Courses

Introduction

Fundamentals

5 Exercises

1
Declined with ...d3
Course preview
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d3 4.Bxd3
1. e4
  We take the center and signal an open game.
2. e5
  Black replies classically and lets us launch the gambit.
3. d4
  We open the lines right away.
4. exd4
  Black captures, but gives us time.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center instead of recapturing quietly.
6. d3
  Black declines the true gambit and chooses a drier structure.
7. Bxd3
  We recapture with development and without creating weaknesses. Remember that against ...d3, you should recapture cleanly and then castle quickly.
2
Counter-center with ...d5
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3
1. e4
  We take the center and signal an open game.
2. e5
  Black replies classically and lets us launch the gambit.
3. d4
  We open the lines right away.
4. exd4
  Black captures, but gives us time.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center instead of recapturing quietly.
6. d5
  Black declines the pure gambit and looks for an immediate central counterstrike.
7. exd5
  We remove this pawn before it can become fixed.
8. Qxd5
  The black queen comes out early and becomes a natural target.
9. cxd4
  We restore material equality without closing our game.
10. Nc6
  Black develops, but the queen remains exposed.
11. Nf3
  We develop with tempo and prepare very sound castling. Remember that against ...d5, you should simplify cleanly and then play quickly for development.
3
Taking the b4 bishop
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qb3 O-O 8.Qxb4
1. e4
  We take the center and signal an open game.
2. e5
  Black replies classically and lets us launch the gambit.
3. d4
  We open the lines right away.
4. exd4
  Black captures, but gives us time.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center instead of recapturing quietly.
6. dxc3
  Black gets greedy and delays development.
7. Bc4
  The bishop targets f7 right away.
8. cxb2
  Black captures again, but leaves the king without real cover.
9. Bxb2
  Both of our bishops are already entering the game.
10. Bb4+
  This check looks active, but it mainly helps us develop.
11. Nc3
  We answer usefully and gain a tempo.
12. Nf6
  Black finally develops a piece, without solving the f7 problem.
13. Qb3
  The queen-bishop battery puts real pressure on f7 and on the b4 bishop.
14. O-O
  Black castles into the line of fire and leaves the bishop hanging.
15. Qxb4
  We win back the piece without giving up the initiative. Remember the pattern Bxb2, Nc3, Qb3, then taking the b4 bishop.
4
Pressure on f7
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qb3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 O-O 9.Nf3
1. e4
  We take the center and signal an open game.
2. e5
  Black replies classically and lets us launch the gambit.
3. d4
  We open the lines right away.
4. exd4
  Black captures, but gives us time.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center instead of recapturing quietly.
6. dxc3
  Black gets greedy and delays development.
7. Bc4
  The bishop targets f7 right away.
8. cxb2
  Black captures again, but leaves the king without real cover.
9. Bxb2
  Both of our bishops are already entering the game.
10. Bb4+
  This check looks active, but it mainly helps us develop.
11. Nc3
  We answer usefully and gain a tempo.
12. Nf6
  Black finally develops a piece, without solving the f7 problem.
13. Qb3
  The queen-bishop battery puts real pressure on f7 and on the b4 bishop.
14. Bxc3+
  Black exchanges to ease the pressure.
15. Qxc3
  The queen recaptures and remains perfectly placed.
16. O-O
  The black king castles, but the dark squares remain weak.
17. Nf3
  We finish development before castling. Above all, remember the battery on f7 and the natural development of the knight to f3.
5
Declined with ...Nc6
1.e4 e5 2.d4 Nc6 3.d5 Ncxe7 4.Nf3
1. e4
  We take the center and signal an open game.
2. e5
  Black replies classically and lets us launch the gambit.
3. d4
  We open the lines right away.
4. Nc6
  Black refuses the capture and relies on quick development.
5. d5
  We gain space immediately and chase the knight.
6. Ncxe7
  The knight retreats and Black is already giving ground.
7. Nf3
  We develop simply before castling. Remember that against ...Nc6, the right reflex is often d5 followed by Nf3.

Attack

5 Exercises

1
Exposed Black queen
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Qe7 7.Ne2 Qxe4 8.Qb3 Bxc3+ 9.Bxc3 Qg6
1. e4
  We take the center to open the lines quickly.
2. e5
  Black accepts a game where activity matters more than material.
3. d4
  We open the center without waiting.
4. exd4
  Black captures and lets us keep the pace of the game.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center rather than recapturing quietly.
6. dxc3
  Black wins a pawn, but falls behind in development.
7. Bc4
  The bishop already targets f7.
8. cxb2
  Black keeps grabbing pawns, at the cost of safety.
9. Bxb2
  The bishop regains its full scope.
10. Bb4+
  Black gives a check to slow down our initiative.
11. Nc3
  We answer with useful development.
12. Qe7
  The black queen comes out early to defend e4 and hold the position together.
13. Ne2
  We continue developing and accept giving up e4 for a moment.
14. Qxe4
  Black grabs again, but the queen becomes an exposed piece.
15. Qb3
  We immediately attack the weakness on f7 and gain time on the black queen.
16. Bxc3+
  Black exchanges under pressure.
17. Bxc3
  We keep two active pieces and easy play.
18. Qg6
  The queen retreats again to patch things up. Remember that ...Qe7 followed by ...Qxe4 often leaves Black behind in development and under lasting pressure.
2
Punished Knight
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Nf6 6.e5 Nh5 7.Qxh5
1. e4
  We take the center to open the lines quickly.
2. e5
  Black accepts a game where activity matters more than material.
3. d4
  We open the center without waiting.
4. exd4
  Black captures and lets us keep the pace of the game.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center rather than recapturing quietly.
6. dxc3
  Black wins a pawn, but falls behind in development.
7. Bc4
  The bishop already targets f7.
8. cxb2
  Black keeps grabbing pawns, at the cost of safety.
9. Bxb2
  The bishop regains its full scope.
10. Nf6
  Black finally develops, but the knight becomes a target.
11. e5
  We gain a direct tempo against that knight.
12. Nh5
  This retreat misses the critical square and leaves the piece hanging.
13. Qxh5
  We take it without complicated calculation. Remember that ...Nh5 often loses to Qxh5.
3
The g7 pawn pushes through
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.fxg7 Bxg7
1. e4
  We take the center to open the lines quickly.
2. e5
  Black accepts a game where activity matters more than material.
3. d4
  We open the center without waiting.
4. exd4
  Black captures and lets us keep the pace of the game.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center rather than recapturing quietly.
6. dxc3
  Black wins a pawn, but falls behind in development.
7. Bc4
  The bishop already targets f7.
8. cxb2
  Black keeps grabbing pawns, at the cost of safety.
9. Bxb2
  The bishop regains its full scope.
10. Nf6
  Black finally develops, but the knight becomes a target.
11. e5
  We gain a direct tempo against that knight.
12. d5
  Black must react in the center to avoid getting squeezed.
13. exf6
  We remove the key defender and create a dangerous pawn.
14. dxc4
  Black captures elsewhere, but leaves the king in the center.
15. Qxd8+
  We force an endgame where our activity matters most.
16. Kxd8
  The black king loses the right to castle and becomes a fixed target.
17. fxg7
  The g-pawn becomes a real promotion threat.
18. Bxg7
  Black must stop it immediately. Remember that the queen trade here helps the g-pawn come to life.
4
Blocking with Bc3
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 Bb4+ 8.Bc3 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3
1. e4
  We take the center to open the lines quickly.
2. e5
  Black accepts a game where activity matters more than material.
3. d4
  We open the center without waiting.
4. exd4
  Black captures and lets us keep the pace of the game.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center rather than recapturing quietly.
6. dxc3
  Black wins a pawn, but falls behind in development.
7. Bc4
  The bishop already targets f7.
8. cxb2
  Black keeps grabbing pawns, at the cost of safety.
9. Bxb2
  The bishop regains its full scope.
10. Nf6
  Black finally develops, but the knight becomes a target.
11. e5
  We gain a direct tempo against that knight.
12. d5
  Black must react in the center to avoid getting squeezed.
13. exf6
  We remove the key defender and create a dangerous pawn.
14. Bb4+
  Black chooses a check to disrupt our coordination.
15. Bc3
  We block with the right piece and force a useful exchange.
16. Bxc3+
  Black captures, but improves our knight.
17. Nxc3
  We recapture toward the center with development. Remember that against ...Bb4+, the right reflex here is Bc3 followed by Nxc3.
5
Sacrifice on f7
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d5 6.Bxd5 Nf6 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxd8
1. e4
  We take the center to open the lines quickly.
2. e5
  Black accepts a game where activity matters more than material.
3. d4
  We open the center without waiting.
4. exd4
  Black captures and lets us keep the pace of the game.
5. c3
  We strike back in the center rather than recapturing quietly.
6. dxc3
  Black wins a pawn, but falls behind in development.
7. Bc4
  The bishop already targets f7.
8. cxb2
  Black keeps grabbing pawns, at the cost of safety.
9. Bxb2
  The bishop regains its full scope.
10. d5
  Black responds accurately by challenging our central bishop.
11. Bxd5
  We keep the diagonal active without blocking our pieces.
12. Nf6
  Black finally develops and hopes to complete development.
13. Bxf7+
  We damage the king’s structure before it gets to safety.
14. Kxf7
  Black takes, but the king remains in the center.
15. Qxd8
  We simplify at the right moment and enter a playable endgame. Remember that this sacrifice mainly serves to deny Black castling and force the queen trade.