Queen's Gambit Declined

HARRY N. PILLSBURY vs. SEYMON WINAWER
Budapest, 1896d3

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, c6
4. e3, Nf6
5. Nf3, Nbd7
6. Bd3, Bd6
7. 0-0, 0-0
8. e4, dxe4
9. Nxe4, Nxe4
10. Bxe4, Nf6
11. Bc2, h6
12. Be3, Re8
13. Qd3, Qc7
14. c5, Bf8
15. Ne5, Bxc5

Black hopes to get an extra pawn, but White's reply surprises him.

16. Bxh6, Bxd4

If 16.....gxh6, then White attacks with Qg3+ and threatens to capture the Queen with Ng6+.

17. Qxd4, gxh6
18. Qf4!! ....

Still threatening the Black Queen ....

18. ... Nd5
19. Qxh6!! ...

Black cannot capture the Knight because of the threat Bh7+.

19. ... f6
20. f4!! ....

White maintains the threat.

20. ... Re7
21. Ng6!! ...

21. .... Re8

If 21....Rh7, then White mates with 22. Qf8.

If 21....Rg7, then 22. Qh8+ Kf7, 23. Qf8 mate.

22. Qh8+, Kf7
23. Qh7 mate.



Superb play by Harry Pillsbury !

To view the game in PGN format, you may visit  Pillsbury vs. Winawer.

Queen's Gambit Declined, Albin Countergambit - Alapin Variation

HEINRICH WAGNER vs. WILHELM SCHOENMANN
Correspondence, 1919

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e5

The Albin Countergambit.   Black offers the e5 pawn as a counter-gambit to White's c4 pawn.

3. dxe5, d4
4. Nf3, Nc6
5. Nbd2 ....

The Alapin Variation.

5. .... f6
6. e6, Bxe6
7. a3, a5
8. b3, f5
9. Bb2, Bc5
10. Qc2, Qe7
11. g3, 0-0-0
12. Qd3, Nh6
13. Bg2, Ng4
14. 0-0, h5
15. b4, axb4
16. axb4, Nxb4
17. Qb3, Nc6
18. Qb5, Bb6
19. Bxd4, Bxd4
20. Nxd4, Rxd4
21. Qxb7+!! ....

Rather than waste time, White decides to attack right away.

21. .... Kxb7
22. Rfb1+, Kc8
23. Bxc6, Qa3

Black sacrifices his Queen to let the King escape.  If 24. Rxa3 Kd8, 25. Ra8+ Ke7 and the King escapes.  But White, knowing Black's delaying tactics, decides to accelerate his game plan.

24. Rb8+, Kxb8
25. Rxa3, Resigns

Black cannot prevent White's Rook from going to a8 and mate.

Queen's Gambit Declined, Albin Countergambit - Fianchetto Variation

JOHN VAN DER WIEL vs. SERGEI TIVIAKOV
Staunton CC Albin Theme Invitational, 2001

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e5

The Albin Countergambit.

3. dxc5, d4
4. Nf3 ....

If 4. e3 Bb4+, 5. Bd2 dxe3!!, and the position would take us to a popular chess opening trick called the Lasker's Trap.

4. .... Nc6
5. g3, Bg4
6. Bg2, Qd7

Black should not be in haste to take the e5 pawn.  If 6....Bxf3, 7. Bxf3 Nxe5, 8. Bxb7 and White gets compensation for the pawn.

7. 0-0, 0-0-0
8. Nbd2, h5
9. b4 ....

Designed to open up the b-file.  But Black takes the bait ....

9. .... Nxb4
10. a3, Na6
11. Nb3, d3
12. Be3, Ne7
13. Na5, b6
14. e6, Qd6

If 14....Qxe6, then 15. exd3 which solves the pawn problem.

If 14....fxe6, then 15. Ne5 threatening the Queen and the g4 Bishop.

15. Ng5!! ....

Threatening both b7 and f7 squares.  Black could not parry the simultaneous threats.

15. .... dxe2
16. Qa4, exf1=Q
17. Rxf1, fxe6

If 17...bxa5, then 18. Rb1! with good attacking possibilities.

18. Nb7, Qd3
19. Qxa6, Resigns

White threatens Nc5 check with consequent mate at b7, which cannot be prevented without loss of materials.

If 19....Re8, then 20. Nc5+ Kd8, 21. Nf7 mate.

Queen's Gambit Declined, Alapin Variation

HARRY NELSON PILLSBURY vs. MAX JUDD
Saint Louis, 1898

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, b6

The Alapin Variation of Queen's Gambit Declined.

4. Nf3, Bb7
5. Bf4, Bd6
6. Bxd6, Qxd6
7. cxd5, Bxd5
8. e4, Bb7
9. Rc1, a6

Prevents 10. Nb5 ... which would be disastrous for Black.

10. Bd3, Ne7
11. 0-0, 0-0
12. e5, Qd8
13. Bxh7+ ....

A classic attack at the opponent's flank.

13. .... Kxh7
14. Ng5+, Kh6

If 14....Kg6, Black's position would be aggravated by 15. Qg4 with a menacing pin.

15. Qd2, Kg6
16. Ne2!!, Nd5

Black's move prevents 17. Nf4+ but White has other things in mind.

17. Qd3+!!, Kxg5
 

Add caption

Black has no choice but to accept the offered Knight.  If 17....Kh6, then 18. Qh7+ Kxg5, 19. f4+ and Black would be ensnared in a mating web.

18. f4, Kh6
19. Qh3, Kg6
20. f5!!, exf5

If 20....Kg5, Black would be totally helpless against 21. Rf3 followed by 22. Rg3 mate.

21. Rxf5 ....

If 21. Qxf5+ Kh6, 22. Rf3 g6, 23. Rh3+ Kg7 and the King is safe.

The text move threatens 22. Qh5 mate.

21. .... Rh8
22. Qg4+, Kh7
23. Rxf7!, Resigns

White threatens 24. Qxg7 mate.  If Black protects the pawn, White still mates by 24. Qh5.

Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch Defense - Pillsbury Variation

MIGUEL NAJDORF vs. LAJOS PORTISCH
Varna, 1962

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. Nf3, c5
5. cxd5, Nxd5
6. e3, cxd4
7. exd4, Bb4
8. Qc2, Nc6
9. Bd3, Nxc3
10. bxc3, Nxd4

Black takes advantage of the pin on White's King.

11. Nxd4, Qxd4
12. Bb5+, Ke7

If 12....Bb7, then 13. Bxb7 Qxb7, 14. cxb4 and White is one piece up.

13. 0-0, Qxc3
14. Qe2, Bd6

Not 14....Qxa1 because of 15. Bg5! 

15. Bb2, Qa5
16. Rfd1, Rd8
17. Qh5, f6

If 17....a6, then 18. Qh4+ f6, 19. Bxf6 gxf6, 20. Qxh7+ Kf8, 21. Qh8+ Kf7, 22. Qxd8 and the position favors White.

18. Qxh7, Kf7

If 18....Qxb5, then 19. Qxg7+ Ke8, 20. Qh8+ Ke7, 21. Bxf6+ with an overwhelming attack.

19. Be2 ....

Preparing for an attack on h5.

19. .... Qg5

Black defends the g7 pawn. In the course of the game, Black has underestimated the importance of this defense.  The alternative 19.....Bf8 will not hold because of 20. Bh5+ Ke7, 21. Qg6 with a mating threat at f7.

20. Bc1, Bxh2+
21. Kxh2, Qe5+

Black also threatens the a1 Rook.

22. f4!!, Resigns

The Black Queen is driven away, and there is no stopping White in a mating attack.  If 22...Qxa1, then 23. Bh5+ Kf8, 24. Qh8+ Ke7, 25. Qxg7 mate.

Semi-Slav Defense, Meran Variation

LEVON ARONIAN vs. VISWANATHAN ANAND
Tata steel, 2013

This game is considered one of the most brilliant chess games ever played.  Vishy Anand, 2012 FIDE World Chess Champion, handled the black pieces real well.

1. d4, d5
2. c4, c6
3. Nf3, Nf6
4. Nc3, e6
5. e3, Nd7
6. Bd3, dxc4
7. Bxc4, b5
8. Bd3 ....

The Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defense, Meran Variation.

8. .... Bd6
9. 0-0, 0-0
10. Qc2, Bb7
11. a3, Rc8
12. Ng5, c5!
13. Nxh7 ....

If 13.....Bxh7, Black simply moves his King to h8.

13. .... Ng4!!
14. f4 ....

White's only hope.  Game is lost after 14. h3 Bh2+, 15. Kh1 Qh4, and Black threatens 16. Qxh3 ....

Neither can White survive after 14. g3 Qh4, 15. gxh4 Bxh2 mate.

14. .... cxd4!
15. exd4, Bc5!!

A surprise move!  Black's intention is to activate the sleeping Knight on d7 and to post his Queen on d4.

16. Be2, Nde5!

Another surprise.  Now, if 17. dxc5, Qd4+, 18. Kh1 Nf2+, 19. Rxf2 Qxf2 and Black wins the game.

If 17. fxe5 Bxd4+, 18. Kh1 Qh4 and Black threatens mate.

17. Bxg4, Bxd4+
18. Kh1, Nxg4
19. Nxf8, f5

Taking the wandering Knight would prolong the game.  If 19....Kxf8, then 20. Qh7 ....  Black's Queen is too valuable to stray away from her intended square, which is h4.   Now, if 19....Qh4, then 20. Qh7+ and the exchange of Queens would favor White.

20. Ng6, Qf6
21. h3, Qxg6
22. Qe2, Qh5

Black threatens 23....Qxh3 mate.

23. Qd3, Be3!

A fantastic cover!  White resigns since he cannot prevent the impending mate without tremendous loss of materials.

Capablanca's Queen's Gambit

JOSE CAPABLANCA vs. ALBERT BECKER
Karlsbad, 1929
Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nf3, Nd7
4. Nc3, Ngf6
5. Bf4, dxc4
6. e3, Nd5
7. Bxc4, Nxf4
8. exf4, Bd6
9. g3, Nf6
10. 0-0, 0-0
11. Qe2, b6

Black prepares to mobilize his Queen's Bishop.

12. Rfd1, Bb7
13. Rac1, a6
14. Bd3, Bb4
15. Ne4, Qd5
16. Nfg5, Ne8
17. Nxh7!!, f5

Black cannot take the Knight:  17....Kxh7, 18. Nf6+ Kh8, 19. Nxd5 and the Black Queen is taken.

18. Nhg5, Resigns.

With his 18th move, White creates avenues of attack in Bc4 and Qh5.

Sweet Mobility

In chess, more mobile pieces most often ensure victory. This happens when almost all pieces are developed and not restricted to cramped positions. This theory is illustrated in the following game.

SPIELMANN vs. FUSS
Sopron, 1934
Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4, Nf6
2. Nf3, e6
3. c4, Bb4+
4. Nd2, Ne4
5. e3, Nxd2
6. Bxd2, Bxd2
7. Qxd2, d5
8. Rc1, c6
9. Bd3, Nd7
10. 0-0, 0-0

At this point, both sides have been striving to relieve off cramped positions. White, however, has a much more free game.

11. e4! ....

White decides to open up more files to expand the control of his pieces.

11. .... dxe4
12. Bxe4, Nf6
13. Bb1, b6
14. Qf4, Bb7
15. Ne5, Qc7?

Black should have opened his Bishop's diagonal by the freeing move 15.....c5.

16. Rc3!, Nh5

17. Bxh7+!!, Kxh7

Effort by Black to turn down the Bishop would prove futile, as in 17.... Kh8, 18. Ng6+ wins the Black Queen.

18. Rh3, Kg8

A pretty situation arises after 18.....g6, 19. Nxg6 Qxf4, 20. Nxf4 in which case Black recovers his lost piece (Bishop) plus two extra pawns.

19. Rxh5, f6
20. Rh8, Resigns

Black loses the Queen after 20.....Kxh8, 21. Ng6+.

A wonderful game.

Knight Forks and (K)nightmares

Neophyte chess players are sometimes haunted by memories of knight forks.  But even grandmasters find themselves immersed in similar situations.  The game below is a fine example.

FRANK MARSHALL vs. KLINE
New York, 1913
Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. Nf3, Be7
5. Bg5, Nbd7
6. e3, 0-0
7. Rc1, b6

Black intends to follow-up with c5, but the resulting position created a weakness on white squares.

8. cxd5, exd5
9. Qa4, Bb7
10. Ba6, Bxa6
11. Qxa6, c6?

Reinfeld recommends 11....c5 as a more energetic move.

12. 0-0, Ne4
13. Bxe7, Qxe7
14. Qb7!!, Rfc8
15. Nxd5! ....

15. .... Qd6

The Knight could not be taken because of 16. Rxc8 winning a Rook.

16. Rxc6, Resigns

Black loses his Queen if 16....Qxd5, 17. Rxc8 ...  and also if the Queen takes the Rook by 16. .... Qxc6, then 17. Ne7+.

If 16....Rxc6 then 17. Qxa8+ Nf8, 18. Qxc6 Qxc6, 19. Ne7+ and this leaves White ahead in material.  However, in this variation, Black could have prolonged the game a little longer with 17....Nb8, 18. Ne7+ Qxe7, 19. Qxb8 Qf8, 20. Qb7 Re6 (not 20.....Qe8, 21. Ne5!), 21. Rc1 Re8, 22. Ne5 (with the idea of 23. Rc7) f6, 23. Qd5+ and White still wins after 23....Kh8, 24. Nf7+ Kg8, 25. Nd6+ Kh8, 26. Nxe8 Qxe8, 27. Qxe4!.

Superior Mobility

In chess sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to gain rapid development and attain an attacking position.  In the posted game, an attack ostensibly aimed at Black's queenside suddenly turns into an attack on the other wing.  The explanation:  superior mobility.

E. LASKER vs. WINKELMAN
New York, 1926

Queen's Gambit Declined

1. Nf3, Nf6
2. d4, d5
3. c4, e6
4. Bg5, Nbd7
5. e3, Be7
6. Nc3, 0-0
7. Bd3, a6

Stronger is 7....c5, allowing Black to equalize.

8. Ne5!, dxc4
9. Nxc4, b5??

This move drives White's Knight to a5 where it will make inroads to Black's position.

10. Na5!, c5
11. Nc6, Qe8
12. Qf3!! ....

Now, White threatens to win a Rook with 13. Nxe7 and 14. Qxa8.

12. .... Nb6

Protecting the Rook. If 12....Bb7, White still wins a piece by 13. Nxe7.

13. Ne4! ....

Black cannot take the c6 Knight because of 14. Nxf6 winning the Queen.

An interesting situation develops after 13....Bb7, 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7, 15. Nxf6+ gxf6, 16. Qh5 with Black losing its Queen as 16. ...f5 is the only way to avoid mate.

13. .... Nfd5

Black's position deteriorates. But 13....Nxe4, 14. Nxe7+ Kh8, 15. Bxe4 would leave White in tremendous material advantage.  At this point, saving the Rook is not a solution. For if 15....Ra7, 16. Bxh7 Rxe7 (not 16....Kxh7, 17. Qh5 mate), 17. Qh5...., White wins with a mating attack.

14. Nxe7+, Nxe7
15. Nf6+, Resigns

An elegant finish.  The subsequent moves would have been 15....gxf6, 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 (If 16....Kg7, then 17. Qxf6+), 17. Qh5+ Kg7, 18. Qh6+ Kg8, 19. Bxf6 Ng6, 20. Qg7 mate.

A Brutal Chess Attack

RAYMUND KEENE vs. ANTHONY MILES
Hastings, England 1975
Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch Variation

1. Nf3, Nf6
2. c4, c5
3. Nc3, Nc6
4. e3, e6
5. d4, d5
6. cxd5, Nxd5
7. Bd3, cxd4
8. exd4, Be7
9. 0-0, 0-0

The situation that arose is one of the classical isolated pawn positions, in which White's mobility and attacking possibilities compensate for the structural weakness.

10. Re1, Nf6
11. Bg5, Nb4?

Keene recommends 11....b6.  Black gave away too soon his plan to dominate the blockade square d5.

12. Bb1, b6
13. Ne5, Bb7
14. Re3!! ....

White prepares for attack.

14. .... g6

Black's last move prevents 15. Bxf6 Bxf6, 16. Bxh7 Kxh7, 17. Qh5+ and 18. Rh3.

15. Rg3! ....

This move may seem odd at first, but after a few moves the objective becomes evident.

15. .... Rc8

Better was 15....Nc6! 16. Bh6 Qxd4! and Black breaks White's attack by sacrificing the exchange.

16. Bh6 ....

16. .... Re8
17. a3, Nc6
18. Nxg6!, hxg6
19. Bxg6, fxg6

Raymond Keene wrote "Apart from capturing the bishop Black has two other defenses: a) 19...Bf8 20 Bc2+ Kh8 21 Bxf8 Rxf8 22 Qd2 Ng8 23 Rh3+ Kg7 24 Rh7+ (Fritz gives 24 Qf4) 24...Kf6 25 d5+-; b) 19...Bd6 20 Bxf7+ Kxf7 21 Rg7+ Kf8 22 Qf3+-. In this position Black is quite helpless, in spite of his extra material."

20. Qb1! ....

Keene commented that b1 is the best square for the queen in a mating combination, but neither 20 Qd3 Ne5 nor 20 Qc2 Ne5! 21 dxe5 Ne4 (exploiting the pin on the c-file) would be good enough for White.

20.... Ne5
21. dxe5, Ne4
22. Nxe4, Kh7

Of course not 22....Bxe4, 23. Rxg6+ Kh7, 24. Qxe4 and White wins.

23. Nf6+, Bxf6
24. Qxg6+, Kh8
25. Bg7+, Bxg7
26. Qxg7 mate.

What more could we say?  This game is considered as one of the most brutal chess attacks of all time.

Frank Marshall

Frank James Marshall was the U.S. Chess Champion from 1909-1936, and was one of the world's strongest chess players in the early part of the 20th century.

Marshall was born in New York City, and lived in Montreal, Canada from ages 8 to 19. He began playing chess at the age of 10 and by 1890 was one of the leading players in Montreal.

He won the U.S. chess championship in 1904, but did not accept the title because the then current U.S. champion, Harry Nelson Pillsbury, did not compete.

Marshall finished fifth at the extremely strong St. Petersburg tournament in 1914, behind World Champion Lasker, future World Champions Capablanca and Alekhine, and former World Championship challenger Tarrasch, but ahead of the players who did not qualify for the final: Ossip Bernstein, Rubinstein, Nimzowitsch, Blackburne, Janowski, and Gunsberg.

Marshall was best known for his great tactical skill. One aspect of this was the "Marshall swindle", where a trick would turn a lost game around. Andrew Soltis writes that, "In later years his prowess at rescuing the irretrievable took on magical proportions". Not so well known now, but appreciated in his day, was his endgame skill.

Here is one of his games:

MARSHALL vs. BURN
Paris, 1900
Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. Bg5, Be7
5. e3, 0-0
6. Nf3, b6
7. Bd3, Bb7
8. cxd5, exd5

Here 8. ..... Nxd5, leading to some simplification, would give Black an easier game.

9. Bxf6, Bxf6
10. h4, g6

The move permits White to open the h file.

11. h5 .....

This cannot be answered by 11. ..... g5 because of 12. h6! followed by 13. Qc2 winning a pawn.

11. ..... Re8
12. hxg6, hxg6
13. Qc2, Bg7

A reflex action to shield his King - but it is too late.

14. Bxg6, fxg6
15. Qxg6, Nd7
16. Ng5 .....

White has two mating threats.

16. ..... Qf6

Black parries one of the threats (17. Qf7 mate) but he is helpless against the other one.

17. Rh8, Resigns

For after 17. .....Kxh8, 18. Qh7 mate.  White has executed a dashing attack in a most attractive manner.

The Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game (1. d4), and characterized by the opening moves 1. d4 d5, 2. c4.   The Bishop's Pawn is the gambit, being offered in exchanged for control of the center.

White's aim is eventually to create a pawn center at d4 and e4, coupled with pressure on the Q-side using the QB-file. Black must either accept the gambit (Queen's Gambit Accepted), resort to a speculative counter-gambit, or protect his QP with a pawn (Queen's Gambit Declined) - if he makes an immediate developing move White gains an advantage. In most lines Black declines the pawn (although the Gambit Accepted (2...dxc4) is not unpopular), whereupon White seeks a Q-side minority attack.

CASAS vs. PLAZZINI
Buenos Aires, 1952
Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. Nf3, Be7
5. Bg5, N8d7
6. e3, 0-0
7. Qc2, c5
8. cxd5, Nxd5

The usual continuation is now 9. Bxe7 Qxe7, 10. Nxd5 exd5, 11. dxc5 Nxc5 - whereby Black has freedom of action in return for an isolated Queen Pawn which may come under pressure from White's pieces.

9. Nxd5 .....

Now it is possible for Black to transpose into the previous note with 9. .....exd5, 10. Bxe7 etc.  Instead, he varies.

9. ..... Bxg5
10. h4! .....

A successful attempt to entrap Black, who should resist sturdily with 10. .....Be7.

10. ..... Qa5+?!

11. b4!! .....

Completely unexpected by Black.  It is now too late for him to retreat his Queen, for then 12. hxg5 (threatening Qxh7 mate) leaves White a piece ahead.

11. ..... cxb4

This looks like a clever maneuver, for after 12. hxg5 Black has 12. .....b3 discovered check driving White's Queen off the critical diagonal.  Then, after 13. Qd2 or Qc3, Black can safely answer 13. .....Qxd5 and all is well.

This is as far as Black calculated.  But White saw farther ahead.

12. Qxh7+!!, Kxh7
13. hxg5+, Kg6
14. Ne7 mate

One of the greatest surprise combinations ever perpetrated on an unsuspecting opponent.

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