The French Defense

The French Defense is characterized by the opening moves 1. e4, e6.  The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, though it can result in a somewhat cramped game for Black in the early stages. Black often gains counterattacking possibilities on the queenside while White tends to concentrate on the kingside.

Deceptive Aggression

One of the most interesting facets of a great master's art is his knack of demolishing positions which seem overwhelming.  In the following game, Black must have the keenest of insight to convince himself that White's imposing-looking position was really hollow.

WHITEHEAD vs. MAROCZY
London, 1923

1. e4, e6
2. d4, d5
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. e5, N6d7

Black will try to undermine White's powerful-looking Pawn center with ....c5 and .....f6.  White will support his pawn center with c3 and f4.  This explains his next move, which is a preparation for f4 and c3.

5. N3e2, c5
6. c3, Nc6
7. f4, Qb6
8. Nf3, f6!
9. g3 .....

White hopes to play Bg2 but never quite got to it. White's support of his center gets his pieces entangled; Black's attack on the center opens up lines for him.

9. ...... cxd4
10. cxd4, fxe5
11. fxe5, Bb4+

The best reply to this is 12. Nc3. White's reply leads to quick trouble.

12. Kf2?, 0-0

Interesting enough this matter-of-fact move threatens .....Nxe5 as both White's Queen Pawn and King Knight are pinned.

13. Be3 .....

 13. ..... N7xe5

The unexpected start of a dynamic breakthrough.

14. dxe5, Rxf3
15. Kxf3, Nxe5

Leaving White very little choice, for on 16. Kf2 the reply 16. .....Ng4+ is deadly.  For example: 17. Kf3 Qxe3+; 18. Kxg4 e5+ with mate next move.

16. Kf4, Qd6 !

Conclusive, but an attractive alternative line was 16. .....g5+! and if 17. Kxe5 Bd6, 18. Kf6 Qd8 mate!

17. Bh3 .....

A pretty alternative was 17. Bd4 Qf8+, 18. Ke3 Qf3 mate.

17. .....Bd7

And here 17. .....Qf8 also does the trick.

18. Bd4, Rf8+

White resigns, just in time to avoid 19. Kg5 Qe7+, 20. Kh5 Be8 mate.

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The Romantic Era of Chess

Most scholars believe that the Romantic Era began in 1798 and ended with the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837, and the beginning of the Victorian Period.  The Romantic movement which was so influential, also left its mark on chess.  The games of this period are full of forceful attacks and slashing sacrifices.  The following game is one of the masterpieces of the period.

ANDERSSEN vs. LANGE
Breslau, 1859
Ruy Lopez Opening

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, Nd4
4. Nxd4, exd4
5. Bc4? .....

Waste of time.  Simply 5. 0-0 Nf6, 6. e5 was in order.

5. ..... Nf6
6. e5, d5!

A formidable counter. On 7. exf6 dxc4 Black has a fine game.

7. Bb3 .....

Now the Bishop is buried alive, whereas the Black Knight performs great deeds.

7. ..... Bg4!
8. f3, Ne4!
9. 0-0 .....

On 9. fxg4 Qh4+, 10. Ke2 Qf2+, 11. Kd3 Nc5 mate or 10. g3 Nxg3, 11. hxg3 Qxh1 with a winning attack for Black.

9. ..... d3!
10. fxg4, Bc5+
11. Kh1, Ng3+
12. hxg3, Qg5

Black threatens Qh6 mate.

13. Rf5, h5!

On 14. Rxg5 hxg4, 15. Rh5 Rxh5 mate.

14. gxh5, Qxf5

With the piquant threat 15......Qf1, 16. Qxf1 Rxh5 mate.

15. g4, Rxh5+
16. gxh5, Qe4

Threatens ...Qh4 mate.

17. Qf3, Qh4+!
18. Qh3, Qe1+
White resigns.

Black has a forced mate: 19 Kh2 Bg1+!, 20. Kh1 Bf2+, 21. Kh2 Qg1 mate.

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Queen Sacrifice

In a chess blog full of Queen sacrifices, the Queen sacrifice in the following game is truly remarkable.  In fact, the whole game is off the beaten track.

FOX vs. GOLMAYO
Antwerp, 1901
Ruy Lopez Opening, Berlin Defense Rio Gambit Accepted

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, Nf6
4. 0-0, Nxe4

The old Berlin Defense, rarely seen nowadays.

5. Re1 ....

The alternative 5. d4 is more likely to create difficulty for Black.

5. .... Nd6
6. Nxe5, Be7

Of course not 6. .... Nxb5, 7. Nxc6 dis ch winning Black's Queen.

7. Bf1, 0-0
8. d4, Nf5
9. c3, d5

Here Black has an easier game with 9. .....Nxe5, 10. dxe5 d6.

10. Qd3, Re8
11. f4, Nd6
12. Re3, Na5 ?

Feeble.  Much better was 12.....Bf5 then Be4.

13. Nd2, Nf5 ?
14. Rh3, Nh4 ?

Instead of effectively centralizing his Queen Bishop, Black has badly posted his Knights.

15. g4, Ng6
16. Rh5 ......

White intends to increase pressure with Qh3, but Black's next move offers a stunning inspiration.

16. .... Nc6

17. N2c4 ! ......

One of the deepest surprise moves ever played. Had Black dreamed of what was coming, he would have tried 17. .... Ncxe5.

17. .....dxc4

18. Qxg6 !! .....

The expendable Queen.  After 18. ....fxg6 there follows 19. Bxc4+ Kf8, 20. Nxg6+ hxg6, 21. Rh8 mate.

18. ... hxg6

19. Nxg6!, fxg6

20. Bxc4, Resigns

Black cannot stop mate.  Truly an unconventional game.

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The Value of Surprise

In chess as in war, an opponent taken by surprise is half defeated. The following game emphasizes the case, giving us the insidious notion that third-rate surprise moves are "better" than first-rate logical moves. This cynical concept adds to the charm of chess.

RICHTER vs. CORTLEVER
Munich, 1941
Ruy Lopez Opening

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, a6
4. Ba4, Nf6
5. 0-0, Nxe4
6. d4, b5

So far, so good. Everything has proceeded along well-trodden paths.

7. d5!? .....

But this comes as a complete surprise (instead of the conventional 7. Bb3), played to rattle Black.

7. .... Ne7
8. Re1, Nc5?

The Knight moves are wasting too much time. With 8. ...f5 or even 8. ...bxa4 Black would have had a safe game.

9. Nxe5! ....

Black cannot capture White's Bishop because of the tricky continuation 10. Qf3! (threatens mate) f6, 11. Qh5+ g6, 12. Nxg6 hxg6, 13. Qxg6 mate.

9. ... d6

The obnoxious Knight is driven away, only to go to an even more troublesome spot.

10. Nc6, Qd7

The Knight has become a "rusty nail in the knee".

11. Bg5! ...

The terrible pin is reinforced. If Black tries 11....f6, 12. Bxf6 gxf6, 13. Qh5 mate.

11. .... Qg4
12. Qxg4, Bxg4
13. Bxe7, Nxa4

Or 13. ...Bxe7, 14. Rxe7+ Kf8, 15. Bb3 and White is a piece to the good.

14. Bxd6, Kd7
15. Bxf8, Resigns

Black realizes that after 15. ...Rhxf8 White will continue 16. Ne5+ winning a piece. White's crafty plan of creating confusion in Black's ranks has paid off handsomely.

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Ruy Lopez Opening or Spanish Game

The Ruy Lopez opening dates from a work known as the Gottinberg Manuscript, written in Latin in 1500 by Lucena.  Ruy Lopez, a Spanish priest, later wrote about the opening in a book which was published in 1561, so the opening was named after him.

The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterized by the moves 1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nc6, 3. Bb5 ....   The Ruy Lopez opening is one of the oldest and most studied openings in the realm of chess.  So many books have been written on the subject, not to mention the thousands of articles about it found in the Internet. 

This author will not expound on the opening itself, but will emphasize on the importance of having a sound pawn structure.  "The pawns," said the great Philidor, "are the soul of the game." In the following game, a weakness in Black's pawn structure leads to the direst of consequences.

ATKINS vs. GIBSON
Southport, 1924

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, a6
4. Ba4, Nf6
5. 0-0, Nxe4

Black's last move is not recommended.  It has the possible drawback of leading to a weakness in pawn structure.

6. d4, b5
7. Bb3, d5
8. dxe5, Be6
9. c3, Be7
10. Be3, 0-0
11. N1d2, f5

After this move, Black's pawn structure is in a shaky state.  This is particularly true of the b3-g8 diagonal.

12. exf6 (e.p.), Nxf6
13. Ng5, Bf5 ?

The safer course for Black is 13. .... Qd7.

14. N2e4 !! .....

This surprise move underline's Black's troubles on the weakened diagonal.  Observe that the d5 pawn is pinned.

14. ..... Nxe4

Black must lose some material.  For example, if he plays 14. ....Bxe4 White replies 15. Nxe4 and Black's d5 pawn must go.  In that case, the reply to 15. ....Nxe4 would be 16. Bxd5+ Kh8, 17. Bxc6 and White wins at least the Exchange.

15. Qxd5 ....

To this Black's relatively best reply is 15. ....Qxd5, 16. Bxd5 Kh8 but after 17. Nxe4 White would have achieved his objective: winning the weakened d5 pawn.  Avoiding this, Black falls into something much worse.

15. .... Kh8 ?
16. Qg8+!!, Rxg8
17. Nf7 mate !

One must admit the single-mindedness with which White exploited the weakness in Black's pawn structure.

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The Four Knights' Game

The Four Knights' Game, as the name suggests, is characterized by the early deployment of knights on both sides of the board. Here, we have a game that also emphasizes the importance of having two bishops working side by side against the enemy King. Few forces in chess are more powerful than two smoothly coordinating Bishops.

Some players think that a Bishop is just equivalent to a Knight. Maybe. But two Bishops are much more powerful than two Knights working in tandem. Here is a game that illustrates that principle.

BELSITZMANN vs. RUBINSTEIN
Warsaw, 1917

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. Bb5, Nd4!

In the event of 5. Nxe5 in reply to his last move, Black would continue 5. ......Qe7, 6. f4 Nxb5, 7. Nxb5 d6 with a good game.

5. Bc4, Bc5
6. Nxe5, Qe7!

A tricky move. If White plays 7. Bxf7 he will come out with a piece down after 7. .....Kd8. And on 7. Nxf7 d5!, 8. Nxh8 dxc4 Black will eventually confiscate the wayward Knight.

7. Nd3 ? .....

White condemns the Knight to uselessness and also blocks his Queen Pawn, and consequently the development of his Queen Bishop. Surely 7. Nf3 was in order.

7. .....d5!

After 8. Nxc5 dxc4! White's advanced Knight would be in a bad way.

8. Nxd5, Qxe4+
9. Ne3, Bd6
10. 0-0, b5!

In return for his sacrificed Pawn Black is achieving a magnificent development. The energetic text move prepares for .... Bb7.

11. Bb3, Bb7
12. Ne1, Qh4!

By threatening mate at h2 Black forces a weakening of White's kingside pawn structure. This enhances the long-range striking power of the Black Bishops.

13. g3, Qh3
14. c3 ......

14. ...... h5!

The coming devastation at h file must be decisive.

15. cxd4, h4!

Black threatens hxg3 with immediate disaster for White. White can try to avoid this by putting up a defense along the second rank. but even this is doomed to failure. For example: 16. f3 hxg3, 17. Qe2 gxh2, 18. Kh1 Nh5!,  19. Nf5+ Kf8, 20. Rf2 Re8,  21. Qf1 Rxe1, 22. Qxe1 Qxf3!, 23. Rxf3 Bxf3 mate.

16. Qe2, Qxh2+

White resigns, for after 17. Kxh2 hxg3 dbl ch, 18. Kg1 Rh1 mate. Note the artful way in which Black combined the power of both Bishops to control the board diagonals.

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The Scotch Gambit

The Scotch Game or Scotch Gambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nc6, 3. d4 .....  The opening received its name from a correspondence match in 1824 between Edinburgh and London. Popular in the 19th century, the Scotch had lost favor among top players because it was thought to release the central tension too early and allow Black to equalize without difficulty. More recently the Scotch has regained some popularity and it has been used by grandmasters Kasparov and Timman as a surprise weapon to avoid the well-analyzed Ruy Lopez. 

White aims to dominate the center by exchanging his d-pawn for Black's e-pawn. Black usually plays 3...exd4, as he has no good way to maintain his pawn on e5 (this same position can be reached by transposition from the Centre Game 1.e4 e5, 2.d4 exd4, 3.Nf3 Nc6). After 3...d6, White is better after 4.dxe5 dxe5, 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8, 6.Bc4, or he may simply play 4.Bb5, when 4...exd4 5.Nxd4 Bd7 transposes to the Steinitz Defense to the Ruy Lopez.

Wilhem Steinitz, famous as the man who elaborated the idea of playing for "small advantages", was so brilliant a player in his youth that he was dubbed the :Austrian Morphy.  Here is one of his games.

REINER vs. STEINITZ
Vienna, 1860

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. d4, exd4
4. Bc4, Bc5
5. 0-0, d6
6. c3, Bg4!

Stronger than 6. .... dxc3, which gives White a good initiative after 7. Nxc3 in return for the sacrificed pawn.

7. Qb3, Bxf3

Black does not fear the coming complications.

8. Bxf7+, Kf8
9. Bxg8, Rxg8
10. gxf3, g5!

Black hopes for an attack on the castled King.

11. Qe6, Ne5
12. Qf5+, Kg7
13. Kh1 .....

Here, 13. Bxg5 is a mistake: 13. .....Kh8; 14. h4 h6 and the Bishop is lost.

13. .... Kh8
14. Rg1, g4!

Black reckons on 15. fxg4 Qh4 with a powerful initiative for his aggressively posted pieces.

15. f4, Nf3
16. Rxg4 ......

Or 16. Rg2 Ne1, 17. Rg1 Nc2 and Black wins.

16. .... Qh4!

An unpleasant surprise. If 17. Rxh4 Rg1 mate.

17. Rg2, Qxh2
18. Rxh2, Rg1 mate.

A dashing win by the Austrian Morphy.  White's queenside pieces are still on their home squares -- typical of such games.

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