1
d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 lbc3 lbf6
4 .i.g5 .i.e 7 5 liJf3 h6 6 .i.h4 0-0 7
31 e3 b6 8 Ik l .i.b7 9 .i.e2 liJbd7 1 0
W cd ed I I 0-0 c5 (32)
This is the obvious reaction to White's pseudo-offer of a pawn on the second move, once it has been appreciated that Black cannot retain his booty after 2 . .. de. With the sturdy 2 . . . e6 Black maintains a dependable presence in the centre, "the Balkans of the chessboard", as Nimzowitsch des cribed this critical area, and resolutely refuses to allow White to play e4. The standard freeing move for Black is ... c5, and in the most solid variation of all, the Tanakower, Black calmly develops his forces, fianchettoes his queen's bishop, and ultimately sets out to equalise with the desired thrust of his c-pawn. Thus from the diagram:
J.? w
This is Hon-Karpov, Amsterdam 1981 and Korchnoi-Karpov, 1 st game World Championship match, Merano 1 98 1 . Although Karpov lost the first of these, Black really has little to fear, as was demon strated by the world champion's willingness to rep:.-at against Korchnoi. In fact, Karpov won the later game.
As an historical aside I should point out why 5 ... h6, "putting the question", as the cliche runs, is so necessary as a prelude to ... b6 and
... .ib7. From diagram 3 1 : 4 .ig5 .ie7 5 eJ 0-0 6 �f3 b6 7 .id3 .ib7
Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox 35 8 .i.xf6 .i.xf6 9 cd ed 10 h4 (33)
JJ B
Without the precaution of . . . h6 this bold advance grants White a vehement attack, e.g.
1 0
. • .g6
I Ih5 lile8 1 2 hg hg 13 -.c2 i,g7 1 4 iLxg6 fg 15 1hg6 ltld7 16 �g5 1Wf6 1 7 �h!H! 1 -0 Marshall-Burn, Paris 1 900; or
10
...g6
I I h5 c5 1 2 h g hg I J ltle5 ..ixe5 1 4 d e trg5 1 5 1Wf3 1Wxc5 16 �0-0 with excdlentattacking chances, as in Marsha li M.trco, a I so Paris 1 900. A fter
I 0
. ..cS
White should not sacrifice withI I ..ixh7+?! l!.>xh7 12 ltlg5+ \t>h6!
but play I I 1Wc2! h6 I 2 0-0-0 ltlc6 13 g4! cd 14 ed 1Wd6 15 \t>b I lbb4
16 1Wd2 ltlxd3 1 7 1Wxd3 " ± "
according to Soviet GM Taimanov, since White threatens g5. This notwithstanding, the Tartakower variation with . . . h6 is a serious to a advantage. Indeed, the Lasker Defence, 4 .ig5 .ie7 :'\ c3 0-0 6 ltlf3 h6 7 .ih4 .!t:le4, is also tough to c1 ack, as is Capablanca's 6 ... �bd7 7 lilcl c6 8 .id3 de 9 .1xc4 ltldS 1 0 .ixe7
Wxe7 1 1 0-0 �xc3 1 2 lilxc3 eS!
I therefore recommend here the with
0-0-0. W hite fixes the
structu re in the middle of the board and releases the Jock on Black's queen's bishop represented
by the pawn on e6. a1m IS
to scenano, either
pawns in the style or
advance m centre e4, t he very is to mentioned, White in theory. may 1s
m
ore t reatment Spielmann, Botvinnik, Hronstein, Kasparovand Timman.
The QGD Ort hodox as a whole i:. examined in BCD, pages 60-69.
Spielmann-Sir George Thomas
Carlsbad
1 929d4
d5
2
c4
eb
3 �c3
ltlr6
For 3 . . . .ie7 see the next game, Korchnoi-Karpov.
4
cd
ed
s .tgs
See Diagram 34
Now the main line is 5 . . . �bd7, but Black can also select:
36 Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox
independent significance if Black intends to switch into a Tartakower with .. . h6, ... b6 and ... c5, for which see Kasparov-Belyavsky in Pan V.
b)
S
...c:S?
6 -'.xf6! gf 7 e3 -'.e6 8 �ge2 l0c6 9 g3 cd 10 ed -'.b4 I I -'.g2 1fb6 1 2 � 0-{)...0 13 l0a4 1ra6 14 a3 -'.d6 1 5 b4, Pillsbury Steinitz, Hastings 1 895. Evidently a strategic disaster for Black, whose doubled pawns are miserably weak. White also enjoys the unbelievable luxury of having Black's king as an extra target for his queenside attack.c)
S
. • .c6
6 e3 -'.f5 7 'it'D! -'.g6 8.txf6 'tWxf6 ( 8 ... gf 9 'tWd I ! 'tWb6 1 0 'tWd2 ltJa6 I I ltJf3 0-0-0 1 2 a 3 ltJc7 13 b4 ± Petrosian-Barcza, Buda pest 1955, very similar to Pillsbury Steinitz) 9 'tWxf6 gf 1 0 \t>d2! l0d7 I I .id3 .td6 12 h4 h5 13 �ge2 V ±. White has neutralised Black's bishop pair with the manoeuvre 'it>d2 and .td3, but the weak doubled pawns remain.
d)
S
...c6
6 e3 h6 7 .th4 -'.f5. Now White could just play 8 .td3, exchanging bishops, and later playing to occupy f5 with a knight. The fact that Black has played ... h6 makes ... g6 as well somewhat less attractive for him. There is also an ambitious and complicated line available which tries to refute: Black's play, namely: 8 WtJ 'W'b6!? 9 Wxf5 Wxb2 10 Wc8+ 'it>e7 I I li:lxdH ( I I ltJd I'tth4+
12 \t>e2 g5! is good for Black which shows why 6 ... h6 must be interpolated before Black can meet tff3 with ... Wb6) I I ... cd 1 2 We i 'tWb4+ 1 3 '.&.>c:2 Wb5+?! 1 4 \t>D Wd7 1 5 -'. xl6+ 'Ot.- x l 6 (35), Smyslov Pachman, Moscow 01 1 956.Once White unravels, Hlack's IQP is very weak im.h:ed, Black should have sought further com plications with 1 3 ... g5 14 .ig3 ltJc4
1 5 f) tfb5+ 16 \t>e l Wb4+ 17 c;t>d l
ltJcJ+ 1 8 \t>c2. If this is not to your taste, by all means plays 8 i.d3. e)
S
... c0 6 eJ .ie7 7 .td3 -'.g4 8 f3Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox 37
.i.h5 9 lt:lge2 helps White to mobilise his centre pawns.
5
lt:lbd7This move sets a jejune trap,
which has, however, claimed a number of unwary VICtims:
6 lt:lxd5?? lt:lxd5! 7 .i.xd8 .i.b4+
and Black wins .l piece.
6
e3
c6
But 6 ... .i.b4 is out of place since White can p rotect h is knight
on c3 with lt:lge2: 7 .i.d3 c5 8 lt:lge2
c4 9 .i.c2 0-0 10 0-0 1t'a5 I I a3
.i.xc3 12 ll:Jxd Jle8 1 3 1t'd2 h(l 14
f3 .ib7 1 5 ll:ac l w i t h e4 to come, Portisch-Tringov, Plovdiv 1983.
7 .id3
.ie7
Uy playing 7 . . . .td6 H lack pays insufficient ath:ntion to the pin on his ki ng's knight, viz 8 ll:Jge2 lt:lf8 9
1t'c2 h6 1 0 .th4 1t'e7 I I a3 .id7
1 2 c4 g5 1 3 .i.g3 de 14 10xe4 ll:Jxe4 1 5 .ixe4 .i. xg3 1 6 hg tl ± Spielmann-Capablanca, Carlsbad
1929.
8 1t'c2
Alekhine-Capablanca, 32nd game
1927 World Championship, Buc::nos Aires, went 8 10ge2 0-0 (on
8
... h6 Alekhine wanted to play 9 .i.f4 rather than .ih4) 9 lt:lg3 lLle8 (9 . . . h6 1 0 h4; 9 ... Jle8 10 ll:Jf5) 1 0 h4 ll:Jdf6 ( after 1 0 . . . f6 White hasI I 1t'h5, one rc::ason for keeping the queen on d I for a move or so)
I I 'W'c2 i.e6 1 2 �.Jf5 .txf5 1 3 .ixf5 10d6 14 .id3 h 6 1 5 .tf4 llc8?
( 1 5 ... lle8 16 04-0 lLJfe4!) 1 6 g4 ±.
This was the game where Alekhine invented the lt:lge2 system and the reader may wish to pursue Alekhine's idea of tllg3 before 11Pc2. There has, however, been no subsequent experience with it.
8
�0
A common manoeuvre to ease Black's position by exchanges is
... tllfH-e6, ... g6, . . . li'Jg7 and then . . . .if5. H ere, White's elastic cc:: ntre easily copes with this: 8 ... 10f8 9 tllge2 lLle6 to .th4 g6 I I 0-0-0 lt:lg7 1 2 f3 lilf5 ( i f 1 2 ... .if5 1 3 c4 ±) 1 3 .tf2 1t'a5 14 ¢'b l .ic6 15 h 3 0-0-0 16 e4 ± Bronstein-Medina, Gi:iteborg 1955. H • . • �)hS 9 .t xe7 1t'xc::7 10 �ge2
g6 I I hJ Ci.Jg7 1 2 lbf4 and g4 t was
Timman-Lobron, Sarajevo 1984. J6
w
9
lt:lge2 lieS10 0-0-0
The point of White's play, but if you don't relish a sharp battle it is
not too late to castle kingside. White then has t h e choice -of the
minorit y attack ( Jlab I, b4, b5 to
38 Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox central advance with f3, �ae I etc and then e4. Botvinnik-Larsen, cited above, is an example of this, and I could also mention Botvinnik Keres, USSR Championship, Mos cow 1952: 10 0-0 lt:JfH I I �abl .id6 1 2 'it>h I (to meet 1 2 ... ..ixh2 with 13 ..ixf6! ±t) 12 ... lt:Jg6 1 3 f3 .ie7 14 �be I lt:Jd7 ( 1 4 ... h6 1 5 ..ixh6 gh 1 6 ..ixg6) 15 ..ixe7 �xe7 1 6 lt:Jg3 lt:Jf6 1 7 't!rf2 ..ie6 Ill lt:Jf5 ..ixf5 19 ..txf5 't!tb6 20
e4 ±.
I 0
li:Jc410 ... h6 I I h4 'ita5 1 2 �g3 is promising for White. Also 10 .. .' ltJfH I I h3 ( I I f3 h6 1 2 h4 and I I lt:Jf4 a5 1 2 f3 a4 1 3 a3 b5 14 lt:Ja2 1Wb6 1 5 1td2 lt:Je6 1 6 h4 are good alternatives - Hort) I I ... .id7 1 2 g4 �c8 13 <;!.lb l b5 1 4 lt:Jf4 a 5 1 5 .if5 a4 1 6 lt:Jd3 .ixf5 17 gf ltJ8d7 18 llhg l ..tf8 19 llg2 ± - Christiansen-Spassky, Linares 1981. I I ... b5!? 12 lt:Jg3 a5 1 3 lt:Jce2 .id7 14 l0f5 is Hort-lnkiov, Lugano 1984.
I I ..ixe4
de
12 h4!
rs 1 2 ... .ixg5 1 3 hg 1fxg5 14 lt:Jxe4 1tg6 1 5 f3 lt:Jf8 1 6 lt:Jf4 1tf5 17 llh5 1fd7 1 8 d5! See Diagram 37 This is Nimzowitsch-Spielmann, Bad Kissingen 1 928, the game which persuaded Spielmann to try the variation against Thomas and Capablanca. White has clearly used his h-pawn as a decoy to wipeJl B
out Black's centre. The conclusion was: I ll ... cd 19 lt:Jxd5 'it'c6 20 1Vxc6 be 2 1 lt:Jdf6+ gf 22 lt:Jxf6+ <;!.lhll 23 lt:Jxe8 .i.g4 24 lt:Jc7 llc8 25 llg5 .i.e6 26 lt:Jxe6 lt:Jxe6 27 �a5 1-0.
An impressively powerful display by Nimzbwitsch.
13
1tb3+The queen check sets a very beautiful trap. Also worth con sidering is 1 3 g4 !?
JH H
1 3
�h8
14 lt:Jf4
(38)The threat now is 1 5 lt:Jg6+! ! hg 1 6 h5 .ixg5 1 7 hg+ .ih6 1 8 .. 17
'ite7 19 �xh6+ gh 20 g7+ 'it>h7 2 1 g81lr mate. Absolutely the only
Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox 39 defence (which makes Spielmann's
continuation an excellent practical bet) is 14 ... 'i:lf8! 1 5 d5 Wb6 (Tartakower).
14
�r6?
This does not help.
I S hS
�dS
Or 1 5 ... h6 16 Wf7! hg 1 7 h6 :±±. 39 B1 6 .txe7
li:Jxe7
17 �g6+
�xg6
18
hg
(39) If now 1 8 ... h6 19 Jbh6+ gh 20 Wf7 :±±.18
.i.e6
19 1Ixh7+
�8
20
dS
cd
21 �xdS
llc8+
22 �bl
WgS
22 ...�f8
23 llhiH.t
g8 24 llxg8+ �xg8 25 lt:lf6+ :±±.23 lldhl
Wx
g6
24 llh8+
1-0 After 24 ... 'it-17 25 Wxb7+ mates.[For reasons of strict historical veracity, I should point out the
above game actually commenced 1 d4 e6 2 c4 i()f6 3 �c3 d5 4
.tg5
�bd7 5 e3 c6 6 cd ed etc. I have standardised the move-order for ease of assimilation.]
In the next game we see what can occur if Black, by adopting a cunning move-order, tries to avoid my recommended line against the Orthodox. 40 w
Korchnoi-Karpov
1 3th game, Merano 1981
c4
e6
2 lbc3
dS
3
d4
.i.e7!?
( 40)This move-order. physically stopping White's intended .i.g5, is intended to outlaw the Exchange Variation with �ge2, as seen in Spielmann-Thomas. White's most usual response is 4 �0. but, as we shall see, it is still possible to employ an aggressive form of the Exchange.
4
cd
eel40 Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox
6
e3
.tfS!
Otherwise White plants his bishop on d3, seizing control of the b 1-h 7 diagonal and obviously stands well. In Timman-Karpov, Bugojno 1978, White then succeeded in implementing an attack similar in many respects to Spielmann Thomas, viz: 6 ... lt:lf6 7 .td3 0-0 8 1fc2 lil:e8 9 l0f3 l0bd7 10 ��0 l0f8 I I h3 .te6 12 'iPbl lil:c8 13 l0g5 b5 ( 13 ... .i.d7! 14 .te5 h6 1 5 l0f3 c 5 i) 14 .i.e5 h6 1 5 lt:lxe6 l0xe6 16 g4 lt:ld7 1 7 h4! ±.
7
g4!
The best way of keeping up the initiative. Exchange of light squared 7 .td3 .i.g6 is, of course, m comparison.
7
.te6
Black would like to play 7 ... .tg6, but it fails for tactical reasons: 8 h4! threatening g5 to imprison Black's king's knight, as well as h5, trapping Black's queen's bishop, 8 ... .i.xh4 9 1fb3 b6 10 lil:xh4 1fxh4 I I lt:lxd5!
:i±.
8
h3
(41)Also interesting is Tony Miles' idea 8 .i.d3, e.g. 8 ... lt:ld7 9 1ff3 h5 10 h3 hg I I hg .bg4 1 2 lil:xhll! or I I . .. lil:xh I 12 1fxh I .txg4 13 1fh8 'iPfll 14 .i.h7 lt:lf6 1 5 �e5 l0xh7 16 'tlhg7+ etc. Miles Georgadze, Porz 198 1-2, went instead: 10 ... 'tlt'b6 I I 0-0-0 hg 12 hg lil:xh I 13 'tlhh I g5 14 .i.g3 .i.xg4 1 5 litd2 .i.e6 16 1fh2 0-�0
17 l0b5 cb 18 lil:c2+ with a dangerous attack. 41 H
8
l0f6 Alternatives: a)8
• • • .td6 9 l0ge2 l0e7 10 'tlt'b3 .i.c8 I I .tg2 l0g6 12 .txd6 1hd6 1 3 h4 l0a6 14 g5 lt:le7, Korchnoi Spassky, match (2) 1968. Here Tal suggests 15 0-0-0 lt:lc7 16 e4! with advantage to White.b)
8
. . .hS!?
a vigorous attempt todisrupt White's kingside structure: 9 gh ltJd7 10 lil:h2 lt:ldf6 I I .i.e2, Korchnoi-lvkov, Budva 1967. Black must now reson to I I ... lLlh6 1 2 litg2 tl::lf5 1 3 i.g4 c;Pf8 t o hold his g-pawn.
9 lf:lf3
0-0
The time-consuming 9 ... tl::lbd7 10 �d3 ll::lb6 I I 1fc2 ll::lc4, Botvinnik-Petrosian , match ( I H) 1963, can be parried by 12 .txc4 de 13 e4 or even 1 2 ltJg5 �d7 13 e4!I 0
.i.d3cS
1 1 '.t'fl
Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox 41 than I I 0-0, since White may need
his king's rook on h I for attacking purposes. It also helps to keep the h3 pawn continuously protected.
I I
�c6
1 2 �g2
llc8
Alternatively, 1 2 ... cd 1 3 �xd4 �xd4 14 ed �d7 1 5 •c2 :! Botvinnik-Petrosian, match ( 14), 1963.13 llcl
Also 1 3 de J.xc5 14 �e2 �e4 1 5 Il c l J.e7 16 �fd4 �xd4 1 7 �xd4 1rb6 18 Wb3 i (Bronstein).
1 3
lle8
A possible improvement is 1 3 ... a6 to prevent �b5.14 de
I S l()bS
1 6 �rd4!
17 llxc8
18 ed!
J.xcS
J.f'8
�xd�
1hc8
Indeed, 1 8 l0xc.J4 maintains apiece blockade over Black's JQP, but now White's knight on b5 threatens both to capture on a 7
and to invade on c7.
1 8
.d7
1 9 lUc7
Here I 9 �xa 7 lla8 is pointless.
1 9
llc8
20 li:lxe6
re
Black would prefer to play 20 ... 11t'xe6 but it fails to 2 1 iLf5. The text, however, leaves Black with a
weak pawn at e6 on an open file.
21 llel
a6
22 gS
The quiet 22 1t'e2 is also strong and gives enduring pressure.
22
/()e4
23 .g4
Of course not 23 .i.xe4 de 24 lhe4 •d5, when Black has freed himself at the cost of a mere pawn.