Pafu - The Defense Game

THE DEFENSE GAME
by
PAFU
Copyright 2002 by Pafu. All rights to The Defense Game are reserved by the author. No person is authorized to copy, store electronically, or distribute by any means, any portion of this publication without prior written permission by the author. The author is the sole inventor, writer, editor, and publisher of the complete contents of The Defense Game. All rights to original concepts and terminology in this publication are reserved by the author. Any reference to these concepts should make reference to this publication. First draft edition printed in Italy by LiRiCo in Yr.2 (AD. 2002) All inquiries should be directed to web site www.beginnersgame.com ISBN 88-900519-4-9
Preface to The Defense Game

Read this book carefully and you will master the game of chess. Even if you are a complete beginner, you will soon master the system described in this book, called the Defense Game. Using it, you will play the chess opening quickly and accurately. With a little experience, you will be able to play well enough to challenge any opponent and offer him a tough game. This new system is the easiest and best way ever found for beginners to play chess, even better than the systems described previously by the author in 'The Beginner's Game,' and 'The Center Game.' Like the Beginner's Game and the Center Game, the Defense Game is a new approach to playing chess. Like them, it is based on a standard opening, and a large number of related variants defined by a simple set of rules. These systems bear little resemblance to conventional chess in their style of play, but all of them are valid and very strong. Their strength combined with ease of play makes them the easiest way to improve for players of all levels. The Defense Game challenges everything practiced until the present in chess, confronting any conceivable adversary response with a standard opening system. The Defense Game cannot be forced to enter any of the conventional lines played until the present in the opening. You do not need to know anything about what has been played in the past - it's a new game of chess! In extensive experimentation at master level the Defense Game has proved its worth, compiling consistently positive results against every imaginable style of adversary play. Try the Defense Game and you too will be convinced of both its validity and its strength. On defense it is almost invulnerable; on offense it is highly aggressive, capable of generating dangerous attacks. The Defense Game is for everyone, from beginners to experts. Beginners will learn to play good chess more rapidly with this system than with any other method known. Those who already play will quickly master a brand new system that will complement and enrich their opening play. All those who love chess will find in the Defense Game a vast new universe of fascination. Like the Beginner's Game and the Center Game before it, the Defense Game is one of the perfect jewels of chess, something of great and everlasting beauty. It was there all along, passed over by everyone, but never found before. Now it is here, and it will change forever the way the game is played. It is surely the easiest, but also one of the best, ways ever found to play chess. enjoy your chess! Pafu
When I is important Then one is ignorant When I is Servant Then One is Present
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Defense Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Continuing Play After the Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 The Defense Game in Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Early Attacks on the Defense Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Playing Against the Defense Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 The D-system Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 D-system Variants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Playing the D-system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Why Wasnt It Found Before? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 How It Was Found . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Can it be Refuted? Is It Optimal?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 What Happens Now to Chess? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Games Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Defense Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Close Variants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Distance 3 Variants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Distance 4 Variants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Borderline Variants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Appendix: Move Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
15.
Introduction 7
1.
Introduction: The Easiest Way Ever Found to Play Chess!
An amazing discovery has been made: a new system of playing chess that is the simplest imaginable! Even those who have never played can master the basic opening in a few minutes. In a few hours anyone can learn the complete system, including a large number of strong variants, and play fluently and correctly during and after the opening, at least thru the first 12-15 moves. It is the easiest system ever found for those learning to play chess, even simpler than the systems previously described by the author in 'The Beginner's Game,' and 'The Center Game.' At the same time, this system is definitely very strong for competitive chess. In hundreds of games played at master level this system has proved its worth, compiling a positive record of wins and draws against every imaginable style of opponent play. Given the ease with which it can be learned, It is therefore the quickest way to improve for anyone who already plays chess. This system is completely new, never presented or described before this publication. Research by the author has not revealed anyone who has played it before. It is not based on any existing method, and bears little resemblance to conventional chess opening practice. This new system has a number of remarkable properties rarely seen before in chess, that make it truly unique. The most important of these is that, playing with either white or black, in most games the opening can be carried out in standard form regardless of how the opponent plays. This makes it easy for everyone, even beginners, to learn it quickly and play it correctly. The basic opening is called the Defense Game, and the set of related variants on the opening is called the D-system. All D-system openings respect a simple set of rules for opening play, that distinguish them from previous chess practice. The Defense Game and the D-system challenge all of chess opening theory and, in the hands of competent players, emerge victorious. Suitable for Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Players Alike If you never learned to play chess before, consider yourself fortunate: you have been spared the arduous task of studying the thick encyclopedias on the chess opening. Instead you can learn in minutes to play the Defense Game, which guarantees you a successful opening. This system is absolutely foolproof: even complete beginners can use it to play the opening accurately and rapidly, choosing from a large number of strong lines. Any beginner playing this system will be able play well not only during the opening, but also deep into the middle game, even against players of expert level. Never before in chess has this been possible! For intermediate players, this system is salvation. From the occasional to the serious club player, all have difficulty with the openings. It is there that better players take most advantage of them, wrecking their plans, and putting them at a disadvantage after only a few moves. Using their knowledge of the openings, better players push their adversaries away from more familiar lines, present difficult tactical situations and traps, force disadvantageous exchanges, and in general, disorient and discourage their adversaries. Most occasional players do not have the time
or interest to study the openings, so condemning themselves to mediocrity. Do they really have to digest the entire body of opening theory in order to play well? It's just a game, right? The chess opening can be immensely complicated and unbelievably difficult. Until now it has generally been assumed that the only way to succeed in this phase of the game is by laborious study and meticulous imitation. This system frees you from that drudgery, allowing you to master the chess opening in the least time imaginable. It is enough to follow a few simple rules, keep in mind a few useful examples, and develop your own experience. With these, you will pass intact thru this difficult and dangerous phase of the game; and you will do it by deploying according to plan, and without allowing your adversary to develop any advantage. Advanced players, including professional chess players, will be amazed by this system of openings. It is truly exceptional, having properties that distinguish it from anything known previously in chess. These unique properties give a player of the system a real advantage over any rival of comparable strength. You play your game, not your adversary's. You control the nature of the game, closed or open, quiet or full of risks, where and how attacks are made, all the characteristics of play. You will also be able to anticipate the middle game well past the usual limits, extending your preparation deep into the game. In addition, you are sure to find among the great diversity of variants in this opening system many that suit your preferred style of play. Chess analysts will find a wealth to explore in the Defense Game and its related system of variants. The Defense Game is like a resonance point in chess, with many fascinating properties to discover and understand. There is so much to explore, so much to experiment. Analysts will find a great deal to research in the tuning of the system, such as selection of suitable variants to counter sharper adversary play. Finding best defenses to the Defense Game and its related system is a fascinating quest, not just for analysts, but for players of all levels. Here then, is something for everyone, from beginners thru all grades of intermediate players, up to the top contenders for championship tournaments. By adopting this new system you are guaranteed to enrich and improve your game, in the least time imaginable. A Completely New Practice of Chess The Defense Game and D-system openings are not a complement to existing chess practice. They are a new framework for playing chess, that did not exist in any form until the present. Rules defining sound opening play have been difficult to formulate in the past; with this simple and powerful system they are now made clear and understandable for all. The Defense Game is completely new: it has not been presented or described before by anyone. Research in games databases has not revealed anyone who has played this system before. Only very few players have experimented with a similar approach to opening play. This simple but powerful system of playing chess appears to be completely new, a pristine discovery.
Introduction 9
In conventional chess the opening is a race to control the center of the chessboard, and quickly develops into skirmishes to fight for that high ground.' The Defense Game is a tactical redeployment of ones own forces, in order to arrive at a solid position for the ensuing conflict. It does not contest the center, avoids engagement, and shows little or no reaction to the opponents play. In this respect the Defense Game, like the Beginner's Game and the Center Game before it, is not just a new chess opening: it is a new concept of what the opening in chess is all about. As the Defense Game is occupied with its development only, the opponent is free to pursue any development he desires. Adversary responses are typically perfect classical deployments of the pieces and pawns. They are not only the strongest conventional openings ever seen in chess, they are the strongest openings that can be imagined! All of them are quite impossible to achieve in conventional play, where their aggressive deployments would be challenged and restricted. The Defense Game therefore typically faces an opponent who has deployed more powerfully than is normally possible in the chess opening. In no sense can its superiority be attributed to any deficiency on the part of the adversary! But the Defense Game confronts without difficulty any classical opening, even more enlarged and aggressive versions of them. In fact it confronts any conceivable opening on the part of the adversary - and it has proved to be as strong as any of them! All this defies the imagination, but appears to be undeniably true. The Defense Game is not a rote opening: it has an great variety of ways of playing it. So have the openings in its related system of variants, which introduce different moves into the standard opening, using the system rules. This system constitutes a subspace of the possible openings that has been largely unexplored until the present. Almost all of the openings in this system are completely new, and most are also generally playable and surprisingly strong. All D-system variants respect the same simple and easy to learn rules for opening play. All system variants, like the Defense Game itself, strive to produce predetermined positions after the opening. To achieve this, they must resist adversary play, either as attacks during the opening, or as preparations for attacks following their deployment. Amazingly, the rules of the system result generally in deployments with this strong independence to adversary play. As the Defense Game goes about its business of building a solid defense, it reveals as little as possible to the adversary, concerning either its final defensive position, or its possible lines of attack. The Defense Game gives the opponent nothing to attack, nothing to engage, no basis for orienting a counter strategy. At the same time, it develops and maintains full options for its own defense and offense, as always to a large degree irrespective of the opponent's play. On defense the Defense Game is certainly one of the best openings in chess. It is like a fortress that resists all attacks. It rarely needs to modify its opening moves; attacks on it bring the adversary no tangible gains. The Defense Game really has no weak points: however it is attacked, it will resist. This has been proved in extensive experimentation, against every conceivable style of opposing play. So the Defense Game and its related system should appeal to all players who like to build a strong defense and keep the game under control.
The Defense Game concentrates in the first moves on building a solid defense; only when this is complete does it pass to the offensive. This seems to be a sensible way of playing the opening, to complete ones own development before confronting the adversary. But in no sense does it lose its attacking potential for subsequent play; on the contrary, it is highly aggressive. The compact defensive formation of the Defense Game moves rapidly and naturally into powerful attacks on a broad front, which the adversary can neither predict nor prevent. On offense the Defense Game is an excellent opening. It can develop dangerous attacks, from a large selection of possible lines. A player of the Defense Game is rarely at a loss finding ways to attack. Once an attack starts, it is almost always effective in gaining space. These advances quickly produce favorable positions from which any experienced player can apply his skills to obtain a decisive advantage. So, the Defense Game and its related system should also appeal to all players who like to pressure their adversaries with an aggressive attack. These are all startling claims, but the evidence accumulated to date firmly supports them: The Defense Game and the D-system is one of the best ever found for playing chess, on defense, on offense, and in every other sense! And at the same time it is absolutely the simplest! Beginners and lesser intermediate players can use the Defense Game with great success as a drawing system. Better players can exploit the offensive strengths of the Defense Game, especially with black, to play for a win. This new system is sure to amaze everyone interested in chess, it is perhaps the simplest and most effective way ever found to play the game. Characteristics of Play The same characteristics of play are almost always evident with this system: the defense is solid, and there are plenty of opportunities for attacking. These openings are therefore suitable for attacking and defending players alike. On the defense, they offer little weakness, and a great flexibility of options for the consolidation of solid positions. On offence they are very strong; regardless of how the adversary plays, good attacking lines are always present. In games using the system, there is never a rout of a defensive position, nor are there games in which attacking lines after the opening are not present. Losses recorded usually do not result from any demonstrable weakness following the opening. Losses occur mostly when the system player overexploits the natural strengths of the opening much later on, taking excessive risks in an attempt to win. Good players should be quite familiar with this phenomenon: trying for the win also increases your chances of losing - it's just part of the game. The basic aim of these openings, almost always achievable in practice, is to carry out essentially preconceived developments, with minimal adaptations. This gives a player of the system real advantages. He knows how to play within the familiar lines of his well-practiced opening, and he is better prepared to respond to anything his opponent might do.
Introduction 11
In playing an opening that goes according to plan, you are at the same time forcing your opponent to play your game, and that is the basic strategy in any encounter. When your opponent plays your game, your confidence improves and so does your quality of play. You know your own game, with its risks and opportunities, so your decisions are better founded in experience. A surprising, almost miraculous, aspect of the Defense Game and most of the D-system openings is that they can be carried out in near complete tranquility. There is practically nothing that the opponent can do to disrupt these openings. At best he can force exchanges of pawns or pieces, or cause other minor damage which has minimal effect on the balance of the game. Challenges All of Classical Chess Theory and Practice The Defense Game and the D-system can confront any of the conventional openings. In this sense they challenge all of classical chess, that is, everything practiced in the game until the present. They also challenge, and in large part refute, much of what has been expounded until now as sound guidelines for opening play. You could say that the entire system is radically opposed to conventional chess opening theory and practice. In hundreds of games the author has played this system, against a computer opponent of professional strength, the Defense Game and the D-system openings have proved exceptionally strong. Playing this system, there has been a consistently positive balance of wins. No adversary response has yet been found which could defeat the standard opening in a series of games, and most of the strongest adversary defenses and early attacks have been tried. There is already a considerable amount of experimental evidence confirming the validity of this system. How Important is this Discovery? The Beginner's Game and The Center Game were claimed by the author as is the greatest discoveries ever made in chess. But the Defense Game may eventually surpass both of them, because it is even more resistant and easier to play, not only during the opening but during the entire game! The Defense Game and the D-system confront all of conventional chess. They have the potential to change dramatically the entire practice of the game. In fact, a completely new game of chess results from playing them, bearing little resemblance to all that has gone before! Chess has been a principal intellectual pastime for hundreds of years, and in this sense the Defense Game, like its predecessors the Beginner's Game and the Center Game, must be considered as a monumental discovery. This is not a self judgment, but a simple logical statement, whose truth is established once the system has proved its strength in competition. The validity of this system must be tested by extensive play, but the probable result is already evident. It is the easiest and one of the best ways ever found to play chess. It is also quite possibly an optimal way of playing the game. Optimal in the strong sense means it is always capable of winning or drawing when played correctly. It would take a tremendous amount of research to test the hypothesis, but it could be done, and the result might well be that it is true.
It is too soon to say if the Defense Game and its related system will never meet its equal. Perhaps millions of games must be played before we can feel sure of that. But it is an exciting theory, and in the meantime we can wonder whether the game of chess was really just a puzzle, waiting to be solved. The Defense Game could well be that solution. Entering a New Era of Chess Share the enthusiasm of the author as you discover for yourself this amazingly strong, yet simple system of playing chess. Use it, and you will be playing good chess right away. Even if you are a beginner, you can confront even the strongest players and give them a tough match. The game of chess is no longer too difficult for most people; it is now a truly universal game that anyone can learn to play well in weeks. This correction was sorely needed in the sport, to make it more accessible and more balanced between players of different levels of expertise. The openings books must be revised, but that is not all: the entire practice of chess is about to undergo a dramatic revolution, experience a complete transformation, and enter a totally new era. Be part of it - it's the most interesting thing that ever happened to the dull old game!
The Defense Game 13
2.
The Defense Game
(Note - if you are completely new to chess, you will learn by playing all the moves in the text on your own chess set. Read the appendix on move notation, or ask someone who plays to explain the basic rules and move notation, and then come right back: you will learn to play well more quickly with this system than with any other method that teaches chess for beginners.) The Defense Game is a standard configuration reached after 8 moves. With Its symmetric aspect, it can be memorized at a glance. The Defense Game for white and black is shown below:

Defense Game With White

Defense Game with Black
In the standard Defense Game the queen and king pawns are advanced to the third rank, and first the knights, then the bishops, are developed to the squares in front of the king and queen. Although in most games we will not reach this standard position, it nevertheless serves as a reference configuration for playing the Defense Game. All of the openings in the D-system are based on this scheme, including at least four, but usually more, of its eight moves. The standard opening itself is playable in many games, and is also an solid basis for continuing play. The Defense Game has proved very strong in competitive play at master level, resulting in an large positive balance of wins and draws. But perhaps the most interesting thing about the Defense Game is that, with either white or black, this opening position or something very close to it can be reached in most games, regardless of how the adversary plays. This makes it easy for everyone, even beginners, to learn the opening quickly and play it correctly. Before concerning ourselves with what order of moves is used in opening, or what our opponent might be doing in the meantime, lets take a good look at this standard position. The standard Defense Game is a compact defensive position resilient to attack. All approaches to it are heavily protected. The pawns in the center of the position are in short chains, that cannot be attacked by pieces. From their recessed central placements, the bishops sweep the flanks of the board, supporting flank pawn advances, and can also repair damage to the center. The knights have been developed using the characteristic two move sequence via King 2 / Queen 2 to their respective Knight 3 squares on the third rank, a relocation very unusual in conventional chess, but which proves to provide a very active placement for the ensuing game. The queen and king are safe behind the strong pawn wall and the active pieces.
All pawns and pieces are well placed to co-operate in the defense. The deployment executed in the first eight moves has placed all pawns and pieces in a compact position, that nevertheless covers the entire of our side of the board. The position is so compact that the adversary has to spend additional moves to bring his forces into range to attack; and the position is so resistant, that there is practically nothing for him to attack once he is in range. The center of our position is extremely solid. It may be attacked with pawns, but such center pawn attacks at best succeed in exchanging. These exchanges can also be avoided in most cases, and there are many other effective ways of responding to any attack on our center. The knights in their characteristic placements are vulnerable to attacks by rook pawns or by centrally placed bishops, but we can respond to either of these attacks with moves that fit into the scheme of tactical play in D-system, and present us no real difficulties in defending. Despite appearances, there are no weak points in this position. Our defense can respond to any enemy threat, and also force an adversary piece placed on our side of the board to retreat. Moreover, moves used to repel adversary pieces fit well into our game. As we shall see, forward piece placements are rarely attempted by our opponent, confirming their low value. In the first eight moves of the standard opening we have not yet performed castling, but it is normally done immediately afterwards, with a conventional king side castle. The Defense Game also allows for castling on the queen side, but as in conventional chess practice, the king side castle is the easiest and safest for consolidation of a strong defensive position, and usually fits in better with the general offensive orientation of the D-system openings. We can always play at least six or seven of the of the standard moves of the Defense Game, regardless of how the adversary plays. After we have done so we have an excellent basis for completing and consolidating our defense. Regardless of which moves of the standard opening that we have performed, and regardless of what opening our adversary has used, our position will resist and repel any attack, and also provide a good basis for our subsequent play. The compact position with pieces and pawns concentrated on the defense of the center allows us to respond effectively to any attempts to attack there. Our adversary usually does not attempt to attack our center, because of our concentration of defensive forces. As its name suggests, the Defense Game is oriented to a defensive strategy. Even so the opening also allows plenty of scope for offensive play, as we shall see in example games. Our position is symmetric, which means that any co-ordinated pawn and piece actions playable on one side can be played on the other. This mirror aspect benefits the system player, allowing him to transfer experience in play between sides. Considering also that the Defense Game is used for both white and black, and can be carried out in most games without little modification, the result of all these factors is a reduction of the difficulty of the chess game for all players of this opening, with a corresponding increase in the chance of playing it well.
The Defense Game 15
Move Sequences What sequence of moves should be used to produce the standard position of the Defense Game? Actually, subject to the limitation that center pawns must be moved prior to placement of the pieces behind them, any of the possible orderings of pawn and piece moves are playable. This results in a fairly large number of ways of playing the same opening (exactly: 70) all resulting in this same position after eight moves. Here are a few examples of move sequences to produce the Defense Game. (The move notation is given for white and black alternately.)
Sequence 2N: knights first,eg. 1. e3 2. d3 3. Ne2 4. Nd2 then bishops 5. Ng3 6. Nb3 7. Bd2 8. Be2 (24 ways) Sequence Q: Q-side first, eg. 1. d6 2. Nd7 3. Nb6 4. Bd7 then K-side, 5. e6 6. Ne7 7. Ng6 8. Be7 (1 way)
Sequence KN: K knight first, 1. e6 2. Ne7 3. d6 4. Ng6 then the rest, 5. Be7 6. Nd7 7. Nb6 8. Bd7 (17 ways) All Sequences have the same eight moves, in different order. There are 70 ways of playing the standard 8 move opening!
Sequences of type 2N have a fairly large variety of move orderings. So do those of type KN and of type QN (developing the queen knight first). Sequence Q and sequence K (developing the king side first) have only a single ordering. In the interest of retaining flexibility in choosing from a larger number of possible move orders, we usually prefer to play one of the 2N, KN, or QN sequences. The Q and K sequences are also playable, but they constrain our choice of moves. Different move sequences can result in different games, but not necessarily. All the possible move sequences are generally playable regardless of what the adversary does. Players may prefer some sequences to others, because they encourage certain adversary responses; but in general, move sequence is just a matter of personal preference - there is no best sequence.
Those who already play chess may be uncomfortable with this variety of move ordering. Conventional chess openings have rigid move sequences, and even slight modifications can change dramatically the games that result. In the Defense Game, the order of the first moves hardly matters at all. Anyone can and should try many different sequences. Here the system player has an advantage: he can vary his move sequences while playing his standard opening, whereas his opponent often tries to invent different responses, changing his game each time. Those who already play chess will definitely be uncomfortable with the idea of playing the same opening all the time, and will already be thinking of modifying the opening, so that the opponent will not know in advance what they are going to play. Many strong variants of the standard opening exist, and will be discussed later. But even if your opponent knows that you are playing the standard opening he can do little to stop you, and whatever opening he plays, you will be able to confront it successfully. You can even announce at the start that you will play the Defense Game, it changes practically nothing. It is a singular aspect that the Defense Game shares with the newly Beginner's Game and Center Game, something rarely seen before in chess. What if your adversary's play prevents you from carrying out your standard opening? As it turns out, there is practically nothing that he can do disrupt this opening. Only slight modifications to the standard opening are needed to respond to these attacks, so your game doesnt change very much. Each of these early attacks also has a number of valid possible responses from which you can choose, so your play will never be forced by your adversary. Two of the possible early attacks are shown in the following diagrams. Rook Pawn Early Attack Your opponent advances a rook pawn, threatening to displace your knight. You usually continue your bishop move. If the rook pawn advances, you can retire your knight to the back rank, or move it to the rook file, challenging the adversary's knight. You can also block the advance of the rook pawn with your own rook pawn. Bishop Early Attack Your opponent attacks your queen (or king) directly or indirectly. You can usually proceed with your standard bishop move, after which a bishop exchange often follows. You can also block the attack by advancing your bishop pawn or prevent it by advancing your rook pawn early. Example: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Ng3 4. Nc3 5. h4 e6 d6 Ne7 Ng6
Example: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Nf3 4. Nc3 5. Bg5
e6 d6 Ne7 Ng6
The Defense Game 17
These and other early attacks and some of the best ways of handling them will be dealt with in detail later on. What you should know now is that none of the early attacks are particularly effective. None of them can win material, threaten your king or queen, or gain any real advantage. In most cases they result in delayed development and loss of initiative for your opponent. In hundreds of games the author has played the standard opening against a computer opponent of master level, the only early attacks that were used frequently against the Defense Game were the rook pawn and bishop early attacks. For this reason we will dedicate a fair amount of discussion to these responses, and treat them in a number of example games. In general however, early attacking lines do not appear to be as effective as other lines which build in the opening and avoid early contact. In other words, your opponent does better to pursue his own development rather than trying to disrupt yours; so you can usually complete most of your Defense Game without modifications. After doing so, you will have a solid defensive position and many good lines for attacking, no matter what your opponent has played in the meantime. Adversary Openings Now we take a look at some typical responses of the adversary. These are the positions playing D-system opening after eight moves each side. We'll see the complete games later on.

Game 22

Game 3

Game 28

Game 69

Game 70 Adversary Openings (Black plays the Defense Game)

Game 71

Game 21

Game 27

Game 39

Game 76

Game 73 Adversary Openings (White plays the Defense Game)

Game 41
During the opening our opponent has been left to pursue his development in the absence of threats from our side. The deployments that he makes, in his near complete freedom to compose them, are usually perfect classical formations, typically with two or three advanced center pawns, bishops and knights optimally placed, the king castled, and the queen relocated. In all cases the adversary places an impressive mass of material in the center. Our opponent usually does not attack during the opening, because there is little to attack. He also has difficulty orienting his defensive strategy, because he does not know where we will attack. Our early development has been calm and restrained, and our adversary's development has been aggressive, but now that situation is about to be challenged. Playing with either white or black, in most games the Defense Game will attack its opponent. This should surprise anyone who thought that the aggressive openings in chess have already been well researched.
The Defense Game 19
In all games our opponent claims more space on the chessboard than does the compact Defense Game. He appears to have absolute control of the center; he certainly occupies it, and we dont. He is also attacking far more on our side than we are on his: only our bishops are doing this a bit. He seems poised to pour over the center of the chessboard with an overwhelming attack. Classical chess would rate our opponent a solid favorite at this point. A classical player would feel certain to have thoroughly crushed his timid opponent in the opening. It was the dream of classical chess to dominate the center so thoroughly in the opening as in any of these examples. Such successful deployments are virtually impossible to achieve in conventional chess; against us they can be played with almost no resistance. The Defense Game always plays against the strongest possible opposition, this much is obvious. Our opponent is always doing the maximum that anyone can possibly achieve in the chess opening. All of the adversary deployments shown in these examples above are evidently valid, and obviously very strong. In fact, any of them are stronger than the openings that have normally been playable in chess until the present! As we play our standard moves, our opponent builds one of these impressive positions; but we need not be particularly concerned. Formidable as they appear, none of them will prove to have any advantage whatsoever over the Defense Game! Now we present two complete games using the Defense Game. In these games the player of the Defense Game completes all or most of the standard opening, and has good play and winning chances in the ensuing contest.
Game 1: Defense Game with White
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e3 d3 Ne2 Nd2 Nb3 Bd2 Ng3 Be2
e5 d5 Bd6 Nc6 Nf6 O-O a5 a4
Here is the first Defense Game ever played by the author, resulting in a draw against a his strong computer adversary. White completes the standard eight move opening, while black deploys the optimal 2 pawn standard classical defense. White's position offers little to attack other than the knights, so black now goes for a rook pawn attack on the Q-side. White retreats with his knight, and avoids pawn exchanges. He castles and moves forward with his pawns, setting up a zigzag central pawn formation. Black finds little to attack; he can exchange bishop for knight, but there's no immediate follow up to this attack. White on the other hand has defined a target - the isolated rook pawn!
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Nc1 b3 c3 O-O b4 d4
a3 Qe7 Be6 Rad8 e4 Qd7
15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Nb3 Bc1 Nd2 Nb1 Qb3
b6 Ra8 Ra7 Rfa8 Ne7
White piles up on the doomed pawn. All this takes time, and would be dangerous if black could find anything to attack in the meantime, but there's little to be found. Black makes an attempt at defending the rook pawn, then moves his knight back, preparing to attack on the flank.
20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
Nxa3 bxc5 Nb5 a4 Qb1
c5 bxc5 Rb7 c4 Bg4
White wins the pawn, then holds against black's Q-side counter attack. Black then shifts into a K-side offensive, for which he is well poised, with bishops, knights, and queen. White must play carefully to avoid his castled position being overrun.
The Defense Game 21
Black attacks, but white is able to defend adequately, forcing the invading bishop to retreat. So far white has retained his pawn advantage, but it doesn't last much longer; black now piles up on the knight, and is ready to regain his lost pawn.
25. 26. 27. 28. 29.
f3 gxf3 hxg3 g4 Qb2
exf3 Bxg3 Bh5 Bg6 Nc8
His lead about to vaporize, white now invites a draw by perpetual check, by attacking white's knight and opening his K-side to a queen invasion. The computer calculates that this is a favorable line; a human opponent would prefer to regain the pawn and play on. White gladly accepts a draw: this is an amateur playing against a master level opponent!
30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
g5 gxf6 Kh1 Kg1 Kh1 Kg1
Qh3 Qg3+ Qh3+ Qg3+ Qh3+ 1/2-1/2
This is just the first of many games that we will see using this new system, but one game should be already be sufficient to surprise those who thought that the openings in chess have already been thoroughly researched, and that there is no interest in trying new lines. The Defense Game is a not just a new opening, it's a completely new way of playing the game! The first impression that this opening should make is that it is extremely solid. It cannot be seriously attacked, and can almost always be played out in near standard form. It is also as strong on offense as it is on defense: whenever an amateur of club level can challenge and draw easily against the computer playing at master level, it's a sure indication that the opening he is using stands up to the test. The Defense Game is completely new, totally valid, and very strong! Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Defense Game is that both in the opening and in the game that follows it is extremely easy to play for beginners and lesser intermediate players. Using this system with either white or black, even players with minimal skills have a good chance of drawing against the computer, or against other players much stronger than themselves. When played aggressively however, the D-system is very strong in master level play, consistently demonstrating a high percentage of wins. The techniques of playing for a draw and for a win are utterly different - but with this system, no matter what your skill level, you can offer a tough match to your opponent, and that is what competitive sport is all about.
Game 2: Defense Game with White
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 d3 Nf1 g3 Nbd2
Nf6 d5 e5 h5 h4 h3 Nc6 Be6
Here is an fine victory emerging from the analysis of the Defense Game. White's opening is interrupted by a rook pawn attack; white retires his knight and pushes his g-pawn to avoid opening the rook file: he's playing D-system close variant Dv7'G. White avoids Nxh5 - this dangerous gambit is in fact white's best line, but you should take it only if you prepared for the sequel. White's position unfolds naturally on the Q-side, where he has plenty of space and good play for his pieces. Black on the other hand is already reacting to white's game; he has no counter play for the moment, and must wait until the white advance stalls - but it never does!
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38.
Nb3 Nfd2 O-O d4 c4 cxd5 Qc2 Qc3 Qxc6 a3 Na5 b3 Bc4 Bb2 Rfc1 Rc2 Be2 Rac1 Nac4 Ne5
Qd7 O-O-O Bd6 e4 Be7 Bxd5 Nb4 Qc6 Bxc6 Nbd5 Bd7 Nc3 Be6 Ncd5 Bd6 Rd7 Bf8 g6 Bg7 Re7
White continues to build, and black keeps shifting pieces without any counter attack in sight. The black pieces have moved away from the Q-side, leaving the king exposed to a double rook barrage. White already has a significant positional advantage, and is now ready to exploit it.
a4 Rd8 Ba3 Ree8 Bb5 Rh8 Be7 Nxe7 Rxc7+ Kb8 Rxe7 Nd5 Nd7+ Ka8 Rxe6 fxe6 Nc5 a6 Bc4 Bh6
White invades, and trades a rook for piece and pawn, but he can equalize by taking either of the undefended central pawns. Black is looking for counter play, but the only thing he can find is the bishop attack.
The Defense Game 23
White finally cashes in his positional advantage for a material one; he shuts down the bishop attack and pins the knight on the rook, allowing him to bring his knight and bishop into enemy territory. Black's 41..Nb4 is the only move which doesn't lose rapidly. It's not an easy move to find, or to accept for that matter, since it results in loss of the exchange. White has to give back a pawn of his two pawn lead, but he still commands the chessboard, with his centrally placed pieces. White's king advances to support the forward movement of his pawns. Black can win the b-pawn, but he loses the g-pawn for it. Afterwards white's two K-side pawns can go right in, but white must also cover black's pawn promotion Black defends as best he can; he succeeds in splitting the white pawns, and keeps pressure on, while defending his own passed pawn. But it can't last for long - the g-pawn is now ready to advance, and black can only stop it with his king.
39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78.
Re1 e5 Ndxe4 exd4 Ne6 Nb4 Nxd8 Rxd8 Rd1 Nc6 exd4 Nxd4 Kh1 Kb8 f4 Kc7 Bf7 Rd7 Nf2 Rxd4 Nxh3 b4 axb5 Kg2 Nf2 Kf3 Nd3 Ne5 Nxg6 g4 Rd3 Ke4 Ne5 Kf5 fxe5 Kg6 Rb3 Kf5 g5 g6 Rh3 Rh7+ e6 Ke5 Kd6 e7+ Rh1 Rd1 Kd7 Rxf7 Re7 Re3 b5 axb5 Re2+ Rb2 Bf8 Rxh2 Rb2 Bxb4 Bc5 Bd6 b4 Re2+ Bxe5 Rf2+ Re2 Re4 Rd4 Kd7 Ke7 Rd1 Kf8 Rf1+ Re1+ b3 Kg8 Re2 b2 Kg7
White's pawns advance for promotion, and the black king is trapped on the back rank. White offers his rook in exchange for the pawn promotion, but black avoids it. The stage is set for white's pawn promotion; black loses his rook for it, and then it's all over. Black resigns. All black's moves were those which were top ranked by the analysis program - it was the best effort that he could make!
Play After the Opening 24
3.
Continuing Play after the Opening
The Defense Game is a standard configuration with a number of related variants. Here we present a general summary of how to play some lines of the D-game an additional 8 to 10 moves after the opening. These examples are all excerpts taken from complete games in later sections. The lines presented here represent only a small part of the entire D-system, but they are the starting point for building a solid opening repertoire. These lines mostly develop the K-side first, using moves from a restricted set that is easy to remember and to master in play. The standard opening itself is generally playable, but is slightly less strong than most of its close variants. A commonly used theme in continuing play with the Defense Game is the building of a concentration of pieces to support a strong challenge in the center. Since the opponent usually does not try to attack with his own center pawns, the player of the D-game typically has several moves at his disposition in order to prepare this attack, which can start at any time. Game 3: Black plays the standard opening against a 2 pawn classical opening. White later tries a rook pawn attack, and a center pawn attack, and then trades off his bishops. Black is left with some structural damage, but stays equal materially and later was able to draw easily.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Nf3 e4 d4 Nc3 Bd3 Bf4 O-O Be3
d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 Nb6 Bd7 Ng6 Be7
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
a4 a5 d5 exd5 exd5 O-O Bxb6 cxb6 Re1 Re8 Bxg6 hxg6 Qd3 Bf6 Rxe8+ Qxe8 Re1 Qd8
Game 18: Black's standard D-game faces white's 3 pawn standard classical opening. Black has to react to white's attack, but is never in real difficulty. Black has some slight damage to his position, but his pieces are active, and he has plenty of good continuations for later play.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 c4 Nc3 Nf3 Be3 Bd3 O-O
d6 e6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
c5 Qb3 cxd6 e5 d5 Nxd5 Bxg6 Nxe7 Rad1
Nc8 b6 Nxd6 Nc8 exd5 c6 hxg6 Nxe7 Qc7
Game 55: Black plays an early center pawn challenge against a K-side fianchetto opening by white. Black then develops both knights in the D-game style. He responds to two rook pawn attacks, and exchanges bishops. Black then goes for control of the open file, and is in good form.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
g3 Nf3 d4 Nc3 Bg2 O-O Qd3 e4
e6 Ne7 d5 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7 Ng6 Be7
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
h4 exd5 a4 Re1 b3 Bg5 Nxg5 Nf3 Qd2
h5 exd5 a5 O-O c6 Bxg5 Qf6 Rfe8 Bf5
Game 31: White plays the D-game with an early castle, gaining time against black's 2 pawn opening. White finds lively play after the opening, exchanging off 2 pieces, and pinning white's queen. White is now in very good shape, and had no difficulties at all in the ensuing Game.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 O-O d3 Nd2 Nb3
e5 d5 Nf6 Nc6 Bc5 O-O Be6 Bb6
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Bd2 a4 c3 d4 Nxf5 dxe5 Nd4 Nxf5 Qc2
a5 Qd6 Ne7 Nf5 Bxf5 Qxe5 Ne4 Qxf5 Rfe8
Game 30: Black plays the standard opening with a response to a rook pawn early attack. Afterwards black pushes on the center with e5, trades knights, and then challenges white's centrally placed pieces. White now follows with 19.Bxg7, but black has an answer to everything.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 Nc3 Nf3 Bd3 O-O a4 Be3
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7 a5 Ng6
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Nd2 f4 fxe5 Nc4 Bxc4 Qf3 Bxd4 Nd5 Qc3 Nb6
Be7 e5 dxe5 Nxc4 O-O exd4 Be6 Bd6 c6 c5
Game 20: Black's D-game is countered by white's 3 pawn classical opening. Black's center pawn exchange offer is not accepted initially by white. Instead both sides continue to build before locking up the Q-side pawn structure. Note the interesting disposition of black's pieces.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 Nf3 d4 Be2 c4 O-O Nc3 Be3
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O e5
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Qc2 a3 b4 h3 Rfd1 Rab1 Rb2 b5 dxe5
c6 Qc7 Nf6 Bd7 Rfb8 b6 a5 c5 dxe5
Game 46: Black's D-game confronts a 2 pawn classical opening. White exchanges knight for bishop, and then pushes on the Q-side. Black plays in beginner's style, seeking to trade off pieces quickly. White can now exchange for black's knight and queen, but black still stays even.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 Nf3 d4 Nc3 Bd3 O-O Be3 Re1
d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 O-O e5
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Nd5 Nf6 Nxe7+ Qxe7 d5 a6 c4 Nd7 b4 b6 Qc2 Nh4 Qe2 Nxf3+ Qxf3 Nf6 Bg5 h6
Game 35: Black's D-game again confronts the 2 pawn standard classical opening. This time white plays more cautiously, while black locks up the center and invades on the flanks. Black compresses his adversary's position and prepares to press an across-the-board attack.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 d4 Nf3 Nc3 Bd3 O-O Be3 Qd2
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O e5
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
a4 h3 d5 a5 Qe2 Bc4 Qd1 axb6 Qd2 Rfe1
Nf6 c5 Bd7 Qc7 Nh5 Nhf4 b5 axb6 Qb7 b5
Game 57: Black again faces a 2 pawn classical opening. White's avoidance of the center pawn exchange allows black free play on the K-side. Black exchanges knight for bishop, then falls back to cover a threatened knight sacrifice with Nxe5. Black is in good shape with no problems.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 d4 Nf3 Nc3 Be2 d5 O-O Be3
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Ng6 e5 Be7 O-O
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Qd2 a6 a3 Nf6 Qd3 Ng4 Bd2 Nf4 Qc4 Nxe2+ Qxe2 f5 Qc4 Nf6 exf5 Bxf5 Rfc1 Kh8
Game 69: This time black develops a 3 pawn center, and then pushes on the Q-side. Black exchanges pawns cleverly, sacrificing a pawn temporarily but regaining it quickly. Black gets good play for all his pieces, and already has a definite positional advantage over his opponent.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 d4 Nf3 Nc3 Bb5 Be2 O-O Be3
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 c6 Ng6 Be7 O-O
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Qd3 a3 Rfd1 a4 Qd2 Na2 dxc5 Qxb4 Qa3
b5 Bb7 a6 Qc7 b4 c5 Nxc5 a5 Nxe4
Game 54: Here black strikes at the center with c5, brings the Q-side pawns forward, and finds good placements for his queen and pieces. Both sides then concentrate on pure positional play, and no exchanges are seen. Note white cannot free by 17.f4 without taking serious risks.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 Nf3 c4 Nc3 Bd3 O-O Be2
d6 e6 Ne7 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 c5 O-O
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Be3 Qc2 d5 Rad1 Rfe1 Nd2 Ndb1 Qd2 f3
b6 Bb7 Re8 a6 Qc7 Bf6 Be5 Nf6 Rab8
Another group of Defense Game main lines develop the c-pawn and queen, and postpone the central pawn challenge. The c-pawn advance also prevents an adversary knight incursion. Game 68: Black develops cautiously, repositioning his queen. He brings his knight to the K-side, castles, and finally strikes at the center with e5. White tries a queen and bishop attack on the black castle, but gets stung by a counter attack that wins black a piece for two pawns.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Nc3 d4 Nf3 e4 Be2 O-O Be3 Qd2
d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 c6 Qc7 Ng6 Be7
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Bg5 Rae1 Bc4 a3 Bxh6 Nxd4 exd5 f4 dxc6
Nf6 O-O e5 h6 exd4 d5 Ng4 Nxh6 bxc6
Game 61: Black again plays the queen developing move and afterwards has to respond to a bishop exchange. Black recaptures with the king, exchanges center pawns, then brings his queen out to probe white's K-side. Black is slightly behind in his development, but otherwise is fine.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 Nf3 c4 Bg5 Nc3 Be2 O-O
d6 e6 Ne7 Nd7 c6 Qc7 Ng6 Be7
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Bxe7 Kxe7 Qd2 Re8 Rad1 Kf8 e5 dxe5 dxe5 Ndxe5 Nxe5 Qxe5 Rfe1 Qf4 Qd3 Kg8 Ne4 Qf5
Game 59: Black develops a 3 pawn recessed center, but delays the queen move. He pushes on the center, which then closes. Black then pulls up his Q-side pawns, and offers a knight trade. Black is playing in pure beginner's style, but still has reasonable chances for the ensuing game. 9. Qc2 e5 1. Nf3 e6 2. d4 Ne7 10. Rad1 Re8 3. c4 d6 11. d5 c5 4. e4 Nd7 12. a3 a6 5. Nc3 c6 13. b4 b6 6. Bd3 Ng6 14. Rb1 Rb8 7. O-O Be7 15. Qd2 Nh4 8. Be3 O-O 16. Nxh4 Bxh4 17. Bc2 h6
In the Defense Game the bishops are already well placed in their central positions, and do not need to move right after the opening, unless they are used to recapture in central pawn exchanges. Bishop replacements are quite playable however, and can be very strong. Game 5: Black castles and brings his bishop out to support the e5 push. Black then moves his knights about until white finally goes for a bishop exchange. Black is now in good shape; his only weakness is the backward d-pawn, but this will not be too much of a problem.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Nf3 d4 c4 e4 Nc3 Be3 Bd3 O-O
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O Bf6
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Qd2 d5 Bc2 b4 Qd3 c5 Ba4 cxd6 Bxd7
e5 Nc5 a6 Nd7 Re8 Ndf8 Bd7 cxd6 Qxd7
Game 14: Black castles and moves the rook onto the e-file. White challenges the center, and black doesn't accept the pawn exchange. Later white tries to attack with bishop and knight, but is not able to achieve anything. Black now begins to repulse the invading pieces.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O Re8
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
e5 Be4 Nb5 Na7 Nc6 Bxc6 exd6 Qe2 Bg5
b6 Rb8 a6 Bb7 Bxc6 Qc8 Bxd6 Rd8 Be7
Queen moves in the D-game are somewhat different from conventional chess. The queen usually cannot relocate forward to the central squares, which are typically occupied by minor pieces. Instead the queen often moves to the queen bishop 2 square after a c-pawn advance. Rook placements on the other hand are similar to those used in conventional chess, with the rooks moving to the center files, or to occupy and control any open or half-open files. Castling is normally performed in the latter moves of the opening. As in classical chess, the king side castle is always easier and safer, and in this system is the one used almost exclusively. Castle is almost always performed, even if the pawn structure has been damaged, as after an adversary bishop has exchanged for your king knight.
In Summary the main lines of the Defense Game usually include: Primary Move Set: these six moves: with black: d6, e6, Ne7, Nd7, Ng6, Be7 with white: d3, e3, Ne2, Nd2, Ng3, Be2 Secondary Move Set: the other moves that are frequently made are: with black: O-O, e5, Re8, Nb6 (or Nf6), c6 (or c5), Qc7 (or Qb6), Bf6 with white: O-O, e4, Re1, Nb3 (or Nf3), c3 (or c4), Qc2 (or Qb3), Bf3 Even with an easy to learn system like the Defense Game, one cannot reduce play after the opening to a simplistic sequence of habitual moves. But most of the typical moves listed above can be played against most adversary deployments. Players of all levels should try improvising continuations based on a selection of moves taken from this frequently used set. Below are two more specific move sets, one suggested for beginners and another for better players. Better players can learn quickly the most effective move sequences corresponding to different general categories of adversary defenses, and so prepare anticipated lines up to 15 moves into the game. Beginners should concentrate on consolidating and maintaining a coherent defense, with a more cautious approach to attacking, especially when facing better players. Secondary Move Set for Beginners: with black: O-O, Re8, c6, e5, Qc7 with white: O-O, Re1, c3, e4, Qc2 followed by slow advances of the Q-side pawns Try to avoid pawn exchanges and trade off pieces Secondary Move Set for Better Players: with black: O-O, e5, Re8, Nf6, c6 (or c5), Qc7 (or Qb6) with white: O-O, e4, Re1, Nf3, c3 (or c4), Qc2 (or Qb3) Try to open the center with pawn exchanges Play aggressively Players of all levels should experiment with the many strong and valid continuations of the Defense Game. There are dozens of interesting and playable lines - develop your repertoire!
The Defense Game in Action 31
4.
The Defense Game in Action
Now we present, including the two already seen, twenty complete games with the Defense Game, playing mostly with black. Most games use the standard opening and its close variants; a few are distant variants. A variety of responses to the Defense Game are used in this collection. In many cases the responses are early attacks. These strong conventional responses are aggressive, but as we will see, the Defense Game is able to contain their initial aggression, and defend adequately during and after the opening. The adversary can attempt to disrupt our opening by attacking early, but more often he is content to occupy the center heavily with pieces and pawns, and even allow the D-system player the attack rather than trying to seize the initiative himself. This observation is also well supported by analysis, which suggests that among the strongest adversary lines are many which do not challenge the Defense Game either during or immediately after the opening. Watch in these games how the D-system player is able to carry out his opening, while the opponent usually concentrates on building a strong center. Notice the large variety of adversary responses possible. Study carefully the moves made following the opening, to develop a general idea of how to continue play with this system after the first moves. Unless otherwise noted, all games were played by the computer, using adequate time (45 minutes per side) to produce a contest of master level quality. All games have been analyzed to insure that they are free of serious errors, and that the moves chosen on both sides are consistently from among the strongest and most promising. They are all good examples of chess being played well from start to finish, and they can provide you with valuable ideas on how to exploit the strengths of this opening system in the middle and end games. In all these games the Defense Game wins or draws. Losses have not been included, because we are just beginning to document the validity of the basic system. In the next chapters we will address the topic of playing against the Defense Game. For the moment we are only gaining familiarity with the basic opening system and play following it, but at the same time we are beginning to develop an impression of the style of games that result from using this system. Play thru these games before reading on in the book. For beginners it is essential to see how games proceed from beginning to end. But players of all levels can benefit from reviewing these games. By so doing you will become familiar with the Defense Game and its variants, the range of responses used against it, and the type of games that result from playing this system. Attack!
Game 3: Defense Game Dv0 with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Nf3 e4 d4 Nc3 Bd3 Bf4 O-O Be3
d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 Nb6 Bd7 Ng6 Be7
Here is a a quick and easy draw produced by the author, playing black against a two pawn classical opening. Black's D-game standard opening is not challenged in the first moves; instead it is white who has to react by retreating his centrally placed bishop when black's king knight shifts into position. White plays a typical continuation against the Defense Game, trying every kind of offensive action he can find: first a rook pawn attack, which is stopped cold, then a central pawn challenge and exchange, and then two bishop for knight exchanges. Black's pawn structure is slightly damaged but white has a difficult task trying to capitalize on these positional weaknesses.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
a4 d5 exd5 Bxb6 Re1 Bxg6
a5 exd5 O-O cxb6 Re8 hxg6
15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Qd3 Bf6 Rxe8+ Qxe8 Re1 Qd8 b3 Bxc3 Qxc3 Rc8 Qd2 Qf6
Black now encourages more trades, and white obliges - rooks and minor pieces are exchanged. The board is being cleared rapidly, and black is able to maintain pressure on open lines, without risking to incur a material disadvantage. Black now targets exchanges of queens and rooks; if he succeeds in doing so, he is almost certain of obtaining a draw.
21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
c4 Re8 Rxe8+ Bxe8 h3 Qa1+ Kh2 Qf6 Qe1 Qd8 h4 f6 Nd4 Bd7
White is constantly being challenged on the open lines, and so has little time to develop any coordinated offensive action. The exchange of rooks signals the last opportunity for white to develop any attack; black is now set to block the knight posting and challenge the open king file.
White's last attempt at attacking fizzles out as black jams the center, and now forces a queen exchange. Afterwards there will be nothing but pawns on the board, and so many of them that there will be no room for the kings to maneuver on any front.
28. 29. 30. 31.
Qe3 Kf7 Ne6 Bxe6 Qxe6+Kf8 g4 Qe7
Black's 'inferior' K-side pawn structure now shows to be as resistant as a normal one - any advance by white allows black to undouble his pawns and close the game out. Black waits for a while, then locks the pawns himself with the f-pawn advance.
32. 33. 34. 35. 36.
Qxe7+Kxe7 f4 Kf7 Kg3 Ke7 Kf3 f5 g5 Kf7
Now it's all over - black's pawn structure doesn't allow any advance on any front, and the white king can neither pass thru or otherwise create a gap allowing him to force the situation. After wandering about pointlessly with his king for a while, white finally accepts the draw.
37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43.
Ke3 Kd3 Kd2 Kd1 Ke1 Kd2 Kd1
Ke7 Kd7 Kd8 Kc8 Kd8 Ke8 Kd7
While this style of play will certainly not be to everybody's liking, experience to date nevertheless indicates that it is the most effective system ever found for drawing. It permits all players, even those with minimal skills, to maintain parity in games with the best chess playing computers, and also to hold their own with other players who are much stronger than themselves. When this system is played aggressively, and not passively as in this game, it is exceptionally strong, and can drive for a win as well as the best classical openings. This is the main strength and attraction of adopting the D-system: it allows beginners to survive against opponents far stronger than themselves, and at the same time it offers an excellent basis for better players to challenge strongly and play for a win. It's a system that you can use and grow with as your chess playing skills evolve from scratch to master level.
Game 4: Close Variant Dv3'Dx with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 d4 Nf3 c4 Nc3 Be2 Bg5 Bxe7
e6 d6 Ne7 c6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 Qxe7
Here is a fine victory playing the Defense Game with black against a 3 pawn classical deployment with a bishop early attack. It's a good example of how this system can be played effectively at master level. White now follows his bishop attack with a rook pawn attack: like most adversaries of the D-game, he is impatient to refute this opening - a series of shocks await him! White's attack is preempted by black's counter in the center. Black then shuts down the rook pawn attack and brings out his bishop, preparing for a long castle. White castles Q-side, and then exchanges center pawns, no doubt feeling confidant about his position. Black's Nxc4 again preempts the attack; white's play is forced. White's pawn moves downfield, giving check, and compensating for the bishop fork of his rooks. But when this tactical episode is over, white has lost the exchange, and so most likely the game. Combinations such as this one are not easy to find at the chessboard; but if you have a repertoire of them prepared in advance, you can beat the best players! Black now follows with a fine series of moves, again virtually forcing white's play. Black always seems to find the counter punch before white's blow can arrive. White's position continually deteriorates; he has difficulty coordinating his pieces.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
h4 e5 g3 h5 Qd2 Nb6 O-O-OBg4 dxe5 Nxc4
14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Bxc4 exd6 d7+ Rhg1 Rxd1 Bb3
Bxf3 Qf6 Kd8 Bxd1 Ne5 Qe7
20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
Qd4 f4 Qxg7 Qd4 Bxf7 Qe3 Kxd1 Kc2
Kc7 Nxd7 Rag8 Nc5 Rd8 Rxd1+ Rd8+ Nxe4
Queens and pieces are exchanged, and black consolidates his lead by picking off one of the separated white pawns. At this point there is only the endgame exercise left. With three pawns each still on the board, black's exchange difference is more than sufficient to win.
28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.
Bb3 Qxe4 Nxe4 Kd2 Bd1 Bxh5 Be2 h5 Ke1 Kf2 Kg3 Bd3 b3 Bc2 Bd3 bxc4 Bb1 a4
Re8 Qxe4+ Rxe4 Re7 Rg7 Rxg3 Kd6 Rh3 Rh4 Rxf4+ Rf6 Ke5 c5 b5 c4 Kd4 bxc4 c3
Black's play is razor sharp, again breaking up the remains of white's defenses as he moves downfield, then creating a passed pawn which moves towards promotion.
White loses his bishop to stop the pawn promotion. Afterwards black's rook covers easily as his king moves over to capture white's rook pawn. It's time to resign. An impressive win with superior tactical play: that's what master level chess is all about; and the Defense Game is definitely capable of winning at master level!
46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52.
a5 Bc2 Kg4 Bh7 Bxc2 h6 Kg5
Rf1 Rh1 Rh2 c2 Rxc2 Rh2 Kc5
Game 5: Defense Game DvEF with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O Bf6
Here the author with black triumphs in a difficult game against the computer. Black plays DvEF, one of the better D-game lines, preparing for a push of the e-pawn. White plays the 3 pawn standard classical opening, one of the most frequently seen responses to the Defense Game, and also a theoretically perfect development. White prefers to avoid an exchange of center pawns, looking instead to open the Q-side. Black's play is concentrated on maintaining the pawn structure intact, and trading the pieces - the beginner's strategy in playing the Defense Game.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Qd2 d5 Bc2 b4 Qd3 c5 Ba4
e5 Nc5 a6 Nd7 Re8 Ndf8 Bd7
16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.
cxd6 Bxd7 Rac1 Rc2 Rfc1 a4
cxd6 Qxd7 Rec8 Rc7 Rac8 Nf4
White exchanges bishops and pawns and moves his rooks to the opened c-file, but black is able to keep step with him easily. Black's knight invades, inviting another piece exchange. White doesn't want to lose time retreating with his queen, and so he accepts the piece trade.
22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
Bxf4 Ne2 Rxc2 Qxc2 a5 Qd2
exf4 Rxc2 Rxc2 Be5 Qb5 h6
More pieces are traded, as black shores up his position with a queen relocation. Black can now respond to any piece invasion on his side of the board. Note that no difficult moves were needed by black to maintain parity to this point; the main strength of the Defense Game is that it's easy for everyone to play!
Now there is a tactical phase, as black repulses a knight invasion, and occupies the 'hole' on g3 with his knight. White's knights have little scope, and his queen is tied up in the defense of the b-pawn, hardly a worthy task for such an important piece.
28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
Nfd4 h3 Nf5 f3 Kh1 Kg1 Qe1 Nfd4
Qd7 Nh7 Nf6 Nh5 Kh7 Qa4 g6 Ng3
Black brings his queen in close to aid in the attack, and now his penetration bears fruit. At move 39 white is effectively in 'zugzwang', meaning 'obliged to move' but any moves he makes result in losing. White offers both his rook pawns to escape from the bind.
36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Qb1 Kh2 Qd1 b5 h4
Qa3 Qe3 g5 axb5 gxh4
Black will probably not be able to keep his 2 pawn advantage, since his own doubled pawns are weak; what has been gained however, is the passed b-pawn. White then abandons his knight and attacks with his solo queen in a desperate attempt to find a perpetual check.
41. 42. 43. 44.
Kh3 Qc1 Nxe2 Qc7
Qf2 Nxe2 Qxe2 Kg7
Black forces a queen exchange, and now his passed pawn goes straight in for promotion. White no longer has any chance, so he resigns. If the author managed to beat the computer, then merit has to be given mainly to the opening system he's using!
45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 0-1
Qd7 Qg4+ Qf5+ Qg4 Qxg3 Kh4
Qf2 Kf6 Ke7 Qg3+ hxg3 b4
Game 6: Close Variant Dv3'D with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 c4 Nf3 Nc3 Bg5 e4 Qd2 Be2
d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 c6 Qc7 Ng6 Be7
Here is a fine victory with black playing the Defense Game. Black reacts to the bishop pin by moving his queen away from the attack, then completing his normal knight maneuver and bishop development. Also good is running the bishop off with a rook or bishop pawn advance. The line shown here is often played in the D-system even when there is no bishop early attack. Following the bishop exchange black brings his knights over to the K-side; after some preparation, he pushes the e-pawn. White avoids the pawn exchange, and advances instead. Black is also content to close the center: he now has good play on both flanks and will not be concerned about a white invasion on his side of the board - solid D-game elementary strategy. Black advances and exchanges a Q-side pawn, opening a file for queen and rooks. White finds little that he can do to improve his position - he moves a knight over to the K-side, echoing black's earlier double knight placement. Black's knight shifts forward, occupying a good 'hole' on f4.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Bxe7 O-O Rfd1 Rac1 h3 Bd3 d5
Nxe7 O-O Ng6 Re8 Nf6 e5 c5
16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.
Ne2 Rf1 Bc2 b3 Ng3 cxb5 Rfe1 a3
Nh5 b6 Rb8 Nhf4 b5 Rxb5 Rb8 Qb6
24. 25. 26. 27.
Ra1 Rab1 Rbc1 bxc4
Ba6 Qc7 c4 Rec8
Black advances and exchanges another Q-side pawn. His pieces are slowly gaining in effectiveness, and he already has a slight positional advantage. Note now how black's constant shifting of his queen will make it difficult for white to assess his intentions - black's threats may be feinted or they may be real.
White is beginning to have trouble finding decent moves. He sends his bishop to harass the black rooks, but it ends up being the object of attack itself. It doesn't appear much is happening in this phase, but a seemingly pointless 33rd move by white signals that his game is going down. Analysis shows that he has effectively lost the game at this point! The knight invades and black wins the exchange. Now the situation turns clearly desperate for white: black's pieces slice thru his defense, and his own pieces are not capable of striking any targets of value on the other side of the board.
28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
Ba4 Re3 Rec3 Bd7 Ne1
Bxc4 Qb7 Qa6 Rc5 h5
33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39.
Kh2 Bc6 Nf5 Rxc4 Bb7 Bc6 Rxc4
Rd8 h4 Ne2 Rxc4 Qa4 Qb3 Qxc4
Now black sets up the mating net, with the queen and knight to provide the final blow. White no longer has any way of stopping it and so he tries a diversionary attack.
40. 41. 42. 43. 44.
Qa5 Nxd6 Nf3 Nd2 Bb5
Rf8 Qc1 Nd4 Qe1 Nf4
White's attack doesn't slow black from moving towards checkmate. Finally white throws away his queen to prolong the game. Black is left with the easy task of mating with advantage of a queen: 54. gxf3 Nxf1 50. Nc5 Qf4+ 51. Kh1 Ng3+ 55. Kxf1 Qd2 52. Kg1 Rxc5 56. a4 Rc1# 53. Nf3 Nxf3+
45. 46. 47. 48. 49.
Nb7 Qxf2 Bf1 Rc8 d6 Nfe2 Qd8+ Kh7 Qxh4+Qxh4
Game 7: Defense Game Dv0 with White
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e3 Ne2 Ng3 d3 Nd2 Nb3 Be2 Bd2
Nf6 d5 e5 Bd6 O-O Nc6 Be6 a5
Here's another of the author's numerous draws playing the Defense Game against a top strength computer rival. The D-game is probably the best system ever found for drawing in chess, it's a real achievement! White completes his standard opening as black plays the 2 pawn standard classical defense, ending with a rook pawn attack. White plays a beginner's version of the D-game: castling, retreating his knight in face of the rook pawn attack, avoiding exchange with the rook pawn, and then inviting exchange of knights on the K-side. The computer rates the knight exchange to be in his favor, and accepts. Black's queen foray is then repelled easily. The computer judges all this as solid positional gain. Black brings his bishop down to harass the rook, and tries to open the center. White refuses center pawn exchanges, and consolidates his defense. The computer still rates his position as far superior, but white is not that easy to attack; unless the computer is willing to sacrifice material, a draw is already the most probable result.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
O-O Nc1 b3 Nh5 Bxh5 g3
a4 a3 Qe7 Nxh5 Qh4 Qf6
15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.
c3 Re1 d4 Be2 Bf1 Ne2 Bg2
Bh3 e4 Rad8 Be6 Qg5 Ne7 c6
22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
Rf1 h3 Qe1 Nf4 Nxg2 b4
Bg4 Bh5 Bf3 Bxg2 b5 Ra8
Black tries to press along the e1-h5 short diagonal, but only succeeds in exchanging bishops. White tries to lock up the pawn structure; the only way black can break thru is with a sacrifice of material that cannot be recuperated easily, and his program logic won't accept this!
White proposes more exchanges, and the computer accepts, reasoning that by so doing, he improves his positional strength - but he is only helping the weaker human player achieve his aim of drawing. With the queens and knights removed, and most of the pawns still present, there is now almost no way that black can reopen the game without risking to lose. Now the pawn structure closes: white's advancing f-pawn could be taken enpassant, but the computer judges this capture as less favorable than refusing it, and so misses his last opportunity to open the game. Note the characteristic zigzag white pawn formation, with the bishop protecting the backward pawns - this structure is totally resistant! The computer finally understands, but it's too late now to do anything about it. White's position, which had been rated as utterly inferior, is now judged by the computer evaluation to be perfectly equal. Here's to thinking machines, and to the humans that programmed them! You're not as likely to find human adversaries as willing to permit you to draw!
28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.
Qe2 Qg4 hxg4 Nh4 gxf5 Nxf5
Nf5 Qxg4 Ne7 f5 Nxf5 Rxf5
34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39.
Kg2 f4 Rh1 Rh3 Rah1 Bc1
Kf7 h5 Ke6 g6 Rf6 Kf5
40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47.
Rh4 R4h3 Rh4 R4h3 Kf2 R1h2 Kg2 Rh1
Re6 Ree8 Be7 Rf8 Kg4 Ra6 Bf6 Ra7
Game 8: Defense Game DvEH with White
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e5 d5 Nf6 Nc6 Be6 Bd6 Qe7 O-O-O
Here is a typical master level Defense Game, with a sharp tactical struggle thru the entire contest. The Defense Game concedes little to the adversary, and gives you equal chances in the middle game, but in order to win, you have to work hard! Black plays the strong 2 pawn classical opening and opts for the Q-side castle. By classical standards his opening is perfect. Heavy trades follow: 3 pieces and a pawn each. Such exchanges are typical when playing the D-system - often most of the minor pieces are traded off, and queen and rook endgames result. These endgames are relatively easy to master, another very favorable aspect for system players. Following the trades white tries a queen sortie; black advances his K-side pawns. White piles up on the isolated king pawn; at first black tries to defend, but then he abandons it. Black shifts his queen to allow an invasion of white's back rank. Both sides have potential attacks - the tension is reaching a climax. Analysis shows that black did somewhat better with 26..g5, but white already has a definite advantage in any case. White attacks first, giving check, but black is a move away from giving checkmate, and at the end of this episode white must yield: he has an adequate response - Rf1, but he must return his pawn advantage. Black now has a choice of pawns to take which is the better one?
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.
e4 dxe4 Ndxe4 Nxe4 Nxe4 Qd7 Be3 f5 Nxd6+Qxd6 Bf3 Bd5 Bxd5 Qxd5 Qh5 f4 Bd2 f3 g3 g6 Qg4+ Bc3 Qe4 Qh4 Re4 Rae1 a3 b4 Kb8 Rhf8 Qd7 Rde8 h5 Qe6 Qf5 Qf7
27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.
Bxe5 Rxe5 Rxe5 Qe4 Re8+ Qd4+ Re1
Rxe5 Nxe5 Qa2 a5 Ka7 b6 Re8
This is the critical phase of the game. Black goes for the c-pawn, and then falls back to defend his threatened king. White relieves tension on his castled position with h4, then gains time with checks and is again able to win a pawn.
34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73.
Rf1 Qxc2 bxa5 Qc6 h4 Re6 Qf4 Qd6 axb6+ cxb6 Qxf3 Qxa3 Rb1 Kb8 Qf4+ Kb7 d4 Qe7 d5 Rd1 Qe3 Rc1 Qe4 f3 Qc4 Rd1 Qe4 Kf2 Ke2 Rd4 Rxb4 Ra4+ Rc4 Kf2 Rc2 Rxd2 Qe2 f4 f5 Kg2 Qf3+ Qxf5 Kf3 Kf4 Kg5 Kxh5 Kh6 Kg5 Kg6 Rd6 Qc7 Rd7 Qd8 Rd6 Qf6 Qd8 Qc7 b5 Qc5+ b4 Ka7 Rxd5 Kb7 Qd6 Ka7 Rd2+ Qxd2+ Qd6 Kb7 Qc5+ Qxf5 Kc7 gxf5 Kd6 Ke6 Ke5 Kf6 Kf7 Ke6 1-0
Now follows a tactical phase, in which white profits from the positional advantage of a centrally placed queen and advanced pawn. Black plays stubborn defense, blocking the pawn advance and preventing white from extending his margin. The outcome is not yet clear - one pawn up in this type of endgame is often not enough.
Now pawns and rooks are exchanged. Black avoids a queen exchange that would give white a clear margin of victory. The stage is set for a tough finale, and only precisely calculated moves will allow white to bring home the victory. White's next move is the key to his victory: can you find it? White's f-pawn advance, seeming to lose a pawn outright, wins the game. It's a move non-expert players probably wouldn't find. The endgame is where the best players show their stuff - where accuracy is most critical, and where the slightest errors are severely punished. After trying his best, black resigns. A tough win with a tough opening: the brand new Defense Game!
Game 9: Close Variant DvGG with Black:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Nf3 d4 e4 Bg5 Nc3 Qd2 e5 Bb5+
Nf6 d6 e6 Be7 Nbd7 Nb6 Nfd5 Bd7
Here is an interesting game in which black trades down to a pawn endgame and wins in fine style. It shows the powerful drawing capabilities of this opening, which become winning capabilities when combined with good endgame technique. White tries playing aggressively, attacking with both bishops and the center pawns as well. His efforts will soon prove pointless. After the opening, white finds little better than to trade his bishops and knight, but obtains no advantage from the exchanges. Black has centralized both rooks, and is prepared to challenge for the center files: all solid chess technique, that works with the D-system as well as with any other.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Nxd5 exd5 Bxd7+Qxd7 O-O O-O Bxe7 Qxe7 Rfe1 Rfe8 b3 Rad8
15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.
Rac1 dxe5 Rxe5 Qd7 Rxe8+ Rxe8 Ne5 Qd6 Re1 Nd7 Nxd7 Qxd7 Rxe8+ Qxe8
White tries to press, but meets only solid resistance, offering no better course than to continue trading down: both rooks are exchanged, and now white must look for some way to utilize his move advantage. White's next move, though by no means a mistake, nevertheless gives black a slight edge, and in this case that is decisive. White offers a queen exchange. Moving the king to f1, or almost any pawn move would have been better, giving equality. We're now in the endgame, and what an odd one it is: a pawn ending with 7 pawns each side! Has anyone ever seen this before? Black anchors the center and Q-side. He's targeting the backward pawn on e3: if he can win it, he wins the game
22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.
Qe3 fxe3 c4 cxd5 h3 g4 Kf2 Kg3
Qxe3 f5 c6 cxd5 a5 Kf7 g5 Kg6
Black now takes control of the game. White cannot bring his king forward thru the gap between black's pawns, but the black king can advance there. Black can also cover an attempt at promotion, eg. had white played 31.e4 instead.
30. 31. 32. 33. 34.
a3 fxg4 hxg4 h5 gxh5+ Kxh5 b4 axb4 axb4 Kg6
This is the way the position resolves: white must retreat with his king, giving access to black. White now loses his central pawns, and with them, the game.
35. 36. 37. 38. 39.
b5 Kg4 Kg3 Kf3 Kg3
b6 Kf6 Kf5 g4+ Ke4
For the beginners, here's the checkmate: note how black is able to win more quickly by delaying his promotion a move.
40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46.
Kxg4 Kg3 Kf4 Ke5 Kd5 Kc6 Kxb6
Kxe3 Kxd4 Kc3 d4 d3 Kc4 d2
With his queen advantage, black gives checkmate in short order. Of course you can say white should have played less aggressively and not traded down as much - but this game shows you that with this system, you can trade down quickly, and benefit from simplifications. There's no easy way to beat the D-game!
47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.
Kc7 b6 b7 Kc8 Kd8 Ke8 Kd8 Ke8
d1=Q Kc5 Qd6+ Qc6+ Qxb7 Qg7 Kd6 Qg8#
Game 10: Defense Game Dv7G with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Nf3 d4 c4 e4 Nc3 h4 h5 h6
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 Ngf8 g5
Black's Defense Game is challenged in the opening moves by a rook pawn early attack. Black retreats with his knight and then counters with g5. This aggressive response is recommended for better players; less skilled players survive better with the quieter g6. Black can now attack on the K-side: he will be taking serious risks in doing so - but that's chess! Black challenges and exchanges his king knight, which leaves a pawn hanging, but he has a response ready should white take it. Also good was 12..c5, sacrificing the advanced pawn, but allowing black good play later on. White goes for the long castle, with play on the d-file after further exchanges. White leads off the attack, but black stays even materially and tactically, and has not yielded any advantage to his adversary. The forced queen exchange helps black avoid the complications of dangerous attacking combinations. Afterwards black is able to hold effectively; even the open d-file does not present serious problems. White's try to exploit the d-file only results in a rook exchange. Black's clever 27..Rd5 should be in the repertoire of all system players - a response opponents may not see in their haste to attack. White now has no more threats; like many attacking players, he becomes frustrated when his schemes don't pan out, and now starts playing for a draw. Black has other ideas!
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Be3 Ng6 Bd3 Nf4 Bxf4 gxf4 Qd2 e5 Nd5 c6 Nxe7 Qxe7 dxe5 Nxe5 O-O-OBe6
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
Qxf4 Rxd3 Rxd6 Nd4 Nf5 Qxg5 g3 Ng7+
Nxd3+ Bxc4 Bxa2 Rg8 Qg5 Rxg5 Be6 Ke7
25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
Nxe6 fxe6 Rhd1 Rc5+ Kb1 Rd5 exd5 Kxd6 dxc6+ Kxc6 Re1 Kd6 Kc2 e5
Black wins a pawn with the help of his active king. By contrast, white's king is completely out of the game, and his pawns are advanced and vulnerable. Note that this is mainly due to the fact that white castled, and black did not! With a pawn advantage, black now has winning chances, but still it requires completely accurate play on his part. Black plays to remove white's remaining pawns, and is able to extend his lead to two pawns, virtually insuring his victory. Both pawns are ready to advance for promotion, and there's little black can do to prevent it. If black's lead was a single pawn, there would be drawing chances; as it stands white is cooked! Now follows a tactical phase of moving forward with the king to prepare the advance of the pawns. Note how black's rook stays on the cross point, protecting both pawns. White can only harass the king, he can't stop both pawns at once.
32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69.
f4 gxf4 Rd1+ Rf1 f5 Rd1+ Re1+ Ra1 Rf1 b4 b5 b6 Rf4 Kb1 Rf3 Kc1 Rxa3 Rh3 Rh1 Rg1+ Rf1+ Rg1+ Rh1 Kc2 Kd3 Rg1+ Rf1+ Rg1+ Rh1 Rh4 Re4 Re3+ Re4+ Ke3 Kf2 Kg3 Re5+ Rh5
exf4 Rf8 Kc6 Rf6 Kd6 Ke7 Kf7 a6 Rxh6 Kf6 a5 a4 Rh2+ a3 Rb2+ Rxb6 Kxf5 h6 Kg6 Kf6 Kg7 Kh7 Rb5 h5 Kg6 Kf5 Kg4 Kf3 Kg2 Kg3 h4 Kg4 Kg5 h3 Rb2+ h2 Kf6 b5
With the approach to promotion, white can't capture either pawn, even with help of his king - black would exchange rook and pawn for rook, and still win after promotion of his remaining pawn. The game ended after: 70. Kf4 b4 74. Rh3 Rc2 71. Rh6+ Kg7 75. Kg3 b2 72. Rh3 b3 76. Rh6+ Kg5 73. Rg3+ Kf6 77. Rh8 b1=Q
Game 11: Defense Game DvBE with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O Nf6
Here's an action packed encounter with black's defense game playing against the three pawn standard opening by white. Black's line has shown to be very playable, although his life is not going to be without problems! As in many continuations, white will now exchange bishop for knight, in order to damage the D-game castle. Although white obtains a slight positional advantage with this exchange, it is not all that easy to capitalize on this weakness in subsequent play. Here white tries harder than most adversaries, going a pawn down temporarily in order to disrupt black's castle and invade with knight and bishop.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
e5 Ng4 Bd2 dxe5 Bxg6 exd4 Bxh7+Kxh7 Nb5 c5 Bf4 Bd7 Bc7 Qc8 Bd6 Qd8
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Ng5+ Bxf8 cxb5 Qh5+ Bxg7 Qxh2
Bxg5 Bxb5 Nxh2 Kg8 Kxg7 Qd5
Heavy exchanges follow, with both sides making the most of intermezzo moves to try to destabilize the opponent. When the dust clears, white emerges with a slight material lead, but his position is not that good - neither of his rooks is in play yet, and his queen is away in the corner. Moreover, black has a mass of pawns in the center ready to advance; white's rooks will have a tough time stopping them! White brings his rook into the assault, doing his best to attack black's king, but black is able to repulse the attack and exchange rooks, which helps his cause. At the end of the episode black launches his passed center pawn; white's in trouble!
23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
Qg3 f4 Qh4+ Rf3 Rg3+ Qf6 Rh3 Qg5 gxh3
Kf6 Bh6 Kg7 Rh8 Kf8 Rh7 Bg7 Rxh3 d3
White trades queens, and prepares to meet the advancing mass of black pawns. After assessing the situation white abandons the defense of his b-pawn, and moves his rook over to support his h-pawn advance. Black's pawns move forward menacingly, well supported by the bishop. It definitely looks grim for white at this point! Now white's game collapses completely. His rook is unable to do anything other than pester the black king, which moves down the board gobbling pawns. White starts throwing away material; there is really nothing left to do but resign.
32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59.
Qxd5 Rb1 Kg2 Kf3 a4 Rh1 Ke3 Kd2 Kd1 h4 Rg1 Rf1 Rg1+ Rf1 Ke1 a5 Kf2 Rg1+ Ra1 Rf1 Kg2+ Rxf5 Rf3+ Rf6 Re6+ b6 bxa7 Kh3
exd5 Bd4+ c4 f5 b6 Bxb2 d4+ Bc3+ Bb4 c3 Bd6 Kg7 Kh6 Kh5 Kxh4 bxa5 Kg4 Kxf4 c2 Bb4 Ke3 d2 Ke4 c1=Q Kf5 d1=Q Qg5+ Qh1#
Here's the resolution and final checkmate. Another ferocious predator of the D-game takes his place in the trophy case! The author really likes this opening; are you beginning to appreciate it as well?
Game 12: Defense Game DvEF with White
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e3 d3 Ne2 Nd2 Ng3 Be2 Bf3 O-O
e5 d5 Nf6 Nc6 Be6 Bd6 Qd7 O-O-O
White plays strong continuation DvEF of the Defense Game, relocating his bishop to support a center pawn advance. Black plays the 2 pawn standard classical defense, opting for the long castle. By all conventional standards, black has a better position; but conventional standards may need revision in light of the D-system! Following the opening, both sides attack the adversary castle. Games such as this where castling is performed opposite, often give rise to exciting sequels with both sides attacking. White is more successful getting started: the open c-file and mobile Q-side pawns allow him to seize and keep the initiative. White configures his attack, but black is able to defend adequately. Positions such as these require a great deal of insight, preparation, and patience - inadequately planned assaults can't break down strong castle walls, bristling with defenders.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
c4 cxd5 a3 Bxd2 Be2 b4 Ne4 Rc1
Bb4 Nxd5 Bxd2 Nde7 h6 Nf5 Qd5 f6
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
Rc5 b5 Qa4 Rfc1 R5c2 Nc5 Qa5 Bf3
Qd7 Nce7 Kb8 Nd5 Qe8 Nb6 Bc8 Nd6
25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
a4 Qb4 Be2 Qb3 a5 Bf1 b6 axb6
g5 g4 Nd5 Qf7 f5 Rhf8 cxb6 Nxb6
White has to reconfigure his attack, and black then has an interval to launch his own counter. White falls back a while under the black advance, then launches the first wave of his attack, sacrificing his pawns to open the black position. Even now it is uncertain white's attack can succeed: the first wave of his onslaught has barely damaged black's castle.
Now the full attack is unleashed. White piles up on the defending knight as black defends the best he can. Major exchanges follow, resulting in a win of the exchange and a pawn. Even when the defender plays well, heavy advantages can be gained in chess - but they can be wiped out in an instant by reversals of fortune in the skirmishes that follow! White is able to retain his lead with sharp play in the ensuing open field battle. Black now struggles as the material difference is decisively against him. Black's last move e4, although seeming to give away a pawn, is nevertheless well considered - white must recapture by doubling his pawns, reducing his chances of forcing a promotion. White is able to press the attack and push for promotion, in spite of dogged defense by black. White even offers the exchange in order to expedite things, but black wisely refuses, and falls back to block the pawn's forward movement. Although white has the lead and is close to victory, black still keeps on the pressure, now with a knight fork of king and rook. Finally white crushes the last resistance, promoting his pawn, and winning. An excellent example of play with the new Defense Game, and also a fine illustration of the difficulty of overcoming tenacious defensive play by the opponent.
33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70.
Qb2 Ba5 Rb1 Na4 hxg3 Nxb6 Bxb6 Qxb6 Rxb6 fxg3 Rf6 Be2 Bf3 Rc5 Rxh6 Rf6 Kf2 g4 Rd5 dxe4 g5 g6 Rd4 Bh5 Rf7 Rf5 g7 Rg5 Bf7 Ke2 Bxg8 Kd3 Rd6+ Rh6 Bb3 Kd4 Rxh7 g8=Q
Qf6 Nf7 Rd6 g3 f4 axb6 Rxb6 Qxb6 fxg3 Rg8 Nd8 Rxg3 Nc6 Bd7 Rg7 Kc7 Re7 Kb6 e4 Kc7 Ne5 Bc6 b5 Kb6 Re8 Nd7 Rg8 Nf6 Nxe4+ Nxg5 Bf3+ Bh5 Kc7 Bg4 Bf5+ Bh7 Nxh7 Nf6
Game 13: Distant Variant Dv138D with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 Bg5 Nf3 Bd3 a4 O-O Be3
d6 Nd7 c6 Qc7 Nb6 a5 h6 e6
Here's a delightful game with black playing a D-system distant variant. White uses an anti- D-game strategy, anticipating black's e6 with a bishop pin on the pawn. Black develops his queen instead, stops a subsequent rook pawn attack, and finally runs the bishop off. White's trying his best to attack the D-system opening, throwing everything he can at his opponent. White now attacks with the center pawns, gives check, and then invades with his knight. Black is under pressure, but his counter attack keeps him out of serious trouble. Black could continue with the obvious 16..Re8, but instead he goes for a razor sharp continuation: Ng4, which loses a piece immediately with white's knight check, but black isn't giving anything away: he's threatening check! White goes for the check, but has to cover with Rg3 or lose the exchange. White then grabs two pieces for his rook, but gets slammed with a queen check, and the black rooks move in position. White can't exchange queens: the rook pair would come to the back rank and win two pieces. Things are not going the way white had planned: the attacker is being attacked! White trades queens and rooks, and gets out of the frying pan, but now there's the fire - black's Q-side pawns are close to the last rank - only by sacrificing his knight can white stop their promotion. Somewhat better for white was to play 27.Na3. When the ship starts sinking, it's hard to stay cool and collected!
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
c4 d5 cxd5 exd5 exd5 Nxd5 Re1 Nxe3 Rxe3+ Be7 Ne5 Nf6 Bc4 O-O Ng6 Ng4
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
Nxe7+ Kh8 Rg3 Qxe7 Rxg4 Bxg4 Qxg4 Qe1+ Bf1 Rfe8 Qf4 Re4 Qd2 Rd8 f3 Rdxd4
25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
Qf2 Kxf2 Nc3 fxe4 Be2 e5 Nxb5 Bxb5
Qxf2+ Rxa4 Rxa1 a4 b5 Rc1 cxb5 Ra1
Black now snaps up two of white's remaining pawns and develops his promotion threat, while covering white's. Black can offer his rook to stop it, since afterwards white's bishop can no longer stop his pawn advance. It's time to resign.
33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Bc4 Bxf7 Kf3 g4 e6 e7 Bc4 Kf4
Rb1 Rxb2+ a3 Rxh2 Rh1 Re1 Rxe7 Re2
Playing on for the interest of beginners, black continues by forcing white's bishop to exchange for his advanced pawn.
41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.
g5 Ke3 Bd5 Kf3 Be4+ Bd5 Kf4 Bxa2
Rf2+ Rc2 h5 Kh7 g6 Kg7 a2 Rxa2
Black now gets his queen, and gives checkmate in the classic beginners style: 56. Kb3 Qh4 57. Kc3 Rg3+ 58. Kb2 Qh2+ 59. Ka1 Rg1# The author finds this game very amusing: the essence of humor is surprise, and white certainly had his fill in this game : )
49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.
Kg3 Kf4 Ke4 Kd3 Kc4 Kd3 Kc4
Kf7 Ke6 h4 h3 Rg2 h2 h1=Q
Game 14: Defense Game DvEH with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Here's a neat little Defense Game with the author playing black. It's an illustration of the impressive drawing capabilities of this new system for playing chess. Black plays a main line of the opening, castling and developing the rook. White uses the optimal 3 pawn classical opening.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
e5 Be4 Nb5 Na7 Nc6 Bxc6
b6 Rb8 a6 Bb7 Bxc6 Qc8
White heads off with a center pawn attack. Black avoids initiating the exchange, which would open the center; instead he develops the fianchetto, inviting white to invade with his bishop and knight. This attack doesn't really achieve anything however - white has to find something else.
15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
exd6 Qe2 Bg5 Rfe1 Nxg5 Rad1
Bxd6 Rd8 Be7 Bxg5 Nf6 Ne7
Now white initiates exchange of pawns, and brings his heavy pieces to the center. Black is still reacting in his play, trying to free his side of the board of the invaders.
21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.
Ba4 Nf3 cxb5 Bxb5 a4 Bc4
h6 b5 axb5 Qb7 c6 Qxb2
Black finally succeeds in driving off all the enemy pieces. Now follows his only clever move of the game, offering a pawn only to regain it a few moves later. Nothing really brilliant, but enough to stay even and have the satisfaction of attacking for a while. White did his best to refute this opening but at this point he's on the defensive.
Now black invades with his knight and queen, threatening to win the d-pawn. Black forces an exchange of pieces and then challenges the white queen. Post-game analysis showed 30..Ra8 was better, offering black winning chances.
27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
Rd2 Rc2 Ra1 Rd2 Qxe4 Rc2
Qc3 Qb4 Nf5 Ne4 Qxc4 Qd5
Queens and knights are exchanged, and it's still an even game. Black now forces a rook exchange to simplify further. Black can already draw at this point: 36..Rb2, 37.h3 Rdd2, and then perpetual check following ..Rxf2 and ..Rxg2.
33. 34. 35. 36.
Qxd5 Rxc6 Nxd4 a5
Rxd5 Nxd4 Rxd4 Ra4
Black moves over to capture the isolated rook pawn, as white moves in to clean up on the K-side. Even so white can no longer win, because he's going to be left with only a rook pawn, and there's no way to force its promotion.
37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.
Rcc1 Rxa1 a6 f4 Kf2 g4 g5 gxh6
Rxa1 Kf8 Ke7 Kd6 Ra8 Kc6 Kb6 gxh6
Black plays on till white accepts the draw. The D-game can almost always draw; if its adversary makes a mistake, it can win! The most important thing is that all of this is the kind of chess that even less skilled players can imitate and improvise - the strong point of the Defense Game is that everybody can understand and play it well!
45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.
Kg3 Rxa6 Rxa6+ Kxa6 Kg4 f6 Kh5 e5 fxe5 fxe5 Kg4 Kb6 Kf5 Kc6 Kxe5 Kd7 Kf6 h5 Kf7 h4
Game 15: Distant Variant Dv3'DGG with White
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
c3 Qc2 d3 Nd2 Ngf3 Nb3 Nh4 Bd2
d5 e5 Nf6 Nc6 Bd6 Bf5 Be6 Ne4
This game is a good illustration of one of the main strength of the Defense Game, to get quickly to the endgame, where good results can be obtained with accurate play. White's Defense Game variant develops on the Q-side, and waits to see how black will commit. White chases off the forward bishop, but then black springs a disclosed attack on his knight. Following the opening, white consolidates nicely with a K-side fianchettoed castle, and now has excellent play. Black, like most adversaries, retires his bishop rather than accept an exchange with the knight, allowing it a temporary forward posting. Black can't find any objective for attack he tries advancing the rook pawn, but it's only a probe, there's nothing serious in it. Now the heavy exchanges occur. As often happens, all the minor pieces are removed from the board, leaving the queens, rooks, and lots of pawns - an ideal situation for a good endgame player. White is temporarily down a pawn, but it's no problem to equalize: black's double doubled pawns cannot be defended. White equalizes easily, then maneuvers about looking for a way to unbalance the black position. Black missed a better line with 26..Rb8; he seems to be playing for a draw at this point, shuttling his queen and king back and forth pointlessly. But even in drawish positions, skilled players can find lines leading to a decisive advantage.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
g3 Nxd2 Nhf3 Bg2 O-O e4 Nxe4
Nxd2 O-O Re8 a5 a4 dxe4 Be7
16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
b4 axb3 b4 Nfg5 Qc1 Qxa1 Nxg5 Nxe6 Bxc6 Qa7 Qe3 bxc5 Rb1 Re1 h3 Rb1 g4
axb3 Qd5 Red8 Ra2 Rxa1 Bxg5 Qxd3 fxe6 bxc6 Qd6 c5 Qc6 Qd5 Kf7 Qc6 Kg8 Qd5
A few more feints and shifts, then white strikes, giving check and gaining a pawn. White's queen exploits the situation to the maximum, moving on open lines,
33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
Re1 Qg5 Qh5+ Qxe5 Qe2 Qxe1 Qe3 c4 Qxe5 Qe8+ Qh5+ hxg4 Qg5 Kh2 Qh5+ Qh7+ Qh4+ Qg5+
Kf7 Ra8 Kg8 Ra1 Rxe1+ e5 h5 Qxc4 hxg4 Kh7 Kg8 Qe4 Kf7 Qf3 g6 Kf6 Ke5 Kd4
White keeps the pressure on black, by chasing the king. Black has no hope of surviving unless he can get his king into play, but he is so exposed that white trips him on every occasion. Notice how white refuses to exchange queens with 46.Qf5 and double his K-side pawns: this would leave him little chance of winning.
White's king now becomes the object of attack; black is able to equalize at the end of the episode, but white is still a step ahead in the race for promotion.
51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57.
Qxg6 Kh3 Kh4 Kg5 Kf6 g5 Kf7
Qxf2+ Qf3+ Qh1+ Qc1+ Qxc5 Qe5+ c5
White forces the queen exchange and promotes first, after that it's a draw. The endgame is the only part of chess which can be thoroughly analyzed; since the Defense Game offers a quick route to good endgames, it is a practical strategy for chess. If your opponent doesn't make mistakes, you draw; if he slips, you win!
58. Qf6 59. gxf6 60. Ke6 61. f7 62. f8=Q 63. Qg7+ 1/2-1/2
Qxf6+ c4 c3 c2 c1=Q Kd3
Game 16: Close Variant Dv3'D with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 Nf3 Bg5 c4 Nc3 Be2 O-O
d6 e6 Ne7 Nd7 Nb6 c6 Qc7 Ng6
In this contest black plays close variant Dv3'D of the Defense Game, moving his queen away from a bishop pin early attack. White plays a 3-pawn classical opening. Black can run the bishop off with an f-pawn push, but he prefers not to weaken his K-side; with this line he can challenge the bishop later with normal moves. White tries every way possible to attack black's position, using rook and center pawn attacks, and a queen invasion. Black holds well, but his position is now rather cramped. It will take him the next several moves to mobilize his pieces, as white goes for control of the open d-file.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
a4 a5 Bxe7 b4 c5 dxc5 Qd6 Qxc7
Be7 Nd7 Nxe7 O-O dxc5 Nf6 Ne8 Nxc7
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
Rfd1 Rd6 Rad1 R1d2 h3 Bxf3 Rd7 R7d3
Ng6 Rb8 e5 Bg4 Bxf3 Ne8 Nf6 Nf4
Black's knights and bishop move out, and clear the back ranks. White has control of the open file, but this no longer poses a threat for black; he now has equal chances for the ensuing game.
25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
Rd6 Rd8 Rxd8 Rd6 a6 Rd7 Rxa7 Bg4
Ne8 Rxd8 Nf6 Rb8 Ne8 bxa6 Rxb4 Rc4
White tries to press by attacking the Q-side pawns, but black stays even with a rook sortie. The game is beginning to assume a drawish look, although white keeps trying to press the attack with his last move; better was a quick 32.Rxa6.
White again presses with an attack on the king and then the pinned knight, but black stays even by capturing white's poorly defended Q-side knight and pawns. At the end of the episode black gains a tempo with a king check, and now has a chance to go up a pawn temporarily.
33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Ra8 Bd7 Bxe8 Bxc6 Rxa6 Kh2 Kg3 Kh2
Kf8 Ke7 Rxc3 Rxc5 Rc1+ Rc2 Ne2+ Nd4
An interesting tactical endgame follows, with white again threatening, and black saving himself by trading down. The bishop is superior to the knight in the endgame, but when the bishop can't cover the promotion squares, this advantage vanishes. Black now has a passed pawn, and his backward pawn is a serious impediment on white's path to promotion. Here's how the situation resolves - white has to offer his bishop to stop black's pawn from advancing. White then tries to accompany his pawn to the last rank, where only the black knight can defend.
41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56.
Ra7+ Bd5 Rxf7 Bxf7 Bg8 Bxh7 h4 g4 g5 Kh3 Kg4 h5 Bxe4 h6 gxh6 Kg5
Kd6 Rxf2 Rxf7 Ne2 Kc5 Kd4 Nc3 Nxe4 Ke3 Nc5 e4 Kd2 Nxe4 gxh6 Nf6+ Nh7+
But king and pawn cannot get past the knight, even on the edge of the board. White tries all the possibilities, then accepts the draw. Even when faced by the most aggressive attackers, the Defense Game is capable of resisting to the end; but it also offers you good chances of winning whenever your opponent leaves you any opportunity!
57. Kg6 58. Kg7 59. Kf6 60. Kf7 61. Kg7 62. Kg6 63. Kf7 64. Kg8 65. h7 1/2-1/2
Nf8+ Ne6+ Nf8 Nh7 Ng5 Ne6 Ng5+ Ke3 Nxh7
Game 17: Defense Game DvDxE with White
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d3 Nd2 e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 Qxe2 O-O
e5 d5 Nc6 Nf6 Bg4 Bxe2 Be7 O-O
Here's a speed chess game played by the author against his strong computer rival. It's an illustration of what any amateur can do with the D-system - play decent chess. Black uses the 2 pawn classical defense, and challenges white with a bishop early attack and exchange. This often benefits the D-system player, simplifying the game. White holds his own after the opening. He uses typical beginner's play, attacking anything that gets too close. Black creates some damage to white's position and some disturbance with his knight foray, but black can cope with these problems.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
Re1 Nf3 dxe4 Nd2 a3 c4 b3 Rb1 hxg3 Bb2 Red1 Rxb2 Nf1 Qd2 a4 Qd6 Qd2 Qc3 Rbd2 Nh2 g4 Nf1 Rd7 Qc2 Rxe7 Ng3 Qd2 Ne2 Nc3
Qd7 e4 dxe4 Qd5 Bd6 Qe6 Be5 Bxg3 Ne5 Nd3 Nxb2 Rfe8 c5 Qa6 Rac8 Qa5 Qb6 Re6 Qc7 h6 Qe7 Nxg4 Qh4 Re7 Qxe7 Re8 Nf6 Qc7 Qb6
White goes for control of the d-file, and is able to get it. His only real problem is his poorly placed knight, which is completely out of the game. White has to remedy this problem in order to have any hope of maintaining equality.
White gives up a pawn in order to get his knight back into the game. Afterwards his liberated knight is able to create some disturbance on the Q-side.
Now white is able to equalize by bringing his forces to the Q-side, after the exchange of knights. The game actually presents white some winning prospects, since he will have a passed central pawn.
38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77.
Nb5 a5 Nc3 Nd5 Qxd5 Qxb7 g3 Rd5 Qb5 bxa4
a6 Qc6 Qc7 Nxd5 Qxa5 Qc3 a5 a4 Ra8 Qa1+
White is now able to go ahead materially, due to the positional circumstances, by giving check and then taking a pawn.
Kg2 Kh7 Rxc5 Qxa4 Qb7 Ra7 Qxe4+g6 Rd5 Qc6 Qd4 Ra4 Qf4 Kg7 Qe5+ Qf6 Qxf6+ Kxf6 Rd6+ Ke7 Rc6 Rf6 Rf4 Rd4 Kf3 g4 Rxg4 Kg3 Rf4 Re4+ Rd4+ f3 e4 exf5+ Kf4 Kxf5 Ke4 Kd5 c5 Rd3 Kd7 Ke7 Ra2 Rc2 h5 hxg4+ Ke6 Kd6 Ke6 Kd6 Ke6 f5 Rc3 gxf5 Ke7 Rxf3+ Rg3 Kd7 Rg1 Kc7
White looks for a way to continue and bring his advantage toward a victory. There follows an exchange of K-side pawns, with white still holding on tightly to his precious passed pawn.
The game simplifies to a rook and pawn versus rook endgame, difficult even for the best of players. The author played on for another twenty moves, but wasn't able to find a way to win. Still it's satisfying to draw against the computer, especially when you have more material at the end!
Game 18: Defense Game Dv0 with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 c4 Nc3 Nf3 Be3 Bd3 O-O
d6 e6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7
Here's a wild game with black playing the standard Defense Game versus white's 3 pawn standard classical opening. The Defense Game is not often played in its standard form, because most of the D-game close variants are stronger; but it can be played when the adversary refrains from attacking early, as in this case. White attacks for all he's worth after the opening, bringing his queen out and then exchanging the center pawns to clear files for his rooks. Better for white was to position his rooks before starting his full onslaught; he is focused on an aggressive and direct attempt at refuting the opening.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
c5 Qb3 cxd6 e5 d5 Nxd5 Bxg6 Nxe7
Nc8 b6 Nxd6 Nc8 exd5 c6 hxg6 Nxe7
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Rad1 Rd6 Ng5 Nxf7 Rxd7 e6
Qc7 Nf5 O-O Rxf7 Qxd7 Nxe3
White continues on the attack with a rook invasion, then a knight sacrifice which has black under severe pressure. Though his situation looks perilous, black is in fact much better off than white. The important thing for black was to avoid overreacting to the attack.
23. 24. 25. 26.
exd7 Kxf1 Qe6 Qxc6
Nxf1 Rd8 Rxd7 Rd2
Now white misplays slightly: better was 23.exf7, retaining his rook for the sequel. For the first time white's furious attack runs out of steam, as black counters effectively with his rooks. A classic endgame is the result: queen versus rooks, and the material is balanced.
Black's rooks invade the back rank and both sides prepare to grab pawns. Note how black's doubled pawn shields his king from enemy queen checks, allowing his rooks more autonomy of movement.
27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
f3 Qc4 Qc3 Ke2 Qc7
Kh7 Rf5 Rd1+ Rh1 Rc5
Black's rooks are truly 'wild pigs' cleaning up all of white's pawns. White's queen takes what she can, but the doubled pawn can't be attacked. Black goes a pawn up, and is now ready to win another pawn.
32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
Qxa7 Ke3 h3 Qxb6 Qb3 Qf7
Rc2+ Rxb2 Rxg2 Rxa2 Rg2 Rxh3
Black takes the pawn, exchanges pieces, and advances for promotion with his doubled pawn. Black then resigns. Though slightly less strong than most of its close variants, the standard opening is nevertheless capable of performing well, as this game testifies.
38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 0-1
Qf8 Qf4 Qxf3 Kxf3 Kf4 Kf3 Kf4
Rgg3 Rxf3+ Rxf3+ Kh6 Kh5 Kh4 g5+
Game 19: Distant Variant Dv55xE with White
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d3 Nd2 e4 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 O-O exd5
d5 e5 Nf6 Nc6 Be6 Nd4 h5 Bxd5
Here's an exciting contest with white playing the remotely classical looking D-system distant variant Dv55xE. Black builds a solid 2 pawn defense, then moves his knight forward, accepting the invitation to exchange for white's bishop. He then throws in a rook pawn attack, inviting white to take the gambit pawn. White has pressure on the half open e-file afterwards, but black is able to defend adequately and castle to safety. Note the long diagonal filled with pawns: rarely seen before in chess practice.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
c3 Qxe2 Re1 Nf3 d4
Nxe2+ Qe7 Nd7 f6 O-O-O
14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
dxe5 Qxf3 Qf5+ Ne4 Rd1 Qxd7
Bxf3 Nxe5 Kb8 Nd3 Qd7 Rxd7
Heavy exchanges now follow. Playing thru this part of the game, It appears as though each side has calculated his line one move deeper than the opponent! The attacking is sharp on both sides, but the game remains equal and perfectly balanced materially.
20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.
Be3 Rd2 Rad1 Bd4 Rxb2 Nxc5 Kf1
Be7 Rhd8 g6 Nxb2 c5 Bxc5 Kc7
White tries to apply pressure, but black saves himself with the fine 23..Nxb2. White is now a move behind. The pawn structure is unbalanced, making a drawn game less probable than before.
More sharp exchanges follow, with white able to recoup a tempo with the rook checks and exchange. Now the pawn asymmetry has been repaired, and the game definitely looks drawish.
27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
Rdb1 Bxd4 Rxb7+Kc6 Rxd7 Rxd7 cxd4 Rxd4 Ke2 Ra4 Rb2 Kd5
Black and white struggle for control of the K-side, where the game can be won if a passed pawn is produced. After the rook exchange, this reaches an impasse.
33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.
f3 Rd2+ Kf2 fxg4 Kg3 Kh4 Rxd4 Kg5 a4
g5 Ke5 g4 hxg4 f5 Rd4 Kxd4 Ke4 a5
White has his adversary in a bind - there's no way that black can support a pawn advance now. Both pawns are exchanged, and a race to the Q-side starts, with white a move ahead.
g3 Ke5 Kh4 Kd4 Kg5 Ke4 Kf6 f4 gxf4 Kxf4 Kg6 g3 hxg3+ Kxg3
Here's how the situation resolves: white gets to the Q-side first, but the rook pawn promotion cannot be forced, so it's a draw. The typical character of D-system Games is seen in this game: after the opening come sharp exchanges, often leaving rook endgames and many pawns on the board. Study up on rook endgames and you can play great chess with the D-game!
49. Kf5 50. Ke5 51. Kd5 52. Kc5 53. Kb5 54. Kxa5 1/2-1/2
Kf3 Ke3 Kd3 Kc3 Kd4 Kc5
Game 20: Defense Game Dv5'E with Black
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 Nf3 d4 Be2 c4 O-O Nc3 Be3
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O e5
Here's a good example of tough positional chess with the Defense Game. Black plays one of the main D-game lines, castling prior to challenging the center with e5. White's 3 pawn F back classical opening is one of the best responses to the D-game, going for long term positional strength rather than pressing with early attack. After the opening both sides continue to build. White constructs a big forward pawn wall and then repositions his rooks. Black adopts a compact and resistant recessed pawn formation, and replaces his pieces. in the characteristic side-by-side manner. The stage is set for contact on the Q-side.
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Qc2 a3 b4 h3 Rfd1 Rab1
c6 Qc7 Nf6 Bd7 Rfb8 b6
15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Rb2 b5 dxe5 a4 Rbb1
a5 c5 dxe5 Be6 Rd8
White tries to set up a rook barrage, but is preempted by black's pawn advance, and closes the pawn structure instead. White exchanges center pawns, creating a hole for his knight on d5, which he then occupies. Black doesn't exchange with the forward knight, as this would create an advanced passed pawn, which could be decisive in the endgame. White maintains his strong knight posting, but is not able to bring any other pieces forward to create an attack around it. White's position is somewhat better, as he has more space and a piece in enemy territory; but exploiting this theoretical advantage is not an easy task.
20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
Bd3 Nd5 Bc1 Bb2 Re1 Rbd1
Bc8 Qd6 Bb7 Re8 Rad8 Nd7
White tries reconfigurations of his pieces, but he appears to be at a loss for ideas. Black also shifts his pieces around, and now is ready to move his knight to his own 'hole' on d4. After he does so, he will be well placed to attack on the K-side. White's positional advantage has been erased. Black is now at least equal, and may even be slightly better off. Black occupies his forward knight post; after more piece relocations, he exchanges with white's knight: finally a bit of action! Black has mobilized his K-side. and now challenges the white queen. Black has the initiative, still the game remains balanced.
26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
Qc3 Bc2 Qa3 g3 Qc3 Bd3
Bf6 Qb8 Be7 Ngf8 Bd6 Ne6
32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39.
Bf1 Bg2 Qd2 Qd3 h4 Nh2 Rd2 exd5
Nd4 Bf8 Qd6 Nf6 Bc8 Bd7 Nxd5 Bf5
Black now configures his attack on the K-side, with the participation of all his pieces and a few mobile pawns. At the end he invades with his bishop and threatens white's backward a-pawn.
40. 41. 42. 43. 44.
Qc3 Nf3 Nh2 Rc1 Qe3
Qg6 f6 Bd6 Re7 Bc2
Although black can open a K-side attack with 45..e4, it is not obvious that this can succeed. Black prefers to go for a draw by repetition instead. If you like positional play and have the patience to outlast your adversary, you will find in the Defense Game an excellent basis for this style of play.
45. Qa3 46. Qe3 47. Qa3 48. Qe3 1/2-1/2
Be4 Bc2 Be4 Bc2
Characterizing Play With the Defense Game For players of all skill levels most of the moves of the standard opening can be carried with minimal or no modifications, and a solid defense is constructed. Afterwards the system player starts to expand his position with pawn advances and piece relocations, usually the knights. Pawn advances inevitably push back the adversary and gain space. The knight replacements typically draw pawn attacks, often marking the beginning of real contact on the board. The recessed pawn formation of the Defense Game prevents any breakthru by the adversary in the center. He usually settles for exchanging one or more pieces, especially if this is seen to produce some damage in the pawn structure, or other positional advantage. In most games, exchanges of pieces occur soon after the opening, whereas pawn exchanges are less frequent. The center pawns typically are not exchanged until the system player prefers to do so. There are many different ways to play this system, but the main lines are those which go for development of the K-side portion of the standard opening, typically followed by castling and a center challenge. The center challenge is well supported by the disposition of pieces, and forces the opponent's hand in subsequent play. Another way of playing the system, less aggressive, waits for the opponent to advance center pawns. In this latter case the system player can usually decide whether to close or open the pawn structure. Closed pawn structures give good drawing chances for lesser skilled players. Open structures lead to sharper play, with good attacking prospects for both sides. There are also many lines which attack exclusively on the flanks, but the most commonly used strategy in continuing play from the standard opening is based on the building of a concentration of pieces supporting a center pawn challenge. The adversary responses to the Defense Game are highly predictable: typically he plays the 2 or 3 pawn standard classical openings, sometimes with a piece on the second instead of the third rank. Since the adversary reactions are so predictable, it is easy for all players to develop experience rapidly in playing this system. Even beginners can quickly acquire the experience and tactical skills to play confidently and correctly after the opening and well into the middle game. During the opening a system player carries out a standard opening, in most cases with no modification forced by opponent play. This is the great strategic advantage of the Defense Game, that it confronts successfully all possible adversary opening deployments. But development can continue long after the standard moves, as he proceeds according to plan along preferred lines. Using the standard opening, any system player can prepare deep into the middle game; and anyone that well prepared will have an adequate basis to become an extremely solid player.
Early Attacks 69
5.
Early Attacks on the Defense Game
The adversary of the Defense Game can choose from a large number of valid responses to the D-system opening. He can focus on his own development, as does the Defense Game itself, which he is free to pursue without opposition. Many opponents use this opportunity to build strong classical positions which occupy and control the center, and provide good play afterwards. In master level play, such well constructed classical defenses are those most frequently used. It is also possible to attack the Defense Game during its opening moves, or immediately afterwards. These early attacks have limited scope, seeking in general only to exchange a piece or pawn. Early attacks do not seriously affect the standard opening, and are neither dangerous nor disruptive. In many cases Defense Game lines can be completed despite an early attack; in other cases a change of lines is better. Players of the Defense Game should be familiar with all of the early attacks, and also know several of the most effective ways to respond to all of them. The Defense Game always plays the same opening moves, so all the early attacks are generally valid against it, that is they can almost always be played. For each type of early attack, some sequences of the standard opening will be more vulnerable than others. The system player therefore does well to vary his sequences of opening, to keep his opponent guessing. Some of the early attacks are shut down by prophylactic moves that are also occasionally used in continuing play from the standard position. The most common prophylactic moves are the rook pawn advances and second advances of the center pawns. If your opponent favors early attacks you may prefer to introduce one of these moves. This only delays your standard opening slightly and in most cases shuts down the early attack completely. The underpinning provided by prophylactic moves justifies their introduction; but they are mostly defensive in nature and so do not contribute best to an attack. The sharper lines therefore are those where little use is made of prophylaxis, and the system player counter attacks rather than defending against an early attack. The Defense Game is highly resistant to early attacks of any kind; against all of them it is capable of generating sharp counter play, retaining equality and a solid position, and occasionally punishing the adversary for his impatience and aggression. The early attacks on the Defense Game fall into a small number of very distinct categories: rook pawn, bishop, and center pawn. Combinations of early attacks are also possible. All the early attacks are easy to recognize; and in most cases the obvious responses are also correct, so even beginners should be able to deal with them adequately. Better players will be able to formulate strong counterattacks to any early attacks. Beginners should stick to prophylaxis, and avoid sharper exchange and counter attacking lines until their chess playing skills improve significantly. in chess, before you attack you should be confidant that your defense is adequate.
Rook Pawn Early Attacks on the Defense Game The most frequent early attack on the Defense Game is the rook pawn attack. In it your adversary attacks your relocated knight with his rook pawn on that side. The attack may oblige you to move the knight, so you must have a good relocation square for the knight. Rook pawn attacks are somewhat disruptive, but experience in play has not shown them capable of providing a decisive advantage. In many cases the advanced rook pawn becomes a liability, because it can be attacked later. There are many different ways to respond to the rook pawn early attack: some are quiet, others more aggressive. Here are a few examples of rook pawn early attacks and responses, playing with black. The scenarios are very similar when the system player has white.
Example 1: 1. Nf3 2. e4 3. d4 4. Nc3 5. Bd3 6. h4 7. h5
d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 ...
Rook pawn early attacks usually start as soon as one of the knights is relocated. The most serious case is the K-side rook pawn early attack against black, as shown. Here black develops his bishop after the rook pawn advance. On his next move white continues the rook pawn advance; black can now choose either Nf8 or Nh4. If the knight retreats, the adversary often continues advancing his rook pawn; a variety of responses are then possible. Here is one of the easiest to play, 8..g6. White lodges the rook pawn, but it doesn't cause any real inconvenience for black, who proceeds with normal development, and a center challenge. This line is best for beginners and most intermediate players. An aggressive alternative to 8..g6 is 8..g5 the doubly advanced knight pawn is well supported, and can advance further to dislodge the knight, and participate in a general K-side assault. Here we see one of the possible continuations based on this strong counter attacking move.
Example 1a: 7. ... 8. h6 9. Be3 10. Nd5 11. Nxf6+ 12. dxe5 13. Qe2 14. O-O-O
Ngf8 g6 e5 Nf6 Bxf6 dxe5 Ne6 O-O
Example 1b: 7. ... Ngf8 8. h6 g5 9. Be3 Ng6 10. Qe2 a6 11. O-O-O b5 12. e5 Bb7
Early Attacks 71
The other alternatives playable for black's 8th move are Rg8, gxh6, and Bf6. Here is an example based on Rg8, inviting a pawn exchange and opening the g-file for black's rook. In this continuation, black chooses a sharp counter attacking line. Though compromised, his position is still capable of warding off any white attack.
Example 1c: 7. ... 8. h6 9. hxg7 10. g3 11. Bh6 12. Qd2 13. O-O-O
Ngf8 Rg8 Rxg7 c6 Rg8 Qa5 e5
The alternative move for black's threatened knight is 7..Nh4, inviting an exchange with the white knight. This can be a very good line for black, as in the continuation shown here, where black is able to consolidate and maintain equality.
Example 1d: 7. h5 Nh4 8. Nxh4 Bxh4 9. h6 g6 10. Be3 Bg5 11. Bxg5 Qxg5 12. Qf3 O-O
Another way of reacting to the rook pawn early attack is to block it with a double advance of your own rook pawn, shutting down the attack. This is the standard reaction to the attack on the Q-side. On the K-side it has liabilities, but avoids pressure for a while. Here black shuts down 2 rook pawn attacks, and completes the Defense Game in standard form. It's also possible to counter attack in the face of a rook pawn attack. The example shown here with 6..e5 leaves black somewhat behind in development, but with free play, and no immediate threats. Also worth considering is 6..c5. You may wish to reserve these moves for surprise effect. There are many valid responses to a rook pawn early attack; develop your repertoire!
Example 1e: 6. h4 7. Be3 8. g3 9. a4 10. O-O
h5 Be7 Nb6 a5 Bd7
Example 1f: 6. h4 7. h5 8. Be3 9. Nxd4 10. Be2 11. O-O 12. Qxd4
e5 Ne7 exd4 Ne5 N7c6 Nxd4 c6
Bishop Early Attacks on the Defense Game In the bishop early attack, your opponent brings a bishop out to attack your king or queen, most commonly by pinning your knight. Bishop early attacks are frequently seen in play against the Defense Game. Forward bishop placements can always be challenged, using flank pawn advances, but these challenging moves weaken your position somewhat, and should be used with reserve. The alternative reaction is to move your king or queen off the line of attack. The principal aim of the attack is to provoke you into advancing one of your pawns, or to maintain pressure on your game if you do not. There is a wide variety of adequate responses to this attack.
Example 2: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Nf3 4. Nc3 5. Bg5
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 h6
A bishop pin can be challenged by your rook pawn and forced to exchange or retreat; most adversaries prefer to retreat. If the bishop retires to the flank, you can continue to harass it with flank pawn advances. If it retreats to the center, you have gained a move, but your advanced flank pawn can prove to be a weak point in your normal development afterwards. Here white retreats to the flank, and black pursues the bishop with his flank pawns, then develops his bishop in fianchetto. In subsequent play white's other bishop is developed forward, challenged by black's knights, and exchanged off. Black is now in good shape, even though he has moved away from the standard lines.
Example 2a: 6. Bh4 7. Bg3 8. Bc4 9. Bb3 10. h3 11. O-O 12. axb3
g5 Bg7 Nb6 Nc6 Na5 Nxb3 h5
Example 2b: 6. Be3 Ng6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O e5 10. Nd5 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nb6
If the adversary bishop retreats to the center, you can proceed with your normal development, but keep in mind that your knight on that side may be exchanged off later, leaving you an undefended pawn. Here black completes his development and pushes on the center with e5, exchanges pawns and challenges the forward knight. Also good here were 11..Nc5 and 11..Nf6.
Early Attacks 73
Regardless of how the opponent reacts, after your rook pawn advance you can move into a close variant of the Beginner's Game, while retaining the initiative. The Beginner's Game with its close variants have shown to be a powerful and versatile general purpose opening system. In the diagram black plays B-system variant Bv8.
Example 2c: 6. Be3 g6 7. Bd3 Bg7 8. O-O b6
The forceful response to the bishop early attack is to advance your bishop pawn and oblige it to retreat. On the Q-side this move is fine for everyone, but on the K-side it's recommended mostly for better players, because of additional risks to your king.
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 f6
Here black continues normal development despite his weakened K-side. White then tries a rook pawn attack. Black later counters in the center, but his position is somewhat weak after the f-pawn advance.
Example 3a: 6. Be3 7. Bd3 8. h4 9. h5 10. h6 11. Qd2
Ng6 Be7 Nb6 Nf8 g6 e5
Here's a more aggressive continuation: black goes for the attack, and keeps it for several moves; white loses the initiative. All of these lines, like the Defense Game itself, will be unfamiliar to your adversary, allowing you to gain a psychological advantage with rapid and incisive play.
Example 3b: 6. Be3 Nb6 7. Bd3 e5 8. O-O Bg4 9. Be2 Ng6 10. h3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. Nd5 c6 13. Nxb6 Qxb6
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Nb6
Of course you are under no obligation to react to the bishop pin immediately; you can continue your development on the opposite side, and react later, if at all.
Example 4a: 6. Bd3 7. O-O 8. a4 9. Re1 10. b3 11. exd5 12. Nxd5 13. c4
Bd7 Bc6 a5 Qd7 d5 Nbxd5 Bxd5 Bc6
Here's an example continuation with black developing Q-side, and then moving off the line of the bishop pin. Black exchanges center pawns, and now has various ways to react to the bishop attack.
Example 4b: 6. Bd3 c6 7. O-O Qc7 8. a4 a5 9. Qe2 e5 10. Be3 Ng6 11. d5 Be7
A standard D-game response is to develop your c-pawn and bring the queen out, so relieving the bishop pin. You can then proceed with your usual play. The best defense is a good offense; here black's counter attack encourages white to retire the invading bishop voluntarily.
Example 4c: 6. Bd3 7. O-O 8. Qd2 9. Rfe1 10. Bxe7
c6 Qc7 Ng6 Be7 Qxe7
After you have freed the pinned piece, and developed your knight and bishop on the attacked side, the adversary will have to exchange with your bishop, or retreat. In many games he chooses to exchange. In any case, that's the end of the episode.
Early Attacks 75
If your opponent persists in using the bishop early attack, you might want to shock him occasionally with a completely different reaction, such as this early departure from the system with a center challenge and a queen sortie, which is a more aggressive way of eluding the pin.
Example 5: 5. Bg5 6. dxe5 7. Be2 8. Bh4 9. O-O
e5 dxe5 h6 c6 Qb6
On the Q-side the bishop attack is less bothersome, and all possible reactions to it are good. An immediate c-pawn push is especially strong, and fits into your game perfectly, but the a-pawn push may be even better, especially if your opponent chooses to retreat to the flank, as shown. You can also proceed with normal K-side development and castle away from the pin. Another bishop early attack is the pin on the pawn. You're not likely to see it unless your opponent expects you're playing the D-system. The reactions to this attack include those already seen, plus several others that are valid. Here black runs the bishop off with his flank pawns, develops the bishop in fianchetto, and uses it to equalize effectively early after opening. Since the knight is not pinned, it can be brought out in normal fashion, offering another way to respond to the attack. Here black has completed a D-system variant and is in good shape, with the bishop attack no longer causing any difficulties.
Example 6: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Nf3 4. Nc3 5. Bb5 6. Ba4 7. Bb3 8. O-O Example 7a: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Bg5 4. Bh4 5. Bg3 6. dxc5 7. c3
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 a6 b5 Nb6 Bd7
d6 Nd7 h6 g5 c5 Bg7 Nxc5
Example 7b: 3. Bg5 Ngf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Be7 6. Bb5 c6 7. Bd3 O-O
Center Pawn Early Attacks on the Defense Game In the center pawn attack, your opponent advances one of his center pawns to the fifth rank, proposing a center pawn exchange. Although center pawn attacks may seem to be a good way of engaging the Defense Game, analysis and experience in play has shown that these moves are not the best continuations for the adversary. In master level play against the Defense Game they are rarely seen, confirming their relatively low value. Although center pawn attacks are not particularly dangerous, they are playable; in amateur games you are likely to see them quite often. Below are shown a variety of center pawn attacks, versus the Defense Game played with black.
Example 8: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Nf3 4. Nc3 5. d5
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 ...
Center pawn attacks can start as soon as the 5th move, although they usually start a bit later. They are not really dangerous, and are not usually the best attacking line. Here white starts a center pawn attack early. Black has his choice of responses: accept the exchange, advance his attacked pawn or continue with his development. Here we see a continuation in which black accepts the exchange, and then continues with his normal development. White later exchanges his bishop for black's knight, causing some damage on the K-side, but otherwise black's position is satisfactory. The usual aim of the center pawn attack is to free the action of the bishop, allowing this exchange. It's nothing really serious. When your opponent develops a 3 pawn center, you are still not at risk, as long as you delay development of your Q-side knight, as black does here. White tries the center pawn attack; black continues with his normal development, and emerges in very good shape after white exchanges a center pawn.
Example 8a: 5. d5 6. exd5 7. Bd3 8. Bxg6 9. Qe2 10. Be3 11. O-O-O 12. Nd4 13. Rhe1 Example 9a: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Nf3 4. c4 5. Nc3 6. d5 7. dxe6 8. Bd3 9. O-O
exd5 Ng6 Be7 hxg6 O-O Re8 Bf6 a6 Nb6 e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 fxe6 O-O Bf6
Early Attacks 77
Also good is initiating the exchange of center pawns. Black has no difficulties at all in the continuation shown here. Avoiding the exchange by advancing your attacked center pawn is quite playable, and recommended for beginners, because it tends to closed games. It's not generally the strongest line for better players. Somewhat more problematic are the sequences of the D-game which develop the Q-side knight early, against adversary 3 pawn openings. Here black's knight will be forced to retreat to c8, whether or not he chooses to exchange center pawns.
Example 9b: 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 Be7 8. Bb5 O-O 9. O-O a6
Example 10: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Nf3 4. Bd3 5. c4 6. Nc3 7. c5
d6 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7 e6 Ne7 ...
In this continuation black is left with a cramped position, and now has problems getting his pieces into play. Better was bringing the knight to f6 so retaining the action of the king bishop against the c-pawn advance, but this too is weak. Avoiding such early attacks is one of the reasons that most lines of the D-game relocate the Q-side knight only later on. Against K-side 3 pawn centers, there is little to fear from center pawn attacks, since the king knight has a flight square, and threatens to exchange with the adversary's knight in its usual placement. Here black initiates the exchange of pawns and knights, then castles and has a fine game. Since the K-side of the D-game is very strong, this type of 3 pawn opening is rarely attempted by the adversary.
Example 10a: 7. c5 dxc5 8. dxc5 Nbc8 9. Qb3 Rb8 10. Be3 Nc6 11. Rd1 Na5 12. Qc2 Nc6
Example 11: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Nc3 4. f4 5. Nf3 6. Bd3 7. f5 8. exf5 9. O-O 10. Qxf3
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 exf5 Nh4 Nxf3+ O-O
6.
Playing Against the Defense Game
This can be considered a difficult subject, or an easy one. Until now no responses have been found to the Defense Game that consistently put it in serious difficulty. But a large number of responses have shown to be very strong. We can already identify many of the best defenses. Among them are the strongest conventional openings that have ever been seen in chess; each a theoretically perfect deployment. But non of them have proved superior to the standard opening. The Defense Game allows the adversary to play any opening he wants, almost without opposition. Responses to the standard opening are the least constrained and so in principle the most varied possible. The Defense Game has to face hundreds of valid adversary defenses, more than for other openings in chess. Most of these defenses are new, in the sense that they have not been playable until the present. In fact, a completely new game of chess results from playing this system, because the opening positions on both sides have never been seen before! It is a fascinating quest to find the best rivals to the Defense Game. When one is at almost complete liberty to compose, play in the opening becomes an exercise for the imagination, quite different from the close contact and blow-by-blow character of conventional opening play. The usual dynamic clash of force and constraint becomes instead a calm deployment phase as one plays the component moves of a preferred opening position. It is as though you are setting up the board deep into the opening and starting the game from there! Here we present a sampler of adversary openings that have shown to be strong against the Defense Game. It is a highly varied assortment of stunning new openings. All readers are encouraged to choose a few that look interesting to try in play. Beginners and lesser intermediate players should mostly play the variants of the Defense Game, while they are gaining experience in the system. Better players should try some of everything. Its a completely new game of chess! This discussion of playing against the Defense Game is divided into five parts: early attacks, classical defenses, custom defenses, B-system defenses, and C-systems defenses. These are all strong responses, but none of them have shown to be stronger than the Defense Game. Early Attacks: Early attacks start at the 5th to 8th move. Those most frequently seen in master level play are the rook pawn attacks and bishop early attacks; the center pawn attacks are used less often. When attacked early, usually only one or two moves of the standard opening are affected; most development and resulting play remains the same. In general early attacks do not succeed in pushing the Defense Game significantly off track. Often they result in loss of time and initiative for the adversary. All early attacks can be avoided by defensive play and can also be challenged by aggressive counter play. Early attacks are aggressive, but not more aggressive than responses which avoid early conflict and build strong positions. At master level, early attacks occur in a minority of games: it would appear they are not the strongest responses to the Defense Game.
Playing Against the Defense Game 79
The authors assessment of the different early attacks: ! Rook pawn attacks have a number of effective responses. ! Bishop attacks are not dangerous, but can provoke some weakness in pawn structure ! Center pawn attacks are usually not problematic. Early attacks have scored wins in games from the positions shown below at 8 moves. Most wins were recorded with the rook pawn attacks, but all the early attacks have won on occasion.

A4v8

A3v88Gx Rook Pawn

A4v8
Rook Pawn
Rook Pawn

A2vC3Cx

A3vC3C

A3vC3CF1
Bishop
Bishop
Bishop

A3v88xC2 Center Pawn
A3v888xC2 Rook Pawn &Bishop A3v8GxD7 Rook Pawn &Queen
Classical Defenses: The classical defenses shown here are the strongest conventional openings that exist. They use two or three doubly advanced center pawns, and strong central piece placements. Castling is usually performed, and the queen relocated. Classical defenses place a great mass of material in the center, maximizing the potential for attack while retaining a strong defense. Those shown below are among the defenses most commonly used. For purposes of illustration, only the Defense Game standard opening is shown. These defenses were first described in 'The Beginner's Game.' Coded names are explained briefly below; descriptive names are simpler but less precise.

C3v0

C3vD2 3 Pawn Queen out

C3vF1
3 Pawn Standard
3 Pawn F back

C2v0

C2vF2

C2vC1H1 2 Pawn C back
2 Pawn Standard
2 Pawn F center

C1v5C2F2 1 pawn FC center

C2vD1F1 2 pawn F back

C2v7F5 2 pawn F fianchetto
Custom Defenses: A custom defense is one which has been specially designed to confront the Defense Game. Many imaginative and often impressive openings can be designed. The custom defenses shown below have all proved to be strong responses to the standard opening. These defenses were first introduced and named by the author in 'The Beginner's Game.' Despite their expansive and aggressive deployments, until the present the custom defenses have not proved to be stronger than the more commonly played classical defenses. (NB: in this and next sections only Defense Game standard opening is shown in diagrams; they are not starting positions from actual games.)

D4v0

D3v2B1C5 3 pawn Shotgun

D4vB1G1 4 pawn Tomahawk
4 pawn Standard

D4v18 4 pawn Battle Axe

D5vC1 5 pawn Queen Wing

D6vG1
6 pawn Six Gun
The coded names attempt to give details of the opening: first the type of response (early Attack, B-system, Classical, custom Designed), then the number of doubly advanced pawns, then v (meaning variant), and then the figures that moved differently from the related standard opening: first numbers (1-8) for the pawns, and then letters (A-H) for the pieces. The pieces have several variant moves; the number following the piece letter indicates which of these moves was made. If a figure is moved twice, this is indicated by repeating the pawn number or piece letter. Note that D-system openings have names starting with the Initials 'Dv', whereas custom designed defenses have names with D3v, D4v, D5v, D6v, so the two naming schemes are easily distinguished. In the same way the names of classical defenses are distinguished from the C-system defenses.
B-system Defenses B-system openings are related to the Beginner's Game, and all obey a set of rules similar to that of the D-system, using pawn chains and piece placement mostly behind the pawns. Their names list component moves different from the Beginner's Game. The coded names use a more compact form of the nomenclature used for classical and custom defenses. The defenses shown below with black are a only a few of the many B-system openings that are strong responses to the Defense Game. B-system close variants, which imitate closely the Beginner's Game, are among the best defenses, but almost all of the B-system variants are playable, and most are very strong!

Beginner's Game

Bv36

BvB

BvEFG

Bv5

Bv3DE

Bv123D

Bv36D'

Bv3'456'C'F'
C-system Defenses Among the best defenses to the Defense Game are the variants of the C-system. Virtually all of the C-system variants are playable against the Defense Game, and most all of them are also very strong responses. Those shown below with black are just a few of the C-system variants that have proved to be very effective against the standard opening. Variant names list their component moves that are different from the six standard moves of the Center Game.

Cv27

Cv3B

CvEG

Cv4EG

Cv3BG

Cv67G

Cv236B

Cv27CF

Cv12'7'8
In addition to the early attacks, classical openings, custom openings, and B and C system openings, the D-system openings can also be played against other D-system openings, with good results. In this case both players are generally being cautious about their opening play, preferring to see how the other player deploys before committing themselves to an offensive line. All of the defenses shown in this chapter are very effective against the standard opening. But there are hundreds of others that are just as good. All of the openings in this great multitude are as strong or stronger than anything which has ever been seen before in chess. We can only react with utter amazement that none of this great multitude have proved to be consistently effective against the standard opening, with its fixed set of moves! The enormous variety of valid responses to the Defense Game increases the chance that eventually some will be found which can present serious problems. But even if defenses are found that put the standard opening in real difficulty, there are so many possible sequences, and so many close variants, that there will always be ways of avoiding specific problematic lines. The large number of move sequences and diversity of strong variants is the best possible guarantee that the Defense Game will never be surpassed in its ability to respond to attacks of any kind.
The D-system Definition 85
7.
The D-system Definition
We have already seen examples of variants of the Defense Game, which modify moves of the standard opening. Some of these result from reactions to adversary play, as in the early attacks. In most such variants however, introduced moves are not forced but voluntary. Often introduced moves are chosen from those typically used in continuing play after the standard opening. If the omitted moves are then performed later, these variants are in fact different threads of the same basic opening, and should be included in a general system of play associated with it. Pawn moves are commonly introduced during the opening, especially the center pawn, rook pawn, and queen bishop pawns, but almost any of the possible pawn moves may be played. Knight moves are also frequently introduced, especially when used as reactions to early attacks. Castling is another example, but there also many other introduced moves that are playable. Most of these moves contain valid lines and so merit inclusion in a general schema for opening play. In an attempt to describe a complete system around the standard opening, which is both valid and clearly related to it, the author here proposes the D-system definition. All openings in the D-system contain most of the standard opening moves, and also resemble the Defense Game in the general style of play that results. A simple rule-based definition of the D-system allows to distinguish clearly openings that are in the system from those that are not. Many of the variants of the Defense Game are in the B-system and the C-system; it would be possible to base a D-system definition on a subset of these systems, eg. all B/C system members that contain most of the standard moves. But many interesting variants of the Defense Game are outside these system rules. The obvious violations of the B-system rules are pawn and knight double moves. If we want to include these variants in the D-system, we must use a different set of rules from that of these other two systems. The D-system definition proposed differentiates and distinguishes the D-system from the B and C-systems. The Defense Game itself is very different from the both, although some moves figure in all three systems. They are also very different in the style of games that result. The D-system rules chosen help keep these three systems at a significant and recognizable distance. The D-system definition is based on openings at eight moves, as are the B-system and C-system definitions, and is intended to contain most of the best lines associated with the Defense game. Each D-system member contains at least four of the eight standard moves, and up to four additional moves to distinguish it as a variant of the Defense Game. Openings which are close to the Center Game and the Beginner's Game are of special interest to chess. The author calls these openings the BD and CD hybrids. They contain aspects of both these standard openings, and so are links between the two systems of play. Knowing how to play the BD/CD hybrids increases a system player's capacity to move between and exploit the natural strengths of these three powerful new chess opening systems.
D-system Rules:
An opening is in the D-system if and only if during the first eight opening moves: ! At least four of the eight standard moves of the Defense Game are played ! Bishops are developed initially behind the pawns ! Single pawn advances are generally used: double advances are allowed when that pawn joins a pawn chain; (an exception is made for pawn double advances used as response to the rook pawn early attacks.) ! At least one knight is relocated in the characteristic manner (Nd2-Nb3 or Ne2-Ng3) The set of all openings which obey the above rules is called the D-system. D-system members are also called D-system variants. Openings that perform six standard moves first are also called Defense Games. Openings that play at least six standard moves are called close variants. Openings that play only four or five standard moves are called distant variants. The nomenclature for D-system openings makes clear their relationship to the Defense Game. Members of the D-system are denoted by the letters 'Dv' (D-system variant), followed by 1 to 4 figure symbols for pawn or piece moves in that opening not in the standard set of six moves. The variants generated using these rules are almost all playable and very strong. There are not too many of them, it is a manageable collection. They also retain a clear similarity in style of play to the Defense Game, the main characteristic sought for in the formulation of suitable rules. There is another motive in defining the D-system other than to enrich play with the Defense Game. The Defense Game is a completely new opening, and shows some promise of eventually proving to be an optimal way to play chess. Most of the openings in the D-system are also brand new, rarely if ever seen before in play. If defined correctly, this new system may also prove to be optimal or very close to it. In other words the D-system attempts to define an optimal subset in the space of all possible chess openings, which is at the same time is completely new. Only very few members of the D-system have ever been seen before in play, and very rarely at that. Those that have been played are considered experimental or alternative openings, and are not documented in current catalogs of chess openings. The D-system as a whole bares little commonality with or resemblance to chess openings played until the present. It is a totally new approach to playing the game. In any case the D-system is distinguished from conventional chess practice, and is certainly not based on any of the known openings. The rules for the D-system are precise enough to allow us to determine immediately whether any candidate opening is in the system or not. A few examples of valid D-system openings, and openings not in the system are given here to make these distinctions clear:
The D-system Definition 87

Dv0

DvE

Dv1'

Dv3E

DvBE

Dv3'DG

DvBD'E

Dv1'8'BE Valid D-system Openings

Dv3'48'F'

Only 3 standard moves ('borderline' opening)



Advanced pawn not in pawn chain

Bishop developed in front of pawn Non D-system Openings

No Knight Maneuver
Note that the D-system also includes many openings which contain exchanges, whether or not these are forced by adversary play. On the whole the D-system is a well-defined set: its fairly easy for anyone to look at an opening and tell right away if its in the D-system or not. The D-system rules result in the generation of hundreds of variants. The author has not yet made an attempt to catalogue them all, but estimates that there are more than a thousand, including the exchange variants. This gives a large variety of possible lines for D-system players. The main characteristic of the Defense Game and the entire D-system is its extraordinary resilience to adversary play. Most of the D-system openings are generally playable, meaning that they confront successfully most adversary openings. The entire system gives you the best possible guarantee of passing intact thru the opening, with a solid position for the ensuing game. Like Defense Game itself, D-system openings can usually succeed in carrying out preconceived developments with minimal or no alterations imposed by adversary play. The D-system is so vast that a system player can stay comfortably within its limits, while constantly varying his game. His opening moves may appear restrained because they are based on compact and highly resistant defensive structures, but after the opening he will show his true aggressiveness. His choice of moves will be highly varied, but whatever he plays in the opening can build to a position within the D-system, without having to leave its large confines. Also interesting are the 'borderline' openings, which obey the D-system rules except that they contain only three moves of the standard opening. Borderline openings were defined outside the D-system because they are considered too distant from main lines to be integral to the system. Most of the borderline openings are completely new to chess. The borderline openings constitute a vast constellation of openings associated with the D-system, which continue to share many similarities in style of play. It is certainly worthwhile experimenting with these more distant variants. Borderline openings of most interest to system players are those with introduced moves for exchanges and BD and CD hybrids, which are variants of the Beginner's Game / Center Game. D-system Rules OK The D-system rules were quite ad-hoc, so it is quite possible that some other set of rules could be even better. Relaxing the rules would include many more strong openings; tightening them would refine the system. Here the author has drawn a line in the sand. On one side are the Defense Game and the D-system, virtually unknown. On the other side are all the chess openings played until the present, along with a great multitude of new openings that are even stronger, including virtually everything which is conceivably playable. A great battle between them is about to begin. You wouldn't think so at first, but the Defense Game and the D-system have a real chance of winning this battle. If they do, then we'll say that the D-system rules OK.
D-system Variants 89
8.
D-system Variants
The Defense Game is the basis for the definition of a new set of chess openings called the D-system. All D-system openings respect a restrictive and well-defined set of rules for opening play. They also resemble the Defense Game, containing most of its component moves, and adding other moves which combine well with its basic pawn structure and recessed piece placements. The main interest in defining the D-system is to identify openings close to the Defense Game, in the sense of being alternative lines of the standard opening. Due to their proximity to the Defense Game and their conformity to the same set of rules, all D-systems openings are related in terms of the style of games that result, so there is good commonality of play in the entire system. The classification system for D-system openings defines any opening in the system as a variant of the Defense Game. Variants are named by indicating the pawn and piece moves in that opening that are not present in the Defense Game. Pieces are labeled A - H, and pawns 1 - 8, starting from the queen side. For example, a variant of the Defense Game in which the king knight is developed to Bishop 3 is called a variant G, whether for white or for black. All variant names start with the letters Dv (meaning 'D-system variant') and then put the variant moves in first numerical, and then alphabetical order. Variant names do not specify the move ordering used.

DvE

Dv3E

Dv3DE
In some cases, such as for the variants shown above, the variant name gives a complete list of the component moves of the opening. More commonly however, we do not know from the variant name which moves of the standard opening were left out. If this detail is needed, we can append a version qualifier to the variant name, listing the moves not played, as shown below. In general we refer to D-system members using only the variant names, without version qualifiers.

Dv3D - Version BC

Dv3D - Version CF

Dv3D - Version FG
The variant name, even with inclusion of the version qualifier, still does not give a complete description of the opening. Missing in particular, is the move order. Also missing is a description of how pawn and piece moves different from the Defense Game were actually performed. The idea is to have a convenient nomenclature for openings in the D-system, that makes clear their relationship to the Defense Game. Including too much information in the variant names makes
them long and unusable. We can leave out information on move order because, as in the Defense Game, these variants may be produced using many different sequences of moves. But it is useful to indicate for the modified moves how the piece or pawn actually moved. A shorthand for variations of the modified moves is suggested here which appends modifiers to the pawn number or piece letter for less frequently used moves, but not to the most frequently used moves. This shorthand makes the variant names more precise, without making them too complicated. The pieces and pawns have different rules for use of qualifiers, according to which of their moves are most frequently made. Here is the suggested syntax: Most Frequent Moves - No Qualifier Pawns: Knights: Bishops: Rooks: Queen: King: double advance to Bishop 3 to Knight 2 to Knight 1 to Queen Bishop 2 King side castle Less Frequent Moves - Single Qualifier Pawns: Knights: Bishops: Rooks: Queen: King: single advance to Bishop 1* to King 3 / Queen 3 to King 1 / Queen 1 to Queen 2 Queen side castle
Other moves, eg. Bishop to rook 3, Queen to King 2 (or to King 1 or Queen Bishop 1), have a double qualifier. The single qualifier is the apostrophe; the double qualifier is the quote sign. The qualifier x is used when a pawn or piece captures. If a piece moves a second time, only the figure symbol is repeated in the variant name*. This scheme for use of move modifiers is almost identical* with the one used for the C-system. With this shorthand for moves, we can now name and catalog all the openings in the D-system. Below are some examples with move qualifiers:

Dv12'C"

Dv13'D'

Dv46'E"F'
This naming scheme allows us to refer to all D-system members in a convenient fashion. Unlike other nomenclatures for chess openings, it succeeds in giving an accurate and adequate description of an opening set of moves, in a way that anyone can understand and use quite easily. The distance of a D-system variant from the Defense Game is equal to the number of moves in the first eight that are different from the standard opening, which is equal to the number of figure symbols in the variant name. D-system variants exist at distances 1 to 4. Most Classical openings are not in the D-system of course, but we can measure their distance from the Defense Game in the same way. Most are 6 to 8 moves distant; the overall average is about 6.5 moves. So the Defense Game doesnt have much in common with conventional chess openings. Now we present a brief catalog of D-systems variants. Although small, this D-system sampler contains many of the better openings. They are listed according to their distance from the Defense Game.
D-system Variants at Distance 1: Close Variants

Dv4
Distance 1 variants perform 7 of the 8 standard moves, introducing just 1 move from the allowable set. Dv4 and Dv5 perform all 7 of the other standard moves; the other distance 1 variants omit one bishop move. In most cases either of the bishop moves may be omitted, so most of the distance 1 variants have two versions, eg version C, shown in Dv1 left, or version F, as in Dv1' right. Among the most commonly seen distance 1 variants are responses to rook pawn early attacks; Dv8 right shuts the attack down with a pawn advance; DvB' left retires the queen knight when it is threatened. Dv3 and Dv3' are among the best distance 1 variants. Dv3 especially has proved to be an aggressive counter attacking line. Both prepare for the queen move to queen bishop 2, its usual replacement. Dv5' and Dv4' introduce a second single advance of a center pawn, either striking at the opponent's pawn center or avoiding a pawn exchange following an adversary center pawn advance. DvE left, is one of the few distance 1 variants with only one version. Dv5x right has exchanged the king pawn reacting to a center pawn attack. Both are very commonly played.

Dv5

Dv1

Dv1'

DvB'

Dv8

Dv3

Dv3'

Dv5'

Dv4'

DvE

Dv5x
D-system Variants at Distance 2: Close Variants

Dv3E
Most of the main lines of the Defense Game are distance 2 variants. The Q-knight is usually not relocated, and a castle and c-pawn advance are commonly introduced, as in these typical examples. These two are perhaps the most frequently played of all the distance 2 variants. Dv5'E strikes at the center on its 8th move, while DvEH moves the rook onto the e-file before making the e-pawn advance. Two strong and generally playable D-game lines are those with a c-pawn push, and a queen relocation. Dv3'D left has not yet shown where it will attack, while Dv3D" has announced its intention of attacking Q-side. A number of distance 2 variants are reactions to early attacks; Dv3'6' has reacted to one or two bishop attacks and Dv13' has reacted to rook pawn and bishop attacks on the Q-side. Other distance 2 variants seek to move into other lines than those commonly played in typical D-games. Dv2E is a fianchetto variant worth trying; in DvB"E the forward knight often tries to exchange for a bishop. These are two other D-game lines that are very commonly played. DvEF left gives additional support to the e5 square; Dv1'E appears quiet, but can expand rapidly on the Q-side.

Dv3'E

DvEH

Dv5'E

Dv3'D

Dv3D"

Dv3'6'

Dv13'

Dv2E

DvB"E

DvEF

Dv1'E

Dv5'G'
Among the numerous distance 2 variants that are reactions to early attack are these two, both are energetic responses to a adversary rook pawn early attack. Other commonly seen reactions to early attacks are these with an early bishop exchange followed by recapture by the queen.

Dv7G'

DvDxE

Dv1'Dx

Dv4xE
Many distance 2 variants result from center pawn exchanges, which may be due to an advanced D-game pawn as in Dv45x right, or an advanced adversary pawn, as in Dv4xE left. Two variants somewhat off the beaten D-game track are Dv3'4, with a strong d-pawn based triangle, and Dv66x, with an early opening of the f-file, leading to sharp continuations. Dv3'5' is a main D-game line, striking at the center after the c-pawn move. DvB'G is a strong close variant which has reacted to the rook pawn attack on the Q-side. Both are often played. Rounding out the list are two other distance 2 variants, DvCG with its conventional king knight placement, and Dv3'8', a cautious defensive line.

Dv45x

Dv3'4

Dv66x

DvB'G

Dv3'5'

DvCG

Dv3'8'
D-system Variants at Distance 3: Distant Variants

Dv8'G'G
Distance 3 variants contain a large number of alternatives to the Defense Game. Distance 3 variants begin to diverge from main D-game lines, so enriching play in the D-system. Often distance 3 variants are reactions to early attacks. Dv3xBB reacts to a center pawn attack, while Dv45x6' responds to a bishop attack and also includes a center pawn challenge and exchange. Many of the distance 3 variants delay piece development in favor of pawn moves, establishing different lines of defense and opening to alternative attacking lines. The combination of center pawn challenges combined with multiple knight moves gives rise to a number of alternative D-system lines, with sharp tactical continuations. Many of the distance variants include maneuvers with the knights, typically in response to early attacks, but in other cases seeking to disorient an adversary expecting positional play. Among the few possibilities for the adversary are exchanges of pieces as in Dv1'GxE, or pawns as in Dv7'8'Cx. Opening exchanges rarely present any difficulties for D-system players.

Dv78'F

Dv3xBB

Dv45x6'

Dv3'8'D

Dv36'E

Dv3BxG"

Dv4xB"G"

Dv3'GG"

Dv44xB"

Dv1'GxE

Dv7'8'Cx

Dv3'4'B"
Openings based on the characteristic d-pawn triangle can be strong, even if several additional moves are used in its construction, as in Dv3'4'B" left. In Dv3'4E right no moves were 'lost.' The D-system rules generally result in compact but resistant defensive structures with plenty of offensive potential. These two with 3 pawn centers are typical examples. As in classical chess, early pawn challenges in the center give you additional freedom of movement for your pieces; many of the strongest distance 3 variants include them. Try experimenting with Q-side pawn triangular structures. Your K-side will usually be immune to any attack, even after piece exchanges, such as in Dv3'48x right.

Dv3'4E

Dv3'8'G

Dv3'EG

Dv55x7'

Dv4EG

Dv2'3E

Dv3'48x

Dv23'8
Distant variants have different pawn structures and enable alternative piece placements. The number of playable lines is so large that your opponent cannot possibly orient any specific counter strategy. These two distance 3 variants with a Q-side fianchetto are examples of the many alternative lines possible with the D-game. The adversary cannot anticipate which of the possible lines you as system player will choose.

Dv1'3G

Dv2'3A

Dv2'AC
D-system Variants at Distance 4: Distant Variants

Dv55xEG
Distance 4 variants often result from classical center challenges combined with conventional knight placements, as in these two typical examples.

Dv4x5EG

Dv3'3x45x
Here are two more distance 4 variants of the same description: both have made strong center challenges and exchanged off the center pawns.

Dv4x5C'Dx

Dv1'2Bx8'
Here are two additional examples with early pawn challenges and exchanges. Compact pawn structures of D-system openings are ideal for supporting these pawn pushes. A number of strong variants at this distance are based on a standard D-game K-side, with an expanded Q-side including the fianchetto.

Dv3'44x8'

Dv2'3CE

Dv2'33xC

Dv578'G
Try defining other pawn structures and piece placements related to them and you will see the wide range of possibilities with the distant variants.

Dv13'4F'

Dv17'FG
Other strong distance 4 variants can be based on a K-side fianchetto, and usually attempt an offensive on the Q-side, lead by the advancing pawns.

Dv137'F

Dv1'8'BE
There are hundreds of distance 4 variants, and a large number of them are generally playable, that is, valid against most lines of adversary play.

Dv3'4F'F

Dv78'D"F
The wide variety of distant variants will allow you to define your own D-system openings and use them effectively in combination with the more familiar system lines. The great range of possible lines insures that a player of the D-system can vary his openings significantly, while remaining within the same basic structure for opening. These two variants are reactions to rook pawn attacks. Dv18AB" shut them down on both flanks. DvFxFFGx responds by advancing and then exchanging the challenged knight. Here are two different styles of distant variants, showing the great variety of openings in the D-system. Dv14F'G right has proved effective against K-side fianchetto openings.

Dv1'27'F

Dv4x5EG

Dv578'G

Dv18AB"

DvFxFFGx

Dv1'3DE'

Dv14F'G
The author hopes that the brief exposition of the D-system given here will stimulate all readers to try them in play. You can be a true pioneer in chess by defining your own new openings in the system and researching the best continuation lines well into the game. Set out on your own!
Borderline or DB Variants:

DBv17'EFG
Borderline variants contain only 3 standard opening moves: a central pawn move, the knight move behind it, and knight relocation. By definition they aren't in the D-system, but they still share many similarities in play. The borderline variants are denoted by the prefix 'DBv' followed by the moves not in the standard opening. There are very many such variants, probably more than there are in the D-system. Most of them are also new. Many of the borderline variants are exchange lines of D-system distant variants, such as these with central pawn exchanges. Exchanges are often initiated by the system player, as is the case in these two examples. Many of the borderline variants are also generally playable, that is, valid against most lines of adversary play. This is usually determined by their resistance to center pawn attacks. Many of the borderline variants are more aggressive versions of system openings, which attack early and move into different lines, based on a variety of piece placements. Like D-system openings, borderline variants contain a great wealth of alternatives that can surprise your adversary and oblige him to enter lines that he has never seen before.

DBv233xCF

DBv1'28'BC

DBv78'BEF

DBv4x7'DxFFx

DBv2'44xBC

DBv2'3'B"CD

DBv3'7'8FG"

DBv2'4BCF'

DBv2'3CDD
DBv67'EFG" DBv1'2'BCD" Try experimenting with the borderline openings; most of them are new and most are very strong!
Playing the D-system 99
9.
Playing the D-system
D-system variants use opening play similar to that of the newly discovered Defense Game. Play is positional, with single pawn advances or doubly advanced pawns in chains, and the bishops placed behind the pawns. Like the Defense Game, D-system openings are basically preconceived positions for starting play after the opening. All have many possible sequences of their component moves, and many of them have several versions as well. All D-system openings also have a number of transpositions to other members within the system. The D-system probably includes more than a thousand different members, but they are all somewhat similar in their style of play. Use of recessed pawn structures, the characteristic knights relocations, and bishop placements initially behind the pawns tends to result in openings that share many common aspects. Though only a tiny subset of the possible openings, the D-system is believed to contain some of the strongest opening lines in chess. The D-system rules result in most cases in openings that share strengths of the Defense Game, such as a resistant defense and a powerful offense. Most D-system variants give rise to tactical continuations within positional play. There are so many openings in the D-system, that it is not possible in a book of this size to present the entire system. Also most testing was done with the Defense Game and close variants, in order to establish the validity of the standard opening lines. Research with the distant variants has been limited to trying about one hundred of the more plausible ones as a quick test of their general pliability. In these first tests almost all of them performed extremely well. Several of the D-system variants are shown here in action during and after the opening. Excerpts are taken from complete games in the final section of the book. The scant introduction to playing the D-system given here is only sufficient to wet the intellectual appetite. Many of the D-system variants are among the strongest openings in chess, and almost all of them are completely new. Players of all levels should select a few interesting variants and experiment with them. Your game will improve as you develop the ability to move from the standard opening into chosen variants, especially when these have been carefully selected to respond to adversary play. Close Variants With the Defense Game alone a player can respond well to virtually anything the adversary can do in the opening. The standard opening with its numerous strong continuation lines is a complete system, offering great flexibility of play for those who wish to use it exclusively. Close variants of the Defense Game have at least six of the standard opening moves, but do not necessarily put them first in the actual move order played. By this definition all Defense Games are close variants, but most close variants are not Defense Games. Introducing nonstandard moves early in the opening gives more possibilities to the system player, allowing him to enter lines not normally reachable with pure Defense Games.
In many cases, Introduced moves in close variants are reactions to an adversary early attacks. When introduced moves are not reactions to early attack, they are often moves which challenge the center. Adversary reactions to introduced moves often results in your having to play into distant variants. This depends on the type of introduced moves, and when they are played. The more aggressive the introduced moves and the earlier they are played, the more likely your adversary is to react to them, and the more likely you are to play into a distant variant. The best way for beginners and most intermediate players to approach the variants is to move into them gradually, introducing moves relatively late, after having played most of the standard moves. In this way you will be able to see the differences in the resulting games more clearly, and your exploration of alternative lines of the Defense Game will be more systematic. Close variants will not be discussed further here because they have already been discussed in previous chapters. There are also many more examples of close variants in the games section. Distant Variants Distant variants include only 4 or 5 of the 8 standard opening moves. Distant variants generally have at least one advanced pawn, and usually have forward piece placements as well. These moves offer the opponent more to engage, so there are more lines with modifications imposed by adversary play. Even so, many of the distant variants are generally playable, that is strong against most adversary deployments. As D-system members, distant variants still retain most characteristics of the Defense Game and general similarities in play. Playing the distant variants requires more tactical skills than playing the Defense Game and its close variants. Beginners and most intermediate players should venture into this enormous space of possibility only after they have mastered the standard opening and its close variants, and are enjoying some success in playing them. Better players can rely on their general skills to start playing distant variants right away, but they too are encouraged to explore them systematically. Examples of distant variants are shown in the examples below. Game 13: Black's Dv13'8'D advances both rook pawns and develops the queen early. Both sides go for tactical play after the opening. White's attack appears serious, but black is intent on stealing the initiative from him early on, developing his own K-side threats soon after opening.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 Bg5 Nf3 Bd3 a4 O-O Be3
d6 Nd7 c6 Qc7 Nb6 a5 h6 e6
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
c4 d5 cxd5 exd5 exd5 Nxd5 Re1 Nxe3 Rxe3+ Be7 Ne5 Nf6 Bc4 O-O Ng6 Ng4
Game 19: White's Dv55xE contains an early center pawn challenge and exchange. Both sides have good play after the opening, but white remains a step ahead with sharp play. White has pressure on his adversary with the pin on the knight, and was able to maintain initiative later on. 9. c3 Nxe2+ 1. d3 d5 e5 2. Nd2 Nf6 10. Qxe2 Qe7 3. e4 11. Re1 Nd7 4. Ne2 Nc6 12. Nf3 f6 5. Ng3 Be6 13. d4 O-O-O 6. Be2 Nd4 14. dxe5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nxe5 7. O-O h5 8. exd5 Bxd5 16. Qf5+ Kb8 17. Ne4 Nd3 18. Rd1 Qd7 Game 101: Black starts with normal K-side moves, then shifts to fianchetto variant Dv2'3CE following white's center pawn advance. After the opening black counter attacks with his pawns in the center and on the Q-side, finding good play despite white's efforts to disrupt his game.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 Nf3 d4 Bd3 e5 O-O Nc3 Bd2
e6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 O-O b6 Bb7 c5
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
dxc5 Re1 Qe2 Na4 Nc3 Qe3 Bxg6 Na4 Qd3
bxc5 Nc6 Qb6 Qc7 a6 d5 hxg6 d4 Rfd8
Game 103: White's Dv3'44x5x counter attacks in the face of a combination of rook pawn, center pawn, and bishop early attacks. In spite of the serious threats that his adversary develops early on, white is able to win a pawn and start trading down towards a favorable endgame.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 d4 dxe5 exf6 c3
e5 d5 Nf6 h5 h4 hxg3 Bb4+ gxf2+
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Kf1 Bf8 e4 Qd6 fxg7 Bxg7 exd5 Rxh2 Rxh2 Qxh2 Kxf2 Be5 Qg1 Qg3+ Kf1 Bg4 Qf2 Qxf2+ Kxf2 Bxe2 Kxe2 c6
Game 104: White's Dv37'BF with a K-side fianchetto challenges a 3 pawn classical defense. White goes for the sharpest lines and wins material quickly after the opening. Afterwards white's exposed position and retarded development obliged him to resolve his problems by drawing.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d3 Nd2 Nb3 Bd2 g3 Bg2 c4 Na5
e5 d5 Nf6 Be7 O-O c5 dxc4 cxd3
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Nxb7 Bxb7 Bxb7 Nbd7 Bxa8 Qxa8 f3 c4 Rc1 Rc8 b3 dxe2 Qxe2 cxb3 Rxc8+ Qxc8 axb3 Qb7
Game 78: White plays Dv4x5B" with a center challenge. Heavy exchanges occur during and after the opening. White loses right to castle, but maintains equality and has an active position. White was able to overcome his opponent later in a long and difficult four rooks endgame.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d3 e4 Ne2 Nd2 Ng3 Be2 Nf3 dxe4
e5 Nc6 Nf6 d5 Be7 Nd4 dxe4 Nxf3+
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Bxf3 Qxd1+ Bxd1 Be6 Bd2 h5 Bc3 h4 Nf5 Bxf5 exf5 e4 Be2 Nd5 Bd4 Nf4 g3 Nxe2 Kxe2 O-O
Game 83: Black's Dv4'5x6' responds to a bishop early attack, then strikes at the 3 pawn center. Afterwards black goes for simplification, exchanging off several pieces, and causing some damage to white's pawn structure. Black had a tough time of it later, but finally managed to draw.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d4 e4 c4 Nf3 Be2 Bg5 Be3 exd5
d6 e6 Nd7 Ne7 Ng6 f6 d5 exd5
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Nc3 Bxc4 O-O Qa4+ Qxc4 d5 gxf3 Qe2 f4 Qxg4
dxc4 Nb6 Nxc4 c6 Bg4 Bxf3 Ne5 Qd7 Qg4+ Nxg4
Game 85: Black responds to a bishop incursion, and then moves into the fianchetto variant Dv7'8'Cx. Black finds good play later, threatening white's Q-side with his fianchetto, and later winning two pawns by exploiting effectively the lines open for his bishop and rook.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 d4 Nf3 Nc3 Bg5 Be3 d5 dxe6
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 h6 Nb6 g6 Bxe6
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Bxb6 Bc4 Qd3 Qxc4 Qd3 O-O Nxe4 c3 Rab1
axb6 Bg7 Bxc4 Qd7 f5 fxe4 Bxb2 Kd8 Rxa2
Game 84: Black plays Dv36'E with a late challenge in the center. Sharp exchanges follow the opening, but black maintains the initiative, and finally takes a pawn. The game continued with more exchanges and a quick entry to the endgame, where black always stayed in the lead.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
c4 Nc3 d4 Nf3 e4 Be2 O-O Be3
e6 Ne7 d6 f6 Ng6 Be7 O-O c5
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
h4 Nxd4 Bg4 exf5 Bf3 Qxf3 Rad1 Bc1 Bxf4 Qe4
cxd4 Nxh4 f5 exf5 Nxf3+ Rf7 f4 Nd7 Nb6 Nxc4
Game 88: Black's Dv3BxG plays right into a rook pawn attack, losing two moves, but later striking against white's center and regaining lost time. Black advances the K-side pawns, exchanges pieces, and succeeds in opening the white castle. The game ended in an early draw.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e4 d4 h4 Nf3 Nc3 h5 Bd3 dxc5
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Ne7 c5 Nxc5
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
O-O b4 Qxd3 Rb1 Bf4 Bg5 Be3 h6 hxg7 gxf3
Bd7 Nxd3 Nc6 Rc8 e5 f6 Bg4 Bxf3 Bxg7 f5
Game 89: Black's Dv4xBG draws a center pawn attack and exchange, and gains a pawn quickly, when white is unable to find a forcing continuation. Black then consolidates his position nicely, and is in excellent shape for the ensuing game, where he was able to win.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Nf3 d4 e4 c4 Nc3 c5 dxc5 Be3
d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 Nb6 dxc5 Nd7 Nc6
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Bb5 Qd2 Rd1 O-O Nxe5 Be2 Bxc5 Rc1 Qf4 Qg3
Bxc5 O-O Qe7 Nde5 Nxe5 b6 Qxc5 Qe7 Ng6 c6
Game 95: White's Dv55xD"Dx includes a conventional center pawn challenge and an unusual line with a queen exchange. Black tries to disrupt white's game after the opening, sacrificing a piece for two pawns, but white survives his assault and went on to win handily.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
d3 Nd2 e4 Ne2 Ng3 exd5 Qf3 Qxd5
d5 e5 Nc6 Nf6 h5 Qxd5 Be7 Nxd5
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Nc4 h4 Ne4 h3 c3 hxg2 Bxg2 Be6 b4 Ndxb4 cxb4 Nxb4 Ke2 O-O-O Nxe5 Nc2 Rb1 Bxa2 Rb2 Nd4+ Kf1 Bd5
By now the reader should have a better appreciation of the D-system and its relevance to the Defense Game. Players of all levels are encouraged to stay within the D-system when they play variants of the Defense Game. In this manner you will profit most from any improvisations you make, taking note of the variants that you are playing, and how well they do versus different adversary responses. With experience you should be able to select familiar variants that respond more sharply to adversary play than does the Defense Game with its continuation lines. The author hopes that the brief introduction to playing the D-system given here will stimulate the interest of all readers to experiment with them. Try playing some of the variants shown, and others in the D-system variants chapter and in the games section. Better yet, define new openings of your own in the system, and carry them forward to victory!
Why Wasn't It Found Before? 105
10.
Why Wasnt It Found Before?
As with the discoveries of the Beginner's Game and the Center Game, the author was once again amazed to discover yet another vast and completely new system for the chess opening. How was it possible that such strong and valid systems had gone so long undiscovered? Surely this was a terrible oversight in the natural progression of our understanding and mastery of the game. The author likens this oversight to that of failing to discover several of the continents of the earth until the present day. In fact, it's even worse, because while few people have the necessary backing and experience to go on long expeditions, hundreds of millions of people have played chess, and any of them could have discovered these new systems as easily as did the author. The obvious reason for this failure is that our play in the chess opening has been purely imitation. Most players seem to have accepted tacitly that the openings have already been thoroughly researched, and that the best anyone can do is to imitate the established lines. That almost all players repeat as best they can the known lines still seems a strange, given that in the rest of the game everyone is completely on his own. Imitation rather than innovation has always characterized any traditional activity, but often to its detriment. Starting with the premise that it was possible to find something new, the author discovered three new and completely valid systems for playing chess that, placed together, are as vast as all of existing opening practice. Aside from our error in imitating rather than thinking for ourselves, fault has to be laid with the whole world of chess, for doing so little to make the opening accessible for beginners. The style of playing chess used by the best players has always been proposed for those learning to play or trying to improve. But the type of play used by the best players is not at all similar to that used by everyone else. Top players have developed an ability to visualize the chessboard as it appears after many moves, and so they can analyze in depth. Lesser players don't have this capability to any real extent; in general they can't see anything more than just a few moves away. The result is that lesser players are not even capable of understanding, much less of imitating, master level play, and so it's not a practicable approach to tell them to try to do so. The insight and intuition necessary to play chess at master level is out of the reach of most players. You can't imitate what you don't understand, and no one should be optimistic about finding brilliant combinations when he has almost no capacity to think forward on the chessboard. What was needed instead were systems of play that lesser players can understand and play well, systems that naturally develop into positions that are easier to scan and do not require the depth of analysis that is needed to play chess the way it has been played until now. All the systems invented by the author are simple to play in the opening, but the Defense Game is certainly the best of the lot, because it is easy to play the whole game! With this new system everyone can play decent chess the entire game, and have good chances of drawing against players far stronger than themselves. This is something very significant for the future of chess. A analogy that the author likes to use is that of chess with music. If you sit a beginner at the piano, tell him that he should play any notes, and then ask him to make an improvisation, you
can only expect that most horrendous cacophony imaginable. If on the other hand you tell him to limit his choice of notes to a major scale, the result will be better, but still not very melodic. But if you teach him a five note blues scale, not only will he be able to make fair improvisations in short order, soon he will also be able to play along with any music he hears, and sound reasonably good. When his choice of notes is more limited, he understands more quickly, and develops a basis for improvisation, that is a true start towards the development of real competence. Now in chess we have the equivalent of what the blues was in music - something simple, that everyone can play. While classicists will lament the vulgarization of their exalted and complex art forms, the general public will probably be delighted to learn that chess, like music, is not at all difficult to master in this simpler form. Soon they will be showing more appreciation for the music coming from next door than for that coming from the high altar. There's more music being made today using basic blues than there is based on classical forms, and in the near future we can expect the same shift of tastes in chess. Philosophically speaking, people who are free to choose will eventually prefer something that they can understood and master to something they cannot. Other arguments on why these chess opening systems were not found before are given in 'The Beginner's Game.' These are listed in summary form here
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Play in the opening was mostly imitation, even for players who knew only a few moves. The most aggressive opening moves have always been preferred, eg. e4 or d4. Opening moves have always been preferred which react closely to adversary play. The object of opening play for both sides was control of the center. Play in the opening aimed at obtaining any advantage, however slight. Practically no one was looking for new ways of playing the opening. There was little interest in using systems playable for both white and black. The less aggressive opening moves (such as e3 and d3) were particularly neglected. The few master level players who experimented with openings still played aggressively. Chess playing programs used their openings books, and so did not innovate. Even without openings books computers would not have discovered these new systems.
The Defense Game is one of the best openings in chess largely because it is free of many of the preconceptions and prejudices of the past. it avoids conflict, shuns exchanges and simplifications, and does not attempt to produce any advantage. Not only is it completely free of psychological factors, it is virtually independent of, and largely uninfluenced by, adversary play. It is capable of confronting even the most aggressive adversary responses, while remaining within a structure for play that even beginners can master quickly and use effectively. The intent is neither to bury classical chess nor to praise it. Classical openings have evolved from the simpler style of early days to the positional play of recent years. At the end of this long road we have found the Beginner's, Center, and Defense Games. This is a great advance in the evolution of chess practice, especially for average players, who should now be able to confront even the strongest adversaries without fear of being torn apart in the opening moves.
Why Wasn't It Found Before? 107
No reference is made in this book to any of the known openings, and minimal reference to the players that invented or used them. Nor are there any examples taken from the rare games of others who played D-system openings; all the games reported here were played by the computer, or by the author. Here many readers will object, arguing that all that anyone can do is add to the existing knowledge, and that this is best done by referring to what has already been agreed and documented. But this argument is not valid in the present case, for several reasons. The standard opening and the close variants are completely new, and even the distant variants are virtually unknown in the current practice of chess. The D-system contains no lines of the well known conventional openings. Extremely few games taken from conventional play respect the D-system rules, and these rules are definitely not in conformity with the guidelines for opening play expounded in virtually every book ever written on chess. The Defense Game and the D-system are as radically different from conventional chess theory and practice as can be imagined. You could say that they are ideologically opposed to classical chess. All of the openings described in this system are eight moves deep. This results in the least possible overlap with any existing openings, systems, or nomenclatures that have been used to date. Openings in the D-system that have ever been played before may be better described and understood by relating them to this new system than to any previous one. The Defense Game and the D-system were discovered by the author without referring to the accumulated knowledge of the chess openings. No other player had any influence on him in making this discovery. The few players who have used openings in the D-system obviously have not recognized the full extent or significance of the system. Few of them used the same openings with white and black, or with different move sequences, both key aspects of play in the D-system. To date, the author has not found games on record in which the standard opening or its close variants were played. A handful of distant variants have been played, but they are extremely rare (a few games in 100,000). Those instances were mostly with black, and from recent years, by players of different master levels. The few players who tested this approach to opening play abandoned it quickly; probably their impression was that it was too passive. Rare and isolated occurrences should not detract from the serious and authentic claims to the discovery of the Defense Game and its related system of variants. Never before has there been any real familiarity with or understanding of this vast and powerful new system for playing chess, nor a suitable announcement of it to the world. It is one thing to pass along a new pathway and notice something glittering on the ground. It is quite another to dedicate a good portion of ones life to working there, mining and refining the precious matter hidden below, and then bringing it back to town, minted into coin whose value anyone can recognize.
11.
How the Defense Game Was Found
The Defense Game was discovered by the author alone, unassisted by other persons, or special chess playing programs, and without reference to the chess literature or previously played games. It is completely original, not based on or even similar to, other openings used to date. The chess opening is probably the most researched subject of all time, so nothing could be more surprising than finding something completely new, making a pristine discovery. Here in the midst of the incredible complexity of the chess opening was a simple arrangement that even a small child could reproduce with ease. It was perfect in shape, proved very hard to break, and had sharp cutting edges: it was a true jewel, something unique, of great and everlasting beauty. The Defense Game was discovered by the author following the publication of 'The Beginner's Game' and 'The Center Game'. It resulted from an attempt by the author to define a new opening system related to both these two new and powerful systems. The original idea was to find a third system that was 'between' the other two, in the sense that it shared moves of each but was still recognizably distant from each of them. The first effort to find a new opening was tried with the moves d3 and e3 (with white) of both Beginner's and Center Games, then the knight moves Nd2 and Ne2 of the B-game, followed by the pawn moves a3 and h3 of the C-game, and later redeploying the knights with Nb3 and Ng3. This trial opening soon proved to be too passive and vulnerable, and was discarded after only a few games. The next attempts left out the rook pawn advances a3 and h3, and proved to be much better. When the bishop placements Bd2 and Be2 were added, the Defense Game was born. The new Defense Game soon showed to be extremely easy to play, because it had a relatively small set of good lines. In the first experiments, the new opening began to hold its own against a variety of classical defenses. It was already demonstrating strong resilience to adversary play, the main characteristic sought by the author in all his research on chess. It definitely merited further research. Significant discoveries are rarely lucky finds. If you are not actively looking for something definite, even if you stumble on an important find you may not recognize it at all. The author found the Beginner's Game and the Center Game and their related systems only because he was actively looking for them. When the Defense Game was first composed, the author quickly recognized its high degree of independence to adversary play, as had the other two systems. The Defense Game was not a lucky find, and thats the way it should be, because chess is a game of skill, not of luck. The Defense Game showed early on to be tough defensively: in the first games played it was able to shut down any adversary attack, and was never put in serious difficulty. The key to its resistance was its extremely solid center, but also its flanks proved quite resistant. The adversary seemed at a loss for finding ways to attack after the opening. He rarely attempted any attack in the center - this seemed to be one of the least promising approaches. Most often he was content to
How It Was Found 109
trade off pieces, or close the pawn structure and wait. Early experiments were limited to playing with black, so provided early confirmation of the validity of the system for white as well. The previously invented B-system and C-system generally did not respect conventional guidelines for opening play, and the Defense Game was also radically opposed to them. The recessed pawn structure and the knight replacements were a completely new way of playing the game of chess. A quick scan of the games databases revealed that practically no one had ever even experimented with this approach to opening play: this was a new way of playing the game! When the Defense Game was tested more extensively, the results were surprising indeed: in spite of its apparent vulnerability to early attack, it was always able to defend adequately. The seeming weaknesses of the opening could not be exploited easily by the opponent, who could do little to disrupt opening play. These were important first tests of both its validity and strength. Adversary responses to the Defense Game were invariably the same: 2 and 3 pawn classical defenses and close variants. The limited range of reactions to the Defense Game was a significant finding of early research, pointing not only to the validity of the opening, but also to its potential optimality. If an optimal opening system exists, it probably has this characteristic, that it provokes or constrains the adversary to play one of a limited number of standard responses. A surprising finding emerging from early research was the aggressiveness of the Defense Game. On defense it rarely conceded the adversary any piece placements on its side of the board; the compact and resistant pawn structure and aggressive piece placements didn't allow them. In most games there was no adversary penetration on our side of the board until the middle game. There were the obvious challenges with the bishop and rook pawn early attacks, but all the possible responses to these attacks proved acceptable. On our side play was rarely forced. On offense, the Defense Game consistently showed an aggressive character. Following the standard opening It almost always found good attacking lines, and quickly gained ground against the adversary, who often lost several moves with his pieces adjusting to this new and unfamiliar deployment. In the middle game it consistently controlled its share of the chessboard. All the early research pointed to both the validity and the strength of the new system. The author remained skeptical during experimentation, because the D-game seemed too passive to be a solid candidate for inclusion in the collection of tried and true openings. In particular, the apparent vulnerability to the bishop and rook pawn early attacks placed it in a questionable light. All the possible refuting lines had to be thoroughly explored before beginning to look at its performance along lines where it was not challenged in the opening moves. Extensive experimentation with the Defense Game gradually began to wear away the author's skepticism. In game after game played at master level, the opening piled up wins and draws. With black results were truly impressive: this was a fighting defense! The quality of these first games was excellent; each was a valid original contribution to chess.
Three months of continuous experimentation confirmed the validity of the Defense Game. The opening did well against all the classical defenses, and had even less problems with custom designed unconventional openings. All the possible responses were explored, and none were found which could put the standard opening in real difficulty, or give any impression of being a refuting line. The computer was main tool for this research, but only to test openings improvised by the author. All the D-system openings were designed by the author, not the computer. After playing several hundred games at master level, the author compiled the results. The Defense Game had consistently won its share of games. With white, results were good; with black, they were excellent. Most importantly, no defense or early attack was found which could defeat the system in a series of games. Soon the Defense Game was worthy of presentation to the entire world. It clearly merited a complete exposition in a book of its own. The selection of games and drafting work began, using the format of the first two books. The most remarkable thing about the D-game is the ease of play with this system. The author has been able to draw many games against some of the world's best chess playing programs, and increased his ELO rating about 200 points within a few weeks of adopting the system. Ease of play of the D-game is the key to its success - many of the best lines for playing the system are obvious. Everyone who tries the system should appreciate this, but they should also see a dramatic improvement in their results in competition play. The author is an amateur chess player who is in no sense an 'authority'. He enjoys chess, but is not a master level player. Some readers may disparage this book because it was written by an amateur, but this is unfair. Most serious players now make extensive use of chess playing computers; using them even amateurs can do valid research and analysis, and make significant discoveries. Games generated by computer are more likely to be correct than games between humans. In any case top players frequently use lines suggested by computer analysis, and the original content of master level games during opening play is typically quite small. The Defense Game is not a just a curiosity to be filed away in the literature on irregular openings. It is a new approach to playing chess, with the potential to change the entire practice of the game. Based on a standard configuration that can almost always be played, and a constellation of variants closely related to it, the Defense Game, like the Beginner's Game and the Center Game before it, is another of the perfect jewels of chess. You can only marvel at its simplicity and beauty, which like chess itself, is eternal. The author hopes that the amazement this discovery must provoke in others will inspire them to use their own ability to think for themselves, which is the only way that we can rise above our limitations, and gain true mastery of our lives.
Can It Be Refuted? 111
12.
Can It be Refuted? Is It Optimal?
The singular properties of the Defense Game and the positive results using it in play at master level make these two questions quite serious indeed. Of course we must start by trying to answer the first question, whether the Defense Game can be refuted. All serious chess players will certainly try their best to do so, and we can expect that in the period following the announcement of this system there will be widespread and concerted efforts to overturn it. But it is improbable that this system will ever be refuted, for a number of good reasons. There are many possible ways of playing the opening moves. If some of these sequences prove to be problematic, we can use other sequences instead. In this respect the Defense Game is less likely to be refuted than conventional openings, with strict or limited move orderings. Experimentation doesnt support the conjecture. In hundreds of games played at master level, there have been very few in which the Defense Game was in any real difficulty during or after the opening. Serious problems were seen only where the continuation of the opening was badly misplayed. No adversary opening has yet been found which could consistently win from the same opening positions, and most of the best defenses and early attacks have been tried. All games seen to date demonstrate the difficulty of attacking this opening. The defense is so compact and coherent that it resists all attacks. There are practically no weaknesses that can be exploited. Even if some lines are found where serious weaknesses can be provoked, strong responses will be found: there are always other sequences of the standard opening that counter effectively, or we can move into one of the large number of variants. The D-system close variants are all extremely strong. Further research will determine which of them are strongest in the context of particular adversary responses. The distant variants add a large number of lines, which retain the basic character of the system. All of this insures that the D-system should be able to resist any opposing play, while remaining close to its main lines. On the offense, there is always a range of options present. The open field in front of the position makes almost all the pawn moves playable. The pieces all have relocation squares, and are ideally placed to support the pawn advances, which can be made on any front. Various queen placements and castling options exist as well. The attacking potential of the Defense Game has been demonstrated in the games played with it. It seems to be a natural consequence of the standard opening that it can always uncoil into powerful attacks. Certainly some D-systems openings will prove useful only in defined contexts, because they contain forward placements that cant always be supported, or because other members in the system are more effective along given lines. The main lines of the Defense Game are almost certainly the most generally playable of the D-system openings. But most of the openings in this new system should prove valid against most lines of adversary play, and the entire D-system is worthy of inclusion in a revised compendium of chess openings. In summary, it is highly unlikely that the Defense Game, and most of its variants in the D-system will ever be refuted.
Optimality: There are various possible definitions of optimality. The strong definition is that it is always possible to win or draw using the opening. If an optimal solution in this sense is found, it constitutes in effect a solution to the game of chess. Optimality in this sense is extremely hard to prove, given the immense number of possible games, even from advanced starting positions. A simpler, operational definition would be that the opening results in the largest percentage of wins (and draws) in games at master level between players with similar ratings. If an optimal opening according to the strong definition does exist, it is likely to have the characteristics of the Defense Game. Principal among these is use of the same opening for black and white, and the ability to confront any adversary with a standard deployment. The existence of a small and well defined set of related variants, such as the variants of the D-system, would also likely be a part of an optimal system. These variants offer flexibility in responding to those few situations in which an adversary could develop a significant advantage. General playability of a standard set of opening moves may be considered an indicator of possible optimality, but the real question is of course, what happens after the opening. Here a candidate for optimality must show superior ability on offense and on defense. Experience in play to date with the Defense Game strongly supports its validity, but can only hint at optimality. The author had suggested the optimality of the Beginners Game and the Center Game; for the Defense Game the conjecture arises again, with different prospects for success. There are some factors which enhance its prospects, and others which diminish them. During the opening, the Defense Game can be attacked, and these represent possible refutation lines. The Defense Game also has a more restricted set of lines than do the other two opening systems. But this can also work in its favor, because it is easier to demonstrate validity of a smaller number of lines. The author believes that the Beginner's Game and Center Games have better chances of eventually proving to be optimal however, because in general they develop more complex positions. A true test of strong optimality would require the compilation of millions of games, with extensive research into lines that put the standard opening in difficulty. The vast majority of these games could be generated by computer, but still with significant human participation. The Defense Game was not found by a computer, and the best defenses to it may not be found by a computer either. A real test of strong optimality can only be done with massive experimentation; but even a limited experiment would furnish an excellent indication of operational optimality. With highly specialized chess playing programs alone we should be able to come very close to a definitive response to the question of strong optimality. The participation of many experts would still be necessary: not only expert players, but also designers and analysts capable of modifying and improving these programs. Any competent group that decides to dedicate themselves to this research will certainly find a receptive audience for their findings.
Can It Be Refuted? 113
With even a modest amount of organization, it should be possible to collect and build databases of games generated by players of this system. The chess playing community could be enlisted to research advanced positions, and submit results for compilation. Using large game databases, we can identify problematic lines, and begin pruning the move trees. With the participation of a large number of interested persons, it should be possible to obtain a very reliable response to the question of strong optimality. Because the entire process is one of gradually approaching absolute certainty, research into the optimality of the Defense Game may go on for many years. And if the final answer is affirmative, it doesnt mean the end of chess, or even the end of chess as it has been played until the present. It does mean the end of the real competition between humans and computers. They will finally be unbeatable, as has always been predicted. But this shouldnt conceal the triumph of the human over the computer, because most of the moves of their lookup game will have been taught to them by humans. Moreover it was humans who designed, built, and programmed them! The author ventures the following odds on the possible results of strong optimality: ! White can always win or draw: about 1/8 ! Black can always win or draw: about 1/8 In all this discussion we have not considered what is probably the best practical definition of optimality: that the greatest number and variety of players can adopt the system and immediately improve their game. Under this definition the Defense Game is definitely optimal! The X3 series Experiments The author ran a controlled experiment with the Defense Game and D-system to see how strong it is. A series of 100 games was generated, played by the computer from the ninth move onwards, using different personalities. Most games used classical defenses, invented by the computer. A small minority of games used strong custom defenses such as those presented previously, invented by the author. Both sides had equal computing time of 45 minutes. The results of this experiment are good: the Defense Game won 39% and drew 29% of the games. Wins with black were almost as frequent as with white, whereas white showed a higher percentage of draws. The first impression from reading these results is that this is definitely a fighting system for black, and most probably a drawing system for white. Other experiments showed that, using the D-system, anyone can play at master level thru the first 10 moves, and has a reasonable chance of maintaining equality thru 15 moves. With this system even beginners can play well enough in the opening to make the game interesting for any opponent, however skilled. Although far too limited to be a serious indicator of how well the Defense Game will perform in practice at master level, these experiments should nevertheless serve to arouse our interest. Not only have we found the easiest and probably one of the best systems ever for playing the opening, we may well have found an optimal way of playing the game of chess.
13.
What Happens Now to Chess?
Unless extensive analysis and experience in play refutes this new system, or proves it to be inferior, it is almost certain that the game of chess will never be the same as before, or even anything like it. If this new system proves valid and strong in play, as the author believes it will, then it definitely has the potential to change dramatically the entire practice of chess. Regardless of the evaluation that master level players will finally condescend to give it, this system has already found a niche in chess, at the amateur level. Here it will certainly survive and prosper, because it is by far the easiest way of playing the opening that has ever been found. With this system any beginner can play correctly not only in the opening but during the entire game. When complemented with modest middle game and endgame skills, the Defense Game becomes the quickest route ever found to what can be called true mastery of the game of chess. Another niche where the Defense Game will certainly thrive, and find many enthusiastic practitioners, is in speed chess. In games of 15 minutes or less, this system should prove to be a stellar performer. The main component in its favor is again the ease of opening play, but also the limited nature of typical responses. The combination of the two allows blitz players to quickly master a number of strong lines which will surprise and confound the adversary, and help them gain an important psychological edge with rapid and incisive play during and after the opening. Beginners and lesser intermediate players should be easy converts to the Defense Game: for it is the quickest route to playing well, and one of the few systems allowing them to survive for more than a few moves against superior opponents. Better players will be more difficult to convince, but as they face these openings more often, they will learn not only how to play against them, but how to play with them. As their initial curiosity in the novel system grows to a deep appreciation, more and more good players will try it, in casual play at first, then in competition. Most advanced players will be reluctant converts, because they have made tremendous efforts to master their current games and push their way up using them. But current openings do not work against this new system, and like it or not, they are moving into a completely different practice of opening play. The lines they wish to pursue against it are rich in possibility, so every top player can have his own novel defense. We can expect to see plenty of tough chess against the Defense Game, and certainly there will be many top players who will relish bringing it down. But even the best players should finally appreciate that there is no easy way to stop the D-system. Given the impact the new system will make on chess, it is likely to divert the interest of analysts. The Defense Game and its related system is an very fertile field for original research. The strongest defenses to confront them have to be found, and the sharpest lines explored. These defenses will be strong in the hands of superior players. But where skills are evenly matched, the new system should begin to show a positive balance of outcomes. In chess, as in most difficult games, better players usually win, and that formula doesnt change with the introduction of a new opening, however strong it is. So the best players with
What Happens Now to Chess? 115
their well known classical openings will probably remain at the top for a long time. Eventually some champions will come forward from the increasing ranks of good players already using the system regularly. Maybe some of them will have learned to play chess with the Defense Game! Can we say adieu to classical chess? Not at all: it will continue to live and thrive. But it will gradually be less practiced, first by beginners, then by occasional and club players, and finally by the top players. Will the new chess be better or worse than the old chess? In the opinion of the author it will be much better. It will be better because it will be more accessible: there is no reason now why anyone cannot learn quickly to play reasonably well. There should be a surge in new players, and so an increase in interest in the game as played at championship levels. Even top players holding out against the new system will benefit from all the new interest in the game. The new chess will also be better because the quality of games resulting from play with this system is superior. All of the games the author has seen with the Defense Game and the D-system are very interesting; many of them are superb. These openings give rise naturally to highly complicated positions that encourage the most brilliant combinations and tactical play. Another principal improvement will be that more games will be close, between players of differing skill levels. When in the past could a beginner offer an interesting game to an expert player? Many potentially interested people have turned away from chess after a few humiliating experiences of being badly beaten. The better player is often bored or arrogant, making everything worse. Most people dont react well to failure, especially when it reflects on their intelligence. But anyone who plays well can feel satisfied, even in defeat. This is very important. Chess is fascinating, even exciting, to those interested in it, but it is incredibly boring to those who arent. A little compassion for non-players goes a long way. What is the interest of sitting in silence for hours hunched over a board? Life is to be lived, not contemplated. Now even those with a justified aversion to chess can learn quickly to play reasonably well, and so begin to share your passion for the game. Your whole world will brighten up if you spend more time with your loved ones and less in the isolation of a pastime they cannot appreciate. Chess has always been a predominately male pursuit. Wives, daughters, sisters, and girlfriends take note: you can gain the respect of someone close to you by learning to play. In the process maybe you can help them understand that all games, and life in general, should be fun. Chess is also famous for attracting and producing introverts, lost in this interior world. There is too often a somber atmosphere to the game, imposed by those who take it too seriously. So what if you lose - set the pieces up again! Reintroduce the human element into the game: lighten up, enjoy yourself, laugh when you lose, and do something else occasionally than play chess. The world of chess should recognize that this totally new system is valid and strong. Finally the game of chess is accessible to all; never again should beginners and lesser players be humiliated in the opening moves of the game. Good chess playing is now within the reach of everyone, not just a select few with the perseverance to study and master the arcane world of opening theory. Now everyone can play good chess - power to the people!
14.
Games Section
Now we propose a large collection of complete games. In all games the author played the D-system opening to at least eight moves. After that, unless otherwise noted, the computer played both sides until the conclusion. In all games the computer played at top strength, and was given one and a half hours computing time, with equal time for each side. Games have been analyzed to insure they are free from serious errors, and that lines chosen by both sides consistently from among the most promising. The quality of play overall is at the master level. These are excellent chess games, but they are not really a careful selection. They were taken from a series of less than 250 generated games. The intention of this compilation is principally to document the variety of openings in the system, and some of the best defenses, especially the classical ones. Many of these games may prove to contain best lines for playing the D-system, but in general they should be considered as first experiments with the system. Only wins and draws are presented in this collection. Of course there were losses, and many of them are quite interesting and instructive. The author is not proposing strategies for the adversary however: finding best defenses to the Defense Game and other D-system openings is left to the imagination and analytical skills of all readers. The collection presents a variety of openings. There are many Defense Games, Containing at least six standard moves, but with various continuations, some of which are responses to early attacks. Then there are many games with close variants, also containing at least 6 of the standard moves, but with introduced moves figuring in the first six. There is also a good selection of distant variants, which include only four or five moves of the standard opening. Games are ordered by the distance of the variants that are played. Games are reported on one page each, with a brief text outline giving highlights of each. Six diagrams per game are shown, presenting snapshots of the ongoing contest. Better players should be able to follow most of the action from these diagrams alone. In all games the position of the board after eight moves each side is shown. Afterwards, diagrams show the progress of the game at intervals, trying to catch some of the more interesting moves. Diagrams are labeled with the move about to be made. Asterisks in the move lists flag the corresponding diagrams. There are a large number of openings in the D-system; this collection only attempts to document some of the interesting ones. It is just an introduction to the system; the variants presented here still have to be tested more thoroughly in order to firmly establish their validity. Hopefully this collection of games will stimulate the interest of all readers to research the D-system openings, and by using them in competition help to establish their rightful places in the openings pantheon.
Games Section 117
Openings in the D-system give rise to highly positional games. Most have a series of exchanges soon after the opening, but resulting in no material gain for either side. A fairly complex middle game then follows in which superior combinatorial skills are needed in order to obtain any advantage. Many games remain balanced until relatively late in the game, while others are characterized by sacrifice of material in exchange for superior position. The Defense Game and the D-system openings generally evolve from positional struggles and simplify quickly with rapid exchanges, often reaching the endgame by the 30th move. To succeed with this system, you must develop a feel for finding the best continuations from your chosen initial deployment, and a natural intuition of how best to exchange off the pieces. You usually do not need to find brilliant combinations in order to play this system well however; it is usually sufficient to concentrate on solid defense, maintain equality materially, and strive to obtain slight positional advantages that can be decisive in the endgame. Even with an easy to play system like the Defense Game, master level games can be hard to follow for lesser skilled players. Master level games challenge your ability to follow and understand the moves chosen. This book makes an important step towards making chess accessible for everyone, especially the chess opening, but it cannot make the game simplistic. The beginner's level strategy for drawing with the Defense Game is easy to understand and imitate, but master level play with the D-system is far more complex. If you want to play chess at master level you must work hard and develop your skills. Playing thru games in this collection will help you acquire a feel for correct and incisive play, and help develop your mastery of chess in the middle and endgames, where the contest is usually decided. As with any collection, readers should look for games of special interest and play them first. But all of these games are worthy of review; they are all good examples of play within the D-system, and each one you work thru and understand will help you on the road to complete mastery of the game of chess. Find those that appeal and .. attack!
Game 21: Defense Game Dv0 with White White's Dv0 triumphs over a 3 pawn custom opening (9) in an interesting display of tactical chess. After a few opening trades black abandons his rook pawn for the attack (15), and finds a good continuation (25), but not enough to equalize. White is then able to find the right moves (34,39) to win in a tricky bishop and pawn endgame. The Defense Game is definitely one tough opening!

9. O-O

15..Rf8

25..Rxa5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
d3 e3 Ne2 Nd2 Nb3 Bd2 Ng3 Be2 O-O Nh5 Bxh5 fxe3 Qxf1 Qe2 a4 Nxa5 Bxa5 Bc3 exd4 Bd2 Qxd2 a5 Bf3 c4 bxc3 Rxa5 d4 Bxb7 Kf2 Qc2 Qb3+ Qb4+
d5 e5 f5 Nf6 Nc6 Be7 O-O Qd6 f4 Nxh5 fxe3 Rxf1+ Be6 a5 Rf8 Nxa5 Bg5 d4 exd4 Bxd2 Bd7 Rf5 Rb5 dxc3 Rxa5 Qb6+ Qxa5 Qa1+ c6 Qa5 Kf8 Qxb4
33. 34.* 35. 36. 37. 38. 39.* 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63.
cxb4 d5 dxc6 Ba6 g4 Bd3 Bxh7 Ke3 Kd4 Bf5 Ke5 Kf6 Kxg5 Kg6 h4 Kf6 g5 Be6 Bg4 h5 h6 Bf5 Kxf5 g6+ Ke6 Kf6 g7 Kf7 g8=Q Qg3 Qh4#
Ke7 Kd6 Bxc6 Kc7 Kb6 g5 Kb5 Kxb4 Bf3 Kb5 Kc5 Kd6 Ke7 Bg2 Kf8 Bf3 Bh5 Bf7 Bd5 Ke8 Be4 Bxf5 Kf7 Kg8 Kh8 Kg8 Kh7 Kxh6 Kh5 Kh6

34. d5

39. Bxh7
Defense Games 119
Game 22: Defense Game Dv0 with Black Black's standard D-game faces the 3 pawn standard classical opening (9). White offers a pawn, with a dangerous attack ensuing (11), but black is able to consolidate and retain the pawn (20). In the face of an immanent K-side pawn storm white tries for counter play (31), but black keeps the lead, trading down to a comfortable endgame, and even offering a piece (48) to move things along quickly. Though they seem vulnerable, D-game knight placements have proved to be quite good.

9. c5

11. c6

20..O-O-O
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11.* 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.* 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.*
e4 e6 d4 d6 c4 Ne7 Nc3 Nd7 Nf3 Ng6 Be3 Be7 Bd3 Nb6 O-O Bd7 c5 Nc8 Qb3 b6 c6 Bxc6 d5 Bd7 dxe6 Bxe6 Bb5+ Bd7 Nd4 c5 Nc6 Qc7 Nd5 Qb7 Ncxe7 Ncxe7 Nxe7 Nxe7 Rad1 O-O-O Bxd7+ Rxd7 Rfe1 d5 exd5 Nxd5 Bc1 f6 a3 Rhd8 Qh3 Kb8 Qf3 g5 h4 h6 b4 cxb4 axb4 Qc6 Bb2 Nxb4
32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.* 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.
Rxd7 Qxf6 Bxf6 Bxh4 Re7 Bxe7 Bf8 g3 Kg2 Kf3 Ke4 f3 Bh6 Bc1 g4 fxg4 g5 Kxd5 Bf4 Be5 Ke6 Bf6 Ke5 Kf4 Kg4 Kg3 Bd4 Kh2 Be5 Bg3 Kh1
Rxd7 Qxf6 gxh4 Kb7 Rxe7 Nd5 h5 a5 Kc6 Kb5 Kc4 a4 b5 b4 hxg4 a3 Kb3 a2 a1=Q Qb1 Qg6+ Kc2 b3 Kd3 Ke4 Qf5 Qf3+ Qg4 Kf3 Qxg3+ Qg2#

31. Bb2

48..Kb3
Game 23: Defense Game Dv0 with White The author with white plays the D-game standard against black's 2 pawn classical opening with rook pawn attack (9). White follows an easy line trying for simplification and black obliges (17). In view of black's strong Q-side pawns white decides to exchange his knight for three pawns (24), livening up a slow game somewhat. White trades rooks (32) and develops his promotion threat to go a pawn up (46), but is not able to win in the pawn endgame. Close, but not quite enough!

9. O-O

17..Bxg4

24. Nxa4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.* 33. 34. 35. 36.
e3 d3 Nd2 Nb3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 Bd2 O-O Nc1 a3 Re1 Na2 Nh5 Bxh5 h3 Bg4 Qxg4 hxg4 f3 Nc3 dxc4 Rad1 Nxa4 Nxc3 Bxc3 e4 Kf2 Ke2 g3 Bb4+ Rxd8 Rd1 Kxd1 Be1 c3
e5 d5 Nc6 Nf6 Bd6 Be6 Qe7 a5 a4 O-O Rfd8 h6 Qd7 Nxh5 b5 Ne7 Bxg4 Qxg4 c5 Rab8 c4 dxc4 b4 c3 bxc3 Bc7 Kf8 Bb6+ Ng6 Ke7 Ke6 Rxd8 Rxd1 Bf2 Bd4 Bb6
37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46.* 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63.* 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72.
b4 c4 a4 Ke2 a5 Kd3 f4 f5 Bc3 b5+ b6 Bxd4 Kxd4 c5 Kc4 Kb5 c6+ Kc4 Kd5 Ke6 b7+ Kf7 Kxg7 Kxh6 g5 Kg6 e5 Kxg5 Kf4 Kxe4 Kf4 Kg5 f6 Kg6 f7+ Kf6
Kd6 Bd4 Nf8 Ne6 Ba7 Ng5 Ne6 Nd4 Kc6 Kb7 Bb8 exd4 Bxg3 Be1 Bxa5 Bc3 Kc8 Be5 f6 Bd4 Kc7 Be5 Kxc6 Kxb7 Bf4 Bxg5 fxe5 e4 Kc6 Kd6 Ke7 Kf7 Kf8 Kg8 Kf8 1/2-1/2

32..Rxd8

46. Kb7

63. e5
Defense Games 121
Game 24: Defense Game DvE with Black Black plays DvE against an irregular opening by white (9). Black expands his position; white has difficulty finding good lines, and finally sacrifices a pawn to open the game (17). Afterwards black's extra pawn is a constant aggravation (26), requiring white to regroup and defend. Another try for counterplay is sidelined by black's knight tour (37). The tension climaxes when black defers recapture to push his pawn (44). White is unable to cover the multiple threats (53) and goes down.

9. Qd2

17. c4

26..a3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.* 27. 28.
b4 Bb2 e3 Nc3 Nf3 Be2 O-O d4 Qd2 a3 Rab1 Bd3 Qe2 Rfd1 Na2 b5 c4 Bxc4 Qxc4 Bxa3 Nc3 e4 Rb3 bxc6 Qd3 Rb2 Rb6 Qe2
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O Nb6 d5 Bd7 Bd6 a6 Qf6 Rfd8 a5 Qe7 dxc4 Nxc4 Bxa3 Qxa3 c6 Rac8 Qe7 Bxc6 a4 a3 Ra8 Qd6
29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.* 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.* 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53.* 54. 55.
Re1 Rbb1 Rbc1 Qc2 Re3 Qb1 Nd2 Qa2 d5 Qa1 Rd1 Rg3 Qa2 Ndb1 Qd2 Nxe2 dxe6 exf7+ Na3 Rxa3 Ra1 Qe1 Nf4 Nd3 Rxa2 f3 Qxc3
Qc7 b6 Qd7 Qb7 Rdc8 Ra5 Qa6 Bb5 Nf4 Nd3 Nb4 Nc2 Nd4 Bc4 Ne2+ a2 g6 Bxf7 Rxa3 Qxa3 Qb3 Qb2 Rc4 Qd4 Qxd3 Qc3 0-1

37..Nf4

44..a2

53. Rxa2
Game 25: Defense Game Dv4' with Black Black's Dv4' counters in response to a rook pawn attack (9), a response worth remembering. Black gains a tempo with another counter attack (15), and after the exchange of minor pieces, is able to win a pawn beginning (22). A long and tough queen and rooks endgame follows (35), but black presses well (45,54), cleaning up white's pawns to insure the win. A very instructive game. 40. Qh5 R8f6 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nd7 41. Rd7 Rg6 3. Nc3 e6 42. Re2 Qc3 4. Nf3 Ne7 43. Rd1 Qg3+ 5. Be2 Ng6 44. Kh1 Rgf6 45.* Kg1 Rh4 6. O-O Be7 7. Be3 Nb6 46. Qe8 Rxh3 47. Qe4+ Rg6 8. a4 d5 9.* a5 dxe4 48. Rf2 Rh4 10. axb6 exf3 49. Qf5 Qh2+ 9. a5 35..Qc2 11. bxc7 Qxc7 50. Kf1 Rg4 12. Bb5+ Bd7 51. Re1 Qh1+ 52. Ke2 Qh4 13. Qxf3 O-O 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 53. Rc1 Re4+ 15.* d5 Bb4 54.* Kd3 Ra4 16. Bxa7 Bxc3 55. g4 Qxg4 56. Qxg4 Rgxg4 17. dxe6 fxe6 57. Rb1 Rg3+ 18. Qxc3 Nf4 58. Ke2 Re4+ 19. Qf3 Qb5 20. Rfe1 Qxb2 59. Kf1 Re7 21. Qe4 Rac8 60. Rfb2 Rf7+ 22.* Be3 e5 61. Ke2 Rc7 15..Bb4 45..Rh4 23. Bxf4 Rxf4 62. Kd2 Rcc3 24. Qd5+ Rf7 63. Rxb7 Ra3 Rad1 25. Rxe5 Qxc2 64. Ke1 h5 26. Qxf2+ 65. R1b4 Rg2 27. Kh1 Kh8 66. Kf1 Raa2 28. h3 Rfc7 67. Rf4 Rh2 68. Kg1 Kh6 29. Qe4 Qf7 30. Re1 Kg8 69. Rb6+ g6 31. Rf5 Qd7 70. Re4 Rag2+ 32. Rh5 h6 71. Kf1 Rc2 33. Rd5 Qc6 72. Kg1 Rhf2 73. Rbe6 Rg2+ 34. Qd3 Rf8 22..e5 54..Ra4 35.* Kh2 Qc2 74. Kf1 Rh2 36. Qg3 Rcf7 75. Kg1 Rcg2+ 37. Rd6 Kh7 76. Kf1 Rf2+ 38. Re5 Rf3 77. Kg1 Rhg2+ 39. Qg4 R3f4 78. Kh1 Rb2
Defense Games 123
Game 26: Defense Game DvE with Black Black plays DvE against the 2 pawn standard classical defense (9). White offers a pawn for the attack (12), but it backfires seriously when black counters (17). Even so white continues to press for a long while afterwards (33), finally succeeding in regaining some lost material with a fork of king and queen, but not enough to equalize. Black avoids subsequent forks (42) and cruises on to victory. A good illustration of the resistance of the Defense game to center pawn attacks.

9. a4

12. e5

17. Bxc4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12.* 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
d4 Nf3 e4 Nc3 Bd3 Be3 Qd2 O-O a4 d5 dxc6 e5 Nxe5 f4 Bxf4 Be3 Bxc4 Bxc5 Ne4 Nd6 Rf2 Raf1 Rd2 Bxa6 Nc4 Rd7 Rc1 Rcd1 Bf2 Rc1 Rd8+
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Nb6 Ng6 Be7 O-O a5 c5 bxc6 Nxe5 dxe5 exf4 Bc5+ Nc4 Qxd2 Re8 Qxc2 Rf8 Qg6 h6 Ba6 Rxa6 Rb8 f6 Rb3 Qh5 Rb4 Rxa4 Kh7
32. 33.* 34. 35. 36. 37. 38.* 39. 40. 41. 42.* 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.
Nb6 Rb4 Nd7 Kg6 Re1 Rxb2 Nf8+ Kf7 Nxe6 Rxf2 Rd7+ Ke8 Nxg7+ Kxd7 Nxh5 Rf5 g4 Re5 Nxf6+ Ke6 Ne4 Ke7 Kf2 a4 Ke3 a3 Kd4 Re6 Kc3 Ra4 Kb3 Rexe4 Rxe4+ Rxe4 Kxa3 Rxg4 Kb3 Rh4 Kc3 Rh3+ Kd4 Kd6 Ke4 c5 Kf4 c4 Kg4 Rd3 Kf5 c3 Ke4 Rd5 Kf3 c2 h4 c1=Q Ke2 Qc3 Kf1 Rd2 h5 Qa1#

33. Nd7

38. Nxg7+

42..Ke7
Game 27: Defense Game DvE with White White plays DvE, as black builds the impressive 4 pawn standard custom defense (9). White foils all his adversary's attempts at attacking later in the center (15). Black keeps trying, but in the second wave of exchanges (21) he loses a pawn. The sequel is a tricky queen and rooks endgame, where white improves his position (32) and wins another pawn. Afterwards white has the necessary advantage to overpower black (36) and win (50). The D-game is tough enough!

9. Bd2

15. Bg5

21..d3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.* 33. 34.
d3 Nd2 e3 Ne2 Ng3 Nb3 Be2 O-O Bd2 Nh5 Nxf6+ Nc1 g3 exd4 Bg5 Nb3 Qd2 Bf4 Bxd6 dxe4 Bb5 cxd3 Bxc6 axb3 Rxa7 Ra4 Qc3 Re4 Rd1 Qc2 Qc3 Qe3 Re7+ Qxh6
d5 e5 c5 f5 Nf6 Nc6 Be6 Bd6 O-O Qc7 Rxf6 e4 d4 cxd4 Rff8 Rae8 h6 Kh7 Qxd6 fxe4 d3 Bxb3 bxc6 exd3 Qd4 Qd7 Rd8 d2 Rf5 g6 Rd5 Qf5 Kg8 Qf6
35. 36.* 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.* 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67.
Qe3 Rd3 Qe6+ Qxe6 Rxe6 Rxb3 Rxg6+ Kf7 Rxc6 Rxb2 h4 Rb5 f4 Rb2 Kf2 Rd3 Rc7+ Ke6 h5 Rd5 h6 Rh5 h7 Rh2+ Kg1 Rh5 Kg2 Kd6 Rg7 Kc6 g4 Rh4 Kg3 Rh6 Rg6+ Rxg6 h8=Q Rb3+ Kh4 Rd6 Qc8+ Kb6 Qb8+ Kc6 Qxb3 Kc7 Qc3+ Kb7 Qc5 Rh6+ Kg5 Rc6 Rb1+ Kc7 Qe7+ Kc8 Qe8+ Kc7 Qb8+ Kd7 Rb7+ Rc7 Qxc7+ Ke8 Rb8#

32. Qe3

36..Qxe6

50. g4
Defense Games 125
Game 28: Defense Game Dv1 with Black Black plays Dv1, shutting down the Q-side rook pawn attack (9), then closing the center. Black offers his Q-side pawns in exchange for a strong K-side attack (16). A solid rook sacrifice (23) allows him equalize and take the initiative. In the endgame material is balanced, but white has a passed pawn (33), so black brings the game to an early conclusion with perpetual check (44,50). This game, like many others, shows the surprising capabilities of the D-game for counter attack.

9. d5

16..Qg4

23..Rxe3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.* 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.
d4 e4 Nf3 Nc3 Bd3 a4 O-O Be3 d5 Qd2 Bxb6 Qe3 Bb5 Nxb5 Qxb6 Nxd6 Ne1 Nc4 Ne3 Nd3 Qxb7 Rac1 Qxe7 fxe3 Kh1 Rxc1 Rg1 d6
d6 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7 e6 a5 Ne7 Ng6 e5 Be7 cxb6 O-O Bxb5 Qc8 Nf4 Qg4 Qg6 Qxe4 Rac8 Rxc2 Re2 Qxd3 Rxe3 Ne2+ Nxc1 Qxe3 Qd4 Qxb2
29. d7 30. Qxe5 31. Qxa5 32. Qb4 33.* Ra1 34. h3 35. Qe4 36. Rb1 37. Qb4 38. Rd1 39. Qh4 40. Qc4 41. Rd4 42. Kh2 43. g3 44.* h4 45. Rd8+ 46. Qxa4 47. Kg1 48. Kg2 49. Kh3 50.* Kh2 51. Kg1 52. Kh2 53. Kh3 54. Kh2 1/2-1/2
Qd2 Qxd7 h6 Ra8 Qd5 Qa5 Rd8 Qc7 Ra8 Qe5 Ra5 Qe8 Qe1+ Qe5+ g6 Rxa4 Kg7 Qe2+ Qe1+ Qe2+ Qf1+ Qe2+ Qe1+ Qf2+ Qf1+ Qe2+

33..Qd5

44..Rxa4

50..Qe2+
Game 29: Defense Game DvB' with Black Black's DvB' responds to the rook pawn early attack (9). Black expands on the Q-side and wins white's isolated rook pawn (18). After calmly adjusting his position, black opens a Q-side attack (39,48), then begins slicing thru the white defenses (57,68), all the while defending neatly against potential mating threats. By all standards of the game, truly a lovely victory for black.

9. a6

18..Bb5

39..b4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38.
d4 e6 Nf3 Ne7 e4 d6 Nc3 Nd7 Bd3 Nb6 O-O Ng6 a4 Bd7 a5 Nc8 a6 b6 Be3 Be7 Qd2 O-O Bc4 c6 e5 d5 Bd3 Bb4 Bxg6 hxg6 Qd3 c5 Ne2 c4 Qd1 Bb5 c3 Ba5 Qc2 Ne7 Rfd1 Qd7 Bg5 Bxa6 Ng3 Bb5 Nh4 Rac8 Rf1 Nf5 Ngxf5 gxf5 Nf3 a6 Rfe1 Ra8 Re2 Qc7 Qb1 Rfe8 Re1 Reb8 Nd2 Kh7 Qd1 Rh8 Nf1 Kg8 Ng3 Bc6 Qe2 b5 Qd2 Rh7 Re3 Rb8
39.* 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.* 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57.* 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.* 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76.
Rf3 Qc2 bxc3 Qd2 Qa2 Nf1 h4 Rh3 Qe2 Bc1 Qa2 Qxa1 h5 Bf4 h6 Bc1 Re3 hxg7 Qb1 Qb4 Bxa3 Qf8+ Qg8+ Qh8 Bf8 Bxg7 Qh3 Qg3+ Qh3+ g3 Qg2 f4 Qf2 Kxf2 Ne3 g4 Ng2 Ne1
b4 bxc3 Rb3 Bb6 a5 Rh5 Qb8 Bc7 Rh7 Rb1 Rxa1 Bd8 a4 Be7 a3 Qb3 Qd1 Ba4 Bg5 Kxg7 Bc2 Kg6 Rg7 Bxe3 Bh6 Bxg7 Bd3 Kh7 Bh6 Qe1 Qxc3 Qxd4+ Qxf2+ c3 d4 fxg4 c2 c1=Q

48..Rb1

57..Bg5

68..Qe1
Defense Games 127
Game 30: Defense Game Dv1 with Black Black's Dv1 shuts down a rook pawn attack (9). White tries to build an offensive based on his pieces in the center, but black dismantles it without complications (17). White sacrifices a pawn temporarily to try another attack, but black covers everything easily (29), retaining the initiative and threatening to clean up on the Q-side (35). Black drives for promotion (43), but white is able to stop his opponent short of victory with an exchange sacrifice (50) and hold on for the draw.

9. Nd2

17..c6

29..Rf8
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.* 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.* 36. 37.
d4 e4 Nc3 Nf3 Bd3 O-O a4 Be3 Nd2 f4 fxe5 Nc4 Bxc4 Qf3 Bxd4 Nd5 Qc3 Nb6 Bxg7 Bxe6 Bxf8 Rad1 Qh3 b3 Rde1 Kh1 Rd1 Qe6+ Rf7 Qd5 Rxf8+ Qa8 Rf1 cxb3 Qf3 Rd1 axb5
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7 a5 Ng6 Be7 e5 dxe5 Nxc4 O-O exd4 Be6 Bd6 c6 c5 Qxb6 fxe6 Bxf8 Bg7 Qc6 Qxe4 Qd4+ e5 Qb4 Kh8 Rf8 b6 Bxf8 c4 cxb3 Kg7 Be7 b5 Qxb5
38. g3 e4 39. Qxe4 Qxb3 40. Rb1 Qf7 41. Kg2 Qa2+ 42. Kh3 a4 43.* Rb7 a3 44. Ra7 Qb2 45. Qe6 Qf6 46. Qc4 Ne5 47. Qe2 Qh6+ 48. Kg2 Qc6+ 49. Kh3 Qc5 50.* Rxa3 Qxa3 51. Qxe5+Bf6 52. Qc7+ Kh6 53. Qf4+ Bg5 54. Qf5 Qe7 55. Kg2 Kg7 56. h4 Be3 57. Qg4+ Kh6 58. Qf5 Qd6 59. Qe4 Bc1 60. g4 Qg6 61. Qc4 Bd2 62. g5+ Bxg5 63. hxg5+ Kxg5 64. Qd5+ Kh4+ 65. Kh1 Qb1+ 66. Kh2 Qb2+ 67. Kg1 Qg7+ 68. Kh1 Qe7 69. Qd4+ Kh5 70. Qd5+ Kh6 71. Kg2 Qe2+ 72. Kg3 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

35. Qf3

43..a3

50. Rxa3
Game 31: Defense Game DvE with White White's DvE faces the 2 pawn F center classical defense (9). Following the opening trades, the position remains balanced (21). Both sides look for K-side attacking angles, but there are none to be found (33). Black finally sacrifices a pawn to launch his rook pawn (47), and white later follows suit. Despite best efforts by both sides to prevail in the endgame, a drawn game is the result (78). 40. Bf1 Qd6 1. e3 e5 2. Ne2 d5 41. Bc4 Qe7 3. Ng3 Nf6 42. Qd5 h4 4. Be2 Nc6 43. gxh4 c6 5. O-O Bc5 44. Qf3 b5 45. axb5 cxb5 6. d3 O-O 46. Bxb5 Qe5+ 7. Nd2 Be6 47.* Kg2 Bxe3 8. Nb3 Bb6 9.* Bd2 a5 48. Ba4 Bf4 10. a4 Qd6 49. c4 Qd4 9. Bd2 47..Bxe3 11. c3 Ne7 50. Qd5 Be5 12. d4 Nf5 51. Qxd4 Bxd4 13. Nxf5 Bxf5 52. f4 Kf6 14. dxe5 Qxe5 53. Kf3 Ke6 15. Nd4 Ne4 54. Ke4 Bc5 16. Nxf5 Qxf5 55. Bb5 Ba3 17. Qc2 Rfe8 56. Be8 Bd6 18. c4 dxc4 57.* f5+ gxf5+ Rad8 58. Ke3 Ke5 19. Bxc4 Qh5 20. Bc3 59. h5 Bc5+ 21.* Rfd1 Nxc3 60. Kf3 Kf6 22. bxc3 Bc5 61. h6 Kg6 21. Rfd1 57. f5+ 23. Be2 Qh4 62. Bd7 Bd6 24. Rab1 Rxd1+ 63. h7 Kg7 64. Ke3 f4+ 25. Rxd1 b6 26. Bd3 Bd6 65. Kd4 f6 27. h3 Qh5 66. h4 Kxh7 28. Bf5 Rd8 67. Kd5 Bc7 68. Ke4 f5+ 29. Rd4 g6 30. Be4 Qe5 69. Bxf5+ Kh6 31. g3 Qe7 70. Bd7 Kh5 32. Bg2 Bc5 71. c5 Kxh4 33.* Qe4 Qf6 72. Ba4 Kg3 73. Bd1 Bb8 34. Rd5 Kg7 33. Qe4 after 78. Kd3 35. Rd3 Rxd3 74. c6 Bc7 36. Qxd3 Qd6 75. Be2 Bd8 37. Qc2 Qd7 76. Bd1 Bb6 38. Qe4 h6 77. Bh5 a4 39. Kh2 h5 78.* Kd3 1/2-1/2
Defense Games 129
Game 32: Defense Game Dv1 with White In an example taken from analysis of beginner's style D-game lines white's Dv1 confronts a 2 pawn standard classical defense with Q-side rook pawn attack (9). White's pawn offer (14) results in a doubled pawn for black. White attacks on open lines (23), and forces simplifications (30). The endgame is fairly easy for beginners; it allows the opponent to draw (36,48), but only if he doesn't make any mistakes. Finally something even beginners can understand and play well!

9. Bd2

14. Nc5

23. Ne4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.*
e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 d3 Nd2 Nb3 a4 Bd2 O-O Re1 d4 Bc3 Nc5 dxc5 Bxf6 c3 Bxd3 Qxd3 e4 exd5 c4 Ne4 Qg3+ Nd6 Rxe1 f3 Kh1 Nxb7 Qd6+
e5 d5 Nf6 Bd6 O-O Nc6 a5 Be6 Re8 Qe7 e4 Nb4 c6 Bxc5 Qxc5 gxf6 Nd3 exd3 Qf8 Qh6 Bxd5 Be6 Bf5 Kf8 Rxe1+ Qd2 Qd4+ Be6 Bxc4 Qxd6
31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.* 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.* 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59.
Nxd6 Ne4 Ra1 Kg1 Nc5 Rc1 b3 h3 f4 h4 g3 Re1+ Re3 Nb7 Kf2 Rc3 Ke2 Ke3 Nc5 Rc4 Rc2 Rc1 Rxb1 Kd4 Re1 Kc4 Kd4 Kc4 Kd4
Bb3 Re8 Kg7 Rd8 Bc2 Rd2 f5 Kf6 h5 Ke7 f6 Kf7 Bd1 Rd5 Bc2 Be4 Ke7 Kf7 Bb1 Ba2 Bb1 Ke7 Rxc5 Kd6 Rd5+ Rc5+ Rd5+ Rc5+ 1/2-1/2

30. Qd6+

36..Rd2

48..Kf7
Game 33: Defense Game DvB' with Black The author with black retreats from the rook pawn attack with DvB' (9). After a few trades, black is able to pile up on and win the isolated rook pawn (23,26), but white later equalizes and threatens to attack Q-side. Black simplifies further (33), and pushes for promotion, allowing white's queen to invade (42). White then chooses to force draw by perpetual check (49). All quite straightforward.

9. a6

23..Rb8

26..Nb8
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25.
e4 d4 Nf3 Nc3 Bd3 O-O a4 a5 a6 Be3 Qe2 Rad1 e5 Bxg6 Qd2 Ne2 b3 Ra1 Ra2 Rfa1 Bg5 Bxe7 c3 Ng5 Ng3
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7 Ng6 Nc8 b6 Be7 O-O c6 d5 fxg6 b5 Nb6 Bc8 Nd7 Nb8 Nd7 Rf7 Qxe7 Rb8 Rf8 Rb6
26.* Nf3 27. Ne1 28. Nd3 29. Qxa2 30. Nc5 31. Nxa6 32. b4 33.* cxd4 34. Nc5 35. bxc5 36. Qb2 37. Qxa1 38. Qa5 39. Qb4 40. Qd2 41. Qg5 42.* Qd8 43. Nf1 44. Qc7+ 45. Qb7 46. Qb8+ 47. Qb7 48. Qb8+ 49.* Qb7 1/2-1/2
Nb8 Rxa6 Rxa2 a6 Nd7 c5 cxd4 Bb7 Nxc5 Ra8 Rxa1+ Bc6 Qb7 Qa6 Qa4 Kf7 b4 b3 Bd7 Ke8 Ke7 Ke8 Ke7 Ke8

33..Bb7

42..b4

49..Ke8
Defense Games 131
Game 34: Defense Game DvE with White White's DvE faces the impressive 4 pawn standard custom defense, striking immediately at the big forward pawn wall (9). Black is content to trade down (14); white tries to keep the game going. Black attempts to simplify by creating an isolated doubled pawn (19) but his scheme fails. White is a pawn up in an early finale (27) and keeps his advantage until the end, but can't quite force a win (44). Experience in play shows that more expansive defenses are no better than classical ones.

9. e4

14..Qxd1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23.
d3 Nd2 e3 Ne2 Nb3 Ng3 Be2 O-O e4 dxe4 Nxe4 Nd2 Nxe4 c3 Rxd1 Be3 b3 Rxd1 Rc1 Bxc4 bxc4 c5 Nxc5
d5 c5 e5 f5 Nc6 Nf6 Be6 Bd6 fxe4 Nxe4 dxe4 O-O Be7 Qxd1 Rad8 b6 Rxd1+ Rd8 c4 Bxc4 Na5 bxc5 Bxc5
24. 25. 26. 27.* 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.* 45.
Bxc5 Bxa7 Rd1 f4 Rd8+ Rd7+ Rxg7 Rxh7 Bb6 Kf2 Rg7 Kf1 gxf3 Rg3 Bd4 Bxe5 Kf2 Rg8 Kg3 f4 Rf8+ Rf5
Rd2 Rxa2 Rc2 exf4 Kf7 Ke6 Rxc3 Nc6 Rc1+ Ne5 Rc2+ f3 Rxh2 Rb2 Rb3 Rb1+ Kxe5 Rb4 Kf6 Rb1 Ke7 1/2-1/2

27. f4

44..Ke7

19..c4
Game 35: Defense Game Dv5'E with Black Black plays Defense Game main line Dv5'E, against white's 2 pawn standard classical opening (9). Black gains space, attacking on both flanks (19). White's attempts to counter (25,28) result in disastrous loss of material (36,40), and he goes down like a sawn tree. Analysis shows white's play was valid, but the result was total destruction. What does that say about the Defense Game?

9. a4

19..f5

25. b4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.*
e4 d4 Nf3 Nc3 Bd3 O-O Be3 Qd2 a4 h3 d5 a5 Qe2 Bc4 Qd1 axb6 Qd2 Rfe1 Ba2 exf5 Nh2 Kh1 Bb3 Ba2 b4
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O e5 Nf6 c5 Bd7 Qc7 Nh5 Nhf4 b5 axb6 Qb7 b5 f5 Rxf5 Rff8 Ra6 c4 Rfa8 cxb3
26. 27. 28.* 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.* 37. 38. 39. 40.* 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.
cxb3 b4 Ne4 Nxd5 h4 Nxh4 f3 Nxe3 Rxe3 d5 Rd3 Be6 Qc2 dxe4 fxe4 Qc8 Qxc8+Bxc8 Rd2 Bb7 Ng4 Bxe4 Kh2 Bxg2 Kg3 Rg6 Rc1 Bf3 Rc4 e4 Kf2 Bxg4 Rxe4 Bc5+ Kf1 Bf3 Rf2 Rxa2 Re8+ Kf7 Rf8+ Kxf8 Rxf3+ Ke7 Rg3 Rxg3 Ke1 Rg1#

28. h4

36..Bxe4

40..e4
Defense Games 133
Game 36: Defense Game DvDxE with White White responds to the frequently seen bishop early attack, playing DvDxE (9). After center pawns are exchanged, white piles up on black's advanced pawn and wins it (17), then retains his lead after minor pieces and queens are traded (22,36). White's powerful Q-side passed pawns provide the winning margin, but it takes careful play to bring them home (51,68). An educational game.

9. Nf3

17. Bxf6

22. Ng3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
e3 Ne2 d3 Nd2 Ng3 Be2 Qxe2 O-O Nf3 Nd4 exd4 dxe4 dxc5 Bg5 c3 Rae1 Bxf6 Nxe4 Qc2 Re2 Qa4 Ng3 Rxe6 Kxh2 Qxa7 Qe3 Rb1 b3 Qc5 Qb4 c4 Qxd6 Re1 Re5 Rb5
e5 d5 Nf6 Nc6 Bg4 Bxe2 Be7 O-O e4 Nxd4 c5 dxe4 Bxc5 Re8 Qb6 Rac8 Qxf6 Qf5 Bb6 Re6 Bc7 Bxg3 Bxh2+ fxe6 Qb5 Rc6 Rd6 Qd3 Qd5 Ra6 Qd6+ Rxd6 Kf7 Rd2 Rxf2
36.* 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.* 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60.* 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70.
a4 Ra2 a5 e5 Rxb7+Kf6 b4 e4 b5 Ra1 Kg3 Ke5 a6 Ra3+ Kg4 h5+ Kxh5 e3 Re7+ Kd6 Re4 Kc5 Kg4 Rc3 Kf3 g5 Re5+ Kb6 Re6+ Ka7 Re7+ Kb6 Rb7+ Kc5 b6 g4+ Ke2 Rc2+ Kxe3 Rxg2 Rb8 Rg3+ Ke4 Rc3 b7 Rxc4+ Ke5 Kb5 Rg8 Kb4 b8=Q+Kc3 Qb1 Rc5+ Kf4 Rc4+ Ke3 Rb4 Rc8+ Rc4 Qe1+ Kc2 Rxc4+ Kb3 Rb4+ Ka2 Qf2+ Ka3 Qb2#

36. a4

51. Re7+

60. Rg8
Game 37: Defense Game Dv7G with Black Black's Dv7G with a double advance of the g-pawn is an energetic response to the rook pawn attack. Black's scattered position offers good play, and he takes a pawn with an interposed check (18). White's attempt to attack the king (27) drops another pawn; black always seems to find a way to trip up his adversary (35). White's last attempt to win (43) goes down in equally humorous fashion (53), and black takes his pawn in for the victory. A thoroughly entertaining contest.

9. Be3

18..Bxc3

27. c5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.* 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.
Nf3 e6 d4 Ne7 c4 d6 e4 Nd7 Nc3 Ng6 h4 Be7 h5 Ngf8 h6 g5 Be3 Bf6 Rh5 Rg8 Bd3 e5 dxe5 Nxe5 Nxe5 Bxe5 Qa4+ Bd7 Qb3 b6 Bc2 Ne6 O-O-ONf4 Rhh1 Bxc3 Bxf4 Bxb2+ Qxb2 gxf4 e5 Qg5 f3 dxe5 Bxh7 Rh8 Be4 O-O-O h7 Qe7 Qc2 Rdf8 c5 Qxc5 Qxc5 bxc5 Rh6 Be6 Bb1 Rd8 Re1 Rd5 Bc2 Kd8 Re4 Bd7 Rh1 Bb5
35.* 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43.* 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53.* 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 0-1
a4 f5 Ree1 Bd7 Kb2 Rd2 Kc3 Rxg2 Rxe5 Rg7 Rb1 Kc8 Bd3 c6 Ba6+ Kc7 Re6 Bxe6 Rb7+ Kd6 Rxg7 Bd5 Bd3 Ke5 Rxa7 Bxf3 Rf7 Be4 a5 f3 Bxe4 fxe4 Kd2 c4 a6 Ke6 Rc7 c3+ Ke3 Kd5 Rd7+ Kc4 Rd4+ Kb5 Rxe4 Rxh7 Kxf3 c2 Re1 Ka4 Rg1 Kb3 Ke4 Re7+ Kd4 Ra7 Rg3+ Kb2 Rg2 Kb1 Rg1+ c1=Q Rxc1+ Kxc1 Kc5 Rxa6

35..f5

43. Re6

53..c3+
Defense Games 135
Game 38: Defense Game DvDxE with Black Black's DvDxE responds to a bishop early attack and exchange (9). Both sides try to inflict structural damage (17), but black succeeds more, leaving white's king exposed to queen and rook checks (25), and gaining enough time to grab a pawn. Black then exchanges off the remaining pieces (32) and pushes white's king away from the game winning passed pawn (39,45). Like many others, this game shows one of the best ways to play the D-system: trade everything in sight!

9. Qd2

17..Bxf3

25. Kg1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.*
d4 d6 e4 Nd7 Nf3 e6 Nc3 Ne7 Be2 Ng6 Bg5 Be7 Bxe7 Qxe7 O-O O-O Qd2 Nf6 e5 Nd5 exd6 cxd6 Nxd5 exd5 c4 dxc4 Bxc4 Bg4 Bd5 Qd7 Be4 d5 Bxg6 Bxf3 Bxh7+ Kxh7 gxf3 Qf5 Rac1 Rac8 Rfe1 Qxf3 Rxc8 Qg4+ Kf1 Rxc8 Re7 Qf3 Kg1 Rc6
26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.* 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39.* 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.* 46. 47. 48. 49. 0-1
b3 Rg6+ Kf1 Qh3+ Ke2 Qh5+ Kf1 Qxh2 Qd3 Qh1+ Ke2 Qh5+ Qf3 Re6+ Rxe6 Qxf3+ Kxf3 fxe6 Kf4 Kg6 b4 Kf6 b5 a5 bxa6 bxa6 a3 e5+ dxe5+ Ke6 a4 a5 f3 g6 Ke3 Kxe5 f4+ Kf5 Kd4 Kxf4 Kxd5 g5 Kc4 g4 Kb5 g3 Kxa5 Ke5

32..Re6+

39..e5+

45. Kd4
Game 39: Defense Game Dv5'G' with White Challenged by the rook pawn early attack, white retreats with the knight, then strikes at the center with Dv5'G'. Following the opening trades, white's position is compact and active (17). Black opens the attack with a pawn offer (19), but white is able to cover all his threats and take 2 pawns in the process (28,34). White has the winning margin, but it still takes a while to close it out (54).

9. exd5

17. O-O-O

19..c4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.* 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.* 35.
e3 e5 d3 Nf6 Ne2 d5 Nd2 c5 Ng3 h5 Be2 h4 Ngf1 Nc6 e4 Be6 exd5 Nxd5 Bf3 Nd4 Ne3 Nxe3 fxe3 Nxf3+ Qxf3 Qc7 b3 h3 Bb2 hxg2 Qxg2 O-O-O O-O-O Kb8 Kb1 f6 h4 c4 Nxc4 Bd5 e4 Bxc4 bxc4 Bc5 h5 Rd7 Qg4 Rhd8 h6 Qb6 Ka1 gxh6 Rxh6 Bd4 Rb1 Rc7 Rg6 Rh7 Qg2 Qc5 Rxf6 Bxb2+ Rxb2 Rdh8 Rf1 Qd4 a3 Qd7 Ka2 Qe7
36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.* 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70.
Qg6 Rg7 Qf6 Rh2 Qf8+ Qxf8 Rxf8+ Kc7 Re8 Kd6 c5+ Kxc5 Rxe5+ Kd6 Ra5 b6 Rd5+ Ke6 Kb3 Rhg2 a4 R7g5 Rd8 Rg8 Rd4 Ke7 Rc4 Kd6 Kc3 R2g5 d4 Rg3+ Kb4 a6 c3 Rg2 Rxg2 Rxg2 Rc8 Rb2+ Kc4 Kd7 Ra8 b5+ Kd5 bxa4 Rxa6 Rb3 Rxa4 Rxc3 e5 Rb3 e6+ Ke7 Ra7+ Ke8 Ke5 Kf8 d5 Re3+ Kd6 Re4 Ra8+ Kg7 e7 Kg6 e8=Q+ Rxe8 Rxe8 1-0

28. Rb1

34. a3

54. Rxg2
Defense Games 137
Game 40: Defense Game DvDxE with White The author plays DvDxE against black's 2 pawn classical opening with bishop early attack (9). White simplifies with piece exchanges (17), then begins chasing the black queen (25). Twenty moves later the situation is much the same (45), with little chance of a break thru for either side, and so a draw is agreed. The D-game is ideal when playing for a draw against stronger players.

9. c3

17. Nh5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.
e3 Ne2 d3 Nd2 Ng3 Be2 Qxe2 O-O c3 d4 Nb3 dxe5 Nd4 Nf3 Nxe5 Rd1 Nh5 Nxf6+ Bd2 Qf1 h3 Rac1 f4
e5 d5 Nf6 Nc6 Bg4 Bxe2 Be7 O-O Qd7 Rae8 b6 Nxe5 c5 Bd6 Bxe5 Qe6 Rd8 Bxf6 Rfe8 Qg4 Qg6 Be5 Bf6
24. Qf3 25.* Qf1 26. Qf3 27. a3 28. Rb1 29. Re1 30. Qd1 31. Qg4 32. Qf3 33. Qd1 34. Qf3 35. Kf2 36. Qe2 37. Qd1 38. Qe2 39. Qf3 40. Qe2 41. Qd1 42. Qg4 43. g3 44. h4 45.* Qf3 1/2-1/2
Qd3 Qe4 Qa4 Qb3 a5 Qc2 Qg6 Qe4 Qa4 Qc6 a4 Qb5 Qb3 Qc4 Qe4 Qd3 Qc2 Qg6 Qh6 Re4 Be7 Qg6

25. Qf1

after 45..Qg6
Game 41: Defense Game DvCG with White White's interesting DvCG confronts black's 3 pawn C center classical defense (9). After the opening exchanges white pursues a provocative line offering a pawn for control of the open files (20). A bishop sacrifice (29) opens an attack with the queen and rooks. Black keeps in the lead and threatens promotion (44), but his undeveloped castle position obliges him to fall back to defend (51). White then cramps his position, and delivers the coup de grace (65). Great chess!

9. O-O

20. Nxe4

29. Ba6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.* 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.* 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.
e3 Be2 d3 Nd2 Nb3 Bd2 Nf3 Bc3 O-O Ng5 e4 dxe4 Nxe4 Qd3 Qxc3 g3 Qe3 Rad1 Nd2 Nxe4 Qc3 Qxc2 Bd3 f4 Be2 Rfe1 b4 a3 Ba6 Rxd6 Rd3 axb4 Rc1 Rb1 Rd5 Kf1
e5 d5 Nf6 Bd6 c5 O-O Nc6 Bf5 Qc7 Rad8 dxe4 Bxe4 Nxe4 Nxc3 e4 b6 Rfe8 Qc8 Nb4 Nxc2 Rxe4 Re5 Rh5 c4 Rc5 c3 Rc7 a5 Qxa6 Rf8 axb4 Qa3 Rfc8 b5 Qa7+ Qa8
37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.* 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.* 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65.* 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72.
Rbd1 Rf8 Kf2 Qa4 Qxa4 bxa4 Ra5 c2 Rc1 Rfc8 Rxa4 Rd7 b5 Rd1 Raa1 Rd2+ Ke3 Rxh2 b6 Re8+ Kd3 Rd8+ Ke4 Rhd2 b7 Re8+ Kf3 Rd3+ Kg2 Rdd8 Rxc2 Rb8 Rc7 Kf8 g4 Rbd8 Ra2 Rb8 Kf3 Red8 g5 Kg8 Re2 Rf8 Rd7 Kh8 Rc2 Kg8 f5 Rbe8 Kf4 Rb8 Rdc7 h5 gxh6 Kh7 Rc8 Rfxc8 bxc8=QRxc8 Rxc8 gxh6 Ke5 Kg7 f6+ Kg6 Rg8+ Kh5 Rg7 Kh4 Rxf7 1-0

44..Rd2+

51..Rdd8

65. Rc8
Defense Games 139
Game 42: Defense Game Dv3E with White White's Dv3E is one of the best Defense Game attacking lines (9). Here white maintains easy equality after the opening, foiling black's attempted attack (18) and winning a pawn in the process. Black finds no way to equalize (25), as white simplifies (31) and takes another pawn. Even his two pawn advantage doesn't guarantee white a win however (48,57). Still . . better 2 up than 2 down!

9. Nxc4

18..c4

25..Bc5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
e3 Ne2 d3 Ng3 Be2 Nd2 O-O c4 Nxc4 Bf3 Bxc6 dxc4 Qc2 cxb5 b3 Ba3 Rfd1 Bb2 bxc4 Qc3 Qxe5 Bxe5 Rd2 f3 Bd4 Bxc5 e4 Ne2 Rad1 Rxc2
e5 d5 Nf6 Be7 O-O c5 Nc6 dxc4 Be6 Qc7 Bxc4 Qxc6 b5 Qxb5 Rfc8 Rab8 Qa5 c4 Rb4 Rcxc4 Qxe5 g6 Rb6 Re6 Bc5 Rxc5 Rec6 Rc2 Nd7 Rxc2
31.* Rxd7 Rxe2 32. Rxa7 Kg7 33. Kf1 Rc2 34. a4 Kf6 35. a5 Ra2 36. f4 h5 37. e5+ Ke6 38. h4 Ra4 39. Ra6+ Ke7 40. g3 Ra2 41. Kg1 Ra1+ 42. Kg2 Ra2+ 43. Kh3 Ra3 44. Ra7+ Ke6 45. Kg2 Ra2+ 46. Kf3 Ra3+ 47. Kf2 Ra2+ 48.* Ke1 Rg2 49. Ra6+ Ke7 50. Rb6 Rxg3 51. a6 Rg2 52. Kf1 Ra2 53. Rb7+ Ke6 54. a7 f6 55. Rb6+ Kf5 56. Rxf6+ Kg4 57.* Rxg6+ Kxf4 58. Rg7 Kxe5 1/2-1/2

31. Rxd7

48. Ke1

57. Rxg6+
Game 43: Defense Game Dv66x with White White strikes at the big four pawn wall of a custom defense with Dv66x (9). After several sharp exchanges in the center white has to castle to safety, and he loses a pawn (16). White has several opportunities to regain it later, but attacks instead (21,28), emerging a pawn up (32) with a winning position in the pawn endgame (38). Chess will never cease to surprise and delight us!

9. Nc3

16. O-O-O

21. Qd4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.* 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.* 29.
d3 d5 e3 e5 Ne2 f5 Nd2 Nf6 Nb3 c5 Bd2 Nc6 f4 Bd7 fxe5 Nxe5 Nc3 c4 Nd4 Bc5 Nf3 Qe7 d4 Nxf3+ Qxf3 Bxd4 Nxd5 Nxd5 Qxd5 Bxe3 O-O-O c3 Bxe3 Qxe3+ Kb1 O-O-O Bd3 Qb6 Qc4+ Qc7 Qd4 cxb2 Qxa7 Qc3 Qb6 g6 Rhe1 Rhe8 Rxe8 Rxe8 Bb5 Bxb5 Qxb5 Rd8 Rxd8+Kxd8 Qxb7 g5
30. 31. 32.* 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38.* 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57.
a4 a5 Qd5+ a6 Kxb2 Qb3 Kxb3 Kc4 Kd5 Ke5 Kf5 h3 Kg6 Kxh6 hxg4 Kg6 gxf3 Kf5 Ke5 g5 g6 g7 g8=Q Ke4 Qg4 Qg2 Kd3 Qg1#
Qd4 Qc3 Kc7 Qe1+ Qb4+ Qxb3+ f4 Kb6 Kxa6 Kb5 h6 Kc4 Kd4 g4 Ke3 f3 Kxf3 Ke3 Kd2 Kxc2 Kd3 Ke3 Ke2 Kf2 Ke1 Kd1 Ke1

28. Rxd8+

32. Qd5+

38. Kd5
Defense Games 141
Game 44: Defense Game DvDxE with Black Black responds to the bishop early attack, playing DvDxE (9). After the opening black is left with an isolated center pawn, but has no real problems otherwise until white opens the Q-side (15), resulting in the gain of a pawn. Black can equalize, but has poor prospects of winning and so brings the game to a quick conclusion instead with perpetual check (21,23). As easy as it gets!

9. Qd2

15. a4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.*
e4 d4 Nf3 Bd3 O-O Bg5 Bxe7 Nc3 Qd2 e5 dxe5 Rfe1 Bxg6 b3 a4
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 Qxe7 O-O Nf6 dxe5 Nd7 a6 fxg6 b5 Bb7
16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.
axb5 Rxa8 Nxb5 gxf3 Nxc7 Rd1 f3 Qxd7 hxg3 Kh1 Kg1 Kh1 Kg1 Kh1
axb5 Bxa8 Bxf3 Rxf3 Rf5 Qh4 Rxf3 Rg3+ Qxg3+ Qh3+ Qg3+ Qh3+ Qg3+ 1/2-1/2

21..Qh4

23..Rg3+
Game 45: Defense Game Dv3'E with White Here is a typical example of the many draws that the author has produced playing the Defense Game. White's Dv3'E faces a 2 pawn standard classical defense (9). Black closes the center and then exchanges knights (13), bishops, and queens (19). Afterwards the presence of all the pawns on the board leaves little scope for the remaining rooks, and white's knight covers the holes in the pawn structure (30). Black maneuvers for a while afterwards (40), but can't break thru anywhere.

9. e4

13. Nh5

19..Bxg4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.
e3 Ne2 d3 Nd2 Ng3 Be2 O-O c3 e4 Re1 Bf3 c4 Nh5 Bxh5 a3 Nf1 Rxc1 h3 Bg4 Qxg4 hxg4 Ng3 Rc2 Rd1 Ne2 Nc1
Nf6 d5 e5 Nc6 Bd6 Be6 O-O Re8 Be7 Qd7 d4 a5 Nxh5 a4 Bg5 Bxc1 Ra5 h6 Bxg4 Qxg4 Ra6 Rb6 Rb3 Nd8 Kf8 Rb6
27. f3 28. Ne2 29. Kf2 30.* Nc1 31. Rdd2 32. Ke1 33. gxh5 34. Rf2 35. Rf1 36. Rcf2 37. Rg1 38. Kf1 39. Ke2 40.* Kf1 41. Rd2 42. Kf2 43. Kf1 44. Kf2 45. Kf1 46. Kf2 47. Kf1 48. Kf2 49. Kf1 50. Ne2 51. Kf2 52.* Kf1 1/2-1/2
Ke7 Ne6 Nc5 Re6 Rh8 h5 Rxh5 Reh6 g5 Rh2 Ke6 b6 f6 Rh1 c6 R1h2 Rh7 Kd6 Rh8 R8h6 Ke6 Kf7 Ne6 Rh7 Rh8 Ke7

30. Nc1

40..Rh1

after 52..Ke7
Defense Games 143
Game 46: Defense Game Dv5'E with Black The author with black plays Defense Game Dv5'E (9) and draws against his strong computer rival. Black invites the knight for bishop exchange, consolidates, and challenges the king knight (15). White obliges with trades of pieces and queens, producing a doubled pawn, but no real problems otherwise (20). Black then challenges on the open file and exchanges both rooks (24). All that's left is to close out the pawn structure (30) and then it's a draw (35). Chess has never been easier!

9. Nd5

15. Qe2
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19.
e4 d6 Nf3 Nd7 d4 e6 Nc3 Ne7 Bd3 Ng6 O-O Be7 Be3 O-O Re1 e5 Nd5 Nf6 Nxe7+ Qxe7 d5 a6 c4 Nd7 b4 b6 Qc2 Nh4 Qe2 Nxf3+ Qxf3 Nf6 Bg5 h6 Bxf6 Qxf6 Qxf6 gxf6
20.* 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.* 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.* 36. 37.
c5 Rd8 cxb6 cxb6 a4 Bd7 a5 b5 Rac1 Rdc8 g3 Rxc1 Rxc1 Rc8 Rxc8+ Bxc8 Bc2 Kg7 f4 Kg6 f5+ Kg7 Kg2 Bd7 Kh3 Bc8 Kg4 Bd7 Kh5 Bc8 Bd3 Bd7 Be2 Bc8 Bd1 1/2-1/2

24..Rdc8

30. f5+

20. c5

35..Bd7
Game 47: Defense Game Dv6G" with White White counters a rook pawn attack with Dv6G" (9). White launches an all-out assault (16) which pushes black to the wall, even going two pawns down temporarily to keep up the pressure (24). Black trades down to relieve pressure, but white keeps finding sharp lines (34), and later a clear path to promotion for his passed pawn (44). In a tense finale black barely salvages a draw. Heavy!

9. g4

16. a5

24. Qa4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.* 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.* 35. 36. 37. 38.
e3 Ne2 d3 Ng3 Be2 O-O Nh1 f4 g4 Nc3 exf4 g5 Nb5 c4 a4 a5 Nc3 Bf3 a6 Ng3 f5 Nxf5 Bxd5 Qa4 Nxa4 Rf3 Nxc5 Be3 Bf2 Bxc5 Rxh3 Re3 Bxe3 Rd1 c5 Bb7 Bf4 Rd8+
e5 d5 c5 Nf6 h5 h4 Nc6 h3 Bd6 exf4 Ne7 Nd7 Bb8 Nb6 Be6 Nbc8 O-O Bc7 bxa6 Rb8 Nxf5 Bxf5 Qd7 Qxa4 Bxd3 Bg6 Bb6 Re8 Bxc5 Rxb2 Rc2 Rxe3 Bd3 Bf5 Ne7 Re2 Rb2 Kh7
39. Rb8 40. Kf2 41. Ke3 42. Bg2 43. Kf2 44.* Rb2 45. Bd2 46. Bxe4 47. Rb7 48. Kg3 49. Bf4 50. Bd6 51. Rxa7 52. h4 53. Kg4 54. Bf4 55. Ra6+ 56.* gxf6 57. fxg7+ 58. Rxa5 59. Kf5 60. Ke6 61. Rb5 62. Kd6 63. Ke6 64. Rb6 65. Kd6 66. c6 67. Kc5 68. Kb5 69. Kc4 70. c7 71. Rc6 72. Kb5 73. Kxc6 74. Kd7 75. c8=Q 1/2-1/2
Rb1+ Bd3 Rd1 Nf5+ Ra1 Ra4 Be4 Rxe4 Nd4 Re2 Rc2 Kg6 a5 Nf5+ Rc4+ Nxh4 f6 Ng2 Kxg7 Nxf4 Nd3 Nb4 Re4+ Rd4+ Rc4 Re4+ Kf7 Re6+ Nd3+ Re5+ Nf4 Re1 Rc1+ Rxc6 Ng6 Ne7 Nxc8

34. Rd1

44..Ra4

56..Ng2
Defense Games 145
Game 48: Defense Game Dv3'E with White The author with white plays Defense Game Dv3'E versus the 2 pawn standard classical defense (9). White retreats from a center challenge and is under some pressure afterwards (18), but his D-game defense holds, and he can even look for attacks (26). After some maneuvering white is able to force a series of trades (33,37,49), and close out the game for a draw. Not at all bad.

9. Re1

18. f3

26. Qb5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.* 27. 28. 29.
e3 Ne2 d3 Nd2 Ng3 Be2 O-O c3 Re1 Bf3 Be2 hxg3 Bxd3 Qc2 Qxd3 Nf1 Qe2 f3 g4 Bd2 Rad1 Ng3 Kf2 Rc1 Rcd1 Qb5 Rh1 Rc1 Ne2
e5 d5 Nf6 Nc6 Be6 Bd6 Qe7 O-O Rad8 e4 Bxg3 exd3 Ne5 Nxd3 Rfe8 c5 Bg4 Bh5 Bg6 b6 h6 Qe5 Bc2 Bh7 a5 Qc7 Bc2 Bg6 Re7
30. Nf4 Bh7 31. Rcd1 Rde8 32. Bc1 Rd8 33.* c4 dxc4 34. Rxd8+Qxd8 35. Qxc4 Qb8 36. Rd1 Re5 37.* Nd5 Nxd5 38. Rxd5 Qe8 39. Rxe5 Qxe5 40. Qb5 Qe6 41. e4 Bg6 42. Bf4 Qxa2 43. Qxb6 a4 44. Kg3 Qb3 45. Qb8+ Kh7 46. Qxb3 axb3 47. Bd2 f6 48. Kf4 Be8 49.* e5 fxe5+ 50. Kxe5 Bb5 51. g5 hxg5 52. Bxg5 Bf1 53. g3 Kg6 54. Be3 c4 55. Bd4 Be2 56. f4 Bg4 57. Kd5 Be2 1/2-1/2

33. c4

37. Nd5

49. e5
Game 49: Defense Game DvB'G with White White's DvB'G reacts to a rook pawn attack, and uses one conventional knight placement (9). White retreats initially, then expands his position (15,22). He builds the tension nicely and opens an attack with a fine sacrifice of the exchange (27). White then exploits the position perfectly (35), finally capturing all of black's remaining pawns (45) for a resounding victory. Wunderbar!

9. O-O

15. Nc2

22. c5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.* 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.
d3 Nd2 e3 Be2 Nb3 Bd2 Nc1 Nf3 O-O d4 Ne1 b3 c4 f3 Nc2 Qxd2 cxd5 Bc4 bxc4 fxe4 Qd3 c5 Ne2 Rf4 Raf1 Qb3 Rxe4 Rxf8+ Nc3 Nxa4 Qxa3 Kf2 dxc5 Nd4
e5 d5 Nc6 Nf6 a5 a4 Bd6 O-O Qe7 e4 a3 Be6 b6 Bb4 Bxd2 Qd6 Bxd5 Bxc4 Ra4 Nxe4 Qe7 Na5 Nc4 f5 bxc5 Qd7 fxe4 Kxf8 Nb2 Nxa4 Qb5 Ke7 Nxc5 Qc4
35.* 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.* 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67.
Qa5 Ne6 Nxe6 Kxe6 a4 Qd5 Qc3 Qa2+ Kg3 Qxa4 Qxg7 Qb4 Qg8+ Kf6 Qd8+ Kf5 Qd5+ Kf6 Kf4 c5 Qe5+ Kf7 Qxe4 c4 Qxh7+Kf6 Qh8+ Kf7 Qd4 Qb8+ Kf3 Qc8 Qd5+ Kf8 Ke2 Qa6 Qf5+ Kg7 Kd2 Qa2+ Qc2 Qa6 Kc3 Qf6+ Kxc4 Qc6+ Kd3 Qd5+ Kc3 Qc6+ Kb2 Qb5+ Kc1 Qf1+ Qd1 Qc4+ Kd2 Qd5+ Ke1 Qxg2 Qd4+ Kg6 Qd6+ Kf7 Qf4+ 1-0

27. Rxe4

35. Qa5

45. Qe5+
Defense Games 147
Game 50: Defense Game DvFxG with Black Black reacts to the rook pawn early attack by bringing his knight forward and exchanging (9). White sacrifices a pawn in an attempt to build an attack (14,23), but it soon fizzles out, leaving him two pawns to the worse. After that he has to fall back and defend (34). Black opens the castle for his rook and bishops (43), and crushes the rest with unerring precision (63). Grandiose!

9. Qg4

14. O-O-O

23. f5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.* 35. 36. 37.
e4 e6 d4 Ne7 Nf3 d6 Nc3 Nd7 Bd3 Ng6 h4 Be7 h5 Nh4 Nxh4 Bxh4 Qg4 Bf6 Ne2 e5 Qg3 exd4 h6 g6 Bf4 O-O O-O-O Nc5 Kb1 Be6 Bd2 Nxd3 cxd3 Qe7 Rc1 Rae8 f3 c5 Ka1 Qd7 Rcd1 Be5 f4 Bh8 f5 Bxf5 Nf4 Bg4 Rc1 f5 exf5 Bxf5 Rhf1 Re5 Rf2 Rfe8 Rh1 d5 Rc1 b6 Rh1 Bg4 Rff1 Rf8 Rh4 Bf5 Rhh1 a5 Rf2 Ree8 Rc1 Be5 Rff1 Qd6
38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43.* 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63.* 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 0-1
Qh4 c4 dxc4 dxc4 Ne2 Bd3 Qg4 Rxf1 Rxf1 Bh8 Rf2 c3 Bc1 cxb2+ Bxb2 Qe6 Qxe6+Rxe6 Nc1 Re1 a4 Be4 Ka2 Bd5+ Ka1 Bc6 Ba3 Re8 Nd3 Bxa4 Rb2 b5 Bc5 b4 Rd2 Bb5 Kb2 Bf6 g4 Bg5 Rd1 Re2+ Kb1 Ba4 Rf1 Bc2+ Ka1 Bxh6 g5 Bg7 Rf3 Re3 Rf4 Rxd3 Kb2 b3 Rf1 Rd1 Rf6 Rb1+ Ka3 d3 Be3 Ra1+ Kb2 Ra2+ Kc3 b2 Kc4 b1=Q Rb6 Bb3+

34. Rhh1

43..c3

63..Re3
Game 51: Defense Game Dv7'G' with Black Black's Dv7'G' is the cautious reaction to the K-side rook pawn early attack (9). Black then advances on both flanks and gains some space (16). Black has to react to a queen invasion (25) and goes a pawn down as white gains tempo by attacking (36). Black has a rough time of it in the four rooks endgame but finally equalizes (58) and is able to make a goal line stand (71). Whew! 40. Rf4+ Ke6 1. d4 d6 2. e4 e6 41. Rc6+ Kd5 3. Nf3 Ne7 42. Rcc4 Rb7 4. c4 Nd7 43. Rfd4+ Ke6 5. Nc3 Ng6 44. Re4+ Kf6 45. Rg4 Rd7 6. h4 Be7 7. h5 Ngf8 46. Rc5 Ra7 47. Rf4+ Ke6 8. h6 g6 9.* Be3 e5 48. Rcc4 Re2 10. d5 f5 49. Kg3 Ra5 9. Be3 32. Be6+ 11. Be2 Nf6 50. Rc6+ Kd7 12. O-O Nxe4 51. Rb6 Re7 52. Rb7+ Ke8 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Nd2 Nd7 53. Rfb4 Ra7 15. Nxe4 Nf6 54. R7b5 Kd8 16.* Ng3 c5 55. a5 Re3+ 17. dxc6 bxc6 56. Kf4 Re2 57. Rb8+ Kc7 18. Bf3 d5 19. cxd5 cxd5 58.* a6 Rxa6 20. Qc2 O-O 59. R4b7+Kc6 21. Rfd1 Bb7 60. Rxh7 Rxg2 22. Ne4 Qd7 61. Rg7 Ra4+ 16..c5 58. a6 23. Nxf6+ Rxf6 62. Kf3 Rag4 24. Rac1 Rd8 63. Rc8+ Kd5 Qc7 64. Rd8+ Ke5 25.* Bxa7 Rf7 26. Qxc7 65. Re8+ Kf5 27. Rxc7 Ba8 66. Rf8+ Ke5 28. Bb6 Rb8 67. Re7+ Kd6 29. Bc5 Bxc5 68. h7 R4g3+ 69. Ke4 Rh3 30. Rxc5 e4 31. Bg4 Ra7 70. Rb7 Rg4+ 32.* Be6+ Kf8 71.* Rf4 Rgh4 33. Bxd5 Bxd5 72. Rxh4 Rxh4+ 34. Rdxd5Rxb2 73. Kf3 Ke6 25..Rf7 71..Rgh4 35. a4 Rb1+ 74. Kg3 g5 36. Kh2 Rb2 75. h8=Q Rxh8 37. Rc8+ Kf7 76. Kg4 Rf8 38. Rd4 Rxf2 77. Kxg5 1/2-1/2 39. Rxe4 Ra2
Defense Games 149
Game 52: Defense Game Dv7G' with Black Black plays Dv7G', a more aggressive response to the rook pawn attack (9). Black launches his K-side pawns into the attack (15), despite the risks of exposing his king. A standoff in the center is broken up by a pawn sacrifice by white (24), who brings both knights forward, but can then find no better continuation than to offer the exchange (34), and draw by perpetual check (38,45).

9. Re1

15..f5

24. c5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27.
e4 d4 c4 Nc3 Nf3 h4 h5 h6 Bd3 Be3 Nd5 Nd2 Bxd4 Be2 Be3 Qb3 Bd4 Rh5 Rc1 Qa3 Kf1 Kg1 Qc3 c5 Bxe5 Nc4 Bd3
e6 d6 Nd7 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 Ngf8 g5 Ng6 e5 g4 exd4 Nde5 O-O f5 f4 Kh8 b6 Bd7 Bh4 Kg8 Be6 Rf7 bxc5 Nxe5 Nc6 Rb8
28. Qd2 g3 29. f3 Nd4 30. b4 Rf8 31. bxc5 dxc5 32. Ne5 c6 33. Nxf4 Bg5 34.* Nxe6 Bxd2 35. Nxd8 Bxc1 36. Bc4+ Kh8 37. Ndf7+ Kg8 38.* Nd6+ Kh8 39. Nef7+ Kg8 40. Ng5+ Kh8 41. Ndf7+ Kg8 42. Nd8+ Kh8 43. Ngf7+ Kg8 44. Nd6+ Kh8 45.* N8f7+ Kg8 46. Rg5+ Bxg5 47. Nxg5+ Kh8 48. Ngf7+ Rxf7 49. Nxf7+ Kg8 50. Ne5+ Kh8 51. Nf7+ Kg8 52. Ne5+ Kh8 53. Nf7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

34. Nxe6

38. Nd6+

45. N8f7+
Game 53: Defense Game DvBE with White White plays the strong Defense Game DvBE (9), and wins in this remarkable contest. After some position adjustment, white opens two files (19), but black seizes control, winning three pawns (30,42) as white keeps trying to find a counter attack. Poor coordination among the black forces later allows white to equalize, drive for promotion, and build a mating attack (58,62). Black has to surrender a piece, and after that it's all white's game. Plenty of surprises in this one! 39. Qe2 Ra3 1. d3 e5 2. Bd2 d5 40. Rf1 d3 3. e3 Nc6 41. Qf3 Kh7 4. Ne2 Nf6 42.* Rc7 Rxa4 5. Ng3 Be7 43. Be3 Ra2 44. Rb7 d2 6. Be2 O-O 45. Rd1 b5 7. O-O Be6 8. Nc3 a6 46. Rxb5 Nc6 9.* a3 Re8 47. Rd5 Ne5 10. Bf3 Qd6 48. Qf1 Rxd5 9. a3 42. Rc7 11. b4 Red8 49. exd5 Qg4 12. e4 d4 50. Bxd2 Nc4 51. h3 Qe4 13. Na2 Qd7 14. Nc1 h6 52. Bf4 g5 15. Nb3 b6 53. Bc1 a4 16. Be2 a5 54. d6 Kg6 55. Ng3 Qc6 17. b5 Na7 56. d7 Bd8 18. a4 c6 19.* f4 exf4 57. Rd4 Nb6 20. bxc6 Nxc6 58.* Bd2 Kg7 21. Bxf4 Rac8 59. Nf5+ Kg8 22. Qb1 Nb4 60. Rd6 Qc4 19. f4 58. Bd2 23. Bd1 Ng4 61. Nxh6+Kg7 24. Bxg4 Bxg4 62.* Bc3+ Kf8 Be6 63. Qf5 Nxd7 25. Rf2 Re8 26. Re2 64. Rxd7 Bb6+ 27. Rf2 Bh4 65. Kh2 Qf4+ 28. Re2 Rc6 66. Qxf4 gxf4 29. Kh1 Rec8 67. Rxf7+ Ke8 30.* Kg1 Nxc2 68. Be5 a3 31. Ra2 Bxb3 69. Bd6 Kd8 32. Qxb3 Nb4 70. h4 Ra1 33. Ra1 Rc3 71. Rxf4 Kd7 72. Be5 Re1 34. Qd1 Qg4 30..Nxc2 62. Bc3+ 35. Bd2 Rxd3 73. Ng4 Bg1+ 36. Nf5 Bf6 74. Kg3 Bc5 37. Re1 Qg6 75. h5 Rh1 38. Rc1 Rd8 76. h6 1-0
Defense Games 151
Game 54: Defense Game Dv3E with Black Black's powerful Dv3E strikes at the center of white's 3 pawn opening. White retreats rather than exchange (9), and the game remains closed until black starts to open it gradually (20,33). After lengthy maneuvers black is able to create and win a doubled pawn (49), and push on to win in a long and difficult positional battle (73). If you like positional play, and have the patience to outlast your adversary, then the Defense Game and the D-system is absolutely the best that you can find.

9. Be3

20..exd5

33..b5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.* 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.* 34. 35. 36. 37.
d4 e4 Nf3 c4 Nc3 Bd3 O-O Be2 Be3 Qc2 d5 Rad1 Rfe1 Nd2 Ndb1 Qd2 f3 Bf1 a4 Bf2 cxd5 Qc2 Na3 g3 Bg2 Qe2 Rf1 Rfe1 Be3 Bg5 f4 Nc2 Rd2 Kh1 h3 Qd1 Bh4
d6 e6 Ne7 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 c5 O-O b6 Bb7 Re8 a6 Qc7 Bf6 Be5 Nf6 Rab8 Rbd8 Qd7 exd5 Bf4 Bg5 Qc7 Ne5 Bh6 g6 Bg7 h5 Nfd7 Rc8 Ng4 c4 b5 bxa4 Ngf6 Nh7 Nc5
38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.* 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73.* 74.
Re3 Na3 Rde2 Rd2 Rf3 gxh4 Qb1 Nc2 Na3 Kh2 Rg3 Rf2 Rf1 Re3 Qd1 Qe2 Qd2 Rd1 Bh1 Rg3 Rgg1 Qe2 Rg2 Nab1 Rgg1 Rgf1 Bg2 Qf2 Rd2 Qxa7 Rc2 Nd1 Rg1 Nd2 bxc3 Rf1 Nc4
Qb6 Nb3 Nd4 Nf5 Nxh4 Qb4 Nf6 Qb6 Nd7 Nc5 Qd8 Bf6 Bxh4 Nb3 Qb6 Nd4 Qa7 Bf6 Rc7 h4 Nb3 Bd4 Bg7 Bc8 Bd7 Rb8 Nd4 Rcb7 Nb3 Rxa7 Rab7 f5 Nc5 c3 Bh6 Nd3 Bxf4+

49..Bf6

73..Nd3
75. Kg1 Rc7 76. Na5 Re8 77. exf5 Bxf5 78. Kh1 Ne1 79. Ra2 Bg3 80. Rd2 Bd3 81. Rf6 Nf3 82. Rxd3 Re1+ 83. Bf1 Rxf1+ 84. Kg2 Rg1+ 85. Kxf3 Rf1+ 86. Ke2 Rxf6 87. Nc6 Rf4 88. Kd2 Re4 89. Kc2 Re2+ 90. Rd2 Rxd2+ 91. Kxd2 a3 92. Kc2 g5 93. Ne3 Rb7 94. Kd3 g4 95. Nd4 gxh3 96. Ng4 h2 97. Nxh2 Bxh2 0-1
Game 55: Close Variant Dv4 with Black Black's Dv4 responds well to any 2 pawn center, here a K-side fianchetto (9). Black loses a pawn and is invaded K-side (22), but his defense holds and he follows by taking all white's Q-side pawns. Black appears to have the game won (51), but after harassment by white's queen he loses his lead and nearly loses the game (69,77). Chess is full of surprises, this game is one of them! 40. Qc3 N6d7 1. g3 e6 Ne7 41*. Nd3 Qe3+ 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 42. Kg2 Qh6 4. Nc3 Nd7 43. Ne5 Nxe5 5. Bg2 Nb6 44. dxe5 Ra8 45. f4 Ne6 6. O-O Bd7 7. Qd3 Ng6 46. Nd4 Nxd4 47. Qxd4 Qg7 8. e4 Be7 9.* h4 h5 48. Qa1 Ra4 10. exd5 exd5 49. Qd1 b5 9. h4 51..d4 11. a4 a5 50. Qg4 a2 12. Re1 O-O 51.* Ra1 d4 52. Qe6+ Qf7 13. b3 c6 14. Bg5 Bxg5 53. Qxc6 Ra5 15. Nxg5 Qf6 54. e6 Qa7 16. Nf3 Rfe8 55. Qe8+ Kg7 56. Kh3 Qb7 17. Qd2 Bf5 57. f5 gxf5 18. Nh2 Nd7 19. Bf3 Qd6 58. Qd8 Ra7 20. Bxh5 Nf6 59. Qg5+ Kh8 21. Bf3 Rad8 60. Qxf5 b4 22.* h5 Nf8 61. Qe5+ Kg8 22. h5 69..Qe7 23. h6 gxh6 62. Qxd4 b3 24. Qxh6 Bxc2 63. Qd8+ Kg7 25. Rxe8 Rxe8 64. Qd4+ Kg6 26. Ng4 Bg6 65. Qg4+ Kh7 27.* Ne5 Qb4 66. Qh4+ Kg6 28. Ne2 Qxb3 67. Qg4+ Kh6 29. Re1 Qxa4 68. Qh4+ Kg7 69.* Rf1 Qe7 30. Kg2 Qb4 31. Rh1 N6h7 70. Qg4+ Kh8 32. Bh5 Be4+ 71. Rf7 Qxf7 33. f3 Bg6 72. exf7 Rxf7 73. Qd4+ Kh7 34. Kf2 a4 27..Qb4 after 77..Kf7 35. Bxg6 fxg6 74. Kg2 Rf8 36. Qe3 Qd6 75. Qe4+ Kg7 37. Qd3 a3 76. Qe5+ Rf6 38. Qb3 Qe7 77.* g4 Kf7 39. Re1 Nf6 1/2-1/2
Close Variants 153
Game 56: Close Variant DvB' with White White responds to a rook pawn attack Q-side, then completes his standard opening (9). Black closes the center (19), and waits for white to open it (26). White picks off black's advanced pawn easily (35), and follows with a serious K-side assault (43) that nets him two more pawns and the exchange (66), and then overcomes black's crumbling defense. An Impressive win! 40. Bh6 Re8 1. d3 d5 2. Nd2 e5 41. Nf5 Nf8 3. Nb3 Nc6 42. Bxf8 Rxf8 4. Bd2 a5 43.* Qg5 Nh7 5. e3 a4 44. Qg3 Ra6 45. Rc7 Qe6 6. Nc1 Nf6 7. Nge2 Bd6 46. Ne7+ Kh8 8. Ng3 O-O 47. Re1 Qd6 9.* Be2 Qe7 48. Rc5 Qxg3 10. a3 Rd8 49. hxg3 Rb8 9. Be2 35. Nxf2 11. O-O Bc5 50. Nxd5 Nf8 12. c3 Bb6 51. Rc7 Rd6 52. Nb4 Kg8 13. d4 Bd7 14. Bb5 Nb8 53. Ree7 Ne6 15. Bxd7 Nbxd7 54. Ra7 Nd8 16. Nce2 Qe6 55. d5 Rc8 56. g4 Kg7 17. Qc2 c5 57. g5 Kg8 18. Rfc1 c4 19.* Re1 e4 58. Re8+ Kg7 20. Nf4 Qc6 59. f4 Rb8 21. Nf5 Re8 60. Na6 Rc8 22. Qd1 Kh8 61. Nc7 Rd7 19..e4 43. Qg5 23. Rf1 Bc7 62. Nxb5 Rxd5 24. Ng3 Kg8 63. Nd4 Rb8 64. Rxa4 Rc5 25. Qc2 g6 26.* f3 Bxf4 65. Ra7 Rd5 27. exf4 e3 66.* Ne6+ Nxe6 28. Bc1 Re7 67. Rxb8 Nxf4 29. Re1 Rae8 68. Rbb7 Rf5 69. g4 Ne2+ 30. f5 b6 31. Nf1 e2 70. Kg2 Rf4 32. Ng3 Qd6 71. Rb8 Rxg4+ 33. Bg5 b5 72. Kf3 Rxg5 73. Kxe2 Re5+ 34. Qd2 Ra8 26. f3 66. Ne6+ 35.* Nxe2 Ree8 74. Kf3 Rf5+ 36. Bf4 Qb6 75. Kg4 Kh6 37. Ng3 Rec8 76. Rh8+ Kg7 38. fxg6 hxg6 77. Rc8 Kh6 39. Re7 Qc6 78. Rxc4 1-0
Game 57: Close Variant Dv5'E with Black The author plays his favorite opening, avoiding a central pawn exchange with Dv5'E (9). Black has no difficulties following the opening, and deploys his forces K-side (19). Black's multiple threats win a pawn (25), which he returns with an exchange sacrifice (28), opening the white castle. Black is just a hair away from winning when white offers the exchange (64), and then stalemates (74).

9. Qd2

19..Bh7

25. Bc1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28.* 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
e4 d4 Nf3 Nc3 Be2 d5 O-O Be3 Qd2 a3 Qd3 Bd2 Qc4 Qxe2 Qc4 exf5 Rfc1 h3 Be3 Qb3 a4 dxc6 Rd1 Qc4 Bc1 Re1 Qe2 Qxc2 gxf3 Kg2 Re4 Re2 Rxc2 Bd2 Kg3 Bxf4 Re2
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Ng6 e5 Be7 O-O a6 Nf6 Ng4 Nf4 Nxe2+ f5 Nf6 Bxf5 Kh8 h6 Bh7 Qd7 c6 bxc6 Rab8 Qc8 Bxc2 Nd5 Nxc3 Rxf3 Nd5 Rb4 Qf5 Qxc2 c5 Rh4 Nf4 Rxf4 Bh4+
38. Kg2 39. Re4 40. Re2 41. a5 42. Rc2 43. Kf1 44. Ra4 45. Ke2 46. Ra3 47. Ra1 48. Ra4 49. Ra2 50. Kd1 51. Ke2 52. Rc1 53. Rd1 54. Rg1 55. Rc1 56. fxe4 57. Rc2 58. h4 59. Kf1 60. Re2+ 61. Re6 62. Re8 63. Rf8+ 64.* Rxf4+ 65. Kg2 66. Ra4 67. Rxc4 68. Kh1 69. Rc3+ 70. Rd3 71. Rd1 72. Rd3 73. Rd1 74.* Rxd3 1/2-1/2
Rd4 Bg5 Kg8 Kf7 Ke6 c4 d5 g6 Kf5 Rd3 Rb3 Rb4 Bf6 Kf4 Rb3 Rb5 g5 e4 Kxe4 Rb3 gxh4 h3 Kf3 Bg5 h2 Bf4 Kxf4 d4 Rxb2 Rxf2+ Kg3 Rf3 h5 Kh3 Kg3 d3 Rxd3

28..Rxf3

64. Rxf4+

74..Rxd3
Close Variants 155
Game 58: Close Variant Dv3'6' with Black Black's solid Dv3'6' faces the 3 pawn classical defense with an early bishop attack blocked by his f-pawn advance (9). Black jams the center, and refuses to initiate exchanges (14,19), resulting in a completely closed position. Afterwards black explores opportunities to break thru (25), but neither side finds motivation to open the game (35). The game ends in an agreed draw with all pieces and pawns on the board (51), evidence of the amazing tenacity of the Defense Game and its variants.

9. 0-0

14..Bf7

19..c5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26.
d4 c4 Nc3 e4 Bg5 Be3 Bd3 Nf3 O-O Be2 Qc2 Rad1 Qb3 d5 a4 Rfe1 Qc2 Bf1 Rc1 Nd2 g3 Bg2 Ra1 Red1 Bh3 f3
d6 c6 e6 Ne7 f6 Ng6 Nd7 Be7 e5 O-O Nb6 Be6 Qd7 Bf7 Qc7 Nd7 a6 Rfe8 c5 Nf4 Ng6 Rec8 Rcb8 Ngf8 Qa5 Rd8
27. Kg2 28. Re1 29. Nb3 30. Bf5 31. Nd2 32. h4 33. Bh3 34. Qd3 35.* Kh2 36. Qe2 37. Nb3 38. Qc2 39. Nd2 40. Bg4 41. Bf5 42. Kg2 43. Bf2 44. Bg1 45. Be3 46. b3 47. Rac1 48. Qd3 49. Rcd1 50. Ra1 51.* Kh2 52. Bh3 1/2-1/2
Nb6 Nbd7 Qc7 b6 Rdb8 Rd8 Bh5 Qb7 Bf7 Qc7 Qb7 Bg6 Bf7 h5 Ng6 Qc7 Qb7 Qc7 Qb7 Qc7 Rdb8 Re8 Qb7 Qc7 Qb7 Red8

25..Qa5

35. Kh2

51..Qb7
Game 59: Close Variant Dv3'E with Black The author with black plays Dv3'E (9), this time going for the win. White backs away from a bishop exchange and black consolidates his defense (17). After further exchanges, black is able to bring both knights downfield (28) and exchange them off effectively. The crunch comes when white has to abandon the defense of his backward pawn (41), giving black the lead. Black pushes thru a tangled mass of pawns (49) and stays ahead in the difficult endgame exercise (62).

9. Qd2

17..b5

28..Nd4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.* 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
Nf3 e4 d4 Bd3 Nc3 O-O Bg5 Be3 Qd2 Rad1 d5 Nb5 h3 Nc3 Rb1 b4 Rxb4 Rfb1 Ne1 g4 R4b2 Bxg5 a4 Rb7 Ra1 Rxa7 Nxa4 Nb2 Kh1 Bxb5 Qe3 c3 Ra3 Ned3 Nxd3 Qe2 Qd1
e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 c6 Ng6 Be7 O-O e5 Bf6 c5 Nb6 a6 Bd7 Nc8 cxb4 b5 Nh4 Be7 h6 Bg5 hxg5 bxa4 f6 Ra7 Nxa7 Nb5 Nd4 Bb5 axb5 Qc7 Nb3 Nc5 Nxd3 Rc8 Ng6 Qc4
38. 39. 40. 41.* 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.* 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.* 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74.
Qf3 Nxf4 Kh2 Ra2 Qe2 Rxe2 Rb2 Kg2 h4 f3 Kf2 Kg2 fxg4 Rxb5 Kf2 Rb6 Rxd6 Kf3 Kg4 Re6 d6 d7 Kh4 Re7 Kg3 Rxe5 Kxf3 Kg3 Re8 Kf2 Kg3 Kg4 Kg3 Rg8 Rh8+ Rg8+ Rf8+
Nf4 Qf1+ gxf4 Qe1 Qxe2 Rxc3 Rc5 g6 f5 Kg7 Kh6 fxg4 Rc3 Rg3+ Rxg4 Rxh4 Rh2+ Rh3+ Re3 Rxe4 Re3 Rg3+ Rd3 f3 g5 Rxd7 Rf7+ Rf1 Rg1+ Rb1 Rb3+ Rb4+ Rc4 Kh5 Kg6 Kf6 Kg7

41. Ra2

49..fxg4

62..g5
Close Variants 157
Game 60: Close Variant Dv4xE with Black Black's Dv4xE responds well to a center pawn early attack (9), preventing white from castling. White drops a pawn trying to develop any threat (13). The tension builds as black powers thru in the center (27). When black brings his rook downfield (40), it starts a complex series of exchanges leaving white with a doomed piece (46). Black then brings his own pieces close in for the kill (78). 40.* Bf1 Rb2 1. d4 d6 2. e4 e6 41. Qxa3 Qxa3 3. c4 Nd7 42. Nxa3 e3 4. Nf3 Ne7 43. Bc4 Bxc4 5. e5 dxe5 44. Nxc4 Rc2 45. Rxc2 Nxc2 6. dxe5 Ng6 46.* Rh2 Nxe1 7. Qe2 Be7 47. Nxe3 Nf3 8. g3 O-O 9.* Bg2 Nc5 48. Rb2 Nd4 10. Nc3 Nd3+ 49. Rb7 Re8 9. Bg2 40..Rb2 11. Kf1 c5 50. Nc4 Rc8 12. h4 f6 51. Ne3 Ba5 13.* Be3 Ngxe5 52. Rd7 Rd8 14. Rd1 Qb6 53. Re7 Bb4 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 54. Rb7 Be1 16. f4 Nc6 55. Kh2 Ra8 56. Rb2 Ra3 17. Kg1 Nd4 57. Nf1 Rf3 18. Qf2 Rd8 19. Na4 Qa5 58. Kg2 Kh7 20. b3 e5 59. a4 Ra3 21. Bd2 Qc7 60. Kh3 Rxa4 22. Nc3 Bd6 61. Rb1 Nc2 13..Ngxe5 46. Rh2 23. Nd5 Qf7 62. Rb2 Rc4 24. Re1 Be6 63. Rb7 Re4 h5 h6 25. Bc3 Rac8 64. Ra7 Re2 26. 65. Nh2 Ne3 27.* Be4 f5 66. Ra1 Bc3 28. Bg2 e4 67. Rc1 Bf6 68. Rc8 Nd1 29. Ne3 Bc7 30. Rc1 a6 69. Nf1 g5 31. Be1 a5 70. hxg6+ Kxg6 32. Qb2 a4 71. Rc7 Nf2+ 33. Rh4 Rb8 72. Kg2 Ne4+ 73. Kh3 Kh5 34. b4 b5 27..f5 78..Rxf4+ 35. bxc5 bxc4 74. Rh7 Nf2+ 36. Qf2 Qe7 75. Kg2 Ng4+ 37. Kh1 a3 76. Kh1 Rf2 38. Nxc4 Qxc5 77. Kg1 Bd4 39. Qe3 Qa7 78.* Rd7 Rxf4+
Game 61: Close Variant Dv3'D with Black Black's Dv3'D continues with normal development despite the bishop early attack (9). White offers a pawn to open the center, but black still maintains the initiative (19). White tries hard to get his pawn back (33), but nothing seems to work (41). Down 2 pawns in the four rooks endgame (59) white has to scramble but finally manages to draw, since black's passed pawn can't advance (78). 40. Re3 Rb4 1. d4 d6 2. e4 e6 41.* Bxc6 Rxg4+ 3. Nf3 Ne7 42. Kh1 bxc6 4. c4 Nd7 43. Rxh3 Rf2 5. Bg5 c6 44. b3 a5 45. Rd3 Kg7 6. Nc3 Qc7 7. Be2 Ng6 46. h3 Rgg2 O-O Be7 Kh6 8. Bxe7 Kxe7 47. Re7+ Rh2+ 9.* 48. Rdd7 10. Qd2 Re8 49. Kg1 Rfg2+ 9. Bxe7 41..Rxg4+ 11. Rad1 Kf8 50. Kf1 Rb2 12. e5 dxe5 51. Rxh7+Kg5 13. dxe5 Ndxe5 52. Kg1 Rhc2 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 53. h4+ Kf4 15. Rfe1 Qf4 54. Rhf7+ Kg3 16. Qd3 Kg8 55. Rd1 Rxb3 56. Rf6 Rxc5 17. Ne4 Qf5 57. Rxg6+Kxh4 18. Qc2 Nf4 Bf3 Nh3+ 58. Rd7 Rbc3 19.* Kf1 Ng5 20. 59.* Rdg7 Rd5 21. Rd3 e5 60. Kf2 Rf5+ 22. Qb3 Qg6 61. Ke2 Rcc5 19..Nh3+ 59..Rd5 23. Nxg5 Qxg5 62. Rg1 Rg5 24. Rde3 Qe7 63. R7xg5 Rxg5 f6 64. Rh1+ Kg3 25. Kg1 Rd8 26. Qc2 65. Rc1 a4 27. Be4 g6 66. Rxc6 Ra5 28. Bd3 Rd4 67. Rc3+ Kf4 68. Ra3 Ke4 29. g3 Bh3 30. f4 Qd7 69. Kd2 Kd4 31. fxe5 fxe5 70. Kc2 Kc4 32. c5 Kh8 71. Rf3 Re5 33. Qc3 Qd5 72. Kb2 Rd5 34.* Be4 Qxa2 73. Ka3 Kb5 34. Be4 after 78..Kb4 35. Bf3 Qc4 74. Rf8 Rd3+ 36. Qxc4 Rxc4 75. Ka2 Rh3 37. Rxe5 Rb4 76. Rf5+ Kb6 38. R5e2 Rb5 77. Rf4 Ka5 39. g4 Rf8 78.* Rf5+ Kb4
Close Variants 159
Game 62: Close Variant Dv5'Cx with Black White tries a combination bishop and center pawn early attack; black responds with Dv5'Cx (9). White goes all-out on the attack (21), but black's active defense holds well (28), and retains a pawn advantage. Afterwards black invades with a coordinated and insistent assault which finally wins him the exchange (44). His rook pair keeps white nailed to the back rank, allowing black's king to come down the board (58). Black closes the game out with a clever knight trap (69). A solid win.

9. O-O

21. Nxd6

28..Be6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.* 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
e4 d6 d4 Nd7 Nd2 e6 Bd3 Ne7 Bb5 Ng6 d5 e5 Ngf3 Be7 Bxd7+Bxd7 O-O O-O Re1 c6 Nf1 cxd5 Qxd5 Qc7 Bd2 Qxc2 Rac1 Qxb2 Rb1 Qa3 Qxb7 Be6 Ne3 Bxa2 Rb5 Be6 Bb4 Qa2 Nf5 Rae8 Nxd6 Rd8 Nf5 Rd7 Qc6 Bxb4 Rxb4 Rfd8 Ne3 f6 Reb1 Bg4 Ne1 Ne7 Qc5 Be6 Qb5 a6 Qf1 a5 Rb6 Nc8 R6b2 Qa4 Rc1 Nd6 Qa6 Bf7 f3 Qa3 Qe2 Nb5 Qf2 Nd4
38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.* 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58.* 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69.* 70. 71. 72. 0-1
Rbb1 Rc2 Nf1 Rc6 Ra6 Nc2 Rxa3 Rc3 Rxf1 Kxf1 Ne1 Qa2+ Qc4 Rxc4 Rc8+ Rc7+ Rc6 Rc3 Ra3 Re3 Re2 Re3 Rb3 Rc3 h3 Rc1 Kg1 Rc3+ Nc2 Kh2 Ne3 Ra3 Nc4+ Nxa3 Nc2
Nb3 Qb4 a4 a3 Bc4 Qe7 Nd2 Bxf1 Nxf1 Rd1+ Qb4 Kf8 Qxc4+ R8d2 Kf7 Kg6 Rb1 h6 Kg5 Ra1 Raa2 h5 g6 h4 Kf4 Rf2+ Ke3 Ke2 Rf1+ Kd2 Rb1 Rxa3 Kd3 Rb3 Kxc2

44..Nd2

58..Raa2

69..Rxa3
Game 63: Close Variant Dv4xG with White White's Dv4xG invites a center pawn attack (9). Despite his damaged pawn structure, white castles K-side, again inviting the attack (14). Black has difficulty finding a forcing continuation; he offers a pawn (19) and regains it easily, but white then starts a series of simplifying exchanges (25,30), and forces a draw (49). The D-game defies the normal logic of chess, winning or drawing with tactics that until now have been considered inferior, or contrary to established principles of sound play.

9. Ng5

14. Qg5+

19..c3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26.
d3 Nd2 Nb3 Bd2 e3 Nf3 Be2 dxe4 Ng5 Nh3 gxh3 f4 Bxf3 O-O Kh1 Qe2 Qg2 Nd4 Qxd2 bxc3 Qe2 Rg1 Rab1 Rb5 Rxb7 Bxb7
d5 e5 c5 Nc6 Nf6 Bd6 e4 dxe4 h6 Bxh3 O-O exf3 Ne4 Qg5+ Qe5 Rae8 c4 Nxd2 c3 Na5 Re7 Nc4 Nxe3 Qf4 Rxb7 Rb8
27. 28. 29. 30.* 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.* 50. 51. 52.
Bc6 Rg3 Nxc2 Rg1 Qxc2 Rd1 Rd7 Bd5 Kg2 Rxe7 Rxa7 Kg3 Kg2 a4 Kg3 a5 Kg4 h4 Kf4 Ke5 a6 Ke6 Kd6 Ke6 Kd6 Ke6
Rb2 Nxc2 Qc1+ Qxc2 Rxc2 Be7 Rxc3 Rc1+ Rc5 Rxd5 Rd2+ Rd3+ Kf8 Rd2+ Ke8 Rd3+ g6 f5+ Rd4+ Rxh4 Ra4 Kd8 Ke8 Kd8 Ke8 1/2-1/2

25. Rxb7

30. Rg1

49. Kd6
Close Variants 161
Game 64: Close Variant Dv4'5x with Black Black departs early from the standard opening, striking at the center with Dv4'5x (9). Black trades down quickly (16,24), and keeps pace with his adversary in the endgame (31), where his fine play defends well against white's promotion threat (40,50), and a draw results. The early departures are interesting lines of the D-system which are certain to surprise even the most expert opponents.

9. Qe2

16..Nxc3

24..Rxc1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.* 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.* 32.
d4 d6 e4 e6 Nf3 Ne7 c4 Nd7 Nc3 d5 cxd5 exd5 exd5 Nb6 Bb5+ Bd7 Qe2 Bxb5 Qxb5+Qd7 Qxd7+Kxd7 Ne5+ Ke8 O-O Nexd5 Re1 Be7 a4 f6 a5 Nxc3 axb6 Nb5 Nc4 Kf7 bxc7 Nxc7 Bf4 Nd5 Nd6+ Bxd6 Bxd6 Rhd8 Ba3 Rdc8 Rac1 Rxc1 Rxc1 Re8 Kf1 Re4 Rc8 Rxd4 Rb8 Nf4 Rxb7+Kg6 f3 Rd2 Rxa7 Nxg2 Bf8 Ne3+
33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.* 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.* 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64.
Ke1 Rxh2 Rxg7+Kf5 b4 h5 Rh7 Nc4 b5 Nd2 b6 Nxf3+ Kd1 Rh1+ Kc2 Nd4+ Kd3 Nc6 b7 h4 Rh5+ Kg6 Rc5 Nb8 Rc8 Nd7 Kc2 Rh2+ Kc3 Rh3+ Kc4 Rh1 Rd8 Rc1+ Kb5 Nxf8 Rxf8 Rb1+ Kc6 Kf5 b8=Q Rxb8 Rxb8 h3 Kd6 Kg4 Ke6 Kg3 Rg8+ Kf2 Rh8 Kg2 Rd8 h2 Rd2+ Kg1 Rd1+ Kg2 Rd2+ Kg1 Rd1+ Kg2 Rd2+ 1/2-1/2

31. Rxa7

40..Nd4+

50..Nxf8
Game 65: Close Variant Dv3'4 with Black Black's Dv3'4 consolidates the K-side early, and then tries a center pawn attack (9). Black prepares carefully, then begins his invasion (17), gradually gaining territory and opening lines (25). Black wins the exchange (35) and never lets up the pressure afterwards in a long knights and rooks endgame (55,63). This particular opening may interest those seeking an aggressive D-game variant which offers solid positional play and a gradual opening on the Q-side. Looks good! 39. Nc6 Rxa3 1. e4 e6 40. b4 Rab3 2. d4 Ne7 3. Nf3 Ng6 41. Ra1 Nd5 4. Be3 Be7 42. Kf1 Rb2 5. Nc3 O-O 43. g3 Kg7 44. h4 b5 6. Bd3 c6 7. O-O d5 45. Rc1 Kh6 8. Re1 Nd7 46. Nd8 Kg6 9.* Qe2 a6 47. Nb7 Rxb4 10. a3 b6 48. Nbc5 Ra3 9. Qe2 35. Rxe4 11. Nd2 Qc7 49. Nd6 Ra2 12. Qf3 Bb7 50. Nd3 Rd4 13. Qh3 Rfe8 51. Nc5 b4 14. e5 c5 52. Re1 Rc2 15. Nf3 cxd4 53. Nb5 Rdd2 16. Bxd4 Nc5 54. Ne4 Rd3 55.* Rb1 b3 17.* Qg3 Ne4 18. Qg4 Rec8 56. Na3 Rd4 a5 57. Nd6 Rb4 19. Ne2 Ba6 20. Qh5 58. Re1 Rc3 21. Rac1 a4 59. Ndb5 Rc5 22. Red1 Bc5 60. Nd6 Nc3 17..Ne4 55..b3 23. Ra1 Ra7 61. f4 b2 24. Rab1 Kh8 62. Kf2 Rb3 Qh3 Ndc4 Nb5 25.* Nexd4 Bxd4 63.* Rb1 Nxa3 26. Kg8 64. 27. Ra1 Bc4 65. Nxa3 Rc1 28. Qh5 Ra5 66. Kg2 Rb4 67. g4 Rc3 29. Rab1 Qe7 30. Bxc4 Rxc4 68. f5+ exf5 31. Re1 Nf4 69. gxf5+ Kxf5 32. Qg4 g5 70. e6 fxe6 33. b3 axb3 71. Rf1+ Kg6 72. Nb1 Rc1 34. cxb3 Rc3 25..Bxd4 63..Nb5 35.* Rxe4 h5 73. Rf2 Rxb1 36. Qxg5+Qxg5 74. Kf3 Rg4 37. Nxg5 dxe4 75. Rg2 Rf1+ 38. Nxe4 Rd3 76. Ke3 b1=Q
Close Variants 163
Game 66: Close Variant DvGG with Black Black feints a classical opening and wastes 2 knight moves with DvGG (9), but still wins in truly impressive style in this brilliant game. Black invites the attack time and again (16,21), and can afford to do so, because his advanced pawn is headed for early promotion (26). Afterwards white's lone queen is no match for the bishop and rook pair (36,44), and white gets roasted. The moral: there is more in the chess opening than there was in our conception of how to play it!

9. O-O

16..O-O

21..c3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.* 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.* 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.*
c4 Nc3 e4 e5 d4 exd6 Nf3 Bd3 O-O Bg5 Bxf6 c5 dxc5 Nxd5 Re1+ Nd4 Nxe6 Rxe6 Rb1 Bc4 Qd5 Re8+ Rxc8 Qxb7 Rf1 c6 Rxc1 g3 a4 f4 Kf1 a5 Qxa7 Qa6 f5 Qb5
Nf6 e6 Be7 Ng8 d6 cxd6 Nd7 Nb6 Nf6 h6 Bxf6 dxc5 Nd5 exd5 Be6 O-O fxe6 Bxb2 Qc8 dxc4 c3 Kh8 Raxc8 Ba3 c2 c1=Q Bxc1 Bd2 Bc3 Bd4+ Bb6 Bxa5 Bc7 Bb8 Rc7 Rfc8
37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.* 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71.
Kg2 Rxc6 Kh3 Rc2 Qd7 Be5 Qe6 Bf6 Kg4 Kh7 h4 R8c4+ Kh3 R2c3 Kh2 Rg4 Qe1 Ra3 h5 Rg5 Kg2 Rb3 Kh3 Rxh5+ Kg4 Rg5+ Kh3 Bd4 Kg2 Rb2+ Kh3 Bf2 Qe5 Rxg3+ Qxg3 Bxg3 Kxg3 h5 Kf3 Rb3+ Kg2 Kh6 f6 g5 f7 Kg7 Kf2 h4 Kg2 h3+ Kf2 Rb2+ Ke3 Ra2 Ke4 h2 Kd3 h1=Q f8=Q+ Kxf8 Ke3 Qe1+ Kd3 Rd2+ Kc4 Qc1+ Kb3 Rb2+ Ka4 Qa1#

26..c1=Q

36..Rfc8

44..Rg4
Game 67: Close Variant Dv13' with Black Black plays Dv13' against a 2 pawn classical defense with a rook pawn attack (9). Black strikes at the center with a surprising gambit (12) that he recovers quickly, then presses the attack (21). Black takes a pawn and sets up for a devastating continuation (28.30), which wins a piece and threatens mate. White ends up having to throw away material to delay an inevitable rout (34). An impressive and overpowering win with black, using the newly discovered D-game!

9. Re1

12..e5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12.* 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22.
e4 Nf3 d4 Nc3 Bd3 O-O Be3 a4 Re1 Nd2 Qh5 Nf3 dxe5 Nxe5 f4 Nxg6 Qf3 Bxf4 Rad1 e5 Qf2 g3
d6 Nd7 e6 Nb6 Bd7 c6 Ne7 a5 Ng6 Be7 O-O e5 dxe5 Be6 Bd6 fxg6 Bxf4 g5 gxf4 Qg5 f3 Nd7
23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.* 29. 30.* 31. 32. 33. 34.* 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 0-1
Ne4 Qh5 Qe3 Rf5 Bc4 Bxc4 Rxd7 Rxe5 Qd4 Bd5 Re3 Bxe4 h4 c5 Qc3 f2+ Kxf2 Qf5+ Ke1 Rae8 Qc4+ Kf8 Rf7+ Qxf7 Qxf7+ Kxf7 Kd2 Bf5 Rxe5 Rxe5 h5 Rd5+ Kc3 Be6 h6 Rg5 hxg7 Rxg3+ Kd2 Rg2+ Kd3 Kxg7

28..Bxe4

30..f2+

21..f3

34. Rf7+
Close Variants 165
Game 68: Close Variant Dv3'D with Black Black's Dv3'D confronts the 2 pawn F back classical defense (9) in this interesting contest. Black invites a sacrifice (13), which quickly reveals to be a ghastly failure (15). Afterwards black's strong across-the-board attack soon has white on his knees (21) and ready for execution, which comes in crisp style (34,38). An impressive victory with superior tactical play using the powerful D-game!

9. Bg5

13. Bxh6

15..Ng4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25.
Nc3 d4 Nf3 e4 Be2 O-O Be3 Qd2 Bg5 Rae1 Bc4 a3 Bxh6 Nxd4 exd5 f4 dxc6 Bd3 Bxg6 Nb3 Kh1 Bd3 cxd3 f5 a4
d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 c6 Qc7 Ng6 Be7 Nf6 O-O e5 h6 exd4 d5 Ng4 Nxh6 bxc6 Bf6 Rd8 Qb6+ Ba6 Bxd3 Qxb3 c5 Rac8
26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.* 35. 36. 37. 38.* 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 0-1
Ne4 Qa5 Qa6 Nxf6+ Qxa7 Qe7 Rxe7 Re5 Re1 Kg1 Rc5 h3 Kf2 Kxe1 Rc8+ Rc3 Rxc2 g4 a5 a6 a7 g5 a8=Q Ke2 Kd2
Qxb2 Rxd3 Rcd8 Qxf6 Qd6 Qxe7 Nxf5 Ne3 c4 c3 c2 Rd1 Rxe1 Rd4 Kh7 Rc4 Rxc2 Ra2 Kg6 Kg5 Kf4 Kxg5 Rxa8 Kf4 Rh8

21..Ba6

34..c4

38..Rxe1
Game 69: Close Variant Dv3'E with Black Black's mainstream Dv3'E challenges a 2 pawn standard defense with a bishop early attack (9). Black opens the game with a well coordinated Q-side advance (14), bringing his pieces forward carefully, then striking hard with a two-pronged attack (28). Black brings his rooks into the action (32), and then systematically destroys white's position with an overwhelming assault (37,41). Games such as this demonstrate the enormous offensive potential of the D-system openings.

9. Qd3

14..c5

28..Nd3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.*
e4 d4 Nf3 Nc3 Bb5 Be2 O-O Be3 Qd3 a3 Rfd1 a4 Qd2 Na2 dxc5 Qxb4 Qa3 Qb3 Rac1 Bxc5 Qe3 g3 Rd2 Qc3 Nd4 Rb1 Bh5 Kf1
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 c6 Ng6 Be7 O-O b5 Bb7 a6 Qc7 b4 c5 Nxc5 a5 Nxe4 Rfc8 Nc5 dxc5 Bd6 c4 Bc5 Bd5 Rab8 Qb6 Ne5 Nd3
29. 30. 31. 32.* 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.* 38. 39. 40. 41.* 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56.
Nb5 Bf3 Bxe4 Ke2 Rbd1 Re1 Rxd5 Rf1 Nc1 Qf3 Ke1 Nc3 Ke2 Kf2 Ne2 Rd1 Qxe2 Qxb2 Ke2 Ke3 Kxd4 Kc5 Kd6 g4 Kxe5 Kf4 Ke5 g5
Nxf2 Ne4 Bxe4 Rd8 Rd5 Rbd8 Rxd5 Bg1 Bxc2 f5 Be3 Bd2+ Qxb2 Bxc3 Bd3 Bxe2 Rxd1 Bxb2 Rd4 c3 c2+ c1=Q+ Kf7 Be5+ Qc5+ Qf2+ Ke7 Qe3#

32..Rd8

37..Bxc2

41..Qxb2
Close Variants 167
Game 70: Close Variant Dv5'G' with Black Black retreats from the K-side rook pawn attack, and then strikes at the center with Dv5'G' (9). White castles Q-side, offering a pawn to open the king rook file (13). Black covers all white's threats while counter attacking (24), winning another pawn. White continues to throw his forces on the ramparts (30), but it achieves nothing (35); black pushes on for a decisive victory (58). 40. Kc2 Re3 1. d4 d6 2. e4 e6 41. Rd3 Re2+ 3. c4 Ne7 42. Rd2 Re6 4. Nc3 Nd7 43. Rd7 a6 5. Nf3 Ng6 44. Bc4 Rf6 45. Ra7 Rf3 6. h4 Be7 7. h5 Ngf8 46. Kd1 Rb1+ 47. Kc2 Rb2+ 8. Be3 e5 9.* dxe5 dxe5 48. Kd1 Rb8 10. Qc2 c6 49. Rxa6 Rc3 9. dxe5 30. g4 11. O-O-OQc7 50. Bb5 Ra3 12. g3 Nf6 51. Rc6 g5 13.* Nh4 Nxh5 52. Rc7 g4 14. Nf5 Bxf5 53. Ke2 Kg7 15. exf5 Nf6 54. Rd3 Ra2+ 16. Be2 h6 55. Rd2 Rxd2+ 17. f4 N8d7 56. Kxd2 g3 18. fxe5 Nxe5 57. Bc6 Rb2+ 58.* Kd3 g2 19. Ne4 O-O 20. Bf4 Rfe8 59. Bxg2 Rxg2 21. Nxf6+ Bxf6 60. Kc4 Rb2 22. Kb1 c5 61. a5 Rb4+ 13. Nh4 35..Qf4 23. Rd5 Qb6 62. Kd5 Ra4 24.* Be3 Nxc4 63. Ra7 Kf6 25. Bxc4 Rxe3 64. Kc6 Ra1 26. Rd7 Re7 65. Ra8 c4 27. Rhd1 Rae8 66. Kb5 c3 28. R7d6 Qc7 67. Rc8 Kf5 68. a6 Ke4 29. Bb5 Rc8 30.* g4 Bd4 69. a7 Rxa7 31. f6 Bxf6 70. Kc4 Re7 32. R6d5 Bd4 71. Kb4 Kd3 33. b4 b6 72. Ka4 Rb7 34. g5 hxg5 73. Ka5 c2 24..Nxc4 58..g2 35.* Rxg5 Qf4 74. Ka6 Ra7+ 36. Rd5 Qe4 75. Kb5 Bc3 37. Qxe4 Rxe4 76. Rd8+ Ke3 38. bxc5 bxc5 77. Kb6 Ba5+ 39. a4 Rb8 0-1
Game 71: Close Variant Dv1'Dx with Black Black responds to a bishop early attack and exchange with Dv1'Dx (9). White opens the game with the intention of attacking (13), but black refuses to retreat (18,23), matching blow for blow. The contest simplifies to a symmetrical queen and rooks endgame favoring neither side, but black surprisingly outplays his opponent to win a pawn (36), and the game (43). Really good chess!

9. O-O

13. a5

18..Bxf3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25.
e4 d4 Nf3 c4 Nc3 Be2 Bg5 Bxe7 O-O Qd2 a4 Qe3 a5 Rfd1 exf5 dxc5 Rxa5 b4 bxc5 Nxe2 Rxa6 Nd4 Nxe6 Ng5 f4
e6 Ne7 a6 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 Qxe7 O-O b6 Bb7 c5 bxa5 f5 Rxf5 Nxc5 Rb8 Bxf3 Bxe2 Rxc5 Rxc4 Qd7 Ne5 h6 Nf7
26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.* 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43.* 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
Nxf7 Qxf7 Raxd6 Rxf4 g3 Rf5 R6d2 Rf8 Qe2 Qa7+ Kg2 Qc5 Rc2 Re5 Qd3 Qe7 h4 Re3 Qd5+ Kh7 Rdd2 Qa3 Kh2 Rxg3 Qe4+ Kh8 Qe6 Rgf3 h5 Qb4 Qc4 Qb8+ Kh1 Qg3 Rf2 R8f4 Qxf4 Qxf4 Rxf3 Qxf3+ Rg2 Qxh5+ Kg1 g5 Rd2 Kg7 Ra2 Qd1+ Kh2 0-1

23..Ne5

36..Qa3

43..R8f4
Close Variants 169
Game 72: Close Variant Dv3'D with White White plays strong close variant Dv3'D, against black's 3 pawn center with rook pawn attack (9). Black lodges the pawn, but it causes no inconvenience to white's well coordinated defense (18). White tries for the offensive beginning (24) and is able to press somewhat (30,38), but finally has to settle for a draw (41). The Defense Game puts master level chess within the reach of amateurs!

9. Ngf1

18. Nf2

24. Qh5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.* 31.
e3 d3 Ne2 Nd2 c3 Qc2 Ng3 Be2 Ngf1 g3 e4 exd5 Ne3 O-O b3 fxe3 Ne4 Nf2 Qxe2 c4 Bb2 axb3 Bxa1 Qh5 Bxe5 Qxe5 Ra1 cxb5 Qe4 d4 Nd3
e5 d5 Nf6 c5 Nc6 Bd6 h5 h4 h3 O-O Be6 Nxd5 Be7 Qd7 Nxe3 Bg4 Rfd8 Bxe2 a5 a4 axb3 Rxa1 Ra8 Ra3 Nxe5 Rxb3 b5 Rxb5 Rb4 cxd4 Ra4
32. Rxa4 Qxa4 33. Qxe7 Qd1+ 34. Kf2 Qxd3 35. Qd8+ Kh7 36. Qh4+ Kg6 37. Qg4+ Kf6 38.* Qxd4+ Qxd4 39. exd4 Ke6 40. Kf3 f5 41.* g4 Kd5 42. gxf5 Kxd4 43. Kg4 Ke4 44. Kxh3 Kxf5 45. Kg3 Kg6 46. Kg4 Kh6 47. Kf5 Kh5 48. Ke6 Kg5 49. Ke5 Kg4 50. Ke6 Kh5 51. Kf5 Kh6 52. Kg4 Kg6 53. h3 Kh6 54. h4 Kg6 55. Kf4 Kf6 56. h5 Ke6 57. Kg5 Kf7 58. Kf5 Ke7 59. Ke5 Kd7 60. Kd5 Kd8 61. Ke6 Ke8 1/2-1/2

30. d4

38. Qxd4+

41. g4
Game 73: Close Variant Dv3'5' with White White's mainstream Dv3'5' challenges the center of the 3 pawn f back classical opening (9). White trades knights for bishops and has a fine position later, when black sacrifices a pawn (19) followed by a rather desperate attempt to build an offensive (25,30). But white survives all his schemes easily, and wins by virtue of an overwhelming material advantage (49) in the finale.

9. O-O

19..e4

25..h6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.* 31. 32. 33. 34.
d3 d5 c3 e5 Nd2 c5 e3 Nf6 Ne2 Nc6 Ng3 Be7 Be2 O-O e4 Be6 O-O Qc7 Qc2 b5 Nb3 c4 Nd2 cxd3 Bxd3 Rac8 exd5 Bxd5 Nf5 a6 Ne4 Bxe4 Bxe4 g6 Nxe7+ Nxe7 Bf3 e4 Bxe4 Rfe8 Bg5 Nxe4 Qxe4 Nf5 Qf3 b4 cxb4 Qe5 b3 h6 Bd2 Nd4 Qe3 Qd5 Qxh6 Rc2 Bf4 Re4 Bg3 Nf5 Qg5 Rxb4 Rac1 Rxc1 Qxc1 a5 Rd1 Rd4
35. 36. 37.* 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.* 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67.
Rxd4 Nxd4 Qd1 a4 bxa4 Qxa2 Be5 Nc6 Bc3 Qc4 Qa1 Kf8 a5 Ke7 a6 Ke6 Bg7 Kd5 Bh6 g5 Bxg5 Qe4 Be3 Qe8 Qa2+ Kd6 a7 Qa8 Qxf7 Qh8 h3 Qa8 g4 Nxa7 Qxa7 Qxa7 Bxa7 Ke5 h4 Kd5 h5 Ke6 g5 Kf5 g6 Ke6 Bd4 Kf5 g7 Ke4 g8=Q Kxd4 h6 Kc5 Qg5+ Kd4 h7 Kc4 h8=Q Kb3 Qb5+ Kc2 Qhb2+ Kd1 Q5e2#

30..Nf5

37..Qxa2

49. Qxf7
Close Variants 171
Game 74: Close Variant Dv3'E with Black The author with black plays the main line Dv3'E, and wins against his strong computer rival, here playing the 3 pawn standard classical opening (9). Black goes for a closed game in the center, then offers a knight exchange (15). Black's bishop is trapped, but there's a answer to this (25) which opens the K-side to his pieces (35). Still equal in the endgame, white tries to free the way for his b-pawn (46), but it turns out to be in black's favor instead (54). Finally won one!

9. Qc2

15..Nh4

25..Ne5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Nf3 d4 c4 e4 Nc3 Bd3 O-O Be3 Qc2 Rad1 d5 a3 b4 Rb1 Qd2 Nxh4 Bc2 Ba4 b5 Bd1 g3 f4 gxf4 Bg4 Rf3 fxe5 Rf4 exd6 Rff1 exf5
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 c6 Ng6 Be7 O-O e5 Re8 c5 a6 b6 Rb8 Nh4 Bxh4 h6 Rf8 a5 f6 Bg5 exf4 Bh4 Qe8 Ne5 Bxg4 f5 g5 Qe5 Bxf5
31. 32. 33. 34. 35.* 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46.* 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.* 56. 57. 58. 59. 0-1
Rbd1 Bg4 Rc1 Rxf1+ Rxf1 Bh3 Rf3 Bg4 Rf1 Bh3 Rc1 Rf8 Qd3 Bf5 Qd2 Re8 Bf2 Bxf2+ Qxf2 Rf8 Qd2 Qxd6 Rf1 Bg6 Rxf8+ Kxf8 Na4 Ke7 Qe3+ Kd7 Qe6+ Qxe6 dxe6+ Kxe6 Nxb6 Kd6 Kf2 Bf7 Ke3 h5 Ke4 g4 Nd5 Bxd5+ cxd5 h4 b6 h3 Kf4 c4 b7 Kc7 Kxg4 c3 Kxh3 c2 Kg4 c1=Q

35..Bh3

46. Qe6+

55..c4
Game 75: Distant Variant Dv8'G'G with Black Black responds to the rook pawn attack with a king knight tour, playing Dv8'G'G. White seizes the center, but black counter attacks strongly on the K-side (16,24) and gains the initiative. Black develops multiple threats to win the exchange (35), then simplifies for the endgame (40), where his K-side pawns cannot be stopped (61). The D-system makes winning chess look easy!

9. O-O

16..Bg4

24..Bg4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.* 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.
d4 c4 Nc3 e4 h4 h5 Nf3 Be2 O-O Qc2 Rd1 Nxd4 Be3 Rxd4 Rd2 c5 f3 Rad1 cxd6 Qa4 Rxd6 Nd5 Bd3 Nc3 Be2 Nxe2 gxf3 Qc2 Qd2 e5 Rd8+ Rxc8 Kf1
e6 Ne7 d6 Ng6 Be7 Nf8 h6 Nfd7 O-O e5 exd4 Bf6 Bxd4 Nc6 Nf6 Bg4 Be6 Nxh5 cxd6 a6 Qh4 Ng3 Ne5 Bg4 Nxe2+ Nxf3+ Bxf3 Rac8 Rfe8 Rxe5 Re8 Rxc8 Bg4
34. 35.* 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.* 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61.* 62. 63. 64. 0-1
Kg1 Bf2 Ng3 Qxd1 Qf3 Kg2 Be3 Qxb7 Qxd5 Ne2 Nc3 Bf2 b4 Kf1 Be1 b5 Nxb5 Nd4 Bc3 Kf2 Kf3 Ke4 Nf3 Nh2 Ng4 Nh2 Nf3 Kd5 Nd4 Nb3 Bd4
Re8 Qe7 Bxd1 Rd8 Qd7 Qd5 Qxa2 Qd5+ Rxd5 g5 Rd8 f5 Rd2 Rc2 Kf7 axb5 f4 Rb2 Rb1+ h5 Kg6 h4 h3 Rh1 Rg1 Rg2 Re2+ g4 Re8 h2 h1=Q+

35..Qe7

40..Qxa2

61..g4
Distance 3 Variants 173
Game 76: Distant Variant Dv55xG with White White responds to a rook pawn early attack by bringing his knight forward, playing Dv55xG (9). White attacks the center, finding an interesting knight sacrifice (12) which disrupts black's game. White has a positional edge, and goes a pawn up (22), but black gets the better of him in a piece tangle in the corner (35), then simplifies for the draw (42,51). An action packed chess encounter!

9. Nf3

12. Nxf6+

22. Bxa7
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12.* 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
d3 Nd2 e4 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 Nh5 exd5 Nf3 Qxe2 Nxe5 Nxf6+ Ng6 Kxe2 Nxf8 c4 g3 Bf4 Be3 f3 Rae1 Bxa7 c5 cxb6 Bxb6 Bc5+ Rb1
d5 e5 Nc6 Nf6 h5 h4 Ng8 Nd4 Nxe2 Qe7 f6 gxf6 Qxe2+ Rh5 Kxf8 h3 Bd7 Rc8 Ne7 Rh7 Nf5 b6 Ra8 cxb6 Rxa2 Kf7 Rh8
28. Rhc1 Rb8 29. Ba3 Rb3 30. Rc7 Ke8 31. Ra7 Nd4+ 32. Kf2 Nc2 33. Ra8+ Kf7 34. Rf8+ Kg7 35.* Rd8 Nxa3 36. Rxd7+Kg6 37. Ra7 Rxd3 38. g4 Nxb1 39. Rxa2 Rxd5 40. b4 Rb5 41. Rb2 Nc3 42.* Kg3 Nd5 43. Kxh3 Rxb4 44. Rxb4 Nxb4 45. Kg3 Nc6 46. h4 Ne5 47. g5 f5 48. h5+ Kxh5 49. Kf4 Kg6 50. Kxe5 Kxg5 51.* Kd5 Kf4 52. Ke6 Ke3 53. Kxf5 Kxf3 1/2-1/2

35..Nxa3

42..Nd5

51. Kd5
Game 77: Distant Variant Dv3'35F with White White avoids a center pawn exchange, and plays the bishop forward early with Dv3'35F (9). After most of the pieces and the queens are traded (17), white's active bishop is enough to provide the winning margin (23). Black drops the exchange rather than abandon the center file to white's rooks, and the rest is a waltz for white (27). Winning chess doesn't get much easier than this!

9. a4

17..Bxf5

23. Bc6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26.
d3 e5 Nd2 d5 e4 Nf6 Be2 Nc6 c3 Be7 Bf3 d4 c4 O-O Nb3 a5 a4 Be6 Ne2 Bb4+ Bd2 Bxd2+ Qxd2 Qd6 O-O Nd7 Ng3 Nc5 Nxc5 Qxc5 Nf5 Rfe8 Qg5 Bxf5 exf5 Qe7 Qxe7 Nxe7 Rae1 Nxf5 Bxb7 Rad8 Re2 Nd6 Bc6 e4 Bxe8 exd3 Re5 Rxe8 Rxe8+ Nxe8
27.* 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.* 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52.
c5 c6 Rd1 Nc7 Rxd3 Ne6 b4 axb4 a5 Nxc5 Rxd4 Kf8 Rxb4 Ke7 Rb6 Kd6 a6 Nxa6 Rxa6 g5 Ra7 f6 Rxh7 c5 Kf1 Ke5 Ke2 Ke4 h4 gxh4 Rxh4+Ke5 Kd3 f5 f4+ Kd5 Rh6 c4+ Ke3 Kc5 Rf6 c3 Rxf5+ Kc4 g4 c2 Kd2 Kd4 g5 Ke4 Rf8 1-0

27. c5

35. a6
Game 78: Distant Variant Dv4x5B" with White White pursues an interesting line with a center challenge and alternative knight relocation, Dv4x5B" (9). Black continues to force exchanges (17), depriving white of castling and obliging an early king sortie, but these turn out to be to white's advantage: he stays a step ahead of black in the 4 rooks endgame (25,41,57) and this tempo provides the margin to win. Really good chess!

9. Bxf3

17. g3

25. Rxh4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
d3 e4 Ne2 Nd2 Ng3 Be2 Nf3 dxe4 Bxf3 Bxd1 Bd2 Bc3 Nf5 exf5 Be2 Bd4 g3 Kxe2 f3 Kxf3 Rhe1 Re4 f6 Bxc5 Rxh4 fxg7 Rg4+ Rb4 h4 a4 axb5 Ra5 Rf4 Ra6 Kg4
e5 Nc6 Nf6 d5 Be7 Nd4 dxe4 Nxf3+ Qxd1+ Be6 h5 h4 Bxf5 e4 Nd5 Nf4 Nxe2 O-O exf3+ Rfd8 Bf8 Rd5 Bc5 Rxc5 Rxc2 Kxg7 Kf8 Rb8 b5 a6 axb5 Rc5 Rd8 Rd3+ Rb3
36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.* 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57.* 58. 59. 60.* 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Rf2 Kg7 Kh3 Kg8 Raf6 c6 Rd6 f5 Kh2 Rc4 h5 Kh7 Rxf5 Rxb2+ Kh3 Re2 Rf7+ Kg8 Rb7 Re8 Rdd7 Rc5 Rg7+ Kh8 Rh7+ Kg8 Rbg7+Kf8 Rf7+ Kg8 Rhg7+Kh8 g4 Re3+ Kh4 Re1 Rh7+ Kg8 Rfg7+ Kf8 Rb7 Kg8 h6 Rh1+ Kg3 Rg1+ Kh3 Rh1+ Kg2 Rxh6 Rxh6 Rc4 Rd6 Rxg4+ Kf2 Rf4+ Ke3 Rf1 Rxc6 Re1+ Kd4 Rd1+ Kc5 Rd8 Kxb5 1-0

41. h5

57. h6

60..Rxh6
Game 79: Distant Variant Dv3DxE with White White's Dv3DxE responds to a bishop early attack (9). White opens the Q-side (14) with a lively combination that wins a pawn (21) and gives him strong control of the open lines. With all black's pieces tied down for the defense, white invades the black position (33,42), winning another pawn and leaving black a hopeless rout (49). When played aggressively the D-game is truly formidable!

9. a3

14. b5

21..Qe6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
d3 e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 Qxe2 O-O c4 a3 b4 Bb2 Nd2 Nf3 b5 cxb5 Nxe5 Nc4 Bxd4 Rab1 Rfc1 Ba1 d4 Nxd6 Qc2 Qa4 Ne2 Nc3 Rxc3 Qc2 Rc1
d5 e5 Nf6 Bg4 Bxe2 Be7 Nc6 Qd7 O-O a6 Rfe8 d4 Rad8 axb5 Na5 Qd5 Qxb5 b6 Qd5 Nc6 Qe6 Bd6 Rxd6 g6 h5 Nd5 Nxc3 Qe4 Qd5 Ree6
31. 32. 33.* 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42.* 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.* 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59.
Qa4 h4 h3 Kh7 Qa8 g5 Qb7 Rf6 Qxc7 Na5 Bb2 Qf5 R1c2 Nc6 Qb7 Qe6 Rc1 Qf5 R3c2 Na5 Qc8 Qd5 Qg4 Rde6 Qh5+ Kg7 Rc8 Rh6 Qf3 Rd6 e4 Qb3 Qe2 Rh7 d5+ Kh6 R1c7 Nc4 Rxc4 f6 e5 Qxc4 Rxc4 Rd8 exf6 Rf7 Qd2 Rxd5 Qxd5 Rf8 Rg4 Rg8 Qxg8 b5 Qg7+ Kh5 Rxg5#

33. Qa8

42. Qg4

49..Nc4
Game 80: Distant Variant Dv78'F with Black Black responds to a bishop early attack by advancing the flank pawns with Dv78'F (9). The K-side is opened, but white is not able to capitalize on black's more exposed position (15,19,24). In an early endgame, black is able to keep pace (30,44) and draw. Aggressive responses to early attacks are usually not required to maintain equality; but they should be part of your opening repertoire.

9. c5

15. f4

19..Qe6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.*
e4 e6 d4 d6 Nf3 Ne7 Bg5 h6 Bh4 g5 Bg3 Ng6 Nc3 Nd7 h4 Bg7 hxg5 hxg5 Rxh8+Bxh8 Qd2 g4 Nh2 Nb6 O-O-Oe5 dxe5 Bxe5 f4 gxf3 Bxe5 Nxe5 Nxf3 Qe7 Nd5 Nxd5 Qxd5 Qe6 Nxe5 Qxe5 Bb5+ Ke7 Rf1 Qxd5 exd5 a6 Re1+ Kf6 Bd3 Bd7 Rf1+ Kg7 Bf5 Bxf5 Rxf5 Re8 Rf4 Re5 Rc4 Rxd5
31. Rxc7 32. Rd7 33. a4 34. a5 35. Rxd6 36. Rb6 37. axb6 38. Kd2 39. Kc3 40. Kb3 41. Ka4 42. c4 43. g3 44.* b3 45. b4 46. Kxb4 47. c5+ 48. Kc4 49. Kd5 50. Ke5 51. Kxf5 52. g4 53. Ke4 54. Kd3 55. g5 56. g6 57. Kc4 58. Kxb3 1/2-1/2
Rb5 Rb6 Kf8 Rb5 Ke7 Rxb6 Kd6 Kc5 a5 Kxb6 Ka6 f5 Kb6 Ka6 axb4 Kb6 Kc6 Kd7 Kc7 Kc6 Kxc5 b5 b4 Kd5 Ke6 Kf6 b3 Kxg6

24..Kf6

30..Rxd5

44..Ka6
Game 81: Distant Variant Dv2'8'G' with Black Black reacts to a rook pawn attack, then prepares a Q-side fianchetto with Dv2'8'G' (9). Black has a good position afterwards, which resists white's best attempts to disrupt it (18). Black is set to go a pawn up, but first trades down (27) and adjusts his position. White's last hopes fade when he is unable to protect his advanced pawn (42,49), and black rolls on to a convincing win (62). Forte!

9. O-O

18. Bc7

27..Qe4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.* 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
e4 d4 Nf3 c4 h4 h5 Nc3 Be2 O-O Be3 Qc2 dxc5 e5 exd6 Rfd1 Bf4 Nb5 Bc7 Bd6 Nxd6 Nxb7 a3 Rab1 Bd3 Be4 Bxc6 b4 Qxe4 Rdc1 Ne5 Nd3 Rxb4 c5 Nxb4 Nxa6 Nb4 c6
e6 d6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 Nf8 h6 b6 Nfd7 O-O c5 bxc5 Bb7 Bxd6 Be7 Qb6 a6 Qc6 Bxd6 Ra7 Rxb7 Qc7 Nc6 Nf6 Rfb8 Qxc6 Qe4 Nxe4 Nf6 Nxh5 cxb4 Nf6 Rxb4 Ne8 Ra8 Rxa3 Nc7
38. 39. 40. 41. 42.* 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.* 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.* 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 0-1
Rd1 Rd8+ Rd7 Rxf7 Rb7 f4 Rb8 Rxb5 Rb6 Rb5+ Rb6 Kf2 Ke2 Rb3 Rg3 Rh3 Rd3 Rd8 Rh8 Ke3 Rxh5 Kf3 Rh8 Kg4 Re8 Kxg5 Kg4 Rd8+ Kg3 Kf4 Ke4 Rf8+ Rb8 Ke5 Rb1
Rc3 Kh7 Nb5 Rc4 Rxb4 Kg6 Rxf4 Rc4 Kf5 Kf6 g6 Ke5 Kd5 Kxc6 g5 Rh4 e5 h5 Kd5 Rg4 Rxg2 Rg1 Rf1+ e4 Kd4 e3 Kd3 Ke2 Rg1+ Kf2 e2 Ke1 Rg7 Kd2 e1=Q+

42. Rb7

49..Ke5

62..Kd4
Game 82: Distant Variant Dv3xBB with Black White's aggressive 4 pawn custom opening with center pawn attack (9) is quickly refuted by black, who wins a pawn (12) and consolidates his position nicely. White tries desperately for an assault (21), but black once again refutes his efforts, emerging with advantage of pawn and the exchange. Black then demolishes the remains of white's hopeless position in short order (32,45). This game should serve as a warning to ill prepared attackers: the D-system will teach you to respect it!

9. O-O

12..Nxf4

21. Rxc6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12.* 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
d4 e4 Bd3 f4 c4 c5 cxd6 Nf3 O-O exd5 Nc3 Bd2 Bxf4 g3 Qc2 Rae1 Qb3 Ne4 Kg2 Rc1 Rxc6 Rc1 Rxc6 Kg1 Bxa6 Nxd4 Nf2 Qxb2 a4 Kg2 g4
d6 e6 Ne7 Nd7 Nb6 Nd7 cxd6 Nb6 d5 Nexd5 Bd6 Nxf4 Bxf4 Bh6 a6 g6 O-O Bg7 Bd7 Bc6 bxc6 Nd5 Ne3+ Nf5 Nxd4 Qxd4+ Qxb2 Bxb2 Bd4 Ra7 Rb8
32.* 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.* 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61.
Bb5 axb5 Kf3 Ke4 Rc8+ Kd5 g5 Rc4 Kc6 gxf6+ Ra4 Ra8 Rg8 Kd5 Ke4 Kd5 Rf8+ Rg8+ Rf8+ Rg8+ Kc4 Kd5 Ke6 Rh8 Rh6 Rf6 Rf7 Ke7 Kd6 Kc6
Rxb5 Ra2 Rxf2+ e5 Kg7 Rxh2 Rg2 Rb2 f6 Kxf6 g5 g4 h5 Rxb5+ Rb3 g3 Kg5 Kf4 Kg4 Kh3 Rc3+ g2 Rg3 h4 g1=Q Ra3 Qg8 Ra7+ Qxf7 Qd7#

25..Nxd4

32..Rxb5

45. Kd5
Game 83: Distant Variant Dv4'5x6' with Black Black repulses a bishop early attack with his f-pawn, then challenges the center with Dv4'5x6' (9). Afterwards black trades down quickly (17) and later chooses a risky line, bringing his solo king out to the Q-side (20,34). Despite his exposed and vulnerable position, black is able to survive a dangerous white offensive (38,59), and finally clench a draw. Lesser skilled players should avoid risky lines exposing the king unnecessarily; better players may find them worth investigating.

9. Nc3

17..Qg4+

20..Kd7
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20.* 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.
d4 d6 e4 e6 c4 Nd7 Nf3 Ne7 Be2 Ng6 Bg5 f6 Be3 d5 exd5 exd5 Nc3 dxc4 Bxc4 Nb6 O-O Nxc4 Qa4+ c6 Qxc4 Bg4 d5 Bxf3 gxf3 Ne5 Qe2 Qd7 f4 Qg4+ Qxg4 Nxg4 dxc6 bxc6 Rfe1 Kd7 Red1+Kc7 Rac1 Nxe3 fxe3 Rb8 b4 Kb6 a3 a5 bxa5+ Kxa5 Ne4 f5 Nd2 Bxa3 Rxc6 Rhd8 Rc7 Bf8 Nc4+ Ka4 Rc1 h6 Ne5 Re8
34.* h4 35. Rf7 36. Nc6 37. Nd4 38.* h5 39. hxg6 40. Kf2 41. Rxf6 42. Nxf5 43. Kf3 44. e4 45. Re1 46. Nd4 47. e5 48. f5 49. Ne6 50. Rb1+ 51. Rc1+ 52. Rh1 53. f6 54. f7 55. Nf4 56. Kg3 57. e6 58. Kg4 59.* Kf3 60. Kg2 61. Rxh2 62. Rxh6 63. Kf3 64. f8=Q 1/2-1/2
Ka3 Be7 Rb7 g6 Rb6 Rxg6+ Rf6 Bxf6 h5 h4 Rf8 Bd8 h3 Rh8 Kb4 h2 Kc4 Kd3 Ba5 Kc4 Bb4 Rh6 Kd4 Ke5 Kf6 Bd6 Ke7 Bxf4 Bxh6 Kxe6 Bxf8

34..Ka3

38..Rb6

59..Bd6
Game 84: Distant Variant Dv7'EG with White White's play looks dubious, but it is a valid response to the rook pawn attack: Dv7'EG followed by the f-pawn advance (9). Black attacks white's vulnerable K-side ferociously (13) but white always finds an answer (17), and wins the game with a fine combination (20,22) clearing the board and allowing him to clean up black's badly arranged pawns (29). Try provocative opening lines like this one in blitz and see if you don't impress your adversary and whoever else is looking on!

9. f4

13..g5

17. e4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20.* 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
e3 e5 Ne2 d5 Ng3 Nf6 Be2 h5 O-O h4 Nh1 h3 g3 Be7 d3 c5 f4 exf4 gxf4 Nc6 c4 dxc4 dxc4 Qxd1 Rxd1 g5 fxg5 Rg8 Nc3 Rxg5+ Ng3 Bg4 e4 Bxe2 Bxg5 Bxd1 Rxd1 Rd8 Rxd8+Kxd8 Nf5 Nd4 Kf2 Nxe4+ Nxe4 Nxf5 Bxe7+ Kxe7 Nxc5 Nd6 b3 b6 Nd3 Ne4+
28. 29.* 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.
Kf3 Nf2 Kxf2 Kg3 Kxh3 Kg2 Kf1 a3 h4 h5 b4 axb4 c5 bxc5 h6 Kf2 h7 h8=Q Qh5+ Kf3 Kxf4 Ke3 Qb5+ Qa4 Kd2 Kc3 Qc2#
f5 Nxf2 Kd6 Ke5 Ke4 Ke3 a5 Kd4 Ke5 f4 axb4 Kd4 bxc5 Kxc5 Kd5 Ke5 Ke4 Kd5 Kc4 Kd4 Kc4 Kb3 Kc3 Kb2 Kb1 Kc1

20. Rxd8+

22. Kf2

29..Nxf2
Game 85: Distant Variant Dv7'8'Cx with Black Black responds to a combination of bishop and center pawn early attacks with Dv7'8'Cx (9). After the opening exchanges, black's strong fianchetto allows him to win two pawns (14) while tripping up white's counter attack (19). Black is under pressure later, especially after white's fine knight sacrifice (31) opens the way for a pawn promotion, but black fights back and stops the threat. In an unusual finale black's lead proves worthless: a four rooks endgame and a draw is the result.

9. Bxb6

14..fxe4

19..Ra3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.* 32. 33. 34.
e4 e6 d4 d6 Nf3 Ne7 Nc3 Nd7 Bg5 h6 Be3 Nb6 d5 g6 dxe6 Bxe6 Bxb6 axb6 Bc4 Bg7 Qd3 Bxc4 Qxc4 Qd7 Qd3 f5 O-O fxe4 Nxe4 Bxb2 c3 Kd8 Rab1 Rxa2 Rfd1 d5 c4 Ra3 Qd2 Bg7 cxd5 Kc8 d6 Nc6 dxc7 Qxd2 Nfxd2 Kxc7 Nc4 Ra6 Rd6 g5 h4 Re8 Rg6 Rxe4 Rxg7+Re7 Rg6 Re4 hxg5 Rxc4 gxh6 b5 Rxb5 Ra1+ Kh2 Rh4+
35. Kg3 Rah1 36. Rg7+ Kd6 37. Rbxb7Rxh6 38. f4 Kd5 39. Rb5+ Kc4 40. Rbg5 Nd4 41. Rc7+ Kd3 42. Rd7 Rf1 43. Kg4 Rh8 44.* Rgd5 Rg8+ 45. Rg5 Rf8 46. g3 Rd1 47. Rgg7 Rg1 48. Rh7 Rc8 49. Rhe7 Rf1 50. Kh5 Rf2 51. g4 Rxf4 52. Rf7 Rh8+ 53. Rh7 Rhf8 54. g5 Rf1 55. Kg6 Rg8+ 56. Rhg7 Rc8 57. Rgf7 Rg1 58. Rf4 Rc4 59. Kf6 Rc6+ 60.* Kf7 Rxg5 61. Rdxd4+Kc3 62. Rd1 Kc2 63. Rd8 Re5 64. Rf3 Rc7+ 65. Kg6 Rce7 66. Rd6 R5e6+ 67. Rxe6 Rxe6+ 1/2-1/2

31. hxg5

44..Rg8+

60. Kf7
Game 86: Distant Variant Dv3BE with Black Here's a really impressive win with black with one of the strongest distance 3 variants, Dv3BE (9). White opens the Q-side, but hasn't seen that black can leave his queen on offer (17), and ends up dropping a pawn (23). White tries desperately to catch up (27) as black rips apart his position (32) and races into the endgame, where he wins easily (39). Having the opening move has always been considered to be to your advantage, but seeing games like this makes you wonder if it's really so!

9. Rd1

17..Bxc5

23..Bxa4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26. 27.* 28. 29. 30. 31.
c4 e6 d4 Ne7 Nc3 Ng6 Nf3 Be7 e4 d6 Be2 O-O O-O c5 Qc2 Nc6 Rd1 cxd4 Nxd4 Nxd4 Rxd4 Bd7 Be3 Qc7 Rd2 Rfc8 a4 Qa5 c5 d5 b4 Qxb4 Rb1 Bxc5 exd5 Qh4 g3 Qh3 Bf1 Qf5 Rxb7 Bxe3 fxe3 Qxc2 Rxc2 Bxa4 Rf2 Rxc3 Rfxf7 Nf8 Rxg7+Kh8 Rxa7 Rxa7 Rxa7 Bd7 e4 exd5 exd5 Rc1 Kf2 Rc2+
32.* 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39.* 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.
Kf3 Rxh2 Bd3 Rh5 Be4 Rg5 Kf4 h6 Rb7 Kg7 Ra7 Kf7 Ra6 Ng6+ Bxg6+Rxg6 Rxg6 Kxg6 Ke5 Bf5 d6 h5 Kd4 Bd7 Ke4 Kg5 Ke3 Kg4 Kf2 Bc6 Ke3 Kxg3 Kd4 h4 Kc5 Be8 Kb6 Kf4 Kc7 Ke5 d7 Bxd7 Kxd7 h3 Kc6 h2 Kc5 h1=Q Kc4 Qc6+ Kd3 Qc1 Ke2 Ke4 Kf2 Kf4 Kg2 Qd2+ Kh3 Qe2 Kh4 Qg4#

27. Rxa7

32. Kf3

39. Bxg6+
Game 87: Distant Variant Dv36'E with Black Black's Dv36'E is an interesting line for aggressive defense (9). White offers a pawn early (10), but later has an advanced attacking position (22). Black avoids difficulties by trading down cleverly (26,31). A balanced endgame results, in which black is able to exploit his quality advantage to go ahead temporarily, but it's not enough to win (52). The D-system openings have shown to be remarkably resilient to all types of adversary responses, in particular traditional classical ones.

9. h4

10. Nxd4

22. Rb1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10.* 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25. 26.* 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.*
c4 Nc3 d4 Nf3 e4 Be2 O-O Be3 h4 Nxd4 Bg4 exf5 Bf3 Qxf3 Rad1 Bc1 Bxf4 Qe4 Ndb5 Rd5 Bxd6 Rb1 Rxb2 Nd4 Rxb7 Be7 Qxe7 Nxf5 Rxf7 Ra5 Kh2
e6 Ne7 d6 f6 Ng6 Be7 O-O c5 cxd4 Nxh4 f5 exf5 Nxf3+ Rf7 f4 Nd7 Nb6 Nxc4 Nxb2 Bf6 Bd7 Rc8 a6 Rxc3 Bf5 Qxe7 Bxe7 Bf8 Kxf7 Rc1+ Rc5
32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52.* 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.
Rxc5 Kg3 Ne3 fxe3 Kf3 e4+ Ke3 a4 g3 Kd4 Kd3 gxh4 Ke3 Kf3 Kg3 Kxh3 Kh4 Kg4 Kf4 Ke5 Kd4 Kc4 Kc3 Kc4 Kc3 Kc2 Kb1 Kc1 Kd2 Kc1 Kb1
Bxc5 Kf6 Bxe3 Kf5 h5 Ke5 a5 g5 Kd6 Ke6 h4 gxh4 h3 Ke5 Kxe4 Kf3 Ke3 Kd4 Kc5 Kb4 Kxa4 Ka3 Ka2 a4 Ka3 Kb4 Kb3 Kc4 a3 Kb3 1/2-1/2

26..Qxe7

31..Rc5

52. Kd4
Game 88: Distant Variant Dv3BxG with Black Black's Dv3BxG plays right into white's preemptive rook pawn attack, wasting two moves (9). Black parries all white's attempted attacks with sharp counter play (14,19,24), and exchanges off the remaining pieces (30) for an easily drawn endgame (45). Yet another demonstration of the impressive resilience of the D-system openings in the face of early attack - they are truly amazing!

9. O-O

14..f6

19..Nd4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25.
e4 d4 h4 Nf3 Nc3 h5 Bd3 dxc5 O-O b4 Qxd3 Rb1 Bf4 Bg5 Be3 h6 hxg7 gxf3 Nb5 Rfd1 Nxd4 Bxd4 Qxd4 Rb2 Kf1
e6 Ne7 d6 Nd7 Ng6 Ne7 c5 Nxc5 Bd7 Nxd3 Nc6 Rc8 e5 f6 Bg4 Bxf3 Bxg7 f5 Nd4 O-O exd4 Bxd4 Rxc2 Qg5+ Rxb2
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.* 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.* 46. 47. 48. 49.
Qxb2 Qh5 Qb3+ Rf7 Rxd6 Qh1+ Ke2 fxe4 Rf6 exf3+ Rxf3 Qh5 a4 Kf8 Qxf7+ Qxf7 Rxf7+ Kxf7 Kf3 a6 Kg4 Kg6 a5 h6 Kh4 Kf5 Kh5 Kf4 Kxh6 Kf3 Kg5 Kxf2 Kf4 Ke2 Ke4 Kd2 Kd4 Kc2 Kc5 Kb3 b5 axb5 Kxb5 Ka3 a6 bxa6+ Kxa6 1/2-1/2

24..Qg5+

30..exf3+

45. Kc5
Game 89: Distant Variant Dv4xBG" with Black Black's Dv4xBG" responds well to a center pawn early attack (9), winning a pawn and developing into a solid position later (22). Black explores attacks all over the chessboard, but can't crack the white defenses until a set of exchanges beginning (65) opens the way for his pieces and pawns (77) and then white must yield (82). A fine demonstration of tactical chess and tenacious defense! 40. Bf1 Bc8 1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nd7 41. Rc1 Be6 3. e4 e6 42. Ree1 Rdc8 4. c4 Ne7 43. Kg2 Qd6 5. Nc3 Nb6 44. Red1 Qb6 6. c5 dxc5 45. Qb2 a5 7. dxc5 Nd7 46. Rc3 Rd8 8. Be3 Nc6 47. Rcc1 Bg4 9.* Bb5 Bxc5 48. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 O-O 49. Bd3 Ra8 9. Bb5 77..Bd3 11. Rd1 Qe7 50. Nf1 a4 12. O-O Nde5 51. Nd2 Qd6 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 52. Qa3 Bc8 14. Be2 b6 53. Qb2 Bb7 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 54. Bb1 Qf6 16. Rc1 Qe7 55. Re1 axb3 56. axb3 Rd8 17. Qf4 Ng6 57. Qc3 Rcd7 18. Qg3 c6 58. Qe3 Qb6 19. Rfd1 e5 20. Nb1 Bb7 59. Qc3 Qh6 21. Qe3 Rad8 60. Nf1 b4 22.* Nd2 Nf4 61. Qe3 Qc6 22..Nf4 82. Rexe2 23. Bf1 c5 62. Nh2 Qe6 24. Nf3 Qf6 63. Ba2 Nb5 Ne6 64. Rc2 Nc3 79. Nd1Rb1 92. Rf7 e3 25. Re1 a6 80. Kf2 R7b3 93. Ke1 Rb2 26. Qa3 65.* Nf1 f5 27. Qc3 Nd4 81. g4 Be2 94. g5 Rg1+ 66. Qxc5 fxe4 82.*Rexe2 fxe2 95. Rf1 Rgg2 28. Nd2 Rd7 67. Qxb4 exf3+ 96. Rf6+ Kd5 83. Kxe2 Rg3 29. Rcd1 Rfd8 68. Kh2 Nxa2 84. Ne3 Rh1 97. Kf1 e2+ 69. Rxa2 Rf7 85. Ra8+ Kf7 98.Kxg2e1=Q+ 30. Re3 Qf4 31. h3 Rd6 70. Qc3 e4 86. Ra7+ Ke6 99. Kh3 Rb3+ 32. g3 Qh6 71. Ne3 Rd3 87. Ra6+ Kd7 100. Rf3 Qh1+ 33. h4 Qe6 88. Ra7+ Kc6 101.Kg3 Qxf3+ 72. Qc5 Qc6 89. Rxg7 Rh2+ 102. Kh2 Rb2+ 73. Qxc6 Bxc6 34. Bc4 Qg4 90. Kf1 Rxe3 103. Kg1 Qd1# 65..f5 35. Rde1 R6d7 74. Nc4 Re7 91. Rxh7 Rg3 36. Bd3 Rc7 75. Ne3 Rxb3 37. Bf1 Qe6 76. Rc2 Bb5 38. Bc4 Qe7 77.* Kg1 Bd3 39. b3 b5 78. Ra2 Reb7
Game 90: Distant Variant Dv3'8'D with Black Black plays Dv3'8'D (9), responding to the bishop early attack. Black takes a pawn quickly and then has to fall back, but later gains time with his knight foray (21), followed by a push on the Q-side (35). White can do little to prevent a general invasion (44), and is a few moves away from being totally crushed (51), but finally manages to sneak away with a draw by perpetual check (58).

9. Be3

21..Ng4

35..c5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
d4 d6 c4 Nd7 Nf3 e6 Nc3 Ne7 Bg5 c6 e4 Qc7 Qd2 Ng6 Be2 h6 Be3 Be7 h4 e5 h5 Ngf8 O-O-ONf6 c5 exd4 Bxd4 dxc5 Be5 Qd7 Qc2 Qe6 Bg3 N8d7 Nh4 O-O f4 Bd8 f5 Qe8 Nf3 Ng4 Rd2 b5 Kb1 Ne3 Qd3 Nc4 Rdd1 Ba5 Rc1 Qe7 Qc2 Nde5 Nxe5 Nxe5 Rcd1 Bb7 Rhf1 f6 Bxe5 fxe5 g3 c4
33. Qc1 34. Bg4 35.* Ne2 36. Bf3 37. Qc2 38. g4 39. Ka1 40. Kb1 41. Nc3 42. Qe2 43. Nd5 44.* exd5 45. Bg2 46. Bh1 47. f6 48. a4 49. Rf5 50. gxf5 51.* fxg7 52. Qf3 53. Qb7+ 54. Bd5 55. Qb8+ 56. Qc7+ 57. Qc6+ 58.* Qg6+ 59. Qb6+ 60. Qf6+ 61. Qb6+ 62. Qf6+ 63. Qb6+ 1/2-1/2
Bb6 Bd4 c5 Rad8 a6 Qg5 Rfe8 Be3 Rd4 Bd2 Bxd5 e4 Re5 Rdxd5 Rd3 bxa4 Rxf5 e3 a3 Kxg7 Kf8 Qxf5 Ke7 Ke8 Qd7 Kd8 Qc7 Qe7 Qc7 Qe7 Qc7

44..e4

51..a3

58. Qg6+
Game 91: Distant Variant Dv44xB" with Black Black's Dv44xB" responds well to white's K-side fianchetto opening (9), and gives him a fine position later on (18). Black initiates a fantastic series of exchanges (22), surviving a dangerous white attack (26) with brilliant counterplay. In an equally sensational queen and rook endgame black outplays his opponent (36,74) to win by a hair. Perilous chess, played at its very best. 40. Rg4+ Kf7 1. g3 e6 2. Nf3 d5 41. Rf4 Rg5+ 3. Bg2 Nd7 42. Kf2 Qd6 4. d4 Ne7 43. Qd4 Rd5 5. O-O Ng6 44. Qc4 b5 45. Qe4 Rd2+ 6. c4 Nf6 7. Nc3 dxc4 46. Kg3 Kg7 47. h4 Qe5 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9.* Qxc4 Bc6 48. Qxe5 fxe5 10. e4 Be7 49. Rf5 Rxa2 9. Qxc4 26..Bxf2+ 11. Rd1 O-O 50. Rxe5 Ra3 12. d5 exd5 51. Re7+ Kf6 52. Re3 a5 13. exd5 Bd7 14. Bg5 Re8 53. Kf2 Kg6 15. Rac1 h6 54. Ke2 b4 16. Be3 Bg4 55. Re5 Kf6 56. Re3 Kf5 17. Bd4 Qd7 57. Rg3 Kf4 18.* Re1 a6 19. Ne5 Nxe5 58. Rg5 Ke4 20. Bxe5 Rac8 59. Rg4+ Ke5 21. Qd4 Rcd8 60. Rg3 a4 22.* Ne4 Nxd5 61. Rg5+ Kd4 18..a6 36..h4 23. Bxg7 c5 62. bxa4 Rxa4 24. Nxc5 Bxc5 63. Rg4+ Kc3 Qxe8 25. Rxe8+ Bxf2+ 64. Rg3+ Kc2 26.* Qxg4 65. Rg4 Ra2 27. Kh1 Ne3 66. Ke3 b3 28. Qf3 Kxg7 67. Rc4+ Kd1 29. Qxf2 Nxg2 68. Rd4+ Kc1 69. h5 Rh2 30. Kxg2 Rd3 31. Kg1 Qe6 70. Rc4+ Kb2 32. b3 Re3 71. Rc5 Ka3 33. Rf1 b6 72. Kd3 b2 73. Rb5 Rh1 34. Qd2 h5 22..Nxd5 74..Rh3 35. Kf2 Re5 74.* Ke2 Rh3 36.* Rc1 h4 75. h6 Rxh6 37. Rc4 hxg3+ 76. Kd3 Rh1 38. Kxg3 Rd5 77. Kc4 Rc1+ 39. Qc3+ f6 78. Kd5 b1=Q
Game 92: Distant Variant Dv1'GxE with Black Black counters a bishop early attack with Dv1'GxE (9). After the opening black has a comfortable position with plenty of room to maneuver (25). Black drops his advanced pawn, but after a long and difficult struggle (33,46), finds a way to equalize (51), and clean up white's remaining pawns (56) to win. A fine example of complex tactical chess, at a level only the best players can achieve.

9. O-O

25..Nf4

33..Ne4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.*
d4 e4 Nf3 Bg5 Bxe7 Nc3 Be2 Qd2 O-O a3 Rad1 Rfe1 Bd3 a4 Ne2 c4 bxc3 Bc2 a5 Ra1 Ng3 Ra2 Qe2 Nd2 Rea1 Qe3 Ne2 Ra4 Rxc4 Qd3 exd5 Rc5 Nb3
d6 e6 Nd7 Be7 Nxe7 O-O Ng6 a6 b5 Bb7 Qf6 Rfe8 Rac8 b4 c5 bxc3 c4 Rb8 Qd8 Nf6 Bc6 Qc7 Ba8 Rec8 Nf4 N4h5 Rb5 Rb2 Bc6 d5 exd5 Rb5 Ne4
34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.* 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.* 52. 53. 54. 55. 56.* 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 0-1
f3 dxc5 Qxd5 Qd1 Nbd4 Qd2 Ng3 Ngf5 Be4 Kh1 Qe1 Rb1 Qxe4 Rb6 Ne3 Nxc4 Qa8+ Rb1 Qxf3 g4 h3 Qe3 Kg1 Qf2 Rb7 Rb2 Rb1 Rd1 Kg2 Qd4+ Rxd4
Rxc5 Bb5 Nhf6 Nxc5 Bc4 Nd5 Rd8 Ne6 Qc5 Rd7 Nf6 Nxe4 Qc7 g6 Nxd4 Re7 Kg7 Nxf3 Qxc4 Re4 Rf4 Qd5+ Re4 Qxa5 Qd5 Qe5 Re3 Qxc3 Rxh3 Qxd4 Ra3

44..Nf6

51..Nxf3

56..Re4
Game 93: Distant Variant Dv3'4'B" with Black Black's Dv3'4'B" falls back under pressure of white's big pawn wall (9), but later smashes open the Q-side, exchanging a knight for 3 pawns (13). Black's pawn storm scatters white's Q-side pieces (22,28), and his advanced pawn anchors the winning attack (35,38). Unpleasant surprises such as this are in store for those who expect to smother the compact D-game under a blanket of pawns.

9. e5

13..Nxc5

22..b4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.
d4 e4 c4 Nc3 f4 Nf3 Be2 c5 e5 O-O b4 b5 b6 dxc5 Nd4 Ba3 Nb3 Rb1 Kh1 Bh5 Bxg6 Ne2 Bb2 Nbc1 Qd2 Qxb4 Ba3
d6 e6 Ne7 Nd7 c6 Nb6 d5 Nd7 Ng6 Be7 O-O a6 Nxc5 Bxc5+ Bxb6 c5 Bd7 Rc8 Ba7 b5 hxg6 b4 Bb5 d4 c4 c3 c2
28.* 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.* 36. 37. 38.* 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53.
Rb3 d3 Nxd3 Bxd3 Qe1 Re8 Bc1 Qd7 Qd2 Red8 f5 Bb5 Qe1 Qd1 fxe6 Qxe1 exf7+ Kf8 Rxe1 Rd1 h4 Rxe1+ Kh2 Rxe2 Rf3 Rxe5 a4 Bxa4 Rf1 Rf5 Rf3 Rxf3 gxf3 Rc3 Bb2 Be3 h5 Rb3 Bc1 Bxc1 Kg2 Bf4 h6 c1=Q hxg7+ Kxg7 f8=Q+ Kxf8 Kh3 Bd7+ Kg2 Rb2#

28..d3

35. fxe6

38. h4
Game 94: Distant Variant Dv3'GG with Black Black plays the interesting Dv3'GG variant (9), and draws quickly and effortlessly. Black counter attacks in the center (13) instead of reacting to white's threats, and consolidates nicely (17). White finds nothing better than to trade down (21) to an evenly matched endgame, which black closes down with perpetual check (25). Guess white will have to go home and find something better!

9. Be3

13..e5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15. 16.
d4 e4 Nc3 Nf3 Be2 O-O Be3 e5 exd6 Ne4 c4 Nc5 fxe3 Nxe5 dxc5 cxb6
d6 Nd7 c6 e6 Be7 Nb6 Nf6 Nfd5 Qxd6 Qc7 f5 Nxe3 e5 Bxc5 Qxe5 Qxe3+
17.* Kh1 18. bxa7 19. Qc2 20. Bd3 21.* Bxf5 22. Rxf5 23. Qxf5 24. Qd7 25.* h3 26. Rxf1 27. Kh2 28. Kh1 29. Kh2 30. Kh1 31. Kh2 1/2-1/2
O-O Be6 Qxa7 Qd4 Bxf5 Rxf5 Qxc4 Rf8 Rf1+ Qxf1+ Qf4+ Qc1+ Qf4+ Qc1+ Qf4+

21. Bxf5

25..Rf1+

17..O-O
Game 95: Distant Variant Dv4'4x5x with White White has fun at black's expense in this delightful game. White's Dv4'4x5x strikes at the middle of the three pawn forward wall (9), scattering black's center like so many bowling pins, and winning a pawn (15). White trades down neatly (23) producing a passed pawn that moves straight in (30), forcing a queen exchange (36), and winning the race for promotion by a wide margin (47). Games such as this give you the impression that maybe chess isn't so hopelessly complicated after all !

9. Be3

15. Qxd5

23. Nd4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.* 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.
d3 e5 Nd2 d5 Nb3 Nf6 Bd2 Bd6 e3 c5 d4 cxd4 exd4 Nc6 dxe5 Nxe5 Bb5+ Bd7 Bxd7+Qxd7 Ne2 O-O O-O Rfe8 Bg5 Ne4 Bf4 Rac8 Qxd5 Nf6 Qd1 Rcd8 Ng3 Qb5 c3 Nd5 Bxe5 Bxe5 Qf3 Nf4 Rae1 Nd3 Re2 g6 Nd4 Bxd4 Rxe8+ Qxe8 cxd4 Rxd4 Qxb7 Qd8 Qxa7 Nxb2 Rb1 Rd2
29. 30.* 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.* 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47.* 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56.
h3 a4 a5 a6 Ne4 f3 Kh1 Qc5 Nxc5 Rb8 Kh2 Kg3 f4 Kxf4 Ke5 Kd5 Rb7+ Rb4 Ra4 Ke6 Nxa4 Nc3 Ne4 Kd6 Kc7 Kb6 Kxa7 Kb6
Rc2 Kg7 Nc4 Qd6 Qe5 Re2 Ne3 Qxc5 Ra2 Ra1+ Ra2 g5 gxf4+ Nxg2+ Nh4 f5 Kh6 Ng6 Ne7+ Rxa4 Nc6 f4 Kh5 Na7 Kg6 Kf5 Kxe4 1-0

30. a4

36. Qc5

47. Ra4
Game 96: Distant Variant Dv6'7'F with Black Black's Dv6'7'F starts out on a Beginner's Game line, then repulses a bishop early attack (9). White prevents black from castling, but drops a pawn doing it (14). Black stays in the lead easily thru further trades (23), and it becomes a tough knight and pawns endgame (29). Black protects his lead well (47), but is unable to make progress towards promotion, and accepts the draw (54). All players will find a world of new and useful ideas when they play the B and D-system variants.

9. Bh3

14. Qxe7+

23..Kg7
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.* 30. 31. 32.
d4 g6 Nf3 d6 g3 Nd7 e4 e6 Nc3 Bg7 Bg5 f6 Bd2 Ne7 Qe2 Nb6 Bh3 Bd7 d5 exd5 Bxd7+Qxd7 Nxd5 Nexd5 exd5+ Qe7 Qxe7+ Kxe7 O-O-O Nxd5 h4 Kf7 h5 Rhe8 hxg6+ hxg6 Bh6 Nb6 Bxg7 Kxg7 Rhe1 Kf7 Rxe8 Rxe8 Rh1 Kg7 Re1 Rxe1+ Nxe1 Kf7 Kd2 Ke6 b3 g5 c4 d5 Nd3 dxc4 Nc5+ Kd5 Nxb7 cxb3 axb3 c5
33. Na5 34. Kc3 35. Nxb3 36. Nd2 37. f3 38. Kc2 39. Nxf3 40. g4 41. Nd2 42. Kb3 43. Nf3 44. Nd4+ 45. Ne6+ 46. Nc7+ 47.* Ne8 48. Kc4 49. Kb3 50. Nc7+ 51. Ne8 52. Ka3 53. Nd6+ 54.* Ne8 55. Nxf6 56. Ne4+ 57. Nd2 58. Nb3 59. Nc5 60. Kxa4 61. Kb5 1/2-1/2
c4 cxb3 g4 a5 Na4+ gxf3 Nc5 Ne6 Ng5 Ne4 Kc6 Kc5 Kb5 Kc6 Nc5+ Nd7 Kb5 Kb6 Ka6 Kb5 Kc6 Nb6 Kd6 Ke5 Kf4 a4 Nc4+ Nb2+ Kxg4

29. Nd3

47..Nc5+

54..Nb6
Game 97: Distant Variant Dv4xGG with Black Black's Dv4xGG with 4 king knight moves flaunts conventional chess wisdom, but has white under pressure from the beginning (9). Black advances on all fronts, challenging white's centrally placed queen (18), scattering his knights, controlling open files (25), and threatening mate. White loses rook for piece and pawn twice to stop his threats (32), then black's rooks clean up quickly (41). Games like this make us reflect on how little we really knew about the chess opening.

9. Bg5

18..f6

25..e5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.* 33. 34. 35.* 36.
e4 d4 Nf3 e5 dxe5 Be2 O-O Nc3 Bg5 Bxe7 Qd4 Nb5 Qe3 Nc3 Bd3 Be4 Qxe4 Na4 exf6 Qe2 Qc4 Qe4 Rad1 h4 Rd2 Re1 g3 c4 Qc2 Nh2 Rde2 Rxe4 Rxe4 Nxc5 Nd3 Nxf3
d6 Nd7 Ngf6 dxe5 Ng8 e6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 Qxe7 O-O c5 a6 b5 Bb7 Bxe4 b4 f6 Nxf6 Nf4 Nd7 Rae8 Rf7 h6 e5 Qe6 Nh5 Nhf6 e4 Qh3 Ne5 Nxe4 Rfe7 Qc8 Nf3+ Rxe4
37. 38. 39. 40. 41.* 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71.
c5 Qf5 Qb3+ Qf7 c6 Qxb3 axb3 R4e6 Nd4 Rd6 Nxb4 Rxd4 Nxa6 Ra8 Nc7 Rc8 Nb5 Rd1+ Kg2 Rxc6 Kf3 Rb6 Nc3 Re1 Ne4 Rxb3+ Kf4 Rxb2 f3 Rb8 Kg4 Rd8 Nf2 Rd4+ Ne4 Rf1 h5 Kf7 Kf4 Rd3 Ke5 Rdxf3 g4 Re1 Kd5 Rd3+ Kc4 Rd8 Nc3 Rc1 Kb4 Rb8+ Kc4 Rc8+ Kd3 R8xc3+ Ke4 Ke6 Kd4 Rc4+ Ke3 R1c2 Kf3 Ke5 g5 R4c3+ Kg4 Rg2+ Kh4 hxg5#

32. Rxe4

35..Nf3+

41..Rd6
Game 98: Distant Variant Dv4x5EG with White White plays Dv4x5EG, containing an interesting gambit which black accepts and keeps (9). White has a jump in development, obliging black to react (21). In a complicated situation white attacks (24), but is still trying to regain his pawn late in the middle game (34,45). Finally white's persistent attacking allows him to equalize, and simplify to a winnable endgame (78). Interesting contest! 40. Bc7 Kf5 1. Nf3 c5 2. d3 d5 41. Bb6 Kf6 3. Nbd2 Nc6 42. Kf1 Ne6 4. e4 e6 43. Rd7 Rf8 5. Nb3 Bd6 44. Rh7 Ng5 45.* Qg7+ Kf5 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O dxe4 46. Rxh6 Rg8 8. dxe4 Nxe4 47. Qa7 Rf8 9.* Nbd2 Nxd2 48. Qe7 Rf7 10. Qxd2 Qc7 49. Qd6 Ne6 9. Nbd2 34. Bd8 11. Rd1 Be7 50. g4+ fxg3 12. c3 e5 51. hxg3 Qd7 52. Qxd7 Rxd7 13. Qc2 O-O 14. Be3 Be6 53. Ke2 Rf7 15. Ng5 Bxg5 54. Rh8 Nf8 16. Bxg5 f5 55. Ke3 Kf6 56. Ke4 Kg7 17. Qa4 f4 57. Rh1 Kf6 18. Qe4 Qf7 19. Rd6 Rae8 58. Rd1 Rd7 20. Bh4 Qc7 59. Rxd7 Nxd7 21.* Rad1 Nd4 60. Kd5 Ke7 22. Bd3 Bf5 61. Kc6 Nf6 21..Nd4 45. Qg7+ 23. Qd5+ Be6 62. Kb7 Kd7 24.* Rxe6 Nxe6 63. Kxa6 Kc6 Kh8 64. Be3 Nd5 25. Bb5 c4 26. Qe4 65. Bd2 Nc7+ 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 66. Ka7 Ne6 28. f3 a6 67. Be3 Nc7 68. Bg5 Nd5 29. Bf2 b6 30. Rd5 Nf8 69. Kb8 Nc7 31. Rd1 g6 70. Be7 Nd5 32. Bh4 h6 71. Bd8 Kd7 33. Qd5 Kg7 72. Bg5 Kc6 73. g4 Nc7 34.* Bd8 Qa7 24..Rxe6 after 78. Bf6 35. a4 Qb8 74. Be7 Nd5 36. a5 b5 75. Bh4 Nc7 37. Qc5 Kf7 76. Kc8 Na6 38. Qb6 Qc8 77. Be7 Nc7 39. Qa7+ Ke6 78.* Bf6 1-0
Game 99: Distant Variant Dv2'4F'F with White White's Dv2'4F'F (9) stakes a claim in the center and aims for a Q-side offensive, but black trades down (13) to reduce the threat. After the Q-side is closed (20), there is little scope for attack for either side, although white tries his best (28,37,55). A draw is agreed after all invitations by white to break the game open are refused. An example of tough positional chess with the D-system.

9. c4

13..Nf5

20. c5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.* 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.* 29. 30. 31.
e3 d4 Bd3 Ne2 O-O b3 Ng3 Be2 c4 Ba3 Nxa3 Nb1 Qc2 Nxf5 Rc1 Nd2 Nf1 Ng3 Qd2 c5 a4 Qb4 Qa5 Qd2 b4 Qc2 Qb2 b5 Qb3 Qc2 Rab1
e6 Nf6 d5 Bd6 O-O e5 e4 Nc6 Ne7 Bxa3 a6 c6 Nf5 Bxf5 Re8 Qe7 Rec8 Bd7 Rab8 Ra8 Ra7 Be6 Raa8 Ra7 Rca8 Bd7 Rb8 Raa8 Be6 a5 Re8
32. bxc6 33. Rb6 34. Rcb1 35. Qd2 36. R6b3 37.* Qb2 38. Qc2 39. Nf1 40. h3 41. Nd2 42. Rb8 43. R8b6 44. R6b3 45. Qb2 46. Qc3 47. Nf1 48. Rb6 49. R6b2 50. Rb3 51. Qc2 52. Qd2 53. Rb6 54. Qb2 55.* Qc3 56. R6b2 57. Qb3 58. Qc2 59. Nd2 60. Qb3 61. Qc3 1/2-1/2
bxc6 Qc7 Bc8 h6 Ra7 g6 h5 h4 Kg7 Nh7 Nf8 Nd7 f5 Nf6 Ra8 Ra7 Nd7 Nf6 Nd7 Nf6 Re7 Re8 Nd7 Ra8 Nf6 Nd7 Ra7 Nf6 Nd7 Nf6

28. b5

37. Qb2

55. Qc3
Game 100: Distant Variant Dv3'5xBB with White White's Dv3'5xBB leads off with a conventional knight move, inviting a center pawn attack (9). A sharp series of exchanges follows the opening (14,18,23), winning white material, and very soon afterwards, the game (28,30). This opening, like so many others in the D-system, shows how much virgin territory there is still in chess. Define new lines of your own and conquer the world!

9. bxc3

14. Bxg5

18. Bxb7+
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18.* 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.* 24. 25. 26.
Nc3 d5 e3 e5 Nge2 Nf6 Ng3 d4 exd4 exd4 Nce2 Nc6 d3 Bb4+ c3 dxc3 bxc3 Bd6 Nf4 Qe7+ Be2 g5 Nfh5 Nxh5 Nxh5 Bg4 Bxg5 Qxg5 Bxg4 f5 Bf3 O-O-O O-O Ne5 Bxb7+ Kxb7 f4 Qh6 fxe5 Qe3+ Kh1 Qxe5 Ng3 Qxc3 Qf3+ Kc8 Qxf5+ Rd7 Qf3 c5 Rab1 Bxg3
27. 28.* 29. 30.* 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.
hxg3 Qe5 Qa8+ Kc7 Qxa7+Kd8 Qb8+ Qxb8 Rxb8+Kc7 Rxh8 Rxd3 Rxh7+Kc6 Rc1 Ra3 Rh5 Rxa2 Rcxc5+ Kd6 Ra5 Rxa5 Rxa5 Ke6 g4 Kf6 g5+ Kg6 Kh2 Kf7 Ra6 Kg7 Kg3 Kf7 g6+ Ke7 g7 Kf7 Ra7+ Kg8 Kf4 Kh7 Kg5 Kg8 Kf6 Kh7 Ra8 Kh6 Rh8#

23. Qf3+

28. Qa8+

30. Qb8+
Game 101: Distant Variant Dv2'3CE with Black Black's Dv2'3CE responds to a center pawn attack with a fianchetto, and a counter challenge (9). Black's strong piece placements support the advance of his central pawns (20), and the creation of an impregnable diagonal piece and pawn barrage, allowing him to win two pawns in utter tranquility (36). With his Q-side pawns ready for promotion, black shatters the remnants of white's defenses with a series of rook sacrifice offers (50,52,53) for a devastating win. Great stuff!

9. dxc5

20..c4

36..Ra2
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.* 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
e4 Nf3 d4 Bd3 e5 O-O Nc3 Bd2 dxc5 Re1 Qe2 Na4 Nc3 Qe3 Bxg6 Na4 Qd3 b3 a3 Qe4 Bf4 Bc1 Bf4 h3 Bg3 Red1 Bf4 Bc1 Re1 bxa4 Rd1 Rd3
e6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 O-O b6 Bb7 c5 bxc5 Nc6 Qb6 Qc7 a6 d5 hxg6 d4 Rfd8 a5 Ba6 c4 c3 Rac8 Rd5 Bb5 Qd8 Rb8 Qd7 Qb7 Bxa4 Qa6 Qc4 Rb6
33. 34. 35. 36.* 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.* 51. 52.* 53.* 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63.
h4 Bf4 Rc1 Re3 Ree1 Bg3 Rf1 Rfe1 Red1 Qd3 Qe2 Qe4 Kh2 Ra1 Kg1 Ne1 Nd3 Qe2 Rxa2 Qf3 Kh2 Kh3 Bh2 Ra4 g3 Qg2 Kxg2 f4 g4 Kg3 f5
Bd8 Rb2 Be7 Ra2 Qxa4 Qxa3 Qa4 Rb2 Qb4 a4 Qb5 a3 Bd8 a2 d3 d2 Rb1 Rxd3 Rd5 Rxe5 Re1 Rexd1 Rb4 Rxa4 Qf1+ Qxg2+ Rb1 d1=Q Qh1+ Rf1 Rf3#

50. Rxd3

52..Rxe5

53..Re1
Game 102: Distant Variant DvFxFFGx with White White responds to the rook pawn early attack by accepting this dangerous gambit (9). Black invades with his queen and takes a pawn with a good attack, but white knows how to equalize (12) and avoid trouble afterwards (19). Black does his best to find a forcing line (24), but white has an answer to everything (29), and triumphs in the pawn endgame (46). Although not to most players' tastes, this game shows that it is possible to accept and survive this risky gambit, and even win.

9. d3

12. Nd2

19. Qg5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12.* 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.* 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27.
e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 Nxh5 Bxh5 Be2 Bf3 d3 Rxh2 Ke2 Nd2 Bxd5 Bf3 Nxf3 e4 exf5 Qg1 Qg5 Qe3 Qxe5 Nxe5 f4 Rb1 Kf3 Ke4 Bxf4
e5 d5 Nf6 h5 Nxh5 Qg5 Qxg2 Qg5 Rxh2 Qg1+ Qxh2 Nc6 Bg4+ Bxf3+ Qh7 f5 O-O-O Qxf5 Qe6 Nb4 Qxe5+ Re8 Nxc2 g5 Bd6 gxf4 Bxe5
28. 29.* 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46.* 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53.
Bxe5 d4 Ra1 Rxa7 Ra8+ Rxe8 d5 Kd4 Bh2 b4 Kc4 Kd3 Be5 Kc4 Bxd6 Kd3 Ke4 Kf5 Kg6 Kf6 Ke6 Kxd6 Kc6 d6+ Kxb5 Kc5
Nb4 Nxa2 Nb4 Na6 Kd7 Kxe8 Kd7 b6 Nc5 Nb7 Nd6+ Nb5 Kc8 Nd6+ cxd6 b5 Kd7 Ke7 Ke8 Kf8 Kg7 Kf6 Ke7 Ke8 Kd7 1-0

24..g5

29. d4

46. Kg6
Game 103: Distant Variant Dv3'44x5x with White White is hit by the rook pawn early attack, and counters effectively with Dv3'44x5x (9), emerging a pawn up and defusing black's best efforts to press the offensive (12,22). Soon In the endgame, white moves forward (31,44) and wins the king and pawn finale (56). One game isn't a refutation of the line, but it should encourage opponents to be cautious in offering this questionable gambit.

9. Kf1

12..Rxh2

22..b4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12.* 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.* 32. 33.
e3 e5 Ne2 d5 Ng3 Nf6 Be2 h5 d4 h4 dxe5 hxg3 exf6 Bb4+ c3 gxf2+ Kf1 Bf8 e4 Qd6 fxg7 Bxg7 exd5 Rxh2 Rxh2 Qxh2 Kxf2 Be5 Qg1 Qg3+ Kf1 Bg4 Qf2 Qxf2+ Kxf2 Bxe2 Kxe2 c6 dxc6 Nxc6 Be3 b5 Nd2 b4 cxb4 Bxb2 Rb1 Bd4 Nf3 Bxe3 Kxe3 Rc8 Rc1 Ne7 Rxc8+ Nxc8 Kd4 Kd7 Ne5+ Ke6 Nc6 Kd6 b5 a6 a4 axb5
34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.* 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56.* 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65.
axb5 Kc5 Ne5 Nc4 Kd5 b6+ g4 Kd6 Ke7 Ke6 Kf7 Kxf6 Ke5 g5 g6 Nd6+ Ne8 Kf5 Kg5 Kxh5 Kg5 Kf5 Ke6 Kf6 g7 g8=Q Qc4+ Ke5 Qb5+ Ke6 Kd6 Qd7#
Kc7 Nb6 f6 Nd7+ Nf8 Kb7 Kb8 Kb7 Nh7 Kc6 Ng5+ Ne4+ Ng3 Nh5 Kb7 Kxb6 Kb7 Kc8 Kd8 Kxe8 Ke7 Ke8 Kf8 Ke8 Kd7 Kc6 Kb6 Kb7 Kc7 Kc8 Kd8

31. Nc6

44. Kf7

56. Ke6
Game 104: Distant Variant Dv37'BF with White Whites Dv37'BF moves into new lines after the first four moves (9), and a wild game results. Following the opening skirmishes white is a pawn to the good (12) but his rook and knight are out of the game, so black's position is more active (17). Black brings his pieces forward, and traps white in the corner (22), at which point white is glad to accept a draw by repetition. An odd game!

9. Nxb7

12..c4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12.* 13.
d3 Nd2 Nb3 Bd2 g3 Bg2 c4 Na5 Nxb7 Bxb7 Bxa8 f3 Rc1
e5 d5 Nf6 Be7 O-O c5 dxc4 cxd3 Bxb7 Nbd7 Qxa8 c4 Rc8
14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25. 26.
b3 dxe2 Qxe2 cxb3 Rxc8+ Qxc8 axb3 Qb7 Be3 Qxb3 Bxa7 Nd5 Kf1 Nc5 Bxc5 Bxc5 Kg2 Ne3+ Kf2 Nd5+ Kg2 Ne3+ Kf2 Nd5+ Kg2 1/2-1/2

17..Qb7

22..Ne3+
Game 105: Distant Variant Dv55xEG with Black Black's remotely classical looking Dv55xEG leads to easy equality after the opening (9). Black offers a superb gambit starting (13), leading to a quick invasion of the 7th rank, a deft opening of white's castle position (22), and a win of the exchange (29). Black then caps a good effort with a quick and precise mating attack (40). Truly a fine contest, with all the flourish and bravura that only true masters of the game can imitate. Let's hear it for the amazing new D-system openings!

9. Nxe7+

13..Bd7

22..Qc2
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.* 23. 24. 25.
d4 d6 e4 Nd7 Nc3 e5 Nf3 Be7 Be2 exd4 Nxd4 Ngf6 Nf5 O-O O-O Nb6 Nxe7+ Qxe7 Bg5 h6 Bxf6 Qxf6 a4 a5 Nb5 Bd7 Nxc7 Rac8 Nb5 d5 exd5 Qxb2 Nd6 Rxc2 Rb1 Qa2 Rxb6 Rxe2 Rxb7 Bxa4 Qd4 Rd2 Qc3 Qc2 Qxa5 Rd1 g3 Bb3 Rb5 f5
26. 27. 28. 29.* 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.* 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.
Rc5 Qe2 Rxd1 Qxd1+ Kg2 f4 Ne4 Bc4 Rxc4 f3+ Kh3 Qf1+ Kh4 Qxc4 g4 Qxe4 Qc7 h5 h3 hxg4 hxg4 Qh7+ Kg3 Qh1 Qe5 Qg2+ Kh4 Qxf2+ Kh5 Qe2 Qe6+ Qxe6 dxe6 f2 e7 Rc8 g5 f1=Q e8=Q+Rxe8 Kg4 Re4+ Kg3 Re3+ Kg4 Qh3+ Kf4 Qf3#

29..Bc4

40..Qe2
Game 106: Distant Variant DvFxFFGx with White White's DvFxFFGx goes for the rook pawn gambit (9). This is a dangerous line for system players, still experience has shown that it can be taken and survived. Black attacks as hard as he can afterwards (14,20,24), but it's not enough to make the difference. White trades everything (28), and stays within a tempo to draw (38). Inviting such attacks seems extreme, but it's a useful way to sharpen your skills in defending, and also justifies use of all the possible D-game move orders.

9. d3

14..Bxf3+
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.* 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.* 21. 22. 23. 24.*
e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 Nxh5 Bxh5 Be2 Bf3 d3 Rxh2 Ke2 Nd2 Bxd5 Bf3 Nxf3 e4 exf5 Qg1 Qg5 Qh4 Nxd4 Kf1 Bf4 Bg3
e5 d5 Nf6 h5 Nxh5 Qg5 Qxg2 Qg5 Rxh2 Qg1+ Qxh2 Nc6 Bg4+ Bxf3+ Qh7 f5 O-O-O Qxf5 Qe6 Nd4+ exd4+ Re8 Kb8 Qe2+
25. 26. 27. 28.* 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38.* 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.
Kg2 Qxc2 Re1 Qc6+ f3 Bd6 Bxd6 cxd6 Rxe8+ Qxe8 Qxd4 Qe5 Qxe5 dxe5 Kf2 Kc7 Ke3 Kd6 Ke4 b5 b4 Ke6 d4 exd4 Kxd4 Kf5 Kc5 Kf4 Kxb5 Kxf3 Ka6 g5 Kxa7 g4 b5 g3 b6 g2 b7 g1=Q+ Ka8 Qg2 b8=Q Kg4+ Qb7 Qxa2+ Kb8 1/2-1/2

24..Qe2+

28. Bxd6

20..Nd4+

38. Kc5
Game 107: Distant Variant Dv55xD"Dx with White White's Dv55xD"Dx is an interesting line with an early center challenge and queen exchange (9). Black attacks furiously after the opening, sacrificing a piece for two pawns and loss of castling (13). White holds, then counters effectively (21,28), seizing all the open lines. Black is forced to surrender the exchange (33), then white's rook pair cleans up in quick order (48). Even the most savage attacks on the D-system can be thwarted as here, with cool and consistent play.

9. Nc4

13..Ndxb4

21. Nxc6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13.* 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.* 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.* 34.
d3 Nd2 e4 Ne2 Ng3 exd5 Qf3 Qxd5 Nc4 Ne4 c3 Bxg2 b4 cxb4 Ke2 Nxe5 Rb1 Rb2 Kf1 Be3 Nxc6 d4 Nc3 Kxg2 Rc2 d5 Nxd5 Bb6 Bd4 Nc7+ Rxc7 Re1+ Rd1 Rd7+
d5 e5 Nc6 Nf6 h5 Qxd5 Be7 Nxd5 h4 h3 hxg2 Be6 Ndxb4 Nxb4 O-O-O Nc2 Bxa2 Nd4+ Bd5 Nc6 Bxc6 a5 Bxg2+ c6 Kd7 cxd5 Bd6 Ra8 Ke6 Bxc7 Rh4 Kd5 Rxd4 Kc5
35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.* 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
R1xd4 b5 Rd1 a4 Rxf7 a3 Rc1+ Kd6 Rxg7 a2 Ra1 Kc5 Rc7+ Kb4 Re7 Kb3 Re2 b4 h4 Rg8+ Kf1 Ra8 f4 Rh8 Rh2 Rf8 Raxa2 Rxf4+ Raf2 Rc4 Rh3+ Ka4 Ra2+ Kb5 h5 Rc7 h6 Rh7 Ra8 Kc4 Rb8 Kc5 Rh4 Kd5 Rbxb4Ke6 Rb6+ Kf5 Kf2 Kg5 Ra4 Rf7+ Kg3 Kf5 Rf4+ Ke5 Rxf7 Kd4 Rd7+ Kc5 Rdd6 Kc4 h7 Kc5 h8=Q Kc4 Qd4#

28. Bb6

33..Rxd4

48. Raxa2
Game 108: Distant Variant Dv17'FG with Black Black's Dv17'FG is an interesting general purpose opening (9). White drops a pawn early on rather than open his K-side (16). Black then throws his forces forward in an all-out attack (25,29,36), which wrecks white's position, and wins two pieces. Afterwards it's an easy task to overcome the remains of white's defenses (41) for a resounding victory. Overpowering wins such as this are not commonplace in play with the close variants; with the distant variants they occur fairly often.

9. Qd3

16. Nfd2

25..e4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.* 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.* 26.
e4 d4 Nc3 Nf3 a4 Be2 O-O Be3 Qd3 Ra3 Rb1 Bc1 d5 b3 Nxe4 Nfd2 Qg3 Bd1 Nc5 Ra2 Nf3 Nd3 Ba3 Nc5 Bb2 Nxd4
d6 Nd7 Nb6 g6 a5 Bg7 Bd7 Nf6 O-O h6 Ng4 e5 f5 fxe4 Nf6 Nfxd5 Nf4 d5 Bc6 Rf5 d4 Qd6 Qe6 Qf7 e4 Rxc5
27. 28. 29.* 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.* 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.* 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.
Qe3 g4 Qg3 Kf1 Nxc6 Bxe2 Kxe2 Nd4 Rd1 Kf1 f3 Rd2 Qf2 Kg2 h4 Rxe2 Qxe2 Kf1 Bxd4 g5 Ke1 gxh6 Kd1 h7+ b4
Rg5 Nbd5 e3 Nb4 e2+ Nxe2 Nxa2 Qd7 Re8+ c5 cxd4 Rge5 Re3 Qe7 Re2 Qxe2 Rxe2+ Rxc2 Bxd4 Rf2+ Be3 Nc1 Nd3 Kxh7 Rd2#

29..e3

36..c5

41..Re2
Game 109: Distant Variant Dv4'78'F with Black Black's Dv4'78'F is an energetic reaction to the bishop early attack (9). Black expands on the K-side and opens the position with an interesting pawn offer (12). Afterwards black's attack never lets up for an instant, crashing into the castle (21), driving off the defenders, and threatening mate (32). But white resists well, and black can only overcome his opponent with superior tactical play (52). The final checkmate is very neat (64). Such openings should appeal to aggressive players.

9. O-O

12..c5

21..f3
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12.* 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.* 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.* 33. 34.
d4 d6 e4 Nd7 Bg5 h6 Be3 g5 Nc3 Bg7 Bc4 e6 Nge2 Nb6 Bb3 d5 O-O f5 e5 f4 Qd3 Ne7 Bd2 c5 dxc5 Nd7 Nb5 O-O Ned4 Nxe5 Qh3 g4 Qh5 Nf5 h3 g3 Qe2 Bd7 a4 Nxd4 Nxd4 f3 gxf3 Qh4 Be3 Qxh3 fxg3 Qxg3+ Kh1 Ng6 c3 Nf4 Qd2 e5 Nb5 Rf5 Bg1 Rh5+ Bh2 Bf5 Bxd5+ Nxd5 Qxd5+ Be6 Qd2 Rf8 Nd6 Rxf3
35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52.* 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64.* 65. 66. 67.
Rxf3 Qg2 Kxg2 Kg1 Kf1 Bg1 Bf2 a5 c4 Re1 Bh4 Be7 Kf2 Kg3 Kh3 Bh4 Bf2 Bg3 Nxb7 Kh2 Rxe4 Rxe5 Kg1 Kh1 Kh2 c6 Kh1 c7 c5 c6 c8=Q Kg1 Kf1
Qxf3+ Qxg2+ Bd5+ Rg5+ Rg2 Rxb2 h5 a6 Bc6 Rb3 Kh7 Rh3 Rh2+ Rg2+ Rg4 Bd7 e4 h4 Rxg3+ Be5 Re3+ Rxe5 Rg5+ Bc6+ Bxb7 Bc8 h3 Rg2 Rc2 Be6 Bd5+ h2+ h1=Q#

32..Be6

52..h4

64..Be6
Game 110: Distant Variant Dv55x8'C' with White If you like wild games, try this one! White's Dv55x8'C', a distant variant with an anonymous aspect (9), is confronted with an aggressive black assault (17), crowned by startling sacrifices of queen (21) and exchange (30). When the black assault falters, white's queen still needs help to get to victory lane (41). Even the queen versus bishops endgame is highly unusual (48). Totally weird! 40. Nb3 Ba4 1. d3 e5 2. Nd2 Nc6 41.* Nc5 Nxc5 3. Nb3 Nf6 42. bxc7 Bd7 4. e4 Be7 43. c8=Q Bxb8 5. h3 d5 44. Qxc5 Be6 6. exd5 Qxd5 45. f4 Kf6 46. Qg5+ Kg7 7. Ne2 O-O 8. Be3 b6 47. Qd8 Ba7 9.* Nc3 Qe6 48.* Qd6 h5 10. g3 a5 49. c5 h4 9. Nc3 30..Rxf4 11. Bg2 a4 50. Qc7 Bxc5 12. Nd2 a3 51. Qxc5 h3+ 52. Kh2 Bf5 13. bxa3 Bb7 14. O-O Rfd8 53. Qd6 Be6 15. Re1 Bxa3 54. Qb8 Bd7 16. Rb1 Bf8 55. Qe5+ Kf8 56. Qd6+ Ke8 17.* Nc4 e4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 57. Qb8+ Ke7 Qxh3 58. Qb4+ Ke8 19. Bxe4 g6 20. Rb5 59. Qd6 Be6 21.* Bg2 Qxg2+ 60. Kg3 Bd7 22. Kxg2 Nd4+ 61. Kh4 h2 17..e4 41. Nc5 23. f3 Nxb5 62. Qe5+ Be6 24. Qb1 Rd5 63. Qh8+ Ke7 64. Kg5 Kd6 25. Qb3 Rf5 26. Nd2 Ra3 65. Qxh2 Kc5 27. Qb2 Bg7 66. Qd2 Kc4 28. d4 Ra8 67. Kf6 Bd5 68. Ke5 Be6 29. c4 Nd6 30.* Bf4 Rxf4 69. Qc2+ Kb5 31. gxf4 Nf5 70. Qd3+ Bc4 32. Qb5 Bf8 71. Qd7+ Kb4 33. a4 Nxd4 72. Kd4 Bb5 73. Qc8 Bf1 34. Qd7 Bd6 21..Qxg2+ 48. Qd6 35. Re8+ Rxe8 74. Qc5+ Kb3 36. Qxe8+Kg7 75. Qc3+ Ka2 37. a5 Bxf4 76. Qc2+ Ka3 38. axb6 Bc6 77. Kc3 Bc4 39. Qb8 Ne6 78. Qb2+ 1-0
Game 111: Borderline Variant DBv2'78'CF with Black Black's interesting borderline opening is closely related to the Beginner's Game (9). Black starts a rapid series of trades which quickly clears the board of minor pieces (17), resulting in an early queen and rook endgame (24). White has a passed pawn, but his king is vulnerable to attack; after some maneuvering (30,43) black wins two pawns, and then takes queen for rook to wrap it up (62). Try experimenting with D-system borderline variants such as this one - they're really strong!

9. e5

17..Nc5

24..Qf6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.* 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.* 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.* 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.* 31. 32. 33. 34.
e4 d4 Nf3 Bd3 O-O c4 Nc3 Be3 e5 Rc1 exd6 d5 cxd5 Rxc3 Qc2 Rxc7 gxf3 Rxc5 Bxc5 Bxf8 Bxg6 Rc1 Qe4 Qd4+ Qxa7 Rc4 a4 Kg2 Re4 Re6 Qb6 Re3 Rg3 Kg1
e6 Ne7 b6 Bb7 h6 g5 Ng6 Bg7 O-O d6 Qxd6 exd5 Bxc3 Nd7 Bxd5 Bxf3 Nc5 bxc5 Qf6 Rxf8 fxg6 Kh8 Qxf3 Qf6 Qxb2 Kg8 Qb1+ Qa2 Qc2 Qf5 Kf7 Qg4+ Qe4+ Kg7
35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43.* 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.* 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 0-1
a5 Kg2 Kf1 a6 Ke2 Qe6 Kd3 Ke2 Ke3 Qb3 Ke2 Kd1 Kd2 Ke3 Kd4 Kc3 Kc4 Kb4 Kc3 Kc4 Kc5 Kc6 Kd5 Kc5 Kd6 Kc6 Kb6 Ka5 Ka4 Kb4 Ka3 Rxb3 Kb2
Qe1+ Qe4+ Rf7 Qh1+ Qa1 Qb2+ Qb1+ Qc2+ Qc7 Qf4+ Qxf2+ Qf1+ Rf2+ Re2+ Qf4+ Qf6+ Qxa6+ Qd6+ Qd2+ Re4+ Qa5+ Qa6+ Qe6+ Qf5+ Rd4+ Qd7+ Rd6+ Qc7+ Ra6+ Rb6+ Rxb3+ Qd6+ Qxh2+

30..Qf5

43..Qc7

62..Qc7+
Borderline Variants 209
Game 112: Borderline Variant DBv4x7'BDxFFx with Black Black's borderline opening with a K-side fianchetto draws the attack and then neutralizes it with exchanges (9). Black is up a pawn, and temporarily two pawns (17,23) in an open field battle. Black tries his best to bring his pawns home (41,47), but white trades down to a rook and pawn endgame (66) and stops black short of victory. Borderline openings show how much unexplored territory there is still in chess. Set out on your own and go where no one has ever been before! 38. Ke3 Ke7 1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nd7 39. h5 Be6 3. e4 g6 40. Rh4 gxh5 4. Nf3 Bg7 41.* Bxc4 Bg4 5. Nc3 Nb6 42. Bd5 Re2+ 6. c5 dxc5 43. Kd3 Re1 7. dxc5 Bxc3+ 44. Be4 Ra1 8. bxc3 Qxd1+ 45. Bg6 Rxa4 9.* Kxd1 Nd7 46. Ke3 Ra3 10. c6 Nc5 47.* Bxh5 Be6 9. Kxd1 41..Bg4 11. Be3 Nxe4 48. Kd3 Bf5+ 12. cxb7 Bxb7 49. Kd2 a5 13. Kc2 Ngf6 50. Bf3 Ra2+ 14. Bb5+ Kf8 51. Ke3 Ra1 15. Rhe1 Nd6 52. Rc4 a4 16. Bd3 e6 53. Rc7+ Kf6 17.* Ne5 Bxg2 54. Ra7 Kg5 55. Rg7+ Kh6 18. Bd4 Rg8 19. Nxg6+hxg6 56. Ra7 Rc1 20. Bxf6 Bd5 57. Rxa4 Rxc3+ 21. Re3 c5 58. Ke2 Kg5 22. Rd1 c4 59. Ra5 Kf6 17..Bxg2 47..Be6 23.* Be2 Ne4 60. Ra6+ Ke7 24. Be5 Nxf2 61. Ra7+ Kd6 Bd6+ 62. Ra6+ Kc7 25. Be5+ Kg7 26. f6 63. Ra5 Rc2+ 27. Bxf6+ Kxf6 64. Ke3 Kd6 28. Rf1 Raf8 65. Ra6+ Ke7 66.* Be4 Bxe4 29. Rxf2+ Ke7 30. Rxf8 Rxf8 67. Kxe4 Re2+ 31. Kd2 Rb8 68. Kd3 Re1 32. Kc1 Rh8 69. Rh6 Kd7 33. h3 Rf8 70. Rg6 Ke8 71. Rf6 Kd8 34. a4 Rf2 23..Ne4 66. Be4 35. Kd2 Rg2 72. Rc6 e4+ 36. h4 Kf6 73. Kd2 Rf1 37. Rh3 e5 74. Re6 1/2-1/2
15.
Conclusion
The Defense Game and its related system is a totally new way of playing chess. The author believes it is as strong or stronger than any system ever proposed, including the systems already described, the Beginner's Game and the Center Game. Though just an introduction, the exposition of the system made in this book should be sufficient to convince you that the D-game:
! ! ! ! !
is a new and valid system for playing chess is playable by black and white indifferently is very strong on both offense and defense is the easiest way to learn to play chess is the quickest way to improve for players of all levels
Advice for Beginners If you were new to chess when you picked up this book, you have by now learned to play well in the opening, and well enough in the rest of the game to draw against most players. You still lack the basic chess playing skills that you need in the middle and end games to challenge the best opponents and have winning chances. But you should already be able to play well enough to make the game interesting for your adversary, and that's the most important thing. While you are acquiring your basic skills, dont be impatient for your first big wins. Most players spend their entire lives without ever offering a serious challenge to a local chess bully. So practice a while before confronting that certain someone who thought you didnt have the brains to play. The best revenge is to prove you deserve someones respect, and to do that, youve got to keep finding good moves each time its your turn. Its a thinking game, and you cant succeed at it by just playing anything that looks playable. You must try hard to play well. You have to go deep into moves that look interesting and see the positions that can result. You have to calculate exchanges precisely, and foresee as best you can anything that your opponent can do. As you get better, you will begin to feel more in control of the evolving situations, and will play with more confidence. Some of those who are just now learning will dedicate themselves to the game, and go on to become first rate players. To these the author offers this encouragement: you are armed with one of the best weapons that exists for this battle. Use it well and you will be a true warrior or even a champion, and you will prove yourselves in a way that anyone will recognize and respect. Advice for Intermediate Players Intermediate players of all levels should take note of this system, because it is absolutely the best method for drawing that has ever been found, and it offers you mastery of the game in the least time imaginable. This system guarantees you safe passage thru the dangerous first moves, and it gives you the basis for pushing your performances beyond your current limits. If you are not a strong player, then you will improve immediately by adopting this system. Try it against your friends or the computer, and you'll see right away that you're playing better than
Conclusion 211
before. The author improved 200 points in ELO ranking after adopting the system, and has been able to draw many games against the computer at master level. The D-system really works! Stronger players should ask themselves whether they know their current openings to 12-15 moves, something they get with minimal effort using openings in the system. They should also ask themselves whether they really like their current openings, or whether they keep playing them just because its what they know best. The alternative is to move to a new system that is second to none, and that accommodates a wide variety of styles of play. Advice for Advanced Players Top players and those aspiring to become contenders spend years studying the openings. Worthy adversaries still kick them about however, and after the opening they often find themselves playing their opponents game, not their own. The openings in this system have the characteristic that your opponent has to play your game. Add to that the possibility to extend original analysis deeper than in current practice, and you should see the interest in researching openings in this system in preparation for championship play. In particular, if you are playing for a draw, this system gives you the best possible chances of achieving your aim. This system has to prove itself at the highest levels, and you can be a protagonist or antagonist of this effort, as you prefer. You can be one of those who carry it on to victory, or one of those who make victory tougher to achieve. All are invited to do their best, and also to do both. The Defense Game, like the Center Game and the Beginner's Game, is revolutionary, introducing a new practice of chess. A true revolution is one giving the common man that which was the preserve of a privileged few. Such a revolution can now happen, as more people take up the game, interest increases worldwide, quality of play improves, and finally the system is victorious at top levels. Be part of it - it's the most interesting thing that ever happened in chess! On closing the author again appeals to you: Save your Earth. We can do this easily, by returning large areas of it to natural state. Unless our earth is healthy we have no future - only by taking care of our Earth can we insure that humanity will also survive and prosper. This Earth, not some imagined afterlife, is Paradise. If you don't see it that way, it's because you're not looking. This Earth, with all the spectacularly beautiful life forms on it, is the perfection of evolution, the jewel of the universe, and it is ours. If Life has any value to you, then Do Something Now for your Earth. If we act now, then we are the saviors of humanity and of all Life. If we do not act now, the great wealth of creation - Life in all its highly evolved and beautiful forms, will be destroyed. Calmed only by the fragile buffer of Life, the savage forces of wind and flood will then turn on us, punishing us brutally for our stupidity - and not in some distant future, in our own lifetimes. Its time to close, and the author once again hopes to leave you all with your hearts thumping. What has happened here in chess is a revolution, but many others will now occur as our understanding expands and our intelligence dispels ignorance. So bright this lovely new star, among the many stars now on the horizon. Dedicate yourself again to this amazing game, and to the great game Life as it evolves, and know the satisfaction to be found in playing the game well.
Appendix: Move Notation 212
Appendix: Chess Move Notation The arrangement of chess figures at the start of the game is shown in the diagram below left; the coordinate system used for chess move notation is shown in the diagram beside it. The chess figures are named: - pawn, - knight, - bishop, - rook, - queen, - king.
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
There are various systems for move notation. This book uses the algebraic system, which is the most common one. In this system squares on the board are identified with a letter and a number. The horizontal axis of the board is labeled a-h, and the vertical axis labeled 1-8, starting from the lower left hand corner of whites side of the board.
In this notation system a move is coded by indicating first the type of figure that moves, and then the square that it goes to. If a capture is involved, the symbol x is inserted after the figure symbol. The pieces are labeled as: R - rook, N - knight, B - bishop, Q - queen, K - king. Pawn moves are indicated by the destination square alone, unless a capture is involved, in which case the column that the pawn was on is prefixed (eg. exd5 - king pawn takes figure on square d5). Pawn captures using the 'en passant' rule are coded in the same way. When either of two rooks or knights (or queens) can move to a destination square, it is necessary to specify which of the two pieces that moves. This is done by appending a column identifier (or if they are both on the same column, a row number) to the symbol of the piece to indicate where it came from. If a move involves check, attacking the king, then the symbol + is added at the end of the move. If the move gives checkmate, ending the game, then # is used instead. When a pawn reaches the last row, it can be promoted to any other figure. This is indicated by appending = then the figure to which the pawn is promoted (typically a queen), eg. a8=Q. Castling is indicated by O-O for the king side castle, and O-O-O for the queen side castle. These are the eight standard moves of the Defense Game, using a Queen side first sequence: ! White: d3, Nd2, Nb3, Bd2, e3, Ne2, Ng3, Be2 ! Black: d6, Nd7, Nb6, Bd7, e6, Ne7, Ng6, Be7 With this explanation of move notation you can return to the text. Be sure to actually reproduce all moves in the text on your own chess set or computer screen. If you make a mistake playing out a game, go back to an earlier diagram, reset the board as shown, and play forward from there.
Acknowledgements:
To the Infinite and Eternal, Creator and Sustainer of Life: sincere thanks for the great gift of the human body, the vehicle of discovery and realisation. To my wife Liliana, for her heroic struggle with severe illness during the drafting of this book. Only those who truly love can show great courage. To the arrogant world of chess, whose absolute silence for the past years has enabled the author to continue his research without distractions. To the countless millions who have suffered defeat over the chessboard. Now they are well armed, and when they lose it will only be after a tough battle.

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THE DEFENSE GAME

Preface to The Defense Game

Introduction: The Easiest Way Ever Found to Play Chess!

The Defense Game 13

The Defense Game

The Defense Game 15

Example: 1. e4 2. d4 3. Nf3 4. Nc3 5. Bg5

The Defense Game 17

The Defense Game 19

Game 1: Defense Game with White

e3 d3 Ne2 Nd2 Nb3 Bd2 Ng3 Be2

e5 d5 Bd6 Nc6 Nf6 O-O a5 a4

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

a3 Qe7 Be6 Rad8 e4 Qd7

15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

Nb3 Bc1 Nd2 Nb1 Qb3

b6 Ra8 Ra7 Rfa8 Ne7

20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

Nxa3 bxc5 Nb5 a4 Qb1

c5 bxc5 Rb7 c4 Bg4

The Defense Game 21

25. 26. 27. 28. 29.

f3 gxf3 hxg3 g4 Qb2

exf3 Bxg3 Bh5 Bg6 Nc8

30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

g5 gxf6 Kh1 Kg1 Kh1 Kg1

Qh3 Qg3+ Qh3+ Qg3+ Qh3+ 1/2-1/2

Game 2: Defense Game with White

e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 d3 Nf1 g3 Nbd2

Nf6 d5 e5 h5 h4 h3 Nc6 Be6

The Defense Game 23

Play After the Opening 24

Continuing Play after the Opening

Nf3 e4 d4 Nc3 Bd3 Bf4 O-O Be3

d6 Nd7 e6 Ne7 Nb6 Bd7 Ng6 Be7

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

d4 e4 c4 Nc3 Nf3 Be3 Bd3 O-O

d6 e6 Ne7 Ng6 Be7 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

c5 Qb3 cxd6 e5 d5 Nxd5 Bxg6 Nxe7 Rad1

Nc8 b6 Nxd6 Nc8 exd5 c6 hxg6 Nxe7 Qc7

Play After the Opening 25

g3 Nf3 d4 Nc3 Bg2 O-O Qd3 e4

e6 Ne7 d5 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7 Ng6 Be7

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

h4 exd5 a4 Re1 b3 Bg5 Nxg5 Nf3 Qd2

h5 exd5 a5 O-O c6 Bxg5 Qf6 Rfe8 Bf5

e3 Ne2 Ng3 Be2 O-O d3 Nd2 Nb3

e5 d5 Nf6 Nc6 Bc5 O-O Be6 Bb6

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

Bd2 a4 c3 d4 Nxf5 dxe5 Nd4 Nxf5 Qc2

a5 Qd6 Ne7 Nf5 Bxf5 Qxe5 Ne4 Qxf5 Rfe8

d4 e4 Nc3 Nf3 Bd3 O-O a4 Be3

e6 d6 Ne7 Nd7 Nb6 Bd7 a5 Ng6

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

Nd2 f4 fxe5 Nc4 Bxc4 Qf3 Bxd4 Nd5 Qc3 Nb6

Be7 e5 dxe5 Nxc4 O-O exd4 Be6 Bd6 c6 c5

Play After the Opening 26

e4 Nf3 d4 Be2 c4 O-O Nc3 Be3