Ne6! is a famous trap – 7 … fxe6? 8. Bg6#) 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. 0-0 b6 12. Qg4 g5 13. Qh3 Rg8 14. Re1 (14. Qxh6?! Bf8 15. Qh5 Nf6 16. Qh3 g4 and Black wins material) Bf8? (Fritz recommends 14 … g4 15. Qxh6 gxf3 with tense play) 15. Qf5 Bg7 16. h4 Kf8 17. Qh3 Rh8 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Qg4 c5 20. Bxg5 cxd4 21. Rad1 Bb7 (The odd 21 … Rb8 is the computer move) 22. Rxe6!! (A brilliant sacrifice) fxe6 (22 … Bd5 or 22 … Bxf3 both decline the sacrifice but White is better) 23. Be7+! Kxe7 24. Qxg7+ Kd6 25. Nxd4 Qc5 (White threatened 26. Nb5+) 26. Bf5 Qe5 27. Nf3+ Qd5 28. Qg3+ Ke7 29. Rxd5 Bxd5 (White has an active Queen against two passive Rooks) 30. Qg5+ Kd6 31. Qf4+ Ke7 32. Be4 Rh5 33. Nh4 Rg8 34. Ng6+ Kd8 35. Qf7 Re8 36. Bd3 1-0. (37. Bb5 wins quickly; if 36 … Bc6 37. f4 & 38. Ne5.)

3) Anand-Gulko (Riga, 1995): 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 (Advance Variation) Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 (Black develops the QB early but is slightly weak on the dark squares) 5. Be2 c5 (This … c5 break is similar to the French Defense) 6. Be3 Nd7 7. c4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxb1 9. Rxb1 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Ne7 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. f4 0-0 14. 0-0 (White has an advantage in space) Qb6 15. Bf3 Nb4 16. a3 Nc6 17. Rbd1 Rfd8 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Qf2 Rab8 20. Nf3 Nc5 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Rc1 Ne4 23. Qxb6 axb6 24. Kf1 c5 25. Ke2 f5 26. Rd1 Rxd1 27. Kxd1 Kf7 28. Nd2 Nxd2 29. Kxd2 g5? (29 … Ke8 should draw) 30. Kc3 b5 31. b3! gxf4 32. a4 1-0. White creates a passed Pawn, then the King and Pawn endgame is an easy win.

4) Anand-Timman (Moscow, 1992): 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 (Panov-Botvinnik Attack) Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bc4 (8. Bd3 is also common) 0-0 9. 0-0 Nc6 10. Re1 Nxc3 11. bxc3 (This trade helps White because the d Pawn is reinforced) b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. h4 Qd5 (Black avoids 13 … Bxh4!? opening the h file against his King) 14. Rb1 Rac8 15. Rb5 Qd6 16. d5! Ba6 (16 … exd5 17. Rxd5! Qxd5? 18. Bxh7+ & 19. Qxd5) 17. dxc6 Rfd8 18. Qa4 Qxd3 19. Qxa6 (White just swiped a piece) Rxc6 20. Be3 Bf6 21. Bd4 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Rc3 (Fritz suggests 22 … h6 but White is winning) 23. a4 Ra3 24. Qxa7! Qxb5!? 25. Qe7 1-0. 25 ... Qe8/Re8 26. Qxa3 wins.

The Caro-Kann is a very solid defense, which is widely used by Black to neutralize 1. e4. White aims to limit Black’s piece activity, while with best play Black can often reach a favorable endgame. Good luck!

REFERENCES

1. Wikipedia – Caro-Kann Defence

2. chessgames.com database

3. Fritz 10

Posted at 10:00 PM by Subhodh Kotekal | Category: Category 1 | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

2/1/2011

Bishop's/Vienna Hybrid

By Subhodh Kotekal & Tony Palmer

The Vienna Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3) was named after Vienna, Austria during the 19th century. The Vienna Gambit involves White advancing f2-f4, while the term Vienna Game includes other White set-ups without f2-f4. The Bishop's Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Bc4) has White developing the King Bishop first, aiming at Black's weak point on f7. When White combines Bc4 and Nc3 in the opening phase, this is called the Bishop's/Vienna Hybrid and leads to very interesting play. By convention, White playing 2. Nc3 and 3. Bc4 is classified under Bishop's Opening instead of the Vienna, even with the Knight out first. After either 2. Bc4 or 2. Nc3, Black typically responds with 2 … Nf6, thus this opening system overlaps and transposes. The present article will cover the two most common third moves by Black, 3 … Nc6 and 3 … Bc5, whereas 3 … Nxe4 should be examined separately.

Diagram 1

After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3, the chessgames.com database of master games has 1599 games, with these statistics for Black's third move: 3 … Nc6 51%, 3 … Bc5 18%, 3 … Nxe4 18%, and 3 … Bb4 5%. After either 3 … Nc6 or 3 … Bc5, 4. d3 is a very solid continuation for White which solidifies the Pe4 while opening lines for development. These reference games demonstrate the Bishop's/Vienna Hybrid with White playing 4. d3.

1) Mieses-Brody (Dusseldorf, 1908): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 (Black pins the Nc3 to reduce White's control over d5.) 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Qxf6 8. Ne2 d6 9. 0-0 Bg4 10. f3 Be6 11. Bb3 (11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. f4 is a plausible line.) g5 (Fritz 7 prefers 11 … 0-0 12. Qe1 with equality.) 12. d4 Bxb3 13. axb3 (Capturing toward the center while opening the a file.) 0-0 14. Qd3 a6 15. Rad1 Rad8 16. Ng3 Kh7 17. Nh5 Qg6 18. g4 f6 19. Rd2 Qf7 20. h4 (Opening lines toward Black's King.) Rg8 21. Rh2 Ne7 22. Rff2 Ng6 23. hxg5 fxg5 24. Ng3 Nh4 25. Nf5 Nxf5 26. exf5 (White recaptures this way clearing diagonals for attack.) Qf6 27. Re2 Rge8 28. Re4 exd4 (28 … Kg7 is equal per Fritz 7.) 29. Rhe2 Rxe4 30. Rxe4 Rd7 (30 … Qf8 loses to 31. Re7+! as 31 … Qxe7 32. f6+ wins the Queen.) 31. Re6 Qf7 32. Qxd4 Qf8?! (32 … Qg7 gives better chances to defend.) 33. f6 d5 34. Qd3+ Kh8 35. Qe3 Kh7 36. Qe5 Qf7 (36 … Rf7 37. Re8 intending 38. Qf5+.) 37. Re8 Qg6 38. Rh8+!! (A brilliant sacrifice.) Kxh8 39. f7+ 1-0. (39 … Qg7 40. f8=Q+, or 39 … Kh7 40. f8=N+!)

2) Tartakower-Rubinstein (Moscow, 1925): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Be3 d6 6. Bxc5 dxc5 (Black accepts doubled Pawns to control d4 while trading off the bad Bishop and gaining some space.) 7. Nge2 Na5 8. Bb3 Nxb3 9. axb3 0-0 10. 0-0 Ng4 11. h3 Nh6 12. f4 (White finished development before attacking the center with f2-f4.) exf4 13. Nxf4 f6 14. Qf3 Nf7 (14 … c6 15. Kh1 is +/= per Fritz 7.) 15. Rf2 Ne5 16. Qg3 c6 17. Nh5 (White's forces coordinate well for a Kingside attack.) Qe7 18. Raf1 Kh8 19. Nd1 Bd7 20. Ne3 Rad8 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 Qd7 23. Rf4 Rfe8 24. Kh1 Re7 25. Re4 Rde8 26. Qh4 Kg8 27. Qf2 b6 28. Rfe1 Kh8 29. R1e3 Kg8 30. Rg3 Kh8? (30 … Rf8 is better.) 31. Rxg7! Rxg7 32. Nxf6 (Knight Fork) Qe7 33. Nxe8 Qxe8 34. Qf4 (The pin on the Ne5 regains the piece.) Re7 35. f6 Ng6 (35 … Re6 36. Rxe5! Rxe5 37. f7 wins.) 36. Rxe7 Nxe7 (36 … Nxf4? 37. Rxe8#) 37. f7 1-0. (38. Qf6+ is decisive.)

3) Larsen-Portisch (Porec, 1968): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Na5 (One way for Black to unbalance the game is trading Knight for Bishop, despite moving the same piece twice in the opening.) 5. Nge2 Nxc4 6. dxc4 (The doubled Pawns control d5.) Be7 7. 0-0 d6 8. b3 0-0 9. Ng3 (White commonly maneuvers the KN to g3 where it hits f5 and h5.) c6 10. Bb2 Qa5 11. Qe1 Qc7 12. a4 Be6 13. Rd1 a6 14. Qe2 Bg4 15. f3 Bd7 16. Kh1 Rab8 17. Nf5 Bxf5 (Black often makes this trade as otherwise the Nf5 is very strong.) 18. exf5 Rfe8 19. Rd2 Rbd8 20. Rfd1 Nh5 21. Ba3 (Piling on the backward Pd6.) Nf4 22. Qf2 Qa5 23. Ne4 d5 24. Bxe7 Rxe7 25. Qh4 Red7?! (25 … f6 26. g3 Ne2 improves but White is better.) 26. g3 Ne2 (26 … dxe4? 27. Qxd8+! Qxd8 28. Rxd7 wins material.) 27. f6 Qb4 28. Qg4 1-0. (The mate threat wins a piece with 28 … g6 29. Rxe2 as the d Pawn is still pinned.)

4) Larsen-Matanovic (Biel, 1976): 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d3 Bc5 (A good post for Black's Bishop.) 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 d6 7. Na4 Bb6 8. Nxb6 axb6 (Another Knight for Bishop trade.) 9. f3 Be6 10. Ne2 g5 11. Bf2 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Qd2 (13. Nc3?! Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bxc4 15. dxc4 and White has tripled Pawns.) Qe7 14. 0-0 Nf4 15. Bb5 Ra5 (Consider 15 … 0-0 safeguarding the King first.) 16. a4 Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 0-0 18. c3 Qd6 19. Rfe1 Raa8 20. Bg3 (20. Bxc6 bxc6 21. Bg3 is also possible.) f6 21. d4 (White attacks the center with the d Pawn this time.) Bf7 22. Rad1 Qe7 23. Qc2 Be8 24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. Bxe5 fxe5 26. Rd5 Bxb5 27. axb5 (Major piece endgame.) Rae8 28. Re4 Rf6 29. h4 gxh4 30. Rxh4 c6 31. bxc6 bxc6 32. Rd2 Re6 33. Re4 b5 34. Qd1 Rg6 35. Rd7 Qc5+ 36. Kf1 Rf8 37. Qd3 Rff6? (37 … Rf7 38. Rf4! e4 39. Qxe4 is better for White.) 38. b4 Qb6 39. Rxe5 (39. Rg4! wins even faster.) 1-0.

5) Rublevsky-Navara (World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007): 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 (This move order avoids any 3. Nc3 Nxe4 variation.) Nc6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 (Opening the center is double-edged as Black's Pe5 may prove weak.) 7. 0-0 Bxc3 8. Nxc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 0-0 10. f4 (An effective attacking move in the Bishop's/Vienna Hybrid.) Na5 11. Bb3 exf4 12. Bxf4 Nxb3 13. axb3 Qd5 14. c4 Qc6 15. Qe1 b6 (15 … Re8!? 16. Qg3 Qc5+ 17. Kh1 c6 +/= per Fritz 7.) 16. Qg3 Bb7 (The Pc7 could not be saved.) 17. Bxc7 Rae8!? 18. d4 b5 19. Bd6 (Trapping the Rf8 yet this was probably an intentional exchange sacrifice by Black anyway.) bxc4 20. Bxf8 Kxf8 21. Rxa7 (21. bxc4 is also good.) cxb3 22. Rxf7+! (Trading down to a superior major piece endgame.) Kxf7 23. Qxb3+ Kf8 24. Rxb7 Qf6 25. Qb4+ Kg8 26. Qc4+ Kh8 27. Rb1 (White defends the weak back rank.) Qf4 28. Qd3 h6 29. Rf1 Qd6 30. c4 Rd8 31. d5 Qc5+ 32. Kh1 Rc8 33. h3 Kg8 (33 … Qd6 trying to blockade the passed Pawns is Black's last chance.) 34. d6 Qxc4 35. d7 1-0. (35 … Qxd3 36. dxc8=Q+)

The Bishop's/Vienna Hybrid gives White sound development and good chances to maintain an opening advantage into the middlegame. Good luck!

REFERENCES

1. chessgames.com

2. Fritz 7

Posted at 8:00 PM by Subhodh Kotekal | Category: Category 1 | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

1/26/2011

Vienna Gambit - 5. d3

By Subhodh Kotekal & Tony Palmer

To review from last time, the Main Line of the Vienna Gambit starts with 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6, and now White plays 3. f4 offering to trade White’s f Pawn for Black’s e Pawn which would reduce Black’s control of the center. White can also utilize the half-open f file to attack f7, thus the Vienna Gambit is conceptually similar to the King’s Gambit. After 3. f4, Black most commonly responds 3 … d5 gaining space in the center; not 3 … exf4?! 4. e5 Ng8 5. d4 and White will soon regain the Pf4 with a big advantage. Then 4. fxe5 Nxe4 and the most frequent move is 5. Nf3 (which we covered before), so let’s examine the Oxford Variation 5. d3 which dislodges the Ne4 from its central outpost.

Diagram 1

After 5. d3, the chessgames.com database contains 356 games, with these statistics for Black’s possible responses: 5 … Nxc3 76%, 5 … Bb4 15%, 5 … Qh4+ 10%, and 5 … Nc5 2%.

1) 5 … Nxc3. The most common reply, trading Knights while doubling White’s Pawns. After 6. bxc3 Black often advances 6 … d4, then 7. Nf3 (7. cxd4? Qxd4 forks the Ra1 and the Pe5) Nc6 8. cxd4 Bb4+ (a key finesse) 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Nxd4 with chances for both sides.

2) 5 … Bb4. An old line which has fallen out of favor after extensive analysis. 6. dxe4 Qh4+ 7. Ke2 (7. g3? Qxe4+ & 8 … Qxh1) Bxc3 (7 … dxe4? 8. g3 Qh5+ 9. Kf2 is good for White; 7 … Nc6 8. g3 Qg4+ is OK for Black) 8. bxc3 Bg4+ 9. Nf3 dxe4 trying to regain the piece, but White has the counter-pin 10. Qd4! preventing 10 … exf3+? due to 11. gxf3 winning the Bg4. So Black plays 10 … Bh5 instead, whereupon White breaks the pin (11. Kd2/Ke3) with a material advantage.

3) 5 … Qh4+!?. The Modern Line, trying to win material but typically backfiring after 6. g3 Nxg3 7. Nf3 deflecting the Queen off the e1-h4 diagonal; 7 … Qh5 8. Nxd5 (8. Rg1 Nxf1 9. Rg5 Qh3 10. Nxd5 Nxh2 favors Black [Levenfish]) Bg4 (8 … Nxh1 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 favors White [Barden/Penrose]) 9. Bg2 Nxh1 10. Nxc7+ & 11. Nxa8 and Black’s Nh1 will be corralled faster than White’s Na8. This variation with 8. Nxd5 is called the Wurzburger Trap.

4) 5 … Nc5. A rare retreat which loses time and breaks the rule about moving the same piece again in the opening. White should play 6. d4 Ne6 7. Nf3 with solid control of the center, sound development and a spatial advantage.

Here are some interesting games demonstrating these Vienna Gambit lines:

1) Bartsch-Weicht (Correspondence DDR/BRD, 1988): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3 Qh4+!? 6. g3 Nxg3 (6 … Nxc3 7. bxc3 Qe7 bails out safely) 7. Nf3 Qh5 8. Nxd5 (Wurzburger Trap) Nxh1 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 Bc5 11. d4 (Gaining space while hitting the Bc5) Be7 12. Bg2 Bh4+ 13. Kf1 Ng3+ (Desperado since the Knight was trapped) 14. hxg3 Bxg3 15. Qd2 (Developing with the twin threats 16. Qg5+ & 16. Qa5+) h6 16. Qa5+ b6 17. Qxa7 (Defending the Na8, so Black is lost) Ba6+ 18. Kg1 Bh2+ 19. Nxh2 Qd1+ 20. Nf1 Qxd4+ 21. Be3 Qxe5 22. Bxb6+ Kc8 23. Bh3+ f5 24. Bxf5+! (Deflection) Qxf5 25. Qc7# 1-0.

2) Steinitz-Blackburne (London, 1876): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. d3 Bb4 5. fxe5 Nxe4 (Transposing to the 5 … Bb4 line) 6. dxe4 Qh4+ 7. Ke2 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Bg4+ 9. Nf3 dxe4 10. Qd4! Bh5 11. Ke3 Bxf3 12. Bb5+ (12. gxf3 Qe1+ 13. Kf4 Qh4+ and Black has perpetual check) c6 13. gxf3 cxb5 14. Qxe4 Qh6+ 15. Kf2 Qc6 16. Qd4 Na6 17. Ba3 b4!? 18. Bxb4 Nxb4 19. Qxb4 and White won the endgame (1-0, 53).

3) Isaacson-Spassky (Tel Aviv, 1964): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 d4 7. Nf3 dxc3 (7 … Nc6 is also good) 8. Be2 Nc6 9. d4 Bg4 10. Be3 Be7 11. 0-0 Nb4 12. Bc4 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Ne1 Nd5 (The centralized Nd5 guards the Pc3.) 15. Qd3 Qd7 16. Rb1 0-0-0 (16 … Rb8 is another option, intending to advance the b Pawn.) 17. Nf3 Rdf8 18. Rb3 Qc6 19. Rfb1 b6 20. Bc1 Rf5 21. Ba3 Bxa3 22. Rxa3 a5 23. Qa6+ Kd7 24. Qb5 Rhf8 25. Qxc6+ Kxc6 (The Queen trade helps Black.) 26. Rab3 a4 27. Rb5 g5 28. h3 h5 29. h4 gxh4 30. Kh2 Rxf3! (An exchange sacrifice trading down into a won endgame) 31. gxf3 Rxf3 32. Kg2 Rf4 (Confining the White King) 33. R5b4 (Desperation) Nxb4 34. Rxb4 Kd5 35. Rxa4 Rxd4 36. Ra7 Rd2+ 37. Kh3 c5 38. Rb7 Rxc2 39. Rxb6 Rh2+! (A Pawn promotion trick) 40. Kxh2 c2 0-1.

4) Shaposhnikov-Korchnoi (Sochi, 1958): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Nc6 7. Nf3 d4 8. Bb2 (8. cxd4 Bb4+ inducing 9. Bd2, then 9 … Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Nxd4) Bg4 (Fighting for the d4 square) 9. Be2 dxc3 10. Bxc3 Bc5 11. Qd2 (11. Qc1 might improve, but White plans to castle Queenside.) 0-0 12. 0-0-0!? (Risky) Qd5 13. Qf4 Be6 14. a4 Rfd8 15. Kd2 a5 16. Ba1 Nb4 17. Ng5 Nxc2! 18. Nxe6?! (18. Kxc2 Qa2+ 19. Kc3 Bb4+ wins) Qa2 0-1. (The primary threat is 19 … Nd4+ 20. Ke1/Ke3 Qxe2#, or 20. Kc1/Kc3 Qc2#)

The Oxford Variation with 5. d3 is less common than 5. Nf3, but Black must know how to respond correctly or else lose quickly. The Vienna Gambit is a very tactical opening with many traps and combinations, so both sides should be prepared.

REFERENCES

1. Konstantinopolsky A & Lepeshkin V: Vienna Game. American Chess Promotions, Macon, 1986.

2. chessgames.com database

3. Fritz 10

Posted at 9:00 PM by Subhodh Kotekal | Category: Category 1 | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Vienna Gambit - 5. Nf3

By Subhodh Kotekal & Tony Palmer

The Vienna Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3) was named after Carl Hamppe from Vienna, Austria who played and analyzed this opening system during the 19th century. The Vienna Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4) is where White advances f2-f4 directly attacking the center, while the term Vienna Game includes all other third move alternatives for White, like 3. Bc4 or 3. g3. This article will cover the Vienna Gambit, which is a sharp tactical opening that has been played successfully by such leading players as Wilhelm Steinitz and Rudolf Spielmann.

The Main Line of the Vienna Gambit is 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 (Black gains ground in the center) 4. fxe5 Nxe4, and now the most common move for White is 5. Nf3 developing the KN while avoiding any Queen checks at h4. Note 5. Nxe4!? dxe4 is rarely played because it trades White’s only developed piece while leaving both sides with weak e Pawns; Marshall-Napier (Brooklyn, 1896) continued 5. Nxe4!? dxe4 6. d4 exd3 7. cxd3!? Nc6 8. Nf3 Bg4 and Black won.

Diagram 1

After 5. Nf3, the chessgames.com database contains 552 games, with these statistics for Black’s possible responses: 5 … Be7 44%, 5 … Bg4 18%, 5 … Bb4 13%, 5 … Nc6 12%, and 5 … Bc5 9%.

1) 5 … Be7. This is Breyer’s idea, intending to advance …f7-f6 and challenge White’s Pe5. One line is 6. Bd3 Nc5 7. Bb5+ c6 8. d4 0-0 9. Be2 with chances for both sides, or Black could try 6 … Nxc3 7. dxc3 instead.

2) 5 … Bg4. Black pins the Nf3 to pressure White’s center, but White can exploit Black’s early QB development with the unusual 6. Qe2 threatening 7. Qb5+ along with 7. Nxe4 dxe4 8. Qxe4 winning a Pawn. White gets a very good game after 6. Qe2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 or 7. dxc3.

3) 5 … Bb4. Black attacks the Nc3 which would be pinned if White plays d2-d3 or d2-d4. A typical continuation is 6. Be2 0-0 7. 0-0 Nc6 with chances for both sides. White could also try 6. Qe2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 0-0 8. Qe3 preparing d2-d4.

4) 5 … Nc6. White most commonly responds 6. Bb5, and then 6 … a6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 leads to an unbalanced position where Black has compensation for the doubled Pawns through the Two Bishops plus a solid center.

5) 5 … Bc5. White usually plays 6. d4 (otherwise 6 … Nf2 wins material) leading to 6 … Bb4 7. Bd2 Nxd2 8. Qxd2 Bg4 9. 0-0-0 where White safeguards the King before proceeding.

Now let’s examine some instructive miniatures in each of these lines, showing the powerful potential of the Vienna Gambit:

1) Slapikas-Butnorius (Kaunas, 2001): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. Qe2 (6. Bd3 is also playable) Nxc3 7. dxc3 c5 (Black gains space) 8. Bf4 Nc6 9. 0-0-0 Be6 10. Kb1 h6 11. h4 Qa5 12. g3 (White’s Bf4/Pg3/Ph4 set-up is very effective) 0-0-0 13. Bh3 Rhe8 14. h5 a6 15. Nh4 Qb5 16. Bxe6+ fxe6 17. Qg4 Bxh4 18. Rxh4 d4 19. cxd4 Nxd4 20. Rhh1 Qc4 21. Qg6 Re7 22. Rd2 Red7 23. Rhd1 Nf5?! (Black miscalculates, but there’s no good way to save the Kingside Pawns after 24. c3) 24. Rxd7 1-0. (24 … Rxd7 25. Qe8+ wins a Rook)

2) Spielmann-Flamberg (Mannheim, 1914): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2 Nc5 7. d4 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Qh4+ 9. g3 Qxd4 10. Be3 Qxe5 (Black wins two Pawns but is far behind in development) 11. 0-0-0 c6 12. Nxd5! (A piece sacrifice to open up the center) cxd5 13. Rxd5 Qe6 (13 … Qe4? 14. Qxe4+ Nxe4 15. Re5+) 14. Bc4 (White threatens a Discovery) Qe4 15. Bxc5! 1-0. (15 … Qxf3 16. Re1+ mates. Beautiful positional play by Spielmann.

3) Tarrasch-Kuerschner (Nuremberg, 1895): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bb4 6. Be2 (6. Qe2 is another good line) c6 7. 0-0 Qb6+ 8. d4!? Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Ba3! (An intentional exchange sacrifice to prevent Black from castling) Bxa1 11. Qxa1 Bf5 12. Ng5 Bg6 13. e6 f6 14. e7! Bf7 (14 … fxg5 15. Rf8+ wins) 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. Bh5+ g6 17. Rxf6+! Kxf6 18. Qf1+ 1-0. (The Queen and Bishops combine to mate Black’s King. Great tactics by Tarrasch.)

4) Pollock-Gunsberg (Baltimore, 1891): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bb4 7. Qe2 Bxc3 8. bxc3 0-0 9. 0-0 Qe7 (Both Kings are safe, so chances are equal) 10. a4 Re8 11. Ba3 Qe6 12. c4 Nd6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6?! (Missing a tactic; 13 … cxd6 was forced) 14. exd6 Rxe2 15. cxd5 1-0. (The Discovery on the Re2 wins material.)

5) Kleinert-Magar (Dresden, 2007): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. d4 (6. Qe2?! Bf2+ 7. Kd1 Nxc3+ 8. bxc3 Bb6 and White can never castle) Bb4 7. Bd2 Bg4 8. Be2 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qh4+ 10. g3 Nxg3!? 11. hxg3 Qxg3+ 12. Ke2 (Black gets two Pawns for the piece but White’s King is safe) Nc6 13. Nb5 0-0 14. Bxb4 Nxe5?! (Desperation) 15. dxe5 Qxe5+ 16. Kf2 Rfe8 17. Qd3 g6 18. Bc3 Qe6 19. Rxh7! 1-0. (19 … Kxh7 20. Rh1+ Kg8 21. Rh8#).

The Vienna Gambit is a great opening for White, especially for those who enjoy sharp tactical play. Next time we’ll cover the Vienna Gambit with 5. d3.

REFERENCES

1. Konstantinopolsky A & Lepeshkin V: Vienna Game. American Chess Promotions, Macon, 1986.

2. chessgames.com database

Posted at 5:30 PM by Subhodh Kotekal | Category: Category 1 | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

1/24/2011

Vienna Gambit - 5. Nf3

By Subhodh Kotekal & Tony Palmer

The Vienna Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3) was named after Carl Hamppe from Vienna, Austria who played and analyzed this opening system during the 19^th century. The Vienna Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4) is where White advances f2-f4 directly attacking the center, while the term Vienna Game includes all other third move alternatives for White, like 3. Bc4 or 3. g3. This article will cover the Vienna Gambit, which is a sharp tactical opening that has been played successfully by such leading players as Wilhelm Steinitz and Rudolf Spielmann.

The Main Line of the Vienna Gambit is 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 (Black gains ground in the center) 4. fxe5 Nxe4, and now the most common move for White is 5. Nf3 developing the KN while avoiding any Queen checks at h4. Note 5. Nxe4!? dxe4 is rarely played because it trades White’s only developed piece while leaving both sides with weak e Pawns; Marshall-Napier (Brooklyn, 1896) continued 5. Nxe4!? dxe4 6. d4 exd3 7. cxd3!? Nc6 8. Nf3 Bg4 and Black won.

Diagram 1