Alapin French - refuted ?

I have always been doubtful on the Alapin French 1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Be3 (diagram) despite Tim Sawyer's excellent book on it that appeared in 1995.

The reason for these doubts is the line 3...dxe4 4.Nd2 Nf6 5.f3 Nd5.
Black harrasses the white bishop, white has nothing else than defending it with the queen : 6.Qe2 (diagram)

Let's look at the black replies :

a/ 6...Nxe3 7.Qxe3
...a1/ 7...c5 8.dxc5 (=)
...a2/ 7...Be7 8.fxe4 (=)
...a3/ 7...Bd6 8.fxe4 (=)
...a4/ 7...exf3 8.Ngxf3 (=)
...a5/ 7...Nc6 8.c3 (=)

...a5/ 7...Nbd7 8.fxe4 (=)

b/ 6...Nc6 7.c3
...b1/ 7...exf3 8.Ngxf3 (=+)

...b2/ 7...Qh4 8.Bf2 (=+)

c/ 6...c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.c3 (=+)

So it seems that black gets the better game in the majority of lines. Maybe the quiter 5.c3 is better, but that is another story.

Refused, but not refuted

A few weeks ago, I played an opponent who was well aware of my Blackmar Diemer knowledge – well in fact, I slaughtered him two years ago when he selected the Euwe defense – he got mated in the standard attack.

This time, he wisely decided to refuse the pawn that was offered to him.

Guido De Bouver - Tom De Bue

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 e3 5.Bxe3 Bf5 (diagram)

The Langeheinicke defense. No advantage can be expected for the defender.

I now choose the inferior 6.Bd3 and the game quickly ended in a draw.

But what about the immediate 6.g4 Bg6 7.Nge2 (diagram)

a/ 7...e6 8.h4

...a1/ 8...h5 9.Nf4 (+=)

...a2/ 8...h6 9.Nf4 (+=)

b/ 7...Nd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Nf4 (+=)

c/ 7...h6 8.h4 (+=)

d/ 7...h5 8.Nf4 (+)

e/ 7...c6 8.h4 (+=)

f/ 7...Nbd7 8.h4 (+=)

g/ 7...Nc6 8.Nf4 (diagram)

...g1/ 8...Nb4 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Qd2 (=)

...g2/ 8...e6 9.h4 (+=)

...g3/ 8...e5 9.dxe5 (+=)

So it is clear that the Langeheinicke defense wont bring any advantage to the defender - but we all knew that, didn't we ?

Grabbing it all

Last sunday, my opponent tried to eat all the pawns that were offered to him – but nearly choked of indigestion.

Guido De Bouver . Marc Moors
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.g4 Qxd4 9.Be3 Qd7 (diagram)
A rather strange retreat. With the pawn on c6, d7 seemed liked the perfect spot for the knight.

10.Rd1

Not the strongest move. 10.Bd3 followed by queenside castling is stronger.

10…Qc7 11.g5 Nd5

11…Nfd7 also seems possible.

12.Rxd5 ?! (diagram)

I was throwing it all in here. 12.Nxd5 was certainly better and leads to an equal position

 12…cxd5 13.Nxd5 Qd6 ??

Leads to disaster, 13…Qd7 was the only way for black to take the advantage.

14.Bb5+

Unfortunately, I missed the tactical shot with 14.Nb6 axb6 15.Qxb7 with a clear white advantage and the game ended in a draw.

But let’s return to white’s best continuation after 9…Qd7, 10.Bd3 (diagram)

a/ 10…e6 11.000

…a1/ 11…Be7 12.Rhf1 (+=)

…a2/ 11…Bd6 12.g5 Nd5 13.Bd4 (=)

…a3/ 11…Bb4 12.Bh6 (=)

…a4/ 11…Nd5 12.Bd4 (=)

b/ 10...Nd5 11.000

...b1/ 11...e6 12.Bd4 (=)

...b2/ 11...Nxc3 12.Bc4 (+=)

...b3/ 11...Nxe3 12.Bf5 (+=)

c/ 10...h6 11.000 e6 12.Ne4 (=)

So we see black has to be carefull and certainly cannot force an advantage, despite being two pawns up.

At home with Jack Sparrow

The Blackmar Diemer was compared to pirate Jack Sparrow by Rick Kennedy some time ago. Now I decided to check out that comparison myself and spent two weeks of holiday in Dominica - a fantastic island in the caribbean.

So if you didnt receive your regular update on the Blackma Diemer - it's because I have been drinking too much rum on this great island - and guess what - yes I know now what it feels to be a pirate.

Latest on the Paleface Pirc

Last blog covered the poosition after 1.d4 Nf6 2.f3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 00 6.Nc3 c6 7.000 b5 8.g4 b4. We learned that white is able to hold, but black has the better game after the daring 9.Na4.

In the actual game, I played 9.Nb1 but it seems black gets a nice lead after 9...Qa5 10.a3 c5.

That brings us to white's last option 9.Nce2 (diagram). White denies black of an immediate target and increases the pressure on black's king side as the knight can now quickly move to g3 or f4 to support the advance of the g and h pawns.

Black has a large range of replies, but none seems to provide an advantage.

a/ 9...Qa5 10.Kb1 (diagram)

...a1/ 10...c5 11.h4 (=)
...a2/ 10...Rd8 11.Nc1 (+=)

...a3/ 10...Be6 11.Nc1 (+=)
...a4/ 10...Bd7 11.Nc1 (+=)

...a5/ 10...Bb7 11.h4 (+=)

...a6/ 10...Ba6 11.h4 (=)

...a7/ 10...Na6 11.g5 (+=)

...a8/ 10...Ba6 11.h4 (=)

...a9/ 10...Nbd7 11.g5 (=)

...a0/ 10...Nfd7 11.h4 (+=)

...aA/ 10...Ne8 11.h4 (+=)

...aB/ 10...d5 11.e5 (+=)

...aC/ 10...h5 11.gxh5 (+=)

...aD/ 10...a6 11.Nc1 (+=)

b/ 9...Qb6 10.Nf4 (+=)

c/ 9...Qc7 10.Nf4 (+=)

d/ 9...a5 10.h4 (diagram)

...d1/ 10...a4 11.h5 ( more prudent than 11.Qxb4 )
......d1a/ 11...b3 12.cxb3 axb3 13.a3 (+=)
......d1b/ 11...Qa5 12.Nf4 (+=)
...d2/ 10...h5 11.Nf4 hxg4 12.h5 (+=)
...d3/ 10...Qb6 11.h5 (+=)
...d4/ 10...Ba6 11.Bh6 (+=)

e/ 9...Ba6 10.h4 ( again more prudent than 11.Qxb4 )
...e1/ 10...Qa5 11.h5 !! Qxa2 12.Qxb4 (=)
...e2/ 10...h5 11.Ng3 (+=)
...e3/ 10...Nd7 11.h5 (+=)

f/ 9...d5 10.e5 (+=)

g/ 9...c5 10.dxc5 Qa5 11.g5
...g1/ 11...Ne8 12.Kb1 (=)
...g2/ 11...Nfd7 12.cxd6 Qxa2 13.Qxb4 (+=)
...g3/ 11...Nh5 12.Kb1 (=)

h/ 9...h5 10.gxh5 Nxh5 11.Ng3 ( safer than 11.Qxb4 )
...h1/ 11...Nf6 12.h4 (+=)
...h2/ 11...Qa5 12.Kb1 (+=)
...h3/ 11...Nxg3 12.hxg3 (+)

So we see that white gets great attacking lines after 9.Nce2. Black is able to equalize in some lines - but hey, that's life !

Abby Marchall on chesscafe on the Blackmar Diemer

I am so glad that Abby Marshall discusses the Blackmar Diemer gambit on her blog on chesscafe.com. She really makes my day !

The line she suggests as a defense to the Blackmar Diemer is the Bogoljubow 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 g6 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.00 00 8.Qe1 Nc6 9.Qh4 and now 9...Bf5 (diagram).

Now we all know that the Bogoljubow is a difficult animal, not only for the attacker, but also for the defender. I covered an earlier blog on this "For those that do not believe" where I suggested 10.h3. Abby only briefly discusses 10.h3 and focuses on 10.Kh1. I agree with her that white gets a difficult game after 10.Kh1, but I do not agree with her in her comment on 10.Kh1 :

"...10.h3 is a useful move, preparing g4, while preventing any black pieces from going to g4. 10...Nb4 The first we get to see of ...Nb4 in action. 11.g4 (11.Bh6 is less reckless and better. 11...Qd6 taking on c2 is possible, though why not make White think about it on every move? Black is already up a pawn.) 11...Bxc2 12.Be3 Bd3 13.Bxd3 Nxd3 14.Ng5 h6 White's aggression is rebuked and Black is up another pawn...."

Hmm, let's look at 10.h3 Nb4 (diagram) ( in my earlier blog, I only discussed 10...Bxc2 11.Rf2 and proved that white is doing very well )

I agree with her that 11.g4 is reckless and that 11.Bh6 is better. Let's now take a look at 11...Qd6 that she suggests. After some assistance of Houdini, it seems 12.Rad1 (diagram) fully equalizes and perhaps even more !!!

a/ 12...Nxc2 13.Rd2 (+=)

b/ 12...Bxc2 13.Ng5 (+=)

c/ 12...Bxh6 13.Qxh6 (+)

d/ 12...Nbd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Ng5 (+=)

e/ 12...Nfd5 13.Ng5 (+)

f/ 12...Nh5 13.Bxg7
...f1/ 13...Kxg7 14.g4 (+=)
...f2/ 13...Nxg7 14.Ne4 (+)

g/ 12...Nc6 13.Ng5 (+=)

h/ 12...e6 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.g4 (+=)

i/ 12...c5 13.Be3 (+=)

j/ 12...b5 13.Nxb5 (+=)

k/ 12...Rad8 13.Ng5
...k1/ 13...Qb6 14.Na4 Qc6 15.Bb3 (=)
...k2/ 13...Nxc2 14.Nd5 Nh5 15.Rxf5 gxf5 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nxe7 (=)


So Abby, welcome to reality !! The line you suggested as winning for black is certainly no win for black. On the contrary, it is black who is struggling to stay in the game as white is winning in all but one lines. If black can find all these moves behind the board - he has a chance of levelling the game against a well prepared attacker !

The Paleface Pirc - Both Ends Burning.

I got the title from an old Roxy Music song, but actually, the title should be "Both Sides Burning" as both players hurried to attack the king. Who will be first ? And can the slowest still keep up ?

Yesterday I played in the Belgian teamcompetiotion, and my opponent didn't dare to move into a Blackmar Diemer. Instead he moved into a Pirc, but the positions didn't get any simpler, with both players attacking on opposite sides.

Guido De Bouver - Kristian Pade Frederiksen

1.d4 Nf6 2.f3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2

As in the game Anand - Gurevich, that is covered in an earlier blog

5...00 6.Nc3 c6 7.000 b5 8.g4 b4 (diagram)

Black attacks on the queenside, and white will throw everything on the kingside. But who will be first ? It seems black is ahead, as he is chasing the knight already, but that not really the case. Anyway, where should the white knight go ? It is really a crucial decision for the remainder of the game. I played 9.Nb1, but would 9.Na4 not be better ? ( see short analysis below ).

9.Nb1 a5

9...Qa5 10.a3 seems better for black.

10.h4 h5 (diagram)

Stopping the lightning is not easy, as my favourite Blackmar Diemer author used to say in his Keybook.

11.e5 dxe5 12.dxe5 Qxd2 13.Bxd2 Nd5 14.gxh5 Bxe5 (diagram)

A terribly complicated postition occured in the game, with white having two rooks at the enemy kings. Unfortunately, I blundered away a rook in a winning position and had to content with a draw.

But after 8...b4 (diagram above), what should white play ? 9.Nb1, 9.Ne2 or 9.Na4 ? Today, let's briefly look at the lines after 9.Na4 (diagram)

The most challenging reply is clearly 9...Qa5. Let's look briefly at the other lines.

a/ 9..a5 10.g5
...a1/ 10...Nh5 11.Bc4 (=)
...a2/ 10...Nfd7 11.h4 (+=)
...a3/ 10...Ne8 11.h4 (+=)

b/ 9...c5 10.dxc5
...b1/ 10...Nc6 11.cxd6 (+=)
...b2/ 10...Qa5 11.b3 (+=)

c/ 9...Na6 10.b3

...c1/ 10...Qa5 (transposing to xxx)

...c2/ 10...Qc7 11.h4 h5 12.Bh6 (=)

...c3/ 10...h5 11.gxh5 Nxh5 12.Ne2 (+=)

d/ 9...Nbd7 10.Qxb4 Rb8 11.Qd2 (+=)

So refraining from 9...Qa5 does not bring any advantage for black. let's look now at the main line (diagram)

e/ 9...Qa5 10.b3

...e1/ 10...Bd7 11.a3
......e1a/ 11...c5 12.axb4
.........e1a1/ 12...cxb4 13.Kb2 (=)
.........e1a2/ 12...Qxb4 13.Qxb4 cxb4 14.Nb2 (=)

......e1b/ 11...Na6 12.g5

.........e1b1/ 12...Nh5 13.Qe2 (=)

.........e1b2/ 12...Ne8 13.h4 (=)
...e2/ 10...Nfd7 11.h4
......e2a/ 11...Nb6 12.h5 Nxa4 13.bxa4 (=)
......e2b/ 11...c5 12.h5 cxd4 13.Bh6 (+=)

......e2c/ 11...Ba6 12.h5 (+=)

......e2d/ 11...h5 12.Bg5 (+=)

......e2e/ 11...Rd8 12.h5 (+=)

...e3/ 10...Nbd7 11.g5

......e3a/ 11...Nh5 12.Kb1 (=)
......e3b/ 11...Ne8 12.h4 (=)

...e4/ 10...Na6 11.h4 (=)

So it seems white is just able to hold after the critical 9.Na4 Qa5 10.b3, white might even be able to get an attack himself in some lines, but black surely has the attack.

So let's put 9.Na4 to bed quickly. In next post, I will look into 9.Nce2 in more detail. Stay tuned !