The number of opening analysis sites on the web
is growing daily. While many offer only scant coverage
of opening lines, some offer the best and most current
analysis available anywhere in print. Ultimately,
you will want to buy
a book or do
library research to learn more about the lines
that interest you most. But before you invest, why
not explore?
The
Kibitzer, by Tim Harding
Probably the first and best major opening articles on the web were Harding’s “Kibitzer” columns,
archived at Chess
Cafe and at his own Chess
Mail site. The Kibitzer is great for when you have time to print out
an article and play over the games with a board, and Harding has covered
a wide range of interesting openings over the years with sharp analysis supported
by excellent research.
Opening
Lanes by Gary Lane
Lane’s excellent monthly column at Chess Cafe features answers to reader’s
questions about opening theory and much more. You can find an archive
of articles at the Chess Cafe site.
The
Gambit Cartel, By Tim McGrew
An excellent column for master players and below, featuring wild gambit openings
(occasionally unsound). Worth reading every month. See the archive
of articles at the Chess Cafe site.
Opening
Theory Archive by Jeremy Silman
Some excellent articles on a number of opening topics, some in response to
reader’s questions and some as regular opening articles.
Bits & Pieces by
Andrew Martin
A series of excellent articles that, I suppose, make up the bits and pieces
of a repertoire. He also did several independent and equally excellent pieces
at Chessville
under the Bits & Pieces name as well as at the defunct InternetChess site.
Hard
Chess, by Mark Morss
Focused on correspondence chess and openings, Moss’s articles feature some
of the deepest opening analysis on the web.
La
Novedad Teórica del Día, by
GM Juan Sebastián Morgado
Excellent games and analysis in Spanish, from the Ajedrez-de-Estilo website.
Chess
Siberia, Openings Clubs by Boris Schipkov
Annotated games by opening, covering a wide range of theory.
Instructions by
IM Guillermo Rey
An excellent series of articles from the now defunct Inside Chess website.
Chess
Openings Handouts by the Exeter Chess Club
A superb collection of materials covering the openings for beginner to club
players. See also their Alternate
Contents Page organized by opening.
Opening
Technical Articles from the Barnet Chess
Club
An excellent set of articles, several cited below, including the Nimzo-Indian
Rubinstein, the King’s Indian Saemisch, Queen’s Gambit Declined, Benko Gambit,
Sveshnikov Sicilian, and others.
Openings
for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro
Well-known for his Chess.fm lectures and his excellent forum, Pete Tamburro
has been writing on the opening for some time as these articles on the Colle,
Nimzo-Indian, BDG, Owen, and Max Lange attest.
Mjae
French site featuring a wide range of opening articles of generally excellent
quality. Check it out, or see the direct links below.
Aperturas at Hechiceros
This site may not load in Netscape, so try Internet Explorer instead. Lists
a number of opening articles in Spanish.
Gambits
Gratis!
A collection of comprehensive database trees of several gambit lines. Very
useful materials (most cited below).
Scid
Daily Opening Reports
Offers a useful utility and other materials. But the best things here, if
you scroll down, are the opening reports and stats. Very useful (many cited
below).
Gambit
Corner by Bertrand Weegenaar at IECG
Some interesting articles and games, complete with PGNs.
Gambit
Chess
Offers links to games and analysis featuring the classic gambits. Also organizes
thematic tournaments on the web. Features an excellent links page.
Chess
Kamikaze
The name says it all. You get some really crazy gambits here. No longer on
the web, but some of the pages are in the archive.
FM
David Levin Chess
See the Opening Analysis section of the site for excellent articles on specific
lines in the KID and Alekhine’s, among others.
Chess
City Magazine (Openings)
Contains interesting games and analysis in offbeat and gambit lines. A bit
of a clunky interface, but tons of good content if you look for it.
Unorthodox
Openings by Eric Schiller
Brief analysis of a huge number of unusual lines (from the archives).
Kaissiber by
Stefan Buecker
Features interesting analysis. In German.
Enciclopedia
Dei Gambetti
A lost Italian site that has lots of older analysis of gambit lines.
Theory
from Hellas Chess Club
A lost Greek site that had some useful theory on Open, Semi-open,
and Closed lines.
Colaboradores by
Alejandro Di Battista
Very well annotated recent games with reflection on the openings. In Spanish.
A
Survey of the Openings
Part of the Chess Corner web site, offering a good introduction to the major
openings for beginners. Some openings include sample games and book recommendations.
Mike
Donnelly
Dr. Donnelly’s site serves as a collectioin point for correspondence players
to publish their PGN files, many of which offer very useful commentary on
the openings in question. Go through his archive and
download away.
Chess
Publishing
A pay site but with some free content in the “Guests” area. The
site is not well designed for usability (especially considering it’s a pay
site) but it has excellent GM commentary.
Chess
Megapage Openings
Some very good analysis of several important openings. I’ve discovered recently,
though, that the site now requires a login, but I can’t figure out how to
register.
Rajmund
Emanuel
Some detailed analysis of gambit lines.
Chess
Openings by Adam Bozon
Discusses some very unorthodox lines that might be worth a try in speed chess.
Ace
Chess Openings by Nick Cummings
Geared toward the beginning club player, recommending gambit openings and
the rather strange (if original) Gibbens Gambit 1.d4 Nf6 2.g4?!! Nxg4 3.e4
with space and initiative.
Chess
Openings: The Diagrams by Edwin Schoen
Sudbury
Chess Club
See their pages on openings, with java viewer.
ChessDatabase
This site offers to annotate your game with others from their database, which
might be a useful way of studying the opening.
Opening
Traps
A collection of PGN files in various openings.
Alekhine’s Defense (1.e4 Nf6)
Alekhine’s
Defense: Mokele Mbembe Variation by Bill
Wall
Some games and analysis concerning 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ne4!?
Alekhine’s
Defense: The Retreat Variation by Bill
Wall
Games and analysis concerning 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8?!
Alekhine’s
Game of the Week
A site devoted to Alekhine’s Defense.
Alekhine’s
Defense
Analysis of the line 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nc3 Nxc3 with PGN games appended.
See also Sidelines
in the Alekhine’s Defense.
Tal-Eversole,
National Open USA 1988 by Brian Wall
This game begins 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nc3 Nxc3 4.bxc3 d5 5.Ba3 Bf5!? with
additional games in the opening.
Opening
Lanes #57 by Gary Lane
Discusses 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5!?
FM
David Levin Chess features some interesting
Alekhine analysis, including the
main line Nf3, ….g5
in the Four Pawns Attack and a gambit line
against 3.Nc3
e6 4.Nxd5 exd5 5.Qf3 with 5….Nc6.
Alekhine’s
Defense, Four Pawns Attack by Jeremy Silman
Discusses the idea of ….g5 in the Four Pawns.
Djurhuus-Agdestein,
Stikkamp 2000
A wild Four Pawns attack, where Black sacs the exchange but gets play against
White’s King in the center.
Alekhine’s
Defense by Nick Merticas from the Hellas
Chess Club
Useful theory on the Four Pawns Attack, but from 1996 (in the archives).
Alekhine’s
Defense from Chess Corner
Alekhine’s
Defense PGN from Pitt Archives
La
Defensa Alekhine by Mario Valverde
At Hechiceros, with fully annotated PGN to download at the bottom of the
page.
Neue
Aufforderung zum Tanz Auf dem Vulkan by
Stefan Bucker
Analyzes a line in the Alekhine’s (commonly thought to be strong for White)
as playable for Black.
Bishop’s Opening / Urusov
Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4)
For links to the Bishop’s
Opening or Urusov
Gambit, consult the appropriate links pages
elsewhere in this site.
Le
Gambit Boden-Kieseritzky from Mjae
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nf3!? Nxe4 4.Nc3
Belgrade Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4
exd4 5.Nd5)
An interesting gambit line arising out of the supposedly boring Scotch Four
Knights.
Belgrade
Gambit and Other Knightmares
Bruce Monson’s excellent coverage of this interesting gambit opening is
no more (though you can get a sense of what it looked like from the Web
Archive link above)!
Blackburne Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4?!)
Basically, this is an opening trap, and one which
has gotten so much coverage on the internet that
it would be hard to find someone to fall for
it…
Blackburne
Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4?!
Blackburne
Shilling Gambit by Bill Wall
Blackburne’s
Shilling Gambit by Paul Valle
Some unusual analysis and history here that adds another dimension to this
gambit idea. Scroll down the page to find it. From the archives.
Blackburne
Gambit by Tim McGrew
A Gambit Cartel article showcasing a reader’s games with the “gambit.” He
also had a follow-up
article.
Jeremy Silman also has a note about the Blackburne.
Caro-Kann Defense (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5)
The easiest way to attack the Caro-Kann is with the Advance Variation 3.e5.
But the main lines with 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 also lead to some fun for White,
especially if Black chooses the passive 4….Nd7. Gambiteers may also enjoy
the idea of transposing to the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit with 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3!?
Other attacking schemes arise from the exchange variation.
The
Apocalypse Attack by Michael Goeller
Meeting the Caro with 1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5
cxd5 4.Ne5!?
B12: Caro-Kann Defense, Advance Variation Part
One (Theory) and Part
Two (Training) by Sasa Velickovic
A wonderful excerpt from the Informant series on this important line.
Shirov-Anand,
Wijk aan Zee 2003, Advance Variation 1.e4
c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3.
Kasparov-Karpov,
Linares 2001 annotated by Lubomir Ftacnik
A Kasparov innovation in the Nc3 Advanced.
Loc-Dikmen, Correspondence 2003 (Download
ZIP PGN file), annotated by Loc
An interesting game to download direct from Mike Donnely’s site, featuring
the moves 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 Qb6 5.Bd3!?
Caro-Kann
Advance Variation by Craig Sadler
A useful table of games and moves.
Bits
and Pieces Opening Forum by IM Andrew Martin
A very interesting analysis of the Advanced variation with 4.Ne2!? See
also the Response
follow-up.
Caro-Kann
Advance Variation from Pitt
Tal-Botvinnik,
WC Match 1961 annotated by Eric Schiller
Discusses Botvinnik’s idea of meeting the advance variation with an immediate
3…c5!?
B17:
Caro-Kann Defense. 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5.
The
Refutation of the 4….Nd7 Caro-Kann? by
Andrew Martin
Analyzes the game Ganguly-Speelman, Gibraltar Masters 2004.
Anand-Bologan,
Dortmund 2003 annotated by Anand
Features 4….Nd7 5.Ng5, annotated in Informator style (scroll down the
page to find the game).
Anand-Bologan,
Dortmund 2003 annotated by Boris Schipkov
Opening
Lanes #66 by Gary Lane
Discusses the interesting idea 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bg5!?
with an obvious threat and, if Black spots it, a plan of rapid queenside
castling.
Strictly
for Amateurs: Crushing the Caro-Kann by
Bobby Ang
Analyzes the interesting line 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3
Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.N1e2!? in a game lost by Miles as Black.
The Caro-Kan as Black
Covers the Bf5 line.
Beware of annoying pop-up ads.
Reti-Tartakower,
Vienna 1910
Starts 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qd3!?
Le
variante Spielmann de la Caro-Kann from
Mjae
Analyzes the interesting idea of 2.Nc3 and 3.Qf3!?
Morozevich-Bologan,
Sochi 2004 annotated by Boris Schipkov
A wonderful attacking game for White featuring the unusual system 1.e4
c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3!?
Caro-Gambit
with f3 by Rajmund
Covers the 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3!? gambit, which seems an improved
version of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.
Canning
the Caro, The Milner Barry Gambit, Part
One and Part
Two by Tim Mcgrew
Covers the 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3!? gambit originated by British
GM Milner-Barry.
Three
Traps in the Caro-Kann by Georgi Orlov
Panov
Attack: Fianchetto Variation by Eric Schiller
An
Unusual Weapon Against the Caro-Kann by
Andrew Martin
Actually, this is pretty much the usual stuff of repertoire books: the
Panov-Botvinnik Attack with c5. See Part
One, Part
Two and Part
Three.
Amendment
Caro-Kann by Rajmund Emanuel
Covers 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c3, which was used by Fischer and
others.
Center Game (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4)
Very few players as Black are prepared for the
Center Game, since it is vastly underestimated
by theory.
The
Center Game Takes Center Stage by Tim Harding
Discusses the old-fashioned Center Game with 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3.
Who
Was Winawer? by Tim Harding
An excellent article that focuses on Winawer’s numerous opening ideas.
If you scroll down you will find the game Winawer-Steinitz, Nuremburg 1896
well annotated, featuring a pawn-sac in the Center Game by White.
McCrum-Roth,
Ulster Ch. 1893 annotated by McCrum
A blast from the past featuring a Center Game success.
Levi-Zhao
Zong Yuan, Australia 1999 annotated by
John-Paul Wallace
Scroll down for this interesting Black victory in the Center Game.
Mittelgambit
A comprehensive analysis.
Opening
Lanes #08 by Gary Lane
Discusses, among other things, playing the Center Game with 1.e4 e5 2.d4
exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qa4!?
Damiano Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6?!)
Yes, believe it or not, there are even some articles on this silly line.
White can choose between the complicated 3.Nxe5! or the simple and good
3.Bc4. But why are you playing 2.Nf3 anyway when you can play 2.Bc4 in
the first place? 🙂
The
Tactics of Mistake and Life
on the Edge by Tim McGrew
About making the Damiano work for you after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6?!
Extraordinary
Accidents by IM Nikolay Minev
Discusses the game Schiffers-Chigorin, St. Petersburg 1897.
Danish Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4)
If you get serious about the Danish, you have to
get the book Danish Dynamite.
Skandinavisches
Gambit and Goering
A comprehensive analysis.
Danish
Pastry and Steinitz
for the Defense by Tim McGrew
Uses the publication of Müller and Voigt’s excellent book Danish
Dynamite to discuss some games with the Goring and Danish.
Charousek-Wolner,
Kassa 1893 annotated by Tim McGrew
A Danish Gambit with a great finish.
The
Danish from AceChess
Elephant Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5)
We’re
Going on an Elephant Hunt (Kibitzer #15) by
Tim Harding
Covers the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5.
Elephant
Gambit
A comprehensive database tree / opening report.
La
Difesa Cozio by Giorgio Cadezza
Discusses the history and theory of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5.
The
Elephant Walk
Evans Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4!?)
The
Search for Truth in the Evans Gambit and Chigorin’s
Experience with the Evans Gambit by Tim
Harding
These articles feature Harding’s typically excellent historical research
combined with excellent opening analysis.
Evans
Gambit
This site offers the scores of some significant and historical games, but
it also includes a link to games you can play online.
Evans Gambit Part
One, Part
Two, and Redux by
Larry Christiansen and Jeremy Silman
An excellent series of articles on the recent wave of interest in this
line and the critical variations.
Short-Svidler,
Internet Grand Prix 2000
A game featuring Kasparov’s line against 5….Be7, annotated by Sakaev.
Evans
Gambit
A comprehensive analysis and statistical summary.
Welcome
to the Evans Gambit by Thomas Stock
Offers fairly good coverage of the main lines of the gambit, including
history and bibliography sections.
Evans
Gambit
Part of the Chess Corner Opening Survey, offering many full games. Scroll
down to the bottom of the page to view 50 Accepted and 50 Declined games.
Evans
Gambit from the Hellas Chess Club
Older analysis (pre-Kasparov) but useful for club players, from the archives.
Le
Gambit Evans from Mjae
Evans
Gambit from the Openings Club website
Modestly useful content, but annoying pop-up ads.
French Defense (1.e4 e6)
Notes
on the French Two Knights by Michael Goeller
1.e4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3
French
Defense for Beginners from the Exeter Chess
Club
A good overview for beginners to club players.
French
Defense – Advance Variation
Brief but useful analysis of the key line from the Chess Megapage site.
Svidler-Volkov,
Russia 2003 – annotated by Svidler
Black plays the early Qb6 and Bd7 against the Advance Variation and White
discovers some wonderful sacrificial lines in a complicated middlegame.
Annotated Informator style (scroll down the page to find the game).
Svidler-Volkov,
Russia 2003 annotated by Boris Schipkov
New
Ideas in the Advance French by Georgi Orlov
Covers 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nh6!?
Masters
of the French: Korchnoi Faces the Advance Variation by
IM Guillermo Rey
From the archives: a close examination of Kupreichik-Korchnoi, Muenster
Open 1996, featuring Nh6 for Black.
Mike
Bateman-Andre Lorrain, 1993, annotated
by Ralph Marconi
An interesting game in the Milner-Barry gambit of the Advance French.
US
Open Tactics and Novelties by IM Nikolay
Minev
Annotates a game with the Milner-Barry Gambit.
Ponomariev-Ivanchuk,
2001-2002 WCC Moscow annotated by Christian
Gabriel for Tromso Sjakklub
The first game of the match was a French, Burn variation. You can also
play over other games from this interesting match with annotations.
Ponomariev-Ivanchuk,
2001-2002 WCC Moscow annotated by Boris
Schipkov Also annotated by Alejandro
di Battista.
Polgar-Burkes,
Budapest 2003 annotated by Schipkov
Svidler-Bareev,
Corus Wijk aan Zee 2004 annotated by Schipkov
A powerful performance by White (who wins in 17 moves) in the Burn variation.
Topalov-Shirov,
Leon 2001 annotated by Alejandro di Battista
Shirov-Bareev,
FICE WC New Delhi 2000 annotated by Schipkov
French
Defense. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 by Georgi
Orlov
Includes coverage of typical endgame positions.
A
Sacrifice that Failed by Guillermo Rey
Discusses the game J. Polgar-Hernandez, Mexico 2000 in which Black makes
an interesting sacrifice against the line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5
Nfd7 5.Nce2.
Opening
Lanes #59 by Gary Lane
Focuses mostly on lines in the Classical French.
Franzosisch
Systeme mit 3.Sc3 by Armin Fingerhut
Banzai!
The Haldane Variation by IM Andrew Martin
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Qh5!?
Sakaev-Ulibin,
Dubai 2000
Sakaev annotates his game, which begins 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5
Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4.
French
– Chatard-Alekhine with Breyer’s …c5 (also
in PDF)
A comprehensive reference.
Svidler-Short,
Internet GP 2000
A MacCutheon annotated by Sakaev.
Bezgodov-Sakaev,
Moscow 1999
A wild line after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2, annotated
by Sakaev.
Anand-Shirov,
FIDE WCh KO Teheran 2000, annotated by
Shipov
A hard-fought game following 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2,
won by White.
Opening
Lanes #08 by Gary Lane
Discusses, among other things, the French Two Knights, which usually transposes
to Classical lines.
Novedad
en la Francesa, Variante Winawer by Julian
Moreno
The idea for White of playing h4-h5-h6 is explored.
La
Francaise Winawer avec 4.Cge2, Part One and Part
Two, from Mjae
Who
Was Winawer? by Tim Harding
An excellent article that focuses on Winawer’s numerous opening ideas.
Liebe
Zum Detail by Karsten Muller
Review of a Winawer book which includes three good games and notes.
Leko-Radjabov,
Linares 2003 annotated by Boris Schipkov
Lutz-Korchnoi,
Essen 2002 annotated by Boris Schipkov
Terra
Incognita by Tim McGrew
Focuses on the Reti Gambit with 1.e4 e6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2!?
French
Defense: Wing Gambit
Part of what appears to be a very ambitiously conceived French
Defense web site that is still under construction at this writing.
French
Defense: Wing Gambit
From the archives.
Diemer
Duhm Gambit
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.c4!? you get positions that are a mix of Blackmar-Diemer
and Queen’s Gambit. Fans of the Urusov Gambit will find these wide-open
positions, sometimes with Q-side castling for White fun to play.
Le
Gambit Duhm-Diemer by Sebastien Meunier
A French article on this wild line.
Alapin-Diemer
Gambit
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Be3!?
Winckelmann-Reimer
Gambit
A gambit response to the Winawer variation with 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4
4.a3 Bxc3 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.f3.
Amendment
French by Rajmund Emanuel
Interesting coverage of 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nc3!? with the idea of
4….cxd4 5.Nb5!? The web design could use work but the analysis and games
are good.
French
Tarrasch from the Hellas Chess Club
Older analysis from the archives.
Opening
Lanes #46 by Gary Lane
Discusses two games with the Tarrasch and one exchange variation.
Simple
Chess by Guillermo Rey
Discusses the open Tarrasch French in Akopian-Shirov, Merida 2000.
An
Impressive Victory by Guillermo Rey
A victory for Black in the closed Tarrasch in Benjamin-Gurevich, France
2000.
Giuoco Piano / Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bc4)
Giuoco
Piano on Trial by Tim Harding
A great three piece article. See Part
1, Part
2, Part
3, and Part
4.
The
Modern Italian Game
Good explanation of the main lines and positional themes from the Exeter
web site.
Have
the Giuoco’s Fangs Been Pulled? by Jeremy
Silman
A
Shilling in the Mailbag and Readers’
Showcase by Tim McGrew (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bc4 Nd4!??)
Blackburne
Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4?!
Giuoco
Piano by Craig Sadler
A useful table of moves and games.
Giuoco
Piano
From the Chess Corner Opening Survey. Scroll down to view 262 sample games
online.
Moller
Attack – Ancient
Spanish language article from Hechiceros.
Moller
Attack – Modern
Spanish language article (based on Soltis analysis) from Hechiceros.
Halasz Gambit System (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4 or
1.e4 c5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4)
Anatomy
of a Gambit: Dissecting the Halasz by Glenn
Budzinski
The seminal article on this odd line, covering history and theory. Focuses
on 1.e4 e5, treating it as a King’s Gambit with great attacking ideas (especially
in speed chess).
The
Vampire Gambit: Can we bury it now? by
Tim Harding
Adds significant background on the Hungarian correspondence player who
originated the line and focuses on the search for a refutation, if one
exists.
Halasz
Gambit from Sah Mat Lista
Very basic coverage for club players, with appended games.
il
Gambetto Halasz by Giorgio Cadazza
An article in Unorthodox Openings Newsletter (see pages 9-13), featuring
several well annotated games presented in systematic fashion to analyze
the Sicilian version of the Halasz with 1.e4 c5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4.
Halloween Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6
4.Nxe5?!?!)
One to watch out for is the Halloween Reversed
in response to the Glek System: 4.g3 Nxe4!?
Halloween+Gambit
Games Zipped from Giorgio Cadezza
The
Halloween Attack by Steffen Jakob
The
Halloween Attack in the Four Knights by
Steffen Jakob
King’s Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4)
Killing
the King’s Gambit by Ignacio Marin
From the Archive. Covers a line in the Kieseritzky Gambit.
Le
Gambit de Roi 7 from /mjae
Featuring Keene’s idea of 2….Qh4+
Le
Gambit de Roi 10 from Mjae
Features 2….Nc6, which received favorable attention in NIC Yearbook.
The
Bishop’s Gambit by Tim McGrew
A good introduction to the venerable 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4!?
Le
Gambit de Roi 11, Le Gambit du Fou from
Mjae
Features analysis of the Bishop’s Gambit 2….exf4 3.Bc4.
Morozevich-Aleksandrov,
China 2000 annotated by Yasser Seirawan
A wild game featuring the typical Knight sacrifice at f3 by White rather
than the Kieseritzky approach. Also annotated at
Chess Cafe.
Not
Quite Winning with the Allgaier Gambit and Last
Rites for the Allgaier Gambit? by Tim Harding
Who’s
Afraid of the King’s Gambit? by Eric Schiller
From the Archive. The name says it all: Black has nothing to fear if he
plays carefully.
Bits
and Pieces by Andrew Martin
A close discussion of one of Martin’s games with the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3
Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.d4 Qh4+.
A
Lazy Player’s Guide to the King’s Gambit with
3.Bc4
From the archive. Covers 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4.
The
Ideas behind the King’s Gambit
A good introduction from the Exeter Chess Club site.
King’s
Gambit by Thomas Johansson
Some annoying pop-up ads, but good content.
Authier-Simmelink,
IECG 2000 annotated by Alain Authier
Black draws with the Wagenbach Variation — 3….h4!?
King’s
Gambit games from Chess World to download
The
King’s Gambit from the Opening Club website
Beware the pop-up ads, but some useful analysis for club players.
Falkbeer
Countergambit from Hechiceros
Falkbeer
Gambit
A comprehensive analysis with statistics.
Latvian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5!?)
The Latvian Gambit with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5!? is a great surprise weapon. If
you get serious about it, you should definitely pick up Tony Kosten’s The
Latvian Gambit Lives, which might convince you that it really does….
Roman’s
Latvian Gambit page, from the Archive.
Marek’s
Latvian Gambit site, from the Archive.
El
Gambito Leton from Hechiceros
An interesting article from Black’s point of view.
Petroff’s Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6)
Symmetrical
Petroff by Michael Goeller
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4?! is messier than
you think.
Everything
Petrov
Includes a forum and databases.
Petrov’s
Defense: Cochrane Gambit
Spanish language article from Hechiceros.
Smerdon-Solomon,
Australia 1999 annotated by John-Paul Wallace
A wild game that was supposed to be a forced draw after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nxf7 but got a hell of a lot more complicated
as the IM refused to yield a draw to the master.
Philidor’s Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6)
Philidor
Defense, Part One, by IM Attila Schneider
Good general coverage of the opening in a text-based format, with diagrams
and color coding.
Philidor
Defense, Part Two, by Attila Schneider
Not
Exactly Opera Box by Tim McGrew
On 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Bg4!? 4.dxe5 Nd7!?
The
Albin-Blackburne Gambit by Stefan Bucker
Excellent history and analysis of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Bg4!? 4.dxe5 Nd7!?
Going
Fishing by Tim McGrew
On 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4!? Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 h6 6.Nf3 e4.
An
Interesting Gambit in the Philidor Defense by
Franco Daverio
From the defunct Thomas Stock website (preserved in the archives), suggests
the crazy idea 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Be7!?? 5.Qxg7 Bf6 6.Qg3
Ne7 followed by Rg8 with rapid development for the pawn.
Philidor’s
Defense by Yiannis Goumas from the Hellas
Chess Club
Useful theory for club players, from the archives.
Philidor
Defense
From the archives — a useful intro to club players.
Opening
Lanes #01 by Gary Lane
Presents Motwani’s refutation of the Philidor’s Counter Gambit.
Philidor
Lecture 3 Notes by Pete Tamburro
Tamburro presents the basic refutation of the PCG in his forum.
Pisarsky-Del
Rosario, Kolty Chess Club Championship 2003
An interesting game in the 4.dxe5 line.
Filidorov
Kontragambit
Analyzes the recommended line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5!? 4.Nc3! (though
without Motwani’s ideas) and includes some games in PGN.
Paul
Morphy from the Felixstowe Chess Club
Analyzes some games by Morphy with the Philidor’s Counter Gambit. You can
also find annotated
PGNs of these games elsewhere online.
The
Riddle of Bird vs. Morphy by Karsten Müller
Though this article does not discuss the opening of this famous Philidor
Counter Gambit game, it does offer much interesting commentary on the famous
concluding sacrificial combination.
Kobese-Van
Tonder, South Africa 2002 match game
Annotated game featuring 4.Nc3 against the Philidor Counter Gambit.
Cunningham-Fuchs,
Boulder Coloroda Open 2000 annotated by
Mark Scheidies
An interesting amateur game with 4.Nc3.
Acosta-Gutierrez,
Mendellin 1979 annotated by IM Alejandro
Acosta
Annotated game featuring 4.Bc4 and poor play by Black.
Pirc Defense (1.e4 d6) and Modern (1.e4 g6)
Pirc-Ufimtsev
Defense by Boris Schipkov
Annotates Luther-Gulko, Corus 2001 featuring the Austrian Attack with 5….O-O
6.Bd3 Na6.
Pirc
and Modern
Some great analysis of the Austrian Attack mainly.
Heroic
Tales by Hans Ree
One of the first to celebrate the game Kasparov-Topalov.
Dodgy
Games with Dodgy Names by IM Andrew Martin
Article covers games with the 150 Attack and Barry Attack.
Sistema
Gurgenidze from Hechiceros
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 d5!? 5.e5 h5.
Thomas-Hoshor,
Georgia 1997 annotated by Mark Hoshor
Features the Gurgenidze system.
The
Lion
A Black defensive system with d6 and Nd7. Does not seem to have teeth.
The Bg5 System against the Pirc
Good coverage of Bg5 followed by f4 and O-O for
White.
Mankiewicz-Hoshor,
Midwest Masters 1997 annotated by Mark
Hoshor
An interesting and well-annotated game featuring the Averbach system of
the Modern Defense.
Pirc
Defense: h-pawn Attack
From the archives.
Pirc by
Armin Fingerhut
Pirc
Defense — Checa / Czech Variation by M.R.
Martini
The
Modern Defense by GM Nigel Davies
Ponziani (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3)
Opening
Lanes #68 by Gary Lane
Analyzes several Ponziani lines from the Black perspective.
Opening
Lanes #54 by Gary Lane
Discusses a game with 3….d5. For further discussion, see Opening
Lanes #09 on 3….d5 4.Bb5 Bc5!? 5.Qe2.
Ponziani
Power (Updates) by David Taylor
Additional and updated analysis, from the Gambit Chess site.
Ponziani
Power by David Taylor, reviewed by Stephen
Hamm
In reviewing the correspondence champ’s book, Hamm provides a useful introduction
and overview to this under-analyzed opening.
Le
debut Ponziani by Bernard Guerin
Portuguese (1.e4 e5 2.Bb5!?)
If you think of it as playing a reversed 1.e4 e5
as White with a potentially useful tempo, the line
becomes very interesting.
Winning
with the Portuguese by IM Andrew Martin
From the archives. This article goes far toward making 2.Bb5!? look almost
respectable.
Ruy Lopez / Spanish (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5)
Adam
Bozon’s Ruy Lopez page
Covers a wide range of variations.
Opening
Lanes #09 by Gary Lane
Covers a line in the Classical Variation that goes 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
Bc5 4.c3 d5!?
The
Lopez Grip, Part 1 by IM Andrew Martin
Part of a three-part series at Chessville, this first installment features
a Steinitz-like Black system to strong-point e5 and White’s ways of securing
long-term pressure.
The
Lopez Grip, Part 3 by IM Andrew Martin
Covers an early Fischer favorite: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3
Na5!? from the White perspective.
Murder
on the Long Diagonal, by Ron Henley
Discusses the Archangel Defense, with the fianchettoed Bb7.
Jaenisch
Gambit
A comprehensive analysis and statistical summary. Also called the Schliemann
Coutnergambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5!?)
Schliemann
/ Jaenisch by Jos Heesen
Includes history and analysis of the critical lines.
Lopez
Grip, Part 2: The Schliemann by Andrew
Martin
Part of a series at Chessville, this article features 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 f5!? from White’s perspective, recommending the safe 4.d3 playing
for positional pressure.
Ruy
Lopez, Bird’s Defense by John Watson
Consider’s Bird’s original idea of preventing Qh5 and creating kingside
play with an early ….h5!?
Has
the Marshall Attack been Refuted on the Internet? by
Tim Harding
Spanish
Marshall: Some New Ideas to Try by Tim
Harding from Chess Mail
A great collection of annotated games just chock full of innovative ideas.
If you play the Marshall Gambit as either Black or White, you’ll want to
visit this site and pick up Harding’s CD.
Marshall
Counter Attack from the Hellas Chess Club
Useful analysis from the archives.
Opening
Lanes #05 by Gary Lane
Covers Marshall and anti-Marshall lines.
Frank
Marshall on the Marshall Attack in the Spanish edited
by Eric Schiller
Capablanca-Marshall,
New York 1918 by Bill Wall
The game that gave birth to the Marshall Attack/Gambit, well annotated
by Bill Wall.
Strictly
for Amateurs: Honing your Email Arsenal by
Bobby Ang
Covers sharp lines in the Open Lopez.
Scandinavian Defense / Center
Counter Defense (1.e4 d5)
The
Anti-Portuguese by Michael Goeller
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3! Bg4?!
Center
Counter Defense
The Chess Corner site offers good general coverage of the main lines.
Scandinavian
4…Qh5: coffeehouse bluff or serious weapon? by
Schliemann Mann
A very useful forum posting on the usenet concerning the Scandinavian.
Can
White Successfully Avoid the Dreaded Portuguese
Attack? and Refutation
of the Portuguese? by Jeremy Silman (and
John Watson)
The former especially is a very smart and useful analysis of basic White
strategies to avoid the dreaded Portuguese.
The
Patzer Variation by Andrew Martin
Excellent coverage of the interesting idea 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qe5+!?
from Black’s perspective.
The
Essential Centre Counter series at Chessville
by IM Andrew Martin
In August 2004, in anticipation of his Center Counter book, Martin published
several articles on the Scandinavian on Unusual
lines , Mainline
with d3, and Mainline
with d4.
Scandinavian
Defense by Roman
Covers 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bb5+ from White’s point of view.
Scandinavian (also
in PDF)
A comprehensive reference on 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bb5+ Nbd7!?
Skandinavian
Defense with 2….Nf6
Written from Black’s perspective, but offers some excellent analysis.
Opening
Lanes #44 by Gary Lane
Covers the Icelandic Gambit with 2….Nf6 3.c4 e6!?
Opening
Lanes #71 by Gary Lane
Analyzes the game Medina-Eid, Bled 2002 which begins 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6
3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bc4 Bg5 5.Nf3.
Defensa
Escandinava by Guillermo Soppe, Part
One and Part
Two
A two part Spanish-language article at Hechiceros on
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3. Excellent
games and analysis.
Opening
Lanes #61 by Gary Lane
Discusses a game in the Tennison Gambit 1.e4 d5 2.Nf3?!
Scandinavian
Defense, Tennison Gambit by Eric Schiller
Opening
Lanes #55 by Gary Lane
Discusses the odd line 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.c4 Nb4!? which White
should not try too hard to refute.
Attacking
the Center: 1.e4 d5!
A nice page from Logical Chess.
Countering
the Center Counter from Cornbelt Chess
Scotch Game and Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
exd4)
Escocesa
4….Dh4!? (Scotch
4….Qh4)
Spanish language article on Steinitz’s favorite line at Hechiceros,
under Aperturas. The line 4.Nxd4 Qh4 is also discussed by Gary Lane in Opening
Lanes #63 and Opening
Lanes #47.
Blackburne-Steinitz,
London 1876 researched by Nick Pope
Steinitz tried his wild 4…Qh4 line three times in this unofficial World
Championship match. The games are also annotated, with Java board, at the
link below.
Blackburne-Steinitz,
London 1876 annotated by Miguel Villa
Vienna-London,
Correspondence 1872-1874, by Tim Harding
An interesting correspondence game featuring 4….Qh4!?
Scotch
4….Qh4 by Villy Isakson
An “opinionated but usable” survey of White’s resources against
4….Qh4 and what to watch out for. From the archives.
Göring
Gambit – A Return to the Romantic, by Gary
Good
Discusses 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 and analyzes games the author
played from both sides of the opening.
Lazy
Player’s Guide to the Scotch Gambit
Covers the Scotch Gambit with 4.Bc4 and Max Lange, from the archives.
Bluffer’s
Guide to the Scotch Gambit
Looks a lot like the one above.
Time
to Gamble on a Gambit by Tim Harding
A survey of many gambit lines followed by a game of the author’s with the
Scotch Gambit.
A
Glass of Scotch and A
Second Dram of the Scotch Gambit by Tim
Harding
Scotch
Gambit from the Tromsø Sjakklub
Good analysis of 4.Bc4 lines for club players, with Java board for web
viewing.
Scotch
Opening from the Hellas Chess Club
Useful theory for the club player on the Scotch Game and Gambit lines.
From the archives.
Scotch
by Juan Rohl
Covers the four knights stuff with 4….Nf6 5.Nc3, at Hechiceros,
under Aperturas.
Kasparov-Timman,
Wijk an Zee 2000 annotated by John Henderson
Features Kasparov’s favorite (and therefore quite popular) 4….Nf6 5.Nxc6.
Includes pictures of the players and a report on the tournament.
Perlo-Sarink,
Dick Smit Memorial 2000 annotated by Perlo
Correspondence game features 4….Nf6 5.Nxc6, with Java board for web viewing.
Kasparov-Anand,
WC 1995 annotated by the participants
Morozevich-Bezgodov,
Tomsk 1998 annotated by Morozevich
Barnsley-Cipolli,
Email Olympiad 2000 annotated
Kasparov-Karpov
1990 annotated in Russian (also
available elsewhere)
Includes extensive notes on all Black alternatives.
Fritz-Kramnik,
Brains in Bahrain 2002 annotated by Karsten
Müller
Features 4….Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qd2 dxc6, which Kramnik went on to win thanks
to typically computer-like blunders.
Fritz-Kramnik,
Bahrain 2002 annotated by Boris Schipkov
Remmel-van
Wieringen, Dick Smit Memorial NBC Email, 2000 annotated by van Wieringen, with
Java board for web viewing.
Covers 4…Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qd2 Qxc6!? which
is rarely played.
Opening
Lanes #05 by Gary Lane
Covers 4….Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Qd2!?
Opening
Lanes #04 by Gary Lane
Discusses 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 d6.
Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5)
Grand
Prix Attack Bibliography by Michael Goeller
Playing
f4 against the Sicilian: Grand Prix Attack
From the Exeter Chess Club site, makes for a good introduction to this
system for beginner and club players.
Sicilian
Grand Prix Attack
A game and analysis excerpt from Plaskett’s book. Plaskett’s book notes
that the Grand Prix Attack may have been inspired by the game Saidy-Fischer,
New York 1969, which Gary Lane discusses at the tail end of Opening
Lanes #65.
Sicilian
Defense, Grand Prix Attack with f4 and Bb5,
Part One and Part
Two, by Zoran Ilic
This has got to be the best analysis anywhere in print of this important
positional line in the Grand Prix, where White plays Bb5 with the intention
of doubling Black’s c-pawns rather than the more provocative Bc4 (which
is questionable against most e6 lines for Black). Be sure to see both parts.
From the archives.
Opening
Lanes #60 by Gary Lane
Offers a number of games with the Grand Prix Attack, focused mainly on
the question of when White can play Bc4 and when not.
Opening
Lanes #06: Grand Prix Crash by Gary Lane
Discusses the sharp 1.e4 c5 2.f4 e5!?
Opening
Lanes #59 by Gary Lane
Discusses a game in the Closed Sicilian with Nh3 and the f5 pawn sac.
Tal
Gambit Declined by Jeremy Silman
1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5! 3.e5!? is not a good idea.
Turner-Dowling,
Ohio Open 2003 by David Michel
The game transposes from a Grand Prix to a Closed in response to Black’s
…a6, …b5, …Bb7 defense.
Opening
Lanes #43 by Gary Lane
Discusses the Closed Sicilian.
Smerdon-Feldman,
Australia 1999 annotated by John-Paul Wallace
Scroll down to find it. A fascinating game featuring 2…Nf6 against the
2.c3 Sicilian, with great lessons in the opening, middlegame, and even
the endgame.
Alapin
Sicilian by IM Georgi Orlov
Covers the sharp 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 from White’s perspective.
Dr.
Minev and the Sicilian: Alapin Sicilian B22 by
IM Nikolay Minev
Defensa
Siciliana, Variante Alapin II by IM Juan
Rohl
Examines the line 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 at Hechiceros.
Smerdon-Saw,
Austrailia 1999 annotated by John-Paul
Wallace
A brilliantly played ending by White with the isolated pawn after 1.e4
c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 etc.
2….Da5!?
contre la variante Alapine at Mjae
Svidler-Kasparov,
Tilburg 1997 annotated by Yasser Seirawan
Features 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3!? which sneakily avoids the d5 stuff.
Yuan-Berezina,
Australia 1999 annotated by John-Paul Wallace
An interesting maneuvery opening with the delayed c3 Sicilian. See also
Yuan-Kalashko further down, where Black sidesteps an attempt to transpose
to an Advance French out of the delayed c3 Sicilian.
A
Sicilian Surprise by Tim McGrew
From the Electronic Campfire columns, this article covers the delayed c3-Sicilian
with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3!? as played in Svidler-Kasparov, Tilburg 1997.
Also published at the defunct InternetChess site.
Unboring
the c3-Sicilian
Black’s perspective on 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5.
An
Anti-c3 Sicilian system from the Barnet
Chess Club
Recommends 2….d5 3.exd5 Qxd5.
The
Smith-Morra Gambit System
Great coverage of the gambit variation of the c3 Sicilian from the Barnet
Chess Club.
A
Little Learning and The
Power of Ideas by Tim McGrew
Two must-read articles for anyone who ever had second thoughts about their
favorite gambit line. In the first, a chess coach explains to his pupil
why the Smith-Morra is not as bad as its stats might suggest. In the second,
a young tournament player thinks out loud during his wonderful game with
the Smith-Morra.
Lutter
Contre Le Gambit Morra 2 from Mjae
On the idea of e6 and Ne7-g6 for Black. Includes PGN.
Lutter
Contre Le Gambit Morra 1 from Mjae
The idea of e6, a6 and b5.
The
Siberian Trap in the Smith-Morra by Boris
Schipkov
A warning to all Smith-Morra gambiteers: watch out for Qc7 and Ng4! with
a potential mating attack.
Innovation
in the Siberian Trap by Rajmund Emanuel
An amateur analyst tries to refute Black’s counter-attacking scheme by
playing an early Qe2 and e5.
Morra
Gambit
A comprehensive analysis and statistical summary.
Sicilian
b4 Gambit
A comprehensive analysis and statistical assessment.
Sicilian
Wing Gambit a la Spielman by IM Nikolay
Minev
Sicilian
Wing Gambit
From the archives.
Combating
the Sicilian Dragon by Andrew Martin
Suggests White try an unusual approach combining Bg5 and Bb5.
Sicilian
Defense, Dragon Variation by Yannis Goumas,
from the Hellas Chess Club site
Useful analysis of all Dragon lines (from the archives).
The
Trapped Queen in the Chinese Dragon by
Luiz Roberto da Costa Junior and Tim Harding
from Chess Mail
A great page to play over right on the net, featuring an early ….Rb8
with the idea of …b5 in the Dragon variation.
G.
Shahade-Mezentsev, San Francisco 2000 annotated
by Boris Schipkov
Features an interesting transposition to Dragon lines via the Accelerated
Dragon.
Sicilian
Dragon: Yugoslav Attack (B78)
Opening
Lanes #41 by Gary Lane
Discusses the Yugoslav Attack.
Opening
Lanes #08 by Gary Lane
Discusses, among other things, traps in the Dragon.
The
Verdict on the Levenfish Attack by IM Andrew
Martin
Discusses an early f4 in the Dragon.
The
Sicilian Exchange Sacrifice by GM Nigel
Davies
Playing
Suitable Openings by GM Nigel Davies
Discusses the O’Kelley variation.
Old
but Unknown Is As Good as New by Ignacio
Marin
Covers the Pin Variation of the Sicilian, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4
Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4!?
DeFirmian-Tate,
NJ Open 2001 annotated by Baburin (by permission)
Features the unusual Black system with Bd7 used by Kupreichik.
The
Unexplored Sicilian, Part One and Part
Two by IM Andrew Martin
Discusses 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6!?
Paulsen
System with Bd3 by IM Zoran Ilic
From the Archives, features White playing an early Be3 and Bd3 against
Black’s e6 system.
Sveshnikov’s
System by Hans Ree
Analyzes the game Philippe-Sveshnikov, Cap d’Agde 2003, which began 1.e4
c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7!?
The
Sveshnikov Sicilian from the Barnet Chess
Club
The
Kibitzer and the Even More Complete Najdorf by
Tim Harding
Opening
Lanes #40 by Gary Lane
Begins by discussing the Najdorf.
Beating
Judit Polgar by Ignacio Marin
Discusses the wild Qf3 variation of the Najdorf.
Omar
Cartagena-Walter Browne, San Francisco 1996 annotated
by Bobby Ang
A Sicilian Sozin that takes some interesting turns.
Polugaevsky
Variation by Thomasollo
From the archive: analysis of the B96 Najdorf with 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5, called
the Polugaevsky Variation. Wild stuff! Use
the Web Archive to explore more of the vanished Thomasollo site, which
offered more excellent theory like this (though it is not clear how much
was preserved).
Is
the Najdorf Poisoned Pawn Edible? by Tim
Harding
Uses lots of theory and history to analyse one of the author’s games. Answer:
indigestion at best.
Sicilian
Defense, English Attack by IM Zoran Ilic
White plays Be3, Qd2, and f3 against the Najdorf Scheviningen.
The
Sicilian, Snyder Variation by Andrew Martin
Be sure to see both Part
One and Part
Two. The so-called Snyder variation with 1.e4 c5 2.b3!? makes for a
good occasional anti-Sicilian weapon. Martin also analyzes the same opening
in part of an article at Jeremy
Silman’s site.
Opening
Lanes #71 by Gary Lane
Lane analyzes the game Short-Prasad, Mumbai 2004, which begins 1.e4 c5
2.b3 — which a reader suggests be renamed the Short variation.
b3
Sicilian by IM Eric Tangborn
Strictly
for Amateurs by Bobby Ang
A very useful discussion of the Chekhover variation with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3
d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4.
Chekhover
Sicilian by Francisco Acosta Ruiz
Opening
Lanes #58 by Gary Lane
Discusses the “currently popular” 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 and
4.Bb5 line.
Plaskett-Bischoff,
Hastings 2001 annotated by Lubomir Ftacnik
The 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 line leads to a spectacular White
attack.
A
Sicilian Brillaincy by Guillermo Rey
Discusses the game Kholmov-Keres, USSR 1959, featuring 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 Nf6 4.e5.
The
Anti-Sicilians, Part One and Part
Two by GM Joel Benjamin
Features the Moscow variation with 3.Bb5+.
il
Gambetto Halasz by Giorgio Cadazza
An article in Unorthodox Openings Newsletter (see pages 9-13), featuring
several well annotated games presented in systematic fashion to analyze
the Sicilian version of the Halasz with 1.e4 c5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4.
Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6)
Hard
Chess by Mark Morss
USCF Senior Master Mark Morss has written several articles on the Two Knights
Defense as part of his Hard Chess column for the Campbell Report web site.
They include very extensive annotations and commentary, mainly of the author’s
own games. I recommend them for close study of particular lines.
A
Lazy Player’s Guide to the Scotch Gambit
This web site includes good coverage of the Two Knights Defense by way
of transposition from the Scotch Gambit.
Ataque
Max Lange by Marata Linges Dante
Spanish-language analysis from Hechiceros.
Max
Lange Attack from NJSCF site by Pete Tamburro
Good introduction to the main lines for amateur players.
Interesting
Byways in the Classic Open Games by Tim
Harding
A useful discussion of the literature on the Modern Two Knights.
The
Scotch Gambit from Tromso Sjakklubb
Good analysis for club players.
The
Modern Horowitz Variation of the Max Lange
Attack by Michael Goeller
Discusses an old variation of the Max Lange
used by Fahrni and analyzed by Horowitz.
Max
Zavanelli and the Sleeping Beauty by Victor
Palciauskas.
This is a fascinating game in the Max Lange annotated by Max Zavanelli
himself, with Palciaskas’s introduction. Worth playing over. Also available
from Palciauskas’s
web site.
Max
Lange Attack by Pete Tamburro
Exeter
Chess Club Opening Handouts on the Two Knights
Defense
Covers the Two Knights from the Black perspective, along with ways of playing
against White alternatives.
C55 from
the Tromso Sjakklubb
Good coverage of the Keidanz lines for the club player.
More
about the Two Knights Modern by Mark Morss
“Opening Preparation” by Sunil Weeramantry,
in Chess Cafe’s The Chess Coach 13. Download
a zip file.
Two
Knights — Amazing Counter-Attack by Tim
Harding
Covers 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Nxe4!?
Two
Knights Defense and a Repertoire as Black from
the Exeter Chess Club
A useful overview of lines for the beginner to club player.
Defensa
de los Dos Caballos from Hechiceros
Focuses on 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5.
Opening
Lanes #62 by Gary Lane
Discusses 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5. For the line
6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3!? see Opening
Lanes #02. For 6.Bb5+ Bd7!? see Opening
Lanes #03.
Two
Knights Defense by Tim Harding
In three parts, covering the classic 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5.
Part
One, Part Two,
and Part
Three.
Having
Fun with the Two Knights Defense by Bobby
Ang
Some really spectacular analysis of the Fritz.
Two
Knights Defense, Wilkes-Barre Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 and 6.Bd5 .
.. See also the 6.Bb3
Line.
Site
dedie a l’ouverture Traxler
In French with lots of Traxler stuff from the Black perspective.
The
Fegatello Attack by Paul Valle
A complete analysis of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5?!
6.Nxf7!?
Urusov Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4
Nf6 3.d4)
See the Urusov
Gambit. And for additional links, see my Urusov
Gambit Links page.
Urusoff
/ Urusov Gambit Bibliography by Michael
Goeller
Le
Gambit Urusov from Mjae
Well, at least they acknowledge borrowing from my site… Overall, this
is a very useful article and makes for a good summary of my own views.
But the picture they have of “Prince Urusov” is actually a relative
of his and not the man himself. Forgive them….
Urusoff
Gambit by Soren Galberg Lund
From the archives, a poorly translated but interesting book on my favorite
line.
Das
Urusow-Gambit by Armin Fingerhut
Vienna Game and Gambit (1.e4
e5 2.Nc3)
Vienna
Backwaters by IM Andrew Martin
A wonderful article on Santasiere’s forgotten gambit alternative to the
Frankenstein-Dracula system, 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3
Nc6 6.d4!?
Blindsided and Shall
We Dance by Tim McGrew
Analyzes lines arising after 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.f4
Opening
Lanes #50 by Gary Lane
Discusses various lines of the Vienna.
Frankenstein-Dracula System Articles by Tim
Harding
Frankenstein
– Dracula overview by Eric Schiller
An introduction to the line for beginners, from the author of a book on
this scary line.
Frank
– Drac Download (download zip PGN with
analysis)
Introduction
to the Pierce Gambit and Some
Theory of the Pierce Gambit by Tim Harding
Discusses the fascinating gambit line 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3
g5 5.d4 g4 6.Bc4!? gxf3 7.O-O with wild play. Harding comes close to concluding
that the line might be a draw, but he leaves us with some good ideas for
White and the promise of a follow-up article.
Opening
Lanes #57 by Gary Lane
Discusses 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4!? Bf8!?
Opening
Lanes #56 by Gary Lane
Discusses 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 Nd4!?
Opening
Lanes #45 by Gary Lane
Discusses 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.d3!? The topic is returned
to in Opening
Lanes #75.
Kilkenny
Open by Tim Harding
Discusses the game William Watson-Michael Adams, Kilkenny Open 1996 which
featured the g3-line of the Vienna. The game is described and analyzed
along with the atmosphere of the event, making for a great read.
Opening
Lanes #07 by Gary Lane
Considers several games that open 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 f5!?
Albin Counter-Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5)
The
Mengarini-Morozevich Variation of the Albin Counter
Gambit (with …Nge7) by Michael Goeller
The
X-Rated Albin by Andrew Martin
A good fun article on the vulgar caveman way to play the Albin.
Albins
Gegengambit
An excellent piece of analysis and a complete statistical survey of the
opening.
Polgar-Nakamura,
Virginia Beach 2005 annotated by Susan
Polgar
An Albin featuring Morozevich’s ….Nge7.
Albin
Counter-Gambit
From the Chess Corner Opening Survey site, with several sample games to
view online.
How
to Meet the Albin by Eric Schiller
A
Fistful of Novelties by Tim McGrew
Includes an interesting novelty in an Albin sideline.
Albin
Counter Gambit Tournament, Groningen 2001
A powerful thematic tournament, with games to
download in PGN format.
Ippolito-Shapiro,
NJ Open 2001 annotated by Dean Ippolito
Tiviakov-Brenninkmeijer,
Groningen 2001, annotated by Tiviakov
Albin
Counter Gambit Thematic E-mail Tournament
Tournament sponsored by CCN, with completed
games in PGN format and in Java
replay.
Checkpoint
#58 by Karsten Hansen
Includes a review of and excerpt from Luc Henris’s excellent Albin CD.
Levitt-Speelman,
Torquay 1982
Interesting game annotated by US Correspondence champ Jon Edwards.
Kokesh-Hammer
1997
An interesting game by two experts, annotated by Kokesh.
Download
470 PGN Albin Games from the Pitt Archive
Albin
Countergambit
A mystery personal site with insufficient information. Includes games from
other openings without explanation.
Contre
Gambit Albin
Focuses on the more unusual White replies.
Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5!?)
Benko
Gambit
Part of the Chess Corner Opening Survey, with over 300 games to view.
Every
Once in a While, Part
One and Part
Two by Tim McGrew
Korchnoi-Spassky,
St. Petersburg 1999
A fascinating Benko, annotated by Ivanov.
Conquest-Degraeve,
Clichy 2001 annotated by Boris Schipkov
The Benko declined with a decisive Black opening error.
Milov-DeVreugt,
IECC 2001 annotated by Boris Schipkov
Features weak Black play against the declined line with b6.
A
System Against the Benko Gambit
The Barnet Chess Club’s page, devoted to the b6 push by White.
You
Know When You’ve Been Benko’d by Steve
Homer
Exeter Chess Club site explains the main strategic and tactical ideas of
the opening.
Steve
Martinson on the Benko Gambit
Martinson’s article at the Exeter CC site discusses the ideas behind the
gambit.
Blumenfeld
Gambit from the Hellas Chess Club
Useful if older analysis (from the archive).
Benoni (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5)
Opening
Overview: The Taimanov Variation of the Modern
Benoni by NM Mark Hoshor
The
End of the Line by Guillermo Rey
Features a game with the Taimanov Attack.
Deng
Kongliang-Chiong, Manila 1989 annotated
by Bobby Ang.
Opening
Lanes #03 by Gary Lane
Discusses the Benoni, white fianchetto line.
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3
Nf6 4.f3)
This opening can also arise by a number of transpositions or related lines.
In fact, it seems just as likely to occur after 1.e4 as after 1.d4.
Opening
Lanes #62 by Gary Lane
Offers material on the Euwe Defense and Zilbermints Gambit.
Opening
Lanes #61 by Gary Lane
Answers readers questions about the BDG.
Opening
Lanes #55 by Gary Lane
Discusses the BDG.
Opening
Lanes #53 by Gary Lane
Discusses BDG lines involving ….Bf5 for Black.
Shopping
for a Tombstone by Andrew Martin
A good way to meet the BDG with the 5….c6 and 6….Bf5, the Ziegler Defense.
This line is also discussed by Gary Lane in his Opening
Lanes #67.
Tom
Purser’s Blackmar-Diemer Gambit pages
This gambit nearly has as many followers as the Urusov. And this is its
best site.
Bennett’s
Temptation by Tim McGrew
Discusses the sacrifice 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4
6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 Nc6 9.Qf3!?
Emil
Joseph Diemer et le Gambit Blackmar Diemer,
Part One, Part
Two, and Part
Three by Dany Senechaud
Good coverage, in French, that seems to reproduce a large portion of the
author’s book.
Defending
the Blackmar-Diemer by Pete Tamburro
Considers 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4 Nxe4 4.Nxe4 dxe4 5.Bc4 e5!?
Bill
Wall’s Blackmar-Diemer Links
A wonderful collection of links from Bill Wall, the master of links and
lists.
The
Lemberger Counter-Gambit by Tim McGrew
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5!? from White’s perspective mostly.
Blackmar-Diemer
Gambit from Chess City Magazine.
Good coverage of the major defenses from Black’s point of view.
Gambetto
Blackmar Diemer by Giorgio Cardazza
Discusses 1.d4 d5 2.e4 c5!? 3.Nc3.
Dual
Commentary of Chess Games by J. Franklin
Campbell
Dual-analyzes a game with the Ryder Gambit in the BDG.
Ryder
Gambit
A comprehensive database tree.
Blackmar
Diemer Gambit.
Blackmar
Gambit games from Chess World to download
Rampaul.com
Paul Motta’s BDG fan site.
Blackmar
Diemer Gambit
A memorial chess club and correspondence league.
Emil
Joseph Diemer (1908-1990)
Blackmar-Diemer
Gambit – Example Games
29 recent games
The
Omega Gambit by Tim McGrew
For those who play the BDG in speed games and occasionally have their hands
slip and issue 1.d4 Nf6! 2.e4? See also Opening
Lanes #10 by Gary Lane.
Budapest Defense / Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5)
The Budapest is quite playable and a lot of fun in skittles and club play.
It really isn’t a “gambit,” though, unless Black goes all the
way with the Fajarowicz line 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4!?
Budapest
Defense by Georgi Orlov
How
Stands the Faj? by Tim Harding
A reconsideration by the author of “The Fighting Fajarowicz.”
Playing
the Budapest in Budapest by Tim Harding
Discusses the author’s experience in an interesting theme tournament.
Budapest
Traps by Bill Wall
Fajarowicz
Gambit
A comprehensive survey and statistical analysis.
Adventures
Against the Budapest by GM Gregory Kaidanov
Analyzes Kaidanov-Blatny, Chicago Open 1999, with web-viewable board.
Gambit
de Budapest — Alekhine Une Ligne Rare Mais
Interessante by Vincent Casanovas
Focuses on the unusual piece-sac line in the Budapest following 1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Nbc6! 6.fxe5? Qh4+ with attack.
Schipkov-Dinic,
Szeged 1994 annotated by Schipkov
White returns the pawn and then dominates d5 with Nc3 and Nh3-f4-d5.
Budapest
Gambit from Chess World
Budapest
Gambit by Adam Bozon
A good amateur’s overview for club players, plus games to play over.
Budapest Defense: 1517 Games from Hechiceros
Download
the Budapest Gambit file from the Pitt
Archives
Opening
Lanes #70 by Gary Lane
Discusses Lukacs-Horvath, Budapest 2002, which begins 1.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e5
4.dxe5 Ng4. Also discusses the Döry or Doery Variation with 1.d4 Nf6
2.Nf3 Ne4!? as a way of responding when White tries to avoid the Budapest.
Opening
Lanes #52 by Gary Lane
Discusses some high-level Budapest Gambits.
Opening
Lanes #48 by Gary Lane
Discusses a Budapest game by a reader that challenges theory.
Budapest
Gambit by Jeremy Silman
An answer to a reader’s question.
Chigorin Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 or 2.Nf3 Nc6)
Chigorin
Defense by Georgi Orlov
Chigorin Defense: Gagunashvili-Souleidis,
Rethymnon 2003
Clarendon Court (1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5)
The Clarendon Court combines the Dutch and the Benoni, and is sometimes called
the BenoGrad (combining the Benoni and the Leningrad Dutch).
Clarendon
Court
The Clarendon Court Defense is 1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5!? — a cross between the
Benoni and the Dutch.
What
is the Clarendon Court? by J. Levitt
See especially his annotated
game with Keith Arkell.
Colle-Zukertort-Koltanowski
/ Torre Attack / London System (1.d4 d5 2.Nf3)
Torre
Plays the Torre at Moscow 1925 and Torre-Saemisch,
Moscow 1925 by Michael Goeller
The
Colle System by Pete Tamburro
Der
Colle-Aufbau by Klaus Schumacher
Detailed analysis of games using 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3, with history and other
commentary.
Exeter
Chess Club’s The Colle System
An excellent introduction for beginners and club players to this easy universal
system.
Opening
Lanes #55 by Gary Lane
Discusses two Colle-Zukertort games and ideas, with an early Black …e5
or …g6.
Opening
Lanes #53 by Gary Lane
Discusses ways of transposing from the Colle to the Pirc to meet pesky
…g6 formations by Black.
Opening
Lanes #56 by Gary Lane
Discusses the anti-Colle stonewall idea of …f5.
Opening
Lanes #58 by Gary Lane
Discusses games that feature The Torre Attack 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5.
Opening
Lanes #64 by Gary Lane
Discusses the interesting reversed Albin idea 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5!? c5 3.e4!?
Opening
Lanes #54 by Gary Lane
Discusses 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 f6!?
Opening
Lanes #57 by Gary Lane
Discusses transpositions to the London System, 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 and 3.Bf4.
Opening
Lanes #54 by Gary Lane
Discusses using the London System as a remedy to 2….Bf5.
Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5)
Keith’s
Krap by Keith Hayward
Covers the Dutch and the Bird’s as a complete repertoire. The Dutch can
be fun.
The
Dutch Defense with Mikhail Tal by Aaron
Jagt
Analyzes an exciting game between Koblents and Tal.
Defensa
Holandesa (Variante Antoshin), de Hebert
Perez Garcia
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Cf6 3.g3 d6 4.Ag2 c6 5.Cf3 Dc7
A
Special System for a Special Opponent by
Boris Schipkov
Discusses a game of his with the Lisitsin Gambit 1.Nf3 f5 2.e4!?
Opening
Lanes #43 by Gary Lane
Discusses the Lisitsin Gambit.
Schipkov-Abel,
Kecksemet 1993 annotated by Schipkov
White plays an early Bf4! against Black’s Stonewall.
Glucksburg-Najdorf,
Warsaw 1935 annotated by Tim McGrew
The game that hooked a lot of people on playing the Dutch Stonewall. Black’s
kingside attack practically plays itself.
Schipkov-Gerbakher,
Yalta 1988 annotated by Schipkov
White plays g3 against the Leningrad.
See Feldman’s games against
the Leningrad, annotated by John-Paul Wallace,
Changing of the Guard Part
One and Part
Two. Scroll down to find them.
Taking
a Closer Look by Guillermo Rey
Features a game of the author’s with the Leningrad Dutch.
Staunton
Gambit
A comprehensive database tree and useful reference.
US
Open Tactics and Novelties by IM Nikolay
Minev
Annotates a game with the Staunton Gambit.
Opening
Lanes #49 by Gary Lane
Covers a game in the Staunton Gambit.
Franco-Benoni Defense (1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5)
Anyone
for the Franco-Benoni? by Tim Harding
Designer
Gambits by Tim McGrew
Focuses on a line arising after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.e4 exd5 5.e5!?
Franco-BenOni.
La
Defense Barcza-Larsen at Mjae
Gibbens Gambit / Weidenhaugen
Gambit / Humphrey Bogart Gambit / Bronstein Gambit
/ Bullfrog / Poisoned Spike Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.g4!!?)
John Watson has written about how such wing-pawn thrusts have become commonplace
in modern chess, but I doubt he’d approve. Declining the pawn would give
White lots of space on the kingside while accepting gives White space and
time. Looks like fun.
Le
Gambit Humphrey Bogart by Dany Senechaud
It appears that the famous movie actor played a game with this crazy line.
Gibbens-Weidenhaugen
Gambit by Nick Cummings
Cummings gives percentages and analysis. The most common continuation is
1.d4 Nf6 2.g4!!? Nxg4 3.e4 d6 4.Be2 Nf6 5.Nc3 with compensation.
Eröffnungsprojekt
Gibbins-Wedenhagen Gambit (A45)
A complete analysis of this strange line.
The
Maltese Falcon Attack by Tim Sawyer
Poisoned
Spike Games One and Two
Play over the games and analysis right online.
Prisoner
99432 by Larry Evans
Evans on Chess calls it the Poisoned Spike Gambit and gives the famous
Bogie game.
Gibbins-Weidenhagen
Gambit
From the archive.
Hennig-Schara (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5
cxd4!?)
Have
a Hack with the Hennig-Schara Attack and Hennig-Schara
Gambit Revisited by Tim Harding
On the ECO D32 gambit.
Le
Gambit Henning-Schara and Le
Gambit Henning-Schara Refusé
From the wonderful French Mjae site.
Schara
Gambit by Eric Schiller
Schara-Hening
Gambit
A comprehensive reference.
Ivanov-Westerinen,
Stockholm 1999
A wild game with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5!? annotated by Ivanov.
Janowski-Indian ( 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4
d6 3.Nc3 Bf5!?)
Tal’s Janowski-Indian Games
Discusses games that the former World Champion
played beginning 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5!?
King’s Indian Defense and
Gruenfeld (1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 g6)
King’s
Indian Defense (KID) Fireworks by IM Andrew
Martin
Be sure to see Part
One, Part
Two, Part
Three and Part
Four.
Defensa
India de Rey, Part
One, Part
Two, and Part
Three by IM Julio Boudy at Hechiceros
An excellent series that covers the major lines.
Feldman-Yuan,
Australia 1999 annotated by John-Paul Wallace
Features a Classical KID line that leads to a complex and fascinating game.
Andersson-Kasparov,
Moscow 1982 annotated by Stellan Brynell
Classical KID with Nbd7.
The
Not-so-fine Art of Game Annotation by Tim
Harding
Analyses a correspondence game featuring the King’s Indian E96 line.
Defensa
India de Rey, by IM Javier Moreno at Hechiceros
Saemisch
System by IM Alejandro Moreno at Hechiceros
Schipkov-Monin,
Kecskemet 1992 annotated by Schipkov
The Queen-sac line of the Saemisch.
A
System against the King’s Indian — The Saemisch
System from the Barnet Chess Club
Opening
Lanes #06 by Gary Lane
Discusses the Saemisch.
Classical
Variation by Erich Gonzalez
King’s
Indian Defense: An Eternal Balance by Guillermo
Rey
From the archives. Discusses a Kortchnoi win on the white side of the Classical
Mar del Plata line, where White’s queenside attack wins over Black’s kingside
attack.
Chemlik-Demétrio, EU Corr. 2000 (Download
ZIP PGN file), annotated by António
Demétrio
An interesting attacking game, annotated in PGN format. Download direct
from Mike Donnely’s excellent site.
Opening
Lanes #51 by Gary Lane
Discusses Averbach’s Bg5 line.
Opening
Lanes #45 by Gary Lane
Discusses what happens when Black foregoes d6 (a la Fischer).
KID
Four Pawns Attack by NM Randy Bauer
King’s
Indian Defense – Four Pawns Attack from
the Barnet Chess Club
A
Patzer’s Progress by Jeff Otto
An amateur player’s story of learning the KID.
Reilly-Feldman,
Australia 1999 annotated by John-Paul Wallace
A very interesting Gruenfeld that leads to a R v. B+N ending won by Black
nicely.
Nimzo-Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4)
Tal’s
Nimzo Line by Craig Sadler
Explores Botwinnik-Tal, Match 1960, Game 20, where Botwinnik improved over
their earlier games, meeting Tal’s interesting idea of 5…Ne5 and 6….f5
with 7.Qh5+, which Tal saw as a powerful move but which Sadler demonstrates
to be at least equal if not better for Black with best play.
Nimzoindian
Defense: An Outline of Playable Lines by
Pete Tamburro
A great overview for anyone trying to learn this venerable opening.
Kramnik-Kasparov,
BGN WC (08) 2000 annotated by Malcolm Pein
The classical 4.Qc2 leads to an equal ending.
Opening
Lanes #10 by Gary Lane
Discusses a line with 4.Qc2.
The
Rubinstein System with 4.e3 from the Barnet
Chess Club
Kramnik-Kasparov,
BGN WC (10) 2000
The Rubinstein variation leads to a Kramnik victory.
Kramnik-Kasparov,
BGN WC (12) 2000
Another Rubinstein, but this time a draw.
Aleksandrov-Adams,
Bled 2002 annotated by Schipkov
Black develops a surprising initiative against the Rubinstein.
Van
Wely-Acs, Hoogeveen Essent 2002 annotated
by Schipkov
Black’s sacrificial attack seems to come out of nowhere.
Bacrot-Anand,
Corsica Rapid 2002 annotated by Schipkov
After the 4.Nf3 line, and Black’s last move is stunning.
A
Pawn Sacrifice Revisited by Andrew Martin
Analyzes the sacrifice following 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5
Bb7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Nd2!? which had been played in several
GM games.
Lautier-Korchnoi,
Biel 2001 annotated by Boris Schipkov
Gives some excellent opening commentary on 4.Nf3.
Volkov-Sakaev,
FICE WCh KO New Delhi 2000 annotated by
Schipkov
Bogo-Indian from
the Hellas Chess Club
A useful analysis for club players of 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Bb4+.
The
Bogo-Indian [E11] by Andrew Martin
Excellent analysis of 3…Bb4+. In two parts.
Opening
Lanes #09 by Gary Lane
Discusses the game Johner-Nimzovich, Dresden 1926.
Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4)
Queen’s
Gambit Declined
Part of the Chess Corner Opening Survey. Includes good general coverage
and games for each major line (you need to navigate to the end of each
section to find the games).
An
Aggressive System Against the Queen’s Gambit
Declined from the Barnet Chess Club
Recommends the Exchange Variation with Q-side castling for White.
Queen’s
Gambit Declined by IM Zoran Ilic
From the Archives. White plays Bf4 with either positional or tactical intentions.
Queen’s
Gambit Point Machine by Mark Morss
Gambito
de Dama by Erich Gonzalez
Analyzes a nice game of Capablanca’s.
Capablanca-Janowski,
New York 1918 annotated by Capablanca
An interesting game featuring Capa’s 6.Nbd2 novelty with the idea of recapturing
the pawn at c4 with the Knight to better control e5.
Noteboom
or Abrahams, Whose Variation Is It Anyway? by
Tim Harding
Discusses the origins of 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 seeking
to hold onto the gambit pawn.
Introduction
to the Slav and Semi-Slav from Thomasollo
From the archive: features 2…c6 lines for Black. In French.
Slav
Defense by Adam Bozon
An introduction to 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 for the general player.
The
New Slav, Part One and Part
Two by Andrew Martin
A great introduction to lines where Black tries a Slav-route to the QGA
with the idea of hanging onto that pawn.
The
Game begins on the 17th by Guillermo Rey
Discusses a Lautier-Ivanchuk 1999 encounter with the Slav.
The
Advantage of Opposite Colored Bishops by
Guillermo Rey
Discusses a Botvinnik game in the Slav exchange.
Karpov’s
Mastery by Guillermo Rey
Discusses a Karpov-Gurevich, France 2000 game where Karpov’s brilliant
positional play leads to a strong attack in the semi-Slav.
Cambridge
Springs Variation from the Hellas Chess
Club
Useful coverage for club players (from the archives).
Opening
Lanes #51 by Gary Lane
Discusses the Keres favorite 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5.
Opening
Lanes #49 by Gary Lane
Covers some lines of the QGA not discussed by Chris Ward.
Ivanchuk-Ponomariov,
Moscow 2002 annotated by Alejandro di Battista
A Queen’s Gambit Accepted with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6,
Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5)
Trashing
the Tromp by Andrew Martin
Suggests Black play 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6.
Opening
Lanes #51 by Gary Lane
Discusses the interesting gambit idea 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 Be7!? 4.Nc3!?
Nxe4!? where White appears to gain long term compensation for the pawn.
Opening
Lanes #49 by Gary Lane
Discusses a game with 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6.
Opening
Lanes #64 by Gary Lane
Discusses the interesting reversed Albin idea 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5!? c5 3.e4!?
Opening
Lanes #54 and #44 by
Gary Lane
Discusses 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 f6!?
To
Take or Not to Take by Guillermo Rey
Features a game of the author’s with 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 where he offered the
b-pawn to his opponent.
Martian
Trompowsky Part
One and Part
Two, by Jeremy Silman
A two part article on 2….Ne4 3.Bf4 lines, which look like they are from
Mars I suppose.
Trompowsky (also
available in PDF)
A report on 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 d5 4.f3 Nf6 5.e4.
1.d4
Nf6 2.Bg5
Unfinished, but a useful overview of the Tromp.
Summerscale-Hunt,
Edinburgh 2003
Game begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4, annotated by IM Andrew Martin.
Agdestein-Schandorff,
Nordic Zonal 2000
Game begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5
Veresov and Related Lines (1.d4 d5 2.Nc3)
The Veresov leads to very interesting and unusual play.
New
Directions by Andrew Martin
Written from White’s perspective on learning a new opening (the Veresov),
but lots of ideas for Black here as well.
Opening
Lanes #65 by Gary Lane
Discusses Johnny Hector’s interesting idea 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Nbd7
4.Qd3!?
Zhang-Pigusov,
FIDE WC KO Moscow 2001, annotated by Boris
Schipkov
