Courses
Introduction
Fundamentals
5 Exercises- 1
Central counterattack
Course preview1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 fxe5 3.Qf3 Nxe4 4.Qd3 Qxe4 5.Qxb7 Rb8- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- fxe5
This choice opens the center and gives us very direct play.
- Qf3
The queen attacks e4, but 5...Cc6 develops and already prepares ...Cd4.
- Nxe4
We should not recapture too quickly. 6...Cd4 creates a concrete threat against the queen and c2.
- Qd3
The retreat keeps the queen in play, but she remains poorly placed.
- Qxe4
White wins back a pawn, but 8...Ff5 immediately restores the pressure.
- Qxb7
This pawn draws the queen away from the king, which serves our plan.
- Rb8
Remember this simple mechanism: pressure on the queen, then a jump to c2.
- e4
- 2
Bishop pin
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 fxe5 3.Qf3 Bb5 4.Nxe4 Qxe4 5.Qe2 Qh4+- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- fxe5
This choice opens the center and gives us very direct play.
- Qf3
The queen attacks e4, but 5...Cc6 develops and already prepares ...Cd4.
- Bb5
This pin tries to bother our knight, but it does not change the essence of the position.
- Nxe4
We recapture in the center and keep the lines open toward the white king.
- Qxe4
The white queen comes out, and 8...Fd5 forces her to play under pressure.
- Qe2
This retreat gives the king a little protection, but it loses more time.
- Qh4+
When the queen reaches h4, Black’s initiative becomes very easy to play.
- e4
- 3
Bishop against f7
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 fxe5 3.Nxe4 Bc4 4.Qh5 Qe2 5.Qxe4 Bf5- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- fxe5
This choice opens the center and gives us very direct play.
- Nxe4
The exchange simplifies, and our d-pawn will recapture while keeping Black’s momentum.
- Bc4
The bishop targets f7 and sometimes prepares Dh5, so we need to play calmly.
- Qh5
The threat on f7 exists in appearance, but it does not work tactically.
- Qe2
The queen retreats and loses the rhythm of the attack.
- Qxe4
White takes a pawn, but the queen exposes herself once again.
- Bf5
Above all, remember that the g6 push removes the danger, then our pieces gain time.
- e4
- 4
En passant in the center
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 fxe5 3.Nxe4 d4 4.Bxd3 g3 5.Nf3 Nc6- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- fxe5
This choice opens the center and gives us very direct play.
- Nxe4
The exchange simplifies, and our d-pawn will recapture while keeping Black’s momentum.
- d4
White wants a big center, but that center is not stable.
- Bxd3
The bishop recaptures and leaves the white king’s diagonal more sensitive.
- g3
This move blocks the check, but it permanently weakens the dark squares.
- Nf3
White adds a defender, so we add an attacker.
- Nc6
Here, the key idea is simple: destroy White’s center, then attack e5.
- e4
- 5
Solid development
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 fxe5 3.Nf3 d4 4.Bd2 Bb5+ 5.O-O O-O- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- fxe5
This choice opens the center and gives us very direct play.
- Nf3
This move is more restrained and aims to finish development without immediate risk.
- d4
White gains space, so we must challenge this center without delay.
- Bd2
The c3 knight protects the center well, which justifies our counterplay on c5.
- Bb5+
The check mainly tries to slow us down, but it creates no lasting threat.
- O-O
White finally castles; we do the same and keep the tension.
- O-O
When both kings are safe, our better development is already enough to equalize very comfortably.
- e4
Common mistakes
5 Exercises- 1
Rook trap
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 exd5 3.fxe5 bxc3 4.g3 Qe2 5.Qxh1- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- exd5
This detour avoids the main line, but it does not pose a real problem.
- fxe5
White keeps the pawn, and we immediately launch our tactical motif.
- bxc3
White’s structure cracks, and the b-file offers no quick compensation.
- g3
This move protects the king, but it leaves the h1 rook in a tactical line.
- Qe2
The queen has to cover, which pins her to a bad square.
- Qxh1
Remember this clean trap: ...Dh4+, ...De4+, and the rook falls.
- e4
- 2
King on the march
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 exd5 3.fxe5 bxc3 4.Ke2 Nf3 5.d4 O-O-O- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- exd5
This detour avoids the main line, but it does not pose a real problem.
- fxe5
White keeps the pawn, and we immediately launch our tactical motif.
- bxc3
White’s structure cracks, and the b-file offers no quick compensation.
- Ke2
The king moves to save the rook, but becomes a central target.
- Nf3
White blocks, but their development remains completely disorganized.
- d4
They finally try to consolidate the center, but we can already activate the other rook.
- O-O-O
When the white king moves so early, castling long gives us a very simple attack to conduct.
- e4
- 3
Central pin
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 exd5 3.Nxd5 fxe5 4.Nf3 Be2 5.Nxe5 Qxe5- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- exd5
This detour avoids the main line, but it does not pose a real problem.
- Nxd5
White exchanges early, which helps us centralize the queen without risk.
- fxe5
They keep the pawn, but we have no reason to rush.
- Nf3
White’s development looks natural, but the pin will hinder everything else.
- Be2
White finally wants to castle, but Black’s pressure keeps increasing.
- Nxe5
The recapture seems logical, but our queen remains ideally placed in the center.
- Qxe5
The guiding thread is simple: active queen, knight recaptured, then lasting pressure on White’s castled position through the pin.
- e4
- 4
Queen trap
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 fxe5 3.Nxe4 Qe2 4.g4 Kd1 5.Nf3 Bxf3- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- fxe5
This choice opens the center and gives us very direct play.
- Nxe4
The exchange simplifies, and our d-pawn will recapture while keeping Black’s momentum.
- Qe2
White often targets e4 and then wants to castle quickly.
- g4
This push neglects the king and creates weak squares around him.
- Kd1
The king runs, but the white queen remains pinned on the bishop’s diagonal.
- Nf3
This move develops, but it comes too late to hold the position.
- Bxf3
The point to remember is very concrete: g4 weakens the king and the white queen gets trapped.
- e4
- 5
Pressure on e5
1.e4 Nc3 2.f4 fxe5 3.Qf3 Nxe4 4.Qc3 Ne2 5.Ng3 Qd5- e4
We take the center right away and keep the game within a simple framework.
- Nc3
The Vienna appears, and 2...Cf6 prepares our standard response.
- f4
White is looking for the initiative, but 3...d5 breaks the gambit at its base.
- fxe5
This choice opens the center and gives us very direct play.
- Qf3
The queen attacks e4, but 5...Cc6 develops and already prepares ...Cd4.
- Nxe4
We should not recapture too quickly. 6...Cd4 creates a concrete threat against the queen and c2.
- Qc3
The queen remains active, but she does not stop our recapture in the center.
- Ne2
White wants to stabilize, so we reposition the knight to a useful square.
- Ng3
This move defends e4 and sometimes prepares F b5, but the black queen enters the game perfectly.
- Qd5
Here, remember the cumulative pressure on e5 more than any immediate tactic.
- e4


