Exeter Chess Club


Playing Black Pieces against Queen-side Openings

A2. Playing Actively against 1. d4

A2.1 The Dutch Defence, Stonewall Variation

A2.2 White avoids the Stonewall

There is no EXCHANGE Variation against the DUTCH but there are some annoying ways for White to avoid the STONEWALL. You can avoid all these by playing first ...d5, ...e6, ...c6 and ...f5, but you must then face the EXCHANGE QGD.

Examples of White avoiding the Dutch

B. English opening

This subtle system is out to stop you playing ...d5, and then taking over the centre or Queen-side later.

B1. Playing solidly against 1. c4

The ...e6 system is a nice counter to the English; ...c6 is OK as a system as long as White does not transpose into something unfamiliar to you.

B2. Playing Actively against 1. c4

Your DUTCH-style system is a fine counter to the ENGLISH. The first time I ever tried it I beat a 140-grade player in about 30 moves.

Theory of the Anglo-Dutch

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3

This is the SICILIAN REVERSED line of the ENGLISH Opening, sometimes called the KING'S ENGLISH.

Black can play two lines with a DUTCH feel, playing on the second move either:

Instead of the immediate 3...f5 Black can play more slowly e.g.

3... g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 d6 6. Nge2

and now Black has tried:

Play in these hypermodern openings is more flexible and less forcing, so both sides have a lot of choice about their early move orders. I've tried to give an example of each line cited in the games below.

Example games in the Anglo-Dutch

C. Reti Opening and King's Indian Attack

Again, White doesn't want to rush into the centre without preparation, and plays Nf3 first to stop you playing ...e5.

C1. Playing solidly against 1. Nf3

David Norwood, who is a specialist in the KING'S INDIAN ATTACK, reckons that Black equalises easily in this line which:

"...offers excellent chances of equality. Black's plan is extremely logical:

I predict it will remain difficult for KIA players to prove any advantage in this system. "

16... Nxg3 17. hxg3 Kh8 18. Qe2 Qe7 19. Nf1!

The exchange of the Black knight for the Bg3 has created new opportunities on the kingside. Smyslov is the master of harmonic play - his pieces are often ready to switch to new targets quickly.

19... Qf6 20. Nc5 Bc8 21. Ne3 Ne7 22. a5 Qg6

Black has chosen to sue the Bc8 to defend the queenside, but the heavy guns are all on the kingside, and White controls a bit more of the center. But before foraging on the queenside, Smyslov squashes the counterplay.

23. g4! b6?!

Black is paralyzed on the kingside, unable to transfer the knight to f4 due to the placement of the queen at g6. But this sacrifice of a queenside pawn leads to disaster. There is nothing more rueful than a lost pawn formation. Black could resign without remorse

24. Nf5! Nxf5

25. gxf5 Qc6 26. Nxa6 Bxa6 27. Bxa6 bxa5 28. Rxa5

Now White has an extra pawn and better bishop. The rest is easy for a player of Smyslov's caliber.

28... Ra8 29. Rea1 Rfd8 30. Bc4 Rxa5 31. Rxa5 Kg8 32. Ra6 Qd7 33. Bd5 Qe7 34. Qh5 Rd6 35. Rxd6 cxd6 36. b4 1-0

Resigns; a tale of two bishops...

C2. Playing Actively against 1. Nf3

D. Sokolsky opening (Polish)

This is an oddly effective line; White stops active play with ...c5 and prepares to bring the Bb2 onto the long diagonal.

D1. Playing Solidly against 1. b4

I think the most solid system is:

D2. Playing Actively against 1. b4

Of course you can play

1. b4 f5

but the theory on this line is hardly explored.

White may play d3 at some point which may rob you of some of your best ideas.

E. Nimzo-Larsen Opening

This is a flexible line, aiming at first to post the Bc1 on b2, pointing at the e5 point and beyond at the Black King-side.

The Bb2 needs watching but you should be OK in this opening.

E1. Playing Solidly against 1. b3

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6

is fine for Black

E2. Playing Actively against 1. b3

F. Various other openings

This obviously can transpose to other openings, and it is probably best to try to do just that.

F1. Benko's Opening, 1.g3

F2. Bird's opening, 1. f4

The obvious snag is, you can't play the Dutch against this:

1. f4 f5 2. e4

is awkward.

But why not play the most awkward lines for White: the FROM GAMBIT.

1. f4 e5

Now

2. fxe4 d6 3. exd6 Bxd6

gives you a development lead and free play for your pieces. Instead:

F3. The Dunst, 1. Nc3

F4. Grob's opening, 1. g4

The idea of this odd-looking move is...

1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 Bxg4 3. c4!

...when the pin on the b7 point may be embarrassing.

The two best-known players of this line, Henri Grob and Claude Bloodgood, agree that one of the most awkward lines for White is

1. g4 e5

with the idea 2. Bg2 h5! when the pawn cannot advance to g5.

Grob himself played this against 1. g4. So Bloodgood reckons White's best try is

2. d3

To be honest, many Grob players have no idea that this is a known line, all they know about is the ...Bxg4 variation. So they may be out-tricked in their own opening!

Some sample lines in this rare opening:

Also ran: 1. e3, 1. a3, 1. a4, 1. h4, 1. f3

I can't imagine these giving you any trouble: You can certainly play your usual COLLE or DUTCH, and various 1. e4 lines can be played with colours reversed.


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This document (black_d4.html) was last modified on Feb 8 1996 by

Dr. Dave