C ONTENTS 

ONTENTS 

Contents

Symbols and Notation 5

Introduction 6
The First Move 8

1 d4 9
Queen’s Gambit Declined 11
Slav and Semi-Slav 27
Queen’s Gambit Accepted 40
Other 1 d4 d5 Openings 46
Nimzo-Indian Defence 57
Queen’s Indian Defence 77
Bogo-Indian Defence 89
King’s Indian Defence 93
Grünfeld Defence 121
Benoni and Benko 140
Other 1 d4 Ìf6 Openings 159
Dutch Defence 174
Other 1 d4 Openings 185

Flank Openings 198

Symmetrical English 199
Reversed Sicilian 222
1 c4 Ìf6 and Other English Lines 233
Réti Opening 248
Other Flank Openings 261

1 e4 269
Ruy Lopez 272
Italian Game 301
4 F UNDAMENTAL
UNDAMENTAL C 
 HESS  OPENINGS 

Scotch Opening 312

Four Knights Game 318
Petroff Defence 322
King’s Gambit 328
Other 1 e4 e5 Openings 337
French Defence 347
Caro-Kann Defence 375
Sicilian Defence 389
Alekhine Defence 447
Pirc Defence 453
Other 1 e4 Openings 461

Index of Named Opening Lines 469

Index of Variations 472
 S 
 LAV AND S 
 EMI -S 
-S 
 LAV 

Slav and Semi-Slav

1 d4 d5 Queen’s Gambit Declined) or he must be pre-

2 c4 c6 (D) pared
par ed to ris
riskk som
somee fai
fairly
rly sha
sharp
rp var
variat
iation
ionss whe
where
re
he may have to sacrifice a pawn.
The most radical way of eliminating ...dxc4
rslwkvnt is   3 cxd5, the   Exchange Variation, yet the
W  zp+ zpzp main lines of the Slav are to be reached with
either 3 Ìf3 or 3 Ìc3. These two ‘natural de-
 +p+ + + veloping moves’ will often transpose, but of 
+ +p+ + course there are a few important differences.

+PZ + + Exchange Variation

+ + + +
3 c x d5
cx cxd5 (D)
PZ +PZPZ
TNVQMLSR rslwkvnt
W  zp+ zpzp
Though not as old as the Queen’s Gambit
Declined, the Slav has an excellent record of   + + + +
service and is considered a classical opening. It + +p+ +
first became popular when it was extensively
tested in the World Championship matches be- + Z + +
tween Alekhine and Euwe in 1935 and 1937, + + + +
with
wi th bo
both
th pl
play
ayer
erss ad
adop
opti
ting
ng it in tu
turn
rn.. Si
Sinc
ncee th
then
en
it has always remained one of the most impor- PZ +PZPZ
tant 1 d4 openings with new variations being TNVQMLSR
developed and refined all the time.
As in the Queen’s Gambit Declined Black
main
ma inta
tain
inss a fi
firm
rm gr
grip
ip on d5
d5,, bu
butt th
thee di
diff
ffer
eren
encece is One of the great tragedies of the Slav Ex-
an important one: he keeps the c8-h3 diagonal change Variation
Variation is that its
it s reputation has been
open for his queen’s bishop where it can be ag- soiled in the past by the fact that is has been the
gressively developed
developed to f5 or g4. Another point most popular line for pre-arranged draws in
of 2...c6 is that now the threat of taking on c4 tournament games.
looms much larger over White’s position than Countless games have been ‘played’ along
afte
af terr 2.
2...
..e6sin
e6sinceacea bl
blac
ackk pa
pawnon
wnon c4 ca cann no
now w be thelinesof4Ìc3Ìc65Ìf3Ìf66Íf4Íf57
immediately protected by a pawn on b5 (...b5) e3 e6 8 Íd3 Íxd3 9 Ëxd3 Íd6 10 Íxd6
which will itself be covered in advance by the Ëxd6 11 0-0 0-0, followed by a random num-
pawn on c6. In fact 2...c6 forces White to take a ber of uninteresting moves and a draw before
fundamental decision: in comparison with 2...e6 move twenty.
he wi
willll ei
eith
ther
er ha
have
ve to be momore re re
reti
tice
cent
nt in hi
hiss na
nat-
t- And yet the exchange on d5 is a perfectly le-
ural development (moves like Ìf3, Ìc3 and gitimate and highly serious way of playing, a
Íf4 or Íg5 are less self-evident than in the strategy that has been successfully employed
28 F UNDAMENTAL
UNDAMENTAL C 
 HESS  OPENINGS 

by great champions like Botvinnik, Portisch

and Kasparov! It is based on the assumption r+lwkv t
thatt it is pre
tha precis
cisely
ely in a sym
symmet
metricrical
al pos
positi
ition
on tha
thatt  B zp+ zpzp
the advantage of having the first move can be
the most dangerous.  +n+ s +
4 Ìc3 Ìf6 + +p+ +
A somewhat puzzling feature of the Ex-
change Variation is that its theory does not + Z V +
really start before the position shown in the + S +N+
next diagram. In what way this position is best
reached, however, is a sadly neglected ques- PZ +PZPZ
tion. T +QML+R
So much is certain that 4...Ìf6 is played far
more often than 4...Ìc6 (with some aggressive
ideas like 5 Íf4 e5!?), yet the only move that White is threatening 9 Ìe5 and is hoping at
could possibly prove the latter wrong or at least least to saddle his opponent with a backward
inaccurate is 5 e4 and almost nothing is known c-pawn after a future Íxc6 bxc6. Black has to
abou
ab outt th
this
is!! Si
Sinc
ncee 5.
5...
..dx
dxe4
e4 6 d5 lolook
okss ra
rath
ther
er da
dan-
n- concede some ground here and 8...Ìd7 is gen-
gerous, 5...Ìf6 seems a sensible reply. This erally looked upon as the best defence. The
produces a position from the Panov Attack of  main line then runs 9 Ëa4 Îc8 10 0-0 a6 11
the Caro-Kann (see page 379) if White contin- Íxc6 Îxc6 12 Îfc1, when White has a tiny
ues 6 exd5 Ìxd5 7 Ìf3, but 6 e5 Ìe4 7 Íd3, lead in development. However, it is very diffi-
for instance, leads us into totally t otally unknown ter- cult
cu lt to tu
turn
rn th
this
is in
into
to a mo
more
re ta
tang
ngib
ible
le ad
adva
vant
ntag
age.
e.
ritory. Another long-standing main line is   6...e6,
We should also note that  4...e5!? transposes which is usually looked upon as perhaps a little
to a line of the Winawer Counter-Gambit (see bit on the passive side but very reliable. After 7
page 38) and so totally changes the strategic e3 Íd6 (7...Íe7 is also a good move) White
picture
pic ture.. Whi
White te can of cou
course
rse av
avoid
oid thi
thiss pos
possib
sibil-
il- can simply take on d6 or he can keep a little
ityy by pl
it play
ayiningg 4 Ìf
Ìf3,3, or by in
inse
sert
rtin
ingg 3 Ìf
Ìf33 ÌfÌf66 more tension in the position by playing 8 Íg3.
before exchanging on d5. This is aimed at making castling kingside less
5 Ìf 3 attractive for Black; e.g., 8...0-0 9 Íd3 fol-
At this point theory begins to be interested, lowed by 10 Ìe5 could become troublesome.
if only vaguely.  5 Ìf3  an  andd  5 Íf4  are about A solid alternative is 8...Íxg3 9 hxg3 Ëd6, de-
equally
equa lly pop
populaularr wit
withh the lat
latter
ter mov
movee bei
beingng con
con-- laying castling and stopping White from play-
sidered slightly more flexible. Still, after 5 Íf4 ing Ìe5. Indeed Black could now take the
Ìc6 6 e3 the general picture is almost the same initiative in the centre himself by playing ...e5
as after 5 Ìf3 Ìc6 6 Íf4: 6...Íf5 and 6...e6 at some point.
are the traditional moves and 6...a6 the cheeky Of far more recent origin is the attempt to
newcomer. pre-empt any possible aggression by White on
5 ... Ìc6 the queenside by playing  6...a6 (D).
6 Íf4 (D) This has an added advantage in that it retains
This is the most important point of departure the possibility of ...Íg4, which would now be
for the Sla
Slavv Exc
Exchan
hangege Vari
ariati
ation.
on. Bl
Black
ack nonoww has an excellent reply if White were to continue 7
four moves, all giving the game a decided fla- e3. The imm
immedi
ediate
ate 6..
6...Íg
.Íg44 has a bad rep
reputa
utatio
tionn
vour of its own. because of 7 Ìe5, but if White does not have
6...Íf5  is the most traditional option, pre- this reply (as after 6...a6 7 e3 Íg4), this active
servin
ser vingg the sym
symmetmetryry and cha
challellengi
ngingng Whi
White te to development of the queen’s bishop is perfectly
show what his ‘advantage’ is worth. For this playable. In fact this is why many players meet
purpose 7 e3 e6 8 Íb5 is the preferred choice. 6...a6 with 7 Îc1 instead of 7 e3. Only if Black
 S 
 LAV AND S 
 EMI -S 
-S  LAV  29

With this move we are entering main-line

r+lwkv t territory. White does not resolve the central
W  +p+ zpzp tension and boldly develops a knight without
being worried about a possible ...dxc4. It is in-
p+n+ s + teresting that this attitude was practically taken
+ +p+ + for granted for a very long period of time and
wass on
wa only
ly bro
broug
ught
ht up for dis
discu
cuss
ssio
ionn in the 19
1990s
90s,,
+ Z V + when all of a sudden  3...dxc4 came to be taken
+ S +N+ very seriously indeed. Just like the Noteboom
Variation (3...e6 4 Ìc3 dxc4; see page 13)
PZ +PZPZ Black aims for a sharp battle based on a very
T +QML+R asymmetrical pawn-formation. Similar to the
Noteboom, the main line runs 4 e3 b5 5 a4 e6 6
axb5 cxb5 7 b3 Íb4+ 8 Íd2 Íxd2+ 9 Ìbxd2
then ‘commits’ himself with 7...Íf5, is 8 e3 a5 10 bxc4 b4. Bla Blackck has ‘sadd
‘saddled’
led’ his oppo-
ventur
ven tured.
ed. In pra
practi
ctice,
ce, how
howeve
ever,r, Bla
Black
ck has exp
expe-
e- nent with a strong pawn-centre while creating
rienced few difficulties in this line. Having a two dangerous-looking passed pawns for him-
pawn on a6 has turned out to be simply quite self on the queenside. This has become ac-
useful. This ...a6 variation is especially impor- cepted theory in recent years, although a name
tant since those who play ...a6 in the standard has not yet been given to this new branch of the
Slav lines are committed to this line if White Slav.
exch
ex chan
ange
gess on d5in a li
line
ne li
like3
ke3 Ìf Ìf33 Ìf
Ìf66 4 Ìc
Ìc33 Neverthelesss the traditional move firmly re-
Nevertheles
a6 5 cxd5 cxd5. mains in place:
Equally youthful and perhaps even more 3 ... Ìf6
amazing is the bold sally 6...Ìe4. Black breaks White now has a choice of  4  4 cxd5, going for
the symmetry and intends to continue 7 e3 the Exchange Variation after all,  4 e3 , which is
Ìxc3
Ìx c3 8 bx
bxc3
c3 g6
g6.. Th
This
is va
varia
riatio
tionn co
cont
ntai
ains
ns an el
ele-
e- cautious and not bad but considered relatively
ment of risk but at least White must now really easy
easy fo
forr Bla
lack
ck af
afte
terr 4.
4...
..Íf
Íf55 (w
(whi
hile
le 4.
4...
..a6
a6 is al
also
so
fight for the initiative and it therefore seems a popular), or he may choose to ignore the threat
very suitable choice against an opponent who of taking on c4 again by playing the most natu-
had been looking forward to an easy draw. ral developing move:
4 Ìc3 (D)
3  Ì f3
3 Ìf 3 (D) rslwkv t
 B zp+ zpzp
rslwkvnt  +p+ s +
 B zp+ zpzp + +p+ +
 +p+ + + +PZ + +
+ +p+ + + S +N+
+PZ + + PZ +PZPZ
+ + +N+ T VQML+R
PZ +PZPZ
TNVQML+R Traditionally, theory of the Slav splits up at
this point into two main lines.
30 F UNDAMENTAL
UNDAMENTAL C 
 HESS  OPENINGS 

To begin with,
with , 4...dxc4, commonly called the Immediate active development of the queen’s
Slav Accepted, is viewed by many as the only bishop
bish op by me
mean
anss of 4...Íf5?! is no
nott go
good
od an
andd is
true
true wa
wayy of pl
play
ayin
ingg th
this
is op
open
enin
ing.
g. It wa
wass th
this
is lin
linee played very little because White then has 5
which first drew serious attention to the Slav cxd5 cxd5 6 Ëb3, when the desirable answer
when it was played in the 1935 and 1937 World 6...Ëb6 can be met by 7 Ìxd5.
Championship matches between Alekhine and Finally, there is  4...g6  to be taken into ac-
Euwe. Many famous grandmasters have used it count, but this variation is far less popular than
since then, most notably perhaps World World Cham- its cousin 3 Ìc3 Ìf6 4 e3 g6, the Schlechter
pion Vasily Smyslov in the 1950s. Variation (see page 39). Because White has not
4...e6  is the other ‘traditional’ move. This yet played e3, he has some aggressive options
position is often reached via other move-orders; that are unavailable to him in the Schlechter
e.g., 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 e6 3 Ìf3 d5 4 Ìc3 c6. It is proper. 5 cxd5 cxd5 6 Íf4 in particular is con-
called the Semi-Slav and it is the starting point sidered quite good for White.
for som
somee of the mos
mostt com
compli
plicat
cated
ed va
varia
riatio
tions
ns the
Queen’s Gambit complex has to offer. Slav Accepted
A li
list
st of ‘o
‘oth
ther
er mo
moveves’has
s’has to st
star
artt wi
with
th 4...a6
(D). 4 .. . dxc4 (D)

rslwkv t rslwkv t
W  +p+ zpzp W  zp+ zpzp
p+p+ s +  +p+ s +
+ +p+ + + + + +
+PZ + + +pZ + +
+ S +N+ + S +N+
PZ +PZPZ PZ +PZPZ
T VQML+R T VQML+R
This move may look rather silly at first, yet This variation has been very popular at all
it has been played by some of the world’s best levels ever
ever since its introduction in the 1930s.
players since it started to become popular in 5 a4
the late 1980s and it is closing in on the two Not a useful developing move at all, yet this
traditional main lines fast. It combines many is by fa
farr th
thee mo
most
st co
comm
mmonon re
repl
plyy to th
thee Sl
Slaav Ac
Ac--
of the characteristic traits of modern chess: it cepted. White prevents 5...b5, which is the rea-
is provocative, flexible and it is based – al- son why the alternatives  5 e4 and  5 e3 are not
though it may not look it at first sight – on often played. Despite the loss of time involved
sound positional principles. Black intends to and the obvious weakening of the queenside
meet the plausible  5 e3  with 5...b5 6 b3 and pawn-structure (Black’s
(Black’s pieces will make good
now 6...Íg4, an attractive developing move, use of the b4-square in the future) 5 a4 has al-
which when played one move earlier would ways been regarded as White’s best chance for
have been met by Ëb3, but is now perfectly an opening advantage. Not that the other two
satisfactory.. Theory of this very young varia-
satisfactory moves have not had their loyal followers:
tion is growing fast, in recent years concen- 5 e4?!  is a true gambit because Black re-
trating mainly (but by no means exclusively) mains a pawn up after 5...b5. This line has al- al-
on the logical rejoinder  5 c5
c 5. ways attracted the bold and the impatient, but
 S 
 LAV AND S 
 EMI -S 
-S  LAV  31

nobody has eve

nobody everr bee
beenn suc
succes
cessfu
sfull eno
enough
ugh to lur
luree Black has a much more provocative alterna-
the more cautious away from 5 a4. The T he crucial tive in  5...Íg4, inviting 6 Ìe5, which is a
position is reached after 5...b5 6 e5 Ìd5 7 a4 main line after 5...Íf5 as well, so this looks
e6. White has more space on the kingside and totally stupid because now the knight on e5
mayy tr
ma tryy to ut
util
iliz
izee th
thisby
isby pl
play
ayin
ingg 8 ax
axb5Ìxc
b5Ìxc33 9 attacks the black bishop and White gains a
bxc3 cxb5 10 Ìg5 Íb7 11 Ëh5 g6 12 Ëg4 or tempo.
tem po. Ho
Howeweveverr, the
there
re is ac
actua
tually
lly a ve
very
ry cle
cleve
verr
an immediate 8 Ìg5. The problem with this point to this: after 6...Íh5 7 f3 Black plays
type of approach is that although it  does offer 7...Ìfd7 8 Ìxc4 e5!, inviting White to lose a
prospects of a quick and brilliant win, it also piece by playing 9 dxe5? Ëh4+ and – more
opens the door to a most drastic defeat. importantly – creating a very complicated po-
The alternative 5 e3 is a very different cup of  sition after 9 Ìxe5 Ìxe5 10 dxe5 Ìd7. At the th e
tea. In fact this is even more cautious than 5 a4 cost of a pawn, Black has managed to develop
since White not only avoids having to play a his pieces very nicely. Still, the reputation of 
gambit but he also avoids having to weaken his 5...Íg4 is dubious at best. White has been
queenside. Here too 5...b5 is the critical reply fairly successful first with 9 Ìe4 and – more
but now White can play 6 a4 forcing 6...b4 (D) recently – with 9 e4 and 9 g3.
and thus robbing the pawn on c4 of its cover Black may also consider the non-committal
(6..
(6...a
.a66 do
does
es no
nott wo
workrk on ac
acco
coun
untt of 7 ax
axb5
b5 cx
cxb5
b5 5...Ìa6, waiting for White to declare his inten-
8 Ìxb5). tions in the centre and intending to develop his
queen’s bishop accordingly; e.g., 6 e4 Íg4.
This move also has the advantage of allowing
rslwkv t Black to answer 6 Ìe5 with 6...Ìg4 7 Ìxc4
W  z + zpzp e5!,
e5 !, wh
whic
ichh is an imp
impro rove
vedd ve
vers
rsio
ionn of the 5..
5...Í
.Íg4
g4
line. This variation has never been really popu-
 +p+ s + lar, but it is not bad and by playing it Black
+ + + + avoids an enormous amount of theory.
We now return to 5...Íf5  (D):
PzpZ + +
+ S ZN+ rs wkv t
Z + ZPZ W  zp+ zpzp
T VQML+R  +p+ s +
+ + +l+
However, White will have to withdraw his
knight from c3 and redevelop this piece, which P+pZ + +
means that he can put very little immediate + S +N+
pressure on his opponent’s position. 7 Ìa2 e6
leaves the knight awkwardly stranded on a2 Z +PZPZ
while after 7 Ìb1 Ía6 White will have to in- T VQML+R
vest additional time and effort in getting his
pawn back. Black will be able to develop his
pieces quite comfortably in both these lines. Starting from this position many thousands
Nevertheless this line may be perfectly suitable of games have been played, leaving behind
for those wishing to reduce the element of risk layer after layer of theory. This never-ending
to a minimum. process of improving, going deeper, refining
5 ... Íf5 and sometimes changing track abruptly, is
This simple developing move has always likely to continue as long as chess will be
been by far the most popular choice. played.