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Hyper Modern Chess Opening Strategy
Hyper Modern Chess Opening Strategy
Hyper Modern Chess Opening Strategy
White has two different plans for the queen. In the purest
Rti formations, it is stationed at a1. From this square it supports
operations on the long diagonal and on the a-file. In the main
lines, White often gains control of one of these important lines
and this can be the main source of offensive action. Alternatively,
it can go to c2, working on the c-file and the light squares in the
center.
Rooks
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CARDOZA PUBLISHING ERIC SCHILLER
The unbroken chain usually remains intact throughout the
opening unless Black captures one of the pawns. The a-pawn an-
chors an advance of the b-pawn. Moving the b-pawn up the board
is a strong maneuver which can cause great weaknesses in the
Black position if there is a pawn at c6. The role of the c-pawn is to
guard d5, sometimes capturing an enemy pawn there to open up
the c-file.
Hypermodern strategy indicates that the central pawns remain
at the second or third rank, except when going to e4 has tactical
or positional justification. The f-pawn rarely moves, as it would
expose the king and also weaken the e3-square. The kingside
fianchetto mandates that the g-pawn be at g3, and it is wise to
keep the h-pawn home in support, though sometimes it needs to
go to h3 to kick out an annoying enemy piece.
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TYPICAL STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
TYPICAL STRATEGIES
AND TACTICS
In this section we examine typical strategic and tactical de-
vices available to both sides. These patterns can often turn up in
the early middlegame, so it is a good idea to pay close attention to
these positions as well as those you encounter as you work your
way through the illustrative games.
The examples are presented in full so that you can observe
some of the transpositional move orders and trace the buildup of
the position. Each diagram illustrates a specific tactical device.
Study these carefully as you go along so that you can increase your
strength and advantage with these openings.
Let us first turn our attention to the strategies and tactics for
White, and after, we will look at these issues from the other side
of the board, so we understand what Black is thinking when faced
with our Hypermodern ideas.
STRATEGIES AND TACTICS FOR WHITE
For the most part, White is concerned with queenside activity
in the Rti and the related lines discussed in this repertoire. The
center must not be neglected, however.
There are three different pawn breaks, where White uses a
pawn to confront an enemy pawn and threaten to cause structural
damage or advance into a more favorable position. The three
breaks are at e4, b4 and d4. Well look at those first. Well then
consider the situation at e5, an important battlefield. The power
of the fianchettoed bishops is then explored, after which two weak-
nesses in Black s position are considered.
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CARDOZA PUBLISHING ERIC SCHILLER
The e4-break
For some reason, the e4-break seems to inspire bad play by
Black at times, as the position unravels quickly. The advance of a
pawn to e4 to confront a Black pawn at d5 is effective when the
Black knight at f6 has to stand guard at f6 because of pressure on
the pawn at g7. White often has a queen at a1 and bishop at b2,
and even when Black has castled, the pawn at g7, can be weak.
Here is a simple example, where Black has delayed castling
too long.
HEINE VS. FOX
Dortmund Open, 1991
New York System
1.Nf3 d5; 2.c4 c6; 3.b3 Bf5; 4.g3 Nf6; 5.Bg2 e6; 6.00 Nbd7;
7.d3 h6; 8.Bb2 Bh7; 9.Nbd2 a5; 10.a3 Bd6; 11.cxd5 cxd5.
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CARDOZA PUBLISHING ERIC SCHILLER
White is down a pawn, but the pin on the long diagonal is
sufficient compensation by itself. 14Ndf6; 15.Re1 Nc5; 16.b4!
Ncd7.
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CARDOZA PUBLISHING ERIC SCHILLER
Now Black will have the resource of a check at b1, but that
isnt enough. 23.Bf1 Qc3. 23Qxa3; 24.Ng4 Kh7; 25.Nxh6! a4
(25Kxh6; 26.Rd4 leads to checkmate.) 26.Nxf7 Bxf7; 27.Qxf7+
Kh8; 28.Rd4 wins. 24.Rd3 Bxd3. 24Qa1! would have saved Black,
though White does have compensation for the pawn. 25.Qxf7+
Kh8; 26.Qf6+ Kg8; 27.Bxd3. With the Black queen at a1 this would
not have been possible. 27Qc1+; 28.Kg2 Qg5; 29.Qf7+ Kh8;
30.Ng6+! Black resigned, having nothing better than 30Nxg6;
31.Bxg6 Qxg6; 32.Qxg6.
The b4-break
When Black has a pawn at a5 or c5, White can undermine the
pawn structure by playing b4. If Black captures, then a useful file
is opened. If Black does not capture, White can choose to capture
or advance the pawn to b5, securing important space on the
queenside. The b4-break doesnt usually lead to an immediate win,
but it can have some dramatic effects.
PALATNIK VS. SHERZER
Chicago, 1992
New York System
1.Nf3 Nf6; 2.g3 d5; 3.Bg2 Bf5; 4.c4 e6; 5.00 c6; 6.b3 Nbd7;
7.Bb2 Be7; 8.d3 00; 9.Nbd2 a5; 10.a3 h6; 11.Rc1 Bh7; 12.Rc2
Ne8; 13.Qa1 Bf6; 14.Rfc1.
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TYPICAL STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
The exchange of pieces and queens does not reduce the ad-
vantage White enjoys because of his control of more queenside
territory. 14Bxb2; 15.Qxb2 Qf6; 16.b4! Qxb2; 17.Rxb2 axb4;
18.axb4.
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TYPICAL STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
This is the key to bringing the bishop at b2 into the attack.
19Bxg2; 20.Kxg2 Nd7; 21.fxe5 Nxe5. The long diagonal is still
blocked, but White has a strong initiative. 22.Rf6 Ng4? Black for-
gets how necessary the knight was at e5! 22Qd7; 23.Raf1 is not
a lot of fun, but may be best. 23.Qc3!
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White has the optimal Rti pressure at b7. The queen directly
attacks the pawn, and the bishop at g2 is ready to participate once
the knight moves out of the way. 15e4 Black hopes to seal the
diagonal, relying on the bishop to get to d5 to provide additional
defense.
16.Qxb7! Bd5! Black was counting on this move, but White
was ready with a crushing reply. Taking the knight wasnt much of
an alternative: 16exf3; 17.Bxf3 Qh3; 18.Rxc6 is hopeless for
Black. 17.Rxc6!! Rab8. Taking the rook is possible, but risky.
17Bxc6; 18.Qxc6 exf3; 19.Bxf3 Qg6; 20.Qxc7 Rab8; 21.Qxa7
gives White more than enough compensation for the exchange.
18.Qxc7 Bxc6; 19.Qxc6 exf3; 20.Bxf3 Qg6. At least Black has
saved the a-pawn, but White is still much better and went on to
win.
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TYPICAL STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
Weakness at f7
The traditional weakness at f7 can sometimes be exploited in
the Rti, especially when a knight at g5 combines forces with a
queen on the a2-g8 diagonal. Ill illustrate this with one of my
own recent victories.
SCHILLER VS. SNYDER
Mechanics Institute Masters, San Francisco, 1998
Symmetrical Variation
1.Nf3 Nf6; 2.c4 c5; 3.b3 g6; 4.Bb2 Bg7; 5.e3 0-0; 6.Be2 Nc6;
7.0-0 b6; 8.Na3!? Bb7; 9.Nc2 d5; 10.cxd5 Qxd5; 11.d3 Rad8;
12.Qb1 Rfe8; 12Ba6; 13.e4 Qe6; 14.Ne3 is not very clear. Per-
haps Black can play 14Nxe4; 15.Bxg7 Kxg7; 16.dxe4 Bxe2;
17.Qb2+ Nd4; 18.Nxd4 cxd4; 19.Qxe2 dxe3; 20.Qxe3 with an
uninspiring position, though White controls a bit more space.
13.Rd1 e5; 14.e4 Qe6; 15.Bc3 Nd7. 15Nd4; 16.Ncxd4 cxd4;
17.Bd2 is a reasonable alternative. 16.a3 Nd4; 17.Ncxd4 cxd4;
18.Bd2 Nc5; 19.b4! Na4?! This looks strong, but the a2-f8 diago-
nal is weaker than it looks. 19Nb3!? 20.Ng5 Nxd2; 21.Nxe6 Nxb1;
22.Nxd8 Nc3 is the only way to avoid dropping the exchange im-
mediately, but 23.Nxb7 Nxe2+; 24.Kf1 Nc3; 25.Nd6 (25.Rdc1 Bf8!
traps the knight at b7.) 25Rd8; 26.Nc4 Nxd1; 27.Rxd1 b5; 28.Nd2
Rc8; 29.Ra1 Rc3; 30.Ke2 Bh6 is certainly no worse for Black.
19Nd7; 20.Rc1 Rc8; 21.Ng5 Qe7; 22.Qb3 Bh6; 23.h4 was pos-
sible.
20.Rc1 Rc8; 21.Ng5! Rxc1+; 22.Qxc1 Qd7.
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CARDOZA PUBLISHING ERIC SCHILLER
23.Qc4! This is awkward to meet. Black should probably pas-
sively defend f7. 23Rc8; 24.Qb3 Nc3?; 24Bc6; 25.Bg4!! is a
variation on the theme seen in the game. 25Qxg4; 26.Qxf7+
Kh8; 27.Ne6 Rg8; 28.f3! Qh5; 29.Nxg7 Rxg7; 30.Qf8+ Rg8; 31.Qf6+
Rg7; 32.Qxc6 wins. 24Rf8 is ugly, but probably best. White is a
little better after 25.Rc1. 25.Bg4!! Qxg4; 26.Qxf7+ Kh8; 27.Qxb7
Re8; 28.Nf7+ Kg8; 29.Nd6! Rd8. 29Rf8; 30.Bxc3 dxc3; 31.Qd5+
Kh8; 32.Nf7+ wins. 30.Qf7+ Kh8.
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When White adopts the a-file strategy Black often finds it hard
to come up with a useful move. White slowly prepares the b4-
break. 13Ne8; 14.Bc3 Be7; 15.b4 axb4; 16.axb4 Rxa2; 17.Qxa2.
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CARDOZA PUBLISHING ERIC SCHILLER
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White has more space and control of the a-file. Blacks forces
are poorly coordinated. 17Bf6. 17Bxb4?; 18.Rb1 c5; 19.cxd5
exd5; 20.Qxd5 Nef6; 21.Qc4 wins a pawn after exchanges at b4.
17dxc4; 18.Nxc4 Qc7; 19.Ra1 gives White a strong queenside
initiative and complete control of the a-file.
18.c5 Qc7; 19.Nd4? White practically forces Black to expand
in the center. This is hypermodernism taken one step too far! White
should have been content to play more quietly with 19.d4 although
Black can still advance with 19e5 since 20.dxe5 Nxe5; 21.Nxe5
Bxe5; 22.Bxe5 Qxe5; 23.Nf3 Qc3 is certainly nothing to brag about
for White.
19e5. The hypermodern invitation is accepted at last! Blacks
center is certainly impressive. Can White cope with the advancing
e-pawn?
20.N4b3 e4! The most consistent move. 20d4; 21.Bb2 is about
equal, but White does still have the a-file. 21.d4 e3! Whites kingside
will be critically weakened, especially the pawn at g3. The break
must be played immediately. Otherwise White will seal the center
with e3 and then go to work on the queenside. 22.Nf3 exf2+;
23.Kxf2. Necessary, to protect the g-pawn. 23Be7; 24.Qa5 Qb8!;
25.Ra1 Nef6.
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TYPICAL STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
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CARDOZA PUBLISHING ERIC SCHILLER
White has taken too long, and Black is ready for action in the
center. 13e4!; 14.dxe4 dxe4; 15.Nd4 e3!; 16.N2f3 exf2+; 17.Kh2.
The g3-square remains weak, nevertheless. 17Bg6; 18.Nh4 Nh5;
19.Bf3.
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