Colle System Complet

The Dogs of War Practical Play in The Colle System Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition

Terese Hatch David W. Hatch

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Pawn Promotions p.o. Box 354 Raritan, NJ 08869

Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition, November, 2005 Find us on the World Wide Web at http://www.pawnpromotions.org Game files built using ChessBase 9™ Diagrams created using ChessBase 9™ Games analyzed with the aid of Fritz 8 Champion Edition Typesetting in Adobe InDesign™ Cover Photo by Terese Hatch Cover Design and Layout by David W. Hatch and Terese Hatch First Printing February 1995 Second Printing November 2005 The authors gratefully acknowledge the following players who contributed to the analysis of their own games : Peter Cavaliere Gary Gifford John Mingos Robert Salgado

Newton Berry Daniel Breen Tom Klem Valery Segal

This book is dedicated to all the faithful Colle System players who responded to our plea by sending us the games contained in this book. Copyright © 1 995, 2005 by David W. Hatch and Terese Hatch All Rights Reserved ISBN: 0-9773 1 86-0-5 Printed in U.S.A. by Instantpublisher.com

CONTENTS Introduction

5

Opening Theory in Action

7

Cry, Havoc!

11

Stairway to Heaven

37

The Game is Afoot!

57

White Attacks! Black Repels!!

91

The Intelligent Perusal of Fine Games

115

Oh-Oh!? Oh �o?! Oops??

133

A Bust to the Colle?

153

Edgar Colle and Friends

163

The Rank and File

175

Symbols

177

Players Index

178

5

Introduction

For this 2005 edition of The Dogs of War, as in the 1 995 edition, we invited players who play the Colle System, have ever played the Colle System or have played against the Colle System to contribute their games to the making of this book. Their contribution has given The Dogs of War its authentic flavor. The unique quality of this book is that the maj ority of the games contained here cannot be found anywhere else (i.e. books, periodicals, CD-ROM's, databases, the Internet). This book is a vehicle for us to display the mainline Koltanowski and Zukertort Variations of the Colle System, as well as other lines and sub-variations that can arise out of the Colle System (the Stonewall, London, Queen's Gambit, Trompowsky, Torre). Within these maj or lines and sub-lines can be found original, diverse and unusual ideas for attack and defense in the opening and both subtle and profound concepts for positional strategy and endgame play. This book is not intended to be a treatise on theory or a how-to-play-the-opening book, but rather a practical study of Colle System games played at all levels. The purpose of this book is to showcase the Colle System in practical play, to pique your curiosity about this opening system and to motivate, challenge and inspire you to give this resourceful system a try.

Practical Plqy in The Colle �stem

7

Opening Theory in Action

The Colle System answers virtually every chess player 's number one question: "What opening should I play?" Indeed, how does the average chess player decide upon an opening repertoire? This decision is made even more difficult due to the mind-boggling array of openings, variations and subvariations from which to choose and the intensive work that must go into studying and mastering enough of them to be competitive. If you survive the opening and make it to the middlegame you then must formulate a plan to creatively continue the game. Add to this the absolute duty to learn all the maneuvers and calculations required for the exact science known as the endgame. In the meantime your opponent compounds your dilemma with a myriad of defenses designed to confound and thwart your every move. Quite a conundrum. Our solution is to play the Colle System ! If there ever was an opening that epitomizes the concept of understanding principles rather than memorizing variations, the Colle System is it. Johannes Zukertort originated the system over a century ago. It was forged by Edgar Colle in the 1 920's and 1 93 0 's and further developed by George Koltanowski. The great correspondence player, C.J. S . Purdy had this to say about the Colle System: "A player who specializes in the Colle System needs to spend only about a tenth of the time studying the openings (for White) that he would otherwise have to. The Colle is the safest of all opening systems for White, and yet it is designed for kingside attack and therefore seldom leads to dull games." Nevertheless, you may have heard that the Colle System has a reputation for being innocuous and dogmatic. Our premise, however, is that the opening moves, albeit unvarying for the most part, systematically construct a solid pawn formation and precisely place the pieces in the best possible position to launch a kingside attack. It is our opinion that this opening system is a powerful display of versatility and persistence in a game that requires patience, intellect, intuition and a comprehensive understanding of profound concepts. The Colle System has a sound opening strategy, the potential for exciting middlegame tactics, and the opportunity for an endgame advantage. It is a simple and straightforward opening system to learn. It has the flexibility to challenge anything your opponent may use to defend against it, and it offers clear themes of play. The basic soundness of its themes and strategies cannot be questioned. After familiarizing yourself with the

8

THE D OGS OF WAR

Colle System, you will soon discover that even against the most capable of opponents, the Colle System will not fail to excite and challenge players on both sides of the chessboard. The worth of any opening system can only be judged in terms of its practical consequences. Results are the best test of the validity of any opening system. It is no surprise that the contributors to this book range in rating from Class E to Master. By experiencing the games at such varying degrees of skill, the versatility of the opening can truly be appreciated. We know that chess is a very complex game and that chessplayers make mistakes. In the words of Tartakower, "The winner of the game is the person who makes the next-to-Iast mistake." While we concede that some of these games are flawed, they are, nonetheless, examples of good fighting chess. The games have value because they show opening theory in action. Original moves and home-grown ideas have been hatched here and this is possibly the first time they have appeared in book form. We collected these games from club, correspondence and tournament players and that is what makes this book unique. Chess games are not necessarily won or lost in the opening alone, and when all is said and done, it is good moves that win chess games. The games selected here are examples of practical play in the Colle System. They contain all the elements of fundamental chess : attack, defense, equalization, counterattack, positional maneuvering, thematic sacrifices, solid pawn formations, tactical combinations and strategic plans. The classic setup of the opening moves of the Colle System comprises a geometric pattern of the pieces in the best possible combinative, tactical, strategic and positional sense. Thematic concepts for White: •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

The e3 -e4-e5 pawn break to open up lines Enforcing the pawn break with Bd3 , Nf3 and Nbd2 The thematic kingside assault highlighted by the bishop sacrifice on h7 b3 and Bb2 (Zukertort Variation) The rook lift from d l -d3-h3 ; or Rfl -f3-g3 or h3 ; or Rfl -e l The knight outpost on e5 or g5 Queenside pawn maj ority in the endgame Exploiting the f7 square after the f8 rook moves away Queen to h5

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

9

Thematic concepts for Black: •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Queenside castling Queenside fianchetto to attack the center before White has a chance to consolidate Saddle White with an isolated queen pawn An early . . . e5 . . . cS and . . . c4 to stake a claim in the center . . . BfS to challenge the White Bd3 . . . Bg4 to harass and pin White's important knight on f3 A King's Indian Defense formation foregoing . . . dS in favor of . . . g6 and . . . d6

Most chess books rely heavily on Grandmaster games for instruction, and most Grandmaster games are beyond reproach in their originality, execution and instructional value. Important lessons can be learned by studying them. Therefore, we have included many Grandmaster games for your enjoyment and edification. Here is a foretaste from four-time Women's World Champion Zsuzsa Polgar, a very strong proponent of the Colle System. Her game against Leonid Yudasin is an outstanding example of play at the Grandmaster level. Polgar, Zsuzsa - Yudasin, Leonid Munich, 1 9 9 1 1 . d 4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3 e 3 cS 4.Bd3 N c 6 S.O-O dS 6.b3 B d 6 7.Bb2 0-0 S.a3 Qc7 9.c4 cxd4 1 0.exd4 eS 1 l .dxeS NxeS 1 2 .NxeS BxeS 1 3 .BxeS QxeS 1 4.Nd2 Bg4 l S.Re1 Qd6 1 6.Qc2 RacS 1 7.h3 BhS l S.BfS Rc7 1 9.Qd3 RdS 20.Qd4 b6 2 1 .ReS Re7 22.f4 Qc7 23.Rae1 RxeS 24.fxeS dxc4 2S.exf6 gxf6 26.Qxf6 c3 27.Ne4 c2 2S.Qh6 Bg6

28 . . . QcS+ doesn't do any good 29.NxcS Bg6 30.Bxg6 hxg6 3 1 .Ne4 f6 32.Nxf6+ Kf7 3 3 . Qh7+ Kxf6 34.Qe7+ KfS 3 S . QeS#. 29.Nf6+ KhS 3 0.NeS 1-0

30 . . . QcS+ 3 1 .Kh I Qg I + 32.Kxg l c l Q 3 3 . Qg7#. Our personal favorite is this Carsten Hoi upset win against U. S . Champion Boris Gulko. That this game is included i n s o many books on the Colle System is no surprise. Hoi, Carsten - Gulko, Boris Thessaloniki, 1 9 S 5 1 .d4 e 6 2.Nf3 cS 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 b6 S . O-O B b 7 6.Nbd2 cxd4 7.exd4 Be7 S.Re 1 0-0 9.c3 d6 1 0.Qe2 ReS 1 l .Nfl Nbd7 1 2.Ng3 Bf8 13.BgS h6 14.Bd2 Qc7 l S .Bc2 BdS 1 6.b3 Qb7 1 7.Nh4 bS 1 S.Qd3

10

THE DOGS OF WAR

gS 1 9.Nf3 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Bg7 2 1 .h4 gxh4 22.Ne4 Qc6 23.Kh 1 NhS 24.Rg1 KhS 2S.Rxg7 Kxg7 26.Bxh6+ Kxh6 27.Rg1 fS 2S.Qe3+ f4 29.Nxd6 Qxd6 30.Qd3 NfS 3 1 .Qh7+ 1-0

This selection of games from Edgar Colle epitomizes the essential qualities of the Colle System. Colle - Schubert Scarborough, 1 92 5 l .d4 d S 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e 6 4.Bd3 c S S.c3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 cxd4 7.exd4 Bd6 S.O-O 0-0 9.Re 1 Qc7 1 0.Qe2 ReS 1 l .NeS NfS 1 2 .Ndf3 N6d7 1 3 .NgS f6 14.QhS g6 l S.Nxg6 fxgS 1 6.NxfS Nf6 1 7.QxgS+ Qg7 l S.Nxh7 1-O Colle - Aguilera Barcelona, 1 9 2 5 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 a6 S.Nbd2 B d 6 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.e4 dxe4 S.Nxe4 0-0 9.BgS Be7 1 0.Qe2 NdS 1 l .c4 Nb4 1 2 .Bb 1 BxgS 13 .NfxgS h6 1 4.f4 hxgS l S.fxgS fS 1 6.QhS fxe4 1 7.Bxe4 Nf6 l S.gxf6 Qxd4+ 1 9.Kh 1 Qxe4 20.ti+ Rxti 2 1 .Qxti+ KhS 22.Rf4 1-0 Colle, Edgar - Q'Hanlon, John Nice, 1 930 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 cS 4.c3 e6 S.Bd3 Bd6 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.0-0 0o S.Re1 ReS 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Bxe4 cxd4 1 2.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.NgS+ Kg6 1 4.h4 RhS l S.Rxe6+ Nf6 1 6.hS+ Kh6 1 7.Rxd6 QaS l S.Nxti+ Kh7 19.NgS+ KgS 20.Qb3+ 1-0

Our purpose in writing this book is to share our excitement over the games we received and to invite you to play them over. For it is only when a game of chess is played and replayed and studied and restudied, that its full value can truly be realized. In the words of Mikhail Botvinnik, "Chess is first of all a game, but if anyone succeeds in producing a game which keeps on living and is played over and over again for many years, chess becomes an art." In chess, the possibilities are infinite.

Practical PI'!Y in The Colle System

11

Cry, Havocl

"Cry, ' Havoc ! ' and let slip the dogs of war." - SHAKESPEARE, Julius Caesar, 11/, 1

Through the games in this first chapter, it is our intention to champion the Colle System by telling its story in a way that is more persuasive than its critics ' attack on it.

THE DOGS OF WAR

12

Klem, Tom ( 1 7 1 4) - Metz, Francisco (NM)

ACA Millenium Tourney, 2001 Annotations by Tom Klem l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 g6

A common defense against the Colle. Many "anti-Colle" theorists advocate this setup as it blunts the influence of the Bd3 maneuver so familiar in the Colle System. 4.Bd3

White continues to develop and stick to the plan. 4 ... cS

Black threatens to drive the light squared bishop off its intended target on e4. S.c3

Makes room for the bishop to remain on the b l -h7 diagonal. S

c4

•••

Releasing the tension in the center, perhaps prematurely. 6.Bc2 BfS

Here is an opportunity for White to stray from the plan. 7.Nbd2

White does not take the bait, but continues his development. 7

Qc8 8.0-0 hS 9.Rel Ne4 1 0.Nh4 e6

..•

Black has gone to great lengths to put his pieces and pawns on light colored squares. This does limit the scope of White's king bishop, but at the cost of falling behind in development. 11.13

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

13

Il.Nxf5 gxf5 12.£3 Nxd2 13 .Bxd2 deserves consideration. 1l ... Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Bxc2 13.Qxc2 g5

The knight is lost. 14.Ng6!?

White intuitively turns the lost piece into a sacrifice, exploiting Black's undeveloped queenside and hoping to break open the position. 14 ... fxg6 15.Qxg6+

Suddenly, White's queen jumps into the fray, making the most of the sacrifice. 15 ... Kd7 16.e4

Finally making the e4 push and breaking open the game with force. 16... Bd6?

Black is still developing his pieces when he should be worrying about the safety of his king.

Better is 16 . . .dxe4 17.Rxe4 Qe8 18.Qxg5 Kc8 but Black cannot be happy with this position either. 17.exd5 exd5 18.Re6 Qf8 19.Rxd6+! 1-0

If 1 9 . . . Qxd6 then 20.Qg7+ Kc6 21.Qxh8. Gertler, David (2375) - Roll, Craig (22 1 5)

NJ FIDE Masters Invitational, 1 988 l .Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g 6 3 .Nbd2 d 5 4.e3 N b d 7 5.Bd3 Bg7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re l c5 8.c3 b6 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Bb7 1 l .Bg5 cxd4 1 2 .Nxd4

In the Colle System, White strives to control the center by first occupying it with pawns and then occupying and controlling it with pieces. In this

THE D OGS O F WAR

14

game Black counterattacks the center from a distance with fianchettoed bishops. A good example of classical vs. hypermodern theory. 12 ... h6 1 3.Bh4 Nxe4 1 4.Bxe4 Bxe4 1 5.Rxe4 Bf6? 1 6.Nc6 Qc7 1 7.Nxe7+ Bxe7 1 8.Rxe7 Rad8 1 9.Qd2

19

..•

g5? !

1 9 . . . Rfe8 20.Qxh6 Rxe7 2 1 .Bxe7 and although Black is down two pawns, his king is still relatively well shielded by his kings ide pawns. 20.Bxg5 ! Qc5

20 . . . hxg5 2 1 .Qxg5+ Kh8 22.Re3 and White will soon mate. 2 1 .Bh4 Qh5 22.Qf4 Ne5

Right piece, wrong square. 22 . . . Nc5 threatens 23 . . . Rd l + 24.Re l Rxe l + 25.Rxe l Nd3 26.Qg3+ Qg6 and Black is still in the game. 23 .Rxe5 Rd l + 24.Re l 1-0

McKeen, Tim (1850) - Burgwin, Doug (1751)

World Open Hex, 2004 l.d4 Nf6 2.NO e6 3.Nbd2 d5 4.e3 c6 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.0--0 Nbd7 7.e4

White is able to get in this pawn advance sooner than usual because Black has not contested the center with ... c5 . 7...dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 Nf6 10.Bd3 0--0 1l. B g5 Qc7 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qe2 Kh8 14.Rfel Rg8 15.g3

1 5 .g3 is risky but does serve a practical purpose in that it blunts the potential attack on the b8-h2 diagonal and the g-file. White could also have accomplished this by playing 1 5 .Qe4 f5 1 6.Qh4 without creating weak squares in front of his king.

Practical PIt[Y in The Colle �stem

15

15...c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Qe4 Rg7 18.Re2 Bd7 19.Qc4

White's last few moves are too passive and yield the advantage over to Black. 19.Qh4 should be played in order to defend the weak squares on the kingside and to quash the ensuing combination. 19...Rxg3+ 20.hxg3 Qxg3+ 21.Kf1 Qxf3

22.Qe4?

With this move White defends against mate on hI while threatening mate himself on h7. However, 22.Qh4 f5 23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kf8 25.Qh6+ Ke8 26.Qxh7 or 22.Be4 Qh5 2 3 . Rd2 allows White to parry the mate threat and gives White equal chances for counterplay. 22

.•.

Qh3+ 23 .Qg2 Qxg2+

The exchange of queens diminishes Black's attacking chances. With 23 . . . Qh5 ! ? 24.Qxb7 Rg8 2 5 . Ke l Black maintains his kingside attack and wins back the exchange. 24.Kxg2 Rg8+ 25.Kf1 f5 2 6.Rd l Bc6

The Black bishops are ideally positioned to support the advance of the passed h-pawn, but Black pushes the f-pawn instead. 27.Red2 f4 28.Re l Bg2+ 29.Ke2 f3+ 3 0.Kd l h5?

THE DOGS OF WAR

16

Black waited too long to play this move. 3 1 .ReS Bd6 32.RxhS+ Kg7 33 .RgS+

After a series of Black inaccuracies, White is able to go on the attack. 33

••.

KfB 34.Rxg8+ Kxg8 3S.Bh7+ !

The exchange of bishops clarifies White 's material advantage and seals the win. 3S Kxh7 36.Rxd6 Kg6 37.Rd7 a6 38.Rxb7 Bft 39.Kd2 fS 40.Ke3 Be2 4 1 .Rb6 Kf6 42.Kf4 as 43.b3 a4 44.bxa4 Bc4 4S.Kxf3 Bxa2 46.Ke3 KeS 47.f4+ KdS 48.Rb4 KcS 49.c3 BdS SO.aS Kd6 S 1 .Kd4 1-0 •..

Stoyko, Steve (2270) - Colure, Sean (233S)

NJ FM Quest, 1986 One of the strengths of the Colle System is the way in which it lends itself to a wide range of transpositional opportunities that can spring from its foundational moves. One such variation is the Stonewall Attack, distinguished by its dark squared pawn complex. This very fine game combines everything thematic in the Colle and the Stonewall. l.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 dS 4.Nbd2 Be7 S.Bd3 b6 6.0-0 Bb7 7.NeS 0-0 S.f4 Nbd7 9.Qf3 cS 10.c3 Qc7 1l.g4 RadS 12.gS

Practical Plqy in The CoJle �stem

17

The straightforward nature of White's Stonewall Attack is brilliant in its simplicity. All the attacking vectors for White point to the Black king. 12...NxeS 13.fxeS Ne4 14.Nxe4 dxe4 1S.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.Qxe4 BxgS

Black could not allow White's aggression to stand. The mass exchange of minor pieces leaves the position dynamically equal. 17.M Qd7 18.Bd2 c4

Black makes a fateful decision to push his queenside pawns thereby relieving all of the pressure on d4. 1 8 ... f5 ! ? 1 9.Qg2 Bh6 would maintain the tension in the center while placing the Black pieces in a better defensive formation. 1 9.Rafl bS

1 9 . . . f5 20.exf6 Rxf6 2 1 .Rxf6 Bxf6 22.Be 1 and the position is equal. 20.Kh l as

Foregoing another opportunity to defend with 20 . . . f5 ! ? 2 1 .exf6 Rxf6. 2 1 .Qg4 Qb7+?

The check is ineffective. White 's obvious defense is a move he probably wanted to play anyway - and now he can play it with tempo ! 22.Rg2 h6? 23.e4

This pawn advance unleashes the bishop and unpins the rook. 23 ... f6

White executes a beautiful combination that simplifies the position into a winning rook and pawn ending. 24.exf6 Rxf6 2S.Rxf6 Bxf6 26.Qxe6+ Qt7 27.QfS KfB 28.Rfl Qd7 29.Bxh6 ! QxfS 30.RxfS Re8 3 1 .Rxf6+ Ke7 32 .Bxg7 b4 33 .RfB RxfB 34.BxfB+ KxfB 3S.a3 ! 1-0

Dashing any hope Black might have had to sneak . . . a4 and . . . a3 by White, thereby queening first.

THE D OGS OF WAR

18

Leighton, George (2024) - Kaushansky, L. (2439)

Chicago Open, 1982 l .d4 dS 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Bd3 eS 4.e3 Ne6 S.f4 Bg4 6.Nf3 e4 7.Be2 Ne4 8.0-0 fS 9.Qel e6 1 0.NeS NxeS 1 l .fxeS Be7 1 2 .Ba4+ Kf8 1 3 .Nd2 Bh4 1 4.g3 BgS I S .Kg2 Kg8 1 6.Nxe4 fxe4 1 7.Bdl BfS 1 8.h4 Be7 1 9.hS h6 20.g4 Bh4 2 1 .Qe2 QgS 22.Kh l Bh7 23.b3 exb3 24.axb3

The pawns have so congested the center of the board that White 's bishops have little scope, and Black's bishops can do no better than to huddle along the side of the board.

24 ... g6 2S.Ba3

2 5 . Qb5 ! ? would apply immediate pressure after 25 . . . Qe7 26.Ba3 . 2S

.•.

Kg7 26.Rf6 Rae8 ?

Right square, wrong rook. 27.QbS Rhf8 28.Bxf8+ Rxf8 29.Qd7+ 1-0

It's mate after 29 . . . Kg8 30.Qxe6+ Kg7 31.Qe7+ Kh8 32.Rxf8+ Bg8 3 3 .Qe6 gxh5 34.Rxa7 Qg7 3 5 .Rxg8+ Qxg8 36.Qxh6+ Qh7 37.Ra8+ Bd8 3 8 .Rxd8#; however White missed a quicker mate with 29.Qxb7+ Rf7 30.Qxf7+ Kh8 31.Rxa7 Qxe3 32.Qxh7#. Popel, Stephan (2 1 S2) - Dandridge, Marvin (2304)

Mid-West Masters, 1982 l .Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.e3 eS 4.e3 exd4 S.exd4 Be7 6.Bd3 b6 7.0-0 Bb7

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

19

S.Re1 � 9.BgS d6 1 0.Nbd2 Nbd7 1 l .Qa4 a6 1 2 .Rad 1 ReS 1 3.h3 h6 1 4.Bh4 bS l S.Qe2 Nb6 1 6.Bg3 NbdS 1 7.Qb 1 NhS l S.Bh2 Nhf4 1 9.Bfl Qd7 20.Rc1 fS 2 1 .a4 Rf6 22.axbS axbS 23.g3 Rg6 24.Kh 1 NhS 2S.Qd3 Be6 26.Bg2 BgS 27.Ra1 Qb7 2S.NxgS hxgS 29.BO Rh6 30.Kg1 Nhf6 3 1 .Rxe6 g4 32.Bg2 gxh3 33.BO Qd7 34.Rae1 g6 3S.R6e2 gS 3 6.Re6 Qg7 3 7.QxfS RfS 3S.Rxd6 Ne4 39.Qxe4 Rxd6 40.Qd3 g4 4 1 .Bh1 Qf7 42.f4 gxO 43.Kf2 Nf6 0-1

Lamansky, Steve (1 6S3) - Sened, Sarkie ( 1 949)

Iowa Open, 1 999 l .d4 dS 2.NO Nf6 3 .e3 e6 4.Bd3 eS S.e3 e4 6.Be2 bS 7.� as S.Nbd2 Bb7

Black's aggressive pawn advances distract him from the completion of his development. 9.NeS Nbd7 1 0.f4 Bd6 11 .QO g6 1 2 .a4 b4?

13 .Nexe4 !

Black does not give the Colle System the respect it deserves as he needlessly loses this pawn. 13 Be7 1 4.NeS 0-0 l S .e4 bxe3 1 6.bxe3 Bb6 1 7.Ba3 ReS 1 S.Kh 1 ReS 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.eS NhS 2 1 .Rfc1 Ng7 22 .Nb3 Qxa4? 23 .NeS Qe6 24.Ba4 Qe7 2S.BxeS RxeS 26.Rab 1 Be6 27.Rb2 RaS 2S.Reb 1 BxeS 29.BxeS a4 3 0.Ba3 hS 3 1 .Rb4 ReS 32.Qd3 BeS 33.Rc 1 RbS 34.RxbS QxbS 3S.Rb 1 QdS 36.g3 h4 3 7.Bd6 hxg3 3S.hxg3 QaS 39.Bb4 QaS 40.Kg2 a3 4 1 .Ra1 a2 42.Qd2 Qb7 43.Rxa2 BbS 44.Qb2 NfS 4S.Qa1 Qe6 46.RaS+ Kh7 47.Qh 1 + Nh6 •.•

20

THE D OGS OF WAR

48.Bf'S

48.Rh8+ Kxh8 49.Qxh6+ Kg8 50.BfS Bfl + 51.Kf2 Qxc3 52.Qg7#. 48 ... Bf1 + 49.Kf2 1-0

49 . . . Bh3 50.Qxh3 Kg8 51.Qxh6 Qxa8 52.Qg7#. Taylor, Anton (1 560) - Cooper, Justin ( 1 848)

Let It Snow Not ! , 02.2005 1 .NO d5 2.d4 Nf6 3 .e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.Nbd2 e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Be2 Ng6 9.0-0 Bd6 1 0.c4 0-0 1 l .cxd5 Nxd5 1 2 .Ne4 Be7 1 3 .h3 Be6 1 4.b3 ? Qb6

Black misses 14 . . . f5 ! ? 15 .Ng3 Bf6 winning the exchange. 1 5.Bb2 Rfd8 1 6.Qc2 Rac8 1 7.Rfd l h6 1 8.Rd2 Qc6 1 9.Rc 1 Bf'S

Black misses his chance to play 19 . . . Nb4 20.Qb l Nxa2 21.Rcd l wlnnmg a pawn. 2 0.Ba3

Focusing another piece on the already hotly contested pawn on c5. 2 0 ... Bf5 2 1 .Bd3

Practical Plt[Y in The Colle �stem

21

.•.

21

b6

2 1 . . .c4 would give Black the counterplay he needs after 22.Bxf8 cxd3 23 .Qxc6 Rxc6 24.Rxc6 Bxe4 25 .Rxg6 fxg6 and the advanced pawn on d3 will require White 's constant attention. 22.Nf6+

22

•••

Qxf6?

Black does not sense the danger in this position, wrongly playing 22 . . . Qxf6, not realizing the knight on d 5 will b e subj ect to a blistering attack. Necessary is 22 . . . Nxf6 ! ? 23 .Bxf5 Rxd2 24.Qxd2 Re8.

22

THE DOGS OF WAR

23 .BxfS Re7 24.Bb2 Qe6? 2S.Bxg6 fxg6 26.NeS QaS? 27.Qxg6

27.Rcd l would bring the knight on d5 under immediate attack. 27 ... Nxe3 2S.fxe3 Rxd2 29.Rxd2 QeS 30.Qxg6 Re7 31.QxeS RxeS. 27 ... Rd6? 2S.Qe4 ReS 29.Red l RedS 30.Ne4 R6d7 3 1 .Qe6+ Kh7 32.e4 Re7

32 ...Nf6 is the only chance for Black to get any counterplay, but after 33.Rx �7 Nxd7 34.Rxd7 Rxd7 3 5.Qf5+ KgS 3 6.Qxd7 Qxe4 White is up a pIece. 33.QfS+ g6 34.QO bS 3S.Ne3 Qb7 3 6.NxdS Rti 37.Nf6+ KhS 3S.RxdS 1-0

3 S . . . Qe7 39.R l d7 c4 40.Rxe7 h5 4 1 .Ng4+ Kh7 42.Qxf7+ Bg7 43.Qxg7#. Maltese, Adam (22 1 S) - Sugar, Zoltan G. ( 1 764)

US Amateur Team East, 2005 l .d4 dS 2.NO Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 eS S.b3 Ne6 6.Bb2 Ne4 7.Nbd2 fS

Black plays a delayed Dutch Defense against White's Zukertort Variation. S.O-O Nf6 9.e4 Be7 1 0.Re t exd4 1 l .exd4 0-0 1 2 .Rel Ne4

Black has expended several valuable moves getting this knight from f6 to e4. 1 3 .Re2 gS

Black gains space and threatens ... g4. 1 4.NeS NxeS I S.dxeS g4

This pawn advance is double-edged. On the one hand it controls the f3 square, making it harder for White to dislodge the nicely posted knight on e4. But it also places one more Black pawn on a light square, limiting the scope of the bishop on cS. 1 6.Bb l b6 1 7.Nfl Ba6

Putting the bishop on an active diagonal. I S.Ne3 NgS?

Black goes astray. l S ... dxc4 ! ? is a viable option after 19.Bxe4 Qxd l + 20.Rxd l RadS. 1 9.exdS

Offering to sacrifice the exchange and Black takes the bait. 1 9 ... Bxe2 20.Qxe2 BeS 2 1 .Rd l QeS 22.dxe6 Qxe6?

A careless recapture that will cause Black to lose a tempo to avoid the queen being skewered to the king. 23.Bd3 Qg6 24.Be4+

White can win a pawn with 24.Nxg4 Ne6 and after 25.Nf6+ KhS the White knight is powerfully posted.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System 24

.•.

23

Kg7

The Black king is exposed and starts to get kicked around. 25.Rd7+ Kh6 2 6.e6

26

Nxe6

••.

The pawn should not be captured. Correct play for Black would be to get the rook into the game with 26 . . . Rae8 27.Bg7+ Qxg7 28.Rxg7 Kxg7 29.Qb2+ Kg6. 27.Bxe6 Qxe6 28.Nxg4+ ! 1-0

It's mate after 28 .Nxg4+ Kg5 29.Qxe6 Bxf2+ 30.Nxf2 Rac8 31.Nh3+ Kh5 32.Rxh7+ Kg4 3 3 . Qg6#. Filatov, Leonid (230 1 ) - Mayer, Steve (2226)

World Open, 2000 l .d4 d5 2.NfJ Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.b3 Be7 6.Bb2 Nbd7 7.Nbd2N b6 8.0-0 Bb7 9.Qe2 0-0 1 0.Ne5 Qc7 1 l .a3 a6 1 2 .f4 b5 1 3 .Nxd7 Nxd7 14.dxc5 Nxc5? 1 5.Bxh7+! Kxh7 1 6.Qh5+ Kg8 1 7.Bxg7 ! Kxg7 18.Qg4+ 1-0

Benderac, Ana (23 1 0) - Ovod, Evgenij a (2307)

ECC Women, 2003 l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ d5 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Bd6 5.0-0 b6 6.Ne5 Bxe5 7.dxe5 Nfd7 8.Qg4 g6 9.Qg3 Ba6 1 0.e4 Bxd3 1 l .cxd3 dxe4 1 2.Bg5 Qc8 13 .d4

24

THE DOGS OF WAR

White takes advantage of Black's lag in development with this positional pawn sacrifice. In exchange for the pawn, she has a lock in the center and control of the dark squares. 13

•.•

Nc6 1 4.Qc3 Ne7 1 5.Bxe7

Dashes any hopes for the knight to reach the d5 outpost as well as preventing the king from castling. 15 Kxe7 1 6.Nd2 Qb7 1 7.Qe3 f5 1 8.exf6+ Nxf6 1 9.f3 exf3 20.Qa3+ Kd7 2 1 .Nxf3 Raf8 •.•

The attempt to win another pawn with 2 1 . . . Qd5 backfires after 22.Ne5+ Kc8 23 .Nf7 Qxd4+ 24.Khl and Black cannot avoid the loss of material. 22.Ne5+ Ke8 23 .Rac 1 Nd5 24.Rfel Ne7? 25.Nc6 Nxc6 26.Rxe6+ Kd8 27.Rexc6 Rfi 28.d5 Re8 29.h3 Ree7 30.Qc3 b5 3 1 .d6!

31

.••

cxd6

Black cannot defend against all of White's threats. If 3 1 . . .Re8 (not 31 . . . Rd7 32. Qh8+ and mate follows. ) 32.dxc7+ Kc8 3 3 .Re6 Rxe6 34.Qh8+. 32 .Rc8+ Kd7 33 .Rc7+ Kd8 34.Rxb7 1-O

Practical Plqy in The CoJie System

25

Stuart, Phil ( 1 88 1 ) - Dunne, Alex (2200)

Correspondence, 1989 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e5 4.b3 exd4 5.exd4 N e 6 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.Bb2 e 6 8.0-0 B d 6 9.Nbd2 0-0 1 0.a3 Re8

Black has completed his development expeditiously. The queen bishop on g4 serves to inhibit the knight from going to e5, a move White wants to play in the Colle-Zukertort. U.Be2 Qb6 1 2 .Rc1 Ne4 1 3 .Nxe4

This exchange of pieces gives White some breathing room from his cramped position. 13 ... dxe4 1 4.Nd2 Bxe2 1 5.Qxe2 f5 1 6.Ne4 Qd8 1 7.Nxd6 Qxd6 18.Rfd l Ne7 1 9.e4

A further exchange of minor pieces has clarified the mission of White 's queenside pawns and with the backing of the rooks, the pawns on c4 and d4 are ready to advance. 19 Rf6 20.Qe3 Rh6 2 1 .g3 b6 22.Rd2 Ng6 23.d5 e5 24.b4 Rh3 25.e5 bxe5 26.bxe5 Qf6 •..

Both sides have staked out their territory. White 's pawns race to promote before Black can weave a mating net.

27.d6 Nh4 28.d7 Rf8 29.Qb3+ Kh8 30.Rd6 Qg5

26

THE D OGS OF WAR

3 1 .Qti! N13+

Of course the queen cannot be captured because of 3 1 . . . Rxf7 32.d8Q+ Qxd8 3 3 .Rxd8+ RfS 34.RxfS#. 32 .Kfl Nxh2+ 33 .Kg2 1-0

After 33 . . . Rg8 34.c6 the pawns cannot be stopped from promoting.

Saenz, P. (207 1 ) - Anderson, S. (1 978)

U. S. Amateur Playoff, 1 994 l .d4 Nf6 2.N13 cS 3.e3 e6 4.c3 b6 S.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nbd2 d6 7.0-0 Be7 8.b4

This early pawn move initiates an innovative plan that simultaneously opens up the queenside and breaks open the center. 8 cxd4 9.cxd4 0-0 1 0.a4 a6 1 l .Bb2 Nbd7 12.e4 Re8 1 3 .Rel NfS 1 4.bS axbS I S .BxbS N8d7 1 6.eS NdS 1 7.Ne4 dxeS 1 8.NxeS NxeS 1 9.Bxe8 ? ! Nc4 20.BbS Nxb2 2 1 .Qb3 Nxa4 ? ! .••

2 1 . . .Nf6 22.Nxf6+ Bxf6 23 .Qxb2 Bxd4 and the Black bishops control the board. 22 .Rxa4 Rxa4 23 .Bxa4 Nf4 24.Q13 NdS 2S.Qg3 hS 26.QeS h4 27.h3 Nf6 28.Bc2 g6 29.Bd3 Nxe4 30.Bxe4 Bf6 3 1 .Qf4 Qxd4?

Black captures the wrong piece, leaving his back rank undefended and his queen bishop hanging. Better is 3 1 . . . Bxe4 32.Rxe4 Qd5 . 32 .Qb8+ Kg7 33 .Qxb7 Qd2 34.Rfl Qf4 3S.B13 BeS 36.Rd l Bd4 37.Qe4 Qxe4 38.Bxe4 fS 39.Rxd4 1-0

Practical Plqy in The Colle System Stoyko, Steve (23 1 5)

-

27

Lunna, Todd (23 1 1 )

NJFM Quest, 1 986 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Nbd2 Bb7 S.Bd3 eS 6.0-0 Be7 7.e3 dS 8.NeS 0-0 9.Qe2 Nbd7 1 0.f4

White reacts to Black's Queen's Indian Defense with the Stonewall Attack. 10 Ne4 1 1 .Rf3 fS 1 2.Rh3 NxeS 1 3 .dxeS Nxd2 1 4.Bxd2 e4 I S.Be2 Qe8 1 6.Bel bS 1 7.g4 .•.

17

.•.

g6

Black can attempt to open the a8-h i diagonal with I 7 . . . d4 but after I 8 .cxd4 (not 1 8. exd4? Qc6 1 9.Rg3 Qhl + 20.Kj2 Bh4) l 8 . . . Qc6 I 9.e4 fxe4 20.Qe3 the center is plugged. 18.Bh4 Bxh4 1 9.Rxh4 Qe7

I9 . . . d4 doesn't work because of 20.exd4 Qd8 2 1 .gS . 20.Rh3 as 2 1 .Kf2 Kh8 22.Rgl Rfi? ! 23.gxfS gxfS 24.QhS Rg8 2S.Rxg8+ Kxg8 26.Qh6 Rg7 27.Rg3 Be8

The Black bishop, which has been asleep behind his pawn chain for most of the game, begins to stir. 28.RgS RxgS 29.fxgS Qg7 30.Qf6 Qxf6? !

Black does White a favor by trading queens and allowing a passed pawn. 3 1 .gxf6 Bd7 32.Kg3 Be8 33.Kf4 h6 34.BxfS

28

THE D O G S OF WAR

34 ... exfS 3S.KxfS Bti

3 5 . . . Bd7+ does not thwart the advance of the pawns after 36.e6 Bc8 3 7.Ke5. 36.e6 B h S 37.KeS B fJ ?

The bishop is needed on the e8-h5 diagonal to help defend against the advance of the pawns. 3 7 . . . Kf8 is better, but after White captures on d5 his advantage is still considerable. 3S.ti+ Kg7

3 8 . . . Kf8? is, of course, out of the question because of 39.Kf6 h5 40.e7#. 39.Kd6 Kf8 40.e7+ Kxti 4 1 .Kd7 Bg4+ 42.KdS 1-0

Root, Douglas (2460) - Rubin, Sidney (2200)

U . S . Open, 1 99 1 l .d4 dS 2.NfJ Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Be7 S.Nbd2 Nbd7 6.0-0 b6 7.NeS Bb7 S.f4 eS 9.e3 g6 1 0.QfJ Qe7 1 1 .g4 Rf8 1 2.gS NhS 1 3 .BbS BeS?

Black has waited too long to castle. Black should castle long and take his chances after 1 4 .Bxd7+ Rxd7. 1 4.e4

A different avenue of attack from what we are used to seeing in the Colle System. Instead of a raging kingside attack, White begins his attack from the queenside and quickly breaks open the center. 14

•.•

Bd6 I S .exdS BxeS 1 6.dxe6 Bb7 1 7.exd7+ KdS I S.dS Bd6

1 8 . . . Bg7 does not help as after 1 9.Nc4 a6 20.Bc6 Bxc6 2 1 .dxc6 White

Practical Plqy in The Colle �stem

29

has two powerful passed pawns. 19.Nc4 Ng7 20.Bd2 f6 2 1 .Bc3 Nb5 22.Qe4 Be7 23.Rad l a6 24.Bc6

Black has no useful moves in this position and there is nothing he can do to save his king from suffocation. 24

a5 25.d6 Qxd7 26.dxe7+ 1-0

.•.

26 . . . Kc8 27.exf8Q+ Qe8 2 8 .Qexe8+ Kc7 29.Qff7#.

Vasilj evic, D. (2308) - Dimitrij evic, Mir (2081)

Zimski Winter Open, 2005 l.d4 dS 2.NfJ Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Be7 S.b3 0-0 6.Bb2 Nbd7 7.0-0 c6 8.Nbd2 b6 9.NeS Bb7 1 0.f4 cS 1 1.QfJ g6 1 2 .Rfl Qc7 1 3 .c3 Ne8 1 4.Qb3 fS I S.g4 Nef6 1 6.gxfS exfS 1 7.NdfJ Ne4 1 8.Rg2 NxeS 19.NxeS Rf6 20.c4 BfB 2 1 .Bxe4 dxe4 22 .dxcS Bg7 23 .Rd l Rd8 24.Rgd2

The White rooks control the d-file and in conjunction with the knight on e5, eye the key d7 square. 24

..•

Rxd2 2S.Rxd2 bxcS?

The bishop is useless on the closed a8-h i diagonal and must help to control the d7 square with 25 . . . Bc8 26.cxb6 Rxb6.

30

THE D OGS OF WAR

26.Rd7 Qc8 2 7.Qh4 Bc6 28.Rxg7+ ! Kxg7 29.Ng4 ! 1-0

After 29 . . . Qf8 30.Bxf6+ Kf7 31.Qxh7+ Ke6 32.Bg7 the exposed Black king is no match for White 's material advantage. Vasilj evic, D. (23 2 1 ) - Savic, M. (2 1 70)

17th Belgrade Trophy, 2004 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 dS 3.e3 cS 4.c3 e6 S.Nbd2 Nc6 6.NeS NxeS 7.dxeS Nd7 8.f4 b6 9.Bd3 Bb7 1 0.0-0 Qc7 1 l .QhS g6 1 2 .Qe2 Bg7 1 3 .c4 0-0-0 14.e4 Rhe8 1 S.cxdS exdS l 6.exdS BxdS 1 7.Be4 Bxe4 1 8.Nxe4 Kb8 1 9.Qa6 f6 20.Nc3 Qb7 2 1 .Qxb7+

With queens still on the board White can hope to drum up counterplay with 21.Qa4 fxe5 22.fxe5 Bxe5 23 .Bf4. Now the advantage turns to Black's favor. 2 1 . Kxb7 22.Ne4 Kc6 23 .Nxf6 .•

White 's pawns are overextended, however, this exchange only serves to increase the scope of the bishop on g7 . 23 ... Nxf6 24.exf6 Bxf6 2S.Kf2

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

31

2S ... Bxb2 !

The loss of this pawn gives Black a powerful passed pawn and an overwhelming advantage. 26.Bxb2 Rd2+ 2 7.Kf3 Rxb2 2S.Rf2 Rxf2+ 29.Kxf2 c4 3 0.g4 bS 3 1 .Kf3 KcS 32.h4 c3 33.fS gxfS 34.gxfS Kc4 3 S.Kf4 c2 36.f6 Kc3 37.KgS Kb2 3S.Rh l c 1 Q+ 39.Rxc1 Kxc 1 40.ti RbS 4 1 .Kf6 Kb2 42.Kg7 Kxa2 43.hS b4 0-1

43 . . . b4 44.Kxh7 b3 .

Root, Douglas (24S0) - Davis, Loal W. (2207)

California Open, 1 990 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 cS 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3 e6 S.Bd3 Nf6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 S.dxcS BxcS 9.e4 eS l 0.Qe2 d4 1 1 .Nb3 Bb6 1 2.cxd4 Nxd4 13.Nbxd4 Bxd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 I S.Be3 Qd6 1 6.Rac l b6 1 7.Rfd l Bb7 I S.f3 RacS 1 9.Bc4 Qe7 2 0.a4 Qb4 2 1 .b3 RfdS 22.Bd2 Qe7 23.Qel NhS 24.Bb4 Qf6 2 S.RxdS+ RxdS 26.Rd l Nf4 27.RxdS+ QxdS 2S.Qd2 Qxd2 29.Bxd2 BcS 30.Bc3 Ng6 3 1 .Bb4 Be6 3 2.Bd6 Bxc4 33 .bxc4 f6 34.BbS NfS?

The knight must play to e7 and after 3 5 .Bxa7 Nc8 will be in a better position to defend the b-pawn and chase the White bishop away without fear of being harassed by the advancing c-pawn. 3S.Bxa7 Nd7 3 6.aS bxaS 3 7.cS NfS 3S.c6 Ne6 39.Bb6 a4 40.c7 Nxc7 4 1 .Bxc7 a3 42.BaS Kti 43.Kf2 1-0

The White bishop will be able to stop the a-pawn from queening and allow the White king time to capture it. The timely trade of bishop for

THE DOGS OF WAR

32

pawn will then secure White a winning king and pawn ending.

Pozarek, Frank (1 757) - Ambats, Jessica (2060)

U.S. Amateur Teams East, 1 989 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Nbd2 Bb7 5.Bd3 d5 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.c3 Bd6 8.Qa4

White whets our appetite with this provocative move. However, we are left wondering, what is White provoking Black to play here? 8

•.•

0-0 9.Qc2

Black reacts to White's queen sortie by calmly castling, and White loses a tempo to get his queen back into play. 9 c5 1 0.b3 Qc7 1 l .Bb2 h6 1 2 .Rac 1 e5 1 3 .dxe5 Nxe5 1 4.Nxe5 Bxe5 1 5.Nf3 Bd6 1 6.h3 Rfe8 1 7.Be2 Ne4 1 8.c4 dxc4 1 9.Bxc4 Qe7 20.Rcd l Rad8 2 1 .Bb5 ..•

Black has more space but White 's formation is compact with no weaknesses. 2 1 . . .R fB 22 .Bc4 Ng5 23.Nxg5 Qxg5 24.f4

All four bishops are raking the board, but the edge must go to White 's bishops who have more scope. 24

Qg3 25.Rf2 Qxe3 ?

.•.

White has shrewdly enticed Black into capturing an extremely poisoned pawn. 2 6.Qg6 !

With Black's queen having been lured out of position, all of a sudden

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

33

White i s threatening mate and Black is powerless to stop it. 26 Be5 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Qxti+ Kh8 29.Bxe5 Qg3 3 0.Qxb7 Rd l + 3 1 .Rf1 Rxfl + 3 2.Bxfl 1-0 •..

Now 32 . . . h5 3 3 .Bd3 Qe l + 34.Kh2 Qg3+ 3 5 .Kxg3 h4+ 36.Kxh4 a6 37.Qxg7#. Segal, Valery (2405) - Veach, J. (2242)

1 992 l.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3 .e3 d5 4.Nbd2 c5 5.c3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 b6 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Bb7 1 1 .Ne5 cxd4 1 2 .cxd4 Nxe4 1 3.Bxe4 Bxe4 1 4.Qxe4 Nf6 1 5.Qh4 Qd5 1 6.Rd l Rac8 1 7.Bg5 Rc2 1 8.Rd3 Rfc8

18 . . . Rxb2 ! ? wins a pawn for Black after 1 9.ReI Qb5 (but not 1 9.. . Rxa2 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qxf6 gxf6 22.Rg3 + Kh8 23.Nxj7+ Rxj7 24.Rc8+ and Black is being checkmated.) 19.Rf1 Rxb2 20.Rg3 Kf8 2 1 .Be3 Qe4?

22.Nd7+! 1-0

The knight is overworked. If 22 . . . Nxd7 23 .Qxe4; 22 . . . Kg8 (or 22 ... Ke8) 23 .Nxf6+ followed by 24.Qxe4. Either way, Black loses his queen.

THE DOGS OF WAR

34

Salgado, Rob (2354) - Kostanski, Robert (2 1 03)

Golden Knights, 1983 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 e5 5.b3 Ne6 6.Bb2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 S.a3 b6 9.Ne5 Bb7 1 0.Nd2 a6 1 l .f4 b5 12.dxe5 Bxe5 1 3 .Qf3 ReS 14.b4 Bb6 1 5.Qg3 Nxe5 1 6.Bxe5 a5N 1 7.f5 Nh5 I S.Qh3 Qg5 1 9.Rae l axb4 20.Nf3 Qh6 2 1 .axb4 Bxe3+

In accepting the sacrifice with 21. . .Bxe3+ Black only succeeds in putting added pressure on his queen which now has to serve double duty to protect both the knight and bishop. The result is that Black's pieces are left uncoordinated for attack and ill-prepared for defense. 22.Kh l f6

22 . . . d4 23 .Bxd4 Bxd4 24.Nxd4 does not afford Black sufficient counterplay. 23.Bd6 RfdS

24.Rxe3

White initiates a combination so forcing that it leaves Black with no means of retaliation. 24 Qxe3 25.Qxh5 Rxd6 26.fxe6 Rxe6 27.Bxh7+ Kf8 2S.Bf5 ReeS 29.QhS+ Kfi 30.Bxe6+ Rxe6 3 1 .h4 1-0 ..•

If31 . . . Qf4 32.Ng5+ fxg5 3 3 .Rxf4+ gxf4 34.Qb8 (Rob Salgado); 31 . . . Re8 is also ineffective after 32.Ng5+ Qxg5 3 3 . Qxe8+ (not 33. hxg5? ? Rxh8+ 34.KgJ Rc8 and Black is ahead in material.) 33 . . . Kxe8 34.hxg5 fxg5 3 5 . Rf5 .

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

35

Wang, P. (2306) - Prasad, C. (1 788)

Oceania Zonal, 2005 l .d4 d S 2.NfJ Nf6 3 .e3 e 6 4.Bd3 c S S.c3 Bd6 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re 1 Qc7 9.e4 cxd4 1 0.cxd4 dxe4 1 1 .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 2 .Rxe4

Recapturing with the rook instead of the bishop gets this piece into play immediately. 12 Nf6 1 3 .Rh4 Be7 1 4.BgS g6 l S .NeS NdS 1 6.Rc 1 Qd8 1 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Qg4 f6? 1 9.Nxg6 ! .•.

White is not fazed by the attack on his knight and fearlessly plays this thematic sacrifice exposing the Black king. 19

•.•

hxg6 20.Bxg6

White resists the temptation to play 20.Qxg6+ because 20 . . . Qg7 21.Qh5 f5 lets Black off the hook. 20

.••

Qg7 2 1 .Rxc8 !

2 1 . fS ••

The rook is untouchable. 21. ..Rfxc8 22.Qxe6+ Kf8 23.Rh8+ Qxh8 24.Qf7#; or 21. . .Raxc8 22.Qxe6+ Rf7 23 .Qxc8+ Qf8 24.Bxf7+ Kxf7 25.Rh7+. 22.Bh7+ Kfi 23.BxfS exfS 24.QxfS+ Nf6 2 S.Rc7+ 1-0

25.Rc7+ Kg8 26.Rxg7+ Kxg7 27.Qg5+ Kf7 28.Rf4.

THE DOGS O F WAR

36

Polgar, Zsuzsa (GM) - Mai, Thi

Novi Sad, 1 990 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 dS 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 eS S.b3 Nbd7 6.0-0 Be7 7.Bb2 0-0 S.Nbd2

White refrains from playing 8.c4, a common theme in the Zukertort, to avoid the risk of getting hanging pawns after 8 . . . dxc4 9.bxc4 cxd4 1 0.exd4. S

.•.

b6 9.NeS Bb7 1 0.Qf3 ReS 1 l .Radl Qe7 1 2.Qh3 h6 13.f4

White has set up the ideal Colle attacking formation. 13 ... Ne4 1 4.Nxd7 Qxd7 I S.Bxe4 dxe4 1 6.dxeS

White powerfully opens up the center along with the a l-h8 diagonal for the bishop on b2. It is interesting that in the Colle-Koltanowski variation it's White 's king bishop that is the powerhose, and in this Colle-Zukertort variation, it's the queen bishop that is wreaking havoc. 16

..•

QbS 1 7.Ne4 BxeS I S.Qg4 f6 19.Qxe6+ KhS 20.Rd7 Re6?

Black chooses the wrong piece with which to chase the queen. Better is 20 . . . Qc6 2 1 .Qg4 Rg8 . 2 1 .Qg4

1-0

In order to defend against the mate, Black must lose the bishop on b7. Of course White should not play 2 1 .Qxe4? because with 2 1 . . .Rc7 ! ? the discovered attack on the queen will cost White material after 22.Rd5 Qc6.

Practical Plqy in The Coiie System

37

Stairway to Heaven Chess, like love, like music, has to power to make man happy. - Siegbert Tarrasch (1832-1934)

For us, the Colle System, in its purest most methodical sense, calls to mind the Led Zeppelin song, Stairway to Heaven. Written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Stairway to Heaven is a masterful and imaginative slow developing, intense musical masterpiece. The song builds harmoniously one musical instrument upon another (acoustic guitar, string section, keyboards, flutes and drums) until it finally explodes into a feverishly exciting electric guitar climax. Compare this with the smooth and naturally developing moves of the Colle System. A series of opening moves, seemingly innocuous though deceptively deliberate, methodically flow one piece after another (pawn, knight, bishop, rook and queen) until the game reaches a frenetic and compelling middlegame and a determinedly crushing end.

THE DOGS O F WAR

38

Campion, William ( 1 5 1 2) - Brown, Thomas (1 248)

Correspondence, 1 992 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Bd6 5.Nbd2 O-{) 6.0-{) c6 7.Re l b6

White need not worry about 7 . . . c5 because 8.c3 keeps the bishop on the strategic b 1 -h7 diagonal should Black continue the advance of the c-pawn. 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Bc7? ! 1 0.Bg5 ? !

Better is 1 O.Nxf6+ which forces Black to ruin his position with 1 0 . . . gxf6 because 1 0 . . . Qxf6 falls prey to 1 1 .Bg5. 1 0 Nbd7 1 l .Nxf6+ Nxf6 1 2.Ne5 Qe7 13.Bxf6 gxf6? 1 4.Bxh7+ ! Kxh7 ..•

Black is lost. All moves lead to mate. 1 4 . . . Kh8 1 5 .Qh5 Kg7 1 6.Qg4+ Kh8 1 7.Re3 fxe5 1 8 .Rh3 Bd8 1 9.Be4+ Qh4 20.Rxh4+ Bxh4 2 1 . Qxh4+ Kg7 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qh6+ Kg8 24.Qh7#. 1 5.Qh5+ Kg7

1 5 . . . Kg8 1 6.Qg4+ Kh8 1 7.Re3 Qa3 1 8 .bxa3 fxe5 1 9.Rh3#. 1 6.Qg4+ 1 -{)

16 . . . Kh7 1 7.Re3 Qa3 1 8.bxa3 fxe5 1 9.Rh3#. Nemhauser, Jeffrey ( 1 3 57) - Hatch, David (1 672)

2nd Income Tax Closed, 1 985 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 b 6 3.e3 e 6 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.Nbd2 Bb7 6.0-{) Nbd7 7.c3 Be7 8.Qe2 Ne4 9.Bc2 !

The beginning of White 's effort to break the blockade at e4. 9

..•

c5 1 0.Nxe4 dxe4

The wisdom of White 's bishop retreat to c2 now becomes apparent because this pawn capture is not a fork. 1 l .Nd2 Nf6 1 2.f3 exf3 13.Nxf3 h6 1 4.e4 cxd4 1 5.Nxd4 O-{)? 1 6.e5 Ne8 1 7.Bxh6 ! Bg5 1 8.Qd3 f5 1 9.exf6 Bxh6 20.Qh7+ 1-{)

20 . . . Kf7 2 1 .Bg6#. Gifford, Gary (1 869) - Buss, Andy ( 1 776)

Action Chess, 1 988 l .d4 d 5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Be7 5.Nbd2 0-0 6.0-{) c5 7.dxc5

White wants to play the thematic e4 pawn break, but must first set it up with this capture in order to avoid an isolated d-pawn. 7 ... Bxc5 8.c3 Nc6 9.e4 d4 1 0.Nb3 Bb6 1 l .e5 Ne8 ? !

Black removes an important defender and leaves no room for the

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

39

other kingside pieces t o maneuver o n the back rank. 1 1 . . .Ng4 doesn't solve Black's defensive problems either because of 1 2.Bxh7+ Kxh7 1 3 .NgS+ Kg8 1 4 .Qxg4 f6 I S . exf6 Qxf6. Equally ineffective is 1 1 . . . NdS 1 2.Nbxd4 Nxd4 1 3 .cxd4 fS and White 's attack continues unabated after 1 4.exf6. 12.Bxh7+

12

..•

KhS

The dilemma Black faces after this bishop sacrifice is whether to accept or decline it. If Black accepts, White will play NgS and Black must come forward with . . . Kg6, otherwise mate quickly follows. Black's exposed king position compensates for the small material disadvantage that White has. 13.Bd3 dxe3 1 4.Ng5 g6 1 5.Qt3 Kg7

Black could not liberate the position with I S . . . Ng7 because of 1 6.Qh3+ NbS 1 7.Nxf7+ Rxf7 1 8.Bxg6 and White has an overwhelming attack. 16.Qh3 RhS 1 7.QxhS+ ! ! KxhS I S.Nxti+ Kg7 1 9.NxdS BxdS 20.f4 cxb2 2 1 .Bxb2 b6 22.Bb5 Bb7 23.Rac 1 ReS 24.Rfd l Be7 25.Rd7 Kf8 26.Rxb7 Be5+ 27.Nxe5 bxe5 2S.Rxe5 Ne7 29.RxeS NxeS 3 0.Ba3+ 1-0

Leads to a very nice mate after 30 . . . Ncd6 3 1 .exd6 Nxd6 32.Bxd6+ Kg8 3 3 .Bc4 Kh8 34.Bxe6 a6 3 S .BeS#. (See diagram next page.)

40

THE DOGS OF WAR

Curry, R. ( 1 750) - Rivero, R. (l S50)

Newark (Del.) C.C., 1979 l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ c5 3.e3 d5 4.c3 Nbd7 5.Bd3 e6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 S.Re1 Qc7 9.e4 cxd4 1 0.cxd4 dxe4 1 1 .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 2.Bxe4 Nf6 13 .Bd3 Bd7 1 4.Bd2 Bc6 1 5.h3 RacS 1 6.Rc1 Qb6 1 7.Bc3 RfdS l S.Qe2 Nd5 1 9.Bxh7+ ! ? Kxh7 20.Ng5+ KgS

Better is 20 . . . Kg6 2 1 .Bd2 Qxd4 (21 . . . Qxb2 is impossible because of thefollowing mating combination 22. Qe4+ f5 23. Qxe6+ Nf6 24. Qf7+ Kh6 25.Ne6+ Qxd2 26. Qxg7+ Kh5 2 7. Qf7+ Kh6 28. Qxf6+ Kh 7 29. Qg7#) . 2 1 .Qh5 BeS ? ?

Loses quickly. Better is 21 ... Rd7 22.Qh7+ Kf8 . 22.Rxe6 fxe6 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.QhS+ Ke7 25.Qxg7+ 1-0

25 . . . Bt7 26.Qxt7#.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

41

Burkhardt, Bob - Vosburgh, Ted

Nat'l Press Club Finals, 1994 l.d4 dS 2.e3 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 c4 6.Bc2 bS 7.NeS Nbd7 S.f4 NxeS 9.fxeS Nd7 1 0.0-0 f6? 1 l .exf6

White can prevent Black from castling with I 1.Qh5+ ! ? Ke7. 1l ... Nxf6 1 2.Nd2 B d 6 13.e4

White pulls off the thematic e4 pawn break in the center and threatens 14.e5 . 13 ... dxe4?

Black goes astray. Better would have been 13 . . . Qb6 or 13 . . . e5 . 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 IS.Bxe4 RbS??

Black's lack of defensive resources sticks out like a sore thumb. 16.QhS+

White's pieces are magnificently placed for the final attack.

16 ... Kd7 1 7.Rfi+ Be7 I S.BgS ReS 1 9.Qh4 h6 20.Bxe7 Rxe7 2 1 .Rafl Rxfi 22.Rxfi+ KeS 23.Rf8+ ! ! 1-0

Black is overwhelmed after 23 . . . Kxf8 24.Qxd8+ Kf7 25.Qc7+ Bd7 26.Qxb8. Cavaliere, Peter ( 1 S40) - Leahy, Kerry (2270)

Staten Island C.C. Simul, 1987 l.d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 c6 4.Bd3 Bg4 S.Nbd2 e6 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.c3 Bd6 S.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 0.Bxe4 Qc7 1 l .h3 BhS 1 2.Rel 0-0 13.Bxh7+ KhS I 4.Bd3 Bf4 1 S.Bxf4 Qxf4 1 6.Re4 Bxf3 1 7.Rxf4 Bxd l IS.Rh4+ KgS 1 9.Bh7+ KhS Yl-Yl

THE DOGS OF WAR

42

Berry, Newton ( 1 735) - Radtke, Henry ( 1 794)

Hales Comers, WI, 1994 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Be7 5.Nbd2 Nbd7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Rel ReS S.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 0.Bxe4 Nf6 1 l .Bd3 Bd6 1 2.Bg5 Bd7 1 3.e3 Be7 14.Qe2 h6 1 5.Bh4 e6 1 6.Ne5 BeS 1 7.Rad l Rf8 I S.Re3 Nd5 1 9.Rf3 ! QeS ? ?

Rightfully declining the Trojan Bishop on h4, which would lead to mate three different ways. If 19 . . . Bxh4 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Rxf7 Rxf7 22. Nxf7#; or a) 21. . . Re8 22. Ng6+ Kxh7 23 . Nxh4+ Kg8 24. Qg6 Qg5 25 . Rxg7+; or b) 21. . . Rg8 22. Ng6+ Kxh7 23. Nf8+ Kh8 24. Qh7#. However, the text move (19 . . . Qe8) allows White a decisive combination which was overlooked. 20.Bxe7

White has a much better continuation with 20.Bh7+ Kh8 21.Rxf7 Qxf7 (21 . . . Rx17 22.Ng6+ Kxh 7 23.Nj8+ Kg8 24. Qh 7+ Kxj8 25. Qh8#) 22.Nxf7+ Rxf7 23 .Bxe7 Nxe7. 20

..•

Qxe7 2 1 .Qd2 Nf6 22.Rg3 KhS

With his pieces actively placed, White is on the verge of busting open the kingside. 23.Rh3

Another way to wreak havoc is 23.Rg6 Kg8 24.Rxh6 gxh6 2 5. Qxh6 Re8. 2 3 NgS 24.Qf4 Qf6 25.Qe4 Qf5 2 6.Qe3 Qf6 27.Ng4 Qe7 2S.Nxh6 ! gxh6 .•.

1f 28 . . . Nxh6 then 29. Rxh6+ gxh6 30. Qxh6+ Kg8 31. Qh7#. 29.Rxh6+!

Practical PI'!Y in The Colle System

43

A beautiful rook sacrifice leading to mate. 29

•••

Kg7

If 29 . . . Nxh6 then 30.Qxh6+ followed by mate on h7. 30.Rh7+ 1-0

It's mate after 30 . . . Kf6 3 1 . Qe5 (or 3 1 . Qf4). Hatch, Terese ( 1 1 24) - Vidmar, Richard ( 1 1 1 S) U.S. Open, 1 986 l.d4 Nf6 2.NfJ e6 3 .e3 dS 4.Bd3 Bb4+ S.c3 Be7 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.0-0 cS 8.Re 1 a6 9.e4 bS 1 0.eS Nfd7 1 1 .Nfl Nb6? 1 2.dxcS BxcS ? ?

With a small amount of coaxing from White, Black removes all of his pieces from the scene of the attack. 13.Bxh7+ ! Kxh7 14.NgS+ Kg8 l S.QhS Re8 1 6.Qxf7+ Kh8 1 7.QhS+ Kg8 1 8.Qh7+ Kf8 1 9.Qh8+ 1-0 Cavaliere, Peter ( 1 7 1 6) - Kaplan

Hudson County Ch., 1 986 l.d4 dS 2.NfJ e6 3 .e3 Nf6 4.Nbd2 Be7 S.Bd3 0-0 6.c3 b6 7.0-0N Bb7 8.Qe2 Nbd7 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 1 .Bxe4 Bxe4 1 2.Qxe4 Nf6 1 3.Qe2 cS 1 4.dxcS BxcS l S.Be3 Bd6 1 6.BgS h6 1 7.Bh4 gS 18.NxgS ! ?

Objectively not the best move, but i n typical Colle fighting spirit White sacrifices a piece with the idea of exposing the Black king to attack. A more sedate line would be 1 8 .Bg3 Nh5 1 9.Rad l Nxg3 20.hxg3 . 18 ... hxgS 1 9.BxgS Be7 20.Rad 1 Qc7 2 1 .Rd3 Rfd8 22.Rf3 NdS 23 .Bh6 Bd6? 1-0

44

THE DOGS OF WAR

Black lost on time. Analysis shows that White can finish the game off with 24.Rg3+ Kh8 2S.Bg7+ Kg8 26.QhS f6 27.Bxf6+ Bxg3 28.Qg6+ Kf8 29.fxg3 (threatening Bxd8). 29 . . . Nxf6 30.Rxf6+ Ke7 3 1 .Qf7+ Kd6 32.Qxe6+ KcS 33.RfS+ QeS 34.RxeS+ RdS 3 S . QxdS#. Hatch, David (1 707) - Curtis, Jeffrey ( 1 3 08)

U.S. Open, 1 993 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Bd6 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.e4 cxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Bxe4 Nf6 1 2 .BgS Be7 1 3 .Bxf6 Bxf6 1 4.Rc1 Qb6 1 S.Qc2 g6 1 6.Rfdl Rd8

Increasing the pressure on the isolated pawn on d4. 1 7.Qc7 Qxb2 1 8.NeS Rf8 1 9.Rb l BxeS 2 0.dxeS Qxa2 2 1 .Rd8 as? 22.RxfS+ KxfS 23 .Qd8+ YZ-YZ

White does not have to settle for the perpetual check.

White misses the winning continuation 23 . . . Kg7 24.Rd l Qa3 2S.Qf6+ Kh6 26.g4 bS 27.gS+ KhS 28.Bf3+ Qxf3 29.Qxf3+ Kh4 30.Rd4+ KxgS 3 1 .Qf4+ KhS 32.Qh4#. Curry, R ( 1 694) - Saxe, W (I S84)

Wilmington C.C., 1 976 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 cS 4.Bd3 Nc6 S.c3 dS 6.Nbd2 c4 7.Bc2 bS 8.0-0 Bd6 9.Rel 0-0 1 0.e4 dxe4 1 l .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 2 .Bxe4 Bb7?

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

45

13.Bxh7+ Kxh7 1 4.NgS+ Kg6 l S.Qg4 Kf6?

1 5 . . . f5 and Black can play on. 16.Rxe6+ ! fxe6 1 7.Qxe6# 1-0 Curry, R. (1 62S) - Marcham, J.

Cape Coral, FL C.C., 1 973 1.d4 Nf6 2.NfJ e6 3.e3 cS 4.Bd3 dS S.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 Qc7 9.e4 cxd4 1 0.cxd4 dxe4 1 1 .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 2.Bxe4 fS 1 3.Bxc6 Qxc6 1 4.NeS Qb6 l S.b3 Rd8

Attacking the isolated pawn on d4. 16.Bb2 Bd7 1 7.Rc 1 Rac8 1 8.Re3 BgS?

Black must play 1 8 . . . RxcI 1 9.Bxc 1 (Not 1 9. Qxcl Bg5) 1 9 . . . Bf6 20.Bb2 with even chances. 19.Rxc8 Bxc8 20.Rh3 Bf6 2 1 .QhS h6?

2 1 . . .Bxe5 is better after 22.dxe5 h6. 22.Qti+ Kh7

22 . . . Kh8 doesn't work either because of 23.Rxh6+ ! ! gxh6 24.Ng6#. 23 .Rxh6+! Kxh6 24.Qg6# 1-0 Hatch, Terese (1 0S6) - Johnson, Lonnie (l S28) NJ Open, 1 985 l.d4 Nf6 2.NfJ e 6 3.e3 dS 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 N c 6 6.Nbd2 Qc7 7.0-0 Bd7 8.Re1 Bd6 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Bxe4 cxd4 1 2.cxd4 0-0

With no pieces to defend his King, Black castles right into the teeth of White 's attack. 13 .Bxh7+ Kh8? 1 4.NgS Bxh2+? l S.Kh 1 g6 1 6.Qg4 f6 1 7.Qh4 fxgS 18.BxgS Kg7 1 9.Qh6+ 1-0

19 . . Kh8 20.Bxg6+ Kg8 2 1 .Qh7#. .

Cowan, Warren (788 Postal) - Brands, Edwin (294 Postal)

Correspondence, 1 986 1.d4 dS 2.NfJ Nf6 3.e3 a6 4.Bd3 e6 S.Nbd2 Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1 Nc6 8.c3 bS 9.e4± dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Bxe4 Bb7 1 2.Bxh7+ Kxh7

13.NgS+ Kg6 14.h4 Re8? IS.Qd3+ Kh5? 16.g4+! 1-0 It's

mate after

16... K.xg4 17.Qf3+ Kxh4 18.Qh3#.

Cruz, R - Reid, P

Grumette Mem. Day Classic, 1 989 l.d4 Nf6 2.e3 e6 3 .Bd3 cS 4.c3 Be7 S.Nd2 dS 6.NgfJ 0-0 7.0-0 c4

46

THE DOGS OF WAR

8.Be2 Qe7 9.Ne5 Nbd7 1 0.f4 Nxe5? 1 l .fxe5 Ne8 1 2 .Rf3 f6 1 3 .Rh3 g6?

No better is 1 3 . . . h6 1 4.Qh5 fxe5 1 5 .dxe5 Be5 . 14.Nf3 ?

1 4.Rxh7 ! f5 (Not 14 . . . Kxh 7? because of 15. Qh5+ KgB 1 6. Qxg6+ Ng7 1 7. Qh 7+ Kj7 1 B.Bg6#) 1 5 .Rh6. 1 4 Rti 1 5.e4 BfB 1 6.Qe2 b5 1 7.exf6+- Nxf6 1 8.Ng5 Re7? 1 9.e5 Ne8 20.Bd2 as 2 1 .Rf1 h6 22.Qf2 Bg7 23 .Qh4 •.•

White misses the first of many mates beginning with 23.Bxg6 Kh8 24.Rf3 Nf6 25.exf6 Kg8 26.fxg7 Kxg7 27.Rf8 Qxh2+ 28.Kxh2 Kxg6 29.Rg8+ Kh5 30.Qe2+ Kh4 3 1 .Rf4#. 23

Qa7 24.Bxg6 Bxe5 25.Bti+

.•.

Overlooking 25.Qxh6 Bxd4+ 26.Kh l Bf6 27.Rxf6 Qg l + 28.Kxg l Nxf6 29.Qh8#. 25 ... Rxti 26.Rxti

Again missing 26.Nxf7 Bf6 27.Rxf6 Kf8 28.Bxh6+ Ke7 29.Bf8+ Kd7 30.Rxe6 Qxd4+ 3 1 .exd4 Ba6 32.Qe7+ Ke8 3 3 .Rb6 e3 34.Qd8#. 26

Bxd4+ 27.exd4 1--0

•.•

If 27 . . . Nd6 28.Rxa7 Rxa7 29.Qxh6 Nf7 30.Qg6+ Kf8 3 1 .Rh7 Re7 32.Rxf7+ Ke8 3 3 .Qf6 Kd7 34.Qxe7+ Ke6 3 5 . Qe5#. Chapuis, Bobby (1 500) - Scott, Gordon (1 527)

Mid-MS Open, 2003 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Be7 5.0--0 0--0 6.Re l e5 7.e3 e4 8.Be2 Ne6 9.Nbd2 b5 1 0.e4 dxe4 1 1 .Nxe4 Bb7 1 2.Nfg5 h6? 1 3.Nxf6+ Bxf6 1 4.Nh7 Re8 1 5.Qg4 g5? 1 6.h4 Bg7 1 7.hxg5 Kh8 1 8.gxh6 Bxh6 1 9.Bxh6 Rg8 20.Qh5

Practical Plqy in The Colle SYstem

47

Another way to win is 20.Bg5 Rg7 2 1 .Nf6 Qxf6 22.Bxf6 Nxd4 23 .Qxg7#. 20

..•

Nxd4 2 1 .NgS RxgS 22 .BxgS+ Kg8 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8# 1-0

Hunt, J. (1 8S4) - Silvestri, J. ( 1 732)

Correspondence, 1 990 l.d4 dS 2.Nf3 e6 3 .e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Bd6 S.Nbd2 cS 6.c3 0-0 7.NeS Nbd7 8.f4 cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6 1 0.0-0 NxeS ? 1 l .fxeS BxeS 1 2.Kh l Bd6 13 .Rxf6 gxf6 1 4.QhS fS

14 . . . Rd8 would have given Black the necessary maneuvering room after 1 5 .Nb3 f5 . IS.Nc4 dxc4

If 1 5 . . . Qd8 1 6.Nxd6. 16.QgS+ Kh8 1 7.Qf6+ Kg8 1 8.Bh6 1-0

1 8 . . . Qxd4 1 9.cxd4 Be5 20.dxe5 cxd3 2 1 .Qg7#. Hatch, Terese - Chess Challenger

Oak Street CC, 1 993 l.d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 b6 9.e4 NhS 1 0.eS Nf4 1 l .Bxh7+

As we can see, this common bishop sacrifice on h7, when not properly prepared, is not enough to force a winning advantage. 1l

..•

Kxh7 1 2 .Qe3 B a 6 1 3 .Re l

With B .Qxf4 ! ? White can win back the piece, however, after 1 3 . . . Bxfl 1 4.Ng5+ Kg8 1 5 .Nxfl Black i s up the exchange, but the exposed nature of the Black king gives both sides equal chances. 13 ... Nd3 14.NgS+ Kg6

14 . . . Kg8 ! ? looks like a viable alternative 1 5 .Nde4 Bxe5, but not: a) 1 5 . . . dxe4? 1 6.Qxe4 f5 1 7.Qh4 Qxg5 1 8 .Bxg5 (18. Qxg5?! Nxel 19.Bf4 Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Nxe5 21.Rxel Nj7) 1 8 . . . Nxe l 1 9.Rxe l ; b) 1 5 . . . Nxe l ?? 1 6.Qh3 Qxg5 1 7.Nxg5 (1 7.Bxg5 Nc2 1 8.Nf6+ gxf6) ; c) 1 5 . . . Nxc l ?? leads to instant destruction 1 6.Qh3 Qxg5 1 7.Nxg5 . IS.Ndf3 Nxel ?

Black can try 1 5 . . . Rh8 1 6.exd6 Nxe l 1 7.Nxe l Rh5 which defends against the queen infiltrating on the h-file, but White is still better because of Black's exposed king. 16.Nh4+ Kh6 1 7.Nxfi+ Kh7 1 8.Nxd8 Nc2 1 9.Qg3 Rf6 20.exd6 Nxal 21 .BgS ? !

48

THE DOGS OF WAR

White should play 2 1 .Nc6 Kg8 22.Ne7+ Kf8 23 .Nhg6+ Ke8 and, in contrast to the move played, White keeps more pieces on the board for the attack. 2 1 . .. Rxd8 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.g4

White can win the knight trapped on a l but instead continues the attack on the Black king. 24

cxd4 2S.cxd4 Rc8

•..

25 . . . Bb5 is Black's last chance for counterplay but after 26.Qf7 Nxg4 27.Qxa7 Rg8 White 's passed pawn is still a thorn in Black's side. 26.gS Ne4 27.QhS+ Kg8 28.Ng6 Rc1 + 29.Kg2 Bf1+ 30.Kf3 Nd2+ 3 1 .Kf4 eS+ 32.NxeS

Black's pieces are not coordinated enough to either attack or defend. 32

..•

Rc8 33.Qti+ Kh8 34.d7 Rd8 3 S.Ng6+ 1-0

3 5 . . . Kh7 36.Ne7 Be2 3 7 .Qf5+ g6 3 8 . Qxg6+ Kh8 39.Qh6#. Bellah, Lynn (899) - Gardner, Michael (1 292)

Mid-Miss Open, 2004 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Nc6 S.c3 Bd6 6.0-0 Bd7 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.e4 eS 9.exdS NxdS 1 0.Ret Re8 1 l .Nc4 exd4 1 2.Nxd6 cxd6 13.c4 Nf6 1 4.a3 NeS 1 S.Bf4 Nxf3+ 1 6.Qxf3 Bc6 1 7.Qh3 Bd7 1 8.Qh4 Rxel + 1 9.Rxel Qf8 20.f3 Re8 2 1 .BgS Rxe t + 22.Qxel Qd8 23.Qb4 Qc7 24.Bxf6 gxf6 2S.b3 as 26.Qel QcS 27.b4 axb4 28.axb4 QeS 29.Qg3+ Qxg3 30.hxg3 Kg7 3 1 .Kf2 fS 32.Ke2 Kf6 33.f4 h6 34.Kd2

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

49

b6 3S.Be2 Bc6 36.Bf3 Be4 37.g4 ? !

Interesting but risky.

37 fxg4 3 8.Bxe4 hS 39.g3 Ke6 40.Kd3 fS 4 1 .BdS+ Kf6 42.Kxd4 Kg6 43.B h l h4 44.gxh4 KhS 4S.Ke3 Kxh4 46.Kf2 g3+ 47.Kf3 Kh3 48.Bg2+ Kh2 49.Bfl Kgl SO.Kxg3 Kxfl S 1 .Kh4 Ke2 S2.KgS Kd3 53.cS bxcS S4.bxcS .•.

White misses a chance to draw with 54.b5 c4 5 5 .b6 c3 56.b7 c2 57.b8Q c1Q. 54

..•

dxcS SS.KxfS c 4 S6.KeS c3 S7.fS c 2 S8.f6 c 1 Q 0-1

Nelson, James ( 1 6 1 0) - Pearson, Alex ( I S6 1 )

Boulder Open, 1 985 l.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 dS 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 N c 6 6.Nbd2 B d 6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.dxcS BxcS 1 0.e4 d4 H .eS Nd7 1 2.Bxh7+ ! Kxh7

Or 12 . . . Kh8 1 3 .Bc2 dxc3 1 4.Qe4 and White will remain up a pawn. 13.NgS+ Kg6 1 4.Qe4+ fS I S.exf6+ Kxf6?

With 1 5 . . . Kxg5 1 6.fxg7 Kh6 1 7.gxf8R Bxf8 1 8 .Nf3+ Kg7 1 9.Qg4+ Kh8 20.Qh3+ Kg8 2 1 .Qxe6+ Kh8 22.Ng5 and Black avoids the mate. 16.Qxe6+ KxgS 1 7.Nf3+ 1-0

1 7 . . . Kh5 1 8.g4#.

50

THE DOGS OF WAR

Mingos, John (1 800) - Cook, Charles

Correspondence, 1968 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 dS 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Be7 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.0-0 b6 8.Qe2 h6 9.e4 Bb7 1 0.dxcS BxcS l l .eS Nfd7 1 2.Re 1 Nc6 13.Nfl d4? 14.Qe4 fS l S.exf6 Rxf6 1 6.Qh7+ Kf7 1 7.Ng3 1-0

Threatening 1 8 . Nh5 and no matter what Black tries, he still has to go down the exchange i.e. 1 7 . . . Qh8 1 8 .Qxh8 Rxh8 19.Ne4 Rxf3 20.gxf3 . Nelson, James ( 1 786) - Plett, M (1 9S3)

Colorado Open, 1987 In our analysis of the games in this book, one recurring theme we discovered is that whenever Black foregoes castling early, he often gets into big trouble. l.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 dS 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0-0 b6 8.NeS NxeS 9.dxeS Nd7 1 0.f4 c4 l l .Bc2 BcS 1 2.Nf3 f6 1 3.Nd4 Bxd4 1 4.QhS+ Ke7? l S.exd4 g6 1 6.Qh4 Kf7 1 7.exf6 Nxf6 1 8.g4 Bd7? 1 9.fS Ne4 20.fxg6+ Kxg6 2 1 .Qh6# 1-0

Stuart, Phil ( 1 8 8 1 ) - Infranca

Jamaica C.C. Championship, 1980 l.d4 Nf6 2.e3 dS 3.Bd3 e 6 4.Nf3 h6 S.Nbd2 b6 6.0-0 N c 6 7.c3 Be7 8.Re 1 0-0 9.Qc2 Qd6 1 0.e4 dxe4 l l .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 2.Bxe4 Bf6 1 3.Be3 Rb8 1 4.Rad1 Ne7 1 S.Qd2 c6? 1 6.Bf4 eS 1 7.dxeS Qxd2 1 8.Rxd2 BgS 1 9.NxgS hxgS 20.BxgS Re8? 2 1 .Bxe7 Rxe7 22.Rd8+ 1-0

Weyrauch, C. ( 1 770) - Fisk, Lawrence (1 640)

1 6th BCC, 199 1 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 dS 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0-0 0o 8.Qe2 Bd7 9.dxcS BxcS 1 0.e4 dxe4 l l .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 2.Bxe4 Rb8 13.Bf4 Rc8 1 4.Rad1 Qe7 1 S.b4 Bb6? 1 6.Bd6 Qe8 1 7.Bxh7+! Kxh7 1 8.NgS+ 1-0

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

51

Mingos, John (2 1 90) - Rigo, Bernard

USA-Australia Correspondence, 1 992 I.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 c5 4.c3 b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 S.e4 d6 9.Qe2 Nc6 1 0.a3 cxd4 1 l .cxd4 e5 1 2 .d5± NbS 1 3.b4 Nbd7 1 4.Bb2 g6 1 5.Rac1 NeS I 6.Bb5 h6 1 7.Bc6 Bxc6 1 S .dxc6 Ndf6 19.Rfd l QcS 20.b5 Nc7 2 1 .a4 Ne6 22.h3 Nf4 23.Qe3 g5 24.Nc4 g4? 25.Nxd6 Bxd6 26.Rxd6 NeS 27.Nxe5

White misses the chance to finish off the game nicely with 27.Rxh6 f6 (2 7. . . gxj3 28. Qxf4 and the queen cannot be captured because of 29.Rh8#.) 28 .Nxe5 fxe5 29.Bxe5 and Black's material deficit and exposed king is too much to overcome. 27... Nxh3+ 2S.gxh3 Nxd6 29.Qxh6 1-0

29 . . . Qe6 (The alternative 29. . /6 also loses to 30. Qg6+ Kh8 31.Nxg4 Nxe4 32. Qxe4 Qe8 33. Q{5 Qe 7) 30.Qg5+ Kh7 and Black is helpless against the onslaught of White 's pieces. Gholson, Steve (1 527) - Newey, Richard (1 6S0)

Western States Open, 1 994 I.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nbd2 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.exd4 Bd6 S.O-O 0-0 9.Re l Qc7 1 0.Qc2N b6 1 l .Nfl h6 1 2.Qe2 Nd7 1 3 .Bb5 ? ! Bb7 1 4.Bxc6 Bxc6

White impulsively deviated from the typical Colle kingside attack by playing the bishop to b5 and immediately trading it off, giving Black the bishop pair. 15.Ne5 Nxe5 1 6.dxe5 Bc5 1 7.b4 Be7 1 S.Qg4 Kh7 19.Ng3 RgS 20.Nh5 Bb5 2 1 .a4 Bd3 22 .Qd4 Qc4 23.Be3 RacS 24.Nf4 Qxd4 25.Bxd4 Bc4 26.a5 BdS 27.Rec 1 RaS 2S.g3 Bc7 29.Ng2 RgbS 30.Ne3 Bd3 3 1 .c4 bxa5 32.cxd5 axb4 ? !

Black sacrifices his bishop i n order t o get two connected passed pawns which, from a tactical perspective, proves not to be enough. A more practical continuation is 32 . . . Bb6 3 3 .Bxb6 axb6 34.bxa5 Rxa5 3 5 .Rxa5 bxa5 . 33 .Rxc7 as 34.Rxti b3 35.Bb2 a4 36.dxe6 Be4 37.Rf4 Bg6 3S.Rfxa4 Rxa4 39.Rxa4 RdS 40.Rb4 Bc2 4 1 .e7 ReS 42.Nd5 Kg6 43.Rf4 1-0

THE

52

DOGS OF WAR

Boroviak - Van der Westhuizer

Postal, 1977 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 cS 3.e3 dS 4.c3 Nbd7 S.Nbd2 g6 6.Bd3 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.e4 eSN 1 0.dxeS NxeS 1 l .NxeS QxeS 1 2.f4 Qc7 1 3 .eS Nd7 1 4.Nf3 Re8 I S.Qfl f6 1 6.exf6 Nxf6 1 7.Qh4 Ne4 1 8.NgS NxgS 1 9.QxgS Be6 20.fS BxfS 2 1 .BxfS gxfS 22.QxfS Rad8?

Allowing White to develop with tempo. Black should play 22 . . . d4 ! ? to gain space for his rooks and bishop. 23 .BgS Rd7 24.Rae l Re4?

Loses a pawn. 2S.Rxe4 dxe4 26.Qxe4 QeS 27.Qg4 Rf7 28.Qc4 Qc7 29.Bf4 Qd7 30.Bb8 a6 3 1 .a3 bS 32 .Rxfi Qxfi 33 .QxcS Qa2 34.Qc8+ Bf8 3S.Qg4+ Bg7 36.Qe2 Qb l + 37.Kf2 QfS+ 38.Qf3 Qc2+ 39.Kel Qb l + 40.Qd l Qe4+ 4 1 .Kfl B f8 42.Kgl h6 43 .Ba7 Be7 44.Bfl Kh7 4S.Qel Qb7 46.Qe6 1-O

Boroviak - Jacobs

Golden Knights Postal, 1974 I .Nf3 dS 2.d4 Nf6 3 .e3 cS 4.c3 Nc6 S.Bd3 e6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.dxcS BxcS 9.e4 Qc7 1 0.Qe2 Bd6 1 l .Rel Ng4

An interesting repositioning of the knight that begins a wholesale exchange of pieces in the center. 1 2 .h3 NgeS 1 3 .NxeS NxeS 14.exdSN Nxd3 I S.Qxd3 exdS 1 6.QxdS Bh2+ 17.Kh l Be6 1 8.QhS Rad8 1 9.Nf3 RdS ? ! 20.NgS

On the surface this move serves the dual purpose of defending the queen while threatening mate, but White 's main obj ective is to create and exploit the weak pawn on e6. 20 h6 2 1 .Nxe6 fxe6 22 .Qe2 ReS 23 .Be3 RefS 24.g3 Bxg3 2S.fxg3 Qxg3 26.Qg2 Rf3 27.Qxg3 Rxg3 28.Bxa7 RfS 29.Kh2 Rd3 30.Rad l Rdf3 3 1 .Rgl RaS 32 .Bd4 eS 33 .Kg2 Rf6 34.Be3 Rxa2 3S.Bc1 e4 3 6.Rd8+ Kh7 37.Re l Rf3 38.c4 Rc3 39.Rd4 Rc2+ •..

Black does well to get both rooks to the second rank, but there simply is no mating net to be found. 40.Kf1 Rh2 4 1 .Rdxe4 Ra l 42.Kgl Rc2 43.Bd2 Rxe l + 44.Bxe l Rxb2 4S.Bc3 Rb3 46.Re3 bS 47.cS b4 48.Bd4 Rb l + 49.Kg2 b3 SO.Re7 b2 S 1 .Rxg7+ 1-0

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

53

Culbertson, Wayne (1 604) - Schechter, Neil (1 640)

St. Louis, MO, 1 992 l.d4 e 6 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 d S 4.NO c S S.c3 c4 6.Bc2 Bd6 7.0-0 bS 8.Nbd2 Bb7 9.Qe2 Qc7 1 0.a4 a6 1 1 .e4

This essential pawn break frees the queen bishop and will gain space in the center if allowed to advance to e 5 . 1l ... dxe4 1 2.Nxe4 Nbd7 l 3.BgS NdS 1 4.axbS axbS I S.Rxa8+ Bxa8 16.Ra l 0-0 1 7.Ra6 N7b6 1 8.Nxd6 Qxd6 1 9.Qe4

1 9.Ne5 is another thematic Colle System attacking line and Black must resist the temptation to play 1 9 . . . f6 because of 20.Qh5 fxe5 2 1 .Qxh7+ Kf7 22.Bg6#. 19 g6 20.Qh4 Bb7 2 1 .Ra7 Qb8 22.RaS Bc6 23.NeS Qb7 24.Be4 Ra8 2 S.Rxa8+ Qxa8 26.Bc l ? .•.

26.h3 ! ? sufficiently defends against the back rank mate and allows White to keep his pieces poised for attack after 26 . . . Qe8 27.Bd8. 26... Be8?

Black in tum should press his attack with 26 . . . Qa l 27.Qh6 Nxc3 28.Nxc6 (threatening 29.Ne 7+ Kh8 30. Qf8#) Ne2+ 29.Kfl Qxc l + 30.Qxc l Nxc l . 27.Qh6 Qa4 28.Qd2 Qa7 29.h4 Qe7 3 0.Qh6 b4 3 1 .cxb4 Qxb4 32.NO c3 33.bxc3 Qxc3 34.Bd2 Qal + 3S.Kh2 Qa7 36.NgS Nf6

THE DOGS OF WAR

54

White did not defend the g4 square on the previous move with 3 6.Ne5 and it is mandatory that he do so now with 37 .Bf3 . Instead he blunders. 37.Bf4 ? ? Ng4+ 0-1

Stuart, Phil ( 1 8 8 1 ) - Lorie, J. ( 1 1 3 1 )

1988 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g 6 3.e3 d5 4.Nbd2 Bg7 5.Bd3 0-0 6.0-0 N c 6 7.c3 Re8 8.e4 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 1 0.Nxe5

The knight which started out grimly has finessed its way onto an imposing square on e5 . White quickly removes this annoying piece. 10 Rxe5 1 1 .f4 Re8 1 2.e5 Ng4 1 3.Nf3 c5 1 4.h3 Nh6 1 5.Be3 c4 1 6.Bc2 Bf5 1 7.Bd4 Bxc2 1 8.Qxc2 Nf5 1 9.Rae l Ng3 20.Rfl as 2 1 .Kh2 Ne4 22.Rfe2 b5 23.Nd2 Nxd2 24.Qxd2 Qd7 25.Qe3 b4 26.Qf3 Rab8 27.g4 bxc3 28.Qxc3 a4 29.Rf2 Qc7 3 0.Kh l Bf8 3 1 .Qf3 Be7 32.Rfe2 Bb4 33.Rfl Qc6 34.f5 Rf8? 35.Qe3 ..•

Passive play by Black allows White to take the initiative. 35

..•

Bc5 36.Qh6

Threatening 37.f6 and mate on g7. 36 ... Rfe8 37.e6 ! f6 38.fxg6 Rb7 39.Rxf6 Rg7 40.gxh7+ Kh8 4 1 .e7! 1-0

4 1 .e7 Qxf6 42.Bxf6 Rexe7 43 .Rxe7 and mate next move.

Practical PIt!) in The Colle System

55

Berg, Peter ( 1 467) - Gray, Douglas ( l S44)

Arlington C.C., 1 990 1.d4 Nf6 2.NfJ d S 3.e3 e 6 4.Nbd2 c S S.c3 Nc6 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.NeS NxeS 9.dxeS Nd7 1 0.NfJ f6 1 l . exf6 Bxf6 1 2.Qc2 h6 13.Re 1 eS 1 4.e4

The simple answer to Black's premature pawn advance is to strike back in the center with e4. 14

•..

c4?

If 14 . . . d4 then 1 5 .b4 attacks the pawn chain at its base. l S.Bn Nb6 1 6.Be3 Qd6

16 . . . Bg4 ! ? is an interesting alternative for Black in an effort to slow White 's attack after 1 7.exd5 Bxf3 1 8 .gxf3 Qxd5 . 17.Rad 1

Black's pawns on c4 and d5 are overextended largely as a result of Black's aggressive 1 3 . . . e5 pawn push. 17

•..

d4? 1 8.cxd4 exd4 1 9.Nxd4 Be6 20.Nxe6

White can win a piece with 20.e5 ! ? Qxe5 2 1 .Bc l Qxe l 22.Rxe l Bxd4 23 .Rxe6 Rxt2 24.Qxt2 Bxt2+ 2S.Kxt2 Kf7. 20 Qxe6 2 1 .Bxb6 Qxb6 22.Bxc4+ Kh8 23.b3 Bd4 24.Re2 Rad8 2S.Rn Rf4 2 6.eS Qc7 27.e6 Rh4? •••

Threatens mate, but Black should be more concerned with the advance of the passed e-pawn and play 27 . . . Qe7. 28.g3 Rh3 29.Kg2 RhS 30.e7 Qc6+ 3 1 .Qe4 Re8 32.Qxc6 bxc6 33.Bti 1-0

If 33 . . . Rxe7 then 34.Rxe7.

Practical Plqy in The Colle �stem

57

The Game is Afoot! " I t was o n a bitterly cold night and frosty morning, towards the end of the winter of 1897, that I was awakened by a tugging at my shoulder. It was Holmes. The candle in his hand shone upon his eager, stooping face, and told me at a glance that something was amiss. " ' Come, Watson, come ! ' he cried. 'The game is afoot. Not a word ! Into your clothes and come ! ' " From

The Adventure of the Abbey Grange by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1904.

Black employs a multitude of defenses to counter the Colle System including the Dutch Defense, the King's Indian Defense, the Pirc, the Benoni, the Tarrasch and the Queen's Indian Defense. Black invents an innovative array of symmetrical and asymmetrical lines and a few curious flank openings designed to unbalance the position, rattle White and shake things up. The solid Indian Defenses are effective alternatives to the d7 -d5 classical defenses to the Colle System and can prove to be very viable "anti-Colle" tactics that serve to alter the comfortable nature of the Colle setup.

58

THE

D OGS O F WAR

Ferraiuolo, Jim (947) - LaMonica, Anthony (I S67)

Marshall CC, 2004 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Bd3 0-0 S.O-O d6 6.b3 Nbd7 7.Bb2 b6 S.Nbd2 Bb7 9.c4 cS 1 0.dS eS

Black adopts an unusual defense with both bishops fianchettoed and pawns on . . . c5 and . . . e5 . 1 l .Ne4 Nxe4 1 2 .Bxe4 fS 1 3.Bc2 Nf6 1 4.Nd2 NhS I S .e4 f4 1 6.Nf3 BcS I 7.Bd3 Bg4 I S.Be2 Bxf3

The pawn structure dictates the course of any game. In this game, the pawn structure severely limits the scope of the bishops (especially White 's). Black has the only "good" bishop, but he improvidently trades it off. 1 9.Bxf3 Nf6 20.g4 gS 2 1 .Kg2 Kfi 22.Rh l RhS 23.h3 QeS 24.Qe2 Ke7 2S.a4 hS 26.Rh2 hxg4 27.hxg4 Rxh2+ 2S.Kxh2 Qg6 29.Rh l RhS+ 30.Kgl Rxh l + 3 1 .Bxh l Nd7 %-%

Schell, Chalmers (1 00S) - Smith, Floyd (1 246)

Ohio Open, 1995 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 BfS 4.Nbd2 e 6 S.Be2 B e 7 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Re l a6 S.c3 0-0 9.Nfl cS 1 0.Ng3 Bg6 1 l .Nh4 Be4 1 2 .f3 Bg6 1 3 .Nxg6 fxg6 1 4.Bd3

Prevented from playing a main line, White adapts to the moves being

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

59

made over the board and incorporates the thematic maneuvers inherent in the Colle System. 14 QeS l S.e4 c4 1 6.Bc2 Qfi 1 7.eS NeS l S.Rfl KhS 1 9.Be3 Bh4 20.B12 BgS 2 1 .Qe1 bS 22.Ne2 Be7 23.Bh4 Bxh4 24.Qxh4 Nc7 2S.f4 RaeS 26.Rf3 Qe7 27.Qh3 Qfi 2S.Rg3 KgS 29.Rf1 as 3 0.Rg4 a4 3 1 .Rh4 h6 32.Rg4 gS 33.RxgS RaS 34.Qxh6 RfcS 3S.Bh7+ Kf8 36.Qh4 NeS 37.Bg6 QgS 3 S.RhS Ra7 39.RhS QxhS 40.QxhS+ Ke7 41 .Qh4+ Kf8 42.fS exfS 43.RxfS+ KgS 44.Qh7# 1-0 .••

Shock, Clifford (1 902) - Maddocks, Ronnie (1 220)

U.S. Amateur Teams South, 1 994 An unusual and unorthodox defense works well for Black in this game. Even though he misses some devastating shots, he does manage to bring home the upset win. 1.d4 dS 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 cS 4.c3 Nc6 S.Bd3 cxd4 6.exd4 Bd6 7.0-0 Qc7 S.Re1 Bd7 9.h3 Nge7 1 0.a3 h6 1 1 .Nbd2 gS 1 2.Nfl f6 1 3.Ne3 hS 14.c4 g4 l S.hxg4 hxg4 1 6.Nxg4 0-0-0 1 7.Nxf6 Nxd4 l S.Nxd4 BeS? 19.Nf3 ?

White can keep the initiative with 1 9.Nxd7 Bxd4 20.Qg4 Qh2+ 2 1 .Kfl . 19 ... Bxf6 20.cxdS NxdS 2 1 .Re4 eS 22.Bd2 Bc6 23.BgS? Qh7 24.Rh4 Qg7 2S.RxhS RxhS 26.BfS+ KbS 27.Bxf6 Qxf6 2S.Qc2 ? Nf4 29.Rc 1

THE

60

29

..•

DOGS OF WAR

RgS

Black misses the annihilating 29 . . . Qh6 30.Bh7 (not 30.Kfl Qhl + 31.NgI Qxg2+) 30 . . . Rxh7 3 1 .Qxh7 Qxh7 32.Rxc6 bxc6 33 .NxeS . 30.g4? a6

More to the point would be 30 . . . Rh8 3 1 .QcS Ne2+ 32.Kfl Nxc l . 3 1 .Qe4 Nh3+ 32.Kg2 Nf4+ 33.Kgl BdS 34.Qe3 ? Ne2+ 0-1

Cavaliere, Peter ( 1 74S) - Presting, H. (204S)

U. S . Open, 1 986 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6N 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nbd2 d6 S.Bd3 0-0 6.e3 eS 7.0-0 Nbd7 S.NgS b6 9.e4 exd4 1 0.exd4 Bb7 H.dS

Black's double fianchetto is proving to be a challenging defense for White to combat. Although White's text move gains space, it places the center pawns under considerable pressure. H

NeS 1 2.Be2 h6 1 3.Nh3 e6 1 4.dxe6 fxe6 I S.f3

..•

I S .Nf4 ! ? is a chance for counterplay. If I S . . . Rf7 1 6.Nb3 Bxe4 1 7.NxcS dxcS 1 8 .Qe2 Bxc2 1 9.Qxc2 and White will win back the pawn. I S Nfd7 1 6.Nb3 Qe7 1 7.Nd4 Ba6 I S.Ne2 Kh7 1 9.Rb l NeS 20.Nf2 RaeS 2 1 .b4 Ned7 22.Bb3 Ne4 23.a4 NdeS 24.bS Bb7 2 S.f4 Nd7 26.Nd4 RfeS 27.fS exfS? 2S.exfS •.•

White has regained the initiative. 2S

Nf8 29.fxg6+ Nxg6 30.NfS NgeS 3 1 .Bxe4 Nxe4 32.QhS Re6

•..

33.Ng4 ? ?

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

61

The pawn on h6 is under heavy attack but i s sufficiently defended. Adding the knight to the attack is a terrible mistake on White's part. (33 .Rb3 would have given White better winning chances (Cavaliere)) . I f 3 3 .Rb3 Rg6 34.Rg3 Rxg3 3 5 .hxg3 (35.Nxg3 ?! Rj8). 33

.••

Qc5+ !

33 .Ng4? allowed this crushing check! 34.Kh l Qd5 3 5.Rgl

White must defend against mate before he has a chance to continue his attack on the Black king. If 3 5 . Qh3 Qxf5 ! ! 36.Rxf5?? (But after 36.Bxh6 Qe4 3 7.Bf4+ and the win for Black is not so obvious any more.) 3 6 . . . Re l + 37.Rfl Rxfl #. 35

.••

Qxg2+

0-1

36.Rxg2 Re l #. Mingos, John (1 928) - Brandt, Peter (1 822)

J.C.c. Ladder, 1 990 John Mingos, a prolific Colle System player, contributed many of his games to us for this book. The following game is not a Colle, but it is a special line that John says he uses against the King's Indian Defense. When not allowed to play the Colle, White must adapt hislher strategy to the changing terrain of the chessboard. l .d4 Nf6 2.NO g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.c4 0-0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 Bd7 7.b4 c6 8.0-0 Na6 9.b5 cxb5 1 0.cxb5 Nc7 1 l .a4 b6 1 2.Ba3 Bc8 1 3.Re l Bb7

THE

62

DOGS OF WAR

1 4.Qb3 ReS 1 5.Re2 Ned5 1 6.Rfe l Nxe3 1 7.Rxe3 Rxe3 I S.Qxe3 Qd7 1 9.Qb3 Dd5 20.Qe2 Db7 2 1 .Qb3 Dd5 22.De4 Db7 23.d5 Ne4 24.Qd3 Ne5 25.Dxe5 dxe5 26.e4 Qd6 27.Rel De5 2S.g3 DeS 29.Nxe5 Qxe5 30.f4 Qf6 3 1 .e5 Qg7 32.d6 Df5 33.Qdl

33

.•.

e6?

Black hallucinates in an equal position. 33 . . . exd6 34.Qxd6 g5 (34. . . Re8 35. Qc 7 Be6 36.Bxe6Jxe6 3 7. Qc6 and White 's advantage is lessened.) 3 5 . fxg5 Qxg5 36.e6 fxe6 37.Bxe6+ Bxe6 maintains equality. 34.g4 g5 35.gxf5 gxf4+ 36.Kh l KhS 37.f6 Qg5 3S.d7 RgS

3 S . . . RdS 3 9.Bd3 f3 40.Qxf3 h5 4 1 .Rg l Qxe5 42.Qg2 Qxf6 43 .Qe2 Qh6 44.Qe5+ f6 45.Qxe6 RfS 46.QeS f5 47.dSQ Qc6+ 4S .bxc6 RxeS 49.Qxe8+ Kh7 50.Qxh5#. 39.Rgl Qxe5

39 . . . Qg6 40.Rxg6 fxg6 4 1 .d8Q g5 42.Bxe6 Rxd8 43 .Qxd8#. 40.RxgS+ KxgS 4 1 .dSR# 1-0

Hillyer, Martin (1 629) - Gifford, Gary ( I S71)

1 994 From a practical point of view Black does very well with this unorthodox flank opening. He does exactly what a player ofthe Black pieces should be doing in order to win a game - he gets White out of his book early. Theoretically White should have no problem meeting this line of play, but he fails to correctly assess the position and his passive play allows Black to build a positional advantage. l .d4 a6 2.NfJ h6 3.e3 b5 4.Dd3 Db7 5.Nbd2 e6 6.e4 e5 7.e3 g5 S.h3

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

63

Nc6 9.0-0 c 4 1 0.Bb l Q c 7 l l .e5 f5 1 2.Re l Nge7 1 3.Nh2

The lack of tangible targets causes White to drift into an inferior position. 13

.•.

h5 1 4.b3 Na5

Black has a considerable spatial advantage and a strong bishop on the open a8-h 1 diagonal. 1 5.bxc4

White's attempt to open up the position only helps Black to target the weak pawn on c3 . 15

Nxc4 1 6.Nxc4 Qxc4 1 7.Qd3

.•.

White plays too conservatively. 1 7.BxgS ! ? eliminates Black's important g-pawn and strives for counterplay after 1 7 . . . NdS 1 8 .Bd3 N xc3 1 9. Qd2 QdS (or 19 . . . Qc6 ) 20.Nf3 . 17

•.•

Qc6 1 8.Qf3 Qc7

Black can add to his spatial advantage with 1 8 . . . Qxf3 1 9.Nxf3 g4 20.NgS gxh3 2 1 .Nxh3 NdS . 1 9.Qd3 g4 2 0.h4 Nd5 2 1 .Bg5 Be7 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.Qd2 Rag8 24.Rc 1 Qc6

Black's queen and bishop battery on the a8-h 1 diagonal along with his pawns on fS and g4 powerfully control the light squares. 25.Bd3 Nf4 26.Bfl Nh3+ 27.Kh l g3 28.fxg3 Rxg3 29.Nf3 ? Rhg8

After 29 . . . Rxf3 30.dS (If30.gxj3 Qxj3 + 31.Bg2 Nj2+) 30 . . . Qb6 Black has more threats than White can deal with. 30.Kh2

30.Qe3 f4 3 1 .dS QxdS 32.Qd4 Rxf3 33 .Rc2 does not slow down Black's attack. 30

..•

Qe4 3 1 .Rel Qg4 32.Re2 Nf4

THE

64

D OGS OF WAR

32 . . . Rxf3 leads to mate after 3 3 .c4 Qxh4 34.Qb4+ Ke8 3 S . Qe7+ Kxe7 36.Re4 Qg3+ 3 7.Kh l Rxfl + 3 8 .Rxfl Qxg2#. 33.Rfl Bxf3 34.gxf3

34.Kg l leads to mate after 34 . . . Nh3+ 3 S .Kh2 Nxf2 36.Qxf2 Bxg2 37.Qb2 Rh3+ 38.Kg l Bxfl + 39.Kf2 Qg3+ 40.Kxfl Qg l + 4 1 .Ke2 Rg2#. 34 ... Qh3+! ! 35.Bxh3 0-1

Mingos, John ( I S71) - Brandt, Peter (I S22) w. Ladder, 1 990 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.e4 0-0 5.Bd3 d6 6.b4

Against the King's Indian Defense, Mr. Mingos again plays his special line. 6

•..

Bg4 7.0-0 e5 S.h3

Putting the question to the bishop to fish or cut bait. S ... Bd7

Given the choice Black retreats the knight when 8 . . . Bxf3 ! ? 9.Qxf3 Nc6 would challenge White 's spatial advantage on the queenside. 9.Qb3 Qe7 1 0.Nbd2 Ne6 1 1 .bxe5 dxe5 1 2.Rb l exd4 1 3.exd4

White 's hanging pawns are not yet a liability as they are supported by his minor pieces. 1 3 ...RabS 14.Rel RfeS 1 5.a4 e5

Begins a series of exchanges in the center which gives Black the initiative. His queen is centrally located and White 's queenside pawns are now disconnected. 1 6.dxe5 Nxe5 1 7.Nxe5 Rxe5 1 S.Rxe5 Qxe5 1 9.Nf3 Qh5?

Loses a valuable tempo. 20.Bf4 ReS 2 1 .Qxb7 Qa5

Black should have played this on move 1 9. 22.Be2 BeS 23.Qb5 Qe3 24.Rc 1 Qa3 25.e5 a6 2 6.Qe4 Nd7 27.Bb3 Nf6 ? ?

No better is 27 ... NeS 28 .NxeS Be6 29.Qxa6 Qxb3 . 2S.Qxf7+

28 .NgS ! (Mingos) 2S

..•

KhS 29.Qe4

White offered a draw after this move (Mingos). Black's pieces are hovering around White 's queen and White elects to retreat in a complicated position. White should be attacking and in fact has two good choices to advance his pieces : 29.Rd l QxcS 30.Bd6 Qb6 3 1 .NeS ; or 29.NeS Rf8 30.Qc4 as 3 1 .Nf7+. 29

.•.

Be6

Practical PIt!} in The Colle �stem

65

White's timid 29th move allows Black to fonnulate a counterattack. 30.Qxa6 Qxb3

3 1 .Re l

An interesting line is 3 1 .Nd4 Bc8 32.Qxf6 Bxf6? 3 3 .Nxb3 Re4 34.Be3 and White has regained his piece while keeping his additional pawns. But Black can keep the position equal by playing 32 . . . Qb2 3 3 . Qc6 Rf8 34.Be3 Bxd4. 31

•••

Qc4 32.Qxc4 Bxc4 33.Rxe8+ Nxe8 34.Ne5 Bxe5 35.Bxe5+

With queens off the board White's three pawns to Black's knight is not enough to win the game because the bishops of opposite color will make it difficult for White to queen a pawn. 35 Kg8 3 6.f4 Kfi 37.Kf2 Ke6 3 8.Ke3 Bd5 39.g4 Nf6 40.Bxf6 Kxf6 4 1 .Kd4 Bc6 42.a5 h6 43.a6 Ke6 44.a7 Bb7 45.Kc4 Bc6 46.Kb4 Kd5? •••

With proper endgame technique, Black can draw the game with 46 . . . g 5 47.fxg5 (lf4 7.f5+ Kd5 48f6 Ke6 49.Ka5 Kxf6 50.Kb6 Ba8 51.Kc 7 Ke6 52.Kb8) 4 7 . . . hxg5 48.Kc4 Ke5 . 47.h4 Ke4 48.g5 h5 49.Ka5 Kxf4 50.Kb6 Ba8 5 1 .c6 1-0

White will queen a pawn after 5 1 . . . Kg3 52.c7 Kxh4 53 .c8Q. Litvak, Augustin ( 1 3 1 9) - George, Bruce (1 569)

World Open, 1 993 l .d4

In this position Black could play the prosaic 1 . . .d5 or 1 . . .Nf6, but (we

THE

66

DOGS OF WAR

can only assume) Black is bound and determined to get White out of his book early. 1 h6 2.e3 gS 3 .Bd3 Nf6 4.Nd2 dS S.h3 eS 6.e3 e4 7.Be2 Bd7 S.Ndf3 Ne6 9.b3 bS 1 0.bxe4 bxe4 1 l .Ba3 ? ! ..•

B y playing this move White loses a tempo and hands over the initiative to Black. More in keeping with the spirit of the opening would be I l .Ne5. 1l

Q a S 1 2 .Bb2 RbS 1 3 .Qc1 e6

..•

Black is playing sharply on the queenside and can get a passed pawn if he plays 1 3 . . .Nb4 1 4.Bb l Nd3+ 1 5 .Bxd3 cxd3 . 1 4.NeS Nb4 I S.Nxd7 Nxd7 1 6.Ne2 ?

16

•.•

Nxe2+? !

1 6 . . . Nd3+ and Black is winning after 1 7.Bxd3 cxd3 1 8 .Ng3 Nb6 1 9.Rb l Nc4. 1 7.Qxe2 Ba3 I S.Bxa3 Qxa3 1 9.Rb l 0-0 20.0-0 Nb6 2 1 .f4 Na4 22.fxgS hxgS 23.Qd2 Rb2 24.Rxb2 Qxb2 2S.Qxb2 Nxb2 26.Rb l RbS 27.a3 ?

This move relinquishes control of the important b3 square. Black does not hesitate to take advantage of this oversight. 27

Rb3 2S.Kh2 Nd3 29.Ral Rb2 30.Ng3 Re2 3 1 .e4 Rxe3

.•.

3 1 . . .Nf4 is a more efficient way to take advantage of White 's plight after 32.Rg l Rxc3 3 3 .Rfl Rxa3 34.exd5 exd5 3 5 .Rf2. 32 .exdS exdS 33 .NfS Rb3 34.Ne7+ Kg7 3S.NxdS e 3 36.Nb4? Nxb4 37.axb4 Rxb4 3S.Rc 1 Re4 39.Kg3 as 40.dS ? ! e2 4 1 .Kf3 Kf6 42.Ke3 KeS 43.Kd2 KxdS 44.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 4S.Kxe2 Ke4 0-1

Practical PIt!) in The Colle System

67

Mingos, John - Rockman, Charles

Correspondence, 1 968 l .d4 Nf6 2.NO e6 3.e3 cS 4.c3 Nc6 S.Bd3N cxd4 6.exd4 Ne7 7.0o Ng6 S.NeS Qc7 9.f4 b6 1 0.Nd2 Bb7 H .NdO Bd6 1 2.NgS Rf8? 13.Qe2

An interesting idea is 1 3 .Nxh7 ! ? Nxh7 1 4.Nxg6 fxg6 1 5 .Bxg6+ Kd8 1 6.Bxh7 g5 . 13 ... Nh4 1 4.Ne4 Nxe4 I S.Bxe4 f6?

Unnecessarily weakening the pawn shield protecting the Black king. Better would have been 1 5 . . . Bxe4 ! ? 1 6.Qxe4 O----(k) . 1 6.Bxb7 Qxb7 1 7.QhS+ 1-0

If 1 7 . . . Ng6 1 8 .Qxh7. Carson, Anthea ( 1 63 0) - McKenna, Jim

Pike 's Peak Open, 2004 l.d4 Nf6 2.NO e6 3.e3 dS 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 c4 6.Bc2 bS 7.Nbd2 Nc6 S.O-O Be7 9.Qe2 Qc7 1 0.e4 eS?

This is an important countermove for Black to achieve but it must be timely made. It aims to free the queen bishop and prevent White from advancing with e5, however, in this position, Black has not properly prepared it. H .exdS NxdS 1 2.NxeS Be6 1 3.f4 0-0-0 1 4.fS NxeS I S.fxe6 Ng6 16.exti Ngf4 1 7.Qg4+ KbS I S.Ne4 gS 1 9.NxgS BxgS 20.QxgS Ne2+ 2 1 .Kh l h6 22.QeS QxeS 23.dxeS Nxc 1 24.Raxc1 Ne3 2S.Rfel l-O

Steen, Harold (1 602) - Imai, Toshio (1 400)

Michigan Open, 200 1 l.d4 cS 2.e3 g6 3.NO Nf6 4.Bd3 Bg7 S.O--O cxd4 6.exd4 0--0 7.b3 dS S.Bb2 Nc6 9.a3 a6 1 0.Nbd2 bS H .NeS Qc7 1 2.f4 e6 13.Rn Nd7 14.Rh3 fS I S.NdO NdxeS 1 6.fxeS Bb7? 1 7.NgS RaeS? I S.Nxh7 Rti 19.NgS Rfe7 20.Qel BhS 2 1 .Qh4 1-0 Jacobsohn, Peter ( 1 600) - Alexander, Bill ( 1 73 1 )

1 990 l .d4 b6 2.NO e6 3.Nbd2 Bb7 4.e3 Nf6 S.Bd3 dS 6.0--0 cS 7.b3 Nc6 S.c3 Be7 9.Rel cxd4 1 0.exd4 0-0 H .Nfl ReS 1 2.Qc2 QcS 13.BgS Ba6 1 4.NeS Bxd3 I S.Qxd3 Ne4 1 6.Bxe7 Nxe7 1 7.c4 Nf6 IS.Rac1

68

THE

DOGS OF WAR

dxc4 19.Rxc4 Qb7 20.Recl Nfd5 2 1 .Qf3 Nf5 22.Rc7 Qb8?

More effective would have been 22 . . . Qxc7 23.Rxc7 Nxc7. 23.Rxti Nxd4? ?

This move costs Black the game. Black can try 23 . . . Rf8 24.Nd7 Qf4 25.Rxf8+ Rxf8 26.Nxf8 Qxf3 27.gxf3 Kxf8 28.Rc8+ Kf7 but White still has a clear advantage. 24.Rxg7+!

24 Kxg7 25.Qg4+ Kf6 2 6.Nd7+ Ke7 27.Nxb8 Raxb8 28.Qxd4 Rg8 29.Ne3 Rbd8 3 0.Qh4+ Ke8 3 1 .Nxd5 Rxd5 32.Qxh7 •.•

32.Qf6 Rd6 3 3 .h3 e5 34.Qxd6 Rxg2+ 3 5 .Kxg2 b5 36.Qe6+ Kf8 3 7.Rc8+ Kg7 3 8 .Rg8#. 32 ...RfB 33.g3 Rd7 34.Rc8+ Rd8 35.Rxd8+ 1-0

White elects to go for an overwhelming material advantage after 3 5 . . . Kxd8 36.Qxa7, sparing Black from being checkmated with 3 5 .Rc7 Rd l + 36.Kg2 Rxf2+ 37.Kxf2 Rd2+ 3 8 .Ke3 Rd3+ 3 9.Kxd3 Kd8 40.Qe7#.

Ferrell, Lester (1355) - Stewart, Douglas (1 820)

Firecracker Fizzle III, 2004 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.Bd3 d5 5.c3 b6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Nbd2 Bb7 8.Rel 0-0 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 cxd4 1 l .Nxf6+ Qxf6 l 2.Bg5 Bxf3

Practical PI'!) in The CoJie �stem

69

13.Bxf6?

White throws away the advantage when he should be calmly sidestepping the threat to his own queen with 1 3 .Qd2 Bf4 (Not 13 . . . dxc3 1 4. bxc3) 1 4.Bxf4. 13

•.•

BxdI 1 4.Bxd4?

White has lost a piece and with it the game. 14 Ba4 I S.Be4 Bc6 1 6.Rad l Bxe4 1 7.Rxe4 Be7 I S.Rg4 f6 1 9.h4 Nc6 20.Be3 RadS 2 1 .Re1 NeS 22.Rg3 Kfi 23.f4 Nc4 24.Bc 1 BcS+ 2S.Kfl Rd7 26.b3 Nd2+ 27.Ke2 Ne4 2S.Rf3 RfdS 29.b4 Nxc3+ 30.Kfl Bxb4 3 1 .a3 BaS 32.fS exfS 33.Bb2 Na4 34.Re2 Rd l + 3S.Kf2 Nxb2 36.Rxb2 RSd2+ 37.Rxd2 Rxd2+ 3S.Kg3 g6 39.hS Rc2 40.Rd3 Rc3 0-1 ..•

Greenwood, Dave ( 1 730) - Long, Shawn ( 1 5 1 4)

Ohio Chess Congress, 1 986 l . d 4 dS 2.Nf3 e 6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 Qc7 7.0-0 Bd6 S.e4 eS

Here we have another example of Black playing . . . e5 without proper preparation. 8 . . . cxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 I 1 .Bxe4 is a better way to deal with White 's central pawn advance. 9.exdS cxd4 1 0.cxd4 NxdS 1 l .dxeS BxeS 12.NxeS

Black is waiting too long to castle. The center is busted wide open, inviting active play by White 's dangerous-looking bishops. 12

NxeS 1 3.Re l Be6 1 4.BbS+ Nc6 I S.Nf3 0-0-0

•..

Finally Black castles, but the wrong way !

THE

70

D OGS OF WAR

1 6.Bxe6

White begins to rip open Black's fragile defenses. 1 6...bxe6 1 7.Bg5 Ne7? 1 8.Qa4 e5 1 9.Rac 1 Rd5 20.Bf4 Qb6 2 1 .Re3

Despite the weakness resulting from 1 5 . . . 0-0-0, Black found creative ways to defend a difficult position that offered little shelter for his exposed king; unfortunately, he's now run out of good moves. 21

•..

Bd7? 22.Qa3

White misses an immediate win with 22.Qe4 Re8 23 .Rb3 . 22

.•.

N e6 23.Be3 Re8 24.Rec 1 Bg4

Putting the bishop on such an exposed square underscores the desperate nature of the position. Black can attempt to hold on with 24 . . . Qa5 25.Qxa5 Nxa5 26.Rxc5+ Rxc5 27.Bxc5 Kb7 28.Bxa7 Bg4 but with two connected passed pawns White is still in complete control of the position. 25.Bxe5 Qb7 26.Be3 Re6 27.Qa4 Kd7 28.Qxg4 1-0

After 28 . . . Ke8 29.Qxg7 White 's material advantage is decisive. Portman, C. (1 840) - Thompson, R.G. ( 1 780)

Teleford vs. Coddon, 1 993 l .d4 Nf6 2.e3 e6 3.Bd3 b6 4.NfJ Bb7 5.Nbd2 e5 6.e3 Ne6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re 1 Re8 9.b3 exd4 1 0.exd4 0-0 1 l .Ne4 Nd5 1 2.e4 Ndb4 1 3.Bb 1 d5 1 4.Neg5 h6 1 5.a3 Na6?

The dangerous knight must be removed with 1 5 . . . hxg5 . 1 6.Qd3 f5

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

71

1 6 . . . g6 is no better after 1 7.Nxf7 Rxf7 1 8 .Qxg6+ Rg7 1 9.Qxe6+. 1 7.Nxe6

Black's queen will find no refuge from the badgering White pieces.

1 7 Qd6 1 8.Bf4 Qd7 1 9.NxfB RxfB 20.Ne5 Qe6 2 1 .Bc2 Nxe5 22.Rxe5 Qf6 23.Rxf5 Qxf5 24.Qxf5 Rxf5 25.Bxf5 Kf7 26.Bd3 Bf6 27.cxd5 Bxd4 28.Rd l Bf6 29.d6 Nc5 30.Bc4+ Ke8 3 1 .Rel + Kd8 32 .Bb5 Be4 33.b4 Bc3 ••.

In a lost position, Black makes a desperate attempt to harass the rook, but instead walks right into mate. 34.Re2 Bd3 35.Re8# 1-0

Shupe - Boroviak

Postal Game, 1 975 l .d4 d5 2.NfJ Nf6 3.e3 Bf5 4.Bd3 e6 5.c4 c6 6.Bxf5 exf5 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Nc3 b5 9.Qc2 g6 1 0.a4 Qb6 1 l .e4 fxe4? 1 2 .Nxe4 Nd5 1 3 .Rel Be7 1 4.Nd6+ Kd7 1 5.Nxti Re8 1 6.Qe4 Kc7 1 7.Qe5+ Kd7 1 8.Bg5 Na6 1 9.Qe6+ Kc7 20.Bxe7 1-0

White flushes the king out and will finish the game off nicely with 20 . . . Rxe7 2 1 .Qd6+ Kb7 22.Rxe7+ Nac7 23 .a5 .

THE

72

D O G S OF WAR

Portman, Carl (1 840) - Bethel, Mike (1 840)

Worcestershire v. Shropshire, 1 993 I .Nf3 d5 2.d4 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Bg4 5.Nbd2 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Bg6N 9.0-0 Be7 1 0.ReI Bxd3 1 l .Qxd3 0-0 1 2.e4 dxe4 1 3 .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 4.Qxe4 Nf6 1 5.Qe2 Qb6 1 6.Bg5 h6 1 7.Bxf6 Bxf6 1 8.Ne5 Rfd8 1 9.Radl Rd5 20.b4 Rad8 2 1 .f4 Bxe5 Yz-Yz

Clayton, E. - Eberly, T.

Ellensburg, 200 1 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 b6 4.Nbd2 Bb7 5.b3 e6 6.Bb2 Nbd7 7.Bd3 Be7 8.e4 Re8 9.0-0 e5 1 0.Rel dxe4 1 l .bxe4 exd4 1 2 .exd4 Bb4 1 3 .a3

A better tactical shot for White is 1 3 .Qa4 ! ? Bd6 1 4.Ba3 . 13

.•.

Bxf3 1 4.Nxf3

Loses the exchange. 1 4.gxf3 ! ? at least maintains material equality after 1 4 . . . Bd6 1 5 .Ne4. 14 BxeI 1 5.Qxel 0-0 1 6.Qd2 Qe7 1 7.Rc 1 Rfd8 1 8.Qe2 h6 1 9.Ne5 Nf8 ? ! ..•

Black can keep the pressure o n with 1 9 . . . Nxe5 20.dxe5 Nd7. 20.e5 Nd5 2 1 .Ba6 Rb8 22.Bb5? bxe5 23 .Qxe5 Qa5

Black can also win with 23 . . . Qb7 24.a4 a6 25 .Nc6 axb5 26.Nxd8 Rxd8 27.axb5 . 24.Ne6 Qxb5 25.Qxb5 Rxb5 26.Re2 Re8 0-1

If 27.Kfl then 27 . . . Rb6.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

73

Mingos, John (2 1 S0) - Dubreuil, Jean (22 1 9)

ICCF Postal, 1 992 l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ dS 3.e3 Bg4 4.c4

The appropriate response to an early ... Bg4 is for White to deviate from the usual Colle pawn formation by playing c4. 4 e6 S.Qb3 Qc8 6.NeS BfS 7.Nc3 c6 8.cxdS exdS 9.Bd2 Bd6 1 0.Re I 0-0 1 l .NbS Be7 1 2 .Bb4 Qd8 1 3.Bxe7 Qxe7 1 4.Nc3 Rd8N I S.Na4 b6 1 6.Nxc6 Nxc6? ••.

Black misses 1 6 . . . Qc7 1 7.Qc3 ( 1 7.NxdS Qxc l + I S.Ke2 (1 8. Qdl Qc 7) I S . . . Bc2) 1 7 . . . Ne4 which would leave White's pieces awkwardly placed. 1 7.Rxc6 Bd7 1 8.Re I Ne4 1 9.Nc3 Rac8 20.Ba6

20

.•.

Rxc3

Sacrificing the exchange for a kings ide attack does not give Black the attacking chances for which he was hoping. A more promising way to take advantage of the uncastled king would be 20 . . . Qh4 ! ? 2 1 .Rc2 RbS 22.Qxd5 Ba4 23.Qxe4 Qxe4 24.Nxe4 Bxc2. 2 1 .bxc3 QgS 22.Bfl Re8 23.h4 Qh6 24.Rc2 BfS 2S.BbS Rd8 26.Rb2 Qg6 27.0-0 Qh6 28.Qa3 gS ? 29.hxgS NxgS 3 0.Qe7 NfJ+ 3 1 .gxfJ Qg6+ 32.Kh2

THE

74

32

..•

DOGS OF WAR

Qh6+?

32 . . . Qh5+ and Black can squeak out a draw after 3 3 .Kg3 (33.KgJ Qg6+) 33 . . . Rd6 34.QeB+ Kg7 3 5 .Qe5+ KgB 36.Qxd6 Qh3+ 3 7 .Kf4 Qh2+ 3 B .Kg5 Qxd6 39.Kxf5 Qg6+ 40.Ke5 Qe6+ 4 1 .Kf4 Qf6+ 42.Kg4 Qg6+ 43 .Kh4 Qh6+ 44.Kg3 Qg6+ 45.Kh2 Qh6+ 46.Kg2 Qg6+ 47.Kh3 Qe6+ 4B.Kg3 Qg6+ 49.Kh4 Qh6+ 50.Kg4 Qg6+ 5 1 .Kh4. 33.Kg3 Rd6 34.Qe8+ Kg7 35.Qe5+ Rf6 36.Kg2 Kg8 37.Qb8+ Kg7 38.Qh2 1-O

Gray, Douglas (1 620) - Gilbert

D.C. Chess League, 1 993 l .d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Bd3 g6 4.NfJ Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.e4 e6 7.Ne3 h6 8.b4 Be6 9.e5

This King's Indian setup by Black adequately defends against a direct kings ide attack, so White shifts his forces to the queenside. 9 Bd7 1 0.a4 as 1 l .b5 exb5 1 2 .Nxb5 b6 1 3 .Ba3 Na6? 1 4.Rb l bxe5 1 5.dxe5 Re8 1 6.Ne5 Re8 1 7.Rc 1 Nb8 1 8.Nxd7 Qxd7 1 9.Nd4 Re7? 20.Bb5 Ne6 2 1 .Bxe6 Rxe6 22.Nxe6 Qxe6 23 .Qb3 Ne4 24.Qb5 Qa8 25.e6 Ng5? 26.Qb7 1-0 •.•

26.c7 also wins easily after 26 . . . RcB 27.Rc6.

Practical PltfY in The Cof/e System

75

Portman, C arl (1 840) - Povall, Steve (1 662)

Coddon (England) C.C., 1 993 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 b6 3.e3 Bb7 4.Bd3 eS S.e3 e6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0-0 Nd7 8.Re l gS

9.BbS

Rather than answering this flank attack with an advance in the center (9.e4), White finds a clever combination that turns . . . g5 into a true gambit. (For more on the . . . g5 gambit, see our chapter in this book, "A Bust to the Colle?" .) 9 a6 1 0.Bxd7+ Qxd7 1 l .NeS Qe7 1 2 .QhS Bd6 1 3.QxgS BxeS 1 4.QxeS QxeS I S.dxeS Ne7 1 6.e4 Rg8 1 7.exdS NxdS 1 8.Ne4 Be6 1 9.e4 Nb4 2 0.Nf6+ Ke7 2 1 .Nxg8+ Rxg8 22.g3 Ne2 23.Be3 Bf3 24.h4 Re8 2S.BgS+ Ke8 26.Rac 1 Nxe1 27.Rxel Re7 28.Re3 Be6 29.Rd3 Rd7 3 0.Rxd7 Kxd7 3 1 .Kfl Be4 %-% .•.

White was never in any danger of losing this game and maintained a persistent advantage throughout. Bishops of opposite color and a relatively symmetrical pawn structure made it difficult for White to tum his advantage into a win. Mingos, John ( 1 9 0 1 ) - Myer, Tim ( 1 8 1 S)

1 990 Chess is a game of infinite possibilities. This game contains a plethora of mating combinations which are instructional as well as fun to play

THE

76

D OGS OF WAR

over. Yes, they are all forced. l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.c3 e6 4.e3 a6 5.a4 b6 6.Bd3 c4 7.Bc2 Nc6 S.O-O Bd6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 1 0.e4 dxe4 1 l .Nxe4 h6 1 2 .Rel Nce7? 1 3.Nxd6+ Qxd6 1 4.Ne5 Nf6 1 5.Nxc4 Qc6 1 6.Ne3 Nf5? 1 7.Bxf5 exf5 I S.Nxf5+ KfB 1 9.13 g5 20.Qb3 BcS 2 1 .Qb4+ Qc5 22 .dxc5 Nd5

23 .Qe4

23 .Qd4 Rg8 24.Qxd5 Bxf5 25.Qxa8+ Kg7 26.Qxg8+ Kxg8 27.cxb6 Kg7 28.b7 Kf6 29.b8Q Bc8 30.Re8 Be6 3 1 .Qd8+ Kf5 32.Qd3+ Kf6 3 3 . Qd4+ Kg6 34.Rg8+ KhS 3 S .BxgS hxgS 36.Qh8#. 23

Be6 24.c4

..•

24.QeS Rh7 2S.Qd6+ Kg8 26.Rxe6 fxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kf8 28.QxdS Re8 29.Qd6+ Kg8 30.Qg6+ Kf8 3 1 .Qxh7 Re2 32.Qg7+ Ke8 3 3 .Nd6+ Kd8 34.Qf8+ Kd7 3 S .Qc8+ Ke7 36.Qe8+ Kf6 37.Qf7+ KeS 3 8 .QfS#. 24

••.

ReS 25.cxd5 Bd7 26.Ne7

26.Qxe8+ Bxe8 27.cxb6 Bc6 28.dxc6 Kg8 29.Re8+ Kh7 30.Rxh8+ Kxh8 3 1 .b7 Kh7 32.b8Q Kg6 3 3 .c7 g4 34.Ne7+ Kf6 3 S .c8Q hS 36.Qxa6+ Kg7 37.Qg8#. 26

..•

bxc5 27.d6

27.QeS Rh7 28.Qd6 Kg7 29.Qxd7 Rhh8 30.NfS+ Kg6 3 1 .Rxe8 Rxe8 32.Qxe8 as 3 3 .Qg8+ KxfS 34.Qxf7+ KeS 3 S . Qe6+ Kd4 36.Qe4#. 27

.•.

Be6 2S.Be3

28 .QeS Rh7 29.Qf6 Ra8 30.Rxe6 Ke8 3 1 .Ng6+ Kd7 32.NeS+ Kc8 3 3 .Re8+ Kb7 34.Qe7+ Kb6 3 S . Qc7#. 2S

•..

c4 29.Rac1

29.Bd4 g4 30.QeS Rh7 3 1 .Ng6+ Kg8 32.d7 Rd8 3 3 .Qf6 Rxd7 34.Rxe6 Re7 3 S .Rxe7 gxf3 36.Re8#.

Practical Plc!y in The Colle System 29

..•

77

Bd7 3 0.Qxc4 1-0

30 . . . BbS 3 1 .axbS axbS 32.Qd4 Rg8 3 3 .d7 Rd8 34.Rc8 Rg7 3 S .Rxd8+ Kxe7 36.Re8#; or 3 0.Bd4 c3 3 l .Bxh8 Bc6 32.Qh7 Rxe7 33 .Rxe7 Bxa4 34.Qxt7#. C avaliere, Peter ( 1 75 1 ) - Jaffe, Alan (2070)

Kenilworth C.C. Championship, 1 992 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3 .Nbd2 Bg7 4.c3 d6 5.e4

White rightly occupies the center with an early e4 because Black has not contested or occupied it with either . . . dS or . . . cS. In true hypermodern style, Black prefers to control the center from a distance. 5

.••

0-0 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Nh5 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nxe5 dxe5 1 0.Nc4 e6

Black's Pirc Defense has managed to get White out of his comfort zone. White was hoping to stay in his queen pawn opening "book," but is forced into the uncomfortable territory of a king pawn opening. ll .Ne3 Nf4 1 2.c4 f5 13.f3 c6 1 4.g3 Nxd3 1 5.Qxd3 exd5 1 6.cxd5 fxe4

1 7.Qxe4 ?

Better for White would be to keep the queens on the board with l 7.fxe4 ! ? Rxfl + l 8 .Qxfl . 17

.•.

cxd5 1 8.Qxd5+

The exchange of queens is virtually forced as after l 8.NxdS BfS 1 9.Qc4 Be6 White has to be concerned with his weak pawn on f3 and pinned knight on dS . 18 ... Qxd5 1 9.Nxd5 Be6?

THE

78

DOGS OF WAR

With 1 9 . . . Bh3 Black can maintain his advantage after 20.Rf2 Rad8 . 20.Ne7

This move initiates a series of exchanges that allows White to equalize. 20 Be4 2 1 .NxaS Bxfl 22.Kxfl RxaS 23 .Be3 ReS 24.Rc 1 Rxc 1 + 2S.Bxc1 K f7 26.Ke2 Ke6 27.b3 KdS 2S.Kd3 bS 29.Bd2 BfB 3 0.a4 bxa4 3 1 .bxa4 a6 32 .g4 Bd6 33.h3 Be7 34.BaS Ba3 3S.Be3 hS 36.gxhS gxhS 37.Bal BeS 3S.Be3 Bb6 39.Bd2 Bd4 40.BaS KeS? 4 1 .Ke4 Ke4 ? 42.Be7 Kb4 43.aS Be3 44.BxeS BxeS 4S.KxeS KxaS 46.f4 Kb6 47.Ke6 as 4S.fS a4 49.f6 a3 SO.f7 a2 S I .fBQ a l Q S2.QdS+ Ka7 S3.Qe7+ KaS S4.Qe6+ KbS SS.Qd6+ Kb7 S6.QdS+ Ke7 S7.QeS+? QxeS+ SS.KxeS Kd7 Yz-Yz ..•

Mingos, John ( I S7 1 ) - Bronner, Bill (1 929)

lCC Round Robin, 1 989 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nt1 eS 3.e3 dS 4.e3 Nbd7 S.Bd3 g6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Nbd2 0-0

Black sets up a Benoni Defense. S.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 0.Bxe4 Nf6 1 1 .Be2 Bg4 1 2.dxeS Qe7 1 3 .Be3 RfdS 1 4.Qe2 Nd7 1 S.Bd4

Loses a tempo. IS

•..

eS

Black does not have to trade bishops, but rather goes for the win of the c5 pawn. 1 6.Be3 NxeS 1 7.h3 Be6 1 S.Rad l Rxd l 1 9.Rxd l Bxa2

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

79

20.Qb5 b6 2 1 .b3

Trapping the bishop. 2 1 ...e4 22.Nd4 Ne6? 23 .Nxe6 fxe6 24.e4

White chooses not to go after the trapped piece directly with 24.Qa4 ! ? and after Qxc3 2 5 .Qxa2 Qc6 White i s winning. 24 ... Qe5 25.Qxe5

25.Qd7 would put pressure on the Black king after 25 . . . Qf6 26.Bd4. 25 ... Bxe5 26.Bd4

26.Rd7 ! ! (Mingos). 26 ...Bxd4 27.Rxd4 a5 28.Rxe4 a4

Black offers a pawn to free the trapped bishop. 29.bxa4 Re8 30.Bd3 Kti 3 1 .Kfl Bb3 32.Rh4 Kg7 33.Rd4 Bxa4 34.Rd6 Re6 35.Rd7+ Kh6 3 6.g4 Bb3 ?

37.Rd4

White has a winning advantage after 37.f4 Rc5 3 8.Kf2 Bxc4 39.Bxc4 and Black cannot recapture with 39 . . . Rxc4 because of 40.g5+ Kh5 4 1 .Rxh7#. 3 7 ... e5 3 8.Re4 Re5 39.Kg2 g5 40.Kg3 Kg7 4 1 .Kf3 Kf6 42.Ke3 Ba4 43.Kd2 Be6 44.Rel h6 45.Ke3 Bg2 46.Bfl Bxfl 47.Rxfl b5 48.Kb4 Yl-Yl

80

THE

DOGS OF WAR

Nelson, James (1 876) - Buchanan, R. (2 1 70)

Lakewood Chess Classic, 1 986 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 cS 3.e3 dS 4.c3 e6 S.Bd3 b6 6.Nbd2 Bb7 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Re1 Ne4 9.Qc2 Ndf6?

9 . . . f5 is Black's best chance to keep the position level. 1 0.BbS+ Ke7

Interposing with 1 O . . . Nd7 leads to I l .Nxe4 dxe4 1 2 .Ne5 and White can pile it on with moves like dxc5 followed by Rd l and Qa4. 1 l .NeS Qc7 1 2 .Be2 Kd8 1 3 .f3 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 Bd6 l S.f4 Ne4 1 6.Rac1 f6 1 7.dxcS bxcS 1 8.Nf3 gS 1 9.c4 gxf4 20.cxdS BxdS 2 1 .Bd3 ? Nxd2 22.Nxd2 fxe3 23 .Nf3 Rg8 24.Be4 Rg4 2S.BxdS exdS 26.QfS Qd7 27.Qxf6+ Kc7 28.NeS BxeS 29.QxeS+ Kb6

29 . . . Kb7 30.Rxe3 Rag8 3 1 .g3 (31 . Rxc5 Rxg2+ 32.Kfl Qf7+ 33.Rj3 Qxj3 + 34.Kel Qf2+ 35.Kdl Qd2#). 30.Rxe3 R fB 3 1 .Rb3+ Rb4?

32.Rxb4+ cxb4 33.Qd4+ Kb7

1-0

Nelson, James (1 876) - Lankey, B. (2 1 3 6)

Colorado Open, 1 986 1 .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e 6 4.Bd3 b6 S.Nbd2 B b 7 6.0-0 B e 7 7.Qe2 Nbd7 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Bxe4 1 0.Bxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Qxe4 0-0 1 2.c3 Nf6 1 3 .Qc2N cS 1 4.dxcS bxcS l S.Bf4 NdS 1 6.Rad 1 QaS 1 7.NgS BxgS 1 8.BxgS

Practical Plt[Y in The Colle �stem

IS

.•.

81

c4

Black cannot go after the pawn on a2 with 1 8 . . . Qxa2 because after 1 9.Ra l Qc4 20.Ra4 Qb5 2 1 .c4 Nb4 22.cxb5 Nxc2 23.Rc l Nb4 24.Rxc5 and White has regained the material. 19.a3 h6 20.Bc1 Qc7 2 1 .Rd4 RfdS 22.Qe2

Attacking the isolated pawn on c4. 22 ... RacS 23 .Rfd l Nf6 24.RxdS+ RxdS 2S.RxdS+ QxdS 2 6.Qxc4 Qdl+ 27.Qfl Qc2 2S.Qel Ne4 29.13 NcS 30.Be3 Nd3 3 1 .Qfl a6 32.h3 Nxb2 33 .Qxa6 Qxc3

Black wins back the pawn, but having nothing better, must allow a draw by perpetual check. 34.QaS+ Kh7 3S.Qe4+ KgS 36.QaS+ %-%

Gholson, Steve (1 62S) - Butchart, Harvey (1 400)

Copper State Open (AZ), 1 992 l.d4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nbd2 0-0 S.Bd3 d6 6.0-0 ReS 7.e4 Nc6 S.c3 eS 9.dS Ne7 1 0.Rel c6 1 l .c4 cxdS 1 2 .cxdS a6 1 3 .Nfl Bg4 14.Be3 RcS 1 S.N l d2 NhS

Black can liquidate the center with 1 5 . . . Nexd5 ! ? 1 6.exd5 e4 1 7.Nxe4 Nxe4 giving his king bishop control of the long diagonal. 16.h3 Bxf3 1 7.Nxf3

White takes advantage of the opportunity to exchange minor pieces to relieve his somewhat cramped position. 17 RfB I S.Rc 1 Nf4 1 9.Bb l fS 20.NgS Rf6? 2 1 .Bxf4 exf4 22 .exfS Rxc 1 23.Qxc1 NxfS 24.Ne6 QbS 2S.BxfS RxfS 26.Nxg7 Kxg7 •••

THE

82

D OGS OF WAR

27.Re7+ Kh6 ? !

27 ... Rf7 is no better after 28.Rxf7+ Kxf7 29.Qxf4+ Kg7 30.Qd4+ Kf7. 2S.g4 Rgs 29.Qxf4 QdS

29 . . . Qc8 Iets White mate after 30.Kh2 Qh8 3 1 .h4 Qe5 32.hxg5+ Qxg5 3 3 . Qf8#. 30.Qti QhS

3 1 .f4

3 1 .Kh2 puts Black in zugzwang. If 3 1 . . . Rxg4 32.hxg4 Kg5 and mate is not far off. 3 1 ...Rxds 32.Qxds 1-0

32 . . . Qe5 3 3 .g5+ Qxg5+ 34.Qxg5#. Mingos, John (1 520) - Slack, David (1761)

1 968 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Bb7 s.Nbd2 cs 6.c3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 S.Qe2 Qc7 9.dxcs bxcs 1 0.e4 dsN H .es Nd7 1 2 .Rel 0-0 1 3 .Nfl RfdS 1 4.h4 NfS I s .Ngs d4 1 6.Nh2 ? dxc3 1 7.bxc3 Nxes ! I S.Bf4

If 1 8.Qxe5 Bd6 and Black relieves White of his wayward knight. IS

•.•

Bd6 1 9.Bxh7+? Nxh7 20.Nxh7

White presses a very risky kingside attack. 20

..•

Kxh7?

Black could test White's defenses with 20 . . . Qc6 2 1 .f3 Nd3 (21 . . . Kxh 7?! 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23. Qxe5; 21 . . . Ba6) 22.Qxd3 Bxf4 23.Qb l Bd2 24.Ng5

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

83

Bxc3 2 5 . Qh7+ Kf8 . 2 1 .Qh5+

2 1 . KgS 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23 .Rxe5 Rd5 24.Rael RadS 25.e4 g 6 26.Qg5? Rxe5 27.Rxe5 Rd l + 2S.Nfl Qa5 29.h5 Qxa2 3 0.hxg6 • .

30.Rxc5 ? The pawn, of course, cannot be captured because of 30 . . . Qe2 3 1 .f3 Rxfl + 32.Kh2 Qd l and Black is up a piece. 3 0 Qbl 3 1 .gxf7+ Kxf7 32.Qh5+ Ke7 33 .Qe2 BeS 34.Rxe5 Re I 35.Rb5 Qxb5 36.Qxel Qxe4 3 7.Ne3 •.•

The posItIon is dynamically equal. Black's far-reaching bishop counterbalances White's connected pawns.

THE

84

D OGS OF WAR

37 QbS 3S.Qal as 39.Qg7+ Kd6 40.Qf8+ Kc7 4 1 .Qg7+ KbS 42.Qg3+ KaS 43.Qf3+ Qb7 44.Qxb7+ Kxb7 4S.Nc2 a4 46.Kf1 Kb6 47.Ke2 KcS 4S.Kd3 eS 49.Ke4 Kd6 SO.g3 Bb7+ S I .Kd3 Bf3 S2.Kc4 Ke6 •..

Black abandons his a-pawn in order to blockade the White pawns, and thereby achieves a draw. S3 .Kb4 Kf6 S4.Kxa4 Bdl SS.Kb3 KfS S6.Kc3 Bf3 S7.N e3+ KgS SS.Kd3 KhS? S9.NfS Kg4 60.Ke3 BdS 6 1 .Nh4 e4 62.Ng6 Bb7 63.Ne7 BaS 64.NcS Bc6? 6S.Nd6 BdS 66.Nxe4 Bf7 67.f3+ KhS 6S.f4 Kg4 69.Kf2 Be6 70.Nf6+

"Certainly I had winning chances here; simply not the knowledge or skill in 1 968 to follow through." (Mingos) 70 KfS 71 .Nh7 BdS 72.Ke3 Bb7 73.NgS BdS 74.Kd4 Ba2 7S.Nf3 Kg4 76.Ke4 Kxg3 77.fS BgS Yz-Yz .•.

Portman, C. (I S40) - Brotherton, T. (2 1 24)

Shropshire Individual, 1 993 l .d4 fS 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Nf3 g6 4.Bd3 Bg7 S.Nbd2 dS 6.0-0 0-0 7.c4 c6 S.NeS Be6 9.b3 Nbd7 1 0.f4

Black has taken extreme measures to stop White's intended kingside attack. White employs Colle 's country cousin, the Stonewall, to bolster the center. 1 0 Ne4 1 l .Ndf3 Ndf6 1 2 .cS Qc7 1 3.Qel NhS 14.Bd2 Bf6 I S.Rc 1 Kg7 1 6.g3 h6 1 7.b4 a6 I S.a4 gS 1 9.Bc3 g4 20.Nd2 Kh7 2 1 .aS Ng7 22 .Kg2 hS 23.Rh l .•.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

23

•.•

85

Bxe5 24.dxe5

24.fxe5 avoids the ensuing combination. 24

Nxc3 25.Rxc3 d4 26.exd4 Bd5+ 27.Kf2 Bxh l 2S.Qxh l RadS

.•.

Now that Black is up the exchange, will he find a way to activate his rooks? 29.Ke3 Qd7 30.Nb3 Kg6 3 1 .Bc4 e6 32.h4 gxh3 33 .Qxh3

The pawn on d4 is a natural target for Black to attack, but it is sufficiently defended. After this exchange, Black is given a new target to attack and all the pieces gravitate to the kingside. 33 Qe7 34.Rcl RhS 35.Rhl Rh6 3 6.Nd2 RdhS 37.Nf3 Kfi 3S.Nh4 KeS 39.Rh2 KdS 40.Qf1 •.•

White offered a draw in this position (Portman). 40 NeS 4 1 .Nf3 Nc7 42.Ng5 Qd7 43.Rh4 Ke7 44.Qf3 RdS 45.Qd l Nd5+ 46.Bxd5 Qxd5 .••

The bishop was the keeper ofthe light squares. With the bishop gone, the game is afoot! Black at last has an entryway into the White position. 47.Rh2 Qc4 4S.Qd2 Qb3+ 49.Kf2 Qb l 50.Kg2 RdhS 5 1 .Rh l Qb3 52.Rh4 Qd5+ 53.Kf2 RdS 54.Ke3 Qc4 ? ! 55.Rh I ? ! Qd5 ? ! 56.Rh4 Qb3+ 57.Kf2 QbI 5S.Kg2 QaI 59.Nf3 Qa3 60.Ng5 Qb3 61 .Kf2 RgS 62 .Rh l h4

THE

86

D OGS OF WAR

Black's one piece attack has yielded nothing. In an attempt to open an alley for his rooks, he sacrifices the isolated h-pawn. 63.gxh4 QdS 64.Rh3 RghS 6S.Kg3 ? Qc4 66.Nf3 RdS 67.Kf2 Rg6 6S.hS Rh6 69.Rg3 RxhS 70.Rg7+

With the subsequent opening of the g-file and h-file, White finally gets the chance to play aggressively. 70

•.•

Kf8 7 1 .Rxb7? ! Rh l 72.Qe2 ? ! Qc1 73.Kg2 Rh6 74.Qd2 ?

This move defends the pawns on d4 and f4, but allows Black to play 74 . . . Qh l + with devastating effect. 74

Qhl+ 7S.Kf2 Rh3 76.Qe3 Rxd4 ! 77.RbS+ Kg7 7S.Rb7+ Kh6

•••

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

87

79.Rh7+

White 's position is desperate. Any other move for White leads to 79 . . . Rd2+ 80.Qxd2 Rxf3+ 8 1 .Ke2 Qfl #. 79 Kxh7 80.NgS+ Kg6 Rd3+? ! .•.

8 1 .Qxh3

Rd2+ 82.Ke3

Qel + 83.Kf3

83 . . . Qf2#. 84.Kg2 Qe2+ 8S.Kgl Rd l +

0-1

86.Qfl Rxfl #. Mingos, John (I S20) - Hoak, Don (Class C)

A "Friendly" Postal Game, 1 969 l .d4 dS 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Bd3 Bg4 4.Nf3 Ne4 S.c4 e6 6.Qa4+ c6 7.NeS hS 8.cxdS exdS 9.Qb3 QaS+ 1 0.Kf1 Bc8 1 1 .Bxe4 dxe4 1 2.Qxti+ Kd8 1 3 .Ng6 QbS+ 14.Kgl Qe2 I S .Nd2 b6 1 6.NxfB Qel+ 1 7.Nfl Ba6 1 8.Ne6+ Kc8 1 9.Qc7# 1-0

Stuart, Phil ( 1 8 8 1 ) - Honeycutt

1 988 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g 6 3 .e3 Bg7 4.Nbd2 N c 6 S.c3 0-0 6.e4 d6 7.Bd3 e S 8.dS Ne7 9.0-0 c6 1 0.c4 B d 7 11 .a4 Q c 7 1 2 .dxc6 bxc6 13.b4 Rab8 1 4.Rb l dS I S.cxdS cxdS 1 6.Ba3 dxe4 1 7.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 8.Bxe4 BfS 1 9.Rc 1 Qb6 20.Rel Bxe4 2 1 .Rxe4 fS 22.Qb3+ Kh8 23.RxeS Nc6 24.Re6 Nd4 2S.Rxb6 Nxb3 26.Rxb8 Rxb8 27.Rc7 a6 28.Rc6 Ra8 29.g3 Nd4 30.Nxd4 Bxd4 3 1 .Bc1 Ra7 32.Bd2 Kg7 33.Bc3 Bxc3 34.Rxc3 Kf6 3S.Rb3 Rc7 36.bS as 37.Kf1 KeS 38.Ke2 Kd6 39.Kd3 KcS 40.Rc3+ 1-0

Stuart, Phil ( 1 88 1 ) - Vermeson, Jack (Unr)

1 988 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g 6 3 .e3 Bg7 4.Bd3 0-0 S . O-O d6 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.e4 e S 8.c3 Bg4 9.h3 B d 7 1 0.a3 N h S 1 1 .dS Ne7 1 2 .Rel c 6 1 3 .c4 Nf4 14.Nfl Nxd3 I S.Qxd3 cxdS 1 6.cxdS Rc8 1 7.Bd2 fS 1 8.Ng3 Qb6 1 9.Be3 fxe4 20.Nxe4 Qc7 2 1 .Rac 1 Qb8 22.BgS Rce8 23 .Rc3 BfS 24.Nfd2 bS 2S.Rec 1 Rti 26.Bxe7 Rfxe7 27.g4 Bxe4 28.Nxe4 Rfi 29.Qc2 BfB 30.Rc7 Rf4 3 1 .NgS Be7 32.Rc8 Rxc8 33.Qxc8+ Qxc8 34.Rxc8+ RfB 3S.RxfB+ BxfB 36.Ne6 as 37.gS Bg7 38.Nxg7 Kxg7 39.Kfl

88

THE

DOGS OF WAR

The White pawns on d5 and g5 make it impossible for Black to get his king past his second rank and as a result, White will win the race to the queenside. 39 h6 40.h4 hxgS 4 1 .hxgS Kfi 42.Ke2 Ke7 43.Kd3 Kd7 44.a4 1-0 ..•

White wins after 44 . . . bxa4 45.Kc4 and the pawn on a5 cannot be protected. Mingos, John ( I S 7 1 ) - Hamilton, Tim (2 1 62)

Springfield, 1 990 l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ g6N 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nbd2 0-0 S.Be2 d6 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.c4 cS S.b3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 a6 1 0.Qc2 NcS 1 l .Bb2 eS 1 2 .N4fJ BfS 1 3.Qc3 RcS 1 4.Rad l e4 I S.Nd4 NeS 1 6.Qc2 QgS 1 7.NxfS gxfS I S.Bxg7 Nxg7 1 9.Nb l f4 20.RdS

White begins to pressure Black's overextended position. Of course, the pawn on d6 is immune for the moment because of 20.Rxd6 f3 2 1 .Bxf3 exf3 22.g3 Qh5 . 20 fS 2 1 .exf4 Qxf4 22.Nc3 Rf6 23.Qd2 Qxd2 24.Rxd2 NeS 2 S.NdS Rti? .•.

Practical Plt!Y in The Coffe System

89

This move exacerbates Black's already porous position. 25 . . . Re6 should be considered. 26.BhS

White 's pieces are drawn like magnets to the holes in Black's position. 26 Ng7 27.Bxf7+ Kxf7 28.f3 Re8 29.fxe4 Nxe4 3 0.Re2 ReS 3 1 .g4 bS 32.Rf4 bxc4 33 .bxc4 Nf6 34.RxeS dxeS 3S.Rf3 Nxg4 36.Ra3 f4 37.Rxa6 f3 ? •..

This move loses material. 3 7 . . . Nf5 followed b y 3 8 . . . Nge3 would at le � st � ave the knights protecting each other, although White still has a wmnmg game. 38.h3 hS 39.hxg4 hxg4 40.Rf6+ Ke8 4 1 .Rg6 Kf7 42.Rxg4 NfS 43.Kfl Ke6 44.Kxf3 Kd6 4S.Ke4 Nd4 46.Kd3 KcS 47.Rxd4 ! exd4 48.a3 Kc6 49.Kxd4 1-0

Fritz Champion Edition gives us an enj oyable and edifying endgame lesson. 49.Kxd4 Kd7 50.c5 Kc6 5 1 .Nb4+ Kd7 52.Ke5 Kd8 53 .c6 Kc7 54.Kd5 Kb6 55.Kd6 Kb5 56.c7 Kc4 57.c8Q+ Kd4 5 8. Qh3 Ke4 59.Nd5 Kd4 60.Qe3+ Kc4 6 1 .Qc3+ Kb5 62.Qc5+ Ka6 63 .Qb6#. Stuart, Phil ( 1 88 1 ) - Baken, L. ( 1 800)

Jamaica C.C. Quad, 1 980 1 .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 BfS 4.Bd3 Bxd3 S.Qxd3 c6 6.Nbd2 e6 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Re1 0-0 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Rxe4 Nd7 1 2 .Rh4 Nf6 1 3 .BgS h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 1 S.Re1 Rfd8 1 6.c3 Rac8 1 7.Qe4 Bb8 1 8.RhS Qf4 1 9.Rh4 Qxe4 20.Rexe4 cS 2 1 .g3 cxd4 22.Rxd4 bS 23.Kf1 Kf8

90

THE

DOGS OF WAR

24.Ke2 Ke7 25.RxdS RxdS 26.Rd4 Bc7 27.RxdS BxdS 2S.Nd4 a6 29.Nc6+ Kd7 30.NxdS KxdS 3 1 .Kd3 Kd7 32.c4 bxc4+ 33.Kxc4 Kc6 34.b4 e5 35.a4 f5 ? 36.b5+ axb5+ 37.axb5+ Kb6

Black is in a lose-lose situation. He chooses to remain on the queens ide to stop the advancing b-pawn from queening. However the attempt to keep the White king from infiltrating with 3 7 . . . Kd6 is short lived after 3 8 .h4 g5 3 9.hxg5 hxg5 40.b6 and Black must give way to stop the b­ pawn from queening. 3S.Kd5 e4 39.Ke5 g6

King and pawn endings are an exact science and if not played precisely, the slightest inaccuracy can have serious consequences. Black's small mistake on move 35 makes White 's task easier by bringing the base of the pawn chain to White, rather than White having to go after the pawns. 40.Kf6 1-O

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

91

White Attacks ! B lack Repel s ! !

I had a toothache during the first game. In the second game I had a headache. In the third game it was an attack of rheumatism. In the fourth game, I wasn ' t feeling well. And in the fifth game? Well, must one have to win every game? - Savielly Tartakower (1887-195 6)

This section shows Black using solid opening motifs, skillful middlegame tactics and precise endgame technique to propel the Colle System into submission. On the eve of one of his decisive battles Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have exclaimed, "My center is not holding; my flanks are in disarray; I shall attack! " That strategy is emphatically echoed in these games.

THE

92

DOGS OF WAR

Theroux, Dick (1 797) - Barry, Denis (1 922)

APCT, 2003 This game between Dick Theroux and the late Denis Barry was sent to us by Denis' good friend, Scott Knoke. l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 g6 4.Bd3 Bg7 5.Nbd2 c6 6.0-0 Bf5

An interesting move in this position. In conjunction with the kingside fianchetto Black is determined to nullify the influence of the "Colle" bishop. 7.Qe2 Bxd3 8.cxd3 0-0 9.b4 Ne8 1 0.Bb2 f5 H .Ne5 Qd6 1 2.a3 a5 13 .bxa5 Rxa5 1 4.Nb3 Ra7 1 5.f4

1 5 .a4 absolutely needed to be played. White 's failure to envision the vulnerability of his isolated a-pawn on an open file will prove to be crucial. 15

..•

Nf6 1 6.Rfc 1 Nbd7 1 7.Nc5 Rc8 1 8.Qc2

White's last chance to advance the a-pawn. 1 8 .a4 b6 1 9.Nb3 Qe6 and the a-pawn is no longer a detriment. 18 b6 1 9.Ncxd7 Nxd7 20.Qb3 Ra6 2 1 .Rc2 Nxe5 22.dxe5 Qd8 23 .Rd2 Rca8 24.Qdl Qe8 25.d4 e6 26.Qc1 BfS 27.Rd3 •.•

The isolated a-pawn is White 's Achilles ' heel as all of White 's pieces are tied down to its defense thereby permitting Black to get a passed pawn. 27

••.

c5 28.dxc5 bxc5 29.Ra2 c4 30.Rc3 Bc5 3 1 .Kf2 ?

White is relegated to marking time but 3 1 .Rc2 would at least be a more efficient way to mark time. 3 1 . g5 ! •.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

93

Breaking open the position. 32.Kfl Qh5 33.h3 Qh4

Black dominates the dark squares. The threat is 34 . . . gxf4 3 5 .exf4 Qf2#. 34.Qe1

White hopes by trading off queens to stave off Black's attack. 34 ... Qxe1 + 35.Kxe1 Bb4 ! !

Beautifully played! The bishop i s immune to capture. 36.Kd2 gxf4 3 7.exf4 d4 0-1

Pelech, Leslie (2224) - Stoyko, Steve (23 1 5)

MCICL, 1 993 l.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.Nbd2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.Re1 d6

Black is controlling in true hypermodern fashion, with pawns on b6, d6 and e6, and the bishop on b7 controls the long diagonal from a distance. 1 0.Nfl Nbd7 1 1 .Ng3 Re8 1 2 .Bg5

White continues along true classical lines by occupying the center with pawns and pieces. 12 ...NfS 1 3 .Bb5 N6d7 1 4.Bxe7 Rxe7

Not 14 . . . Qxe7? because of the nifty 1 5 .Nf5 exf5 1 6.Rxe7 Rxe7 1 7.Qd2 and White comes out ahead in material with a queen for rook and knight. 15.Ne4 Qc7 1 6.a4 a6 1 7.Bd3 Ng6 1 8 .Neg5 NdfS 1 9.93 h6 20.Ne4

THE

94

D OGS OF WAR

Kh8 2 1 .h4 Nh7 22.h5 NgfB 23 .Nh4 f5

With this move Black strikes out aggressively, kicking the knight off of e4 and opening up the a8-h i diagonal with an eye toward exploiting the weak light squares. 24.Nd2 Qc6

In any given position, quite often, a player could have as many as three candidate moves from which to choose. Here White chooses 2 5 . f3 when 25.Qf3 and 25 .Kh2 are also viable options. 25.0 Rae8 26.Qe2 Nf6 27.Bxa6 Bxa6

Black is careful to trade bishops before regaining the pawn. Capturing immediately with 27 . . . Nxh5? fails because of 28 .Bb5 Qd5 29.Bxe8 Rxe8 30.Qb5 Qxb5 3 I .axb5 Nxg3 32.Nc4 and Black is down the exchange for a pawn. 28.Qxa6 Nxh5 29.Qb5

White's queenside pawn maj ority would be enhanced by keeping the queen on the board and pressing on with 29.a5, aiming for active play on the queenside. 29

•..

Qxb5 30.axb5 g5 3 1 .Ng2 Nxg3

White's strengths still lie on the queenside and White should fight for counterplay with 32.Nc4 or 32.Rc6.

32.Kfl f4 33 .Nc4 Nf5 34.Nxb6 Rb8 35.Nc4 Rxb5 3 6.Ra2 Reb7 3 7.Re2 h5 38.Nel h4 39.Kgl Rc7 40.Ra4 h3 4 1 .Rh2 Rh7 42.Nd3 Ng3 ?

This overly aggressive move allows White to regain material and get back in the game. 43.Ra8 Kg8 44.Nxd6 Rd5 45.Nc4 Rdd7 46.Nce5 Ra7 47.Rxa7 Rxa7 48.Rxh3

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

95

White is enticed into taking the pawn but at the cost of the rook being sequestered on the h-file. 48 ... Ral + 49.Kg2 Kg7 50.Rh2 Nh7

SO . . . Ng6 allows White to free his rook after S l .Nxg6 Kxg6 52.Rh8. 51 .Nc5 NfB 52.Kh3 Nf5 53 .Rf2

A better plan might be 53 .Ne4 ! ? Ng6 54.Ng4 and White is ready to push the queenside pawns. {But not 54.Nxg5 Nxe5 55. dxe5 RgJ 56.Nxe6+ Kj7 5 7.Nd8+ Ke8 and White must give up the knight to avoid the mate on g3.) 53 ... Ne3 54.Kh2 Nfl + 55.Kh3 Ne3 56.Ne4 Nh7 57.b4 Rh l + 58.Rh2 Rgl 59.Rf2 Rh l + 60.Rh2 Rgl

Black has craftily salvaged the game with perpetual check, but White eschews the half point by playing 6 1 .Ng4. 61 .Ng4 ? ?

The losing move. 61...Nxg4 62.fxg4 Nf6 ! 63.Nxg5 Rg3+ 64.Kh4 Rxg4+ 65.Kh3 Rxg5 66.Rg2 Kg6 67.b5 Ne4 68.Rxg5+ Kxg5 69.Kg2

Obviously the c-pawn is untouchable; its capture will allow the b-pawn to queen. 69 ...Kg4 70.b6 13+ 7 1 .Kfl Nd6 72.c4 Nb7 73.c5 Na5

The knight is perfectly positioned to halt any further advance of White's pawns. 74.Kf2 Kf4 75.Kfl Ke3 76.Ke l f2+ 77.Kf1 Kt3

THE DOGS OF WAR

96

White is in zugzwang. 78.b7 Nc4 0-1

Black can allow the pawn to queen because it is too late for White to avoid the mate after 79.b8(Q) Ne3#. Segal, Valery (2405) - Stoyko, Steve (23 1 5)

1 992 l .d4 Nf6 2.NO c5 3.e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.Nbd2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.Re l d6 1 0.Nfl Nbd7 1 l .Ng3 Re8 1 2.Qe2 Nf'S 1 3 .Bd2 Qc7 1 4.Radl Ng6 1 5.Bel Bf'S 1 6.Ng5 e5 1 7.dxe5 Rxe5 1 8 .Qc2 Rae8 19.Rxe5 dxe5 20.Bb5 Rd8 2 1 .Rxd8 Qxd8 22.Qd3 Qxd3 23 .Bxd3 Nh4 24.N3e4

White should play 24.£3 ! and if 24 . . . Bc5+ then 25.Kfl with equality (Segal). 24

N d5 25.g3

.•.

If 25 .Nxh7 then 25 . . . Kxh7 26.Nd6+ e4 27.Bxe4+ f5 and White is not able to win back the piece. 25

Ng6 26.a3 h6 27.Nh3

.•.

Practical PICfY in The Colle System

27

.•.

97

f5

Black now begins a pawn stonn of the White fortress. 28.Nd2 e4 29.Be2 Ne5

Black's pieces command the board while White's pieces are huddled on the first three ranks. 30.e4 Ne7 3 1 .b4 g5 32.Kf1 as 33 .bxa5 bxa5 34.Nb3 a4 35.Nd4 Be8 36.f4 ? exf3 3 7.Bd l

Not 3 7.Nxf3 because 3 7 . . . Nxf3 3 8.Bxf3 g4 forks. 37

Nd3 38.Bd2 f4 39.Ngl

..•

The alternative 3 9.Nf2 Nxf2 40.Kxf2 Bc5 4 1 .gxf4 gxf4 42.Bxf4 N� 6 � 3 .Bxh6 gets White two pawns for the piece, but Black is still wmmng. 39

.•.

f2 0-1

White resigns in the face of losing a piece or getting checkmated. a) 40.Be2 Bc5 4 1 .Bc3 Bf5 42.g4 fxg l Q+ 43 .Kxg l Nc l 44.Bd l Bd3 ; b) 40.Ngf3 40 . . . Bh3+ 4 1 .Ke2 fl Q#; c) 40.Nge2 Bh3#. Root, Douglas (2380) - Domont, Alexandre (2325)

WchT U26, 1 985 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nbd2 e 5 5.e3 N e 6 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.e4 Re8 1 0.Qe2 e5 1 l .exd5 e4 1 2 .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 3 .Bxe4 Bf5 14.dxe6 Rxe4 1 5.Qb5 b6 1 6.Bg5 Qd5 1 7.Be3 Rg4 1 8.Nel Re8 1 9.Bxe5? ?

White spoils his winning chances.

THE

98 19

.•.

DOGS OF WAR

Rxel !

Eliminating the defender of g2. 20.f3 Qxf3 0-1

If 2 1 .g3 then 2 1 . . .Rxg3+ 22.hxg3 Qxg3+ 23.Kh l Be4#. Veach, J. (2242) - Friedman, A. (244 1 )

U.S. Open, 1 993 l .d4 e6 2.Nf3 cS 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 dS S.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4 cxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Be7 1 l .Re l Nxd4

With the capture of the isolated d-pawn Black has equalized comfortably. 1 2 .Nxd4 Qxd4 1 3.Qc2 NdS 1 4.NgS

White should now continue with the simple 1 4 .Nc3 and if 1 4 . . . Nxc3 1 5 .Bxh7+ Kh8 1 6.bxc3 Qh4 winning back the pawn with a better position. 14 ... g6 I S.Re4 Qg7 1 6.Bd2 Bd7 1 7.Rae l Rac8 1 8.Qb3 Bc6 1 9.Bb l Rfd8 20.Qh3 Nf6 2 1 .Nxe6? fxe6 22.Qxe6+ Kh8 23.Rf4 Rc7 24.Bc3 RfB

White has sacrificed a piece for a menacing-looking attack, but Black defends accurately. 2S.ReS Bd8 26.RgS Qt7 27.Qh3 Rd7 28.Bc2 Qxa2 29.ReS Re7 30.Qe3

Even 30.Rxe7 cannot save White 's game because after 30 . . . Bxe7 3 1 .Rd4 Rd8 32.Rxd8+ Bxd8 3 3 .Qg4 he is still down a piece. 30 ... Qal+

30 ... Rxe5 3 1 .Qxe5 Bc7 is a better way to exploit White 's back rank weakness. 3 1 .Bel RxeS 32 .QxeS

32.Bb l does not help much 32 . . . Qxb l 3 3 . Qxe5 Re8 34.Qxe8+ Bxe8 3 5 .g4 Qxe l + 36.Kg2 Bc6+ 37.f3 Qd2+ 3 8 .Kg l Bb6+ 3 9 . Kh l Qxf4 40.h4 Bxf3#. 32 ... Re8 0-1

If 33 .h3 then Rxe5 34.Kh2 Rxe l 3 5 .Kg3 Rg l 36.Re4 Bxe4 3 7 .Kf4 Qc l + 3 8 .Ke5 Qxb2+ 39.Kf4 Bc7+ 40.Kg5 Rxg2+ 4 1 .Kh4 g5#.

Yildiz, B. (2 1 56) - Nebolsina, V. (2302)

3 Arrows Cup, 2005 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 c6 4.Bd3 g6 S.b3 Bg7 6.Bb2 0-0 7.0-0 BfS 8.Qe2 Nbd7 9.Nbd2 Re8 1 0.e4 dxe4 1 l .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 2 .Bxe4 Bxe4

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

99

13 .Qxe4 Nf6 1 4.Qe2 Qc7 1 S .NeS e6 1 6.Radl RadS l 7.c4 Nd7 1 S.Nf3 cS 1 9.dxcS NxcS 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 2 1 .Qb2+

White's play is on the queenside, but she is so fixated on a kingside attack that she neglects to play 2 l .b4 taking advantage of her queenside pawn majority, and in doing so yields the advantage to Black. 21 f6 22.Nd4 eS 23.NbS Qb6 24.Nc3 Nd3 2S.Qc2 Nf4 26.Qe4 Qc6 27.Qxc6 •.•

Keeping the queens on the board with 2? Nd5 ! ? was necessary for White to maintain equality. With the queens off the board Black enjoys a positional advantage. 27 bxc6 2S.b4 Rd4 29.g3 Ne6 30.Rxd4 exd4 3 1 .Ne4 fS 32.Nd6 RdS 33.cS as 34.a3 ? •.•

Better is 34.Nb? and White could well hope t o play o n after 34 . . . Rb8 35 .Nxa5 Rxb4 3 6.Nxc6. 34 axb4 3S.axb4 RbS 36.Rel Kf6 3 7.bS cxbS 3S.c6 Nc7 39.Nb7 ReS 40.Rd l KeS 4 1 .NcS RdS 42.Nb7 RdS 43.Kf1 ? d3 44.Kel Kd4 4S.Rd2 b4 46.Rd l ReS+ 47.Kd2 Re2+ 4S.Kc1 Rc2+ 49.Kb l NbS 0-1 .•.

White cannot avoid being checkmated. a) 50.Rxd3+ Kxd3 5 1 .Nc5+ Kd2 52.Nb3+ Kd l 53 .Ka l Nc3 54.Nc 1 Rxc l + 5 5 .Kb2 Rb l # ; b) 50.Ka l Nc3 5 1 .Rxd3+ Kxd3 52.Nc5+ Kc4 53 .Na6 Ra2#; c) 50.Rd2 Nc3+ 5 1 .Ka l Rxd2 52.f3 Ra2#.

1 00

THE DOGS OF WAR

Hillyer, Martin (1 629) - Gifford, Gary ( 1 8 7 1 )

Match, 1 994 l .d4 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3 .Nf3 d6 4.Bd3 Bg7 S.c3 0-0 6.0-0 BfS 7.BxfS gxfS 8.Nbd2 Nbd7 9.Qc2 e6 1 0.Re l dS 1 l .c4 c6 1 2 .b3 Kh8 1 3.Bb2 Rg8 1 4.NeS NxeS I S.dxeS Ng4 1 6.f4 Qh4 1 7.Nf3 QhS 1 8.cxdS cxdS 1 9.Rac1 Bh6 20.h3

Creating a potential weakness and underestimating Black's attacking formation. Any queen move to overprotect the pawn on e3 would stop Black's intended combination. 20 ... Nxe3 ! 2 1 .Rxe3 Bxf4 22.Kf2?

White can defend better with 22.Rd3 and Black will have to give up another attacking piece to capture the rook on c l . If 22 . . . Qxh3 23.Re l and White i s still hanging on. 22 ... Rxg2+! 23 .Kxg2 Bxe3

Better is 23 . . . Rg8+ 24.Kf2 Qxh3 . 24.Qc8+ Rxc8 2S.Rxc8+ Kg7 2 6.Rc7 Qg6+ 27.Kfl Qg3 0-1

If 28 .Ke2 Qf2+ 29.Kd3 Qxf3 . Mingos, John - Bronner, Bill

lCC Round Robin, 1 989 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 cS 3.e3 dS 4.c3 Nbd7 S.Bd3 g6 6.Nbd2 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 l 0 .Bxe4 Nf6 1 1 .Bc2 Bg4 1 2.Be3 NdS 1 3 .Qe2 Qb6 14.Be4 Nxe3 I S.fxe3 cxd4 1 6.exd4 eS 1 7.Qf2 Bxf3 1 8.Bxf3 exd4 1 9.c4 d3 20.Qxb6 axb6 2 1 .Bxb7 Ra7 22.BdS Bxb2 23 .Radl Rxa2 Yz-Yz

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

101

In the Stonewall Attack White amplifies some of the thematic concepts of the Colle System by creating a solid pawn wall with f4 followed by the thematic Ne5 . But one of the downsides of this variation is that it buries White 's queen bishop behind a wall of pawns and creates weaknesses on the light squares. The following three games are examples of the Stonewall Attack. Fontaine, S. (I S00) - Markley, Gerald (2060)

New Orleans Open, 1 992 l .d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Bd3 e5 4.e3 Ne6 5.f4 Bg4 6.Nf3 exd4 7.exd4 ReS S.Nbd2 g6 9.0-0 e6 1 0.Qe2 Bg7 1 l .h3 Bf5 1 2 .Ne5 h5 1 3 .Rel Re7 14.Nb3 Bxd3 1 5.Qxd3 Ne4 1 6.Nd2 Nxd2 1 7.Bxd2 Nxe5 I S.fxe5 a6 19.a4 0-0 20.Qg3 YZ-YZ

Moore, Banks (I S20) - Markley, Gerald ( 1 9 1 5)

Bayonne Quads, 1 986 l .d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Bd3 e5 4.e3 Nbd7 5.f4 Ne4 6.Nf3 g6 7.Nbd2 Nxd2 S.Bxd2 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 1 0.Qel Qb6 1 l .Rb l Nf6 1 2.Qh4 ReS 1 3 .Ng5 Bg4 1 4.Nxh7 Nxh7 1 5.Qxg4 Nf6

1 5 . . . cxd4 1 6.cxd4 Bxd4 regains the pawn, but Black's position is precarious (Markley). 1 6.f5 ? ? Nxg4 1 7.fxg6 fxg6 1 S.e4 exd4 1 9.e4 dxe4 20.e5 Qxe5 2 1 .Rbel Qxc1 22.Rxel exd3 23 .Re7 RaeS 0-1

Corripio, Bernie (1 699) - Markley, Gerald (1 9S0)

Baton Rouge CC, 200 1 l .d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Bd3 e5 4.e3 Ne6 5.f4 Bg4 6.Nf3 e6 7.Nbd2 ReS S.O-O Bd6 9.h3 Bf5 1 0.Bxf5 exf5 l l .Ne5 0-0 1 2.a4 g6 13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Qxb6 axb6 1 5.Kh2 RaS 1 6.b3 exd4 1 7.exd4 b5 I S.Nxe6 bxe6 19.a5 b4 20.Bb2 Ra6 2 1 .exb4 Bxb4 22.Nf3 Ne4 23 .Ba3 RbS 24.Bxb4 Rxb4 25.Rfb l f6 26.Rb2 Kfi 27.g4 fxg4 2S.hxg4 Ne3 29.Kg3 NbS 30.Ra4 Rxa4 3 1 .bxa4 Nd6 32 .Rb6 Ne4+ 33 .Kh4 Rxa5 34.Rxe6 Rxa4 35.Re7+ Ke6 36.Rxh7 Ra 1 37.Kh3 Rh l+ 3S.Nh2 Rd I 39.Nf3 Rf1 40.Kg2 Rf2+ 4 1 .Kg l Rxf3 42.Rh6 Rg3+ 43.Kfl Rxg4 44.Ke2 Kf5 45.Rh7 Kxf4 46.Rd7 Rg2+ 47.Kd3 Rd2# 0-1

THE

1 02

D OGS OF WAR

Onyschuk, Y. (2206) - Kellie, Mark (1 963)

USCF Postal, 1 995 l .d4 Nf6 2.e3 dS 3.Bd3 e6 4.Nd2 cS S.c3 eS

Black is playing aggressively in the center, aiming for an unbalanced position and making for lively play. 6.dxeS Ng4 7.BbS+ Bd7 S.e6 BxbS 9.Qxg4 fxe6 1 0.Qxe6+ Be7 1 l .Nh3 Qd7 1 2 .NgS Rf8 1 3 .NdfJ Nc6 1 4.Qxd7+ Kxd7 I S .Nxh7?

White's pawns on c3 and e3 together with Black's bishop on b5 make it difficult for White to complete his development. White compensates by going after more material. IS

..•

RfS

Black does not take advantage of the awkward placement of White's knight on h7 by playing 1 5 . . . RxD ! ? 1 6.gxD Rh8 1 7.f4 Rxh7 1 8 . D . 1 6.h4 RhS I 7.NfgS BxgS l S.hxgS RxgS I 9.Nf6+ gxf6 20.RxhS Rxg2 2 1 .Rh7+ Ke6 22 .Rxb7 Ba6 23 .Rh7 NeS

Due to Black's dynamic play White 's bishop and rook are undeveloped and still confined to their original squares. 24.e4 dxe4 2S.b3 ? N fJ + 26.Kd l B d 3 27.Rh l Rxf2 2S.Be3 Rg2 29.Kc 1 ? Re2 30.BxcS NeS

Black can emphasize his domination of the board with 30 . . . e3 3 1 .Bxe3 Rxe3 32.Kb2.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 03

3 1 .Rh7? a6 32.Re7+ KdS 33 .Bd4 Nc6 34.ReS Nxd4 3S.RdS+ Ke6 36.Rxd4 fS

White cannot stop the advance of the Black pawns. 37.Kd l f4 3S.Rxe4+ Rxe4 39.Kd2 Re3 40.Rh l Be4 4 1 .Rh6+ KfS 0-1 Cavaliere, Peter ( 1 764) - Kernighan, Mark (2200)

ACN Action, 1 989 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 cS 3 .c3 e6 4.e3 Nf6 S.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.dxcS

White makes this exchange in order to play the thematic freeing move e4 without having to worry about an isolated d-pawn after 7.e4 cxd4 8.cxd4. 7

BxcS S.O-O eS

.•.

Black's pawn advance serves a dual purpose - it frees the queen bishop and threatens a nasty fork on e4. White cannot ignore this threat. 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Bxe4 Qxd l 1 2.Rxd l Bg4 1 3.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 RdS I S .Bxc6+ bxc6 1 6.RxdS+ KxdS 1 7.BgS+ f6 I S.Rd l + Kc7 1 9.Bh4 RbS 20.b3 as 2 1 .Kfl a 4 22.Rb l axb3 23.axb3 RaS 24.b4 Bb6 2S.Rb2 Ra3 26.Rc2 Kd6 27.Ke2 KdS 2S.c4+ Ke6 29.cS Bc7 30.13 fS 3 1 .Bel Ra4 32 .Kd3 KdS 33 .Bd2 Ra3+ 34.Rc3 Rxc3+ 3S.Bxc3 g6 3 6.g3 ? ?

White 's weak attempt t o curb the advance of the Black kingside pawns loses a vital pawn. A better waiting move is 3 6.Bd2. 36 e4+ 37.fxe4+ fxe4+ 3S.Ke3 Bxg3 39.Ke2 Bf4 40.Bel Kc4 4 1 .Kfl BeS 42.Ke2 Bf4 43.Kfl BgS 44.Ke2 Bel 4S.h4 Ba3 46.Ke3 Bxb4 0-1 .••

THE

1 04

DOGS OF WAR

Robida, Paul ( 1 836) - Weinand, Gerald ( 1 6 1 9)

Hancock Cty. Open, 1 992 l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ dS 3 .BgS

With this move White employs the popular Torre Attack which contains many of the tactical and strategic elements of the Colle System. Once this bishop has been developed outside of the pawn chain, White is free to continue developing in typical Colle style. 3 ... e6 4.e3 eS S.e3 Bd6 6.Bd3 0-0 7.Nbd2 Nbd7 8.e4

This is premature. White should prepare this move by first playing 8.0-0 followed by 9.Re l . 8

.•.

exd4 9.exd4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 QaS+ 1 l .Ned2

A sharper line would be I l .Bd2 Bb4 1 2 .a3 Bxd2+ 1 3 .Qxd2 Qxd2+ 1 4.Kxd2 b6 and with queens off the board, instead of being a weakness, White 's isolated d-pawn is now a fighting piece defending and controlling key squares, his king has made way for the rooks to occupy open files and his bishop and knights are strongly posted. 1l

..•

eS

White 's earlier, ill-timed advance of his e-pawn has enabled Black to liquidate the center. 12.0-0 exd4

Black has the advantage of being up a pawn. 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Ne4 Qd8 I S.Re l Bg4 1 6.Nxd6 Qxd6 1 7.h3 Be6 1 8 .Nxd4 Bxa2 1 9.NbS Qb6 20.Qa4 Rad8 2 1 .Qxa2

White can win his pawn back with 2 1 .Rfd l ! ? Bd5 22.Qxa7 Qxa7

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 05

23 .Nxa7. 2 1 . Rxd3 22.Qe4 RddS 23.Rfd l Rxd l + 24.Rxdl h6 2S.Rd6 QaS 26.Rxf6? Qel+ 27.Kh2 QeS+ 2S.Rf4 gS 29.Qe4 Qxf4+ 30.Qxf4 gxf4 3 1 .Nxa7 RaS 32.NbS Ra2 33.b3 Rxf2 34.Nd6 1'3 3S.Kg3 Rxg2+ •.

35 . . . Rd2 ! ? 3 6.Nf5 fxg2 37.Kh2 wins another pawn for Black. 36.Kx1'3 Rg6 3 7.Nxb7 Rb6 3S.NeS RbS 39.Ne4 Rxb3+ 40.Kf4 Rb4

40 . . . Rxh3 maintains Black's advantage. 4 1 .Kg4 Rh2 42.Kf4. 4 1 .KfS Kg7 42.h4 Rxe4 43.Kxe4 Kg6 44.Kf4 KhS 4S.Kg3 fS

Losing a critical tempo. 45 . . . f6 puts White in virtual zugzwang. 46.Kf4 Kxh4 47.KxfS hS 4S.Kf4

White will be able to maintain the opposition, preventing the Black king from getting out of the way of his pawn. 4S

Kh3 49.Kf3 Kh2 SO.Kf2 h4 S 1 .Kfl Y2-Y2

.•.

Mingos, John ( I S 7 1 ) - Hromadi, Ernie (1 94S)

ICC Round Robin, 1 989 l .d4 dS 2.N1'3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Bg4 S.Nbd2 Nbd7 6.0-0 eS 7.dxeS NxeS S.Be2 Nx1'3+ 9.Nx1'3 Bd6 1 0.b3 Qe7 H .h3 Bx1'3 1 2 .Bx1'3 BeS 13.Rb l 0-0 1 4.Qe2 RfeS I S.Rd l Re6 1 6.e4 d4 1 7.eS RaeS I S.Qe4 dxe3 1 9.Bxe3 h6 20.Rd3 bS 2 1 .exb6 axb6 22.Rc 1 eS 23 .Kh l Rd6 24.Rxd6 Qxd6 2S.Rdl Qe7 26.a4 Qe6 27.QbS Be3 2S.Qe6 Qxb3 29.g4 BeS 30.h4 Qe6 3 1 .Qxe6 fxe6 32.gS hxgS 33.hxgS Y2-Y2

Wirig, A. (240S) - Sadiku, B. (229S)

Coupe d'Europe des Clubs Izmir, 2004 l .d4 dS 2.N1'3 Nf6 3 .e3 e6 4.Bd3 Be7 S.Nbd2 0-0 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.e3 Bd6 S.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 0.Bxe4 Nf6 H .BgS Be7 1 2 .Bxf6 gxf6 ! ? 13.Nd2 fS 1 4.B1'3 c S I S.dxcS BxeS

The anti-positional pawn capture 12 . . . gxf6 combined with the deflecting pawn advance 1 4 . . . c5 has resulted in Black achieving a mobile pawn formation. 16.Qe2 ReS 1 7.Rad l Qe7 I S.Ne4 RbS 1 9.BhS BfB 20.NeS Re7 21 .Qe3 f6 22.Nd3 b6 23.B1'3 as 24.Rfe l eS 2S.BdS+ KhS 26.Nc 1 Rg7 27.Qd2 f4

White has been unable to halt the slow but steady advance of Black's pawns. 2S.Kh l Bg4 29.1'3 BfS 30.Qe2 BeS

1 06

THE

DOGS OF WAR

Black's methodical pawn advances have allowed his pieces to be actively posted, however, there are no weaknesses in White 's position for Black to exploit. 3 1 .Nb3 Be3 32.Nd2 Rg6 33 .Nfl Be5 34.Be4 Bxe4 3 5.Qxe4 RbgS 36.Re2 b5 37.a3 Ba7 3S.g4 fxg3 39.Nxg3 Qfi 40.Rg2 Qe6 4 1 .Qel Qe6

4 1 . . .Qh3 would put considerable pressure on the White position. 42.Qfl Qe4 43.Qxe4 bxe4 44.Rdd2 Be3 45.Rde2 Bf4 46.Ne4 Rxg2 47.Rxg2 Rxg2 4S.Kxg2 Bel 49.a4 Bxb2 50.Nxf6 Bxe3 5 1 .Kf2 Kg7 52 .NeS+ Kg6 53.Nd6 Bd4+ 54.Ke2 e3 55.Ne4 Kf5 56.Nxa5 e2 57.Nb3 Kf4 5S.a5 Ba7 59.Ne l e4 60.fxe4 Yl-Yl

Gholson, Steve (1 62S) - Benzoin, Ira

National Open, 1 994 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nbd2 d6 5.Bd3 0-0 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Rel ReS S.e4 e5

White should maintain the central tension with 9.c3 but the exchanges in the center allow Black to equalize effortlessly. 9.dxe5 Nxe5 1 0.Nxe5 Rxe5 1 l .Nf3 Bg4 1 2.Bf4 ReS 1 3.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 e6 1 5.Rad l Nh5 1 6.e3 Nxf4 1 7.Qxf4 Qf6 Yl-Yl

Practical PIt!Y in The Colle System

1 07

Cavaliere, Peter ( 1 722) - Salmon, Joel (2250)

Nassau Quad, 1 994 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.Nbd2 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 S.dxc5 Bxc5 9.e4 e5

The . . . e5 pawn advance is always an important move for Black to achieve in order to gain space in the center. Playing 9 . . . Qc7 first would help to support this advance. 1 0.exd5 Nxd5 1 l .Ne4 Be7 1 2.Qe2 Nf4 1 3 .Bxf4 exf4 1 4.Rfel Bg4 1 5.Rad l Qc7 1 6.Bb l g6 1 7.h3 Bh5 1 S.g4 fxg3 1 9.Nxg3 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 RadS 2 1 .Ne4 f5 22.Qg3 Qxg3+

Black should not accept White 's offer to exchange queens because keeping them on the board with 22 . . . Qb6 ! ? 23 .Nd6 Bxd6 24.Rxd6 Rxd6 25.Qxd6 Qxb2 would augment Black's positional advantage with a material advantage. 23 .Nxg3 Kti 24.Bc2 Kf6 25.Bb3 Ne5 26.RxdS ? !

The trading o f rooks puts White in a defensive posture when 26.Kfl Bc5 27.Bd5 Rd6 28.f4 Nc6 29.Bc4 would give White chances for counterplay. 26

.•.

RxdS 27.Kf1 Rd6 2S.Rd l Rxdl + 29.Bxdl Nd3 30.b4 Nf4

The isolated h-pawn is doomed.

3 1 .h4 h5 32.Bf3 b6 33 .Ne2 Nxe2 34.Kxe2 Ke5 3 5.c4

White should try for counterplay with 3 5 .Bc6 ! ? and 3 6.Be8 to inhibit the Black king from supporting the advancing passed h-pawn. 35 ... Bxh4 36.Kfl

36.Bc6 is too late now because of 3 6 . . . Be7. 36

.•.

Bf6 37.Kg2 h4 3S.Bd5 g5 39.a4 Kf4 40.Kgl

THE

l OS

D OGS OF WAR

40.c5 bxc5 4 1 .bxc5 Be7 and Black can halt the advance of the c-pawn after 42.c6 BdS . 40

..•

h3 4 1 .Kh2 g4 42.Bc6

42.c5 bxc5 43 .bxc5 Bd4 44.c6 Bb6 and the c-pawn cannot advance further. 42 Bd4 43.f3 Kg5 44.fxg4 fxg4 45.Bd7 Kh4 46.Bxg4 Kxg4 47.Kh 1 Kf3 0-1 •..

After 4S.Kh2 Ke3 and White 's queenside pawns cannot be defended. But there is also a mate beginning with 47 . . . Bc3 4S.c5 Bxb4 49.cxb6 axb6 50.Kg 1 Kg3 5 1 .a5 bxa5 52.Kh 1 a4 53 .Kg 1 a3 54.Kfl h2 5 5 .Ke2 h 1 Q 56.Kd3 Qd5+ 57.Kc2 Qc4+ 5 S .Kb l Qc3 59.Ka2 Qb2#. Ciriello, Richard (1 569) - Gray, Douglas (1 544)

National Open, 1 992 1 .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 d5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 cxd4 9.exd4 Re8 1 0.Ne5 Nd7 1 1 .Bxh7+! Kf8

The bishop sacrifice on h7 is lethal if Black accepts it as in 1 1 . . . Kxh7 1 2.Qh5+ KgS 1 3 .Qxf7+ Kh7 1 4.Re3 Be7 1 5 .Rg3 Bf6 1 6.Ne4 KhS (1 6 dxe4 1 7.Rg6 Kh8 1 8.Rh6+ gxh6 19.Ng6#) 1 7.Nxf6 Qxf6 l S .Rh3+ Qh6 1 9.Rxh6+ gxh6 20.Ng6#. . . .

1 2 .Nxf7? !

White rushes headlong into a speculative sacrifice and spends the next 20 moves trying to justify it. 1 2.Qh5 ! ? gives White a material

Practical Plc!y in The Colle System

1 09

advantage and clear targets for attack after 1 2 . . . Ndxe5 1 3 .dxe5 Bxe5 1 4.Rxe5 Nxe5 1 5 .Qxe5 . 12

..•

Kxf7 13 .QhS+ Ke7 14.BfS

White misses 1 4.Qxd5 ! ? Nf6 1 5 .Qg5 Rf8 1 6.Bd3 Kd7 1 7.Qxg7+ Qe7 1 8 .Qxe7+ Bxe7 and White has all the wiILl1ing chances. 14 Nf6 I S.Qg6 Kf8 1 6.Bd3 eS 1 7.Nf3 ? ! e4 1 8.NgS Qd7 1 9.Nh7+ Nxh7 20.Qxh7 exd3 2 1 .BgS .•.

White's last hope was to go for the perpetual check with 2 1 .Qh8+ Kf7 22.Qh5+ g6 23 .Qh7+ Kf6 24.Qh4+ Kg7 25.Qh6+ Kf7 26.Qh7+ Kf6 27.Qh4+ Kf7 28.Qh7+ Kf6 (Black cannot avoid the threefold repetition with 28. . . Kj8 because of 29.Bh6+ Qg7 30. Qxg7#). 21. Rxe l + 22.Rxel Be7 23.h4 BxgS 24.hxgS? Ne7 2S.g6 d2 26.Rxe7 d l Q+ 27.Kh2 QhS+ .•

More decisive is 27 . . . Kxe7 28.Qxg7+ Kd8 29.Qf8+ Kc7 30.Qc5+ Kb8. 28.QxhS Kxe7 29.QeS+ KfB 30.f4 Qe6 3 1 .Qc7 Qxg6 32 .Qd8+ Kf7 33.QxdS+ Qe6 34.Qd8 b6 3S.dS Qd7 0-1

Dixon, Frank (1 980) - Kreuzer, Martin (2400)

Kingston Club Championship, 1 990 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 Bg4 4.Nbd2 e6 S.c3 c6 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.0-0 Be7 8.Qc2N BhS 9.Rel Bg6 1 0.e4 0-0 1 l .eS Bxd3 1 2.Qxd3 Ne8 13 .Nfl Nc7 1 4.a4 bS I S.aS cS 1 6.Be3 c4 1 7.Qc2 b4 1 8.N3d2 bxc3 1 9.bxc3 NbS

Black targets the only weakness in White's position, the pawn on c3 . 20.Ra4 Qc7 2 1 .f4 Rab8 22.Ng3 g6 23.Real a6 24.Nf3 Rb7 2S.h4 Rlb8 26.Bc1 Na7 27.hS Nc6

Black turns his attention to the isolated a-pawn. 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.NgS NfB

An interesting continuation is 29 . . . Bxg5 30.fxg5 Ndxe5 3 1 .dxe5 Nxe5 and Black is ready to overrun White 's position. 30.Nf3 RbS

Increasing the pressure on the isolated pawn on a5 . 3 1 .Qa2 R8b7 32.Nd2 Qb8

1 10

THE

DOGS OF WAR

White, sensing that the passive defense of his a-pawn will only result in a slow death, resorts to a desperate attempt at counterplay but this only loses material. 33 .Nxc4 dxc4 34.Qxc4 Qc7 35.Ne4 Rb I 36.Qa2 Rxa l 37.Qxal Rb5 3 S.Be3 Qb7

Another winning line for Black is 38 . . . Nxa5 3 9.Nd2 Nb3 40.Nxb3 Rxb3 4 1 .Rxa6. 39.Nd2 BdS 40.Kh2 Rxa5 4 1 .Rxa5 Nxa5 42.Qa4 Qb5 43.Qc2 Nc4 44.Nxc4 Qxc4 0-1

Shure, Gary (2250) - Larzelere, Mark (2 1 60)

1 994 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 S.Qe2 b6 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Bb7 1 l .Rd l Qc7 1 2 .Bg5 RfeS 13.dxc5 Bxe4 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 1 5.Qxe4 Nxc5 1 6.Qc4 Bxg5 1 7.Nxg5 Qe7 1 S.Nf3 RacS 1 9.Nd4 RedS 20.b4 Nb7 2 1 .Nc6 Rxd l + 22.Rx d l Qc7 23.b5 RdS 24.Rd4 Rd6 25.Qa4 Rxd4 26.Qxd4 g6 27.g4 as 2S.Ne5 Nd6 29.a4 f6 30.Nc6 e5 3 1 .Qd5+ Nfl 32 .c4 Qd6 33.Qxd6 Nxd6 34.c5 Nb7 35.cxb6 Kfi 36.Kfl Ke6 37.Ke2 Kd6 3S.h4 Kc5 39.Kd3 Kxb6 40.Kc4 Nc5 4 1 .Nxa5 Nxa4 42.Kb4 Nb2 43.Nc4+ Nxc4 44.Kxc4 e4 45.h5 gxh5 46.gxh5 f5 47.Kd5 Kxb5 4S.Ke5 Kc5 49.Kxf5 Kd5 50.Kf6 h6

Practical PIt!)' in The Coffe System

111

S 1 .KfS?

White should play for the win with 5 1 .Kg7 Ke6 52.Kxh6 Kf6 53 .Kh7 Kf7 54.h6 Kf8 5 5 .Kg6 Kg8 56.Kf5 Kf7 57.Kxe4. S 1 . Kd4 �-� ••

Secures the draw after 52.Kg6 Kd3 53 .Kxh6 Ke2 54.Kg6 Kxf2 55 .h6 e3 56.h7 e2 57.h8Q e l Q. Hawkins, Randy (2 1 23) - Levin, David (2342)

U.S. Amateur Teams East, 1 993 l .d4 dS 2.NfJ cS 3.c3 e6 4.e3 Nf6 S.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.dxcS BxcS 8.0-0 eS 9.e4 Bg4

With 8 . . . e5 and 9 . . . Bg4, Black employs disruptive tactics that throw White off his game plan of a direct kingside attack. 1 0.h3 BhS l l .Qa4 0-0 1 2.exdS NxdS 1 3.Qc4 Be7 14.Be4 Nb6 1 S.QbS a6 1 6.Qb3 Qc7 1 7.Nc4 Nd7 1 8.Be3 bS l 9.Bxc6 Qxc6 20.NcxeS NxeS 2 1 .NxeS Qc7 22.Bd4 Kh8 23.Rfel f6 24.Nd3 Bf7 2S.Qd l Bd6 26.QfJ Rad8 27.a3 BdS 28.QfS Qb7

Black's pieces have nice attacking vectors and work in conjunction with one another. White's pieces have little scope and he has drifted into a passive position, despite being up a pawn. 29.fJ Qc7 30.Re3 Bf7 3 1 .Rae l Bg6 32.Qg4 Rd7 33.Nf2 ?

White removes the vital defender of the f4 square. 33

.••

fS 34.QgS

THE

1 12

DOGS OF WAR

34.Qh4 Bg3 3 S .QgS Bf4 and the position is no different from the game continuation. 34

.•.

Bf4 3S.Bxg7+? Rxg7 36.Qh4 0-1

Matous, Ron (1 77S) - E merson, Mike (20S2)

Colorado Open, 1 998 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 eS S.b3 exd4 6.exd4 Ne6 7.Bb2 Be7 S.O-O 0-0 9.a3 b6 l 0.Nbd2 Bb7 1 1 .Re l ReS 1 2 .Qe2N ReS 1 3 .b4 Bd6 14.bS Ne7 I S .NeS Ng6 1 6.g3 BxeS 1 7.dxeS Nd7 I S.Rad l NeS 1 9.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Ne4 Ne4 2 1 .Ne3 Qe7 22.e4

White pushes this backward pawn in the hope of ridding himself of that weakness, but the ensuing tactics that it ignites are to Black's advantage. 22 ... dxe4 23 .Nxe4 NgS 24.Nd6 Nf3+ 2S.Kf1 Nxh2+ 26.Kgl Nf3+ 27.Kfl Nxel 2S.Kxel BdS 29.Qg4 RedS 3 0.NxeS QxeS 3 1 .a4 hS 32.Qb4 Qf7 33.Bc1 ReS

33 . . . Qf3 is more forcing after 34.Rd4 Qh l + 3 S .Kd2 Qg l . 34.Ba3 ?

34.Be3 is no better after 34 . . . Rc4 3 S .Qb3 Qf3 . 34 ... Re4 3S.Qd6 Qf3 36.QdS+ Kh7 3 7.Bc 1 Re2 3S.Bd2 Be4 0-1

White is helpless to stop mate.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 13

Johnson, Leonard (2300) - Wen, Jean-Francois (22 1 0)

PanAm Intercollegiate Ch. , 1 988 l .d4 dS 2.NfJ Nf6 3.e3 BfS 4.Nbd2 e6 S.c3 Be7 6.Be2 0--0 7.NeS Nbd7 S.NdfJ cS 9.0--0 Qb6 1 0.a4 RfcS 1 l .aS Qc7 1 2.a6 c4 13.axb7 Qxb7 1 4.b4? cxb3 1 S.Ba6 b2 1 6.Bxb2 Qxb2 1 7.BxcS RxcS 1 S.Rxa7 QbS 1 9.Qal BdS 20.g4 NxeS 2 1 .NxeS Nxg4 22.RaS Qb7 23.Qa4 Nf6 24.Ra7? !

White should play 24.Ra l h 6 25.Qa7 Rxa8 26.Qxa8 with an equal position. 24 Bc2 2S.Qal QbS 26.f4 QbS 2 7.Rxfi BaS 2S.Qe 1 ? Bg6 29.Re7 Rxc3 30.Qg3 Ne4 3 1 .Qg4 ..•

Black can defend against White 's mating threat by retreating passively with moves like 3 1 . . .Qa6 or 3 1 . . . Rc6 but Black is not willing to risk losing and instead goes for the perpetual.

31

.•.

Qxfl +

3 1 . . .Rxe3 ? allows White to mate with 32.Qxe6+ Kh8 3 3 . Qc8+ Bd8 34.Qxd8+ Qe8 3 5 . Qxe8+ Bxe8 36.Rxe8#. 32 .Kxfl Re t + 33 .Kg2 Rc2+ Yl-Yl

And White cannot avoid perpetual check.

Practical Plc!y in The Colle System

1 15

The Inte l ligent Perusal of Fine Games The intelligent inspection of any number of fine paintings will not make the observer a painter, nor will listening to a number of operas make the hearer a musician, but good j udges of music and painting may be so formed. Chess differs from these. The intelligent perusal of fine games cannot fail to make the reader a better player and a better judge of the play of others. - Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941)

As a chessplayer, you probably cannot walk by a game that is being played without stopping to look at the position. Whatever the circumstance, a chess column in the newspaper, a casual game between two friends, or a game before, during or after a tournament, you will pause and take a look at the position on the board. You want to know what opening was played, how it was played, what is the threat in the position, what mistakes were made and, most importantly, what ideas you can gamer from it. Chessplayers continually look for ways to improve their game, and the single most important thing we do as chessplayers to help improve our game, is to play over the games of others. Why? Because we need to be shown. We need to see how others are playing the game in order to understand and become a better player. Nothing is clearer than a move made over the board after it has been made. And all of sudden everything makes sense - the position you couldn't understand, the refutation you couldn't find, the move you never would have thought to make, the solution to the vexing situation you were seeking. It is these "a-ha! " moments that chessplayers live for, and they are given to us, as a gift, through the fine and intelligent play of others.

1 16

THE

DOGS OF WAR

Wilder, M. (2569) - Dolgitset, K. (23 1 2)

U.S. Open, 1 986 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.Bd3 b6 5.b3 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Bb2 Bb7 8.Nbd2 Nbd7 9.e4 e5 1 0.Qe2 Re8 1 l .Rad l Qe7N 1 2 .Bb l Ba6 l 3.Re l Rfd8 1 4.Rfe l Qb8 1 5.e4 exd4 1 6.exd5 Nxd5 1 7.Nxd4 NfB 1 8.Ne4 Nf4 1 9.Qe3 Bb7 20.Nf3 f6 2 1 .g3 N4g6 22.h4 Bb4 23.h5 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Bxel 25.Rxel Ne7 26.Qg4 Kfi

All of White 's pieces are bearing down on the kingside. Black is up the exchange but his pieces are not yet coordinated. Can White get his attack in before Black consolidates? 27.h6 g6?

Black's best hope for counterplay is 27 . . . gxh6 28.Bxh7 Rc5 (but not 28. Nxh 7 29. Qxe6+ Kg7 30. Qxe 7+) . . .

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 17

28.Bxf6 Kxf6 29.Qg5+ Kf7 30.Ne5+ Ke8 3 1 .Qf6

The bishop sacrifice on move 28 proves to be very effective, allowing White's pieces to inch menacingly forward. Black must give back the material to stop mate. 3 1 . Rd7 32.Qti+ Kd8 33 .QxfS+ Ke7 34.Nxd7 RxfS 35.Nxb8 Rxb8 36.Rxe6 Ng8 37.Bxg6 ! hxg6 1-0 •.

Hoi, Carsten (24 1 5) - Danielsen, Henrik (2430)

Den. Ch., 1 995 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 e5 4.Bd3 d5 5.b3 Ne6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Bb2 0-0 8.Nbd2 Qe7 9.Ne5 exd4 1 0.exd4 Ba3 1 1 .Bxa3 Qxa3 1 2.e3 Bd7 1 3 .f4 Rae8 14.Rf3 g6 1 5.Qel Kg7 1 6.Rh3 Be8 1 7.Ndf3 Rh8

Black's last opportunity for counterplay is 1 7 . . . Qb2 1 8 .Rc l Nb4 1 9.Bb l . 1 8.Qd2 Ne7 1 9.94 Qa5 20.Rc 1 Bb5 2 1 .Bbl h5 22.Ng5 RefS

White has prosecuted his attack to near perfection. All of his pieces are powerfully posted while the Black pieces are not effectively positioned for either attack or defense. The stage is set for White 's final assault on the Black king position. Black's attempt to open the h-file with 22 . . . hxg4 ! ? does not work after 23.Rxh8 Rxh8 24.Nexf7 Rb8. 23.f5

THE

1 18

DOGS OF WAR

23 ... Qa6? 24.Re1

And now White has all of his pieces involved in the attack. 24 ... exf5 25.gxf5 Qd6

25 . . . Nxf5 only weakens the pawns in front of the Black king after 26.Bxf5 gxf5 . 26.Ree3

26.fxg6 ! ? Bd7 27.Nexf7 would win the exchange for White. 26 ... Nfg8?

This move is a mistake. The only hope for defense is 26 . . .Ng4 27.Ngxf7 Rxf7 28 .Nxf7 Kxf7 29.fxg6+ Nxg6 30.Ref3+ Ke8 . 27.fxg6

27.Nexf7 is also very strong after 27 . . . Rxf7 28.Ne6+ Qxe6 29.Rxe6 Bd7. 2 7 ... Qf6 1-0

Black resigns without waiting for 28.Ref3 Qb6 29.gxf7. Loftsson, H. (23 77)

-

Levin, D. (2342)

U.S. Amateur Teams East, 1 993 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 e5 3 .e3 Nf6 4.e3 Nbd7 5.Bd3 e6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4 exd4 9.exd4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 1 .Bxe4 Qb6 1 2 .Re1 N Nf6 1 3 .Be2 Bd7 1 4.Ne5 Rad8? 1 5.Bg5 Bxe5 1 6.dxe5 Ba4

This move must have looked very inviting. Black opens up the d-file and has a direct attack on White's queen. However, he fails to anticipate the complications that accompany White 's next move. 1 7.Bxh7+!

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

17

1 19

Nxh7

.•.

1 7 . . .Nxh7 begins a forcing series of punches and counterpunches as both sides fend off persistent attacks on their queens. I S.BxdS Qb4 1 9.Be7 Qf4 20.b3 Bc6 2 1 .BxfS

The threats and parries from both players have left Black down the double exchange with a lost game. 2 1 . QgS 22.f3 NxfS 23.Qc1 QhS 24.Qe3 Ng6 2S.Rac 1 Nh4 26.Rxc6 1-0 .•

26.Rxc6 bxc6 27.Qxa7. Shure, Gary (22 S0) - Musgrove, Charles (2 1 4S)

1 994 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 cS 3.c3 e6 4.e3 dS S.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.� 0-0 S.dxcS BxcS 9.e4 eS 1 0.Qe2 ReS 1 l .h3 NhSN 1 2 .Nb3 Ng3 1 3 .Qc2 dxe4

Black thinks he has the opportunity to win the exchange, only to realize in the nick of time that he will lose two pieces for the rook after 1 3 . . . Nxfl ? 1 4 .Nxc5 b 6 1 5 .Nb3 . 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 1 S.Qxe4 Bb6 1 6.NgS g6 1 7.Qh4 hS 1 S.g4 Kg7 1 9.gxhS RhS 20.h6+ KfS

If 20 . . . Rxh6 2 1 .Qxh6+ Kxh6 22.Nxf7+ and White will be up the exchange and a pawn. 2 1 .Be3 BfS 22.Rad l Qc7 23.Nd2 f6?

1 20

THE

D OGS OF WAR

24.Nge4

24.Ne6+ ! Bxe6 25.Qxf6+ Qf7 26.Qxh8+ Qg8 27.Qf6+ Qf7 28.Qh4 would give White a strong passed pawn and a decisive winning advantage. 24 gS 2S.QhS Qt7 26.Qf3 Bxe4 27.Nxe4 Rxh6 28.Rd6 Kg7 29.Ng3 RhhS? 30.Qg4 RadS 3 1 .Rfd l Rxd6 32 .Rxd6 RdS 33.Rxf6 ! Qxf6 •..

33 . . . Kxf6 is no better after 34.Bxg5+. 34.NhS+ Kt7 3S.Nxf6 Bxe3 36.Ne4 Bf4 37.QfS+ 1-0

Root, Douglas (2360) - Frias Pablaza, Victor (24 1 0)

Lone Pine, 1 980 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nbd2 cS S.c3 Nc6 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.dxcS BxcS 9.e4 eS 1 0.Qe2 Bg4 1 l .exdS QxdS 1 2 .Ne4 Nxe4 1 3 .Bxe4 Qe6 1 4.Rd l RadS I S .BgS f6 1 6.Be3 Bxe3 1 7.Qxe3 KhS I S.QcS Bxf3 1 9.Bxf3 e4 20.Be2 fS 2 1 .Bc4 Qf6 22.BdS QeS 23.QbS Ne7 24.Bc4 Qc7 2S.Bb3 a6 26.Qc4 QeS 27.Qe6 Nc6 28.Rd7 Qxe63 29.Bxe6 Rxd7 30.Bxd7 NeS 3 1 .Be6 Nd3 32.Rd l Nxb2 33 .Rd7 g6 34.Rxb7 Na4 3S.Ra7 RdS 36.h4 Rd6 37.Bc8 Nxc3 3S.hS Ne2+ 39.Kh2 Nf4 40.h6 RdS 4 1 .Bxa6 NdS 42.a4 e3 ?

Black's only chance is to try for counterplay against the weak h-pawn with 42 . . . Nf6. 43.fxe3 Nxe3 44.Be2 gS ? ! 4S.aS KgS 46.Rg7+ Kf8 47.a6 1-0

Practical PI'!Y in The Colle System

121

Dickerson, Leonard (2202) - Kogan, Boris (2563)

Fairfield Glade Open, 1 99 1 1 .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3 .c3 b6 4.Nbd2 Bb7 5.e3 g6 6.Bd3 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.Ne5 Nxe5 1 0.dxe5 Ne8 1 1 .f4 d6 1 2.exd6 exd6 13.e4 Qe7 1 4.Re1 Nc7 1 5.Nfl Rfe8 1 6.Bd2 Qd7 1 7.Qd l Re7 1 8.Qc2 Rae8 1 9.Rad l Qc6 20.b3 ? f5

The pawn on e4 is the target of Black's intentions. As the pawn on e4 goes, so goes the game. It cannot capture, it cannot advance and White 's pieces are tied down to its defense. 2 1 .Ne3 fxe4 22.Bfl d5 23.Rc 1 Rf7

Black induces weaknesses in White 's position. 24.g3 Qe6

The weak light squares in White 's position begin to attract the attention of Black's pieces. 25.Rcd l

White has no useful moves and is reduced to waiting for Black to attack. 25

•.•

h5 26.Be2 d4 ! 27.cxd4

Black played 26 . . . d4 ! with no fear of 27.Bc4 Nd5 28.Bxd5 Bxd5 29.Nxd5 Qxd5 . 27

.••

cxd4 28.f5

Initiates a dubious combination, but there is nothing White can do to contest Black's dominance in the center. White's only other try for counterplay rests in 28.Bc4 Nd5 29.Bxd5 Bxd5 30.Nxd5 Qxd5 but while material is relatively equal, Black's dominance in the center is undiminished.

1 22

THE

DOGS OF WAR

28 ... gxfS 29.BxhS dxe3 30.Bxti+ Qxti 3 1 .Bxe3 NdS 32.Bc1 Nb4 33 .Qe4 Qxe4 34.bxe4 Be6 3S.Rd6 B18 36.Rf6 Nd3 37.Rfl Bd7 38.Be3 BeS 39.BxeS bxeS 40.Rd6 Be6 4 1 .Rb l Re7 42.Rf1 Kti 43.a3 Kf6 44.g4 KeS 4S.Rxe6+ Rxe6 46.gxfS Rf6 0-1

Zimmer, Ralph (2238) - Levin, David (2342)

U.S. Class Championships, 1 992 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 eS 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nbd2 e6 S.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.NeS Ne8 9.f4 fS 1 0.g4 Ndf6 1 l .gS

In this "Stonewall delayed" opening White achieves the quintessential pawn and piece fonnation so sought after by proponents ofthe Stonewall Attack. The spatial advantage that the g-pawn gives to White more than compensates for the slight weakness in his king's position. (See also the Stoyko-Colure game.) 1 l ...Ne4 1 2 .Rf3 N8d6 1 3 .Rh3 g6

Black has to deter the White queen from playing 1 4.Qh5 but . . . g6 may not be the correct way to accomplish this as it creates holes on the dark squares. A more solid attempt to keep White's queen from the h5 square is 1 3 . . . Qe8. 1 4 . Q e l Q e 8 I S .Ndf3 Kh8 1 6.Rh6

White is threatening either 1 7.Qh4 or 1 7.Nxg6+. Black can keep the position under control with 1 6 . . . Kg7. 1 6 ... Nti 1 7.Nxg6+ Kg7 1 8 .Qh4

Practical Plqy in The Colle �stem

18

.••

1 23

Rh8

Threatening 1 9.Rxh7+ KgS 20.RhS+ NxhS 2 1 .QxhS+ Kf7 22.Qh7#; If l S . . . hxg6 1 9.Rh7+ KgS 20.Bxe4 (20.Ne5 Nexg5 21.fxg5 Bxg5 22. Qh3 Bf6) 20 . . . fxe4 2 1 .Ne5 Qa4 22.b3 Qa5 23 .Nxg6. 19.Nxh8 Nxh6 20.Qxh6+ Kxh8 2 1 .Bxe4 BfB 22.Qh3 fxe4 23 .NeS Kg8 24.Bd2 b6 2S.Kh l Bg7 26.Ng4 Rb8? 27.Nf6+ Bxf6 28.gxf6 Rb7 29.Rgl+ Kh8 30.Qh6 eS 3 1 .Rg7 1-0

And Black must give up his queen to stop checkmate 3 1 .Rg7 QgS 32.RxgS+ KxgS 3 3 . Qg5+ Kf8 34.Qxe5 . Kallai, G. (2497) - Gharamian, T. (23 4 1 )

TCh-FRA Natl Final, 2004 l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ eSN 3.e3 b6 4.BgS Bb7 S.e3 e6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.Bd3 dS 8.NeS Nfd7 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 1 0.f4 NxeS 1 l .fxeS Qh4+ 1 2.g3 Qh6 13.QfJ Ne6 14.Qf4 Qxf4 I S.gxf4

1 5 .exf4 would leave the d-pawn under-defended after 1 5 . . . cxd4 1 6.cxd4 Nxd4. IS fS 1 6.dxeS bxeS 1 7.BbS Rb8 1 8.Nb3 Ba8 1 9.Bxe6+ Bxe6 20.NxeS Rxb2 2 1 .Nxe6 d4 22.Rgl d3 23.Rd l .•.

Not 23 .Nxg7+ because of 23 ... Kf7 24.Nxf5 d2+ 25 .Kd l Bf3#. 23 Re2+ 24.Kfl Be4 2S.Rxg7 Rxh2 26.NeS Rh l + 27.Rgl Rxgl+ 28.Kxgl Rg8+ 29.Kf1 Rg3 3 0.Nxd3 ..•

30.Nxe4? allows Black too much control of the center after 30 . . . fxe4 3 1 .f5 Rxe3 . 30

..•

Rxe3 3 1 .Nfl RfJ 32.Rd4 Rxf4 33 .Ke2 Rf3 34.Nxe4 fxe4 3S.e4

THE

1 24

D OGS OF WAR

Ra3 36.Rxe4 Ke7 37.c5 Rc3 3S.Rh4 Rxc5 39.Rxh7+ Ke6 40.Rxa7 Kxe5 Y2-YZ

Although both sides energetically pursued an advantage in the king and pawn ending, the logical outcome is a draw. Pelech, Leslie (2225) - Levitina, Irina (24S5)

U . S . Women's Championship, 1 993 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.e3 g6 4.Bd3 Bg7N 5.0-0 0-0 6.c3 d6 7.b4 cxb4 S.cxb4 e5 9.Nc3 Bg4 1 0.b5 Nbd7 1 l .h3 Bxf3 1 2.Qxf3 Qb6 1 3 .Qd l exd4 14.Na4 QdS 1 5.exd4 Nb6 1 6.Nc3 RcS 1 7.Qb3 Qc7 I S.Ne2 RfeS 1 9.Bd2 Ne4 20.Ba5 Bh6 2 1 .Rad l Qd7

22 .Bb4

White does not take advantage of Black's last move. 22.Bxb6 ! ? axb6 23 .Bxe4 Rxe4 24.Nc3 gives White a solid positional advantage due to the doubled pawns and clear tactical threats after the knight goes to d5 . 22

.•.

d5 23.a4 Nc4 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Bc5? Nd2 0-1

Facing the loss of the exchange for a pawn after 25 . . . Nd2 26.Rxd2 Bxd2 27.Bxa7 Qc7 and with Black in command of the c-file, White resIgns. Ghane, S. (2397) - Kheiri, A. (2 1 7 1 )

1 3th Fajr Open, 2005 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3 .e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.0-0 d5 6.b3 Be7 7.c4N Nbd7 S.cxd5 exd5 9.Nh4 g6 1 0.g3 0-0 1 l .Ng2 Ne4 1 2 .f3 Nd6 1 3 .Nc3 ReS

Practical Plqy in The Colle �stem

1 25

1 4.Nf4 Nf6 1 5.g4 h6 1 6.h4

This position is the result ofWhite 's very unusual and original treatment of the opening. 16 e6 1 7.a3 Bf8 1 8.Ra2 Re8 1 9.Rg2 Bg7 20.Bd2 Nh7 2 1 .Rh2 Re7 22 .Qb l Nf8 23.g5 h5 •••

Black chooses to release the tension when 23 . . . hxg5 24.hxg5 Qxg5+ 2 5 . Kh l would open up the kingside to his favor. 24.Rhf2 Qa8 25.Nfe2 e5 26.f4 Ne4 2 7.Bxe4 dxe4 28.Nb5

The stage is set for an assault on the Black kingside. The knight maneuver is an attempt to clear the c3 square for his bishop to j oin the attack. The zeal with which White presses this line of play ultimately

1 26

THE DOGS OF WAR

comes at too high a cost. 2S ... Rd7 29.Bc3 a6 30.dxcS axbS 3 1 .Bxg7 Kxg7 32 .Qb2+ KgS 33.fS?

White's wildly aggressive play is unproductive as Black has adequate resources with which to defend. 33 bxcS 34.fxg6 fxg6 3S.Rf6 QdS 36.Nf4 Rd2 37.Qcl Qd7 3S.Kh l RdS 39.Qel Rd l 40.RxfB+ Kx fB 4 1 .NdS+ KeS 42.Nf6+ Ke7 0-1 .•.

After 43 .Nxd7 Rxe l 44.Rxe l Kxd7 Black is up a piece. Anand,Viswanathan (2762) - Deep Junior (Computer)

Dortmund SuperGM, 2000 The Colle System once again rears its ugly head in this skillfully (? ! ) played draw. l .d4 dS 2.NfJ Nf6 3 .e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.a3 Qc7 S.Qe2 0-0 9.0-0 RdS 1 0.Re l a6 1 l .h3 bS 1 2.dxcS BxcS 1 3 .e4 NhS 1 4.Nb3 Ng3

A very similar tactical motif can be found in the Shure-Musgrove game in which both queen and rook are forked. In this game only the queen is under attack. I S.Qc2 dxe4 1 6.NxcS exd3 1 7.Nxd3 NfS I S.Bf4 Yz-Yz

Shure, Gary (22S0) - Soltis, Andy GM

Amer. Chess Foundation Int'I., 1 994 l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ d6 3.c3 Nbd7 4.Nbd2 dS S.e3 g6 6.Bd3 Bg7 7.0-0

Practical Plqy in The C()lIe .�stem

1 27

0-0 S.Qe2 ReS 9.Ne5 Nxe5 1 0.dxe5 Nd7 1 1 .f4 Nc5 1 2.Bc2 f5 1 3 .NO b6 1 4.b4 Ne4 1 5.c4 e6 1 6.cxd5 exd5 1 7.Bb2 c5 l S.Rad l Bb7

Black wisely overprotects the dS pawn to prevent White from gaining the advantage after 1 8 . . . cxb4 1 9.RxdS Qe7 20.Bxe4 fxe4 2 1 .NgS . 1 9.Bb3

1 9 ... Qd7 2 0.Rxd5

White's rook sacrifice blasts open the center and gives his "Horwitz" bishops (i.e. bishops which are raking the board so named by Nimzowitsch in his book My System) two gorgeous diagonals. 20. . .Bxd5 2 1 .Rd l KhS 22.Rxd5 Qc7 23.e6 Re7 24.Ne5 Nf6 25.Rd l RaeS 26.Qel Rxe6 27.Qh4 Rxe5 2S.Bxe5 Qe7 29.Rd6 NgS?

THE

1 28

DOGS OF WAR

29 . . . Nd7 would diffuse the strength of White 's advantage after 30.Re6 Qf7 (30. . . Qxh4? ? is refuted decisively by mate in two with 31.Rxe8+ Nj8 32.Rxj8#). 30.Rxg6 !

White's sudden and violent attack is breathtaking in its scope and execution. 30

..•

Nf6

Black plays the only move he can in this position. If 30 . . . Bxe5 3 1 .Rxg8+ Rxg8 32.Qxe7 and 30 . . . Qxh4 is impossible due to 3 1 .Bxg7#. 3 1 .Rxf6 !

Another winning continuation is 3 1 .Rxg7 Kxg7 32.Qg5+ Kf8 3 3 . Qh6+ Qg7 34.Bd6+ Re7 3 5 .Bxe7+ Kxe7 36.Qxg7+ Ke8 3 7 .Ba4+ Kd8 3 8 .Qxf6+ Kc7 39.Qc6+ Kb8 40.Qd6+ Kb7 4 1 .Bc6+ Kc8 42.Qd7+ Kb8 43 .Qd8#. 3 1 . .. e4 32 .Bxe4 Qxb4 33 .Bfl 1-0

If 33 . . . Rxe5 34.Rf7 ; Or 33 .Rh6 Qe l + 34.Qxe l Re6 3 5 .Rxe6 Bxe5 3 6.Re8+ Kg7 37.Qg3+ Kf6 3 8 . fxe5#. Pleshkov, Mikhail (2 1 29) - Levin, David (2342)

U.S. Open, 1 993 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 e5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nbd2 g6 5.b3 Bg7 6.Bd3 0-0 7.Bb2 Ne6 S.a3 Qb6 9.dxe5 Qxe5 1 0.b4 Qb6 1 l .e4 Bg4 1 2 .h3 Bxf3 1 3 .Nxf3 dxe4 1 4.Bxe4 Ne4 1 5.Bxg7 Kxg7 1 6.0-0 Nd6 1 7.Bd5 RfdS 1 S .Bxe6 Qxe6 1 9.Rc 1 Qb6 20.Qd4+ Qxd4 2 1 .Nxd4 RdeS 22.Re5 b6 23 .Re6 Rxe6 24.Nxe6 KfS 25.a4 a6 26.Ne5 KeS 27.Rc 1 f6 2S.Ne4 Nxe4 29.Rxe4 Kd7 30.Kfl ReS 3 1 .RxeS KxeS 32 .Ke2 Ke7 33 .Kd3 Kd6 34.Kd4 e6 Yz-Yz

Polgar, Judit (2722) - Karpov, Anatoly (2693)

7th Essent Hoogeveen, 2003 This game is not a Colle, nor is it a queen pawn opening. We stumbled upon it during our research and simply could not resist including it in this collection. By move 1 9 the parallel attributes to a thematic Colle middlegame that White enj oys are apparent and striking and for that reason the game is included here. l .e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 Ne6 S.e4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 1 0.a3 Ne6 1 l .exd5 Qxd5 1 2 .Ne3 Nxe3 1 3 .bxe3 Qd6 1 4.Rb l b6 1 5.Rel Be6 1 6.Bd3 RaeS 1 7.Rb5 Na5 1 S .Rbe5 Ne6 1 9.R5e2 Bd7 20.d5 Na5 2 1 .Ne5 Bf6 22.Bf4 Bxe5 23 .Bxe5 Qxa3

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 29

24.Re3 Qc5 25.Bxh7+

Even a fonner World Champion can fall prey to this sacrifice. Kxh7 26.Qh5+ 1-0

26 . . . Kg8 27.Bxg7 f6 (2 7. . . Kxg7 2B.Rg3 + Bg4 29.Rxg4+ Kf6 30. Qg5#) 28.Bxf6 Rxf6 29.Rg3+ Bg4 (29. . . Kj8 30. QhB+ Kj7 3 1 . Qg7#) 30.Rxg4+ Rg6 3 1 .Qxg6+ Kh8 32.Rh4#. Pelech, Leslie (2224) - Donaldson, Elena (2497)

U . S . Women's Championship, 1 993 l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ e6 3.e3 b6 4.Nbd2 Bb7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.a3 Be7 S.O-O cxd4 9.cxd4 0-0 1 0.e4 d6 1 l .b4 e5 1 2 .Bb2 exd4 1 3 .Nxd4 Nxd4 1 4.Bxd4 d5 1 5.e5 Ne4 1 6.Qe2 f5 1 7.exf6

White has just been presented with a passed pawn, however she improvidently parts with it. Other viable candidate moves worth considering are 1 7 .Rac 1 , 1 7. f3 or 1 7 .Nb3 . 17

.•.

Bxf6 I S.Bxf6 Nxf6 1 9.Ba6 ? ! ReS

Black takes advantage of White 's dubious bishop move by attacking the queen before capturing on a6, grabbing the e-file with tempo. 20.Qd3 Bxa6 2 1 .Qxa6 QcS 22.Qd3 Qe6 23 .a4 RacS 24.h3 Qe2 25.Qd4 Rc2 26.Rfd l RecS 27.a5 bxa5 2S.bxa5 a6 29.Nfl

The isolani on d5 is a target but it cannot be captured as long as it is only attacked by major pieces. 29

•••

RSc4 30.Qe3 Re4

1 30

THE

DOGS OF WAR

Black has skillfully infiltrated the White position. With her options limited, White relieves some of the pressure by trading queens. 3 1 .Qxe2 Rexe2 32 .Ne3 Rb2 33 .Nxd5 Rxf2 34.Nxf6+

34 ... gxf6

Black does not want to relieve the pressure that her rooks on the seventh rank pose by capturing with the rook. 35.g4 Rg2+ 36.Kh l Rh2+ 3 7.Kgl Rxh3 3 8.Rd6 Rg3+ 39.Kf1 Rxg4 40.Rxa6 Rf4+ 4 1 .Kgl Kfi 42.Rc6 Rg4+ 43 .Kh l Rh4+ 44.Kg l Rbh2 45.Ra3 ? Rh l+ 46.Kg2 R4h2+ 47.Kg3 Rh3+ 48.Kg2 Rxa3 49.Kx h l Rxa5 50.Kg2 Ra3 5 1 .Rc4 h5 0-1

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

131

Shure, Gary (22S0) - Silman, Jeremy (2S 1 1 )

1 994 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 dS 3.e3 g6 4.Bd3 Bg7 S.Nbd2 cS 6.c3 Nbd7 7.0-0 0-0 S.Qe2 ReS 9.NeS e6N 1 0.f4 b6 I 1 .Ndf3 Ne4 1 2.Bd2 f6 13.Nxd7 Bxd7 1 4.Bel Bc6 I S.Bh4 c4 1 6.Bc2 bS 1 7.NeS Bb7 I S.a4 gS 1 9.N17 Qe7

1 9 . . . Kxt7? is tempting, but after 20.fxg5 Nxg5 2 1 .Bxg5 White has the advantage. 20.fxgS Qx17 2 1 .gxf6 B h 6 22.axbS e S 23 .Bxe4 dxe4 24.g4 exd4 2S.cxd4 BdS 26.gS B18 27.Bg3 Qd7 2S.Rf2 QxbS 29.Qg4 B17 30.h4 hS 3 1 .Qe2

Try as White may, he cannot break through. For example 3 1 .gxh6+ Kh7 32.Qg5 Qb6 3 3 .Bf4 Re6. 3 1 . Re6 3 2.BeS Yz-Yz •.

Kramnik, Vladimir (2770) - Deep Junior (Computer)

Dortmund SuperGM, 2000 This is the computer that sent Gary Kasparov packing in 2003 . Deep Junior is noteworthy for its life-like penchant for risky play. I .d4 dS 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Bd3 e6 4.f4 Be7 S.Nf3 cS 6.c3 0-0 7.Nbd2 Ng4 S.Qe2 c4 9.Bc2 fS 1 0.Rgl

1 O.Ne5 Nf6 1 1 .0-0 is the more typical Stonewall Attack formation. The solid pawn structure is the prelude to White 's kingside attack. 10

.•.

Nc6 l 1 .h3 Nf6 1 2 .g4 Ne4 1 3.Qg2

White is threatening mate after 1 4.gxf5 . 13

••.

g6 1 4.Qh2 KhS I S.h4 Nxd2

If 1 5 . . . fxg4 1 6.Bxe4 dxe4 1 7.Ng5 and White will regain the pawn after 1 8 .Ndxe4 with and equal position. 1 6.Bxd2 fxg4 1 7.NgS QeS?

1 7 . . . e5 allows Black to get his queen bishop into play after 1 8 .dxe5 Bf5 although White will have the better position as after 1 9.0-0-0 the White king is safer. I S.hS gxhS l 9.Rxg4 Rf6

Certainly not 1 9 . . . hxg4 20.Qxh7#. 20.Rh4 Rh6 2 1 .0-0-0 as 22.Rh l bS 23.Bd l Ra7 24.BxhS Q18

Black hopes to break through on the queenside with the advance b4. 2S.e4

25 .Nt7+ Qxt7 26.Bxt7 Bxh4 also wins for White. 2S

..•

BdS 26.fS b4 27.Bg6 Rxh4 2S.Qxh4 bxc3 29.bxc3 Bf6?

Black is helpless and cannot stop the coming attack.

1 32

THE DOGS OF WAR

3 0.Qxh7+ ! Rxh7 3 1 .Rxh7+ Kg8 32.Bfi+ Qxfi 33.Rxfi 1-0

3 3 .Rxf7 Bxg5 34.Rc7 Bxd2+ 3 5 .Kxd2; but not 3 3 .Nxf7? because of Kxh7 34.e5 Be7.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 33

Oh-Oh! ? Oh No? ! Oops ??

Chess teaches foresight, by having to plan ahead; vigilance, by having to keep watch over the whole chess board; caution, by having to restrain ourselves from making hasty moves; and finally, we learn from chess the greatest maxim in life - that even when everything seems to be going badly for us we should not lose heart, but always hoping for a change for the better, steadfastly continue searching for the solutions to our problems. - Benjamin Franklin (1 706-1 790)

Timing is very important in chess. There comes a time in every game when the players reach the critical point in the position. Assessments must be made, questions must be asked and answers must be found. Will play be in the center? Will play be on the kingside? Will play be on the queenside? What about the pawn structure? What does that move threaten? What is the best way to recapture? Was that a sacrifice or a blunder? Is this the best time to employ that old Wilhelm Steinitz adage, "When in doubt, take a pawn"? Both sides must recognize when the critical point in the position has arisen. An interesting irony about chess is that there are no secrets on the chessboard - each player sees exactly what moves the other player is making - the challenge is to find the proper continuation at each critical point. Quite often the proper continuation is not found in time or not found at all, and when one side stumbles, there is rarely a chance to recover. Chess can be a very unforgiving game.

THE

1 34

DOGS OF WAR

Harris, Woody (1 700) - Shifflett, Carl ( 1 569)

Virginia Open, 1 994 The ebb and flow of this game shows in graphic detail that the ultimate winner does not have the winning advantage throughout the game. Here we will see White sacrifice his queen, White missing perpetual check, White missing a mate, Black going up a queen for a piece and a winning position, Black losing back his queen, and Black getting checkmated. This game is not for the faint of heart. l .d4 Nf6 2.NfJ d5 3.e3 Bg4 4.Nbd2 e6 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 c4 7.Bc2 Nc6 8.b3N e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 1 0.bxc4 dxc4 1 l .Ba4+ Nfd7 1 2 .Nxe5 Bxdl 13.Bxd7+ Ke7

White 's interesting queen sacrifice nets him three pieces, a pawn and an exposed king. At this point, White can force a draw by perpetual check wiht 1 4.Ndxc4 Bc2 1 5 .Ba3+ Kf6 1 6.Ng4+ Kg6 1 7.Nge5+ Kf6 1 8 .Ng4+ Kg6 1 9.Nge5+ Kf6.

1 4.Ba3+ 1 4

.•.

Kf6 1 5.BxfS Rx fS 1 6.Ne4+! ? Kxe5 1 7.Rxdl Qa5

Practical PIt!) in The Colle System

1 35

1 8.f4+? !

Played one move too soon. 1 8 .Rd4 and Black must give back the queen with 1 8 . . . Qxc3+ ! ? to stop the mate that follows with 1 8 . . . g5 1 9. f4+ gxf4 20.exf4+ Kxf4 2 1 .Rf1 + KeS (21 . . . Ke3 22.Rj3 #) 22.RfS#). 18

•••

Kxe4 1 9.Rd4+ Kxe3 20.0-0 Qxc3 2 1 .Rddl

White has invited Black's king to find temporary housing on e3 . However hard it is to believe, in this position Black's queen is in more jeopardy than his king. 21

Ke2

•••

Black sees the threat but does not find 2 1 . . .QaS 22.h4 Qb6 which would save the queen.

1 36

THE

DOGS OF WAR

22.Bg4+ Ke3 23 .Rf3+ Ke4 24.Rxc3 Kxf4 2S.Rxc4+ KeS 26.Bf3 fS 27.RcS+ Kf6 2S.Rd6+ Ke7 29.RcdS RfeS 30.Rd7+ KfS 3 1 .RxfS+ KgS 32.Rft7 Rel + 33 .Kfl RaeS 34.Rxg7+ KhS 3S.Rxh7+ KgS 36.BdS+ KfS 37.RhS# 1-0 Puchen, Wang (2236) - Jorrit, Kirsten (2200)

36th Olympiad, 2004 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 b6 7.0-0 Bd6 S.Qe2 0-0 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Bb7 1 1 .dxcS BxcS I 2.Nxf6+

A common exchange in this position to ruin the Black king's pawn shield. (See also Davis-Nixon and Ferrell-Stewart for other continuations from this position.) 1 2 . . . gxf6 1 3 .Bh6 ReS 1 4.Radl Q c 7 I S.Qe4 fS 1 6.Qh4 Ne7?

Black's only hope was to defend with 1 6 . . . Be7 1 7.Ng5 Qe5 but after 1 8 .Qh5 Qf6 1 9.Nxh7 White still has the upper hand. 1 7.Qf6 1-0

1 7 . . . Bxf2+ 1 8 .Rxf2 Qg3 1 9.hxg3 Bxf3 20.Qg7#. Cavaliere, P. ( I S3S) - LeGrand, M. ( 1 9 1 7)

Staten Island C.C. v. King's Men, 1 987 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 dS 4.Bd3 Bd6 S.Nbd2 cS 6.c3 Nc6 7.0-0 0-0 S.dxcS BxcS 9.e4 Bd6 1 0.Rel Qc7 1 l .Nfl Bd7 1 2.exdS1 exdS 1 3 .Ne3 RaeS 1 4.BfS ? ! NeT?

Overlooking 1 4 . . . Rxe3 followed by 1 5 . . . Bxf5 and Black is up two

Practical Plqy in The Coffe System

1 37

pieces for a rook with full command of the board. I S .Bd3 Ng6 1 6.NfS Bf4 1 7.Bxf4 Qxf4 I S.Qd2 Qc7 1 9.N3d4 Ne4 20.Qc2 BxfS 2 1 .NxfS Qf4 22 .Bxe4 dxe4 23 .Ng3 e3 24.fxe3 Rxe3 2S.Rxe3 Qxe3+ 26.Qf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 f6 2S.Rd l NeS 29.Ne4 h6 3 0.NcS b6 3 1 .Ne6 ReS 32.Nc7 RcS 33 .NdS Kfi 34.b3 bS 3S.Kg3 Ke6

3 5 . . . g5 ! ? Is more constructive than the text move because it covers the f4 and h4 squares limiting the White king's mobility. 36.Nf4+ KfS 3 7.NdS Ke4? ?

A mistake that loses the rook and with it the game. 3S.Rd4+ KfS 39.Ne7+ 1-0

Hale, W. ( 1 6 2 1 ) - Hatch, D. (1 672)

US Amateur Teams East, 1 983 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 e6 3 .e3 Nf6 4.Nbd2 b6 S.Bd3 Bd6 6.0-0 Ba6

With 6 . . . Ba6 Black sets out to eliminate White 's strong Bishop on d3 . 7.Bxa6 Nxa6 S.c4 0-0 9.a3 cS 1 0.Re l Qc7 1 1 .cxdS exdS 1 2 .e4 dxe4 1 3 .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 4.Rxe4 cxd4 1 S.Qxd4 NcS I 6.Rg4 Ne6 1 7.Qe4 RaeS I S.Qc4 RcS 1 9.Qxc7 Rxc7 20.Be3 RfcS 2 1 .Nd4 ? ! Nxd4 22.Rxd4 BeS 23.Rd3

23 .Rb4, although passive, holds the b-pawn. 23 Bxb2 24.Rad l h6 2S.g3 Bf6 26.Kg2 Be7 27.Rl d2 BcS 2S.Bf4 Re7 29.Bd6 Bxd6 30.Rxd6 Rc3 3 1 .R6d3 Rec7 32.a4 Rxd3 33.Rxd3 Rc4 34.Ra3 fS 3S.h4 Kfi 3 6.Kf3 Ke6 3 7.Ke3 gS 3 S.hxgS hxgS 39.f3 f4+ 40.gxf4 gxf4+ 4 1 .Kd3 KdS 42.Ra l Rd4+ 43.Kc3 Rc4+ 44.Kd3 KcS 4S.Ra2 a6 46.Ra l bS 47.axbS axbS 4S.RaS Rd4+ 49.Kc2 Kb4 SO.RbS Rc4+ S 1 .Kd2 YZ-YZ •..

Hatch, Terese ( 1 1 24) - Burke, Anthony ( I S I3)

U . S . Open, 1 986 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 BfS 4.Nbd2 e6 S.Be2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Rel Nbd7 S.c4 c6 9.NeS NxeS 1 0.dxeS Nd7 11 .Nf3 Bg4 1 2 .Qd4 NxeS

Black has posted his pieces efficiently. White's position is in disarray with weaknesses on c4, f3 and h3 . 1 7.Bf4 Nxf3+ I S.Qxf3 Bd6 1 9.Kh l

White should fight back with 1 9.e5 Be7. 19

•.•

Bxf4 20.gxf4 a6 2 1 .Rgl Qc6 22 .Rae l fS 23.Qg3

23.Qg2 ! ? Rf7 24.exf5 Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Rxf5 26.Rxe6 Rxf4 27.Rd 1 simplifies and clarifies White 's position, but Black is still in complete

138

THE

DOGS O F WAR

control. 23 ...Rti 24.h4?

Loses another pawn. Necessary was 24.Qg2. 24 ... fxe4 25.Rg2 d3 26.Regl Qd7 27.Qe3 Qd4 2S.Qg3

28.b4 represents the last chance for counterplay. 2S ... Qxb2 29.Qg4 Qf6 30.Qg3 b5 3 1 .cxb5 axb5 32.Qe3 Qd4

32 . . . Qxh4+ 3 3 .Rh2 Qxf4 34.Rhg2 picks off two pivotal pawns dashing White 's hopes for any semblance of counterplay. 33 .Qg3 Rxa2

34.f5

I know I should have resigned in this position but thought I could still get something going on the g-file. This was Round 2 of my first U. S . Open and my adrenalin was pumping. Also, my husband's game was still in progress so I played on waiting for him to finish (T. Hatch). 34 ... RaS 35.fxe6

Being up an enormous amount of material causes Black to lose concentration, believing "any" move will win. Black is probably hoping that White will resign, saving him the task of having to win the game with good moves. 35 ... Re7 36.Qf4 c4 37.Qg5 RaeS 3S.h5 c3 39.Qf5 d2 40.h6 d l Q

Black has an overwhelming position and White now takes her last shot in an attempt to swindle her opponent. 4 1 .Rxg7+

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

41

•••

1 39

Rxg7? ?

Unbelievable ! Black plays the only move that loses by force. Black greedily tries to hold on to all of his material when 4 1 . . .Qxg7 was the correct way to recapture and win the game. 42.Qti+ Kh8 43.hxg7+

1-0

43 . . . Qxg7 44.Qxg7#. Weinand, Gerald ( 1 544) - Alb recht, Klaus (2 1 24)

Portland Open, 1 992 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 b6 5.Bd3 Ba6 6.Bxa6 Nxa6 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.e4 cxd4 9.cxd4 0-0 1 0.0-0 Qc8 1 1 .a3

Prevents the knight from intruding on b4. 11

..•

Qb7 1 2 .Rel Rac8 1 3.e5 Nd5

White gains space with his last move but at the cost of giving Black a nice outpost for a knight which is not easily driven from d5 . 14.Ne4 h6 1 5.Qd3 Rc6 1 6.Bd2 f5

Weakens the e5 square. Black would do better to consolidate his position with 1 6 . . . Nac7. 1 7.exf6 Nxf6 1 8.Ne5

White 's knights dominate the board. Black has to defend his weak d6 and g6 squares as well as his misplaced knight on a6. 1 8 Rcc8 1 9.Ng6 d5 20.Nxf6+ Rxf6 2 1 .Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Qxa6 Rc2 23 .Bb4 .•.

23 .Qd3 Rc4 24.Rac l Rxc l 25.Rxc l keeps the pressure on Black and consolidates White 's material and positional advantages.

THE

1 40 23

•.•

DOGS OF WAR

Rfxf2

The best Black has in the position is perpetual check. 24.Bxe7 %-%

With 24.Qc8+! White does not have to settle for the perpetual check. 24 . . . Rxc8 25 .Bxe7 trades off queens and allows White to play on with a material advantage. Mingos, John - Rockman, Charles

Correspondence, 1 969 l .d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Bd3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 e53 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.Bc2 Bd6 8.NgO Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 1 0.g4 Bg6 1 1 .Nxe5 Bxc2 1 2 .Nxti Qe7

12 . . . Bxd l was necessary to avoid the loss of a minor piece. After 1 3 .Nxd8 Rxd8 1 4.Kxd l h5 1 5 .gxh5 Rxh5 Black is down only a pawn. 1 3 .Nxd6+ Qxd6 1 4.Qxc2 0-0 1 5.b3 Rae8 1 6.Bb2 d4 1 7.cxd4 Nd5 1 8.Nc4 Qc6 1 9.0-0-0 Nb4 20.Qd2 Rc8 2 1 .dxc5 Qxc5 22.Kb l Qe7 23 .Ba3 1-O McKeen, Tim ( 1 857) - Anand, Mischra ( 1 84 1 )

South Jersey Quads, 2004 l .d4 Nf6 2.NO e6 3.e3 d5 4.Bd3 Bd6 5.Nbd2 c6 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Qe2 0-0 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 0.Bxe4 h6 1 l .Bd3 Qc7 1 2 .Rel c5 1 3 .c3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nf6 1 5.Bd2 Qe7 1 6.Ne5 Rd8 1 7.Bc3 Bc7 1 8.Rad l a6 1 9.Bb l Bd7 20.Qc2 Be8 2 1 .Re3 g6 22.a3 Rac8 23.Qe2 Ba4 24.Rel Bb5 25.QO Bxe5 26.Rxe5 Nd5?

Practical Plqy in The Colle �stem

141

Both sides were easily countering each other 's threats and 2 6 . . . Bc6 would maintain the equality. 27.Rxd5 Rxd5 28.Qxd5 Bc6 29.Qe5 1-0 Brooks, George (1 604) - Stewart, Douglas (1 882)

2nd Elvis Presley Open, 1 993 1 .d4 Nf6 2.NO d5 3 .e3 c5 4.c3 e6 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.0-0 0-0 8.b3 Re8 9.Bb2

If White wants to fianchetto his queen bishop he should not be playing c3 . The pawn belongs either on c2 or c4. 9 e5 1 0.dxe5 Nxe5 11 .Nxe5 Bxe5 1 2.NO Bc7 1 3 .Qc2 Bg4 1 4.Nd2 Bh5 1 5.h3 ? •.•

White must play 1 5 .c4 to activate his queen bishop. 15

..•

Qd6 1 6.g3 ? Rxe3 ! 1 7.fxe3 Qxg3+ 0-1

Richardson, Michael (1 737) - Walker, Jim (2 1 3 0) w. Virginia State Championship, 1 993 l .d4 e6 2.NO Nf6 3 .Nbd2 d5 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 Qb6 8.Rel a6 9.e4 dxe4 1 0 .Nxe4 Nxe4 1 1 .Bxe4 Nf6 1 2 .Bc2 0-0 1 3 .Qe2 cxd4 1 4.Nxd4 Qc7 1 5.Nf5 Bc5 1 6.Ng3 h6 1 7.Nh5 Nxh5 1 8.Qxh5 f5 1 9.QO Bd6 20.h3 Kh8 2 1 .Be3 e5 22.Qh5 Rf6 23 .Bg5 Qti 24.Qxti Rxti 25.Rad 1 Bc7 26.Bd8 e4 27.Bb3 Bxd8 28.Rxd8+ 1-0

Richardson, Michael (1 685) - Good, Ben ( 1 1 4 1 )

Kanawha Valley, 1 994 l .d4 Nf6 2.NO d5 3.Nbd2 e6 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 1 .Bxe4 Qxd l 1 2 .Rxd 1 Rd8 1 3 .Bf4 Rxd 1 + 1 4.Rxd 1 g6 1 5.Bh6 Be7 1 6.Bf4 f5 1 7.Bc2 b6 1 8 .Ne5 Nxe5 1 9.Bxe5 Kti 20.Ba4 a6 2 1 .Bc6 1-O

Schell, Chalmers ( 1 008) - Koman, Blair (1 486)

Newark, Ohio, 1 993 1 .d4 d5 2.NO Nf6 3.c3 e6 4.e3 Be7 5.Bd3 0-0 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Nbd2 b6 8.Re1 c5 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 cxd4 1 1 .cxd4 Bb7 1 2 .Neg5 h6 1 3 .Ne4 Qc7 1 4.Bxh6 gxh6 1 5.Re3 Bxe4 1 6.Bxe4 Nxe4 1 7.Rxe4 Bf6

THE

1 42

DOGS OF WAR

1 8.Rg4+ Kh7 1 9.Qd3+ Kh8 20.Nh4 Rg8 2 1 .Ng6+ Rxg6 22.Rxg6 fxg6 23.Qxg6 Bg7 24.Rel Rg8 25.d5 exd5 26.h4 Nf6 27.Re6 Nd7 28.Qh5 d4 29.Rxh6+ 1-0 Davis, Charles - Nixon, Pete

U.S. Open, 1 986 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 c4 6.Bc2 Bd6 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.0-0 b5 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Bb7 1 l .Nxf6+ Qxf6 ? ?

Black's Queen is put on a most vulnerable square. Black must play 1 1 . . . gxf6 1 2.Bh6 f5 even though he is saddled with doubled pawns and an exposed king. 1 2 .Bg5 Bxf3 1 3 .Qd2

1 3 .Qxf3 is the weaker alternative 1 3 . . . Qxf3 1 4.gxf3 Nd7. 13

.•.

Bf4

14.Bxf4

1 4 .Qxf4? ! is weak, allowing Black to escape with 1 4 . . . Qxf4 1 5 .Bxf4 Bd5 . 14

..•

Bxg2

Black must choose between losing his bishop or queen. Any move to save the bishop allows 1 5 .Bg5 re-trapping the queen. 1 5.Kxg2 Rd8

1 5 . . . Qh4 is the last best hope for Black to save the queen. 1 6.Bg5 1-0

The best Black can do is 1 6 . . . Qe5 1 7.dxe5 Rxd2 1 8 .Bxd2.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 43

Breen, Daniel (Unr) - Breen, David (Unr)

Analysis by Daniel Breen. l .d4 Nf6 2.e3 dS 3 .NfJ e6 4.Bd3 Bd6 S.O-O 0-0 6.Nbd2 Bd7 7.Rel Na6 8.c3 cS 9.e4 c4 1 0.Bc2 Bb8 ? ?

A waste of time which allows White to lock in the center completely. 1 l .eS

The center is locked and the attack will come swiftly. 1l

.•.

Ng4 1 2.Nfl fS 1 3 .Ng3 Qb6

The last thing Black needs is to put another piece on the queenside. 1 4.h3 Nh6 I S.Bxh6 gxh6 1 6.Qc1 Rti 1 7.NhS Nc7 1 8 .Qxh6 Ne8 1 9.NgS Re7

It should be obvious who is winning. Black is positionally lost as a result of the locked center. 20.Nf6+ Nxf6 2 1 .exf6 eS 22.dxeS Qc6 23.e6 Bh2+ 24.Kxh2 Qc7+ 2S.Kgl Bxe6 26.Nxe6 Qd7 27.BxfS Rti 28.Re3 Kh8 29.NgS Qc7 30.Rae1 Rg8 3 1 .Re8 Rff8 32 .Qxf8 Qh2+ 33 .Kxh2 Rxf8 34.Rxf8# 1-0

Greenwood, Dave ( 1 739) - Friscoe, Lou (1 860)

Cardinal Open, Ohio, 1 987 l .d4 dS 2.NfJ Nf6 3.e3 cS 4.c3 e6 S.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 cxd4 7.exd4 Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Rel Qc7 1 0.Qe2 1 l .dxeS Re8 1 2.exd6 1-0

Lamansky, Steve (1 683) - Grzybowski, John (1 489)

Des Moines Open, 1 999 l .d4 dS 2.NfJ Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 c4

White does not have to fear this advance as he has prepared a retreat square on c2 to keep the bishop on the important b I -h 7 diagonal. This advance by Black only serves to release the central tension, which is to White's advantage. 6.Bc2 Bd6 7.Nbd2 Nc6 8.0-0 bS 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 O-O?

It is critical for Black to exchange knights on e4. 1 l .BgS

A good move, but White has better with 1 1 .Nxf6+ ! ? and Black must capture with 1 1 . . . gxf6 to avoid his queen being trapped after 1 1 . . . Qxf6? 1 2.Bg5 (a recurring motif in the Colle). 1l

.•.

Be7 1 2 .Qe2 Bb7 1 3 .Bxf6 Bxf6 1 4.NcS Rb8 ? ?

THE

1 44

DOGS OF WAR

Black defends the immediate threat but fails to anticipate White's follow-up move. A better defense would have been 14 . . . Qc7. 1 5.Nxb7 Rxb7 1 6.Qe4

White's double attack on c6 and h7 forces the loss of Black's knight. 16 ... g6 1 7.Qxc6 Rb6 1 8.Qe4 Kg7 19.Rfe l Rd6 20.Ne5 Rd5 2 1 .f4 Qb6 22.Re3 Rfd8 23 .Rh3 b4 24.Nxf7! 1-0

White is ahead in material but Black can still make things difficult for White with 24.Nxf7 Rxd4 25.cxd4 Rxd4 26.Rxh7+ Kf8 27.Qe3 Rd l + 28 .Kf2 Rxa l 29.Qxb6 axb6 30.Nd6+- Bxb2 3 1 .Nxc4 Rxa2.

Taylor, Anton (1 626) - Danser, Stephen K. (1393)

No Surrender, 2005 l .NfJ d5 2.d4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Nbd7 5.Nbd2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.e4

Because Black has not challenged White in the center with . . . c5, White does not have to prepare his normal e4 push with c3 . White gets his e4 break in quickly. 7

.•.

dxe4 8.Nxe4 0-0 9.Re1 Re8 1 0.Bf4

Black's play is passive, allowing White to post his pieces on commanding squares. 10

•..

Nxe4 1 l .Bxe4 NfB 1 2 .Ne5 Bd6 13.Re3

Also good is 1 3 .Qh5 Qe7. 13

f5 1 4.Bd3 g5? ?

..•

Leading t o a quick end. 1 5.Bxg5 ! Qb6

Of course the bishop is poison. If 1 5 . . . Qxg5 1 6.Rg3 pinning the queen. 1 6.Rg3 Ng6 1 7.Qh5 Qxb2 1 8.Rf1 Qxd4 1 9.Bf6 Bxe5 20.Rxg6+ ! Kf8

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 45

2 1 .Qh6+ Kf7 22.Qg7# 1-0

An even quicker mate was 1 8 .Rh3 Qb5 1 9.Qxh7+ KfS 20.Nxg6#. Hatch, David ( 1 672) - Sirkar, Kaushik (143 1)

NJ Open, 1 990 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 c4 6.Bc2 Bd6 7.Nbd2 0-0 S.O-O Qc7 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Bxe4 Bf4 1 2 .Qe2 Bxc 1 1 3 .Raxc1 Nd7 1 4.NeS NxeS l S.dxeS QxeS? ?

Totally overlooking the loss of his queen. 1 6.Bxh7+! Kxh7 1 7.QxeS Bd7 l S.f4 b6 19.Rf3 f6 20.Qe4+ KgS 2 1 .Rh3 bS 22.Rfl

22.Rd l f5 23.Qb7 Be8 24.Qxa8 Bc6 25.Qxc6 Kf7 26.Rd7+ Kf6 27.Qc7 Rf7 28.Qd8+ Re7 29.Qxe7+ Kg6 30.Qxg7#. 22 fS 23.QeS Rf6 24.Rff3 RafS 2S.Rfg3 RSf7 26.QbS+ RfS 27.Qxa7 RSf7 2S.Qd4 Kf8 29.RhS+ 1-0 .••

29 . . . Ke7 30.Qc5#. Beissel, Canon (1 62S) - Stewart, Douglas (1 696)

Northpark, Gamel l O, 2003 l .d4 cS 2.e3 dS 3.c3 Nf6 4.Bd3 e6 S.Nf3 b6 6.Nbd2 Bb7 7.0-0 Bd6 S.NeS Nbd7 9.f4 0-0 1 0.Qe2 Ne4 1 1 .Ndf3 f6 1 2.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Nd2 fS 1 4.a4 Nxd2 l S .Bxd2 RaeS 1 6.aS Bc6 1 7.axb6 c4 l S.Bc2 axb6 1 9.Kh1 Qe7 20.Ra6 Qb7 2 1 .Rfa 1 RaS

Both sides have set up a Stonewall pawn formation which is not conducive to active bishop play. The position is even. 22 .RxaS RxaS 23 .RxaS+ QxaS 24.g4 Qa1 + 2S.Qe1 Qxb2 26.Bb 1 ? fxg4 27.fS? exfS 2S.BxfS bS? 29.Bxg4?

Here the position becomes a little frantic. In blitz games both sides often make mistakes and in time pressure cannot calculate the correct continuation. 29 Qc2 30.Be6+? KhS 3 1 .Qf2 Be7? ! 32.Bg4 Qb 1 + 33.Kg2 Qg6 34.Kh 1 ? ? Qxg4 3S.Qf7 Qe4+ 36.Kg1 Qg6+ 37.Qxg6 hxg6 0-1 .•.

Hatch, Terese ( 1 2 09) - Varneckas, Donald (1 2S3)

NJ Open, 1 987 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Bg4 S.Nbd2 eS 6.e4?

White must play 6.dxe5 to avoid the loss of material. 6 ...Nxd4 7.exdS NxdS S.O-O Nf6 9.Re1 Qe7 1 0.c3 Nxf3+ 1 l .gxf3

1 46

THE DOGS OF WAR

Bh5 1 2.Qb3 ? 0-0-0 1 3.Bf5+ Kb8 1 4.a4 Nd5 1 5.Be4 c6 1 6.Nc4 Nf4? 1 7.Bxf4 exf4 1 8.Bxc6 Qc7 1 9.Na5 b6? 20.Be4 Qe7 ? ? 2 1 .Nc6+ Kb7 22 .Nxe7+ Kc7 23.Qc4+ Kd7 24.Bc6+ Kd6 25.Rad l+ Kc7 26.Be4+ Kb8 27.Rxd8# 1-0 Lowey, Michael (1 429) - Shapiro, Eugene ( 1 522)

0/60, 2003 l .d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Nbd2 e6 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 Bb4 7.c3 Bd6 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 0.Qxe4 c6 1 l .Bd3 h6 1 2.0--0 Nd7 13 .Qg4 Qf6 1 4.Rel 0-0-0 1 5.Re3 h5 1 6.Qe2 Qe7 1 7.Rf3 ?

White should be attacking on the queenside with a2-a4. l 7.RB unnecessarily puts the rook on a vulnerable square and accelerates Black's attack. 17 ... g5 1 8.g3 ? g4 1 9.Re3 gxh3 20.Bf5 Rdg8

20 . . . h4 2 1 .g4 Nf6 puts even more pressure on White 's weakened kingside. 2 1 .Bxh3 Qh4 22.Bg2 Qg4?

There is no reason for Black to trade queens in this position. He should simply play 22 . . . Qe7 followed by 23 . . . Nf6 and his rooks, bishop and knight are ready to attack on the kingside. 23.Qxg4 hxg4 24.c4 Nf6 25.a3 c5 26.Rb3

Black's attack has dissipated. 26

..•

b6

Both sides are in big time pressure (Lowey). 27.Be3 Nd7 28.a4 cxd4 29.Bxd4 Nc5 30.Rb5 e5 3 1 .Be3 Nd3 ? ? 32.Rd5 Nxb2 33.Rxd6 Nxc4 34.Rc6+ Kd7 35.Rxc4 1-O

Weidman - Boroviak ( 1 761)

Club Match, 1 973 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3 .e3 Bf5 4.Bd3 e6 5.Bxf5 exf5 6.Qd3 Qc8 7.Ne5 Bd6 8.Nd2 0-0 9.f4 c6 1 0.0--0 Re8 1 l .c4 as 1 2 .cxd5 cxd5 1 3.Ndf3 N e4 1 4.Bd2 f6 1 5.Rac1 Qd8

Better is l 5 . . . Qe6 with excellent chances for Black 1 6.Qb5 Nxd2 (16 . . . Bxe5 1 7fxe5fxe5 1 8. Qxb 7; 1 6. . fxe5?! 1 7. dxe5 Bj8 1 8. Qxb 7) l 7.Nxd2 fxe5 (1 7. . . Bxe5 1 8fxe5 Nd7 19.Rc 7) l 8.fxe5 Bb4. 1 6.Qb5 fxe5 1 7.Qxd5+ Kf8 1 8.fxe5 Nxd2 1 9.Nxd2 Bb4? 20.Rxf5+ 1-0

Practical PIt!) in The Coffe System

1 47

Garcia Castro, Veronica - Akemi, Matson

3 6th Olympiad, Women, 2004 l .d4 dS 2.ND e6 3 .e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 b6 S.Nbd2 Nbd7 6.0-0 Be7 7.c3 0-0 8.e4 cS 9.eS Ne8 1 0.Re l Nc7 1 l .Nfl cxd4 1 2.cxd4 Na6 13.a3 Nab8 1 4.Bb l Nc6?

14 . . . Re8 was Black's only hope. I S.Qc2

IS

•..

Bb7

Worrying about protecting the knight, Black neglects to defend her king. 1 6.Qxh7# 1-0

Leighton, G. - Johnson, G.

Illinois , 1 97 1 l .d4 Nf6 2.e3 dS 3 .Bd3 Nc6 4.f4

By playing 4.f4 White deviates from the usual 4.c3 , allowing the exchange of his important king bishop. Even without this piece White can still play moves consistent with attacking themes in the Colle System. 4 Nb4 S.ND Nxd3+ 6.cxd3 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.NeS Bd7 9.QD c6 1 0.Nc3 0-0 1 l .g4 Rc8 1 2.gS Ne8 1 3.Qh3 f6 14.g6 h6 I S .Ng4 eS? •.•

1 5 . . . Bd6 1 6.Nxh6+ gxh6 1 7.Qxh6 Qe7 adequately defends against White's mating combination. 1 6.Nxh6+ 1-0

THE

148

DOGS OF WAR

Sichel, David (1 6SS) - Spiro, Barry (2 1 00)

Morris County Chess League (NJ), 1 992 l .Nf3 cS 2.e3 Nf6 3 .d4 e6 4.Bd3 Nc6 S.c3 Qc7 6.Nbd2 dS 7.Qc2 Bd6 S.dxcS BxcS 9.e4 NeS 1 0.exdS NxdS 1 l .BbS+ Ke7 1 2 .Ne4 Nxf3+ 13 .gxf3 Bb6 1 4.BgS+ f6 I S .Bh4 Qf4 1 6.Qa4 Qxh4 1 7.Qa3+ Kf7 I S.Nd6+ KgS 19.0--0-0 Qf4+ 20.Kb l Bc7 2 1 .NxcS RxcS 22.Rhel Bd6 23.Qxa7 QfS+ 24.Bd3 Qxf3 2 S.c4 BcS 26.Qa4 Nb6 27.Qb3 Qc6 2S.Be4 Qc7 29.QbS 0-1

and White lost on time. Linek, Francis (1 72S) - Cantrell, Gilbert (1 697)

U. S . Amateur Teams South, 1 990 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 g6 4.Bd3 Bg7 S.Nbd2 0-0 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Re l cS S.c3 c 4 9.Bc2 bS 1 0.a4 bxa4 1 l .Bxa4 B b 7 1 2 .Bc2 Qc7 1 3 .e4 Nb6 1 4.eS Nfd7 I S .NgS BcS 1 6.Ndf3 ? !

1 6.e6 i s the shot that White misses. 1 6 . . . fxe6 i s out o f the question because 1 7.Nxe6 forks queen and rook while 1 6 . . . Nf6 1 7.exfl+ gives White a powerful passed pawn deep in Black territory. 16

•..

h6 1 7.Nh3

White had a chance to make up for his oversight on move 1 6 with 1 7.Nxfl Rxfl 1 8 .e6. 1 7 ... ReS? I S.Bf4 ? !

Black again hands White the opportunity to play 1 8 .e6 fxe6 (1 8. . . Nj8 19.Bf4 Qb 7 20. exj7+ Kxj7 21.Ne5+ Bxe5 22.Bxe5 Bxh3 23. Qf3 + Bf5) 1 9.Nf4 e5 20.Bxg6 RfS 2 1 .Ne6 winning the exchange. IS

.•.

Nf8?

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 49

Black stubbornly refuses to put a stop, once and for all, to White 's e6 threat by playing 1 8 . . . e6 himself. 1 9.Qd2

1 9.e6 Qb7 20.exf7+ Kxf7 2 1 .NeS+ Kg8 22.Qf3 BxeS 23 .RxeS and White is in a position to pounce. 19

•.•

Bxh3 20.e6 Qc8 2 1 .exli+ Kxli 22.gxh3 Qxh3

Timing is everything in chess. White finally played e6 but it was too late. The exchanges have netted Black a pawn and the shots White once had are no longer there. 23 .Bg3 Qc8? 24.Qf4+ Kg8 2S.Qh4 e6 26.NeS Qd8 27.Qh3 Nbd7 28.Nxg6 Nxg6 29.Bxg6 Rf8 ? 30.Qxe6+ Kh8 3 1 .QxdS Nb6

32.Qg2

32.Qxd8 Raxd8 3 3 .Rxa7 Rf6 gives White a material advantage with a winning position. 32 QgS 33 .Bc2 Rli 34.Qe4 Bf6 3 S.h4 Qg7 36.Kh l Re7 3 7.Qg6 Rxe l + 38.Rxel Qxg6 39.Bxg6 Kg7 40.hS Nd7 4 1 .Bd6 Nf8 42.BfS Nh7 43.f4 Bh4 44.Re6 ••.

44.Rg l + wins a piece after 44 . . . Kh8 4S.Rg6 Nf6 46.Be7 Rb8 47.Bxf6+ Bxf6 48.Rxf6. 44

N f8 4S.BeS+ Kti 46.Rxh6 1-O

.•.

Hillman, Kirk ( 1 6 1 8) - Weir, Patrick (1 865)

NJ Open, 1 993 l .d4 dS 2.e3 e6 3 .Bd3 cS 4.c3 Nc6 S.Nt1 Nf6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Nbd2 Qe7 8.e4N dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 0.Bxe4 Bd7 l l .dS exdS 1 2.BxdS 0-0-0

THE

150

DOGS OF WAR

1 3 .Re1 NeS?

Black underestimates the dangers of the position. 1 3 . . . Be6 1 4.Bxe6+ fxe6 1 5 .Qb3 keeps White 's advantage to a minimum. 14.Bf4 Bg4?

Better is 1 4 . . . Nxf3+ 1 5 .Qxf3 Be6. l S.BxeS BxeS 1 6.RxeS QxeS 1 7.NxeS

White should play 1 7.Bxb7+ Kc7 1 8.Qxd8+ (1 8.Nxe5? Rxdl + 19.Rxdl Bxdl and White has too many weaknesses to defend.) 1 8 . . . Rxd8 1 9.Nxe5. 1 7 . . .Bxd 1 1 S.Rx d 1 RheS 1 9.Nf3 Re2 20.Bxb7+ Kc7 2 1 .RxdS KxdS 22.Kf1 Rxb2 23.BdS f6 24.Ke1 Rc2 2S.c4?

White can hold on to both queenside pawns with 25.Bb3 Rc l + (25 . . . Rxc3 26.Kd2 Rxb3 2 7. axb3) 26.Kd2. 2S ... Rxa2 26.Nd2 Kc7 27.Ne4 Kb6 2S.Nd6 as 29.NeS?

29.Nb5 keeps the knight on the queenside where it is needed to keep an eye on the passed pawn on a5 . 29

..•

a4 30.Nxg7? a3 3 1 .Ne6 Ra 1 +

A more precise win is 3 1 . . .Rb2 32.g3 a2 3 3 .Kfl a l Q+. 32 .Kd2 a 2 0-1 Weinand, Gerald ( 1 6 1 6) - Lewis, Aaron ( l S 1 7)

Portland City Championship, 1 993 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 dS 4.Bd3 Nbd7 S.Nbd2 Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re 1 c S S.c3 Q c 7 9.e4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Rxe4 c 4 1 2.Bc2 bS 1 3 .NeS BxeS 14.dxeSz Bb7 l S .Rh4 g6 1 6.Be4 Bxe4 1 7.Rxe4 RfdS l S.Qe2 NcS 19.Rd4 RacS 20.BgS Rxd4 2 1 .cxd4 Nd7 22.Re 1 a6 23.dS c3 24.dxe6 fxe6 2S.bxc3 Qxc3 26.h3 Qc7 27.Qg4 NxeS ?

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

151

The dangers in the position are underestimated by Black. 27 . . . Re8 keeps White 's advantage to a minimum. 28.Qxe6+ Nfi 29.Rc1 Qxc 1 + 30.Bxc1

Sometimes the hardest move to see in chess is the backward bishop move. 30 Rxc 1 + 3 1 .Kh2 Rc2 32.Qxa6 Rxf2 33.Qa8+ Kg7 34.QdS RfS 3 S.Qd4+ Rf6 3 6.g4 h6 3 7.Qb2 Nd6 38.QeS Nfi 39.Qb2 NgS 40.a3 Nf3+ 4 1 .Kg3 NgS 42.h4 Ne4+ 43.Kg2 Kh7 44.QxbS Rf2+ 4S.Kgl Rfi 46.Qe8 Nd6 47.Qe6 1--0 •..

Black is in zugzwang after 47 . . . g5 48 .h5 . Mingos, John (1 92S) - Redmond, John (1 347)

1 990 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 Bg4 4.c4 e6 S.Nc3 Bb4 6.Qa4+ Nc6 7.NeS Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 0--0 9.Nxc6 bxc6 1 0.Qxc6 Qd6? 1 l .cxdS NxdS l 2.Qxd6 cxd6 1 3.c4 Nc3 ? 1 4.f3 BfS 1 S.e4 Bg6 1 6.Bd3 fS 1 7.eS Rad8 ? 1 8.exd6 Rxd6 1 9.Ba3 Rxd4 20.Bxf8 Rxd3 2 1 .Bb4 Re3+?

Black makes an ill-fated decision to check. 22.Kd2 f4 23.Bxc3 Rd3+ 24.Kc2 Rxf3+ 2S.Kb3 Rf2 26.Rhgl Bc2+ 27.Kb4 Be4 28.Ran Rxa2 29.Rxf4 Bxg2 30.Rg4 Bc6 3 1 .Rxg7+ Kh8

3 1 . . .KfS does not save Black from being checkmated after 32.Rg8+ Ke7 3 3 . R l g7+ Kd6 34.Rd8+ Bd7 3 5 .Rdxd7+ Kc6 36.Rc7+ Kb6 3 7.c5+ Ka6 38.Rxa7#. 32.Rg8# 1--0 Knecht, Mark (2092) - Erturan, Ayvaz (222 1 )

World Open, 200 1 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.b3 Nc6 6.0--0 Be7 7.Bb2 0--0 8.Nbd2 b6 9.NeS Qc7 1 0.f4 cxd4 1 1 .Nxc6 Qxc6 12.exd4 Ne4 13.Rf3 eS I 4.fS ?

1 4.fxe5 Bg4 1 5 .c4 and Black is "only" down the exchange. 14

•••

Nxd2 I S .Qxd2 e4 1 6.Bxe4

6.Re3 is no better after 1 6 . . . Bg5 (1 6. . . exd3 1 7.Rxe 7 Qxc2 18. Qxc2 dxc2 19.Re5) 1 7.Bfl Bxf5 . 1 6 dxe4 1 7.dS Qd6 1 8.Rg3 Bf6 1 9.Qh6 Bd4+ ! 20.Bxd4 Qxh6 2 1 .Bxg7 Qxg7 0--1 ..•

White resigns knowing he has no winning chances and no way to complicate the position for Black.

T H E D O G S OF WAR

152

Gholson, Steve - Woods, Glenn

Col. Paul Webb Memorial, 1 994 l .d4 d5 2.NO e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Be7 5.Nbd2 Nc6 6.e4

Wasting a tempo. Although White does want to play this move, he must properly prepare it with 6.c3 first in order to prevent Black's next move. 6 ... Nb4 7.Qe2 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nbd5 9.Nxf6+ Bxf6 1 0.0-0 Nb4 1 l .c3 Nd5 ? !

Half of Black's first 1 1 moves have been with this knight. Black does not take advantage of the opportunity to exchange the knight for White 's strong bishop on d3 - an opportunity Black seldom has when playing against the Colle. 1 2 .Rel Bd7 13 .Qc2

The thematic 1 3 .Ne5 should be considered. 13

.•.

Qe7 1 4.Be4 c6 1 5.Bd2 h6 1 6.Bxd5

White should keep his good bishop on the board and take advantage of his lead in development by playing 1 6.c4 Nb6 1 7.Qb3 . 1 6 ... cxd5 1 7.Bf4 0-0 1 8 .Be5 Bg5 19.Nxg5 hxg5 20.Re3 f6 2 1 .Bg3 Kti 22.h3 Rh8 23 .Rael f5 ? 24.Qxf5+ Qf6 25.Qc2 Kg8 26.Be5 Qh6 27.Bd6 g4 28.Qe2 gxh3 29.Rxh3 Qg6 30.Rxh8+ Kxh8 3 1 .QO Bb5 32 .Qh3+ Qh6? 33.Qxh6+ gxh6 34.Rxe6 Rg8 35.Re7 Rg4 36.0 Rg6 37.Be5+ Kg8 38.Rxb7 a6 39.Rc7 h5 40.Kh2 Bft 4 1 .g3 h4 42 .Rg7+ Rxg7 43.Bxg7 Kxg7 44.gxh4 Kg6 45.Kg3 Be2 46.Kf4 Kh5? ? 47.b4 Kxh4 48.a4 Kh5 49.Ke5 BxO 50.b5 axb5 5 1 .axb5 Be2 52.b6 Ba6 53.Kxd5 1-O

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

153

A Bust to the Col le?

On the chessboard lies and hypocrisy do not survive long. The creative combination lays bare the presumption of a lie; the merciless fact culminating in a checkmate contradicts the hypocrite. - Emanuel Lasker ( 1 868- 1 94 1 While researching the Internet and mega databases for this book we came upon a gambit for Black evidently designed to get White out of the Colle "system." After l .d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5 .c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2, Black plays 6 . . . g5 which is a Shabalov Attack in reverse. The Shabalov Attack is a gambit (6.g4) White plays against the Semi-Slav (Meran). Now reverse the colors and you have Black playing 6 . . . g5 against the Colle (which really is a Semi-Slav in reverse). Like any gambit, 6 . . . g5 can be accepted or declined: White Accepts the Gam bit 1 .d4 dS 2. e3 Nf6 3 .NfJ e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 gS 7.NxgS

7

Rg8 8.f4?

•.•

White has a better continuation beginning with 8.Nxh7 Nxh7 9. Bxh7 Rxg2 1 O.Qf3 with at least even, if not slightly better, chances. 8 ... h6

Black takes advantage of White's inaccuracy. 9.NgfJ Rxg2

THE

1 54

DOGS OF WAR

Black has gained a positional advantage due to White 's inability to castle kingside. 1 0. eS

1 O.Rg l Rxg l + 1 1 .Nxg l Bd7 and Black has only a slightly better position. 10 NxeS 1 l .dxeS Ng4 1 2 .Nf3 Nxh2 1 3 .b3 Bd7 1 4.Rxh2 Rxh2 l S.Nxh2 Qh4+ 1 6.Kd2 Qxh2+ 1 7.Qe2 .••

Black has the upper hand after the exchange of Queens. White is a pawn down with no attacking chances. There are no weaknesses in the Black position and he has a passed pawn on the h-file. White 's dark squared pawns are blocking in his queen bishop and he cannot castle. White Declines the Gam bit

White has at least three very good lines to follow that do not accept the gambit: 7.e4, 7.h3 and 7.0-0. l .d4 dS 2.e3 Nf6 3 .Nf3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 gS 7.e4

This is a sensible response - White plays in the center to counter Black's push on the wing. Black has two replies: a) 7 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.cxd4 Nxe4 1 0.Nxe4 dxe4 1 l .Bxe4 Bg7 White has nothing to fear in this position and can simply castle. The slight weakness of his isolated d-pawn is balanced by Black's own loose pawn structure and lack of development. •.•

Practical PI'!Y in The Colle System

155

b ) 7 g4 S.Ne5 cxd4 9.Nxc6 bxc6 1 0.cxd4 White's position is solid and his development is nearly complete. Black, on the other hand, must worry about the weak pawns on c6 and g4. ••.

Illustrative Game # 1 Markus, John Raymond (2 1 56) - Kobrin, Michael (2355)

Dieren Open, 1 999 l .d4 d5 2.f3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 g5

The gambit move, threatening . . . g4. Of course, Black can continue along "normal" Colle lines with 6 . . . Bd6 or even 6 . . . c4 7.h3

THE

156

DOGS O F WAR

White prevents the intrusion on g4. 7 ... Rg8 8.e4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Bb4

Black is doing his best to disrupt White 's plan and threatens to isolate the d4 pawn with dxe4. 1 0.e5

White will not play along but rather gains space and stays on plan. 1 0 ... Ne4 11 .a3 Ba5 1 2.b4 Nxd2 1 3 .Qxd2 Bb6 1 4.Bb2 h6 1 5.0-0-0 Bd7 1 6.Kb 1 Ne7 1 7.Rc1 Ba4 1 8.Be2 a5 1 9.Nh2 axb4

The position is equal, meaning both sides have chances. 20. axb4

A better plan for White might be to attack on the kingside with 20.Ng4 Rg6 2 1 .Qxb4 but not 2 1 .axb4 because of 2 1 . . .Bb3 . 20

.•.

Qb8

Black should try to open up the a-file with 20 . . . Bb3 . 2 1 .Rc3

The opportunity still exists for White to mount a kingside attack with 2 1 .Ng4 Rg6 22.Bd3 Rg7 . 2 1 . Nc6 22 .Ra3 Bd8 .•

A must move to cover Black's weak squares on the kingside. 23 .Ng4 Be7

White can turn this into a tactical melee with 24.b5 and Black can respond with 24 . . . Bxa3 or 24 . . . Bb4. Instead White's more conservative move gives Black one last ray of hope. But Black doesn't see it and blunders after 24.Nf6+ Kd8? ?

24 . . . Bxf6 would allow Black to cement the position after 25.exf6 b5. 25.Rxa4 ! Rxa4 26.Nxg8 Bxb4

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 57

26 . . . Kd7 is no better because White can simply redeploy the knight (after capturing the pawn on h6) to g4. 2 7.Qd3 Qa7 28.Bd l Ra6 29.Bb3 Ba3 3 0.Nxh6 Rb6 ? ?

Black blunders again. For Black to have any hope of an attack he should play 30 . . . Bxb2 3 1 .Kxb2 Nxd4 32.Nxf7+ Kd7. 3 1 .Nxf7+ Kd7 32.Nd6

32 Nxg5 seems even better after 32 . . . Qa5 3 3 .h4 Bxb2 34.Kxb2 Ra6. 32

•••

Qa5

32 . . . Bxb2 is not much help 33 Kxb2 Qa4 34 Rb 1 . 33.Qh7+

3 3 .Rc l makes it even easier for White 33 . . . Bxd6 34.exd6 Kxd6. 33

Ne7 34.Qc2 Qb4

.•.

If Black wants to play on, 34 . . . Bxd6 wins back a small amount of material after 3 5 . exd6 Rxd6 but, of course, the outcome will not be changed. 35.Rc 1 Rc6 36.Ba4 1 -0 (See diagram next page.)

THE

158

D OGS O F WAR

White 's last move begins the final liquidation of Black's pieces leaving White a rook up in a winning position after 3 6 .Ba4 Bxb2 37.Bxc6+ Nxc6 3 8 .Qxb2 Qxb2+ 39.Kxb2 Nxd4 40.Nxb7 Illustrative Game #2 Markus, John Raymond (22 0 1 ) - Steinbacher, Matthias (2326)

Amsterdam ACT Open, 2004 l .d4 e6 2.Nf3 c5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nbd2 Nc6 5.c3 d5 6.Bd3 g5 7.0-0 g4 8.Ne5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Nd7 1 0.f4

If White plays 1 O.Qxg4 Nxe5 I l .Qe2 Nxd3 1 2.Qxd3 f5 he would give up everything good about the Colle System: he would allow his king bishop to be exchanged; his queen bishop would be hemmed in by his own pawns; and he would not have the thematic e4-e5 pawn break. White calmly stays committed to the fundamental qualities that make the Colle such a solid opening system. 10

c4 1 l .Bc2 h5 1 2.b3 b5 1 3.bxc4

•.•

White can maintain the initiative with 1 3 .a4 cxb3 1 4.Nxb3 Ba6. 13

bxc4 14.e4 Nc5 1 5.Kh l Rb8 1 6.Ba3 Nxe4 ?

..•

Unnecessarily allowing the d-file to be opened. Better would be to keep the position as closed as possible with 1 6 . . . Be7. 1 7.Bxe4 dxe4 1 8.Nxe4 f5? ?

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

159

Black overlooks White 's crushing continuation. I f 1 8 . . . Qxd 1 1 9 Nf6+ Kd8 20 Rfxd l + Kc7 2 1 Bxf8 Rxf8 and black is still in the game. 1 9 Nf6+ Qxf6 20 exf6 Rh7

No better is 20 . . . Bxa3 2 1 Qa4+ Kf7 22 Qxa7+ Bb7. 2 1 .Bxf8 Rd7 22.Qe2 Rd3 23 .Qe5 Rb7 24.Qc5 Kd7 25.ti

If 25.Rad l Rb6 26.f7 e5 27.Bd6 Rc6 28.Qxa7+ Bb7 29.Qxb7+ Rc7 30.Qxc7+ Ke6 3 1 .f8N+ Kd5 32.Qc5+ Ke4 3 3 . Qxe5#. 25

Rb2 26.Bd6 ! Rxd6

•..

If 26 . . . e5 27.f8Q Rxd6 28.Qcxd6#. 27.f8Q 1 -0

If 27

• . .

Rxg2 28.Qcxd6#.

Illustrative Game #3 Chessmaster - Bradzang www.j axchessnews.com/id82.html l .d4 d5 2.NO Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 e6 5.Nbd2 Nc6 6.Bd3 g5 7.h3 Rg8 8.0-0 Qb6 9.dxc5

A better continuation for White is 9.e4 g4 1 0.hxg4 cxd4 1 1 .exd5 Nxd5 1 2.Nc4 Qc7 1 3 .Nxd4 Nxd4 1 4.cxd4 and his superior development is evident. 9

Bxc5 1 0.e4 h6 1 l .exd5 Nxd5 1 2 .Nc4 Qc7 1 3 .Rel Be7 14.Nfe5

•..•

1 60

THE DOGS OF WAR

White's pieces are developed and he has open lines of attack. His opponent has a dark square weakness (e5 and f6) and must hurry to complete his development. 14 ... Bd7 1 5.Qh5 0-0-0 1 6.Nxe6 Qxe6 1 7.Ne5 Qb6 1 8.Qxh6

White can maintain an edge with 1 8.a4 ! ? Bc5 1 9.Qe2 combining defense of the f2 square with an attack on Black's queenside. 18 ... Be5 19.Re2 f6 20.Nxd7 Rxd7 2 1 .Be2

White should keep his bishop active with 2 1 .Be4. 21. .. Qa6 22.Rel Qb6 23.Rf1

Again, White should keep his rook active on the e-file by playing 23.Re2 g4 24.hxg4 Rxg4 25.Qh8+ Rd8 26.Qh3 . 23 ... g4

Practical PIt!Y in The Colle System

161

White's series of small inaccuracies has given Black the initiative. 24.hxg4 Rxg4 25.Qh5

White should relegate himself to defense with 2S.Bd l . 25

•••

f5 26.Qh2?

It i s difficult to come up with a better plan for White from this point on. 26

Nf6 2 7.Qh8+ Rd8 28.Qh3 Rdg8 29.Bd l Rg3 0-1

•••

and Black went on to win in 88 moves.

Sum mary

In the Markus v. Kobrin game, 6 . . . gS was neutralized immediately by 7.h3 . Indeed, the pawn on gS remained on gS the entire game and did not contribute to any long-term plan of attack. White made 6 . . . gS look embarrassing after I S . 0-0-0. In the Markus v. Steinbacher game, Mr. Markus did not get flustered by 6 . . . gS . He was able to discern, even in the face of a theoretical novelty, that the gambit could be declined without repercussion and that the Colle System has sufficient resources to so decline the gambitted pawn. If Black's objective was to get White out of his book, he failed miserably. In the third game White's loss was due to several inaccuracies and missed opportunities during middlegame play. Our conclusion is that the 6 . . . gS gambit in the Colle System may not be totally sound, but it does contain shock value, and with continued study and homegrown analysis, may offer practical chances for the gambiteer at heart. The study of these games can only help to improve your tactical and analytical skills.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 63

Edgar Col le and Friends

Had it not been for chess I should never have met some of the extraordinary men and women, in many walks of life, whose acquaintance has enriched my days. Among them I count some of my best friends - reason enough for me to be grateful to the game. - Edward Lasker ( 1 885- 1 98 1 )

Edgar Colle enjoyed a very lopsided record when it came to playing the opening which bears his name. In order to round out this book and give it a sense of balance, we thought one thing we could do that might be interesting and different is to include a number of games in which Colle plays Black against the Colle System, Colle plays White against a mirror image (Semi-Slav) of the Colle System, Colle plays the Colle for the first time and a few of Colle 's friends play the Colle System. Cap ablanea, Jose - Bray, T.

Birmingham Simul, 1 9 1 9 This miniature was played during Capablanca's gigantic tour of England in the fall of 1 9 1 9. In the month of October alone he gave 1 7 displays, playing 656 games ! l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Bd6 5.Nbd2 Nbd7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Qe2 b6 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Be7 1 0.Re l Re8 1 l .Neg5 Bb7 1 2 .Nxti Bxf3 1 3 .gxf3 Kxti 1 4.Qxe6+ Kf8 1 5.Be4 1-O

Przepiorka, D. - Colle, E.

Frankfurt, 1 93 0 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e 6 3.e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.Nbd2 e 5 6.0-0 Ne6 7.e3 Qe7 8.Re l Re8 9.Nfl d5

Black has equalized comfortably and is ready to complete his development with . . . Bd6 followed by . . . 0-0 . 1 0.Bd2 Bd6 1 l .Rc 1 0-0 1 2.dxe5 Bxe5 13.e4 d4

The passive placement of the White pieces allows Black to push

THE

1 64

D OGS OF WAR

forward. 1 4.a3 as 1 5.e4

An attempt to close the position and limit the scope of the Black bishops. But in reality, the move gives Black a powerful passed pawn. 15

.•.

Bd6 1 6.Ng3 Nd7 1 7.Qe2 Rfd8 1 8.Bb l

Black now breaks out of his huddle. 18

Nde5

•..

Black occupies a wonderful central outpost from which the knight will control the light squares. 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Kh l

It is hard to find an active continuation for White. If 20.Qh5 Qd7 and Black still has the upper hand due to his strong knight on e5 and his passed d-pawn. (20. . . Nxc4 is clearly weaker 2 1 . e5 g6 22. exd6 Qxd6 23. Qh6 and White s pieces suddenly jump to life.} 20

•..

a4 2 1 .Qdl

An attempt to dislodge the knight with 2 1 .f4 Nxc4 22.e5 Bf8 would not help. 21

..•

Qc6 22.Ne2

If 22.Nh5 then Black can challenge this attempt at counterplay with the careful 22 . . . Qe8 (Not 22 . . . Nxc4 23. Qg4 Ej8 24.Nxg7). 22

.•.

Bb8

Black wants to push his passed pawn. 23.Bf4? d3

This thorn in White 's side is the beginning of the end. 24.Ngl Nxc4 25.Bd2 Qd6 26.Nf3

26.g3 is the only chance to get some counterplay but after 26 . . . Nxb2

Practical PI'!Y in The Coile System

1 65

Black's passed pawn and powerfully placed pieces will prove too much for White. 26

•••

Nxb2 0-1

The queen is trapped. Bogolj ubow, Efim

-

Capablanca, Jose Raul

New York New York, 1 924 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 dS 3 .e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.b3 Nc6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Bb2 0-0 8.Nbd2 Qe7 9.NeS cxd4 1 0.exd4 Ba3

A common defensive strategy against the Colle-Zukertort variation is to exchange the dark squared bishops. Obj ectively White has nothing to fear from this exchange as it sidelines the Black queen. This game shows that in the hands of a master like Capablanca White should not take this exchange for granted. 1 l .Bxa3 Qxa3 1 2 .Ndf3 Bd7 1 3 .Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Qd2 Rac8 I S.c3 a6 1 6.NeS

White is positioning his pieces aggressively, but this comes at the cost of neglecting the weaknesses on the queenside. 16

•••

BbS 1 7.f3

White can avoid the exchange of bishops and maintain his advantage with 1 7.c4 ! ? Bc6 1 8 .Qe3 . 17

.••

Bxd3 1 8.Nxd3 Rc7 1 9.Rac1 Rfc8 20.Rc2 Ne8

The knight is heading for d6 where it will eye the c4 square, weakened as a result of the exchange of bishops on move 1 7. 2 1 .Rfc 1 Nd6 22.NeS

22.Nc5 b6 23 .Na4 would require Black to work harder for the win. 22

.•.

QaS

1 66

THE

DOGS OF WAR

All of the focus is on the critical c3 square which has been under almost constant attack since move 1 8 . 23.a4

An unnecessary weakening of the queenside pawns. The pressure to defend the backward pawn on the open c-file creates new weaknesses for White. 23 Qb6 24.Nd3 Qxb3 2S.NcS Qb6 26.Rb2 Qa7 27.Qel b6 28.Nd3 Rc4 29.aS bxaS 30.NcS NbS 3 1 .Re2 ? Nxd4 ! 32.cxd4 R8xcS 0-1 ..•

Breyer, Gyula - Maroczy, Geza

Berlin, 1 920 l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nbd2 dS 4.e3 cS S.c3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.NeS NxeS 9.dxeS Nd7 1 0.f4 fS 1 l .exf6 Rxf6 1 2.e4 NfB 1 3 .Nf3 Ng6 14.eS Rf8 1 S.Qc2 Qe8 1 6.c4 d4 1 7.h4 Kh8 1 8.g3 Rg8 1 9.hS NfB 20.g4 g6 2 1 .hxg6 Nxg6 22.gS Bd7 23.Qh2 Rg7 24.Qh3 Bc6 2S.Nh2 NxeS 26.fxeS BxgS 27.Ng4 hS 28.Rf8+ QxfB 29.QxhS+ Kg8 30.BxgS Qf3 3 1 .Nf6+ KfB 32 .Qxf3 Bxf3 33.Kf2 RxgS 34.Nh7+ Ke7 3S.NxgS Bc6 36.Nh7 1-O Riumin, Nikolay - Poliak, Abram

URS-ch, 1 929 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 cxd4 7.exd4 Bd6 8.0-0 Qc7 9.Rel 0-0 1 0.Nfl eS 1 l .dxeS NxeS 1 2 .NxeS BxeS 1 3 .BgS Ng4 1 4.h3 ? Bh2+

Black "out Colle 's" the Colle System.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

1 67

l S .Nxh2 Qxh2+ 1 6.Kf1 Q h l + 1 7.Ke2 Qxg2 0-1

The White king will find no shelter after 1 8 .Kd2 Nh2 1 9.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 2 1 .Re2 Bf5 . Colle, Edgar - Loman, Rudolf

Sheveningen, 1 923 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Bd6 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4 cxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Be7

H .Ng3

Colle still has to work out a few kinks in his system. I 1 .Qc2 Ng4 1 2.Neg5 g6 and the themes we are familiar with are evident. H

•••

QdS 1 2 .Rel Rd8

The pressure on the isolated pawn forces White into a defensive posture. 1 3 .Ne2 Qd7 1 4.BbS Qc7 I S.Bf4 Qb6 1 6.Bxc6 bxc6 1 7.Qc2 Bb7 1 8.Nc3 NdS ? !

1 8 . . . c5 would give Black the advantage after 1 9.Na4 Qb5 20.dxc5 (20. Nxc5 Bxj3 21.gxj3 Rxd4) 20 . . . Bxf3 2 1 .gxf3 . 1 9.NxdS

After Black's miscue on move 1 8 the chances for both sides are equal and the draw is soon agreed to. 19

•.•

RxdS 20.Be3 Rad8 %-%

1 68

THE DOGS OF WAR

Colle, E. - Bogolj ubow, E.

Berlin, 1 926 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.c3 Nbd7 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.e4 cxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 1 0.Nxe4 Nxe4 1 l .Bxe4 Qb6 1 2 .Bc2 Nf6 1 3 .Qd3 Bd7 1 4.NeS?

1 4 ... BbS I S .Qh3 Qxd4

1 5 . . . Bxfl ? doesn't quite workafter 1 6.Nd7 Rfc8 1 7.Nxb6 axb6 1 8.Bxh7+ Nxh7 1 9.Kxfl and White has a winning material advantage. 1 6.BgS

White is so fixated on the h7 square that he loses sight of Black's impending attack. 1 6 ... QxeS ! 1 7.f4

Realizing that the capture of the knight on f6 is futile because of 1 7.Bxf6 Qxh2+ ! 1 8.Qxh2 Bxh2+ 1 9.Kxh2 Bxfl and White's dream of a mate on h7 has turned into a nightmare. 1 7 ... Qe2 1 8.Rn

1 8 .Bxf6 again fails after 1 8 . . . Qxc2 and Black will remain up a piece. 1 8 ... BcS 0-1

1 8 . . . Bc5 1 9.Qf3 Qxc2 20.Bxf6 gxf6 and White is hopelessly down in material.

Practical Plt[Y in The CoJie System

1 69

Gerassimov, K. - Smyslov, Vassily

Moscow, 1 93 5 l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 e6 4.Bd3 cS S.b3 Nc6 6.Bb2 Bd6 7.0-0 Qc7 8.a3N b6 9.c4 Bb7 1 0.Nc3 a6 1 l .Rel cxd4 1 2.exd4 0-0 1 3 .Na4 Bf4 1 4.NeS

This move opens up the a8-h l diagonal for Black. A better course of action would be 1 4.c5 ! ? b5 1 5 .Nc3 and the diagonal remains blocked. 14

dxc4 I S.bxc4 NxeS 1 6.dxeS Qc6 1 7.BO

..•

The opening of the a8-h l diagonal poses considerable problems for White. Black is threatening mate on g2 as well as attacking the wayward knight on a4. 17

19

•••

•.•

Rfd8 1 8.Qb3 Ng4 1 9.h3 ?

Rd3 !

Black invades quickly and powerfully. White is helpless to defend all of Black's threats. 20.Qxb6

The rook cannot be captured with 20.Bxd3 because of Qxg2#; 20.Qxd3 loses the queen after 20 . . . Bh2+ 2 1 .Kh I Nxf2+ 22.Kxh2 Nxd3 and, adding insult to injury, White stands to lose more material. 20

.•.

Rxh3 ! 2 1 .Bd4

2 1 .gxh3 2 1 . . .Qh l # is the more obvious mate, but. 2 1 . . .Bh2# is more subtle. 21

•.•

Bh2+ 22.Kh l 0-1

White resigns as 22 . . . Bxe5+ 23 .Kg l Bh2+ 24.Kh l Bc7+ picks up the queen.

THE

1 70

D OGS OF WAR

Colle, Edgar - Euwe, Max

Zutphe Match, 1 924 This game, which depicts the "Colle System" in its infancy, exhibits the creative genius of Edgar Colle at a time when the Colle Sytem was on the cutting edge of opening theory. It is clear from this game that Colle envisioned his system to be an attacking weapon, not the tame and dull opening with which it has been labeled by modem critics. l .d4 dS 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 eS S.e3 Ne6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.dxeS

It is 1 924 and Colle is still refining his system. In Colle-Loman, with the Black bishop on e7, Colle played 8.e4. 8 ... BxeS 9.b4

Modem opening theory says that 9.e4 is the correct continuation. 9 Bd6 1 0.a3 eS 1 l .e4 Bg4 1 2.exdS NxdS 1 3 .Ne4 Be7 1 4.bS NaS I S.e4 Nf4 1 6.Bxf4 exf4 1 7.Qe2 Bxf3 1 8.gxf3 Re8 •..

Putting pressure on the backward c-pawn. 1 9.Rad l g6 20.Ne3 Bxa3 2 1 .Kh l Bd6 22.Rgl Nxe4 23.Qb3?

White has allowed too much play by Black over the entire board: his kingside pawns are weak and he has lost two pawns on the queenside. White should try 23.Bxc4 Rxc4 24.Qb3 to reduce some of the pressure, although Black would still have a significant two pawn advantage. 23

N a S 24.QdS ReS 2S.Qa2 RhS?

.•.

25 . . . Rxc3 can be played without fear as after 26.Bxg6 Qc7 (but not 26. . . hxg6 2 7.Rxg6+ Kh 7 2B.Rgxd6 and Black 's exposed king gives White the advantage.) 27.Bxf7+ Kh8 and Black's material advantage gives him winning chances.

Practical Plqy in The Colle System

171

26.Bxg6 !

The combination for which White has been maneuvering is finally realized. The difference is that now the rook is also under attack and Black must capture the invading bishop. 26

•.•

hxg6 27.Rxg6+ KhS 2S.Rdxd6

All the material that White has sacrificed is now returned and he is right back in the game. 2S

.•.

Qe7 29.Nd5 Qe5 3 0.Rh6+ Rxh6 3 1 .Rxh6+ KgS?

If 3 1 . . . Kg7 ! ? 32.Rh4 Rg8 and Black still has fighting chances. 32.Rh4

After 32.Nf6+ Kg7 3 3 .Qb l the threats against the Black king would be too much to handle. 32 RdS 33.Rg4+ KhS 34.Nxf4 Qel+ 35.Rgl Qe3 36.Qe2 RgS 37.Ng2 Nb3 3S.Qe4 Qf6? ..•

Threatening 39.Qh4+ Kg7 40.Nf4+ Kf8 4 1 .Qd8#. Black can put up the best defense with 3 8 . . . Rg6 39.Qxb7 Kg7 although White's two pawn advantage should be enough to win . . 39.Qd5 1-0

39.Qd5 a6 (39. . . Nd4 40. Qh5+ Kg7 41.Nf4+ Kj8 42. Qc5+ Ke8 43.Rxg8+) 40.Qxb3 axb5 4 1 .Ne l .

Colle, Edgar - Euwe, Max

Zutphen Match (6), 1 924 l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e4 e6 4.e3 e6 5.Ne3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxe4 7.Bxe4 b5 S.Bd3 a6

This is a mirror image of the position reached four games earlier in this match between Colle and Euwe. Did either player glean any insights from that encounter? 9.0-0 e5 1 0.a4 b4 1 I .Ne2 Bb7 1 2 .Ng3 exd4 1 3 .exd4 Bd6 14.Qe2 0-0 1 5.Rd l Qa5 1 6.Be3 Nd5 1 7.Ng5 N7f6 I S.N5e4 Nxe4 1 9.Nxe4 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Bxe4 2 1 .Bxe4 RadS 22.Qh3 h6 23.Be2 Be7 24.Qd3 g6 25.Bb3 Bf6

Attacking the isolated pawn on d4. 26.Qe4 Rd6 27.Rd3 Kg7 2S.Rad l

White prepares to advance the pawn to d5 with the hope of ridding himself of this liability. 2S

..•

RfdS 29.h3 Qf5 30.Qe3 e5 3 1 .d5

The pawn advances without having to be traded. 3 1 . e4 32 .R3 d2 ReS 33 .Qe2 Re7 34.Re1 Re7 35.Qe4 Be5 36.Rde2 Rb7 37.Qe2 Qf6 3S.Rb l Bd4 39.Qxe4 Rdd7 40.Be4 Re7 41 .Qd3 .•

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THE

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Rxe2 42.Qxe2 Re7 43.Qe2 Re5 44.b3 Rg5 45.Qd2 Be5 46.Rf1 Qf5 47.Kh l Rh5

48.f4

Not 4S.Bxa6 because after 4S . . . Rxh3+ 49.gxh3 Qxh3+ 50.Kg l Qg3+ 5 1 .Kh I Qh3+ 52.Kg l Qg3+ 53 .Kh l Qh3+ Black can escape with a draw by perpetual check. 48 ... Qe4 49.Qd3 Qxd3 50.Bxd3 Rxd5 5 1 .Bxa6

With an extra pawn and bishops of opposite color, White has a small but persistent advantage. The passed a-pawn will queen on a square that is the same color as his bishop. 5 1 ... Rd2 52.g3 g5 53.fxg5 hxg5 54.Rf5 Be7

There is no perpetual check after 54 . . . Rd l + 5 5 .Kg2 Rd2+ 56.Kfl and the White king is safe. 55.Be4 f6 56.a5 B d 6 57.a6 Be5

Restricting the White rook from defense of the pawn. Black cannot attack the passed pawn directly because after 57 . . . Ra2 5S .Rb5 Kh6 the White pieces are well posted to usher the pawn to the as queening square. 58.g4 Kf8? 59.Bb5 Ke7 60.a7 1-0

After 60 . . . RdS 6 1 .Bc6 and the pawn cannot be stopped from queemng.

Practical PI'!Y in The Colle System

1 73

Maroczy, Geza - Colle, Edgar

Nice, 1 930 As Black, Colle would inevitably come face to face with his "System." When he did, his defense of choice would be a Queen's Indian. l .d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3 .e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.Nbd2 c5 6.0-0 Nc6 7.c3 Be7 S.Qe2 0-0 9.Re1 Qc7 1 0.e4 cxd4 1 l .Nxd4 Ne5 1 2 .Bc2 Ng6 1 3.Nfl RacS 1 4.Bg5 Nd5 1 5.Bxe7 Ndxe7 1 6.Ne3 d5 1 7.exd5 Nf4 1 S.Qf3 Nexd5 1 9.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Be4 Bc4 2 1 .Qe3 e5 22.Nf3 f5 23 .Bc2 e4 24.Nd4 RceS 25.f3 Rf6 26.fxe4 Rg6 27.g3 Nh3+ 2S.Kh 1 Bd5? 29.exd5 Rxe3 30.Rxe3 Qd7 3 1 .Nxf5 Qxd5+? 32.Be4 Qd2 33 .Ne7+ KhS 34.Nxg6+ hxg6 35.Rae1 Nf2+ 3 6.Kg 1 ? Nh3+ 3 7.Kh 1 Nf2+ 3 S.Kg1

3S

Nxe4?

.•.

Black can guarantee himself a draw by taking the perpetual check with 3 8 . . . Nh3+ 39.Kh l . 39.R3e2 Qd5 40.Rxe4 Qxa2 %-Yz

In the final position White has the advantage, but the draw is agreed upon.

Practical PIt!Y in The Colle System

1 75

The Ran k and File

The earliest game we could find of Edgar Colle playing the opening which bears his name was the 1 923 draw against Rudolf Loman. The second game we found was Colle's very spirited and innovative 1 924 win over Max Euwe. A third game from the 1 924 match with Euwe has Colle playing against the Semi-Slav (a mirror image of the Colle). Whether or not Colle saw potential and creative possibilities in playing a Semi-Slav as White, we can only speculate. But, we do find it interesting that he began playing the opening as White with great passion and abandonment from that point forward. Between 1 924 and 1 93 5 we found that Max Euwe, Frank Marshall, Savielly Tartakower, Akiba Rubinstein and Sultan Khan were having positive results playing "Colle 's system." Well before 1 924, Johannes Zukertort forged the line in the "Queen's Pawn Opening" that bears his name, the Zukertort Variation, which today has a very strong following and is the line which gives the Colle System so much more versatility. During its hey-day, however, the Colle System was not without its critics, and it did come under excoriating analytical attack. One notable critic was the soon-to-be World Champion, Alexander Alekhine. During the 1 924 New York International Chess Tournament, both Bogoljubow and Maroczy played the Colle-Zukertort opening. Writing in the tournament book, Alekhine had this to say about the opening: "The ' Hemming-in-move, ' 3 .P-K3 , in connection with the ensuing fianchettoing of the QB and the eventual occupation of the square K5 will in our opinion, quickly go totally out of fashion. In practice White is soon faced by a dilemma after l .d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3 .e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5 .b3 Nc6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Bb2 0-0 as how he is to carry through his intended plan in its full entirety." Elsewhere in the tournament book Alekhine referred to the first moves of the Colle System as "colorless" and "without effect." We contend, however, that practical play, modem opening theory and computer analysis has since shown Alekhine 's assessment to be shortsighted.

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THE

DOGS OF WAR

By the mid- 1 93 0 's Belgian national George Koltanowski, a contemporary and friend of Edgar Colle, championed the Colle System after Colle's death in 1 932. Koltanowski resurrected the opening again years later by writing his treatise, The Colle System, a book in its 1 2th edition at the time of Koltanowski 's death in 2000 at the age of 92. Eternally popular with club and tournament level players, the Colle System has also enjoyed a resurgence amongst grandmasters and international masters, in particular, Viswanathan Anand, Susan Polgar, Douglas Root and Carsten Hoi. It is also interesting that both Vladimir Kramnik and Anand chose to play this opening against Deep Junior during the Dortmund Super GM tournament in 2000. The authors of this book continue to be advocates for playing the Colle System at the club, tournament and correspondence level. So, with that in mind . . . If you play the Colle System or have played against it, we humbly invite you to send your games to us for the next edition of this book. Pawn Promotions P.O. Box 3 54 Raritan, NJ 08869 [email protected] Again, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all Colle System players on both sides of the chessboard who so graciously contributed their games to us for this book.

Practical Plqy in The Colle �stem

SYM B O LS ? !? ?! ?? +

#

1 -0 0- 1 1/2- 1/2

A bad move A good move An interesting move A dubious move A blunder Check Mate White wins Black wins Draw agreed

1 77

178

THE

DOGS O F WAR

P LAYERS IN D EX

Aguilera, 1 0 Akemi, Matsou, 1 47 Albrecht, Klaus, 1 39 Alexander, Bill, 67 Ambats, Jessica, 32 Anand, Mischra, 1 40 Anand, v. , 1 26 Anderson, Steven, 26 Baken, 89 Barry, Denis, 92 Beissel, Canon, 1 45 Bellah, Lynn, 1 48 Benderac, Ana, 23 Benzoin, Ira, 1 06 Berg, Peter, 55 Berry, Newton, 42 Bethel, Mike, 72 Bogoljubow, E., 1 65, 1 68 Boroviak, Dale, 52, 7 1 , 1 46 Brands, Edwin, 45 Brandt, Peter, 6 1 , 64 Bray, T. , 1 63 Breen, Daniel, 1 43 Breen, David, 1 43 Breyer, G., 1 66 Bronner, Bill, 78, 1 00 Brooks, George, 1 4 1 Brotherton, T., 84 Brown, Thomas, 3 8 Buchanan, R., 8 0 Burgwin, Doug, 1 4 Burke, Anthony, 1 3 7 Burkhardt, Bob, 4 1 Buss, Andy, 3 8 Butchart, Harvey, 8 1 Campion, William, 3 8 Cantrell, Gilbert, 1 48 Capablanca, J.R., 1 63 , 1 65 Carson, Anthea, 67

Cavaliere, Peter, 4 1 , 43 , 60, 77, 1 03 , 1 07, 1 36 Chapuis, Bobby, 46 Ciriello, Richard, 1 08 Clayton, E., 72 Colle, Edgar, 1 0, 1 63 , 1 67, 1 68, 1 70, 1 7 1 , 1 73 Colure, Sean, 1 6 Computer (Anand), 1 26 Computer (Hatch), 47 Computer (Kramnik), 1 3 1 Cook, Charles, 50 Cooper, Justin, 20 Corripio, Bernie, 1 0 1 Cowan, Warren, 45 Cruz, R., 45 Culbertson, Wayne, 53 Curry, Ronald, 40, 44, 45 Curtis, Jeffrey, 44 Dandridge, Marvin, 1 8 Danielsen, Henrik, 1 1 7 Danser, Stephen, 144 Davis, Charles, 1 42 Davis, Loal W. , 3 1 Dickerson, Leonard, 1 2 1 Dimitrij evic, M., 29 Dixon, Frank, 1 09 Dolgitset, K. , 1 1 6 Domont, Alexander, 97 Donaldson, Elena, 1 29 Dubreuil, Jean, 73 Dunne, Alex, 25 Eberly, T., 72 Emerson, Mike, 1 1 2 Erturan, Ayvaz, 1 5 1 Euwe, Max, 1 70, 1 7 1 Ferraiuolo, Jim, 5 8 Ferrell, Lester, 6 8 Filatov, Leonid, 2 3 Fisk, Lawrence, 50

Practical Plt!)I in The Colle System

Fontaine, S . , 1 0 1 Frias, Victor, 1 20 Friedman, A., 98 Friscoe, Lou, 1 43 Garcia, Veronica, 1 47 Gardner, Michael, 48 George, Bruce, 65 Gerassimov, K. , 1 69 Gertler, David, 1 3 Ghane, S . , 1 24 Gharamian, T., 1 23 Gholson, Steve, 5 1 , 8 1 , 1 06, 1 52 Gifford, Gary, 3 8 , 62, 1 00 Gilbert, 74 Good, 1 4 1 Gray, Douglas, 5 5 , 74, 1 08, Greenwood, Dave, 69, 1 43 Grzybowski, John, 1 43 Gulko, Boris, 9 Hale, W., 1 37 Hamilton, Tim, 1 88 Harris, Woody, 1 34 Hatch, Terese, 43 , 45, 47, 1 37, 1 45 Hatch, David, 3 8 , 44, 1 37, 1 45 Hawkins, Randy, 1 1 1 Hillman, Kirk, 1 49 Hillyer, Martin, 62, 1 00 Hoak, Don, 87 Hoi, Carsten, 9, 1 1 7 Honeycutt, 87 Hromadi, Ernie, 1 05 Hunt, J., 47 Imai, Toshio, 67 Infranca, 50 Jacobs, 52 Jacobsohn, Peter, 67 Jaffe, Alan, 77

Johnson, G., 1 47 Johnson, Leonard, 1 1 3 Johnson, Lonnie, 45 Jorrit, Kirsten, 1 3 6 Kallai, G., 1 23 Kaplan, 43 Karpov, A., 1 28 Kaushansky, L., 1 8 Kellie, Mark, 1 02 Kernighan, Mark, 1 03 Kheiri, A., 1 24 Klem, Thomas, 1 2 Knecht, Mark, 1 5 1 Kobrin, Michael, 1 55 Kogan, Boris, 1 2 1 Koman , 1 4 1 Kostanski, Robert, 34 Kramnik, v. , 1 3 1 Kreuzer, Martin, 1 09 Lamansky, Steve, 1 9, 1 43 LaMonica, Anthony, 5 8 Lankey, B . , 8 0 Larzelere, Mark, 1 1 0 Leahy, Kerry, 4 1 LeGrand, M., 1 36 Leighton, George, 1 8, 1 47 Levin, David, 1 1 1 , 1 1 8, 1 22, 1 28 Levitina, Irina, 1 24 Lewis, Aaron, 1 50 Linek, Francis, 1 48 Litvak, Augustin, 65 Lofisson, H., 1 1 8 Loman, R., 1 67 Long, Shawn, 69 Lorie, 54 Lowey, Michael, 1 46 Lunna, Todd, 27 Maddocks, Ronnie, 59 Mai, Thi, 3 6

1 79

1 80

THE

DOGS OF WAR

Maltese, Adam, 22 Marcham, J., 45 Markley, Gerald, 1 0 1 Markus, John, 1 5 5, 1 5 8 Maroczy, Geza, 1 66, 1 73 Matous, Ron, 1 1 2 Mayer, Steve, 23 McKeen, Tim, 1 4, 1 40 McKenna, Jim, 67 Metz, Francisco, 1 2 Mingos, John, 50, 5 1 , 6 1 , 64, 67, 73, 75, 78, 82, 87, 88, 1 00, 1 05, 1 40, 1 5 1 Moore, Banks, 1 0 1 Musgrove, Charles, 1 1 9 Myer, Tim, 75 Nebolsina, v. , 98 Nelson, James, 49, 50, 80 Nemhauser, Jeffrey, 3 8 Newey, Richard, 5 1 Nixon, Pete, 1 42 Q 'Hanlon, John, 1 0 Onyschuk, Y. , 1 02 Ovod, Evgenij a, 23 Pearson, Alex, 49 Pelech, Leslie, 93, 1 24, 1 29 Pleshkov, Mikhail, 1 28 Plett, M . , 50 Polgar, Judit, 1 28 Polgar, Zsuzsa, 9, 3 6 Poliak, Abram, 1 66 Popel, Stephan, 1 8 Portman, Carl, 70, 72, 75, 84 Povall, Steve, 75 Pozarek, Frank, 32 Prasad, C., 3 5 Presting, H., 60 Przepiorka, D., 1 63 Puchen, VVang, 1 3 6 Radtke, Henry, 42

Redmond, John, 1 5 1 Reid, P., 45 Richardson, Michael, 1 4 1 Rigo, Bernard, 5 1 Riumin, Nikolai, 1 66 Rivero, R., 40 Robida, Paul, 1 04 Rockman, Charles, 67, 1 40 Roll, Craig, 1 3 Root, Douglas, 28, 3 1 , 97, 1 20 Rubin, Sidney, 28 Sadiku, B., 1 05 Saenz, P., 26 Salgado, Robert, 34 Salmon, Joel, 1 07 Savic, M., 30 Saxe, VV., 44 Schechter, Neil, 53 Schubert, 1 0 Schell, Chalmers, 58, 1 4 1 Scott, Gordon, 46 Segal, Valery, 3 3 , 96 Sened, Sarkic, 1 9 Shapiro, Eugene, 1 46 Shifflett, Carl, 1 34 Shock, Clifford, 59 Shupe, 7 1 Shure, Gary, 1 1 0, 1 1 9, 1 26, 131 Sichel, David, 1 48 Silman , Jeremy, 1 3 1 Silvestri, J., 47 Sirkar, Kaushik, 1 45 Slack, David, 82 Smith, Floyd, 5 8 Smyslov, v. , 1 69 Soltis, Andy, 1 26 Spiro, Barry, 1 48 Steen, Harold, 67

Practical PI'!} in The Colle system

Steinbacher, Matthias, 1 5 8 Stewart, Douglas, 68, 1 4 1 , 1 45 Stoyko, Steve, 1 6, 27, 93 , 96 Stuart, Phil, 25, 50, 54, 87, 89 Sugar, Zoltan, 22 Taylor, Anton, 20, 1 44 Theroux, Dick, 92 Thompson, R., 70 Van der Westhuizer, 52 Vameckas, Donald, 1 45 Vasilj evic, D., 29, 3 0 Veach, J . , 3 3 , 9 8 Vermeson, 8 7 Vidmar, Richard, 43 Vosburgh, Ted, 4 1 Walker, Jim, 1 4 1 Wang, P., 3 5 Weidman, 1 46 Weinand, Gerald, 1 04, 1 39, 1 50 Weir, Patrick, 1 49 Wen, Jean-Francois, 1 1 3 Weyrauch, C., 50 Wilder, Michael, 1 1 6 Wirig, A., 1 05 Woods, Glenn, 1 52 Yildiz, B . , 98 Yudasin, Leonid, 9 Zimmer, Ralph, 1 22

181