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.