Soltis, Andrew - Winning With 1 c4 PDF

WINNING
WITH
1 c4
A COMPLETE
OPENING SYSTEM
ANDREW SOLTIS
INTERNATIONAL GRANDMASTER
ISBN: 0-87568-192-1
WINNING
WITH
1 c4
• •
ANDREW SOL TIS
INTERNATIONAL GRANDMASTER
Chess Digest, Inc.

0
Copyright 1990 Andrew Soltis
All rights reserved under Pan American and Inter

national Copyright conventions.
I S B N : 0-87568 - 192 - 1
This is a revised and expanded edition of White

Opening System With 1 P-QB4 by Andrew Soltis (Chess
Digest, Inc. 1974).
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or
by any means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tapes, me
chanical photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without
prior and current permission from the publisher.
Author: Andrew Soltis

Editor: Ken Smith & Hugh Myers
Computer Typesetting: Elaine Smith
Cover: Elaine Smith
Proofreader: Hugh Myers
Diagram Paste-up: Laurin Curtis
Final Preparation & Diagrams: David Sewell & Ken Smith
*
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This book is de dicated to t h e inspiration o f all my
w riting, my w i fe Marcy.
4 Table o f Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
DEDICATION 3
INTROD UCTION 5
SECTION I 1 c 4 , e S 22
A 1 c 4 , eS 2 N c3 , N f3 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3! 24
A 1 4...Bb4 25
A2 4...g6 41
A3 4... Nd4 43
A4 4...Bc5 45
A S 4...d6 47
A6 4...d5 48
B 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 52
C 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N c6 3 N f3 , fS 54
D 1 c4, eS 2 N c3, fS 55
SECT I O N I I 1 c4, cS 56
A 1 c4, cS 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 59
(1 c4, c5 2 Nc3, Nf6 3 Nf3, Nc6 4 g3!, g6
5 Bg2, Bg7 6 0-0, 0-0 7 d4!)
A1 7 ...cd 62
A2 7 ...d6 70
B 1 c4, cS 2 N c3 , N c6 3 N f3 , g6 73
C 1 c4, cS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , dS 75
SECTION I I I 1 c4, N f6 2 N c3 78
A 2 d5.•• 80
B 2 ...e6 85
C 2... c6 89
D 2 ... g6 90
SECTION IV Other Ideas A gainst 1 c4 96

A 1 ... c6 97
B 1 ... e6 98
c 1 . rs
.. 99
D 1 ... g6 100
E 1 ... N c6 100
F 1 ... b6 101
G l ...dS 1 02
Introduction: Winning Wit h 1 c4 s
INTRODUCT ION
The English Opening has come a long way in a

mere twenty years. Before 1970 it was regarded as the
province of the positional stylist, the super-sophisticated
master who wouldn't muddy his hands with the tactical
turmoil begun by 1 d4 or 1 e4. And non-masters would
hardly consider opening a game with 1 c4!?.
Today, in the 1990's, all classes and styles of play

ers enjoy starting a game with the English and the body of
theory has multiplied at least 10-fold since the days wh"en
it was worthy of only a few pages in an opening manual.
What is remarkable is how many questions about the right
way of playing it remain unanswered.
After 1 c4:
This White opening repertoire (using the English

Opening) has the practical aim of acquainting a player
with the theoretical equipment he may need to play 1 c4
in serious chess. The accent is placed on learning a simple
developing plan to counter each different formation of an
opponent's (Black) pieces. The many transpositional possi
bilities -- especially rich in the English Opening -- are vi
tal to the serious player.
6 I ntroduction: Win ning With 1 c4
Basically the English Opening involves two areas of

attention for White: the center and the Queenside. There
are many situations in which White secures a Queenside
initiative, seals off the center and then shifts to the King
side. But the Kingside attack is usually only a secondary
theme in the English Opening.
First consider this relatively ancient example of

how White can play in the center. The game in question is
C arls- Antze, B remen 1933: 1 c4, e5 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3, N c6
4 g3, d5 5 cd, N x dS 6 Bg2, Be6 7 0-0, B e 7 8 d4!, ed 9 N x d4,
N x c3 1 0 b x c3, N x d4 1 1 c x d4, c6 12 Rb 1 , Q d7 13 Qa4!
White threatens Rxb7 and dS. He already has a very

strong game due to his seizure of the center on move eight.
The game continued 13 ... 0 - 0 14 d5!, B x d5 15 B x d5, Q x dS
16 R x b7, DeS 17 R d 1 , Qe6 18 Qc2, Bb6 19 Rd3!, Q fS 20
B f4, gS 21 e4!, Qc8 22 Rdd7!, gx f4 23 Qc4!, fg 24 R x f7 and
Black resigned in face of mate. The tactical conclusion was
not inconsistent with the development of a superior central
position in the opening.
Now with the center closed, White works on the

Queenside. Almost always this involves b4-b5 and the max
imization of strength on the White squares.
A particularly poignant example of this strategy's

success was Petrosisn - Portlsch, 1974 Quarter Finals Candi·
dates Match.
Introduction: Wi nning Wit h 1 c4 7
1 N f3, N f6 2 c4 (transposing back into English pat

terns after the next few moves) 2 ... g6 3 b3, B g7 4 Bb2, c5 5
g3, d6 6 Bg2, e5 7 0 - 0 , N c6 8 N c3 , 0 - 0 9 d3, N b S 10 N d2!,
Bg4 1 1 a3, B h6? 12 b4!, Nd4 13 h3, B e6 14 e3, cb? 15 ab,
N c6 1 6 bS, N e7 17 B x b7!, B x h3 18 B x a8, B x f 1 1 9 Kx f l ,
Qxa8 20 Q f3!
White has a grossly won ending if Queens are ex

changed. He wins the a-pawn almost automatically. Note
White's domination of the white squares. The game con
cluded with 20 Qb8 2 1 g4, Ng7 22 Q f6! and Black
•••
resigned shortly after losing the piece (threat of taking the

N on e 7 or playing Qh4).
These two examples, one from the 1930s, the other

from the 1970s, illustrate the beginning and end of an
earlier era of English experimentation. Now let us examine
two more recent games in depth to understand more fully
the positional themes.
The first theme is the traditional English Opening

policy of White's struggle for control of the light-colored
squares. In this example, from the world champion elimi
nation cycle, notice how often White exploits -- and Black
fails to use -- one of those 32 squares.
8 I ntrodu ction: Winning Wit h 1 c4
A. KA R P OV vs J . H J A R T A R S O N
Candidates Match
Seattle 1 989
1 c4 e5
2 g3
A recently popular move order. More common is 2

N c3 and then 2 N f6 3 g3, d5 4 cd, N x d5 5 B g2 will trans
•.•
pose into our system.
2 ... N f6
3 B g2 d5
This was once thought to be Black's easiest road to

equality: the exchange on d5 leaves White with more center
pawns, but Black has immediate use of the d-file. A Black
rook or queen at d8 or d7 will now be able to contest the
inevitable White pressure on d5.
4 cd N x d5
5 N c3
Now is the time for the horse's entrance. Black must

take some time to deal with the 6 N x d5 threat. As we'll see
later in this book, 5 N x c3 and 5 Be6 are insufficient.
••• ••.
The former because it strengthens White's center and the

latter because it creates tactical p roblems when White
attacks b7 or e6.
5... Nb6
6 N f3 N c6
7 0-0 Be7
Black plays the position as if it were a colors-re

versed version of the D ragon Variation of the Sicilian. In
fact, for many years this opening was also called a Re
versed Sicilian. However the addition of an extra move to
White changes the balance of chances found in the D ragon.
I ntroduction: Winning Wit h 1 c4 9
8 a3!
This begins the queenside initiative that lasts for

another thirty moves. White wants to soften up the light
colored squares by advancing the b-pawn to the fifth rank.
Once the Black Knight moves from c6, the b7-pawn will be
under the gaze of the White Bishop at gl .
8 ... Be6
Black could hold up the queenside expansion with

8 .. a5, as we see White often do in the colors reversed
.
situation of the D ragon. But that would weaken b6 and b5,

allowing for example, a White Knight to sit on b5 for the
foreseeable future.
9 b4 0-0
10 Rbl f6
Black has several ways of getting counterplay, most

on the kingside and in the center. He can try to neutralize
the light-square strategy with ... Qd7 and .. B h3 x g.2. Or he
.
can play for a pawn advance in the center with f7- f5

...
and perhaps . e5-e4!?.

..
But here Black prepares another thematic idea, the

planting of his queen knight on d4. (To achieve this he
must first protect his e-pawn since 1 0... Nd4 allows 1 1 Nxe5.
10 I ntroduction: Winning Wit h 1 c4
White's lOth move has taken away the possibility of an

answering ll... Bb3).
11 d3 Qd7
12 N e4!
Both sides have good outpost squares for their

knights. White wants to use his half-open c-file by drop
ping this piece onto c5 at an appropriate moment.
12 ... Nd5
13 Qc2
13 ... b6?
0 ften the most difficult moves Black has to make

in these kinds of English Opening positions involve deci
sions about his queenside pawns. Earlier he rejected a7- •..
a5 to restrain White's b-pawn. Here he uses his b-pawn to

keep the enemy off c5. But he pays a positional price: the
square c6 can no longer enjoy the protection of a Black
pawn. And the c7-pawn becomes that unfortunate figure
of the chess board, the backward pawn on an open file.
A more natural plan is 13 N d4, or with the added

.••
moves 13 a5, 14 b5, N d4. (Black must advance the knight

...
in these situations, since a retreat such as 1 4.... Nd8? aban

dons the center and allows White to obtain a serious ad
vantage with 15 d4!) .
Introduction: Win n i ng Wit h 1 c4 11
After 13 aS 14 b5, Nd4, White would most likely

..•
continue 15 Nxd4, exd4 1 6 Bb2 followed by organizing an

attack on the d4-pawn and continuing his pressure on the
c-file.
1 4 Bb2 Rac8
15 Rbcl!
This keeps the other rook available for duty at d1

in case Black allows the opening of the other central file
(15... Nd8 1 6 d4!) .
15 ... Nd4
This positionally desirable mov e is based on tactical

tricks. See next note.
16 Bxd4! exd4
Now White cannot take the pawn 17 Nxd4 without

allowing 17 ... Nxb4! 18 axb4, Qxd4 or 18 Qb2, N dS.
17 Qc6!
This exploits the c6 hole that Black surrendered at

move 13. The reason why White gave up his bishop rather
than a knight to capture on d4 wil l be explained tactically
two moves from now. But note that had White played 16
1l I ntroduction: Winning Wit h 1 c4
N x d4, e x d 4 1 7 Qc6, Qx c6! 18 R x c6, Black would solve

many of his positional problems with 18 ... Bd7 1 9 Rc2, cS.
17 .
.. Q x c6
There was no convenient way of dealing with the

threat of 1 8 N x d4.
18 R x c6 Bd7
Now 1 9 Rc2? allows 19 cS! followed perhaps by

•••
••. f6 - fS and later ... N c3!, turning the c-file from a Black li
ability into an asset.
19 N x d4!
The point. White sacrifices the Exchange for a

pawn. Normally this transaction can be favorable or unfa
vorable. But here White gets the enemy's light-colored
bishop -- and the very valuable d-pawn that had been in
tended as the anchor of Black's center strategy. Also, the
Black a-pawn may prove to be untenable. And White's re
maining bishop will now have tremendous range, while his
knights will enjoy free rein over squares such as c6, c4, dS
and rs.
19... B x c6
20 N x c6 Rce8
Black would have preferred moves such as 20 K f7, •..
bringing his king towards the center now that queens are
off the board. But there are various tactical problems on
the light-colored squares from now on. Even in the English
Opening White needs tactical awareness.
2 1 Rct rs
22 N d2
Also good was 22 N cS!, bx cS 23 B x dS c h , although

Black could have complicated in that case with 22 ... N x b4!
I ntroduction: Win n i ng With 1 c:4 13
22... N f6
23 N x a7 Bd6
Time to take stock: White has added a second pawn

as compensation for the Exchange. Moreover he has clari
fied the situation in the center. White can now advance his
e- and d-pawns with the support of his minor pieces.
Black's compensation lies in his extra rook. But his rooks
have no scope.
24 e3 c:S
25 Nc:4 B b8
26 N c6 bS
The queenside pawns can't seem to find any squares

on which they will be invulnerable. Now for example, 2 7
Nb6! would insure one kind of White advantage.
27 N (4 ) a5 cb
28 ab Nd7
29 d4
Note how the path is being cleared for the bishop

to attack bS by way of 30 B f l.
29 .•• gS!
14 I ntroduction: Winning With 1 c4
Black is desperate for some operating room for his

pieces and prepares for 30 f4. White can offset this mini
•••
initiativ e by bringing his king to the center (30 Kf1, f4 3 1

Ke2). But h e settles on a more active plan.
30 N x b 8 Rxb8
31 Rc7 N f6
32 N c6
White owns the c-file (32 ... Rce8?? 33 Ne7ch). He now

turns his attention to the center where his pawns are a few
moves away from being prepared to inflict damage by
advancing. Black doesn't e ven try to avoid the loss of the
f-pawn.
32... Rb6
33 Ne7ch Kh8
3 4 N x fS Ra6
35 R c l R a2
If Black bothers the b-pawn (35...Ra4) , White forges

ahead with 36 e4!, Rxb4 37 eS, Ng4 38 B h3 and Black can
not last much longer without the surrender of significant
material, e.g. 38... Nxf2 39 Kxf2, Rxd4 40 Ke3 or 38... Nxe5
39 dx e5, g4 40 Nd6, gxh3 41 e6.
36 h3! Rb2
37 e4!
Here come the pawns.
3 7... Rxb4
3 S g4 h5
Semi-desperate. On 3 S N d7 White w1ns routinely

•.•
with 39 e5.
3 9 e5 h x g4
40 e x f6 gh
4 1 B x h3
White also wins with 4 1 B e4 , R x f6 42 R eSch , Kh7

43 Ne3eh and N d5.
4 1 ... R x f6
42 ReSch Kh7
43 Rc7ch Kg6
No better was 43 ... KhS because then White's unob

structed king shepherds the pawns forward, e.g. 44 Kg2,
Rc4 45 Rb7, b4 46 Kg3, Rc3ch 47 f3, b3 48 Kg4, etc.
44 Rxg7eh Kh5
45 13!
Black Resigns.
The main idea is 46 Bg4 mate. And g4, you will
note, is another light-colored square.
16 I ntroduction: Win ning Wit h 1 c4
Quite a different face is shown by the middlegames

in which it is White, not Black, who has been the first to
break in the center. Typically this comes about when White
plays dl · d4, after Black has placed a pawn on eS or cS. In
the pages that follow you will see how quickly White can
obtain an advantage after 1 c4, e5 2 Nc3, Nf6 3 Nf3, Nc6 4
g3, g6 5 d4!
A similar story is told in our main 1 c4, cS line: af

ter l N c3 , N c6 3 g3 , g6 4 Bgl, Bg7 S N f3, N f6 6 0·0, 0·0
we recommend 7 d4! and then 7 ... c x d 4 8 N x d4.
This time it is White who has the benefit of the

half-open d-file, and Black who holds access to the c-file.
But the slight initiati ve that is inevitably provided to
White by the game's first move enables him to set the tone
for this middlegame, just as he did in the prev ious Illus
trative Game. To see how White's advantage can grow,
we'll examine the following game:
Z. P O L G A R vs S. G RO S S
Stary Smokovec 1 987
8 ... N x d4
This game actually came about from a different or

der of moves (White opened with 1 d4, in fact). But the
position of the diagram was soon reached and Black found
no better defense to the pressure on c6 (8 . d6 9 Nxc6 is a
..
questionable pawn sacrifice) than this exchange. It eases

Black's defensive task by eliminating pieces and also cre
ates tactical chances based on the vulnerability of the
White queen on d4.
9 Q x d4 d6
10 Q d 3
White eliminates those tactics soon enough. He plans

to dev elop his rooks at d1 and either c 1 or e1, depending
on whether his goal is c4-c5 or an attempt to open the e
file (with e4-e5 or perhaps Nd5, and if Nxd5, then exd5).
His QB may be de veloped on bl, f4 or gS.
10 ... N d7?!
This knight will gain back some time with l l N cS,

...
but it seriously ignores the power of a White knight on dS.

For superior alternativ es, see Section HAl.
11 b3 N cS
12 Qdl Rb8
13 Bbl a6
14 N dS!
Step One in a grand, but rather straightforward,

strategy. White exchanges off the dark-squared bishops and
18 I ntroduction: Winning Wit h 1 c4
plants his knight on d5. If Black ousts the knight with

.. e7-e6, the d6-pawn will be left without pawn protection
.
and wil l not be able to advance to d5.
14 ... B x b2
15 Q x b2 b5
Black absolutely must have some counterplay and

this, at least, opens the a-file and c-file. (There is no bene
fit to opening the b-file partially with 16 cxb5, R x b5, since
the White pawn at b3 is well defended.)
16 cxb5 axb5
1 7 Rfd1 Bb7
18 h4!
Introducing another English Opening theme, the

two-front war. While the rooks and bishop appear concen
trated on the queenside and center points such as c6 and
d5, White also harbors thoughts against the king (h4-h5 and
then h5xg6 or h5-h6 depending on the situation).
18 ... B x d5?!
This exchange was neither ine vitable nor timely.

White's edge remains small but clear after l8 ... h5 1 9 R a cl .
19 R x d5! Nd7
Hurrying back to the kingside that the knight de

serted nine moves before. The vulnerability of his king is
shown by 19 ... h 5 20 B f3 and 2 1 g4!, a policy that is more
effective now that Black has surrendered his remaining
bishop.
20 h5 N f6
2 1 h 6!
Introduction: Winning Wit h 1 c4 19
The possibility of Qg7 mate now becomes a recur

ring nightmare for Black in tactical lines such as 2 1 . .. Qa5?
22 R x d6!, ex d6? 23 Q x f6 and 2 4 Qg7 mate, or 2 1 . .. Qb6 22
Rad1, R fd8 (else 23 Rxd6!) 23 R 1 d3 with the idea of R f3
and R x f6!. This last idea keeps cropping up in a slightly
altered form in the game.
2 1. •. Rb6
22 Rad 1 Qc7
23 Rc 1 Rc6
2 4 R x c6 Q x c6
2 5 R f5!
See last note. Black's queen must move (26 Bxc6!)

and yet also watch the b-pawn as well as the threat of 26
R x f6!.
2 5 ... Qe8
Now 26 Rx f6, e x f6 2 7 Q x f6 is halted by 27 ... Qe5.
26 R f4!
Black is almost out of moves. White uses this luxury

to switch back to a queenside plan: the creation of a
passed pawn.
26 ... Qd8
20 I ntro duction: Winning Wit h 1 c4
27 a4! eS
A semi-desperate reaction to the threat of slow an

nihilation by way of 2 7 ... b x a4 28 b x a4 and 29 Rb4.
28 Rb4 QaS
Black's last is a trap. On 29 Rxb S Black comes back

from the dead with 29 ... Q e 1 c h 30 B fl (30 Kh2, Ng4ch) Ne4!
and if 31 e3, then 3 1 ...Nd2.
2 9 Q d2 b x a4
3 0 b x a4 dS
Some more cute tricks: On 3 0 Rd8 White has a sur

.••
prise in the form of 3 1 Rb8!, Q x d2 32 R x d8 c h and mates.

A similar, but even prettier, version is 30 Rc8 3 1 Rc4!,
•..
Qd8 32 Qx d6!!.
3 1 QgS Ne8
32 Qe7 e4
33 Rb8 Q x a4
3 4 Qe5!
More accurate than 34 Rxe8?, R x e8 35 Q f6, K f8!
34 •.. f6
The only defense to the threat of 35 Rxe8.

3 5 Qe6ch Kh8
36 Qe7
Black Resigns
Mate cannot be avoided after 3 6 Rg8 3 7 R x e8!,
•..
Q x e8 38 Q x f6ch.
Now let us turn to the specific variations of the

English that we recommend.
Our chapters are divided into:
I Black plays eS on the first move or later.

...
I I Black plays c S on the first move or later

...
III Black plays 1 N f6 (in variation "D" Black

...
plays the King's Indian Defense)

IV Other plans for Black.
22 Section 1: Wi nning Wit h 1 c4
SECT ION I
1 c4 e5
Section 1: Wlooiog Wit h 1 c4 23
SECTION I
1 c4 eS
After many years of estrangement from tournament

players, the Re versed Sicilian has re-emerged in the past
twenty years as the most popular anti-English weapon. The
old rule-of-thumb was that if Black had to play . dS, he
..
was fighting for equality because of the natural advan

tages of keeping the center closed. With the de velopment
of Black's KB on b4 or g7, this set of variations is back in
favor.
The new research on the ...eS English lines indicates

that White's most exact order of moves is probably 2 N c3
and 3 N f3. Our main line will be one in which Black also
de velops his knights on the second and third moves. It
doesn't really matter which knight Black brings out first
in this case.
It should be pointed out that during the 1980s an

entirely new idea has been tried by Black. Instead o f de
veloping his bishop on b4 on the fourth mov e -- as in our
main line -- Black has tried it as early as the second move
(2 Nc3, Bb4) thereby leaving himself the option of N f6
...
or Ne7.
...
24 Wi nning With 1 c 4
There are many sophisticated methods of treating

this accelerated attack on the center, but the simplest is
the obvious 3 N d5!. If the bishop retreats to aS or c5, then
4 b4 makes sense. (And where else is the bishop going?)
A recent example of forthright play by White, I.

Ivanov-Rohde, N e w Yor k 19 9 0 , went 2 N c3, B b 4 3 N d5,
B aS 4 b4, c6 (forced, else 4...Bb6? 5 c5 wins a piece) S
N f6 7 e4, Q x a5 8 B d3!, d6 9 Ne2, 0 - 0 10 0-0
b x aS, cd 6 cd,
and with B c2 and d2 -d4 coming up White has the begin
ning of a fine middlegame (this one went 1 0... Nh5 1 1 Bc2,
f5 12 d4, f4 13 dxe5, dxe5 14 Nd4, Nf6 15 Nb3, Qa4 16 Bb2
with commanding presence in the center).
We now classify the following analysis:

A Our main line: 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3, N c6 4 g3!
B 2 Nc3, d6
C 2 Nc3, N c6 3 N f3, fS
D 2 N c3, rs
A
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!)
There is still a lot of chance for advantage in 4 d4

or even 4 e3 and 4 a3. But the latter two moves only work
well when Black plays 4 ... d5. If he doesn't, White hasn't
much of a constructive and forceful middlegame plan.
Section 1: Winning Witb 1 c4 25
After 4 g3 Black can choose among the following

lines:
A1 4...Bb4
A2 4... g6
A3 4...Nd4
A4 4...Bc5
AS 4... d6
A6 4... d5
AI
( 1 c4, e5 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!)
4 ... Bb4
An important current line which you will find tn

the following analysis.
A comparison with the popular variations beginning

3 g3, Bb4 will show that White has gained from the
change. He can play N d5 which in many lines will have
greater effect than in the comparative position because
N x d5 and c x d5 will threaten Black's N on c6. The only
•.•
concession White has made in choosing the 3 N f3 and 4 g3

line over the 3 g3 one is that he has committed himself to
this development of the KN.
5 B g2
26 Wi nning Wit h 1 c 4
This is more exact than S NdS because if now S e4, ...
White attacks the e-pawn further with 6 N g S. This is not

possible after S N dS, e4 6 N gS?, N x dS.
Black should castle here because it leaves his plans

more flexible. In some cases he will retreat his K B to f8
and in some he will exchange on c3. He may play e4 or he
may try ... d6. No reason to choose now, e.g. 5... d6 6 Nd5!
favors White since 6 ... N x d5 7 c xd S loses a piece to Qa4cb
after the ON moves.
s ... 0-0
6 0-0
On 6 N dS Black has good play with 6 .. .N x d5 7 c x dS,

Nd4!. White should wait a bit longer before changing the
nature of the center.
Now there are three subvariations:

A l l 6... e4
All 6 .. Bxc3
.
A13 6 Re8
...
Section 1: Winning Wit h 1 c4 27
All
(1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!, Bb4
5 Bg2, 0-0 6 0-0)
6 ••• e4
Now the e-pawn becomes exposed and subject to the

line-opening motifs of d3 and f3 .
But where does White's N go? Since Black has not

played Bx c3 yet, White can't play N d4. And 7 N e l is ef
•.•
fective only after Black's B:xc3 has given White's pawn

...
control of d4 because then N - e l -c2-e3 or b4 is thematic.

That leaves one logical plan.
7 N gS! Bx c3
The White N-move to gS is playable here (as op

posed to positions in which White has played Nd5). And
Black can only preserve his e-pawn with the capture on c3.
8 b:xc3
Here is one of those cases in which d:xc3 is also rea

sonable. When Black has not moved his e-pawn, the d-pawn
recapture is usually unwise because then White has no
method of opening up the center and his pawn structure is
more attackable by Black's minor pieces. But in this posi-
2S Winning Wit h 1 c4
tion S d x c3, ReS 9 f3, d6! (9... e3 eventually loses the e

pawn and 9... ef 1 0 ef is fine for White) 1 0 b3, B d7 1 1 N h3!,
ef 12 e f, Ne7 13 BgS, N fS 14 Qd3 (S myslov- Portlsch,
Petropolls 1973) is quite good.
8 ••• ReS
White has two methods of challenging the center

for advantage here:
A l l a 9 f3!
A l l b 9 d3!?
Alla
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!, Bb4 5 B g2 , 0 - 0 6 0-0,
e4 7 N gS!, B x c3 S b x c3 , ReS)
9 f3!
Section 1: Winning Wit b 1 c4 29
9 ••• er
Little attention bad been paid to 9 e 3 - - until Ana

.••
toly Karpov sprang it on Garrl K asparov in the 1 987 World

C h ampionship Match. If White grabs the pawn he severely
weakens the c-pawns. Can he afford to surround the e
pawn with 10 d3, knowing that in an endgame it is almost
certain to fall?
That may be the best policy, as the game Soffer

Kindermann, B e rn Zonal 1990, shows: 9 e3 10 d3, d5 1 1
•..
Qb3, N a5 12 Qa3! and now l l ... c6 1 3 cd, c d 1 4 f4, Bg4 1 5

R e t , N c6 1 6 R b l , Qd7 1 7 N f3 , b6 18 B b 2 put all o f White's
pieces in order. Black has liberated his game, but the fu
ture belongs to the bishops. And after l8 ... R ac8 19 c4!,
B x f3 20 B x f3, d x c4 2 1 d x c4 , N a5 22 B x f6, g x f6 23 Qd3,
Qe7 24 B d5! White's superiority was obvious.
10 N x f3 d5?!
In another of their 1987 match games Karpov tried

1 0 Qe7? here, relying incorrectly on piece activity against
.••
the impending march of White's center pawns.
That game illustrated once again bow powerful a

center can be: 1 1 e3, Ne5 12 N d4! (not fearing 1 2... Nxc4
because 13 Nf5, Qe5 1 4 d4! is too strong), Nd3 13 Qe2,
N x c l 1 4 R a x c l , d6 15 R f4, c6 1 6 Rcfl and the combination
of doubled rooks and restrictive pawns proved too
powerful for Black's defenses.
1 1 cd N x d5
As good as 1 1 cd is, Kasparov found a strong alter

native in 1 1 d4 in his game with Vassily I vancbuk in the
1988 Soviet Championship. Then 1 1 ... d x c4 is met by 12
B g5!, h 6 13 B x f6 and 14 e4 with command of the center.
30 Winning Wit h 1 c4
Black preferred the central outpost of l l Ne4, but

...
then 12 Qc2, de 13 R b 1 , f5?! 14 g4! destroyed the outpost

and led to a typically devastating Kasparov initiative
(14... Qe 7 15 gxf5, Nd6 16 Ng5!, Qxe2 1 7 Bd5ciJ, KIJB 18
Qxe2, Rxe2 1 9 Bf4 and 20 Rbe 1 ) .
12 e4! Nb6
If 12 R xe4, then 13 N g5, Re7 14 Q h5 or if 12 N f6

••• •••
13 e5!, N x e5 14 N x e5, R x e 5 1 5 d4, ReS 1 6 B g5! is great for

White.
13 d4 Bg4
14 b3 Bb5
15 e5 N d5
So far as in the game U b lmann - S myslov, H astings

1972-73, which continued 16 B d2, Qd7 17 g4, B g6 1S Ng5
and White soon had a tremendous position.
Allb
( 1 c4, e5 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3, N c6 4 g3!, B b4
5 Bg2, 0-0 6 0-0, e4 7 N g5!, B x c3 S b x c3, ReS)
9 d3!?
9... ed
10 e d d6
1 1 Rb 1 b6
12 N e4 Nxe4
Better is 12 ••• Ne5.
13 B xe4 NeS
14 f4!? Nxc4
1s rs dS
16 Bg2
We are following the game Mecking-Tan, Petropolis
1973. In view of White's kingside attack once he pushes the
f-pawn, Black played 16 ... Ne3. But after 1 7 B xe3, Rxe3 1 8
f6, g6, Black's position soon fell apart after the further
moves 19 Qd2, Re6 20 Qx h 6 , Rxf6 2 1 Rx f6, Q xf6 22 BxdS.
More accurate however is 10 ... h6 with the idea of
1 1 N h3, dS or 1 1 Ne4, b6 and 12 ... Bb7. In general, we have
more confidence in White's position after 9 f3! as shown in
the previous variation A1la.
A12
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!, Bb4
S B g2 , 0 · 0 6 0 ·0 )
6 ... B xc3
7 bxc3
This is almost always the best recapture.
7 ... d6
8 d3
Now Black has three main choices.

All a 8. B d 7
..
Allb 8 .. h 6
.
Allc 8 e4 ...
A12a
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!, Bb4
5 B g2, 0 · 0 6 0·0, B xc3 7 bxc3, d6 9 d3)
8 ... Bd7
9 e4!
Stopping e5-e4 in a pos1t10n in which Black has

granted White pawn control of White's d4. There are no
weak squares in White's center now.
9 ••• K h 8!
This is Black's best resource. In the game Smej kal·

H e c ht, Siegen 1970, Black tried 9 a6. But after 10 a4, N aS
.•.
1 1 N h 4, Ne8 1l f4, eC 13 B xf4, N c6 1 4 N f3, Qc8 1 5 d4,

White had a great game.
10 N h 4
Also good i s N e l-c2-e3!.

1 0... Ng8
1 1 Be3 Be6
12 Qd2 Nge7
13 f4 ef
1 4 B xf4!
On 14 gf Black has 14 ... fS!.
1 4 ... f6
15 Be3
As in U h lmann-Korchnoi, Leningrad 1973. Black's

position is defensible enough, but White is freer. Another
policy for White (instead of 12 Qd2) is 12 R b l , b6 13 Rb2,
Nge7 1 4 f4 as recommended by John Watson.
Al2b
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3, N c 6 4 g3!, Bb4
S Bg2, 0 - 0 6 0-0, Bxc3 7 bxc3, d6 8 d3)
8 ... h6?
9 Net
Or 9 e 4 , e.g. 9 . Ne7 10 N h 4 , g S 1 1 N f3, N g6? 1 2

..
NxgS!
34 Winning Wit h 1 c 4
9 ... Be6
1 0 e 4!
White is clearly better. Not advisable, however, is

10 f4 as in B alashov-Ma kari chev, U S S R 1973, as Black has
1 0 e4!
•••
The move 8 h6, once popular in master chess in the

..•
early 1970s, is almost never played today. Still, you need to

be ready for it.
A12c
( 1 c4, e5 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!, Bb4
5 Bg2, 0 - 0 6 0 - 0, B xc3 7 bxc3, d6 8 d3)
8 ... e 4!?
9 Ne l
9 Nd4 is also good since Black may not obtain

chances from 9 Ne5 because of 1 0 dxe4, N xc4 1 1 R b 1
••.
with advantage.
9... ReS
10 R b 1 b6!?
1 0 ed 1 1 ed, Bg4 12 N f3 , Rb8 13 h3 also favors

.•.
White.
11 Bg5 ed
12 N x d3 Bb7
13 Nb4
A s in the game Rogo ff· B isguier, Norristown 1973,

which continued 13 ... Nxb4 14 Bx b7, Rb8 15 B f3 and here
White's bishops must outweigh Black's more secure pawn
structure.
All
( 1 c4, e5 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!, Bb4
5 Bg2, 0 · 0 6 0·0)
6 ••• ReS
This maintains the status quo in the center -- at

least temporarily. Black can also do this with 6 d6, but.•.
that unnecessarily reduces Black's options (his bishop can

not retreat to f8 or e 7 any more, while it will have cost
him two moves to push his d-pawn to d5).
White will again respond 7 Nd5 and now passive
play such as 7 ... a5?! can get Black squashed: 8 e3!, N x d5 9
cxd5, Ne7 1 0 d4, ed 1 1 ed after which Black's bishop is in
trouble on b4, and in H . O la fsson- Be nj amin, Reykj avik
1990 Black had to shed a pawn with 11 a4 12 a3, BaS 13
.••
Qxa4 to save it.

7 Nd5
36 Winning Wit h 1 c 4
The knight going to dS is finally appropriate. Black

has several choices here.
A13a 7. Bf8 ..
A13b 7 Nxd5
...
A13c 7 e4 ...
A13d 7 . Bf5
. .
All a
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!, Bb4
S Bg2, 0 - 0 6 0 - 0, ReS 7 N dS)
7 .•. B f8
The original idea of Black's opening. The Bishop

controls several good squares from its home base, but it
lacks somewhat in punch.
8 d3 h6
To stop 9 BgS. On 8 Nxd5 9 cxdS, N b 4 1 0 e 4 , c 6 1 1

...
a3, N a6 U d 4 White has an excellent game in the center as

in G heorghiu-J a kobsen, H elsinki 1972.
9 Bd2
Or 9 Nxf6 c h , Qxf6 1 0 N d2 , d6 11 Ne4, Qd8 12 N c3 !

retaining the iron control of dS that gave White an edge in
Petroslan - G h eorg h lu 1967.
9 ... d6
In the game Polugaevsky· Po dgaets, U S S R 1973

Black tried 9 aS, but after 1 0 B c3 , d6 1 1 N d2 , N xdS 1 2
•..
cxdS, Ne7 1 3 d 4! White stood better.
1 0 B c3 N xdS
1 1 cxdS Ne7
12 e4 c6
Now the game Steln - B arcza, Z agreb 1 9 72 continued,

13 de, Nxc6 1 4 d4 with a powerful position for White.
Al3b
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3, N c 6 4 g3!, Bb4
S Bg2 , 0 · 0 6 0·0, Re8 7 N dS)
7 ••. N xdS
8 cxdS
8 •.. N d4
After 8 Nb8 White plays 9 e4 and 1 0 d4.

•••
9 N xd4! exd4
10 b3
Now Black will have problems defending his ad

vanced d-pawn.
An alternative policy is 1 0 e4 to maintain the pawn

at d5 and gain time for harassing the enemy bishop. For
example, 1 0 e4, c6 1 1 d3, cd 12 Qb3! occurred in the game
Kolfman- Tetush kln, U S S R 1 976 with favorable complica
tions for White following 12 Qa5 13 a3, B d 6 14 eS!?, BxeS
••.
15 BxdS.
10... b6
11 B b2 DeS
12 e3 B a6
13 R e 1 Q f6
So far as in U hlmann- Portlsch , S kopje 1972. Now

14 Q c l is the right move because 1 4 ... de is discouraged and
15 b4 is threatened.
A13c
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!, Bb4
5 Bg2, 0 · 0 6 0 -0, Re8 7 N dS)
7... e4
8 Ne1 d6
9 d3! Bxe 1
Section 1: Winning With 1 c4 39
Practically forced as both 9. . .ed 1 0 N xd3 and 9 ... B f5

1 0 Bg5 favor White greatly.
1 0 Rxe 1 ed
1 1 Bg5!
The point of White's pawn sacrifice.
1 1 ... de
12 Rxel Rxel
13 Qxel Be6
14 Nxf6ch gd6
15 B h 4 Ne5
As in Smyslov-Mestel, H astings 1972 - 7 3 , which con

tinued 1 6 Bxb7!, B xc4 1 7 Q h 5 , Rb8 18 Be4 and White had
more than enough positional compensation. This is an in
structive example of how e5-e4 gets Black into hot water.
.••
Al3d
( 1 c4, e5 l N c3 , N f6 3 N f3, N c 6 4 g3!, Bb4
5 Bgl, 0 - 0 6 0 - 0, ReS 7 N d5)
7 ••• Bc5
8 d3 Nxd5
8 .. h6 to stop the Bg5 pin is met by 9 N x f6 c h , Qxf6

.
1 0 N dl as in the Petrosian-Gheorghiu game in IA13a.

9 cxd5 Nd4
9 Nb4 is well met by 10 e4 and 11 a3.

••.
10 N dl!
Avoiding exchanges and preparing to kick back

with Ne4 or e3 as in the game G h eorg h iu - B enko, Las Pal
m as 1972.
This lengthy analysis of the main line indicates

that White stands very well against the recently popular
Bb4 ideas. The following alternatives also seem to grant
•••
Black little chance for easy equality.

A2
( 1 c4, e5 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!)
4 ••• g6
5 d4!
This resemblance to the line beginning 1 c4, e5 2

N c3, Nc6 3 N f3, g6 4 d4! seems to favor White clearly.
5... ed
6 N xd4 Bg7
7 Bg2 0-0
8 0-0 Re S
On 8 Nxd4 9 Qxd4, d6 we have a posttwn similar

•••
to a hotly debated line in the King's Indian given in Sec

tion II except that Black's pawn is on e7 instead of c7 as
here. The position favors White after 1 0 Q h4! followed by
1 1 Bg5 and R a d 1 or N d5.
9 N xc6 bxc6
Black has no compensation for his crippled Queen

side majority of pawns after 9 dxc6 10 B f4.
...
1 0 Qa4!
And Black has great difficulty breaking his QB out

and connecting his Rooks. In U hlman n - R aj kovic, H astings
1972-73, White soon had a commanding position after
10 •.• a5 1 1 R d 1, Bb7 12 Rd3, Ng4 13 Ne4, f5 14 Bg5, fxe4!?
(14... Nf6 15 Nc5) 15 Bxd8, exd3 16 ed!, R axd8 17 c5!.
To illustrate how strong White's position is, Wolf

gang Uhlmann used another lOth move when the occasion
arose fifteen years later. That was in U h l m an n - Z apata,
T hessaloniki 1988 when the German showed that 1 0 B f4,
with the idea of Qd2 and R a d 1 , is also strong. After 1 0
B f4, Rb8 1 1 Qd2 , B a 6 12 b3, d5 13 R a d 1 , Qe7 1 4 Qc2!,
Rbd8 15 R fe 1 Black was stumped for counterplay (15... d4
16 Na4! leaves both c5 and the c6 weak). The game saw
15 N h 5 16 B el! and 1 7 Bb2 give White an obvious advan
...
tage in terms of the scope of his rooks and bishops.

Section 1: Wi nning Wit h 1 c4 43
A3
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3!)
4 ••• N d4
This is a clever idea often employed by Korchnoi.

The tactical point is 5 N xeS?, Qe7 6 f4, d6 7 N d3, B fS with
great play. The strategic point is that once Black's ON is
traded off, he can defend the Queenside more easily with
c7 - c6. Note that 5 Nxd4, exd4 6 N dS, c6 is fine for Black.
5 Bg2 Nxf3 c h
6 B xf3 Bb4
If Black makes no gestures towards aggression he

will surrender a strong initiative to White: 6 Be7 7 d4!, d6
••.
8 B g2 , 0·0 9 0·0, c6 10 b3, B fS 11 e4 as in G heorg h iu - Por·

tisch, S kopje 1 972.
7 0·0
An alternative policy here is putting the question to

the bishop with 7 Qb3. If Black temporizes with 7 a5, ...
White can proceed with 8 0-0, 0 · 0 9 d4! since Bxc3 will ...
not double his c-pawns as they would in the main line be
low, and he wil l be able to regain his pawn, following
9 exd4 with the favorable 10 NbS.
..•
And what if Black tries to stop the d-pawn's ad

vance by retreating to cS? 7 Qb3. Then 7 B c5 8 N a4! will
..•
force him further back, e.g. 8 Be7 9 Qe3, d6 1 0 d4, N d7

•••
11 N c3, c6 1 2 b3 with a queenside fianchetto that favors

White comfortably.
7 ••• 0-0
Now 8 d4 is a positional error because of 8 .. Bxc3! 9

.
bx c3, e4 10 B g2, b6 with a fine game for Black. The best

example of play for White here is 8 Qb3, B cS 9 d3, d6
(Hartston recommends 9... c6 so Black's bishop can retreat
along its original diagonal) 1 0 N a4, N d7 1 1 Bg2, aS U
N x cS, N x cS 13 Qc3 U blmann- Korch nol, Amsterdam 1972.
White's minor exchange must confer a slight edge.
You have the choice. 7 Qb3 as suggested 1n the

above note, or the main line 7 0-0.
A4
( 1 c4, e5 2 Nc3, N f6 3 N f3, N c6 4 g3!)
4 ••• B c5
This was thought to be refuted by a Botvinnik

Keres game in 1966, but it is not that convincing.
5 d3
The Botvinnik game saw White obtain an edge with

5 Nxe5!?, Bxfl c h (5... Nxe5 6 d4) 6 Kxfl , N xe 5 7 e4, but
Black has promising chances due to his control of many
dark squares after 7 c5! 8 d3, d6 9 h 3 , 0 - 0 and ... Ne8-c7-
•..
e6!
5... 0-0
6 Bgl d6
Black loses the option of B xc3 that we saw in ear

•••
lier pages, but retains a solid center in this line. By lock

ing his bishop away from the kingside however, he creates
some potential problems in the form of a later Bg5 by
White.
7 0-0 h6
46 Wi nning Wit h 1 c4
An important move that Black cannot do without

for long because of the danger of Bg5 and N d5 by White.
8 N a4!
In the English, like any other opening, you have to

take what the position offers you. In this case it is Black's
bishop on c5. White can try to eliminate the bishop, and
slightly tarnish the enemy pawn structure with Nxc5, or he
can begin a general queenside or central expansion with
this move.
8..• Qe7
9 e3 aS
Otherwise 10 d4 may hurt.
10 b3 ReS
1 1 Bb2
White has played relatively quietly, almost without

worrying about Black's moves. This is possibly due to the
absence of immediate enemy counterplay. We have been
following B en ko-Malich, S kopje 1972, in which White
without seeming to do very much at all, obtained quite a
nice middlegame with l l B fS 12 a3, B a7 13 N c3, Qd7 1 4
...
Ret.
AS
( 1 c4, e5 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c 6 4 g3!)
4 ••• d6
5 d4 B g4
Not good enough is 5 ... g6 6 de, de 7 Qxd8c h , Kxd8 8

Bg5, Be7 9 0-0-0ch.
6 d5! Nb8
7 Bg2 B e7
8 0-0
White has the usual advantage in space, N imzovitcb

Tarrascb, B aden- B aden 1925 . He can continue with e4, Be3
and Qc2 with prospects of c4-c5.
This is an example of how Black used to play in the

Neanderthal Era of the English Opening.
A6
( 1 d4, eS 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3, N c6 4 g3!)
4 ••• dS
This enters into the Reversed Dragon which has for

years been considered slightly better for White.
5 cxdS NxdS
6 Bg2 Nb6
The only way to punish 6 B g2 (more aggressive

than 6 d3) is 6 Nxc3 7 bxc3, e4. But then 8 N d4!, Nxd4 9
•.•
cxd4, Qxd4 1 0 Rb1 appears to give White enough for a

pawn, e.g., 1 0 ... B c5 1 1 e3, Qc4 (ll Qd3 or ll. . QdS are
... .
answered by 1 2 Qa4ch) 12 Bg2, 0·0 13 R e t and 1 4 Qc2.
There are other ways to play for Black:

a) 6 ... Nde7 7 0-0, g6 (7 ... Nf5 8 b4!, a6 9 Bb2, Be6 10
Ne4 or 8 ..Bxb4 9 Nxe5, Nxe5 10 Qa4ch favors White) 8 b4!,
.
a6 9 a4, Bg7 10 Ba3, 0-0 11 b5, N d4 12 Ng5 as in Larsen·

Le h m ann, Palma 1967. This line is a Taimanov idea.
b) 6 ... Be6 7 0-0, Be7? (Better 7 ... Nb6 transposing into

the main line) 8 d4!. This is why White delay s d3 on move
6. The punch in the center gives him an edge, e.g. 8 . ed 9 . .
Nxd4, Nxc3 10 bxc3, Nxd4 11 cxd4, c6 12 Qa4 or 8 ... Nxc3

9 bxc3, e4 10 Nd2, f5 11 Rb1, Rb8 12 Qa4.
c) 6 Nxc3 7 bxc3, Be7 8 d3, 0-0 9 0-0, Be6 10 Qc2,

•.•
f5 11 Rb1 and now 11...Bd5!? is best met by 12 Ne1! (12

Rxb7?, Nd4 or 12 c4, Bxf3 13 Bxf3, Nd4) 12... Bxg2 13
Nxg2 with some pressure on the queenside. Black can also
develop his KB on other squares on the seventh move, but
7...Bc5 8 d3, 0-0 9 0-0, Be6 10 Qa4 followed by Rb1 or Ba3
puts Black under pressure. the reason 6 ... Nxc3 is frowned
upon is that White usually profits handsomely from the b
file.
7 0·0 Be7
8 a3 0·0
Black can stop b4 with 8. . .aS, but the cure is worse

than the disease. On 9 d3, 0·0 10 Be3, fS 1 1 Rei, Kh 8 U
NbS! White's knight is very effective on the queenside and
can no longer be driven away by the a-pawn.
9 b4 Be6
Moves like . a6 and . f6 usually transpose into al

.. . .
ternatives at move 10.
Black can also play 9 ... Re8 with the idea of exploit
ing the e-file after . B f8 and then
. . N d4/Nxd4/ ... exd4!.
...
Here this would involve the complications of 10 bS, Nd4

11 N xeS!?, B f6. But since White is obtaining a good posi
tion from simple play, he is advised here to just meet
9 ... Re8 w i t h 10 Rb1, e .g. 10 ... B f8 1 1 d3, aS U bS, Nd4 13
N d2!, a4 14 Bb2 and Eh lvest- Hj artarson, Rotterdam 1989
went 1 4 ... RaS! 1S N c4, Nxc4 16 dxc4, B fS?! 17 B xb7!, Bxb 1
1 8 Qxb 1 with excellent compensation for the Exchange.
10 d3
Recently 1 0 R b 1 has come into fashion. And indeed

we examined 10 Rb 1 , f6 in the Introduction game Karpov-
50 Winning Wit h t c4
Hjartarson. The delay in moving White's d-pawn gains him

time for some extra positional options. After White plays
d2 - d3, he loses the last pawn control over c3 and thereby
encourages Black to play . . N d4 and after the exchange of
.
pieces on d4, the capture ...e x d4 followed by N d 5 - c3.

••.
The maneuvering after tO R b t , f 6 is very subtle

and we can only touch on some of the themes involved.
For example 1 1 Ne4 is useful since l l aS can be strongly
•••
met by 12 N cS!.
Also on 1 1 ... B a2 (to displace the rook) 12 Rbl, BdS

White gets a fine game from either t3 N cS, Rb8 t4 d3,
B x cS tS b x cS or from t3 ... N c4 t4 Rb t , b6 tS N a4!, Nd4 t6
N c3! as in Adorj an- Huebne r, Linares t985. The critical line
here is t3 ... e4! when Black appears to have equal chances
after t4 N e t , N c4 tS Rb t , B x cS t 6 bx cS, b6 as in Suba
Thorste ins, New York t989.
tO ••• rs
It is not a new story to learn that tO ... a6 gives

White too free a hand on the queenside, e.g., 1 1 N e4, h6 12
Bbl, fS t3 N cS, B x cS t4 b x cS, N d7 t S Ret and now
B otvinnik- Ben kner t956, went l5 ... Qe7 t6 N h4, Q f7
( 1 6 ... Nxc5 1 7 Bxc6 and 18 Bxe5 or 1 7 Ng6) t7 f4, e f t8 gf,
Rad8 t9 Qet, BdS 2 0 B h3! as quoted in Shatskes.
And tO ... f6 is not aggressive enough: t t B e3, Qd7 12

Ne4, NdS t3 Re t!, R fd8 t4 B cS, b6 tS B x e7, N d x e 7 t6 Qcl
and t7 R fd t.
11 B e 3 B f6
On . f4 Black concedes White an excellent N

. .
outpost on e4.
12 N e t
This stops 1 2 ...N d 4 and discourages 1 2 ... e4 1 3 R c l ,

B x c3 1 4 R x c3, N d5 15 R e S with an excellent Queenside
game. Now on 12 Rb8 13 B x c6, b x c6 14 R c l Black has to
•.•
mate White. Otherwise he will lose the queenside mid

dlegame.
This main line with both sides bringing out their

two knights appears quite sound for White.
You have the choice of the main line with 10 d3 or

the more modern 1 0 R b l as suggested in the above note.
B
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3 )
2 ••• d6
This is an idea of Smyslov which retains Black's

options of g6 or rs as well as giving him chances for
... ...
Bg4 or .. Be6. As we'll see 2 .. rs has the drawback of al

... . .
lowing 3 d4! immediately, but 2 . . d6 3 d4, e d 4 Q x d4 is not

.
nearly as strong since Black has not weakened his pawn

structure with rs. ...
3 N f3 Bg4
The alternatives are not as effective:

a) 3 . rs 4 d4! (again effective) 4...ed 5 Nxd4 fol
..
lowed by 6 g3 with an edge, or 4...e4 5 Ng5!?, Nf6 6 f3

opening up the game for White's advantage in space.
b) 3 . g6 4 d4 and now 4...ed 5 Nxd4 transposes into

..
IA2. If Black maintains the center with 4... Nc6 or 4...Bg7

here, he has a bad ending after 5 de, de 6 Qxd8ch.
c) 3 ... c5 4 e3 followed by d4 with a fine game in

the center s10ce Black has conceded a hole at his d5
already.
d) 3 N f6 4 d4, e4 5 Ng5, Bf5 6 g4! securing a pow

.••
erful center.
4 d4! B x f3
There is little point in not making this capture. On

4 ... N c6 5 dS, N ce7 6 e 4 followed by b 3 or g3, Black has
misplaced two minor pieces. Better is 4 ... N d7, but Shatskes
says White is better with S Be3, Ne7 6 dS, N fS 7 B d2, Be7
8 Q c2, g6 9 Ng1! or S ...g6 6 dS, Bg7 7 N d2 embarrassing
the Bishop.
S g x f3 ed
And here S ... N d 7 6 Bg2, B e 7 7 0-0, N g f6 8 b3 has to

favor White's pieces. The doubled pawns actually improve
White's center.
6 Qxd4 Ne7
This follows two games. In O'Kelly - Sm y slov 1 9 6 7

White played 7 N d S , N b c6 8 Q c3 , N eS, but should have
tried 9 B h3 , c6 1 0 N x e 7 and 1 1 f4 for advantage. In Suba
Mitltelu, S kopje 1972 White tried 7 b3, Nbc6 8 Qd2, g6 9
Bb2, Bg7 1 0 h4!, N fS 1 1 hS, Rg8 12 N d S and White had a
big edge.
Also Black can play 6 ... N c6 immediately, but White

appears to be able to transpose favorably into the Skopje
game with 7 Qd2 or play for more with 7 Qe4ch and 8
N dS!.
54 Winning With 1 c4
c
( 1 c4, eS 2 N c3, N c6 3 N f3 , fS)
Again 3 ... g6 would leave White with a superior

game after 4 d4!, e d S N x d4, Bg7 6 N x c6, b x c6 7 g3 and
now 7 N f6 8 B g2 transposes into IA2. Also, 7 N e 7 leads
••. ••.
to trouble after 8 Bg2, 0"0 9 0-0, Rb8 10 Qc2, N fS 1 1 e3!,

Q f6 12 Rb1, Rd8 13 Rd1 and finally 7 Qe7 8 B g2, Qb4!? 9
..•
0 -0!, B a6 (9... Qxc4 1 0 Bf4 is very dangerous) 1 0 NbS!, B x bS

1 1 cx bS, QxbS 12 B f4 as in Renter- Fiohr 1947.
The other alternative is 3 d6 which is not very dif
•••
ferent from previous lines after 4 d4 e.g., 4 B g4 S dS or

•..
4 ed S N x d4, g6 6 g3, Bg7 7 N x c6 or 4 ... N f6 S de.

•••
4 d4! e4
Black is in no position to open up the game.
5 NgS Bb4
Or S .. Be7 6 h4, N f6 (6... h6 7 Nh3, Bxh4 8 e3 fol
.
lowed by Qh5ch or Nf4-g6) 7 e3 to be followed by cS with

pressure on the a2 - g8 line. This is similar to a note in the
following variation - 10, after 1 c4, eS 2 N c3, fS 3 d4, e4.
Also good is 6 N h3 .
6 h4
Also good is 6 c S and 7 Qb 3 , but the text is more
active. Now on 6 N f6 7 e3, 0 - 0 8 Qb3 White will have a
.•.
very fine game.

Section 1: Winning With 1 c4 ss
D
(1 c4, eS 2 N c3, fS)
3 d4!
Now with 3 e4 Black is not even attacking a

•.•
knight. After 4 e3, N f6 S Nge2, Be7 6 N f4, 0 - 0 7 b 4!; White

follows with f3 or cS! (and Qb3ch) with great advantage. In
Euwe -Kolste 1926 Black went under after 7 ... Ng4 8 Be2,
Nb6 9 N cdS, d6 1 0 N x e7cb, Qxe7 11 Qb3, N d7 12 cScb,
K b 8 13 Qe6!.
3 ... ed
4 Q x d4 Nc6
Or 4 ... N f6 S g 3 , N c6 6 Qe3 c b!, B e 7 7 Bg 2, 0-0 8 N b3

also with advantage. The check is a good idea because it
slows down Black's desire to play .. Bb4. The line cited is
.
Mi kenas- Polugaevsky 1954 which went 8 ... Re8 9 0-0, Bb4

1 0 Qd2, NeS 11 Qc2, c6 12 a3, B f8 13 b3.
S Qe3ch!
Now S ... Be 7 would transpose into the line above.

And S ... Kf7 6 N f3, N f6 7 N dS! or 6 N b3, N f6 7 Qd2, h6 8
N f4 are great for White.
56 Section I I: Winning Wit h 1 c4
SECT ION I I
1 c4 c5
Section II: Winning Wi th 1 c4 57
SECTION I I
1 c4 c5
This is a difficult variation to obtain superiority

against because Black can follow symmetrical play for
some time without incurring the usual penalty of imita
tion. Indeed, many tournament players learn how to play
l. .. c5 against the English when they are content to split the
point and want a drawing line.
2 N c3 N f6
Another idea is 2 N c6 3 N f3 , e5 4 e3, N f6 5 d4, e4.

••.
But now instead of 6 N d2, cd 7 ed, B b4!, White should be

willing to go into 6 d5!, e x f3 7 d x c6, fg 8 cd ch , B x d7 9
B x g2 followed by a Queenside fianchetto.
If Black plays 2 ... N c6, then 3 N f3, N f6 transposes

into the symmetrical Four Knights' variation (A) .
However, after 2 ... N c6 3 N f3 Black can try 3 .. g6, which we
cover under (B). Finally, after 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 Black can
play to open the center with 3 ... d5. This is under (C) .
A 1 c4, c5 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6
8 1 c4, cS 2 N c3 , N c6 3 N f3 , g6
C 1 c4, c5 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , d5
58 Section I I: Winning Wi t h 1 c4
A rare but playable sideline after 1 c4, cS 2 N c3,

Nc 6 3 N f3, is 3 N d4. The simplest procedure here is 4 e3,
•..
forcing 4... N x f3 c h S Qx f3 . Then Black can prevent white

from advancing his d-pawn two squares by way of S ... g6
and 6 ... Bg7. B ut White should stand quite well with 6 b3!,
Bg7 7 Bb2, d6 8 g3, Rb8 9 Bg2 and now 9 N h 6 1 0 Q d l ,
...
N fS 1 1 Qc2, 0-0 1 2 0 - 0 , a 6 13 a4 followed by NdS and

Bxg7 as in Ribli- Be nj amin, Wij k aan Zee 1989.
Section I I: Win n ing Wi t h 1 c4 59
A
(1 c4, cS 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6)
This is our main line, the symmetrical Four

Knight's game. Black has some other possible moves:
a) 3 ... e6 4 g3, dS 5 cd and now:
a t ) 5... Nxd5 leads to a Semi-Tarrasch-like
position in which it is White, not Black, who has the
preponderance of p awns adv anced in the center. Typical
play in this line, sometimes named after P aul Keres and
Bruno Parma, would go 6 Bg2, Be7 7 0-0, 0-0 8 d4, N c6 9
e4!
White should not be reluctant to push those p awns,
as they are his chief source of strength. If Black captures
on c3, White's center is strengthened (9 ... Nxc3 10 bxc3, cd
11 cd, b6 12 Bb2, Bf6 13 Rb1, Bb7 14 d5! as in the
impressive game C bristi ansen- Portisch, Linares 1 9 8 1 in
which the young American grandmaster upset his
established riv al after 14...ed 15 ed, N a5 16 N e5, Bxe5 17
Bxe5, Rc8 18 R c1, Qd7 19 Bc3 preparing for Qd4!
Note also that 9 ... Ndb4 is suspect because of 10
dxc5! and 11 e5. That leaves 9... Nb6. A good illustration of
how White uses his center is Port isc h - D iugy, Wij k aan Zee
1 990: 9 ... Nb6 10 d5, ed 11 ed, Nb4 12 Ne1, Bf6 13 Be3 after
which the liquidation of the center by way of 13...Bxc3 14
bxc3, N4xd5 15 Bxc5 fa vored White (15... Re8 16 Bd4, Bf5
60 Section I I: Winning Wi t h 1 c4
17 Rc1, Rc8 18 Nf3, Be4 19 Re1, Nf6 20 Bh3, Rc7 21 Ng5

and so on).
a2) 5...ed 6 d4 is the Tarrasch Defense to the
Queen's Gambit Declined for which the reader should
consult Winning With 1 d4 by your author and published by
Chess Digest, Inc.
b) 3 ... e6 4 g3, b6 {The Queen's Indian Defense ap

proach). The correct plan for White in this case is 5 Bg2,
Bb7 6 0-0, Be7 7 d4, cd (else d4-d5) 8 Qxd4! and now:
b 1 ) 8 ... 0-0 9 Rd1, Qc8 10 e4 setting up a good
Maroczy Bind after 10... Nc6 11 Qd2 followed by b3, Bb2
and Rac l.
b2) 8 ... Nc6 9 Qf4, 0-0 10 Rd1 and here 10... Qb8
has been considered safe for Black for many years. But re
cently 11 e4, Qxf4 12 Bxf4, Rfd8 13 e5!, Ne8 14 Nd4, Na5
15 b3, Bxg2 16 Kxg2 has proven to give White a slight
edge because of his potential Queenside majority and edge
in space.
c) 3 ... g6. This should transpose into the text after 4

g3, Bg7 5 Bg2, N c6 6 0-0, 0-0.
4 g3 g6
Again here 4 ... d5 5 cd, N x d5 6 B g2 transposes into

IIC, while 4 c6 5 Bg2, d5 is also covered under IIC.
..•
5 B g2 Bg7
6 0-0 0-0
Black could have stopped White's next move with

6 ... e5 so it must be examined. This is sometimes credited to
Botvinnik, but the former World Champion preferred to
play e5 when he has developed his KN on another square
•••
such as e7. The N f6 interferes somewhat with the harmo

nious development of Black's kingside and center.
White has any one of several strategies here after

6 ... e5. For example, 7 a3. On 7 ... a5 Black has weakened his
Section I I : Winning With 1 c4 61
queenside and bas not permanently stopped b2 - b4, e.g., 8

N e 1 , d6 9 N c2, 0 - 0 10 Rb 1 followed by b2-b4. It often ap
pears that Black is advised to play aS because then he
•..
obtains an open a-file if White persists in playing b2-b4.

The trouble with this line of reasoning is that Black
usually has to return control of the file later to White who
is better developed on the queenside.
Note also that 7 0 - 0 allows 8 b4 immediately (B.. cb

•.• .
9 ab, Nx b4 10 Nxe5) and so does 7 . d6 (8 b4, cb 9 ab, N x b4

. .
10 B a3, N c6 1 1 NbS, B f8 12 d4.
An altogether different strategy is 7 N e 1, 0-0 8 N c2.

This handy N-maneuver is useful in (a) opening up White's
long diagonal, (b) supporting b4 and (c) providing greater
control of dS after Ne3.
7 d4!
Now we come to a parting of the ways. 7 cd is our

...
main English line, while 7 . d6 transposes into the Yugoslav

. .
Variation of the King's Indian Defense.
A1 7 . cd
. .
A2 7... d6
62 Section II: Winning Wit h 1 c4
Al
( 1 c4, c5 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3, g6
5 Bg2, Bg7 6 0-0, 0-0 7 d4)
7 ... cd
8 N x d4
8 •.. N x d4
The point of this exchange is that White cannot

maintain the central square for his queen and may, in
fact, run into tactical trouble on d4. Moreover, it is diffi
cult for Black to complete development without this ex
change.
For example, 8 d6 is a pawn sacrifice which is not

.•.
sound: 9 N x c6, b x c6 10 B x c6, Rb8 1 1 Bg2, Qa5 and now 12

Qc2 seems most exact, e .g., 12 ... Be6 13 b3, R fc8 14 B d2,
Q h 5 15 e4!, Ng4 16 h3, Ne5 17 Q d 1! as in Espig-Markland,
Polanica Z droj 1973. If Bla ck has any real play in this
gambit line, it must be in 13 ... d5!?, although 14 cxd5, N x d5
15 N x d5, B x d5 16 B d2! or 14 8 f5 15 Qd2 seems more than
.•.
sufficient for Black.
Also 8 ... Qa5 is suspect because of 9 Nb3! and 10 c5

restraining Black's center pawns. Examine 9 ... Qa6 10 c5, b6
11 e4!, be 12 e5, Ne8 13 N x c5, Qa5 1 4 N x d 7, B x d 7 15
Section I I : Wi nning Wit h 1 c4 63
Qx d7, N x e5 16 Qd5! (Tal- Ree, Sukhumi 1 973). Or 9 ... Q h 5

1 0 c5, b 6 1 1 cb, a b 12 e4!, Q x d 1 1 3 R x d l , R b 8 1 4 f4, N a 5
15 e 5 Krogius-J ansa, Soc h i 1965.
There is an attractive gambit in 8 Ng4 9 e3, d6

.•. -
but White should avoid 1 0 N x c6?! and instead play 1 0 b3

followed by Bb2 next. His position has no holes and is
ready to use the advantage in space by placing rooks on d l
and c l and a N on d5.
The same goes for 8 ... Qb6 9 N c2, d6 1 0 b3 e.g.,

10 ... B e6 1 1 N dS!, B x dS 12 cxdS, NeS 13 Be3 or 10 ... Ne5 1 1
h3, Be6 12 Be3, Qc7 13 N d4, and 1 4 N d5.
9 Q x d4 d6
10 Qd3
The queen voluntarily vacates d4 and prepares to

develop a bind in the center with e4, b3, B b2 and the use
of rooks on c1 and d l . There is no rush to play e4 because
it blocks the KB's line. And there are tactical problems
about b3. But otherwise, recent theory regards this varia
tion highly. White's completion o f development proceeds
smoothly.
Now Black has several choices:

A l l J O.. Bf5
.
A l l J O.. Ng4
.
A 13 J O... a6
64 Section I I: Winning Wi th 1 c4
A14 J O Be6
...
All
(1 c4, cS l N c3, N f6 3 N f3, N c6 4 g3, g6 5 Bgl, B g7 6 0-0,
0-0 7 d4, cd 8 N x d4, N x d4 9 Qx d4, d6 1 0 Qd3)
10 ••. B fS
Aimed at forcing e4.
11 e4 Be6
Now Black is not offering the b-pawn.
ll B dl a6
13 b3
White's recommended policy 1s to follow up with

Racl and Rfd1.
13 ... Rb8
After 13 ... Qd7 14 R a c l , Rab8 15 a4 (Sometimes this

is a bad weakening because of . Nd 7-c5, but here that ma
..
neuver cannot be achieved immediately) B h3 16 R fd 1 ,

B x gl 17 Kxgl and White has not been interrupted from his
Section I I: Winning With 1 c4 65
quest for central superiority. The exchange of bishops has

actually helped White.
Also on 13 N d 7 14 Rac1, N c5 ( ... Ne5 should trans

..•
pose into our main variation - 13 ... R b8) 15 Q c2! as sug

gested by Keene, prevents . b5 and leaves Black with de
. .
velopment problems.
14 Racl Nd7
15 Qe2 Ne5
16 Rfd1
So far as in the game Krogius-Tringov, Varna 1969.

White has excellent placement for his pieces; he has
stopped ...b5 and may continue with B e3 - d4. The game
continued 16 ... Bg4 17 f3, B d 7 1 8 Be3, B c6 1 9 c5!, Qa5 20
N d5, B x d5 21 R xd 5 with a considerable advantage.
A12
( 1 c4, c5 2 N c3, N f6 3 N f3, N c6 4 g3, g6 5 Bg2, Bg7 6 0·0,
0·0 7 d4, cd 8 N x d4, N x d4 9 Qx d4, d6 10 Qd3)
10 . .
. Ng4?!
An ambitious but poor plan. Similar is 10 ... Nd7 1 1

b3, Nc5 12 Qd2, aS 13 Bb2, B d 7 1 4 N d 5 and White has a
simple superiority which increases with the exchange of
black-squared bishops, after which White can work on the
66 Section I I: Win n i ng Wi t h 1 c4
kingside with h 4 - h 5 or in the center with prospects of e4·

eS. See also the Polga r- Gross game from the Introduction.
On 10 ... Rb8 1 1 Be3, a6 (probably l l ... Qa5 is safe

and sound), 12 Bd4 or 12 Rfd 1 with prospect o f cS, look
better for White.
In each of these lines White may have to move his

queen again from d3, but that is a minor concern. If White
played 10 Qd2, howe ver, Black could play 10 ... 8e6 1 1 b3,
dS with immediate equality. The Queen protects the c
pawn when it retreats to d3.
1 1 b3 QaS
1 2 B d2!
This is better than the pin created by 12 B b2 . White

can continue N dS and B c3 easily now.
12 ... QhS
13 h 4 NeS
14 Qe3
With QgS and an endgame in view.
14 ... Qg4
As in Resh evsky - Z uckerman, U.S. C h ampionship

1967. A fter 15 Rad1, Qd 7?! 16 N dS, Qd8 17 Bc3, White ob
tained a winning positional advantage.
Section I I: Winning With 1 c4 67
All
(1 c4, c5 2 Nc3, N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3, g6 5 Bg2, Bg7 6 0-0,
0-0 7 d4, cd 8 N x d4, N x d4 9 Qxd4, d6 1 0 Qd3)
10 .•. a6
Black prepares b7-b5.
White must be careful in trying to get too much too

soon from the position. For example, 1 1 BgS and if
1 1 ... Rb8, then 12 c5 looks attractive since 12 ... dx c5 allows
13 Q x d8, Rxd8 14 B f4, Ra8 15 Na4 with strong queenside
pressure. But 12 ... Qa5! can make an effective gambit, e.g.,
13 B x f6 (not 13 cxd6 ??, Qxg5), B x f6 1 4 cx d6, e x d6 15
Qx d6, Be6 1 6 Qd2, R fd8 1 7 Q c2, R d c8 and in
Dzhindzhich ashvili-Eh lvest, N e w York 1990, Black had
more than enough compensation.
1 1 Be3 B rs
More effe ctive than 1 1 ... Rb8 12 B d4 (or 1 2 Ba 7, Ra8

13 Bd4) Be6 (12. . Qa 5 13 Bxf6, Bxf6 1 4 Nd5) 13 Racl and
.
now 13 ... b5 only looks dangerous for White. He retains an

edge with 14 cb, ab 15 NxbS, B x a2 16 N a7!.
Several years ago it was thought that 1 l . Ng4 only

..
drives the White bishop where it wants to go, d4. A num

ber of games in the 1970s tested that thesis and the conclu-
sion today is that White stands well if he does not hurry to

play his c-pawn to the fifth rank: 1 l . .. Ng4 12 Bd4, Ne5 13
Qd1, Rb8 1 4 N d5! and now with Nb6 or Bb6 coming up,
the likely continuation is 14 b5 15 cb, ab 16 Nb4, Bb7 1 7
•.•
e 4 , N c6 1 8 B x g7, K xg7 19 N x c6, B x c6 20 Q d 4 c h and 2 1

R f c l with the usual spatial edge for White ( T h o m as
Math eson, Correspondence 1 9 8 1 - 83).
12 Qd2
The point of 11 Be3 is to allow White to retreat his

queen to d2 comfortably.
12 ••• Rb8
Now 12 Qd7 13 Bg5, Rab8 (13 Rac8 14 Bxf6!,

••• ...
Bxf6 1 5 Nd5) 14 R a c l favors White because Black is still

not ready for 14 b5 - - 1 5 cb, ab 16 B x f6, B x f6 1 7 Nd5
•.•
threatening both N x f6 c h and Rc7.
13 Racl
Also good is 13 B d4.
13 ... b5
14 cb ab
15 B a7! Ra8!
16 B d4!
Not 1 6 B x a8, Q x a8 followed by .. .b4 or .•• B h3.
16 ..• b4
Now Gligorich analyses 1 7 Nd5, N x d5 1 8 B x d5,

B x d4 1 9 Q x d4, Rb8 2 0 Rfd1, D eS with a slight edge for
White.
Section I I: Winning Wit h 1 c4 69
A14
( 1 c4, cS 2 Nc3, N f6 3 N f3, N c6 4 g3, g6 S Bg2, Bg7 6 0-0,
0-0 7 d4, cd 8 N x d4 , N x d4 9 Q x d4, d6 1 0 Qd3)
10 ... Be6
A pawn sacrifice which White must treat accurately

to achieve an advantage.
Another possibility is 10 QaS 11 B d2 and then

..•
1 1 . .. Q b S intending ... B h3 looks logical. White should play

12 f3 so that he can have a white-square bind if Black ex
changes Bishops. White maintains an edge after 12 f3, e.g.,
12 ... Be6 13 R a c l , Rac8 14 NbS, a6 1S N d4, B d7 16 e4.
1 1 B x b7! Rb8
12 B g2 QaS
13 b3!
White does best to return the pawn for a positional

advantage.
13 ... R x b3
14 axb3 Qxa1
Now the game Quinteros-Jimenez, Cie n fuegos 1 972

continued 1S B d2, Qa6 16 NbS with excellent prospects for
White since Black's a-pawn is very weak.
No better in the line above is 13 Ng4 because 14

•••
B d2 , Qh5 15 h3, Ne5 16 g4!, N x d3 17 g x h 5 favors White

greatly ( U h lmann- B oasch, East German C h ampionship
1981).
A2
(1 c4, c5 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3, g6
5 Bg2, Bg7 6 0·0, 0 - 0 7 d4)
7 ..• d6
Transposing into the Yugoslav Variation of the

King's Indian Defense. We shall examine a straight for
ward method of play for White -- the exchange system -

with 8 de, de 9 Be3.
8 de de
9 Be3 Qa5
The best move. In the game Petrosian- Bronste i n,

Amsterdam 1956, Black played 9 ... Nd7. But after 10 Qc1!
(with the simple plan of Bh6 and B x g 7 and Rdl) 1 0 ... Nd4
11 Rd 1, e5 12 B h6, QaS 13 B x g7 followed by 1 4 K h 1!
(meeting the threat of 1 4. Qxc3 and 15 . Nx e2cl!) White had
.. ..
the better position for several reasons. For one, he can

drive off Black 's only really effectiv e piece with e3. Then
Section I I : Win n i ng Wit h 1 c4 71
White has the use of d S for his own knight, but Bla ck can
not do the same anymore. Also White has the better use of
the long white di agonal and of the queen file.
The symmetrical defense 9 ... 8e 6 is considered not

quite sound because after 10 B x cS, Black has problems af
ter either 10 ... B x c4 1 1 N d4!, N x d4 12 B x d4, Ba6 (how else
to defend the b-pawn?) 13 b4!, or 10 ... Q a5 1 1 B a3, B x c4 12
N d4, N x d4 13 Qx d4, Rac8 14 Qe3 or even 10 ... Qa5 1 1 B a3,
R fd8 12 N d2, B x c4? 13 N x c4, Rxd 1 14 N x a5, R xa1 15
R x a 1 , N x a5 1 6 B x e 7. As usual, symmetrical play is danger
ous for Black.
Also take note of 9 Be3, Be6 10 Qa4!? with the idea

of 10 ... N d4 1 1 R a d 1, e.g., 1 1 ... B d 7 12 Qa3, N c2 13 Q x c5, b6
14 Qg5, h6 15 Q f4 with ferocious compli cations after
15 ... g5 ( Grigorian- Kasparov, U S S R 1981).
10 Qc1
Pursuing the plan of exchanging off the black

squared bishops. Another good move is 10 B d2 to take ad
vantage of the Black queen's square. On 10 ... 8e6 1 1 N a4
for example, the queen must retreat and allow something
like 1 1 ... Qc7 12 N x c5, B x c4 13 Rc l, Bd5 14 Qa4, N d 7 15
B f4 as pointed out by Boleslavsky. Better is 10 ... B f5 1 1
Q c 1 ( J J e4? is tactically justified by l l ... Nx e4 1 2 Nx e4
attacking the queen. But it is a mistake since after l l...Bg4
Black has control of White's d4 and therefore a fine game.)
Now to avoid White's buildup with R d 1 and N d5 and B h 6,
Fischer played 11 ... N d 4 against Pachman at H avana 1965,
obtaining a slightly inferior game after 12 N x d4, cxd4 13
Nd5, Qd8 14 B h6, B x h6 15 Qx h6, N x d5 1 6 cx d5, ReS 17
Qd2, Qb6 18 Rac1 be cause of the we akness of Black's d
pawn.
10 ... B f5
72 Section I I: Win n i ng Wit h 1 c4
Or 10 ... eS 1 1 B d2, Be6 12 R d 1 , and now Black has

problems with 12 ... N d 7 13 NgS or 12 ... B x c4 13 N dS or
12 ... Rad8 13 N dS.
1 1 Nh4 Bd7
On 1 1 ... B e 6 12 N dS favors White.
12 B d2 eS
13 e3
And White follows up with NdS and the better

prospects.
These lines don't promise White much chance for a

quick and decisive middlegame advantage, but they avoid
the complexity of the dS lines and contain very little risk
of losing. His endgame is usually excellent.
Section I I : Win ning Wit h 1 c4 73
B
1 c4 c5
2 N c3 N c6
3 N f3 g6
This order of moves was considered, until fairly re

cently, to be a clumsy positional mistake by Black. The
reason is that with 4 e3! White prepares a strong pawn cen
ter.
4 e3
Now Black would like to play 4 ... N f6 5 d4, cd 6 ed,

d5 in order to isolate White's remaining center pawn. In
similar positions this can be effective. But here 7 Bg5 is
good and 7 cd! is even better since 7 ... N x d5 8 Qb3, Nb6 9
d5! or 8 ... N x c3 9 B c4! gives White a tremendous game in
the center (9. e6 1 0 bx c3, B g 7 1 1 Bb5, B d 7 1 2 Ba3, Bf8 13
..
0- 0, Bxa3 1 4 Qxa3, Qe7 1 5 Qb2, 0- 0 1 6 Rfe1, Qf6 1 7 Rab 1

and 1 8 Nd2 as in A ndersso n - H uguet, Las Palmas 1 973).
4 ... Bg7
Note that 4 ... d6 5 d4, Bg4 6 Be2, Bg7 puts pressure

on White's center, but the normal reaction to it ( 7 d5)
grants White an excellent game. After 7 d5, Ne5? 8 N x e5,
B x e2 9 Qa4ch! or 7 .. Nb8 8 b3 White's position is clearly
.
74 Section I I: Winning With 1 c4
preferable. And 7 N a5 would be similar to our main line

••.
below but with the bishop somewhat misplaced on g4.
5 d4 d6
A chief reason for this line's poor reputation is that

often Black played S ... cd? here, giving White a favorable
center after 6 ed, e.g., 6 ... N f6 7 dS, NbS 8 d6! or 6 ... d6 7
Be2, N f6 8 dS with prospects of strong pressure along the
e-file.
6 Be2 Bd 7
Here 4 ... Bg4 would transpose back into the note to

Black's fourth move.
7 0-0 N f6
8 d5!
It's about time to punish Black for his attitude to

wards the center.
8... N aS
9 e4 0-0
10 e S
With this push White obtains a small but significant

edge in central space. If lO ... dxeS 1 1 N x e5, he will con
tinue with B f4, Qd2 and the placement of rooks on d l and
el.
More testing is 10. . .N e 8 1 1 B f4, Bg4, after which

White can no longer maintain his pawn at eS. But 12 e x d6
gives White better pawns and better pieces. A recent exam
ple, Vaganian- Kamsky, N e w York 1990, went 12 ... N x d6 13
N d2 , B fS 14 Ret, b6 15 b3, e5 (Black needs more space to
operate) 16 de, fe 17 B f3 and White kept an advantage.
Section I I: Win n i ng Wit h 1 c4 75
c
1 c4 cS
2 Nc3 N f6
3 N f3 dS
This method of liberating Black's game was a fa

vorite of Akiba Rubinstein. He hopes after S cd, N x dS to
build a Maroczy Bind with N c6 and . e7-e5. White has to
•.. . .
be careful to put pressure on both eS and cS to keep from

getting a cramped game.
4 cd N x dS
s g3
As usual, White will exert force along the g2 -b7

line.
s ... N c6
At some point soon Black will have to deal with

tactical threats to his knight on dS (5... Nc6 6 Bg2, e5? 7
Nxe5!, Nxe5 8 Nxd5). He can eliminate that danger imme
diately with S ... N x c3 6 b x c3 , but that strengthens White's
center and creates other dangers, e.g., 6 ... g6 7 Qa4ch!, Bd7
8 Qc4 threatening the c-pawn as well as 9 NgS, or 7 ... Nd7 8
Bg2, Bg7 9 d4, 0- 0 10 0-0, a6 1 1 Qa3, Qc7 12 R d 1 , eS 13
76 Section II: Winning Wit h 1 c4
Be3 threatening the e-pawn ( Krase n kov- Kozlov, Mosco w

C h ampionship 1989) .
6 Bg2 N c7
Another piece in the Rubinstein plan and a neces

sary precaution (6.. e5 7 Nx d5). The knight is not badly
.
placed at c7 since it can go to e6 and d4 quickly.
7 0-0 eS
8 d3 Be7
9 N d2
This is the most direct approach to the middlegame.

The knight heads for c4 while opening up the g2 -b7 diag
onal. In some cases White will play B x c6 in order to dam
age Black's queenside. For instance 9 ... B e6? 1 0 B x c6ch ,
B x c6 1 1 Qa4 places the enemy pawns under immediate
pressure (J J . Qd 7 12 Nc4, f6 13 Ne4, Bh3 1 4 R d 1, 0- 0 15
. .
Na 5! as in Korchnoi - B o h m, Wij k aan Zee 1980).
9 ... Bd 7
10 N c4
Here Black must decide whether or not to risk his

e-pawn which is now threatened by 1 1 B x c6. On the natu
ral 10 ... f6, White exploits the new weakness with 1 1 f4!.
Play may then continue 1 1 ... bS 12 Ne3, ef 13 g f, 0 - 0 14
Section I I: Winning Wit h 1 c4 77
NedS with a nice positional pull (Sp iridonov- Pi n ter, B aile

H erculane 198.2).
The crucial line is 10 ...0 - 0!?, offering the e-pawn.

Then 1 1 B x c6, B x c6 12 N x eS, Be8 13 Be3 leads to a di ffi
cult middlegame in which the onus is on Black to prove
that he is more than just a pawn down. After 13 ... Ne6 1 4
R e t , B f6 1 5 N f3, B c6 Black's bishops appear imposing, but
White has fine chances with 1 6 Qb3, offering the pawn
back e.g., 16 ... 8 x f3 1 7 e x f3, Q x d3 18 N e4!, Q x b3 1 9
N x f6 ch, gx f6 20 axb3 with an endgame edge. Or 1 6. . . Bd4
1 7 B x d4, N x d 4 18 N x d4, cxd4 1 9 N e4, ReS 20 R eS! as in
Hj artarson - Vaganian, Rotterdam 1989.
78 Section I l l : Win n i ng Wit h 1 c4
SECT ION I l l
1 c4 Nf6
2 Nc3
Section I I I: Winning Wit h 1 c4 79
S ECT I O N I l l
1 c4 N f6
The knight move is flexible in regard to pawn for

mation. Black can make up his mind in the next few
moves about where he wants the bases of his central pawn
structure -- at e5, c5, or d5 -- or whether he wants to ex
change off a pair of pawns in the center.
2 N c3
Aside from the transpositional 2 ... e5 and 2 c5•..
(2 d6) there are a few distinct alternatives open to Black.

...
A 2 ... d5
B 2 . e6
..
C 2 ...c6
D 2...g6
80 Section I I I: Winning Wit h 1 c4
A
( 1 c4, N f6 2 N c3 , d5)
This presses the game into a Gruenfeld Defense-like

position with the major difference being that White has
not played his d-pawn into a position where it can be as
saulted.
3 cd N x d5
4 g3
As with most other variations we've explored, the

typical response by White to any center action by Black is
g3 and Bg2. Now 4 ... c5 would lead to lines mentioned ear
lier under 1 c4, c5 2 N c3 , N f6 3 N f3 , d5 4 cd, N x d5 5 g3.
And 4 e5 would soon enter variations considered after 1
...
c4, e5 2 Nc3, N f6 3 N f3 , N c6 4 g3, d5 5 cd, N x d5.
4 ... g6
Or 4 ... N x c3 leading to something else we've consid-

ered.
White may even benefit from the absence of Bg2 in

this move order, e.g. 4 ... N x c3 5 b x c3 , g6 and here instead
of 6 B g2 which transposes into our main line, White can
play 6 h4!?
Section I I I : Win ning Wit h 1 c4 81
The idea is to try for a mating attack based on the

absence of a Black knight from f6. White can play on both
wings: 6 ... Bg7 7 h5, Nd7 8 Bgl, c5 9 Qb3, Rb8 1 0 N f3, b5
1 1 d4. And in Ribli- Gutman, West Germany 1988, White
won quickly with l l . . Qa5 12 B f4, cd 13 B x b8, d x c3? 1 4
.
B f4! (return trip), cl c h 1 5 Bdl, B x a 1 16 0 -0!.
If Black sets out on an adventure to find a new

idea -- say with 4 ... N c6 5 Bgl, e6 6 N f3, Be7 -- he finds it
difficult to complete his development harmoniously.
5 B g2
Now we analyze two lines:

A1 5 Nxc3
...
Al 5 Nb6
...
Al
(1 c4, N f6 2 N c3, d5 3 cd, N x d5 4 g3, g6 5 B g2 )
5... N x c3
6 b x c3 B g7
7 Rb1!
The early exploitation of the b-file is the clearest

explanation of why White's game is preferable. Note that
on 7 0-0 White doesn't play 8 B x b7? (8 B x b 7 9 R x b 7,
•.• ...
Qd5), but 8 R x b7!. And the passive 7 c6 is hardly•••
appealing after 8 N f3, 0 - 0 9 0-0, Nd7 10 c4, e5 1 1 d3, Qc7

e .g., 12 B a3, Rd8 13 N g5!, N f8 14 c5, Ne6 15 Ne4 to exploit
d6.
The problem with 7 N c6 is that it doesn't solve the

•.•
problem of the b-pawn since Black must eventually move

the QB. After 8 Qa4, 0 · 0 9 N h3 , for example, White can
prepare a kingside attack with Qh 4 , B h6 , and N g5 while
keeping Black pressured on the Queenside.
7... N d7
8 N f3
Not 8 B x b7, B x b7 9 Rxb7 because the rook doesn't

escape after 10 ... Nb6.
Section I I I: Win ning Wit h 1 c4 S3
s... 0-0
9 0-0 e5
Alternatives are no better. For example, in an ear

lier Botvinnik-Smyslov match game (our main line 9... e5 is
the 16th game Botvinni k - S my slov, World C h ampionship
Match 1 95S) Black had played 9 ... RbS 10 c4, b6 1 1 d4, e5
1 2 B a3, ReS and equalized, but he shouldn't have after 13
e3. Black's queenside is still weak. Another idea is 9 Nb6 .•.
when 1 0 N d4 has been recommended in the past, offering

a pawn (J O ... Bxd4 1 1 cxd4, Qxd4 12 Bb2. An attractive al
ternative is 10 Ng5, which seems to be a misguided attempt
at kingside attack, but is actually a method of bringing
the knight to bear on the queenside via e4. For example
1 0 Qd7 1 1 Qb3, Qg4 12 Ne4 or 12 N f3 , as in the game R i
•..
b l i - Gutman, West Germany 19 S 7 which continued 12 N f3,

Be6 13 Qc2, Qc4 14 Ng5!, B g 4 1 5 B x b7!.
A2
(1 c4, N f6 2 N c3 , d5 3 cd, N x d5 4 g3, g6 5 Bg2)
s ... Nb6
Once again White can try to exploit the absence of

an enemy knight from the kingside by going directly for
mate: 6 d3, Bg7 7 Be3, 0 - 0 S Q c l!, ReS (else Bh 6 x g 7) 9 B h6,
B h 8 1 0 h4!?, N c6 11 h5, Nd4 12 N f3 , N x f3 c h 1 3 B x f3, c6
14 h x g6 and 15 Kfl! (Seiraw an- 1. Sokolov, Saraj evo 1987).

White's uncastled king frequently turns out to be safer
than Black's castled one in such positions.
But more in harmony with our overall English

strategy is a simpier procedure, as follows:
6 N f3 Bg7
7 0-0 0-0
8 d3 N c6
9 Be3 Nd4
Or 9...e5 1 0 a4, aS 1 1 B x b6!, cxb6 12 N d2, Be6 13

N c4 and 1 4 Qb3.
10 N x d4 B x d4
1 1 B x d4 Q x d4
12 Q c2 c6
As in Stolyar- Kiaman, U S S R C h ampionsh i p 1 957.

Black doesn't have the counterplay he usually enjoys
against the d-pawn in the normal Gruenfeld.
B
( 1 c4, N f6 2 N c3 )
2 ••. e6
Black is ready to enter an assortment of d-pawn

games after 3 d4 including the Benoni (3... c5), the Queen's
Gambit Declined (3 ... d5) or the Nimzo-Indian (3...Bb4).
These don't work so smoothly after 3 e4.
3 e4 c5
There is nothing good to say about 3 ••• Bb4 4 eS, Ng8

5 Qg4 .
And against 3 dS White should play 4 e5 with these

•..
possibilities:
a) 4 ... Ne4 5 Nf3, c5 6 Qc2 (an idea of Soviet Master
Bivshev) and now 6 ... Nxc3 7 bxc3, Nc6 8 Rb l, Qc7 9 d4 fa
vors White. This is clearer than the gambit line 5 Nxe4 and
6 Qg4.
b) 4 ... N fd7 5 cd, ed and here Schwarz suggests the

interesting 6 f4, c5 7 N f3 possibly followed by a kingside
fianchetto or by d4 as in the Steinitz Variation of the
French Defense.
However White would do better to liquidate rather

than maintain his pawn center. A good policy here (instead
of 5 cd) is 5 d4. And if 5...c5, then 6 cd, ed 7 Nf3, Nc6 8
Bb5! as in Smyslov- Farago, H astings 1976-77, which went
8...a6 9 Bxc6, bxc6 10 0-0, Be7 11 de, Nxc5 12 Nd4, Qb6?
13 Be3 and White won very quickly: 13...0-0 14 Rc1, Rd8
15 b4!, Ne4 16 Na4, Qb7 17 Nxc6. Resigns!
c) 4 d4 which is considered the most aggressive

•..
and best chance for equality; 5 exf6, dxc3 6 bxc3, Qxf6 7

d4 and now either 7 ...c5 8 Nf3, h6 (8...cd 9 Bg5, Qf5 10 cd,
Bb4ch 11 Bd2 is much better for White.) 9 Bd3, Nc6 10 0-0,
cd 11 cd, Nxd4 12 Nxd4, Qxd4 13 Rb1 with a very strong
attack, or 7 ...b6 8 Be2!, Bb7 9 Bf3, Bxf3 10 Nxf3, Bd6 11
Qa4ch and 12 Bg5. White is better in each case.
In recent years Black has tried to revive his play

with 7 ... eS. Then 8 Qe2?, B e 7 9 QxeS, QxeS 1 0 de, N c6 is
questionable for White (Chekhov - Z i c he i k, U S SR 1980), but
8 N f3! makes sense.
Then 8 N f3!, ed leads to a position that was tested

throughout the 1980s. A fairly recent example was V aiser
Smagin, Tallinn 1986 when White had a withering attack
with 9 BgS, Qe6ch 10 Be2, Be7 ( J O... d3? 1 1 0-0! or 1 0... f6 1 1
Nxd4, Qf7 1 2 Bf4 are also dangerous) 1 1 cd, B x gS 1 2 N x gS,
Qe7 13 Qd2, 0-0 14 0 -0, h 6 15 N f3, Rd8 16 B d3 and so on.
4 eS Ng8
S N f3 N c6
Now White is faced with the prospect of Black

playing d6 and developing pressure against White's back
...
ward d-pawn. The only optimistic line for White involves a

pawn sacrifice.
6 d4 cd
7 N x d4 N x eS
Section I I I: Win ning Wit h 1 c4 87
On 7 a6 White has a considerable edge after either

.••
8 N x c6 or 8 B f4. Black has lost too much time with his KN

to expect equality if he does not accept the pawn.
8 N dbS!?
This appears to be the best move and supercedes the

previously favored 8 B f4, Ng6 9 Bg3, eS!.
After 8 N dbS!? White threatens B f4 or N d 6 c h , in ei

ther case with good pressure on the black squares. After
8 a6 9 N d 6 c b , B x d6 10 Qxd6, for example, Black could
•..
quickly find his queenside under paralysis after 1 0 Ng6 .•.
11 Be3, Qe7 1 2 Qb6, Qd8 13 Qb4 followed by Ne4 or B cS.
After 8 d6 White continues with 9 B f4 and Qd2, or

•..
Ne4.
Better is 8 ... f6 (after 8 Ndb5) so that on 9 N d6ch,

B x d6 1 0 Q x d 6 Black can evict the queen with N f7. The
...
key game in this line is Liebert - Z lnn, East German C h am

pions h ip 1964 which went 8 f6 9 B f4, a6 (else 9 Bxe5 and
•.•
Qh5ch) 10 B x eS , axbS 1 1 Bg3, be 12 B x c4, dS 13 B d3, Bb4

1 4 QhScb, K f8 15 0·0, B x c3 16 b x c3, Ne7 1 7 c4 with play
for the pawn. White might also improve with 13 BbScb and
14 0 -0 or Qe2.
After our main line move 8 NdbS:

88 Section I l l: Wi nning With 1 c4
But perhaps the more accurate method of meeting

8 16 is 9 B e3!, to force a weakness at b6. After Black de
••.
fends his a-pawn with 9 ... a6, White continues 10 N d6cb,

B x d6 11 Qx d6, Ne7 12 Bb6, N f5 13 Qc5! with strong com
pensation on the weakened dark-squares.
Some examples:
(a) 13 . . Qe7 14 Qa5, h5 15 0-0-0, Kf7 16 c5, Nc8 (or
.
16 ... d5 17 cd, Nxd6 18 Bc5) 17 Qa3, Qe8 18 Ne4 as in

Miles-Gruenfeld, World Open 1989.
(b) 13 Qe7 14 Qa5, Nc6 15 Qa4, Qd6 16 c5, Qe5ch
...
17 Qe4! (since the endgame is excellent after 17 ... Qxe4 18

Nxe4, Nb4 19 0-0-0!), d5 18 cxd6, Nxd6 19 Qxe5, Nxe5 20
0-0-0 and 21 f4! as in Serper- Lutber, Arnbeim 1990.
(c) 13 . . d6 14 Qa5, Qe7 15 0-0-0, 0-0 16 f4, Nc6 17
.
Qa3, e5 18 g4! and 19 Nd5 as in Kasparov-S okolov, Bel fort

1988.
As shown here, the 8 N db5 variation has turned out

to be one of the most dangerous gambits in modern chess.
Section I l l: Win n i ng Wit h 1 c4 89
c
( 1 c4, N f6 2 N c3 )
3 N f3 dS
4 cd
With this transposition into the Slav Defense's ex

change variation, White maintains the very sure but rela
tively small impetus of symmetrical positions. As explained
in my book Winning With 1 d4, White enjoys a promising
middlegame after say 4 ... cd S d4, N c6 6 B f4, B fS 7 e3, e6 8
N eS! e.g., 8 ... N x eS 9 B x eS, a6 1 0 B x f6, gx f6 ( J O Qxf6 1 1
...
Qa4ch) 1 1 B d3, or 8 ... N d 7 9 N x c6, b x c6 1 0 B a6, Qb6 1 1

Qe2, cS 1 2 0-0!.
Or simply 10 B el, Be7 1 1 0-0, 0-0 12 R c l , cS 13
NbS, a6 1 4 N d6 as in Portisch - B e ly avsky, T llburg 1 9 8 1 .
The backwardness of the Black c-pawn can be eliminated
by c6-cS, but that usually means White will be the first
...
to have access to an open c-file. This variation beginning

with 8 NeS! appears strong and indicates that Black may
have to play for equality with the asymmetrical 6 ... e6.
White then enjoys the simpler placement of his pieces and
greater activity o f his QB.
90 Section I I I: Winning With 1 c4
D
( 1 c4, N f6 2 N c3)
2 ••• g6
So what if Black just plays a King's Indian De

fense? This trusted not-so-old weapon works well against
virtually any other opening sequence. Why not against 1
c4? Here is my recommendation for White against the
King's Indian Defense:
3 g3 Bg7
3 ... dS enters the lines beginning 1 c4, N f6 2 N c3, dS

3 cd, N x dS 4 g3, g6. And 3 cS enters the main line of 1
•••
c4, cS.
4 B g2 0·0
S e4!
Section I I I: Winning With 1 c4 91
This initiates a system beloved by Botvinnik. It

comprises Nge2, d3, 0 - 0 followed by either f4- f5 or a3 and
b4. White's choice of plans depends strongly on what Black
does in the center.
We now analyze these lines:

D1 5... c5 (or 5 . c6) ..
D2 5. e5 ..
Dl
(1 c4, N f6 2 N c3, g6 3 g3, Bg7 4 Bg2, 0 - 0 5 e4!)
If White's plan is to dominate the light squares,

what happens if Black tries to challenge him with c7- c6 .••
and d7 - d5 here? For example, 5 c6 6 N ge2 (6 eS is an er

••. ..•
ror that leaves the e-pawn over-extended after 6.. Ne8), d5 .
7 cd, cd 8 N x d5, N x d5 9 e x d5 gives White an extra pawn

but offers Black compensation if he is allowed to play
B f5 and N a6 - b4.
••• ...
But 9 Na6 10 d4, B f5 1 1 Qb3! should hold the

••.
pawn and deprive Black of adequate counterchances, e.g.,

1 1. Rc8 12 0-0 (better than 12 Qxb 7, Bd3!) Q d7 13 B e3,
•.
B c2 1 4 Qa3 and 15 R f c l as in Ribli- Nunn, R e y kj avik 1 988.
5 •.. c5
92 Section I I I: Winning Wi th 1 c4
Black can also avoid an immediate decision with

S ... d6. However it will transpose into this main line or into
•.•eS lines at a subsequent point.
6 N ge2 N c6
7 0-0 d6
Taimanov won his first game with Smyslov after

many losses with 7 a6. Their game from the 1961 USSR
•.•
Championship went 8 R b 1 , Rb8 9 a3, bS 1 0 cb, ab 11 b4, cb

12 ab, eS 13 d3, d6 and White could make little out of his
first move advantage. He played 14 h3, B e6 1 S N dS, Ne7
1 6 N x e7ch, Qxe7 1 7 f4, ef and now should have played 1 8
gf.
8 a3
White's play after cS involves b4 rather than f4.

.•.
On 8 d3, Ne8 9 h3, N c7 10 f4, for example, White has

nothing to speak of after 10 fS 1 1 Be3, N d 4 12 Qd2, Rb8
••.
13 R a e 1 , e6 since Black is quite safe on the kingside and is

ready to play bS on the queenside.
•••
8 ... Ne8
8 ... aS 9 Rb1, B d 7 10 d3, Rb8 is a good try at equal

ity for Black although 1 1 NbS! and N e c3 may gi v e White a
pull. The same line could be entered with 8 B d 7 9 R b 1 ,
•••
a S . Another line is S a S 9 Rb1, Bg4 10 f3, B d 7 1 1 d 3 , N e 8

•.•
1 2 B e 3 , N c 7 and here 13 N h 4 seems indi cated.
9 Rb1 aS
Black cannot allow b 4 with impunity: 9 Rb8 1 0 b4,

•••
b6 11 d3, B d7 12 Be3, N d4 13 h3, Nc7 14 Kh2, B c6 1S Qd2,

ReS is Taimanov - N aj dorf 19S6, after which 16 bS!, B b7 17
a4, e6 18 B h 6 , B h8 19 N x d4, cxd4 2 0 N a2, aS 2 l f4 led to
advantage for White. Or 9 N c7 10 b4, Ne6 (JO. . . Rb8 1 1 b5,
•••
Nd4 1 2 d3, Nce6 13 f4 also favors White) 1 1 d3, Ned4 12

Section I I I: Wi nning Wit h 1 c4 93
N x d4, N x d4 13 N e2, b6 14 N x d4, B x d4 15 B b2, B x b2 1 6

Rxb2, e5 17 f4 as i n Stolyar- Z ilber, U S S R 1957.
Once White gets b4 in, he has the initiative on the

only side of the board that is open enough for major activ
ity.
1 0 d3 N c7
1 1 Be3
White maintains a slight edge with this move be

cause of the positional threat of N a4.
Now on l l ... N d4 White continues queenside opera

tions with 12 b4, ab 13 ab. Then if Black safeguards the
file with 13 ... b6 as in Evans- Fischer, U .S. C h ampionsh ip
1 967, White retains the superior chances with the simple 1 4
Qd2.
02
(1 c4, N f6 2 N c3, g6 3 g3, Bg7 4 B g2, 0 - 0 5 e4!)
5 ... e5
Going into a King's Indian set-up, but this i s where

White's f4- f5 plan works most effectively.
6 N ge2 d6
94 Section I I I: Wi n n i ng Wit h 1 c4
7 0·0 Nbd7
Other moves also favor White. For example, 7 ... Be6

8 d3, Qc8 9 f4, B h3 10 fS!, B xg2 11 K x g2 and White has
gotten rid of his only questionable piece, the KB. In the
game Oj anen- Liflaender, Finnish C h ampionsh ip 1 9SS,
Black tried 7 N c6. But now White was able to get in 8 f4
•.•
before Black got a chance to play Ne8 and . rs himself.

•.• ..
There followed 8 ... Nd4 9 d3, cS 10 fS!, Ne8 (JO . gf 1 1 Bg5!)

. .
11 g4, gS (otherwise Ng3 and g5 and f6) 12 N dS, f6 13

N x d4, exd4 1 4 b4, N c7 I S N x e7, Q x e7 16 be, de 1 7 h 4 with
a strong attack.
White's ability to play on the kingside with f2 - f4,

and on the queenside with b2-b4, makes this a particularly
flexible system.
Suppose for example, White had played a slightly

different order of move: S e4, eS 6 d3, d6 7 N ge2, N e6 8 0·
0 leaving a tempo behind in the race for f4- fS. He could
also play on the queenside where Black has hopes of a7· •••
a6 and . b7-bS.
..
Typical play then would be 8 ... a6 9 Rbl, Rb8 1 0

NdS, Nd7 1 1 f4 and now S a n Segundo-Lputian, N e w Y ork
1 9 9 0 saw White upset a strong Soviet grandmaster after
l l . .. Ne7 12 Be3, e6 13 N x e 7eh, Qxe7 14 fS!, bS IS g4, h6 1 6
Qd2 , N f6 17 B f3, gx fS 18 gx fS, K h 7 19 Kh l with a grow
ing positional superiority.
8 d3
White can also play the immediate 8 f4, although

Black obtains counterplay from 8 ... e6 9 h3, bS 10 d3,
Qb6eh. The instructive game Seiraw an-Sigurj onsso n, Wij k
aan Zee 1980 continued 1 1 K h l , B b 7 12 g4!, e f 13 B x f4,
R fe8 14 eb!, eb IS N g3 and White was secure on the queen
side and threatening on the kingside ( 1 5 ... Nc5 1 6 Be3, b4 1 7
Nce2, Qb5 1 8 Bd4, Nfd 7 1 9 Bxg 7 and 20 Nf4, etc.)
8 ... N c5
9 f4 c6
10 b3 Ne6
11 r5 Nd4
12 g4
So far as in B otvinnlk-Tscherb a kov, U S S R C h ampi

ons h ip 1955. After ll .. Ne8 13 Be3, a6 14 Qd2 Black didn't
.
last past move 30.

96 Section I V: Winning Wit h 1 c4
SECTION I V
Other Ideas Against 1 c4

Section I V: Winning Wit h 1 c4 97
SECT I O N IV
Other Ideas Against 1 c4
We analyze:
A 1 c4, c6
8 1 c4, e6
c 1 c4 , rs
D 1 c4, g6
E 1 c4, N c6
F 1 c4, b6
G 1 c4, dS
1 c4 c6
Although White has his choice here between the

Reti Opening (after 2 Nf3, d5 3 g3) or the Caro- Kann D e
fense (2 e4, dS 3 ed, cd 4 d4) , we prefer a transposition
into the exchange variation of the Slav Defense (2 Nc3, dS
3 cd, cd 4 d4). The reader is referred to the Slav chapter
of my Winning With 1 d4. Also we covered this Slav ex
change in the previous section (Section III C).
98 Section I V: Winning Wi t h 1 c4
B
1 c4 e6
This is also long on transpositional ideas. White's

best line for the sake of simplicity is 2 N c3 and then:
a) 2 d5 3 d4 followed by the Exchange Variation

•••
cd as outlined in my Winning With 1 d4.
b) 2 N f6 transposes into III B.

•••
c) 2 ... f5 enters I V C.
d) 2 cS 3 Nf3 either transposes into III B after

••.
3... N f6 or a Tarrasch Defense to the Queen's Gambit after

3...d5.
e) 2 Bb4 3 Qb3! so that on 3...c5 White can play 4

..•
Nb5 followed by an unpleasant Nd6ch. If 4 ...d6, 5 Qg3!.

This 2 ...e6 usually transposes into a variation already con
sidered in III B.
Section I V : Winning Wit h 1 c4 99
c
1 c4 rs
If the reader is inte rested in a thoroughly English

system against the Dutch Defense, we advise:
2 N f3 N f6
3 g3 e6
For 3 g6 White can choose one of the systems sug

. . .
gested in Winning With 1 d4.
4 B g2 Be7
s 0-0 0-0
6 d3
And now Black has the usual choice between mov

ing his d-pawn one box or two:
a) 6 dS 7 b3, c5 ( 7 c6 8 Ba3! eliminates Black' s
... ...
better bishop) 8 cd, ed 9 Bb2, Nc6 10 d4!, b6 11 de, be 12

Nc3 (Pirc-Tolush, 1 9 5 7 ) White's play against the weak
center is nearly devastating already.
b) 6 d6 7 Nc3, e5 8 Ne1!, c6 9 f4, Be6 10 Nf3, Ng4
...
11 e3, Nd7 12 h3, Nh6 13 Qe2 as proposed by Schwarz.

White can also play b4-b5.
1 00 Section I V: Winning Wit h 1 c4
D
1 c4 g6
2 N c3 Bg7
3 g3
Now 3 ... N f6 will revert to III D and 3 ... c5 may

return to II's main line. On 3 ... e5 Black has played into a
major variation, but one which we've been able to avoid
through the normal channels. Here again White returns to
familiar lines with 4 d4!.
E
1 c4 Nc6
Section I V: Wl nnln1 Wit h 1 c4 101
Now 2 N c3, e 5 3 N f3 is l's main line and 2 g 6 3 d4

...
is an inferior Indian system.
1 c4 b6
Twenty years ago, the answer l. b6 wasn't consid

..
ered respectable enough to deserve any attention whatso

ever in opening manuals. But in the late 1970s, Black ob
tained promising positions after the move (and the related
move order 1 d4, e6 2 c4, b 6) when White overreached.
2 Nc3 Bb7
3 e4!
It is important to blunt Black's bishop's diagonal.
3 ... e6
Here White has considerable choice. He can play the

position like a Queen's Indian Defense with 4 d4 (thereby
allowing 4... Bb4!). Or he can keep his options open with 4
N f3 (with the idea of 4...Bb4 5 Qb3, B x c3 ?! 6 Qxc3, B x e4? 7
Qxg 7) .
102 Section I V: Winning Wit h 1 c4
One recent idea is 4 b3, which appeared in Ljubo·

je vic-Mlles, B ugojno 1986. Black answered with the
provocative 4 ... N f6 and the re followed 5 e5, N e4 6 N xe4,
B x e4 7 Bbl with White enjoying the better chances.
G
1 c4 d5
l cd
And now Black can try a gambit with 2 ... N f6 3 e4,

c6 (3. . Nxe4? 4 Qa4ch) but White might just as well play 3
.
N c3 to enter III A. Anothe r answer is 2 ... Q x d5, but White

ends up with an improved ve rsion of the Center Counte r
game afte r 3 N c3. Schwarz mentions a game C arls - Helling
1933, which went 3 Q h 5 4 d4, e5 5 de, N c6 6 B f4, Bb4 7
.••
e3, Qg6 (7. .Bg4 8 Be2) 8 N f3, Nge7 9 B d3! and White had a
.
tremendous game.
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WINNING

Chess Digest, Inc.

All rights reserved under Pan American and Inter­

This is a revised and expanded edition of White

Author: Andrew Soltis

SECTION IV Other Ideas A gainst 1 c4 96

The English Opening has come a long way in a

Today, in the 1990's, all classes and styles of play­

This White opening repertoire (using the English

Basically the English Opening involves two areas of

First consider this relatively ancient example of

White threatens Rxb7 and dS. He already has a very

Now with the center closed, White works on the

A particularly poignant example of this strategy's

1 N f3, N f6 2 c4 (transposing back into English pat­

White has a grossly won ending if Queens are ex­

resigned shortly after losing the piece (threat of taking the

These two examples, one from the 1930s, the other

The first theme is the traditional English Opening

A recently popular move order. More common is 2

pose into our system.

This was once thought to be Black's easiest road to

Now is the time for the horse's entrance. Black must

The former because it strengthens White's center and the

Black plays the position as if it were a colors-re­

This begins the queenside initiative that lasts for

Black could hold up the queenside expansion with

situation of the D ragon. But that would weaken b6 and b5,

Black has several ways of getting counterplay, most

can play for a pawn advance in the center with f7- f5

and perhaps . e5-e4!?.

But here Black prepares another thematic idea, the

White's lOth move has taken away the possibility of an

Both sides have good outpost squares for their

0 ften the most difficult moves Black has to make

a5 to restrain White's b-pawn. Here he uses his b-pawn to

A more natural plan is 13 N d4, or with the added

moves 13 a5, 14 b5, N d4. (Black must advance the knight

in these situations, since a retreat such as 1 4.... Nd8? aban­

After 13 aS 14 b5, Nd4, White would most likely

continue 15 Nxd4, exd4 1 6 Bb2 followed by organizing an

This keeps the other rook available for duty at d1

This positionally desirable mov e is based on tactical

Now White cannot take the pawn 17 Nxd4 without

This exploits the c6 hole that Black surrendered at

N x d4, e x d 4 1 7 Qc6, Qx c6! 18 R x c6, Black would solve

There was no convenient way of dealing with the

Now 1 9 Rc2? allows 19 cS! followed perhaps by

The point. White sacrifices the Exchange for a

Black would have preferred moves such as 20 K f7, •..

Also good was 22 N cS!, bx cS 23 B x dS c h , although

Time to take stock: White has added a second pawn

The queenside pawns can't seem to find any squares

Note how the path is being cleared for the bishop

Black is desperate for some operating room for his

initiativ e by bringing his king to the center (30 Kf1, f4 3 1

White owns the c-file (32 ... Rce8?? 33 Ne7ch). He now

If Black bothers the b-pawn (35...Ra4) , White forges

Here come the pawns.

Semi-desperate. On 3 S N d7 White w1ns routinely

White also wins with 4 1 B e4 , R x f6 42 R eSch , Kh7

No better was 43 ... KhS because then White's unob­

Quite a different face is shown by the middlegames

All rights reserved under Pan American and Inter

Today, in the 1990's, all classes and styles of play

1 N f3, N f6 2 c4 (transposing back into English pat

White has a grossly won ending if Queens are ex

Black plays the position as if it were a colors-re

in these situations, since a retreat such as 1 4.... Nd8? aban

No better was 43 ... KhS because then White's unob

A similar story is told in our main 1 c4, cS line: af

This game actually came about from a different or

Hurrying back to the kingside that the knight de

The possibility of Qg7 mate now becomes a recur

A semi-desperate reaction to the threat of slow an

Some more cute tricks: On 3 0 Rd8 White has a sur

was fighting for equality because of the natural advan

The White N-move to gS is playable here (as op

Here is one of those cases in which d:xc3 is also rea

tion S d x c3, ReS 9 f3, d6! (9... e3 eventually loses the e

Little attention bad been paid to 9 e 3 - - until Ana

That may be the best policy, as the game Soffer

As good as 1 1 cd is, Kasparov found a strong alter