Colle & Anti−Colle [D02−05]

Written by GM Eric Prié & GM Aaron Summerscale

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zppzpp+pzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

The Colle system is a solid, yet flexible method of development. White erects a firm

base in the center, around which he develops speedily and with ease. Once fully mobilised,

without further ado, White normally launches a ferocious kingside assault. Edgar Colle was

the first to recognize that this quiet−looking opening had hidden strengths. He started to

notch up some spectacular wins and made the chess world sit up and take notice of his

discovery.

In the Anti−Colle Black can try to cut across White's intended Colle set−up by

playing...¥g4, or...¥f5.

All the games given in blue can be accessed via ChessPub.exe, simply head for their respective ECO code.

2

Contents

1 d4 ¤f6

1...d5 2 ¤f3 ¤f6 (2...c5 3 c3 Colle Others− [D02]) 3 e3 ¥g4 (3...g6 4 ¥d3 ¥g7 Colle with g6− [D04]) 4 c4 Anti−Colle with Bg4/Bf5− [D04]

2 ¤f3 e6 3 e3

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zppzpp+pzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

3...c5 4 ¥d3 d5 5 b3

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+P+LzPN+-0 9P+P+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

5 c3 ¤c6 6 ¤bd2 Colle with c3− [D05]

5...¤c6 Colle with b3− [D05]

Press F5 to toggle the Navigation Pane, then click on the appropriate bookmark to go

straight to that section.

Ctrl + 2 resizes the page. All rights reserved Chess Publishing Ltd

3

Colle Others [D02]

Last updated: 28/07/03 by Eric Prié Here I cover the Colle systems that do not fit conveniently in other sections.

1 d4 d5

1...¤f6 2 ¤f3 e6 3 e3 c5 4 ¥d3 (4 c4 d6 5 ¤c3 ¤bd7 6 ¥e2 see Letreguilly,O−Prie,E/Toulouse 1990) 4...¥e7 (4...¤c6 5 0-0 cxd4 6 exd4 ¥e7 7 c4

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwqk+-tr0 9zpp+pvlpzpp0 9-+n+psn-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+PzP-+-+0 9+-+L+N+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

When Black delays committing his d−pawn in the Colle, I am a great supporter of the move

c4. Black will normally seek to create an IQP, but White always gets bag loads of attacking chances. 7...d5 8 ¤c3 ¤b4 9 ¥e2 dxc4 10 ¥xc4 0-0 11 ¤e5 Black has a firm grip on the blockading square d5, but this has been achieved by weakening his attack on d4 and e5. It therefore makes sense for the White knight to immediately head for its strongest outpost. 11...a6 12 ¥b3² Maksimovic,S−Petronic,J/Herceg Novi YUG 2000. 4...b6 Bishoff,K−Prie,E/FRG−FRA match Uzes 1990) 5 0-0 0-0 6 c4

4

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwq-trk+0 9zpp+pvlpzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-zp-+-+-0 9-+PzP-+-+0 9+-+LzPN+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

The Queens Indian treatment of the position. 6...cxd4 7 exd4 d5 8 cxd5 £xd5 Very odd. It

is much more common for the knight to recapture on d5. 9 ¤c3 £a5 10 ¦e1² Claesen,P−Dive,R/Istanbul TUR 2000.

2 ¤f3

2 e3 ¤f6 3 c3 c5 4 dxc5 XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+-zppzpp0 9-+-+-sn-+0 9+-zPp+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-zP-zP-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKLsNR0 xiiiiiiiiy

This line if followed up correctly should lead to an interesting Noteboom type of

position.4...e6 5 b4 a5 6 £b3 Too defensive. (6 ¤f3 and 6 ¥b2 give White good chances to fight for the advantage, for example 6...axb4 7 cxb4 b6 8 ¥b5+ ¥d7 9 ¥xd7+

¤bxd7 10 a4 bxc5 11 b5) 6...b6 7 cxb6 £xb6 8 b5 a4!³ Sazanov,N−Schuh,D/Senden GER 2001.

2...c5

2...¥g4

5

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-wqkvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-+l+0 9+-+-+N+-0 9PzPP+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

3 ¤e5 The most natural but 3.c4 is also possible not fearing the exchange on f3. 3...¥h5 4

c4 dxc4 (4...f6 is the most common choice here when 5 ¤d3 dxc4 6 ¤c5 leads to a most unusual position with the White knight transported magically to the c5 square where it pressurises Black on the queenside light squares.) 5 ¤c3 c6 6 g4 Grabbing the opportunity to bag the bishop pair. 6...¥g6 7 h4 Well played. White forces a critical weakness on the Black kingside. 7...f6 8 ¤xg6 hxg6 9 £c2² Ilieva,H−Bocheva,M/Pamporovo BUL 2001.

2...¤c6 3 e3 ¥g4 4 ¥b5 Psychologically an interesting choice. White prepares to damage Black's structure at the expense of the bishop pair, but this is exactly what the Black Chigorin player is trying to do! 4...e6 5 ¥xc6+ bxc6 6 c4 ¥xf3 7 gxf3 Now both sides have their weaknesses, but the question is whose will be easier to exploit? 7...c5 8 cxd5 exd5 9 £c2 White highlights Black's problem. The weak c−pawns are already on a semi−open file. 9...£d6² Sulava,N−Geenen,M/Monaco MNC 2003.

3 c3

Very passive. This reversed Slav should give White few problems but it is hardly going to send shivers down Black's spine.

3 dxc5 XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvlntr0 9zpp+-zppzpp0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-zPp+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+N+-0 9PzPP+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

6

This is an original way to combat Black's early aggression. White tries a reversed Queens gambit accepted. 3...e6 4 c4 (4 b4 a5 5 c3 axb4 6 cxb4 b6 7 a4 bxc5 8 b5 There hasn't been much practical experience with this line, but I can see no reason why it isn't more popular. It gives both sides great chances to play for the full point. 8...¤f6 9 e3÷

Beaumont,C−Kishnev,S/Halkidiki GRE 2002.) 4...¥xc5 5 cxd5 exd5 6 ¤c3 White's move order has left black with an IQP and now he proceeds to put it under heavy pressure. 6...¤f6 7 ¥g5 (7 e3 would be a less optimistic approach but equally viable.) 7...d4 Black goes for the most aggressive option. The one drawback with this plan is the d pawn can become very weak if Black's early activity comes to nothing. (7...¥e6

Was a more solid way to go about defending the d pawn.) 8 ¤a4 ¥b4+ 9 ¥d2 £a5 10 ¦c1 ¥d7 This is certainly not the most testing move. (10...¤a6 keeping an eye on c5 would have posed greater problems for White. In particular what to do about the threats of b5 and Bd7.) 11 ¤c5² Grooten,H−Kroeze,F/Rotterdam NED 2000.

3...¤f6 4 dxc5

The only way to try and gain some advantage from the opening.

4...e6 5 b4

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-zPp+-+-0 9-zP-+-+-+0 9+-zP-+N+-0 9P+-+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

5...a5 6 e3 axb4 7 cxb4 b6 8 ¥b5+ ¥d7 9 ¥e2?!

I simply cannot understand this move. Why voluntarily further Black's development? 9 ¥xd7+ ¤bxd7 10 a4 bxc5 11 b5 would be my choice with an interesting battle in prospect

between Black's central majority and White's passed pawns on the queenside.

9...bxc5 10 bxc5 ¥a4

Now Black begins to assume the initiative.

11 £d3 ¤a6³

Popchev,M−Stojanovic,M/TSGM, 2001.

7

Colle with ...g6. [D04]

Last updated: 30/09/02 by Aaron Summerscale Colle against g6 When Black combines g6 with d5 then I believe he is already well on the

route to equality. White's best chance for an attacking game is to set up the stonewall formation as soon as possible.

1 d4 d5

1...¤f6 2 ¤f3 a) 2...e6 3 e3 g6 A strange way to combat the Colle. Black goes to great length's to blunt the

power of White's light squared bishop at the expense of the kingside dark squares. 4 ¥d3 ¥g7 5 c4 White opts for queenside expansion, however (5 e4 deserved consideration.) 5...0-0 6 ¤c3 d5 Black is playing some weird Queen's Gambit/Grünfeld hybrid. It is certainly not easy to break down the black position. 7 0-0 b6 8 b3 c5 9 ¥a3÷ Ruch,B−Goletto,C/Cannes FRA 2000.

b) 2...g6 XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zppzppzpp+p0 9-+-+-snp+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-+N+-0 9PzPP+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

3 ¤bd2 White wants to play a Colle against the Grünfeld without giving Black the option

of a King's Indian set−up. The threat of e4 positively encourages Black's next move. (3 e3 ¥g7 4 c4 0-0 5 b3 d6 6 ¥b2 ¤a6 7 ¥e2 ¥f5= Kinzig,L−Poor,O/Bad Wildbad GER 2000 ) 3...d5 4 e3 ¥g7 5 ¥d3 0-0 (5...¤bd7 might be more sensible, to discourage White's next move.) 6 ¤e5 White now aims for a stonewall formation and occupies e5 early, before Black can prevent it. 6...c5 7 c3 £c7 8 0-0 ¤fd7 9 f4² Benderac,A−Miloradovic,J/Herceg Novi YUG 2001.

c) 2...c5 3 e3

8

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+pzppzpp0 9-+-+-sn-+0 9+-zp-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

c1) 3...g6 4 ¥e2 Quite logical really. The bishop would be biting on granite on d3 and so

chooses a less ambitious square. (4 ¥d3 ¥g7 5 ¤bd2 d6 6 0-0 0-0 7 £e2 ¤c6 Black's approach is very straight forward. He intends to breakdown the White centre. 8 c3

cxd4 9 exd4 e5 10 dxe5 dxe5= Heckoetter,C−Tomic,B/Recklinghausen GER 2002 )

4...¥g7 5 0-0 £c7 6 c4 As every Colle player should know, the c4 pawn push becomes much more appetizing once the Black queen has moved to the c−file. 6...0-0 7 ¤c3 d6 8 b3 ¥g4 9 ¥b2 ¤bd7 10 h3 ¥xf3 11 ¥xf3² Socko,B−Ciruk,J/Zakopane chT 2000.

c2) 3...cxd4 Many Black players like to resolve the central issue at an early stage. The unbalanced positions that result allow both colours to play for a win. 4 exd4 g6 5 ¥d3 ¥g7 6 0-0 0-0 7 ¦e1 White pin points the weak e7 pawn as the most obvious target for attack. 7...¤c6 8 ¤bd2 d6 9 ¤f1 The White knight relocates to a more convenient position, waiting for Black to declare his intentions. 9...£c7 10 c3 e5 Black decides the easiest way to deal with the pressure on the e−file is to advance in the center, hopefully, turning his weakness into a strength. 11 dxe5 dxe5= Ye Rongguang−Miles,A/Beijing 1993.

2 ¤f3 ¤f6 3 e3 g6

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zppzp-zpp+p0 9-+-+-snp+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

This is without a doubt one of the best ways of meeting the Colle attack.

9

4 ¥d3 ¥g7 5 0-0 0-0 6 ¤bd2

6 b3!? with a view to later on sinking a knight on e5, is a reasonable alternative.

6...¤c6

Black is clearly gearing up for an early e5, so White takes queenside counter−measures.

7 c4 ¦e8 8 cxd5 ¤xd5 9 ¤c4 ¤b6=

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwqr+k+0 9zppzp-zppvlp0 9-snn+-+p+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+NzP-+-+0 9+-+LzPN+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

Black is ready for e5 and has equalised effortlessly, Doostkam−Mallahi,A/Ch−IRI Tehran,

2001.

10

Anti Colle with Bg4/Bf5. [D04]

Last updated: 28/07/02 by Aaron Summerscale The Anti Colle with Bg4/Bf5 This sub−variation is one of the best ways to meet the Colle.

By developing his light squared bishop early, Black takes the sting out of White's normal Colle strategies.

1 d4 d5 2 ¤f3 ¤f6

2...¤c6 3 e3 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwqkvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+n+-+-+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

A novel way of meeting the Chigorin but not one lacking in poison. 3...¥g4 4 ¥e2 At first

sight this looks like a horribly passive treatment of the Chigorin. However, the fact that it has been tried by a strong GM lends it some respect. 4...£d7 (4...¤f6 5 ¤bd2

White's battle plan becomes clear. Simple development is the order of the day, before commencing with active operations. 5...e6 6 h3 ¥f5 7 a3 a6 8 b3 h6 9 ¥b2 b5÷

Bischoff,K−Schlindwein,R/Altenkirchen GER 2001 ) 5 0-0 0-0-0 6 ¤bd2 f6 7 c4 Natural and strong. Pawn breaks are an essential part of any opening strategy and this one aims towards the Black king. 7...e6 8 a3 dxc4 9 ¤xc4 ¤ge7 10 b4² Voloshin−Gelfenboim,J/6th Stuttgart Open, 2001.

2...c6 3 e3 ¥g4 4 c4 Black's solid Anti−Colle formation needs vigorous counteraction and this move fits the bill perfectly. 4...e6 5 £b3 £b6 6 ¤bd2 The Black position will withstand any early over−aggression, so White contents himself with simple development, awaiting events. 6...¤d7 7 ¥d3 ¤gf6 8 0-0 ¥e7= Peric,S−Rausis,I/Cappelle la Grande FRA 1999.

2...¥g4 3 ¤e5 a) 3...¥f5 4 c4 dxc4 5 ¤c3 ¤f6 6 e3 (6 f3 intending e4 is certainly worth a thought here.)

6...e6 7 ¥xc4 c6 We have reached a typical slav position where White has not had to

11

waste a tempo with the weakening a4. White must therefore be better. 8 £f3 ¥b4? Strangely, as if in a chess trance, Black continues to play as though it were a normal slav. (8...£a5!? first, was better.) 9 ¤xf7!+− Chistiakova,T−Mirzoeva,E/Elista RUS 2002. White puts his extra tempo to good use.

b) 3...¥h5 4 g4 This is White's most aggressive choice at this juncture. He guarantees himself the bishop pair. 4...¥g6 5 h4

b1) Both 5...f6 6 ¤xg6 hxg6 7 £d3 b2) and 5...h6 6 ¤xg6 fxg6 7 £d3 are irritating for Black. b3) However, 5...e6 looks playable, with the idea of: 6 h5 (6 ¤d2!?) 6...¥e4 7 f3 f6 8 fxe4

fxe5 9 dxe5 ¥e7 leaving Black with compensation for the pawn. b4) 5...¥e4?! This seems a little premature. 6 f3 f6 7 fxe4 fxe5 8 dxe5 Despite White's "

Irish Pawn center" Black is effectively a whole tempo down on the 5...e6 variation. White has a clear advantage. 8...d4 (8...dxe4 9 £xd8+ ¢xd8 10 ¥g2 wins a pawn leaving White with a winning endgame.) 9 e3 c5 10 £f3 e6 11 ¥b5+ ¤c6 12 0-0!² Roselli,J−Sosa Macho,J/Montevideo URU 2002.

3 e3 ¥g4

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-wqkvl-tr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+-+-sn-+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-+l+0 9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

3...c6 4 ¥d3 The trouble with this, is that it allows Black very easy development, with no

particular problems. (4 c4 I consider transposing to an offbeat variation against the Slav to be best.) 4...¥g4 This would be my choice. There is no monkeying around. Black gets on with straightforward development. 5 ¤bd2 ¤bd7 6 b3 (6 0-0 e5

Achieving this pawn break means Black is already at least equal. 7 dxe5 ¤xe5=

Klipper,R−Debray,T/Cannes FRA 2000 ) 6...e5 Black has already equalised. 7 dxe5 ¤xe5= Le Kieu Thien Kim−Cosma,E/Istanbul TUR 2000.

3...¥f5

12

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-wqkvl-tr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+-+-sn-+0 9+-+p+l+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

4 ¥d3 (4 c4!?) 4...¥xd3 5 cxd3 e6 6 0-0 ¥d6 This is clearly an unfortunate square for the

bishop. White is gearing up for e4−e5, so Be7 would be a better choice. 7 ¤c3 0-0 8 e4 dxe4 9 dxe4² Blikra,P−Svahn,S/Oslo NOR 2001.

4 c4

The best way of dealing with this anti−Colle line, putting immediate pressure on the Black queenside.

4 ¥d3 e6 5 h3 ¥h5 6 b3 ¤bd7 7 ¥b2 ¥d6 8 g4 Aggressive but risky. White is clearly in the mood to start burning his bridges straight away. 8...¥g6 9 ¤bd2 £e7 10 ¤e5 ¥a3 Designed to eliminate any hopes White may have had about queenside castling. 11 ¥xa3 £xa3 12 f4÷ Krysztofiak,M−Barglowski,F/Zakopane POL 2001.

4 h3 ¥h5 5 c4 The only way to fight for the advantage. 5...e6 6 cxd5 ¤xd5!? (6...exd5 is more natural when: 7 £b3 £c8 8 ¤c3 c6 leads to a position where the Black queen may well be misplaced, but the rest of his position is solid enough.) 7 ¤c3 c6 8 e4 ¥xf3 9 gxf3 ¤xc3 10 bxc3 White is relying on his well supported pawn centre and bishop pair to compensate him for his damaged structure. 10...e5÷ Benderac,A−Mladenovic,J/Kotor YUG 2002.

4...e6 5 £b3 £c8 6 ¤c3

13

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnq+kvl-tr0 9zppzp-+pzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-+PzP-+l+0 9+QsN-zPN+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tR-vL-mKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

6...c6

Black always has the difficult decision of whether to exchange on f3. Most players decide that their achievement of the slight weakening of White's pawn structure is not worth the sacrifice of the bishop pair or the attacking chances that White gains along the g−file.

7 ¥d2 ¤bd7 8 ¦c1 ¤b6 9 cxd5 exd5 10 ¤e5²

Pullinger,S−Queree,S/St Helier JCI 2000.

14

Colle with c3. [D05]

Last updated: 28/07/03 by Eric Prié COLLE SYSTEM: Introduction: The Colle system, first recognised by Edgar Colle, is a

quiet−looking system, with surprising hidden strengths. Development is solid, yet flexible. White erects a firm base in the center, around which he develops speedily and with ease. Once fully mobilised and without further ado, White launches a ferocious and generally unexpected kingside assault. Edgar Colle notched up some spectacular wins with his pet system and the chess world was forced to sit up and take notice of his fabulous discovery.

1 d4 d5

1...¤f6 a) 2 ¤f3 e6 Black is clearly in the mood for some sort of Indian system, but is about to be

disappointed. (2...c5 3 c3 d5 should equalise immediately.) a1) 3 e3 c5 (3...¥e7 4 ¥d3 d5 5 ¤bd2 b6 6 ¤e5 Black has chosen a passive variation against the

Colle, so White opts to transform the position into a more aggressive Stonewall formation.. 6...0-0 7 0-0 ¥b7 8 c3 Covers b4 8...¤bd7 9 f4² De Souza Haro,P−Bastos,W/Brasilia BRA 2000.)

a1a) 4 ¥d3 ¥e7 Black adopts a flexible formation, refusing to commit his d−pawn. The Colle proper is a reasonable way to combat this, as sooner or later, Black will have to take some central action to deal with White's plan of e4. (4...g6?! Pytel,B−Prie,E/Chanac op 1991) 5 0-0 0-0 6 ¤bd2 ¤c6 7 c3 White supports the center, readying himself for his central advance. 7...b6 8 £e2 ¥b7 9 a3 After the natural: (9

e4 cxd4 10 cxd4 ¤b4 White's light squared bishop is posed an awkward question. It would like to stay on the b1-h7 diagonal, but: 11 ¥b1 ¥a6 would spell disaster!)

9...cxd4 White really was threatening to play e4, so Black is forced to take some central action. 10 exd4÷ Hoi,C−Hansen,M/Lyngby 1988.

a1b) 4 c3 4...¤c6 (4...b6 5 ¤bd2 ¥e7 6 dxc5 An interesting idea. White goes for the e4 thrust without any further preparation. 6...bxc5 7 e4 ¥b7 8 ¥d3 d6 9 0-0 0-0 10 ¦e1 ¤bd7=

Vasiljevic,D−Tosic,D/Belgrade YUG 2003.) 5 ¤bd2 d5 6 ¥b5!? Very unusual! The light−squared bishop is normally developed to d3, where it eyes the Black kingside. Instead, Bb5 is more positionally motivated, making it harder for Black to get in the freeing advance e5. 6...¥d7 7 0-0 ¥d6 8 ¦e1 White's plan remains the same, e4. 8...0-0 9 e4 dxe4 10 ¤g5÷ Horvath,P−Shilov,S/Nagykanizsa 1993.

a2) 3 ¤bd2 3...d5 4 e3 (4 ¤e5!? ¥e7 5 e3 0-0 6 ¥d3 c5 7 c3 ¤c6 8 f4² Habibi,A−Pircher,K/Lugano SUI 2000.) 4...c5 5 c3 cxd4 An early capture on d4 is popular among players who don't want to spend too much time worrying about White's central expansion possibilities, with e4 and (or) a timely dxc5. The downside is that

15

by opening the e−file, White achieves a better grip on e5. 6 exd4 ¥d6 7 ¥d3 0-0 8 ¤e5 As advertised, White is quick to pounce on the drawback to Black's system. 8...¤c6 9 f4² Zivkovic,V−Mladenovic,J/Herceg Novi YUG 2001.

b) 2 ¤d2 An interesting attempt to force Black to play d5. Useful if your opponent is a die hard King's Indian Player. 2...d5 (2...e5 3 dxe5 ¤g4 With a strange Budapest, which doesn't look too bad for Black. 2...c5 is another option.) 3 e3 ¥f5=

c) 2 e3 2...b6 3 ¥d3 ¥b7 4 ¤f3 e6 5 ¤bd2 c5 6 c3 XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-wqkvl-tr0 9zpl+p+pzpp0 9-zp-+psn-+0 9+-zp-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-zPLzPN+-0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 9tR-vLQmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

(6 0-0 d5 7 c3 ¤bd7 8 b3? Mixing systems is not a good idea. 8...¥d6 9 ¥b2 0-0 10 £e2 e5 Black

naturally seizes his opportunity to expand in the centre, taking advantage of White's somewhat passive play. 11 dxe5 ¤xe5 12 ¤xe5 ¥xe5³ Becq,A−Sokolov,A/Metz FRA 2001.) 6...¥e7 (6...d5 7 ¤e5 With f4 to follow.) 7 0-0

c1) 7...cxd4 is in my opinion the most accurate move, as it forces White to declare his intentions. 8 exd4 d6 when now White is denied access to the e5 square.

c2) 7...¤c6 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wqk+-tr0 9zpl+pvlpzpp0 9-zpn+psn-+0 9+-zp-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-zPLzPN+-0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

8 e4 An extremely nice approach, although not new by any means. This is an important

idea for all Colle players to learn. 8...cxd4 9 cxd4 ¤b4 10 ¥b1 ¥a6 This is the reason that this variation was previously frowned upon. Black prepares an infiltration on the White squares, but this is not the end of the story by any means. 11 ¦e1 ¤d3 At first glance, this looks horrible for White, but read on. 12 ¥xd3 ¥xd3 Black has bagged the bishop pair, but now it is White's turn to bat. 13 d5! This is the

16

point. The Black king is still residing in the centre. White offers a pawn in order to lure his majesty into the open. The threat of d6 forces Black to take direct action. 13...exd5 This seems a bit co−operative, but Black has no easy options. (13...0-0

Looks like the sensible option, until you see: 14 d6 Winning a piece. 13...¥c5 The natural response but: 14 b4!? An interesting new idea, which sacrifices a pawn in order to accelerate White's development and try and catch Black's king in the center. 14...¥xb4 15 £b3² Gomez,F−Blees,A/Varadero CUB 2000.) 14 exd5 ¤xd5 15 ¤f1² Gomez,F−Vazquez,R/Las Tunas CUB 2001.

c3) 7...0-0 8 £e2 £c7 9 ¦e1 d6 A move that White is always glad to see in the Colle, as it virtually guarantees that he will be able to get e4 in. 10 e4 ¤bd7 11 e5 This is a big problem for Black. This space gaining move is the prelude to a violent kingside attack. 11...dxe5 12 dxe5‚ Foudzi,J−Lee,M/Kuala Lumpur MAS 2002.

c4) 7...d5 It may seem a little harsh, but I consider this normal−looking move a severe inaccuracy, which falls in too easily with White's plans. 8 ¤e5 0-0 9 f4

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-wq-trk+0 9zpl+-vlpzpp0 9-zp-+psn-+0 9+-zppsN-+-0 9-+-zP-zP-+0 9+-zPLzP-+-0 9PzP-sN-+PzP0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

9...¤bd7 10 ¦f3 The White attack is proceeding like clockwork. All his pieces are now

swinging into action. 10...¦e8 11 ¦h3‚ Soloveychik,S−Gibbons,B/Canbarra AUS 2000.

2 ¤f3 ¤f6

2...c6 3 e3 ¤f6 4 ¥d3 Personally I prefer 4.c4 as the text allows Black easy development. 4...a6 Although this move often makes sense in the Slav here Black is just wasting valuable time. (4...¥g4 would be my choice, giving Black a reversed Torre attack.) 5 ¤bd2 e6 Black continues to play what would be routine moves in the Slav. Against the Colle this approach gives White far too much freedom. (5...¥g4 would again be better.) 6 ¤e5 (6 e4 would also give White a small edge.) 6...¤bd7 7 f4 c5 8 c3 Black's passive opening play has handed White the opportunity to set up an ideal Stonewall formation. 8...¥e7 9 0-0 £c7 10 ¤df3² Rosenfeld,I−Khalil,V/Cannes FRA 2000.

2...e6 3 e3 ¤c6 A strange move and not to be recommended. Black blocks in his c−pawn, which is his main source of counterplay. 4 c3 A passive response. (4 c4 would be a more natural way of trying to punish Black for his badly placed knight.) 4...¤f6 5 ¤bd2 ¥d6 6 ¥d3 0-0 (6...e5 would be a reasonable idea for Black, to try and prove

17

his third move makes sense. Indeed, it would seem to equalise immediately.) 7 e4 ¥f4?! (7...dxe4 8 ¤xe4 ¤xe4 9 ¥xe4 leaves White a bit better, but no more.) 8 e5 White is now clearly better. 8...¥xd2+ 9 ¥xd2± Wachovius,H−Kuehneweg,S/Recklinghausen GER 2002.

3 e3

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+-+-sn-+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+-zPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

It was Colle's efforts that catapulted this variation into the limelight. 3 ¤bd2 Although this move can easily transpose to the Stonewall or Colle systems, I feel

that it is too inflexible and would personally prefer the straightforward 3.e3. 3...¥f5

3...e6

Black, for the time being, mirrors the White set up, maintaining a solid stance in the center in the style of the queens gambit declined.

3...¤bd7 4 ¥d3 e6 5 ¤e5?! White is attempting to set up an early stonewall formation. Unfortunately this proves to be premature. 5...c5 6 c3 ¤xe5 Black makes this capture before White can recapture with the f−pawn. 7 dxe5 ¤d7 8 f4 c4 9 ¥c2 £h4+ An irritating move. White is forced to weaken his kingside. 10 g3 £h3 11 ¤d2 f6= Atanaskovic,P−Lajthajm,B/Leskovac YUG 2002. Black continues in the most direct manner. White's pawn centre must be broken down.

4 ¥d3

The Colle is a quiet looking opening and indeed, for the first few moves, White is happy to concentrate on simple development. However, Black players would be well advised not to be lulled into a false sense of security. With this move, White hints at his aggressive intentions, as his bishop takes aim at the Black kingside.

4...c5

The theoretically approved and most forceful response. Black strikes at White's center and threatens to push White's bishop from it's ideal diagonal, with c4.

18

4...b6 5 c3 ¥b7 6 ¤bd2 ¤bd7 7 0-0 ¥d6 8 £e2 ¤e4 This is a direct attempt to challenge White's strategy of central expansion. 9 ¥a6 ¥xa6 Perhaps Qc8 would have been better here, to keep control of the queenside light squares. 10 £xa6² Franklin,M−Richardson,J/Birmingham ENG 2001.

5 c3

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-zPLzPN+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

White supports his center and makes an escape square for his bishop on c2. Colle was a

particular fan of this formation. 5 b3 The Colle−Zukertort way of stopping the Black threat of c4, which we will examine in

a separate section. 5 0-0 An interesting interpretation of the variation. White encourages Black to hit his

bishop with c4. After Be2, White can go about undermining the Black queenside with b3 and if necessary a4. 5...¤bd7 6 c3 White adopts the traditional Colle set−up. 6...¥d6 7 ¤bd2 The key idea for White is to prepare the central advance e4. 7...0-0 8 ¦e1 An important prelude to e4, allowing the rook to join the attack when the center opens. 8...£c7 9 e4 There is no point in waiting any longer, White achieves his aim. 9...cxd4 10 cxd4 dxe4 11 ¤xe4 White has accepted an IQP, but in return has a great deal of activity and benefits from the fact that Black's dark squared bishop and queen are misplaced. 11...¤xe4 A questionable move, inviting White's rook to attack. Maybe Black should consider relinquishing the bishop pair with Nd5. 12 ¦xe4² Hansen,L−Vescovi,G/Copenhagen 1995.

5...¤c6 6 ¤bd2

Control of e4 is essential to the Colle system. White's basic plan, once castled, is to play the freeing advance e4, gaining space in the center.

6...¥e7

6...¥d6

19

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwqk+-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+nvlpsn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-zPLzPN+-0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 9tR-vLQmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

7 0-0 (7 b3 Mixing systems like this is never a good idea and should allow Black to equalise

comfortably. 7...e5! 8 dxe5 ¤xe5 9 ¤xe5 ¥xe5 10 ¥b2 0-0 Black is comfortable. 11 ¤f3 ¥g4

12 £c2! White takes the best practical decision and consents to a weakening of his structure. Otherwise he would be doomed to a passive game. 12...¥xf3 13 gxf3÷

Kitchlew,A−Van de Walle,R/Les Dicqs GCI 2002.) 7...0-0 a) 8 e4!?

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwq-trk+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+nvlpsn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-zPP+-+0 9+-zPL+N+-0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

seeks to enter an interesting IQP position, with Black's dark squared bishop misplaced.

8...dxe4 9 ¤xe4 ¤xe4 10 ¥xe4÷ leaves Black already worrying about potential Greek gifts on h7.

b) 8 £e2 e5 9 dxc5 White captures on c5 in order to immediately strike back in the centre with e4. 9...¥xc5 10 e4 ¥g4 11 exd5 ¤xd5 (11...£xd5 should be met by 12 ¤e4) 12 ¤b3! (12 ¤e4 is also interesting, but White probably wanted to avoid a timely f5/e4 by Black.) 12...¥b6 13 ¦d1² Farhat,B−Chaves,J/Sao Paulo BRA 2001.

c) 8 dxc5 According to Gary Lane in his recent book "The Ultimate Colle" this move became popular after Capablanca played it in a simultaneous display in 1914. The idea is to expand in the centre without allowing Black the possibility of giving White an isolated pawn. 8...¥xc5 9 e4

c1) 9...e5 is the alternative. 10 exd5 £xd5 (10...¤xd5 11 ¤b3 ¥e7= Voon,V−Rauk,T/Tallinn EST 2000.) 11 £c2 This is a very tricky and rarely played idea. White pressurises h7 and Black has to exercise extreme caution, if he is not going to get into trouble.

20

11...¥g4 (11...h6 May well be forced here, if the game continuation is anything to go by.) 12 ¤e4!± Narciso Dublan,M−Barczay,L/Budapest HUN 2001.

c2) 9...¥b6 10 exd5 This try is not to be recommended. (10 £e2 intending e5 with a kingside space advantage is what White should be looking for.) 10...exd5 11 ¤b3 ¥g4 Black is already very comfortable. 12 h3 ¥h5 13 ¥g5 £d6= Chanelle,P−Velicka,P/Cappelle la Grande FRA 2002.

c3) 9...£c7 This is one of Black's main defences against White's idea of expanding with e5 himself, followed by a possible Greek Gift on h7. Unless White finds something new, I believe Black is comfortably equal here. 10 £e2 This is a mainline position in the Colle, which is essential reading for any serious student of the attack. 10...a5 Black attempts to stop any queenside expansion, but White has totally different ideas. (10...h6 is considered mandatory, we are about to see why.) 11 e5 ¤e8 12 ¥xh7+± Chemin,V−Damasceno,M/Brasilia 2000.

6...b6 7 0-0 ¥e7 8 ¤e5 Kamsky,G−Prie,E/Paris 1990.

7 0-0 0-0

7...c4 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwqk+-tr0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9-+n+psn-+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-+pzP-+-+0 9+-zPLzPN+-0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

An instructive mistake. Black releases the central tension and makes White's job a great

deal easier. Black would have been better advised to bide his time and castle kingside. 8 ¥c2 b5 Black launches a queenside initiative, but the important action will take place in the center, which is where White concentrates. 9 e4 As I have mentioned, this break is the main idea in the Colle system. White threatens to gain more space with the advance e5, which would drive away one of the essential defenders of the Black kingside. If Black's pawn was still on c5, White would consider dxc5, followed by e4, in order to avoid an isolated queen's pawn. 9...dxe4 10 ¤xe4 What a difference a pawn break makes! The White pieces suddenly spring into life. 10...0-0 11 £e2 Not only has the queen moved to an excellent attacking post, but it sneakily threatens to win a piece, with Nxf6+, followed by Qe4, when the double attack on h7 and c6 will prove decisive. 11...¥b7 12 ¤fg5² Colle−Delvaux, Terneuzen, 1996.

7...a6 8 £c2 (8 £e2 would be the more normal choice.) 8...g6 9 dxc5 ¥xc5 10 e4² Zivkovic,V−Laketic,M/Herceg Novi YUG 2001.

21

8 £e2 b6 9 ¤e5

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwq-trk+0 9zp-+-vlpzpp0 9-zpn+psn-+0 9+-zppsN-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-zPLzP-+-0 9PzP-sNQzPPzP0 9tR-vL-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

Rather than play directly for a central break with e4 White plants his knight on the active e5

square daring Black to capture. Play soon resembles that of a stonewall attack which as we have seen before can be quite dangerous for Black.

9...¥b7

It is hard to say whether Black would be better off capturing on e5 when the reply dxe5 would force away a key kingside defender.

10 f4²

De Souza,M−Miranda,M/Curitiba BRA 1999.

22

Colle with b3. [D05]

Last updated: 28/07/03 by Eric Prié COLLE SYSTEM: The Zukertort Attack: The Colle−Zukertort with b3, is my personal

favourite way of playing the Colle. The dark squared bishop has aspirations of greatness not usually found in the Colle. It's latent power is frequently unleashed to enormous effect.

1 d4 ¤f6

1...d5 2 ¤f3 a) 2...c6 3 e3 ¤f6 4 ¥d3 ¤bd7 5 b3 e6 6 0-0 ¥d6 7 ¥b2 0-0 8 ¤bd2 £c7 This is always a

dodgy square for the queen in the Colle. She is very vulnerable to the c−file opening up. 9 c4 ¦e8 10 ¦c1 h6 (10...e5 11 c5 just lands Black in hot water.) 11 £e2 b6= Lane,N−Muljadi,H/Penrith AUS 2003.

b) 2...e6 3 e3 ¤f6 4 ¥d3 ¥d6 5 b3 ¤bd7 6 ¥b2 0-0 7 ¤bd2 c5 8 ¤e5 cxd4 9 exd4 ¤e8 This seems a bit passive. Black wants to capture on e5 with his knight, so that he can preserve his bishop pair, but the loss of time is quite serious. 10 £e2 ¤xe5 11 dxe5² Martinsen,S−Lahlum,I/Gausdal NOR 2003.

2 ¤f3 e6 3 e3 c5

3...b6 Black chooses a Queen's Indian formation against the Colle. Personally, I feel that this is quite promising, due to the extra flexibility that he enjoys. 4 ¥d3 White continues as normal, if Black does nothing to prevent it, White can consider playing e4, due to Black's lack of central influence.

a) 4...¥b7 5 0-0 d5 again Black opts to grab his fair share of the centre at the expense of his light squared bishop. 6 b3 (6 ¤e5 ¥e7 7 b3 0-0 8 ¤d2 ¤bd7 9 f4 Yusopov is one of the leading exponents of the stonewall defence as black so this move should come as no surprise. 9...¤e4 10 ¤xe4 White chooses to exchange immediately as he has spotted a way to take advantage of Black's omission of c5. 10...dxe4 11 ¥c4 ¥d5 12 ¥a6 The threat of c4 and Black's lack of queenside space force Black into an unpleasant concession. 12...¤b8 13 ¥e2² Jussupow,A−Burnett,R/Philadelphia USA 2002.) 6...¥d6 7 ¤e5 0-0 8 ¥b2 c5 9 ¤d2 ¤c6 10 a3 ¦c8 (10...¤d7 11 f4 f5 Posing White the interesting question of how to proceed against the stonewall. 12 ¤df3 ¤f6 13 £e2 ¦c8÷

Aleksieva,S−Le Roch,D/Sautron FRA 2003.) 11 f4 ¤e7 This is a good way of trying to defuse White's initiative. Black accepts that he cannot challenge White's strong point on e5 and instead prepares counterplay on the queenside. 12 £f3 b5!÷ Krasenkow,M−Yu Shaoteng/Wijk aan Zee NED 2002.

23

b) 4...d5 Black falls in with White's plan. More in keeping with the spirit of his initial moves is ...Bb7 followed by ...c5. By holding back the advance of his d−pawn in this way, Black would restrict White's attacking options. Against this plan I recommend White castles and then plays c4, followed by Nc3 (with a classical Queen's Indian position), where some of Black's options based on an early Bb4+ have been cut out. 5 0-0 ¥d6 6 b3 Business as usual. 6...0-0 7 ¥b2 ¥a6 Black reveals one of the ideas behind his strange move−order. He seeks to exchange his poor light squared−bishop and reduce White's attacking possibilities. 8 ¤e5 White could also consider trying to cut across Black's plan with c4. 8...¥xd3 9 £xd3 ¤fd7= Gerencer,J−Chenaux,P/Geneve 1994.

4 ¥d3

4 b3 Unleashing the Colle−Zukertort. 4...b6 5 ¥b2 a) 5...¥e7 6 ¥d3 0-0 7 0-0 ¥b7 8 ¤bd2 ¤c6 9 a3 d5 Normally I would advise Black from

making this central thrust as it hands White a good grip on the e5 square. 10 ¤e5 (10

£e2 ¦c8 11 dxc5 An interesting approach. White forgets about sinking his knight's teeth into e5 and instead opts to give Black hanging pawns on d5 and c5. However, I have doubts about the effectiveness of this plan. 11...bxc5 12 c4 £b6 13 ¦ab1 ¦fd8 14

cxd5 exd5= Fernandez,A−De la Paz,F/Santa Clara CUB 2002.) 10...£c7 11 f4 Although this is perfectly standard, White fails to get any advantage. (11 £f3

Intending Qh3 would be my choice.) 11...¤xe5 12 fxe5 ¤e4!= Bely,A−Simantsev,M/Kharkov UKR 2002.

b) 5...¥b7 6 ¤bd2 ¥e7 7 ¥d3 cxd4 8 exd4 0-0 Black is playing in the most flexible manner, refusing to commit his d−pawn. 9 0-0 ¤c6 10 a3 £c7 11 ¦e1 ¦fe8 12 ¦c1 ¦ad8 13 c4 When the Black queen is on the c−file, I would always suggest this as a good idea. 13...£b8 14 b4 a6 15 d5ƒ Hodgson,J−Jackelen,T/Hamburg GER 2001.

4 ¤bd2 An unusual move order, but certainly not a bad one. 4...cxd4 5 exd4 b6 6 ¥d3 ¥b7 7 0-0 ¥e7 8 ¦e1 d6 9 c4 By omitting to move his c−pawn until now, White has left himself this more aggressive option. 9...0-0 10 b3 ¤bd7 11 ¥b2 ¦e8= Berkell,P−Hellsten,J/Helsingborg SWE 2002.

4...d5

4...b6

24

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zp-+p+pzpp0 9-zp-+psn-+0 9+-zp-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+LzPN+-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

5 0-0 ¥b7 6 ¤bd2 (6 b3 ¥e7 7 ¥b2 cxd4 8 exd4 0-0 Black opts for the flexible strategy of not

committing his d−pawn early, which prevents White from an early occupation of e5. 9 ¦e1 ¤c6 10 a3 a6 11 c4 d5 By waiting for White to play c4 before pushing d5, Black hopes to create a queenside weakness in White's pawn structure. 12 ¤c3 ¦c8 13 cxd5

¤xd5 Black has successfully created an IQP position. However, White's active pieces ensure that this is no cause for celebration. 14 ¤xd5 £xd5 15 ¥e4² Fries Nielsen,J−Pedersen,J/Greve DEN 2002.) 6...¤c6 A tricky move order by Black, designed to trap the unwary. 7 b3 In view of Black's tricky possibility I would recommend Colle−Zukertort players investigate: (7 a3) 7...cxd4 8 exd4 ¤b4 9 ¥c4 ¤bd5 Black has clear designs on the c3 square. I know from experience how painful this can be for White. 10 ¥b2 ¥b4 11 ¤e5 0-0 12 a3 ¥c3 13 ¥xd5 ¤xd5 14 ¥xc3 ¤xc3 The smoke has cleared and Black's strong bishop gives him the edge. White's opening has not been a success. 15 £e1³ Dearing,E−King,D/Birmingham ENG 2000.

4...d6!? is my preference here, 5 0-0 ¤bd7 6 b3 g6 (6...a6 7 c4 g6 is seen in Lukasiewicz,G−Prie,E/Chanac 1990) 7 ¥b2 ¥g7 Kosic,D−Prie,E/Chanac 1990.

5 b3

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+P+LzPN+-0 9P+P+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

25

The Colle−Zukertort has a different aim from the Colle proper. White will fianchetto his dark squared bishop in a bid to control the critical e5 square. Unlike the Colle, this bishop often plays an important role along the diagonal a1-h8.

5 0-0 ¤bd7 6 b3 cxd4 7 exd4 b6 8 ¤bd2 ¥b7 9 £e2 ¥e7 10 ¥b2² El Gindy,E−Sargissian,G/Dubai UAE 2003.

5...¤c6

This is Black's most aggressive way of playing against the Colle−Zukertort. Black tries to have as much influence as possible over the center with his assertively placed pieces.

5...¥e7 XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+P+LzPN+-0 9P+P+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy

Black opts for a solid, if slightly passive setup. 6 ¥b2 0-0 (6...¤bd7 7 ¤bd2 b6 8 0-0 ¥b7 9 £e2

0-0 10 ¤e5² Filatov,L−Mayer,S/Philadelphia USA 2000.) 7 0-0 ¤bd7 One danger for Black, in the Nc6 lines, is that White will play dxc5 at an opportune moment, in preparation for the elimination of the Nf6. By deploying the knight to this slightly less active square, Black defends against this possibility. 8 ¤bd2 b6 9 ¤e5 This move constitutes a essential part of the White attacking plan. 9...¤xe5 Black opts to exchange White's troublesome knight at the first opportunity. If left to reside on e5, the White knight will be strongly supported and cemented with f4. Another idea for White is to manoeuvre the queen to h3, via f3, where it exerts uncomfortable pressure on the Black kingside. 10 dxe5 ¤d7 11 f4 The usual space grabbing move. In some situations the pawn will advance to f5 to open lines towards the Black kingside. 11...¥b7 12 £h5² Summerscale,A−Gimenez/Andorra 1991.

5...¥d6 6 ¥b2 ¤bd7 7 0-0 £c7 8 ¤bd2 0-0 9 c4 The usual recipe when the Black queen has strayed to the c−file. 9...¦e8 10 ¦c1² Nguyen Duc Hoa−Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy/Dong Thap VIE 2003.

6 0-0

26

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+n+psn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+P+LzPN+-0 9P+P+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

6...¥d6

6...¤b4 It makes little difference if Black throws this move in at an early stage, as White will play a3 anyway at a convenient moment, so both sides lose the same amount of tempi. 7 ¥e2 ¥d6 8 ¥b2 0-0 9 a3 ¤c6 10 ¤e5 £c7 11 f4² Schmidt,R−Osieka,U/Altenkirchen GER 1999.

6...¥e7 7 ¥b2 0-0 8 ¤bd2 b6 9 ¤e5² Rotshtein,E−Franck,R/Gladenbach GER 1999.

7 ¥b2

It is important to prevent Black from playing the freeing move e5.

7...0-0

7...cxd4 8 exd4 ¤b4 It is always tempting for Black to harass the White bishop, but it makes no real difference. (8...0-0 9 ¤bd2 b6 10 ¤e5 ¥b7 11 f4 So far, this is all standard stuff. Let's watch White prepare the usual kingside attack. 11...¦c8 12 a3 Obligatory, as Black was threatening Nb4. 12...¤e7 13 £f3 This is my favourite treatment of this variation. White keeps an iron grip on the e4 square and prepares to swing the queen over to h3. 13...£e8² Codispoti,T−bnolan/Internet, 2001.) 9 ¥e2 0-0 10 c4 b6 11 ¤bd2 ¥b7 12 a3 ¤c6 13 ¥d3² Dubivka,G−Kovalenko,N/Kharkov UKR 2000.

8 ¤bd2

8 c4

27

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwq-trk+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+nvlpsn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+PzP-+-+0 9+P+LzPN+-0 9PvL-+-zPPzP0 9tRN+Q+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

An unusual and quite aggressive way of handling the Colle−Zukertort. White immediately

strikes out on the queenside without any provocation from Black. 8...cxd4 9 exd4 dxc4 This is a very dangerous move from Black's point of view. He does not, as yet, have a plan for blockading White's hanging pawns. This leaves Black open to all sorts of dynamic shots. 10 bxc4 b6 11 ¤bd2 ¥b7 12 ¦e1 ¥e7 13 ¦c1² Kastanieda,G−Zaw Win Lay/Istanbul TUR 2000.

8...£e7

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+l+-trk+0 9zpp+-wqpzpp0 9-+nvlpsn-+0 9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9+P+LzPN+-0 9PvLPsN-zPPzP0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

It is worth noting that if the Black queen goes to c7, White's best policy is to play the

advance c4, which opens the c−file against the Black queen.

9 ¤e5

A key idea in this line. White claims the e5 square for himself. The intention is to further his claim on this square by f4 and then launch a kingside attack, with Qf3−h3 or Rf3−h3.

9...cxd4 10 exd4 ¥a3

28

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+l+-trk+0 9zpp+-wqpzpp0 9-+n+psn-+0 9+-+psN-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9vlP+L+-+-0 9PvLPsN-zPPzP0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

This line has been highly theoretically regarded ever since Capablanca used it to beat

Bogoljubow (New York, 1924). Black's aim is to exchange the dark squared bishops and then probe the weaknesses on the White queenside. However, it has always slightly surprised me how popular this main line variation of the Colle−Zukertort is. Black never seems to have time to exploit White's queenside weaknesses and the loss of time involved in exchanging off White's worst piece therefore is hard to justify.

11 ¥xa3 £xa3 12 c3

This is the improvement over Bogoljubow's Ndf3. White cements his center and prevents any Black ideas of Nb4. The White results from this position have been impressive.

12...¥d7 13 f4

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-trk+0 9zpp+l+pzpp0 9-+n+psn-+0 9+-+psN-+-0 9-+-zP-zP-+0 9wqPzPL+-+-0 9P+-sN-+PzP0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy

The f−pawn's advance is an important theme in the White attack. It is a multi−faceted idea.

White expands his attacking options and gains greater influence over the kingside and center.

13...¦ac8

29

It is unadvisable for Black to go on the offensive with moves such as Qb2 or Qa5. White will defend c3 with Rc1, when the loss of the a2 pawn is irrelevant, as White intends to deliver mate.

13...£d6 14 £f3² Evans,G−Gomez,C/IECG 1999.

14 ¦f3 g6

Black readies himself for the White attack, but this weakening of his kingside prompts White's reply:

15 £e1

which lays the foundations of a dark squared attack.

15...¢g7 16 ¦h3²

Hoi,C−Danielsen,H/Den−Ch, 1995.