Opening Lanes By Gary Lane French Connection A trip around the globe is guaranteed this month with enquires from Australia, France, England and the USA. The theme is for openings that are easy to learn but difficult to beat. St‚phane Launiau (France) is rated about 2000 and wants to change his opening repertoire. "With Black, on 1 e4 I used to play 1...c5 aiming for a Najdorf. But I don't think one can claim he understands chess with the (approximate) knowledge of a single opening. That's why I'm working hard on 1...e5, aiming for an exciting Spanish game, but problems for me start with 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4. My current (and I hope wrong) point of view is that on 3...Bc5, a Giucco Piano may lead to a forced draw (I think of the Moller attack) or a Giuoco Piano which offers Black a dull game, and that after 3...Nf6, 4 Ng5 seems good for White since the worst for him is a draw on the Traxler counterattack or crushing initiative after 4...d5 5 exd5 Na5 6 Bb5+ c6 7 dxc6 bxc6 8 Qf3, or even good play after Be2. Could you help me keep hope that 3 Bc4 doesn't deprive Black of all prospects of enjoying the game?" The job of learning various openings after 1...e5 is difficult but there are plenty of intriguing alternatives for Black. In the Two Knights Defence 8 Qf3 has quite a few supporters and one can see why from the following game. Diaz Parra-Hernandez Penas Paretana 2000 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Na5 6 Bb5+ c6 7 dxc6 bxc6 8 Qf3 (See Diagram) A direct approach pinning the c-pawn. The bishop is taboo because of the rook on a8. However, Black usually has active piece play and the queen on f3 can easily become a target. 8...Bb7 9 Ba4 Bd6 In the game S.Keskinen-R.Karttinen, Vammala 1995, Black tried 9...Be7 but White emerged on top after 10 Bb3 0-0 11 0-0 c5 12 Qe2 Nd5 13 Nh3 Nxb3 14 axb3 Nb4 15 d3 Qd5 16 f3 Nc6 17 Nc3 Nd4 18 Nxd5 Nxe2+ 19 Kf2 Bxd5 20 Kxe2 with a better ending. 10 0-0 0-0 11 d3 h6 12 Ne4 Nxe4 13 Qxe4 f5 14 Qe1 c5 15 f3 White is on the defensive but if he can manage to hold on to the pawn then the ending would be very welcome. 15...Kh7 16 Na3 Rc8 17 Bd2 Nc6 18 Nc4 Bb8 19 Bc3 e4 20 dxe4 Qc7 21 e5 Ne7 Whoops! 22 Ba5 1-0 (See Diagram) If you think this is a warning never to play 1...e5 then you will be relieved to know that Black does occasionally win in these openings. The next game from Hungary is a classic example of the queen moving too often in the opening: J.Zabiak-M.Braun Miskolc 1998 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Na5 6 Bb5+ c6 7 dxc6 bxc6 8 Qf3 Rb8 (See Diagram) The pawn is voluntarily shed by Black in return for a big lead in development. 9 Bxc6+ Nxc6 10 Qxc6+ The second queen move in the opening; watch how many times the lady moves. 10...Nd7 11 d3 Also possible is 11 Ne4 when 11...Rb6 12 Qa8 Rb7 traps the white queen and gives Black a clear advantage after 13 0-0 Nb6 14 Qxb7 Bxb7. The continuation 11 d4 was tried in J.Mutton-R. Jones, Witley 1998, when Black safely kept continuing development with 11...Be7. The game continued: 12 Ne4 0-0 13 d5 Rb6 14 Qc4 Ba6 15 Qa4 f5 16 d6 Bxd6 17 Nxd6 Rxd6 18 Nc3 f4 19 b3 Qc7 20 Bb2 Nc5 21 Qa3 Rfd8 22 b4 Ne6 23 b5 Bb7 24 0-0 f3 25 Rfe1 Nf4 26 Ne4 Bxe4 27 Rxe4 Ne2+ 0-1. 11...Bc5 12 Qd5 A crude mate threat which is easily rebuffed. 12...0-0 13 Qe4 Nf6 14 Qh4 Rb4! (See Diagram) Braun does well to find another opportunity to chase the white queen by bring the rook into action. It should be noted that at this stage White has merely two pieces developed. 15 Qg3 Rg4 16 Qf3 e4 17 Nxe4 Nxe4 18 dxe4 Rxe4+ 19 Be3 Bg4 20 Qxg4 A fitting finish for the queen which has moved 8 times in just 20 moves. The resulting lack of development for White is the reason why Black was able to chase the lady with such ease. Of course 20 Qg3 is rather embarrassing upon 20...Qd1 mate. 20...Rxg4 21 Bxc5 Re8+ 22 Be3 Rxe3+ 23 fxe3 Qg5 24 g3 Qxe3+ 25 Kf1 Qf3+ 26 Kg1 Rd4 27 Nc3 Rd2 0-1 Steve Waters (England) has been coming up against the Sokolsky in his club championship and wants to try something other than the main line. I can understand your reluctance to meet 1 b4 with 1...e5 when 2 b4 Bxb4 3 Bxe5 is likely to more well known by White who plays it all the time. If you want to play something new against 1 b4 then I can recommend 1...d5 followed by the intriguing 2...Qd6. It has been played by a number of top players. I think ...Qd6 is a good way to try to seize the initiative as it just seekss to control the centre with by ...c6, Nbd7 followed by a fianchetto on the kingside. B.Lalic W.Uhlmann Sarajevo 1980 1 b4 d5 The option of ...d5 or ...e5 is a good way of trying to control the centre. 2 Bb2 Qd6 (See Diagram) This is the new way that I propose you play the opening. A simple but effective way of threatening the b-pawn and helping to support the pawn advance e5. 3 a3 It may seem strange but plenty of people have fallen for 3 b5? when 3...Qb4 threatens b2 and b5 winning at least a pawn. 3...e5 4 e3 Nf6 5 d3 Nbd7 6 Nf3 c6 7 Be2 g6 A good example of how to develop the pieces. Having secured the centre, Black fianchettos on the kingside. 8 c4 Bg7 9 cxd5 cxd5 10 0-0 0-0 11 Nc3 a6 12 Rc1 b6 (See Diagram) Uhlmann decides to activate the rest of his pieces by also fianchettoing on the queenside. 13 Qc2 Bb7 14 h3 d4 15 Nd1 Rac8 16 Qb1 Nd5 17 Re1 dxe3 18 fxe3 b5 It is Black who has the space advantage and gradually improves his pieces. 19 Bf1 N7b6 20 Nd2 Na4 21 Qa1 f5 22 Nb3 Rfe8 23 Na5 Ba8 24 Nc3 Nxb2 25 Qxb2 e4! The pin on the a1-h8 diagonal proves fatal for White. 26 d4 Nxe3 27 Ne2 f4 28 Rxc8 Rxc8 29 Rc1 Rf8 0- 1 The advantage of 2...Qd6 is that it is simple and easy to play. Another example will help to convince you that it is suitable for the club championship: J.Massana R. Anderson New York 1985 1 b4 d5 2 Bb2 Qd6 3 a3 e5 4 e3 Be6 This is just another approach which is similar to the Uhlmann game. Basically, rather than leave the light-squared bishop on c8 Black develops it to support the central pawns. 5 Ne2 Nd7 6 d4 e4 7 Nd2 f5 A good way to maintain a space advantage and support the central pawn advances. 8 c4 c6 It is logical to support the d-pawn, preserving the pawn structure. 9 Nc3 a6 10 c5 Qc7 11 g3 Ngf6 12 Be2 g6 As usual Black fianchettos on the kingside. 13 Nb3 Bh6 14 h4 0-0 15 Qc2 Bxe3! (See Diagram) A brilliant way to crash through into the heart of White's camp. 16 fxe3 Qxg3+ 17 Kd2 f4 18 Rag1 Qxe3+ 19 Kd1 f3 20 Bc1 fxe2+ 21 Nxe2 Qd3+ 22 Qxd3 exd3 23 Nf4 Bg4+ 24 Kd2 Ne4+ 0-1 Christian Mende (Australia) is a big fan of the Nimzovitch but had his confidence knocked by a resounding loss. He writes: D.Harrison-C. Mende Australian Jnr Ch 2000 1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 Be2 What is the best continuation for Black after 5 Nc3? 5...0-0-0 Is this castling OK? 6 c4 Qh5 7 d5 Nb4 8 a3 Na6 9 h3 e6 10 0-0 Bxf3 11 Bxf3 Qg6 12 Be3 Bd6 13 Qb3 What about 13 Qa4? 13...b6 14 dxe6 fxe6 15 Nc3 Nc5 16 Qb5 Ne7 17 Bxc5 bxc5 18 Bb7+ 1-0 This was probably my worst game in the competition. It would be really good if you can also show some examples on how to continue, as there is no game about 3 exd5 in my book. The line you play is renowned for its aggressive stance and if White is not careful then it is easy to go wrong. In your game believe there is an improvement available. After 1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 Be2 0-0-0 6 c4 Qh5 7 d5 and now 7...e6! (See Diagram) would have been a good way to use the pin on the d-file. Play might continue: 8 Nc3 Nf6 9 Ng5 (otherwise Black will simply exchange on d5 and win a pawn) 9...exd5 10 cxd5 Bb4 with good prospects for Black. If you need convincing then have a look at the following game where Black defeats Australia's youngest ever International Master. D.Smerdon-D. Johansen Australian open 1999 1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 Be2 0-0-0 6 c4 Qh5 7 0-0 7 h3 is met by 7...Nf6! when 8 d5 comes unstuck upon 8...Bxf3 9 Bxf3 Qe5+ 10 Qe2 Qxe2+ 11 Bxe2 Nd4 12 Bd3 e6 13 dxe6 Nxe6 giving a slight edge to Black thanks to the lead in development. White should consider 7 Be3 as a possible improvement. 7...Nf6 8 h3? (See Diagram) A typical mistake, which allows Black to come up with a tactical, stroke to effectively finish the game in the opening. 8...Nxd4! The knight is sacrificed but the pin on the d-file means that Johansen will soon be up on material. 9 hxg4 If 9 Nxd4 then 9...Bxe2 10 Qxe2 Rxd4 is winning for Black. 9...Nxg4 10 Nh4 The threat of 10...Nxf3+ and mate on h2 dictates that White must grovel. 10...Nxe2+ 11 Qxe2 Qxh4 12 Bf4 e6 13 Nd2 Nf6 14 Qe3 Kb8 15 Rad1 Bd6 Black is simply a pawn up for nothing and any possible White initiative has been snuffed out. The game continued: 16 Bxd6 Rxd6 17 c5 Ng4 18 Qh3 Qxh3 19 gxh3 Rd5 20 Nf3 Nf6 21 Rxd5 exd5 22 Re1 Ne4 23 b4 Kc8 24 Kg2 a6 25 h4 h6 26 Ne5 Rf8 27 a3 c6 28 Re3 Kd8 29 Nc4 f5 30 f3 dxc4 31 fxe4 Re8 32 e5 g5 33 hxg5 hxg5 34 Rg3 g4 35 Re3 Ke7 36 Kg3 Ke6 37 Kf4 Rg8 38 Rg3 Rg7 39 a4 Rg8 40 a5 Rg7 41 b5 cxb5 0-1 Just in case someone gets wise to 6...Qh5 then why not try 6...Qf5 which is also tricky? M.Bueno-A. Stefanova Mondariz Balneario 1999 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 d4 Nc6 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 Be2 0-0-0 6 c4 Qf5 7 Be3 Nf6 8 0-0 In the game M.Sorli-N.Andreescu Tallinn 1997, White tested 8 h3 and found out why White usually avoids it after 8...Bxf3 9 Bxf3 Nxd4! 10 Bxd4 Qe6+ 11 Be2 Qe4 and Black is a pawn up. 8...e5 (See Diagram) As usual the key to the line for Black is rapid development and exploitation of the semi-open d-file. 9 d5 e4 10 Nd4 Nxd4 11 Bxd4 Bd6 12 Nc3 Rhe8 13 c5 At first sight Black is being pushed back but the Bulgarian women's international is made of sterner stuff. 13...Bxh2+! 14 Kxh2 Qh5+ 15 Kg1 Bxe2 16 Nxe2 Ng4 Stefanova has created a strong attack which is difficult to defend against due to her queen being poised to swoop down on h2. 17 Re1 Qh2+ 18 Kf1 Qh1+ 19 Ng1 Nh2+ 20 Ke2 Qxg2 21 Qb3 e3 22 Bxe3 Ng4 23 c6 Rxe3+ (See Diagram) 0-1 Finally, an original question for Opening Lanes, the column dedicated to openings. Joseph Koenig (USA) writes " Why is your article only for the advanced players? It is complicated for weaker players with all those openings. How about something we learn from?" Can anyone think of an appropiate answer?