Black's Third Move Tutorial



1.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:141. After 1. e4 e5  2. Nf3 d6  3. d4, which is the best way to guard the king-pawn?{W:141}{A:Bb8c6}{H1:c6}{W:141a}{A:Bb8d7}{H1:d7}{W:141b};3... Nc6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:b8c6}{W:141I}Incorrect. The natural 3... Nb8-c6 is the less desirable defense in this situation. At c6 the knight is subject to an annoying pin by White's f1-bishop coming to b5 {S:f1b5}{W:141Ia}(4. Bf1-b5). By pinning the knight, White essentially removes a protector from the defense of the {N1:e5}{W:141Ib}king-pawn, so that he suddenly threatens to win a pawn by capturing twice on e5 (first with the d4-pawn, then with the f3-knight). Once the c6-knight is pinned, Black is left with only a single defender {N1:d6}{W:141Ic}(the d6-pawn). Two beats one, and White gains a pawn. Nor is this Black's only problem. White doesn't have to pin the c6-knight to derive an advantage. Instead he can exchange on e5, forcing open the d-file and trading queens favorably. After {C}{S:b5f1}{S:d4e5}{W:141Id}4. d4xe5 {S:d6e5}{W:141Ie}d6xe5 (or 4... Nc6xe5  5. Nf3xe5 d6xe5, which comes fundamentally to the same thing), White captures the opponent's queen {S:d1d8}{W:141If}(5. Qd1xd8+), presenting Black with a dilemma. He can preserve his right to castle by taking back with the c6-knight {S:c6d8}{W:141Ig}(5... Nc6xd8). But this drops the king-pawn to the knight {S:f3e5}{W:141Ih}(6. Nf3xe5). Or he can keep his pawn {F:B}{B:r1bQkbnr/ppp2ppp/2n5/4p3/4P3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNB1KB1R}{S:e8d8}{W:141Ii}(5... Ke8xd8), but this forfeits the castling privilege, with Black's king vulnerably stuck in the middle. So we see that 3... Nb8-c6 is wrong for several reasons.;3... Nd7; {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:b8d7}{W:141C}Correct. Developing the knight (3... Nb8-d7) in front of the queen works out best in this variation of Philidor's Defense (1. e2-e4 e7-e6  2. Ng1-f3 d7-d6). The point is that if White initiates an exchange of pawns on e5, Black can take back with his d-pawn, avoiding the trade of queens {S:d4e5}{W:141Ca}(4. d4xe5 {S:d6e5}{W:141Cb}d6xe5). This works because the knight on {N1:d7}{W:141Cc}d7 shields the queen from capture. But with the queen-knight on c6 instead of d7, the queen-trade cannot be avoided because White has the power to force open the d-file {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:b8c6}{W:141Cd}(3... Nb8-c6 {S:d4e5}{W:141Ce}4. d4xe5, and now White insures a favorable queen trade by either {S:d6e5}{W:141Cf}4... d6xe5 {A:Wd1d8}{N1:d8}{W:141Cg}5. Qd1xd8+ or 4... Nc6xe5  5. Nf3xe5 d6xe5 6. Qd1xd8+). Let's also examine the different effect of the light-square bishop's pin, first when the knight is on c6, then when it instead occupies d7. When the knight is on {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:b8c6}{W:141Ch}c6, the move {S:f1b5}{W:141Ci}4. Bf1-b5 is strong. It securely pins the knight to the king, and the knight can't move. But with the knight on {S:c6d7}{W:141Cj}d7, the move 4. Bf1-b5 is weak. It can be answered by the pin-breaking {S:c7c6}{W:141Ck}4... c7-c6, forcing the bishop to move again and thereby gaining time. In summary, 3... Nb8-d7 is better than 3... Nb8-c6 for at least two reasons. First it thwarts White's attempt to trade queens. Second, it enables Black to cope with the pin of the f1-bishop, if it comes to b5.}]

2.
[{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:142. After 1. e4 e5  2. Nf3 Nc6  3. d4, how should Black take White's queen-pawn?{W:142}{A:Be5d4}{H1:d4}{W:142a}{A:Bc6d4}{W:142b};3... exd4;{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:e5d4}{W:142C}Correct. In the Scotch Game (1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3. d2-d4) the capture 3... e5xd4 follows the general rule and is the right response. What rule are we talking about? The one that recommends starting a series of captures by taking with the least valuable unit and finishing the series by taking with the unit of highest value. The logic is simple. By starting a sequence of captures with the least valuable unit you safeguard yourself against oversights and mistakes. Whenever you're not sure about the correctness of the transaction you're entering upon, it's better to endanger a less valuable unit, such as a pawn, rather than to risk a more valuable piece, such as the queen. Of course this is a general principle. It shouldn't be adhered to absolutely. If your examination of a given position concludes that you should first take with the more valuable unit, please do so. In chess, specific move-by-move analysis (deduction) always takes precedence over generalized assumptive reasoning (induction). After the queen-pawn is captured (3... e5xd4), White should also "follow the rule," recapturing with the less valuable of his two possible recapturers. He should take with the knight {S:f3d4}{W:142Ca}(4. Nf3xd4), saving the queen as back-up (to answer {S:c6d4}{W:142Cb} 4... Nc6xd4 by {A:Wd1d4}{N1:d4}{W:142Cc}5. Qd1xd4). Black doesn't win material when he captures on d4 {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:e5d4}{W:142Cd}(3... e5xd4), he merely trades pawns. But he does gain something, and this is time. By taking on d4 Black puts White in the position of having to expend a tempo in order to regain the captured pawn. After White uses a turn to take back {S:f3d4}{W:142Ce}(4. Nf3xd4), the next free move is Black's to do whatever he wants or deems logical. So, by trading pawns Black obtains freedom of choice for his next move. In other words, he gains the initiative.;3... Nc6xd4; {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c6d4}{W:142I}Incorrect. The capture with the knight (3... Nc6xd4) cannot be recommended. White has two good continuations, both of which leave him with a superior position. First is {S:f3d4}{W:142Ia}4. Nf3xd4. After {S:e5d4}{W:142Ib}4... e5xd4 {S:d1d4}{W:142Ic}5. Qd1xd4 White emerges with the edge in space and development. This is largely due to the placement of White's queen right in the middle of the board. Ordinarily, this could lead to problems, especially if Black could attack the queen by developing new pieces. But here Black has lost the best way to attack the opposing queen, with the queen-knight from c6. How can the queen-knight attack White's queen if it no longer exists? Nor can Black dislodge the queen by hitting it with the queen-bishop pawn {S:c7c5}{W:142Id}(5... c7-c5). This would chase the queen away, but at too great a cost because of the weaknesses incurred at {N1:d6d5}{W:142Ie}d6 and d5. These two squares could never again (for this game) be guarded by a Black pawn, once the c-pawn goes to c5. Funny thing is, White doesn't have to answer {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c6d4}{W:142If}3... Nc6xd4 with {A:Wf3d4}{N1:d4}{W:142Ig}4. Nf3xd4 to gain the advantage. He would also come out on top after {R}{C}{S:f3e5}{W:142Ih}4. Nf3xe5 instead. This capture regains the pawn and leaves the {N1:d4}{W:142Ii}d4-knight unprotected. The knight would have to retreat (this is practically forced, for defending it leads to other troubles), and White thereby maintains a meaningful initiative.}]

3.
[{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/1B2p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}
{QB:143. After 1. e4 e5  2. Nf3 Nc6  3. Bb5, should Black counterattck or defend?{W:143}{A:Wa7a6}{H1:a6}{W:143a}{A:Wd7d6}{H1:d6}{W:143b};3... a6;{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/1B2p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}{S:a7a6}{W:143C}Correct. The choice of most strong players is the counterattack 3... a7-a6. It forces a decision. Either the bishop will retreat to {A:Wb5a4}{N1:a4}{W:143Ca}a4, when Black acquires the future option of ending the bishop's attack on the c6-knight by the pawn-block b7-b5. Or the bishop will have to capture the {R}{C}{A:Wb5c6}{N1:c6}{W:143Cb}c6-knight. This impairs the queenside pawn structure but forfeits the advantage of the "two bishops". (You have the two-bishop advantage if you possess two bishops and your opponent has two knights or one bishop and one knight.) After {R}{C}{S:b5c6}{W:143Cc}4. Bb5xc6 Black should take back with the queen-pawn, {S:d7c6}{W:143Cd}4... d7xc6, which is capturing "away from the center". In most situations one captures "toward the center", usually for greater central control and to avoid inferior pawn imbalances. But here Black must capture away from the center for tactical reasons. It enables Black to defend his assailed {N1:e5}{W:143Ce}king-pawn indirectly. If White now continue {C}{S:f3e5}{W:143Cf}5. Nf3xe5, Black regains the pawn with the double attack {S:d8d4}{W:143Cg}5... Qd8-d4, thanks to the open queen-file created by taking away from the center (d7xc6) on move four. After the ensuing {S:e5f3}{W:143Ch}6. Ne5-f3 {S:d4e4}{W:143Ci}Qd4xe4+  {S:d1e2}{W:143Cj}7. Qd1-e2, Black trades queens {S:d4d2}{W:143Ck}and comes out with an excellent game.;3... d6; {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/1B2p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}{S:d7d6}{W:143I}Incorrect. In playing 3... d7-d6 Black protects something ({N1:e5}{W:143Ia}the e5-pawn) which does not yet need protecting. The king-pawn is already guarded -- indirectly, as indicated by the answer in 143a. Meanwhile, the move of the queen-pawn to d6, though playable, is quite passive. Black hems in his {N1:f8}{W:143Ib}f8-bishop and self-pins his {N1:c6}{W:143Ic}c6-knight. Because of Black's compressed position, White will look to gain ground in the center by the subsequent pawn advance {S:d2d4}{W:143Id}d2-d4. This will place additional pressure on Black's beset {N1:e5}{W:143Ie}e5-pawn. Considering Black's rather cramped quarters, he may be constrained to make a concession, exchanging pawns {C}{S:e5d4}{W:143If}(e5xd4) and surrendering the center to White's pieces. In order to hold everything together in such a constricted situation, one would have to be a defensive wizard. Of course, real defensive wizards understand the spirit of counterattack. Few of them would ever play a move like 3... d7-d6 in the Ruy Lopez (1. e2-e4 e7-e5  2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6  3. Bf1-b5).}]

4.
[{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}
{QB:144. After 1. e4 e5  2. Nf3 Nc6  3. Bc4, which is the right counter?{W:144}{A:Ba7a6}{H1:a6}{W:144a}{A:Bg8f6}{H1:f6}{W:144b};3... a6;{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}{S:a7a6}{W:144I}Incorrect. Don't play 3... a7-a6 here. The move looks weak, and it is. Had the f1-bishop gone to {N1:b5}{W:144Ia}b5, as in the Ruy Lopez, then moving the pawn to a6 is in order. At least then moving the queen-rook pawn to a6 would be "putting the question to the bishop." This means that the a-pawn more or less would be asking the bishop to come to a decision. Is it going to retreat or take the knight? While 3... a7-a6 makes sense in the Ruy Lopez (1. e2-e4 e7-e5  2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6  3. Bf1-b5), it has no practical value in the Italian Game (1. e2-e4 e7-e5  2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6  3. Bf1-c4), where moving the queen-rook pawn to a6 doesn't attack the light-square bishop at all. In fact, it hands White a free move, which he can use to build his game by developing a new piece or by castling.;3... Nf6; {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}{S:g8f6}{W:144C}Correct. The better of the two choices is 3... Ng8-f6. Black activates a new piece, attacks the enemy {A:Bf6e4}{W:144Ca}king-pawn, generally eyes the center, and prepares kingside castling. But there is one catch. The soft spot {R}{N1:f7}{W:144Cb}f7, defended only by Black's king. White can produce a combined attack against f7 by moving the king-knight {S:f3g5}{W:144Cc}to g5, where it joins forces with the {N1:c4}{W:144Cd}c4-bishop to menace this vulnerable square. How can Black cope with the threat to f7? Not actually by guarding it, but by blocking out the c4-bishop with {S:d7d5}{W:144Ce}4... d7-d5. This works, but the lines are intricate, and Black better know them quite well to escape unscathed. If he's not familiar with all the nuances of 3... Ng8-f6, he should find an alternative third move (not 3... a7-a6) that avoids complications. An excellent option is {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}{S:f8c5}{W:144Cf}3... Bf8-c5. It deters White from moving his knight to {A:Wf3g5}{W:144Cg}g5 because Black's queen still guards this square! (This is not true after 3... Ng8-f6, because the queen is obstructed by the f6-knight, so g5 becomes unprotected and therefore usable.)}]

5.
[{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/4P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R}
{QB:145. After 1. e4 e5  2. Nf3 Nc6  3. Nc3, which is the better of the two moves?{W:145}{A:Bf8c5}{H1:c5}{W:145a}{A:Bh7h6}{H1:h6}{W:145b};3... Bc5;{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/4P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R}{S:f8c5}{W:145C}Correct. The developing move 3... Bf8-c5 gets the nod, even though it's not the best developing move. This distinction goes to the knightly development, {A:Bg8f6}{W:145Ca}3... Ng8-f6. The problem with 3... Bf8-c5 here is something called "the fork trick," which White initiates by taking Black's e5-pawn {R}{S:f3e5}{W:145Cb}(4. Nf3xe5). It works like this. After 3... Bf8-c5, White temporarily sacrifices his king-knight, 4. Nf3xe5. If Black takes back with the knight, {S:c6e5}{W:145Cc}4... Nc6xe5 (he could also give back the piece by 4... Bc5xf2+, trying to endanger White's king), he suddenly has two minor pieces in a forkable position, the bishop on {N1:c5e5}{W:145Cd}c5 and the knight on e5. White can hit them both with the same pawn move, {S:d2d4}{A:Wd4e5}{A:Wd4c5}{W:145Ce}5. d2-d4. This will regain the piece, leaving White with more space, better development, and a more aggressive position. Black can still defend himself, but he's lost ground by allowing the fork trick.;3... h6; {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/4P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R}{S:h7h6}{W:145I}Incorrect. Thumbs down on 3... h7-h6, a completely unnecessary move with a side pawn and a typical beginner's mistake. It's played to prevent the White king-knight from moving to {A:Wf3g5}{W:145Ia}g5, but this is needless prevention for Black's queen already protects that square. Since the move also doesn't contribute to development, doesn't attack the center, and doesn't promote castling, what good is it? It's just a lost tempo, which creates weaknesses -- to itself (the h6-pawn) and to the square {R}{N1:g6}{W:145Ib}g6. White will follow with a better pawn move, {C}{S:d2d4}{W:145Ic}4. d2-d4, attacking the middle and opening lines for development.}]

6.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqk1nr/pppp1ppp/8/2b1p3/4PP2/5N2/PPPP2PP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:146. After 1. e4 e5  2. f4 Bc5  3. Nf3, which is a better move?{W:146}{A:Be5f4}{H1:f4}{W:146a}{A:Bd7d6}{H1:d6}{W:146b};3... exf4;{F:B}{B:rnbqk1nr/pppp1ppp/8/2b1p3/4PP2/5N2/PPPP2PP/RNBQKB1R}{S:e5f4}{W:146I}Incorrect. It's definitely not time for 3... e5xf4. If Black wanted to take on f4, then he should have done so on the previous turn, before White was set up. Once the king-knight comes to {N1:f3}{W:146Ia}f3, White has everything necessary in place. White rebukes the capture of his bishop-pawn (3... e5xf4) by {C}{R}{S:d2d4}{W:146Ib}4. d2-d4, smacking the dark-square bishop across the face. The bishop is driven back and White gains time to build his position further. And if Black saves his bishop by giving a check on {S:c5b4}{W:146Ic}b4, White gains even more time by blocking the check with his queen-bishop pawn, {S:c2c3}{W:146Id}5. c2-c3. Regardless what Black does with his bishop on move four, White has established a classical pawn center with a big edge in time.;3... d6; {F:B}{B:rnbqk1nr/pppp1ppp/8/2b1p3/4PP2/5N2/PPPP2PP/RNBQKB1R}{S:d7d6}{W:146C}Correct. The truer move is 3... d7-d6, guarding the {N1:e5}{W:146Ca}e5-pawn. At first glance it may seem that Black is outgunned on e5, for white attacks this point with two units (the {A:Wf4e5}{A:Wf3e5}{W:146Cb}f4-pawn and the f3-knight) while Black guards it with only one {R}{G:BPd6}{W:146Cc}(the d6-pawn). But the e5-pawn has an indirect defender as well, the {O}{G:BQd8}{W:146Cd}queen at d8. If the {O}{N1:f3}{W:146Ce}f3-knight ever leaves its post, Black's queen checks on h4 and follows with an even more devastating check on e4. A particularly drastic scenario is 3... d7-d6  {C}{S:f4e5}{W:146Cf}4. f4xe5 {S:d6e5}{W:146Cg}d6xe5 {S:f3e5}{W:146Ch}5. Nf3xe5 {S:d8h4}{W:146Ci}Qd8-h4+  {S:e1e2}{W:146Cj}6. Ke1-e2 {S:h4e4}{W:146Ck}Qh4xe4#. Thus we see that push {F:B}{B:rnbqk1nr/pppp1ppp/8/2b1p3/4PP2/5N2/PPPP2PP/RNBQKB1R}{S:d7d6}{W:146Cl}3... d7-d6 does provide sufficient defense for the moment. White can follow by taking once on e5 {S:f4e5}{W:146Cm}(4. f4xe5), but not by taking twice {S:d6e5}{S:f3e5}{W:146Cn}(5. Nf3xe5). The weakness of the {N1:e1f2g3h4}{W:146Co}e1-h4 diagonal holds him back.}]

7.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/4PP2/2N5/PPPP2PP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:147. After 1. e4 e5  2. Nc3 Nf6  3. f4, what should Black do with his d-pawn?{W:147}{A:Bd7d5}{H1:d5}{W:147a}{A:Bd7d6}{H1:d6}{W:147b};3... d5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/4PP2/2N5/PPPP2PP/R1BQKBNR}{S:d7d5}{W:147C}Correct. Aggression with the two-square advance (3... d7-d5) is the way to go. It does not provide direct protection to {N1:e5}{W:147Ca}e5, but it counterattacks, which is the most active form of defense. It's also the best way to answer White's somewhat flankish attack (3. f2-f4), by hitting back in the middle. Black meets White's attack on his e5-pawn by a counterthreat to White's e4-pawn. So if {C}{S:f4e5}{W:147Cb}4. f4xe5, Black answers {S:f6e4}{W:147Cc}4... Nf6xe4. This keeps the material, and the position, in balance.;3... d6; {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/4PP2/2N5/PPPP2PP/R1BQKBNR}{S:d7d6}{W:147I}Incorrect. Black can do better than 3... d7-d6. It's playable, but extremely passive. The main problem is the obstruction of the {N1:f8}{W:147Ia}f8-bishop. After 3... d7-d6 it's trapped inside the pawn chain. By playing 3... d7-d5, however, the bishop has no trouble finding a useful square for development. How should White continue after the quiet 3... d7-d6? He should continue to develop his forces. Moves like Ng1-f3, Bf1-c4, d2-d3, and castling kingside come to mind. Black can do little to stop this build-up because his whole set-up, thanks to his inactive third move, has left him with a cramped game, devoid of zest.}]

8.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/2B1P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK1NR}
{QB:148. After 1. e4 e5  2. Bc4 Nf6  3. Nc3, should Black move the knight or the bishop?{W:148}{A:Bf6e4}{H1:e4}{W:148a}{A:Bf8e7}{H1:e7}{W:148b};3... Nxe4;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/2B1P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK1NR}{S:f6e4}{W:148C}Correct. The votes are in, and the winner is the fork trick, 3... Nf6xe4. By temporarily sacrificing a knight Black knocks outs White's center pawn. Then White has two ways to go. He could take back immediately {S:c3e4}{W:148Ca}(4. Nc3xe4), which encounters the pawn fork {S:d7d5}{W:148Cb}4... d7-d5. The outcome is that Black wins back the minor piece (either the c4-bishop or the e4-knight), re-establishing material equality. Or, before taking on e4, White could first sacrifice his c4-bishop {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/8/4p3/2B1n3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK1NR}{S:c4f7}{W:148Cc}(4. Bc4xf7+), figuring he's going to lose back the piece anyway. So why not do it by messing up the opponent's king? After {S:e8f7}{W:148Cd}4... Ke8xf7 {S:c3e4}{W:148Ce}5. Nc3xe4, however, Black still answers with {S:d7d5}{W:148Cf}5... d7-d5, threatening the e4-knight and forming aligned pawns in the middle. Black's king is slightly at risk, but this is probably outweighed by Black's central chances. The advice for White after {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/2B1P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK1NR}{S:f6e4}{W:148Cg}3... Nf6xe4 is to turn the opening into a gambit. This can be achieved by either {A:Wg1f3}{W:148Ch}4. Ng1-f3, simply activating a new piece and preparing castling, or {R}{A:Wd1h5}{W:148Ci}4. Qd1-h5, enlisting the aid of the queen and converting to full-scale warfare. I especially recommend playing such gambits to developing players, even when the attacking lines they choose are a little unsound. In trying to make them work the student will be exercising and improving his tactical skills. Necessity will force him to be more creative. If you want to develop a particular style, enmesh yourself in it every chance you get and watch your play mature.;3... Be7; {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/2B1P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK1NR}{S:f8e7}{W:148I}Incorrect. The development of the king-bishop (3... Bf8-e7) is too passive. It builds Black's game, but rather inconsequentially. At e7 the bishop is confined to the role of spectator, serving to shield the uncastled king and to guard the square {N1:f6}{W:148Ia}f6 against the c1-bishop's potential pin at {A:Wc1g5}{W:148Ib}g5. If Black wants to develop the king-bishop on move three, he has two better placements for it, on {R}{N1:c5b4}{W:148Ic}c5 or on b4. Both are far more active than 3... Bf8-e7, which is likely to lead to the bishop's entombment inside the pawn chain after Black plays the anticipated {S:d7d6}{W:148Id}d7-d6. Whenever you can choose between aggressive development and steady but inactive development, go with the active and make things happen.}]

9.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4N3/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:149. After 1. e4 e5  2. Nf3 Nf6  3. Nxe5, should Black copy White or do something different?{W:149}{A:Bf6e4}{H1:e4}{W:149a}{A:Bd7d6}{H1:d6}{W:149b};3... Nxe4;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4N3/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:f6e4}{W:149I}Incorrect. Taking the king-pawn immediately (3... Nf6xe4) is a mistake. This is a case of going too far to copy the opponent, and Black gets punished for this mimicry by the White queen {S:d1e2}{W:149Ia}(4. Qd1-e2). Suddenly Black's e4-knight is attacked, and Black cannot follow suit with his own queen by moving it to e7, for when White's queen takes on e4 it winds up protecting the knight on e5. So Black therefore can't take back on e5 safely. Nor can Black simply retreat the knight out of attack, for {S:e4f6}{W:149Ib}4... Ne4-f6 runs head into {S:e5c6}{W:149Ic}5. Ne5-c6+. This is a devastating discovered check from the queen at e2. It allows White to get away with an additional, unanswerable attack to Black's queen at d8. Note that the Black queen can't save itself by interposing on {N1:e7}{W:149Id}e7, because the knight on {N1:c6}{W:149Ie}c6 also guards e7. Of course, Black can try to uphold the knight on e4, instead of retreating it, but this is countered by{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp2ppp/8/3pN3/4n3/8/PPPPQPPP/RNB1KB1R}{S:d2d3}{W:149If}5. d2-d3, and Black is still in trouble. The same retreat {S:e4f6}{W:149Ig}(5... Ne4-f6) would then meet up with the same discovery {S:e5c6}{W:149Ih}(6. Ne5-c6+), and once again Black loses his queen. As a rule, be careful of allowing the e-file to open with your king still uncastled. If you let this happen, you're running the risk of being pinned, or being discovered upon, or being unpleasantly checked.;3... d6; {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4N3/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:d7d6}{W:149C}Correct. This is the right way (3... d7-d6) to regain the pawn. First Black drives back the e5-knight. After the e5-knight withdraws to {S:e5f3}{W:149Ca}f3, then Black can safely recapture the pawn {S:f6e4}{W:149Cb}(4... Nf6xe4) without fear of being pinned. If White does follow with {S:d1e2}{W:149Cc}5. Qd1-e2, pinning the knight, Black's queen can move to {S:d8e7}{W:149Cd}e7, defending the knight and breaking the pin. Even if White then drives back the intruder with {S:d2d3}{W:149Ce}6. d2-d3, the knight can retreat to {S:e4f6}{W:149Cf}f6 and the game is balanced.}]

10.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/16/3pP3/2P5/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{QB:150. After 1. e4 e5  2. d4 exd4  3. c3, should Black accept the gambit or defend the d-pawn?{W:150}{A:Bd4c3}{H1:c3}{W:150a}{A:Bc7c5}{H1:c5}{W:150b};3... dxc3;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/16/3pP3/2P5/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:d4c3}{W:150C}Correct. Black should put White to the test by capturing the proffered pawn (3... d4xc3). White will then either play {A:Wb1c3}{N1:c3}{W:150Ca}4. Nb1xc3 (the Half Danish Gambit, also called the Goring Gambit) or offer a second pawn with {R}{C}{S:f1c4}{W:150Cb}4. Bf1-c4 {S:c3b2}{W:150Cc}c3xb2 {S:c1b2}{W:150Cd}5. Bc1xb2 (the Danish Gambit proper). In both cases White gets a jump in development, as his pieces come out far more expeditiously than Black's. White also has more play in the center, since he has a pawn asserting itself on {N1:e4}{W:150Ce}e4. But Black has committed no errors and his game is fundamentally sound. With accurate defense he should be able to neutralize White's attack and survive to tell the tale. This doesn't mean that Black is winning, though, for one false step and the story comes to an unhappy end -- for Black.;3... c5; {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/16/3pP3/2P5/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:c7c5}{W:150I}Incorrect. The weaker move is 3... c7-c5. It just doesn't do enough. It doesn't develop anything and it actually weakens several points along the d-file, namely {N1:d5d6}{W:150Ia}d5 and d6. It also fails to do what it sets out to do, guard the pawn at {N1:d4}{W:150Ib}d4. White can simply take twice on d4 {C}{S:c3d4}{W:150Ic}(4. c3xd4 {S:c5d4}{W:150Id}c5xd4  {S:d1d4}{W:150Ie}5. Qd1xd4) and regain the pawn. Or he can ignore this and retain the spirit of the gambiteer with {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/8/2p5/3pP3/2P5/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:g1f3}{W:150If}4. Ng1-f3, a productive developing move. This way White aims to avoid bringing the queen to the center prematurely. So let's see. The move 3... c7-c5 weakens certain squares, ignores development, and fails to fulfill it's aim. Conclusion, it's not a good move and shouldn't be played.}]

11.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/3p4/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:151. After 1. e4 c5  2. Nf3 d6  3. d4, should Black capture the queen-pawn or increase the pressure?{W:151}{A:Bc5d4}{H1:d4}{W:151a}{A:Bb8c6}{H1:c6}{W:151b};3... cxd4;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/3p4/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c5d4}{W:151C}Correct. The capture makes sense, for this is why Black played the Sicilian Defense (1. e2-e4 c7-c5) in the first place, to be able to exchange queen-bishop pawn for queen-pawn, once White expands with d2-d4. After the exchange Black winds up with two central pawns vs. White's one, which means that Black ultimately has a good chance to dominate the middle -- if he can cope with White's early initiative and attack. This he can do because the center pawns provide an excellent bulwark against White's assault. Theoretically the exchange on d4 lays the groundwork for Black's subsequent counterplay on the c-file. When it becomes feasible, Black will eventually post a rook (probably the queen-rook) at {A:Ba8c8}{W:151Ca}c8, where it exerts pressure straight into White's camp. With a rook positioned on c8 Black is able to affect the key square c4. Since White often develops the king-bishop to {R}{A:Wf1c4}{W:151Cb}c4, moving a rook to c8 may give Black the opportunity for some sharp tactics against it. Moreover, Black might also use c4 as a terrific overlook for a knight, or any Black piece for that matter. The queen-knight typically gets there via two routes, going from {R}{A:Bb8c6}{W:151Cc}c6 to {A:Bc6e5}{W:151Cd}e5 to {A:Be5c4}{W:151Ce}c4, or from {R}{A:Bb8c6}{W:151Cf}c6 to {A:Bc6a5}{W:151Cg}a5 and then {A:Ba5c4}{W:151Ch}c4. Either way, these attractive possibilities require a half-open c-file (open just for Black), so that the invading knight can be supported. How does Black obtain a half-open c-file? By exchanging his c-pawn for White's d-pawn.;3... Nc6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/3p4/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:b8c6}{W:151I}Incorrect. The move of the queen-knight (3... Nb8-c6) is mistimed. If bringing the queen-knight to c6 were really part of Black's plans, he should implement this idea on move two instead of advancing the queen-pawn (2... d7-d6). And if he's insistent on playing 2... d7-d6, he should first trade pawns on d4 {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/3p4/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c5d4}{W:151Ia}(3... c5xd4 {S:f3d4}{W:151Ib}4. Nf3xd4) and only then develop the knight to c6 {S:b8c6}{W:151Ic}(4... Nb8-c6). At least this is levelheaded. But once the White queen-pawn has reached its central perch {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp2pppp/2np4/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{N1:d4}{W:151Id}(d4), the move 3... Nb8-c6 backfires, for the d-pawn simply advances {C}{S:d4d5}{W:151Ie}(4. d4-d5). This pushes the Black queen-knight out of position, so that it no longer guards {N1:e5}{W:151If}e5. Can Black avoid this humiliation? Of course, by trading c-pawn for d-pawn on move three.}]

12.
[{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:152. After 1. e4 c5  2. Nf3 Nc6  3. d4, how should Black take White's pawn?{W:152}{A:Bc5d4}{H1:d4}{W:152a}{A:Bc6d4}{W:152b};3... cxd4;{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c5d4}{W:152C}Correct. Taking with the pawn (3... c5xd4) is best. It complies with the general capture rule, which advocates taking with your least valuable unit, unless there is a definite reason for doing otherwise. For example, suppose you have a situation where taking with your queen gives mate. In such a case, are you really going to worry about violating the principle? After the exchange of pawns on d4 (3... c5xd4  {S:f3d4}{W:152Ca}4. Nf3xd4), Black obtains the next free move (the next move that does not require a particular response). True, White's d4-knight is then in position to capture Black's c6-knight{A:Wd4c6}{N1:c6}{W:152Cb}, but this is not a threat. The c6-knight is adequately guarded by two pawns{R}{N1:b7d7}{W:152Cc}, which is pretty good protection in my book. How should Black use his free move? To develop the king-knight toward the center {C}{S:g8f6}{W:152Cd}(4... Ng8-f6), assailing White's {A:Bf6e4}{N1:e4}{W:152Ce}e4-pawn. It is this pawn that becomes the chief focus for Black's central counterplay, inasmuch as it is the only pawn actually occupying a central square. It's out there, so it's targetable.;3... Nxd4;{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c6d4}{W:152I}Incorrect. The inferior capture is to take with the knight,  3... Nc6xd4. After the series of exchanges is completed {S:f3d4}{W:152Ia}(4. Nf3xd4 {S:c5d4}{W:152Ib}c5xd4  {S:d1d4}{W:152Ic}5. Qd1xd4), White's queen is dominant in the center. Ordinarily, placing the queen on a middle square early on is a no-no, because typically a centrally placed queen is easy to attack. But the optimal method to hit the queen is with Black's queen-knight from c6. It's going to be hard to move the knight to c6, now that it no longer exists, which is just another reason to question Black's third move (3... Nc6xd4). Since it's likely that White's queen can therefore remain in the center, radiating power in all directions, and since Black's queen has no way to assume a comparable position, White must possess a distinct advantage, beyond that of having had the first move.}]

13.
[{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/1Bp5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}
{QB:153. After 1. e4 c5  2. Nf3 Nc6  3. Bb5, which is the more interesting knight-move?{W:153}{A:Bc6d4}{H1:d4}{W:153a}{A:Bc6a5}{H1:a5}{W:154b};3... Nd4;{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/1Bp5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}{S:c6d4}{W:153I}Incorrect. This may surprise you, but we're not enamored of 3... Nc6-d4. Yes, it puts a piece in the center, and it even attacks the b5-bishop, but White has a comfortable reply. He can make the Black knight, and its threats, simply disappear by {S:f3d4}{W:153Ia}4. Nf3xd4. After Black takes back {S:c5d4}{W:153Ib}(4... c5xd4), it's apparent that White has gained time. He already has a piece in the field (the king-bishop), and he can use his next move to develop a new piece or to get his king to safety (castling serves both purposes). Where did Black go wrong? He broke the rule which in the opening discourages moving a piece more than once without necessity or special purpose. In the beginning, let's say over a period of two moves (or whatever), it tends be more prudent to develop two different pieces rather than to move the same piece twice. True, there are always exceptions, but 3... Nc6-d4 isn't one of them.;3... Na5;{F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/1Bp5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}{S:c6a5}{W:153C}Correct. Neither knight move is good, but of the two we prefer 3... Nc6-a5, which we're going to say is more interesting. Funny thing is, it violates two basic opening principles. Supposedly you should avoid moving the same piece twice, unless you have a special reason, and you shouldn't place a knight on the edge of the board, unless the situation requires it. It turns out that 3... Na5, though not a terrific move, does have hidden virtues, albeit mainly psychological ones. The move looks so bad that it would be natural for White to conclude that Black is a poor player. But the move has been played in master practice, and it does contain a drop of poison for the unwary. One unsuspecting, overconfident player got a comeuppance after castling {S:e1g1}{S:h1f1}{W:153Ca}(4. 0-0). Black followed by an attack on the bishop {S:a7a6}{W:153Cb}(4... a7-a6), which led to the careless retreat, {S:b5a4}{W:153Cc}5. Bb5-a4?, an egregious mistake. So Black hit the bishop another time {S:b7b5}{W:153Cd}(5... b7-b5), and after the beleaguered piece withdrew again {S:a4b3}{W:153Ce}(6. Ba4-b3), the c-pawn ensnarled it for good {S:c5c4}{W:153Cf}(6... c5-c4). But let's get this clear. In preferring choice (b) we are not really advocating {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/1Bp5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}{S:c6a5}{W:153Cg}3... Nc6-a5. Rather we are merely using the move as an illustration, to show that even the feeblest-looking concepts can have a positive side. Moreover, even when a particular move doesn't have much going for it, a player might essay it anyway just to navigate the game into uncharted waters. By doing this he hopes to put his opponent in a position where he actually has to play chess, instead of being able to rely on the published analysis of others. World Champion Emanual Lasker (1868-1941), who reigned at the top of the chess pantheon for twenty-seven years (1894-1921), often employed this strategy against book-smart upstarts, and it usually worked. It's one thing to play by rote, and quite another to have to think for yourself. Of course, the game has gotten tougher and more rigorous since Lasker's time, and it's become more difficult to be a serious competitor without preparing your opening moves and defenses. But this experimental approach is still an excellent way for a developing player to learn faster and to acquire greater understanding. Generally, you don't really begin to comprehend why something is wrong before you've experienced the problem firsthand, probably losing several games in the process. Losing isn't fun, but winning is, especially when you succeed  by doing it your way. This is how many of us learn best, by taking repeated chances, trying this and that, and gradually improving our efforts until we make them work -- until we prove them to be true. If this isn't the right way for students to go, what is?}]

14.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/4p3/2p5/4P3/2N3P1/PPPP1P1P/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:154. After 1. e4 c5  2. Nc3 e6  3. g3, which center pawn should Black move?{W:154}{A:Bd7d5}{H1:d5}{W:154a}{A:Be6e5}{H1:e5}{W:154b};3... d5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/4p3/2p5/4P3/2N3P1/PPPP1P1P/R1BQKBNR}{S:d7d5}{W:154C}Correct. The good pawn move is 3... d7-d5. It's the logical consequence of Black's second move (2... e7-e6). After the two-square advance 3... d7-d5, and the ensuing exchange, {S:e4d5}{W:154Ca}4. e4xd5 {S:e6d5}{W:154Cb}e6xd5, Black's d5-pawn will come under additional fire by {S:f1g2}{A:Wg2d5}{W:154Cc}5. Bf1-g2. But Black's resources are quite adequate. He will be able to uphold d5 without making concessions, maintaining a central presence and a corresponding degree of activity.;3... e5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/4p3/2p5/4P3/2N3P1/PPPP1P1P/R1BQKBNR}{S:e6e5}{W:154I}Incorrect. This (3... e6-e5) is the bad pawn move. If for no other reason the advance seems wrong in that it moves the king-pawn for the second time in a row, wasting a tempo. If Black wanted the e-pawn on e5, he could have placed it there in a single play, using it's two-square option on move two. But the idea would have been deleterious on move two, as it is on move three, and at least for a common reason. Both advances (2... e7-e5 and 3... e6-e5) weaken {N1:d5d6f5}{W:154Ia}d5 (as well as d6 and f5, but less consequentially). Once Black places his king-pawn on {A:Be6e5}{W:154Ib}e5 he can never again guard {N1:d5}{W:154Ic}d5 with a pawn, which invites White's pieces to occupy this central post (d5) as a strongpoint. For the most part, if Black wants to deter White from advancing his queen-pawn to d4, he usually moves up one of two pawns. Either he plays out the queen-bishop pawn to {R}{N1:c5}{W:154Id}c5, or the king-pawn to {A:Be6e5}{N1:e5}{W:154Ie}e5, but seldom both, especially in the first few moves of the game when time is so critical. This doesn't mean that Black doesn't ever move both his c- and e-pawns out two squares in the beginning, but when he does it's usually to set up a very specific opening formation. A case in point is a system made popular by former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik, in which the first few moves might go, 1. e2-e4  c7-c5  2. Nb1-c3 Nb8-c6  3. g2-g3 g7-g6  4. Bf1-g2 Bf8-g7  5. d2-d3 d7-d6  6. Ng1-e2 e7-e5. Black's last move (and in fact the entire layout) is designed to really clamp down on d4. This formation makes sense, but the combination of 1... c7-c5 and 3... e6-e5 in our given situation doesn't. It's too early to play both these advances, and the Botvinnik system is nowhere in sight.}]

15.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/16/3pP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:155. After 1. e4 c5  2. d4 cxd4  3. Nf3, how should Black defend his d4-pawn?{W:155}{A:Be7e5}{H1:e5}{W:155a}{A:Bb8c6}{H1:c6}{W:155b};3... e5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/16/3pP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:e7e5}{W:155I}Incorrect. Trying to hang onto the pawn by 3... e7-e5 has a bad reputation -- this, despite the fact that the move sets a clever trap. If White gobbles the bait and grabs the king-pawn with his knight {S:f3e5}{W:155Ia}(4. Nf3xe5?), Black steals the knight with the queen check, {S:d8a5}{A:Wa5e1}{W:155Ib}4... Qd8-a5+. No matter how White ends the check, say {R}{S:c1d2}{W:155Ic}5. Bc1-d2 for example, Black's queen then takes the {S:a5e5}{W:155Id}e5-knight for free. But why does White have to fall for this wily snare? Instead he could calmly develop the king-bishop {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/8/4p3/3pP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:f1c4}{W:155Ie}(4. Bf1-c4), immediately seizing the squares weakened by Black's third move (3... e7-e5). With his king-pawn on {N1:e5}{W:155If}e5, Black has no adequate way to block out White's light-square bishop, which cuts across the critical squares d5 and e6 to strike at the opponent's Achilles' heel, the square {A:Wc4f7}{W:155Ig}f7. Moreover, by making a gambit of the situation with the subsequent advance {R}{S:c2c3}{W:155Ih}c2-c3, White will open additional lines, all of which could be used to fuel a rapidly building initiative. As a rule, you shouldn't play a trappy move that only works if the opponent falls for it and that redounds against you when ignored. In fact, never assume your opponent is going to blunder. Certainly play moves that give your opponent a chance to go wrong. But make sure that you haven't placed your own foot in the trap. Even if your opponent is truly inexperienced, if you give him an opportunity he might refute your mistaken lure by accident. He might zing you even though his play is totally random. But this raises a question. Is there ever a time you should consider playing a move you know to be bad? The answer is yes. For example, if your game seems incurable, and defeat seems inevitable, it might be worth it to try an inferior move that contains an insidious trap. If it works, you win, plain and simple. And if it fails? Well, you had nothing to lose because you were going to lose anyhow.;3... Nc6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/16/3pP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:b8c6}{W:155C}Correct. The safe and sound move is 3... Nb8-c6. The queen-knight is brought to its most effective square. Why should Black distort his game by trying to hold onto the d4-pawn? Better to develop as White invests some effort to recapture the pawn. In fact, there's a chance for White to stumble after 3... Nb8-c6. If White mechanically follows with the development of the light-square bishop to queen-knight five {S:f1b5}{W:155Ca}(4. Bf1-b5), Black pilfers a piece with the forking check, {S:d8a5}{W:155Cb}4... Qd8-a5+. White drops the piece because the Black pawn at d4 guards {G:BPd4}{N1:c3}{W:155Cc}c3, which prevents the {O}{G:WNb1}{W:155Cd}queen-knight from safely blocking the check in a way that also defends the {N1:b5}{W:155Ce}b5-bishop. But White doesn't have to blunder with 4. Bf1-b5. After the more logical {F:B}{B:r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/8/3pP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:f3d4}{W:155Cf}4. Nf3xd4, the players have reached a standard position in the Sicilian Defense (1. e2-e4 c7-c5) through a slightly unusual sequence of moves. It's the same position that would be achieved after the more typical order: 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6  3. d2-d4 c5xd4 4. Nf3xd4. Regardless how the position is arrived at, whether directly or through transposition, Black is fine.}]

16.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/8/3nP/2P5/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{QB:156. After 1. e4 Nf6  2. e5 Nd5  3. c4, should Black's knight move forward or backward?{W:156}{A:Bd5b4}{H1:b4}{W:156a}{A:Bd5b6}{H1:b6}{W:156b};3... Nb4;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/8/3nP/2P5/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:d5b4}{W:156I}Incorrect. Entering White's half of the board (3... Nd5-b4) is just too provocative. Without incurring any great risk White can drive back the intrusive knight {S:a2a3}{W:156Ia}(4. a2-a3) with a gain of time and space. And then there's the problem of choosing a retreat square for the knight. Withdrawing to a6 {A:Bb4a6}{N1:a6}{W:156Ib}(4... Nb4-a6) positions the knight on the edge of the board, completely out of play. But retreating to {R}{A:b4c6}{N1:c6}{W:156Ic}c6 (4... Nb4-c6) deprives the {G:BNb8}{W:156Id}knight on b8 of its best square. Ultimately, Black's knights wind up stepping on each other's toes. Verdict, don't answer 3. c2-c4 by 3... Nd5-b4.;3... Nb6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/8/3nP/2P5/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:d5b6}{W:156C}Correct. The retreat 3... Nd5-b6 is in order. On b6 the knight is safe from further pawn attacks except for one, the queen-bishop pawn can move to {S:c4c5}{W:156Ca}c5, besetting the knight once again. But this is fine, for the knight can return to {S:b6d5}{W:156Cb}d5, confident that no White pawn can thereafter coerce it from the center. This is so because, at this point, both the White c- and e-pawns would be on the fifth rank, passed the frontier line, unable to actually attack d5. In fact, this very advanced pawn mass could prove to be a liability, in that White's c- and e-pawns may have outrun their supply lines. They would be closer to the enemy attackers and further from their friendly defenders. This is overextension, and it's the usual outcome of a failed onslaught. It's the way an unjustified assault is typically rebuffed, by hitting the attackers when they're disoriented and out of position.}]

17.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3P4/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{QB:157. After 1. e4 e6  2. d4 d5  3. exd5, how should Black recapture on d5?{W:157}{A:Bd8d5}{H1:d5}{W:157a}{A:Be6d5}{W:157b};3... Qxd5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3P4/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:d8d5}{W:157I}Incorrect. Not entirely accurate is the experimental queen capture 3... Qd8xd5. Black's point is that the queen cannot easily be chased by the queen-knight {S:b1c3}{W:157Ia}(4. Nb1-c3) because of the pinning move {S:f8b4}{W:157Ib}4... Bf8-b4. So far so good. But White will follow with three perfectly attractive developing moves {S:g1f3}{W:157Ic}(5. Ng1-f3, {S:f1d3}{W:157Id}6. Bf1-d3,  and {S:e1g1}{S:h1f1}{W:157Ie}7. 0-0), after which the {N1:c3}{W:157If}c3-knight will no longer be pinned and the Black queen thereby will be subject to seizure once again. Either the queen must then move from d5, wasting a tempo, or Black will have to cede the dark-square bishop for White's c3-knight {C}{S:b4c3}{W:157Ig}(7... Bb4xc3). This results in White obtaining the advantage of the two bishops (White will possess two bishops, Black only one). A byproduct of this exchange is that after White takes back {S:b2c3}{W:157Ih}(8. b2xc3) the square {N1:d4}{W:157Ii}d4 will have additional support. One curious side note is how White would deal with the pin on his c3-knight after {F:B}{B:rnb1kbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3q4/3P4/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:f8b4}{W:157Ij} 4... Bf8-b4. Most players would be tempted to break the pin immediately by 5. Bc1-d2. This would also avoid the doubling of pawns that would ensue from taking back on c3 with the b2-pawn (b2xc3), in case Black's b4-bishop captures the c3-knight (Bb4xc3). But in many similar situations the doubling of White's c-pawns is not terribly consequential. This still leaves open the question of determining the best way to cope with the pin on c3. Rather than defensively developing the queen-bishop to d2, it turns out that it's often more prudent to ignore the pin in favor of castling as soon as possible. Once castling is effectuated the pin ceases to exist anyway. Meanwhile you've built your position without having made concessions, such as meekly posting the queen-bishop at queen-two (d2 for White when dealing with a threat to c3, d7 for Black when dealing with a threat to c6). And this is what White does in our analysis, he develops the king-knight {S:g1f3}{W:157Ik}(5. Ng1-f3) and king-bishop {S:f1d3}{W:157Il}(6. Bf1-d3) and then castles {S:h1f1}{S:e1g1}{W:157Im}(7. 0-0). The pin is ended, his game is enhanced, and White has not wasted any time deploying his queen-bishop acquiescently. This means that he still has the possibility of moving the bishop to g5 (or some to some other active square) without having wasted a tempo, which would be the case if the bishop had first played to d2 to end the pin. The point of all this? If you don't have to do something, don't do it. Do something else. Save time. Worry less. Live longer.;3... exd5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3P4/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:e6d5}{W:157C}Correct. The sturdy pawn recapture, 3... e6xd5, is the proper way to go. At d5 the Black pawn braces the center, holding the White d4-pawn in check. This central symmetry means that White cannot claim an advantage in the middle. Center space is then dead even. Another plus for the Black side is the release of the {N1:c8}{W:157Ca}c8-bishop from captivity. When the pawn was on e6, before the take-back 3... e6xd5, the queen-bishop's line of movement was obstructed. After the capture on d5, however, the queen-bishop suddenly has several new developmental squares to choose from {N1:e6,f5g4}{W:157Cb}(e6, f5, and g4). Moreover, the exchange 3... e6xd5 also opens the {N1:e8e7e6e5e4e3e2e1}{W:157Cc}e-file for a Black rook so that White cannot freely use this line for his own rooks. If he attempted to use the king-file at some future time (by a subsequent Rf1-e1 after White castles kingside -- or queenside) he would encounter real opposition from a resistant Black rook (by Rf8-e8 after Black castles kingside -- or queenside).}]

18.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{QB:158. After 1. e4 e6  2. d4 d5  3. e5, which is a better c-file move?{W:158}{A:Bc7c5}{H1:c5}{W:158a}{A:Bb8c6}{H1:c6}{W:158b};3... c5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:c7c5}{W:158C}Correct. The forward thrust of the bishop-pawn (3... c7-c5) wins hands down. The interlocking pawn chain in the middle (White pawns on {N1:d4e5}{W:158Ca}d4 and e5, Black pawns on {N1:d5e6}{W:158Cb}d5 and e6) dictates the coming strategy. Here the pawns play the leading roles, not the pieces. The pawns must therefore be free to advance, unencumbered by obstructing knights and bishops. By starting the assault on White's center with the advance 3... c7-c5, Black attempts to undermine the pawn chain by knocking out its base (here, the pawn at {N1:d4}{W:158Cc}d4). Then, after the groundwork has been laid by first moving the c-pawn to c5, Black can mount additional pressure on d4 by developing the queen-knight to {C}{S:b8c6}{W:158Cd}c6. If necessary, Black can even follow with a development of the queen to {S:d8b6}{W:158Ce}b6, which also assails the square d4. But it can't be the other way around {S:b6d8}{S:c5c7}{W:158Cf}(moving the queen-knight before the c-pawn), for if the queen-knight is developed to c6 before the c-pawn is moved to c5, the {N1:c7}{W:158Cg}c-pawn is suddenly blocked. It wouldn't be capable of moving at all, which means that Black would probably be unable to pressure {N1:d4}{W:158Ch}d4 significantly, inasmuch as his c-pawn and queen would then be out of the immediate picture. The c-pawn wouldn't be able to move to c5, and the queen couldn't follow by going to b6.;3... Nc6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:b8c6}{W:158I}Incorrect. The formal developing move 3... Nb8-c6 is impotent. It lacks the vigor needed to pressurize White's center meaningfully. White can actually ignore the attack on d4 all together after Black impedes the advance of his own c-pawn by developing the queen-knight to c6. If so desired, White can simply answer by playing the friendly c-pawn to {S:c2c3}{W:158Ia}c3, establishing a virtually unassailable link of pawns, from b2 to e5. In the meantime, White will use the interim to steadily build the position, aiming for a future kingside campaign. The only real way to stop this is for Black to get his own activity against White's center. Without the weaponry supplied by a movable c-pawn, however, this could prove to be an insurmountable task. As a rule, if you are entering into an opening system where it might be desirable to have the ability to move your c-pawn two squares ahead, try not to block the c-pawn by developing your queen-knight in front of it. Either move the c-pawn out first, before moving out the knight. Or move the queen-knight to a square not in front of the c-pawn. Or delay moving the knight anywhere until circumstances clear up and you suddenly know what to do.}]

19.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/3PP3/8/PPPN1PPP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:159. After 1. e4 e6  2. d4 d  3. Nd2, which is the better minor-piece move?{W:159}{A:Bf8b4}{H1:b4}{W:159a}{A:Bg8f6}{H1:f6}{W:159b};3... Bb4;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/3PP3/8/PPPN1PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:f8b4}{W:159I}Incorrect. The pinning idea 3... Bf8-b4 does not work here. It fails for the very reason that White has developed his queen-knight to d2 instead of c3, to keep c3 clear for the c-pawn in case Black were to erroneously move the king-bishop to b4. After 3... Bf8-b4, White advances the queen-bishop pawn one square {S:c2c3}{W:159Ia}(4. c2-c3), and Black would have to expend a tempo moving the bishop to safety. Meanwhile, White's position would be enhanced by the linked pawns running from {N1:b2c3d4e5}{W:159Ib}b2 to e5, providing greater central security. In particular, the square {N1:d4}{W:159Ic}d4 would be a lot safer, so that White could pursue his own aggressive plans on the kingside without being tied down to upholding the queen-pawn with units (such as the queen) that could be used elsewhere. After c2-c3, the d-pawn would be as solid as a rock.;3... Nf6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/3PP3/8/PPPN1PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:g8f6}{W:159C}Correct. Developing the king-knight (3... Ng8-f6), continuing the pressure on e4, is a truer path to take. The immediate threat is to win the e4-pawn outright, for Black has a two-to-one superiority on this square ({G:BPd5}{G:BNf6}{W:159Ca}d-pawn and king-knight against {O}{G:WNd2}{W:159Cb}queen-knight). Black's idea is designed to force White into clarifying the central situation. Is he going to safeguard e4 by advancing the {O}{A:We4e5}{W:159Cc}e-pawn? Or is he going to avoid loss of material by exchanging pawns on {R}{A:We4d5}{N1:d5}{W:159Cd}d5? (If you get equal value, you haven't lost anything.) White's most aggressive response is to push the king-pawn, {R}{C}{S:e4e5}{W:159Ce}4. e4-e5, which attacks the {A:We5f6}{N1:f6}{W:159Cf}f6-knight. Black doesn't mind this so much because it ends the central tension, which reduces the number of options that he otherwise would have to keep open. We don't mind a storm if can be weathered, with clear skies to follow. After 4. e4-e5, Black will probably draw the knight back to queen-two {R}{C}{S:f6d7}{W:159Cg}(4... Nf6-d7). His idea is then to follow with the advance of the queen-bishop pawn to c5 {S:c7c5}{W:159Ch}(5... c7-c5) and the development of the queen-knight to c6 {S:b8c6}{W:159Ci}(6... Nb8-c6). This is comparable to other lines in the French Defense. White gains an edge in space, because his king-pawn occupies a square in the opponent's half of the board. But Black gets the ability to attack White's center because it's so close to Black's armed units. Who is in the catbird seat? As in so many instances, the stronger should come out on top.}]

20.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:160. After 1. e4 e6  2. d4 d5  3. Nc3, which is the better minor-piece move?{W:160}{A:Bf8b4}{H1:b4}{W:160a}{A:Bg8e7}{H1:e7}{W:160b};3... Bb4;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:f8b4}{W:160C}Correct. The superior of the two moves is 3... Bf8-b4. Black thereby develops the king-bishop before the king-knight, but this makes sense because the king-knight doesn't as yet have a great place to go. Move it to {A:Bg8e7}{W:160Ca}e7 on move three and you impede the king-bishop at {N1:f8}{W:160Cb}f8. Place it on {R}{C}{A:Bg8h6}{W:160Cc}h6, and you put it in line to be captured by the {A:Wc1h6}{W:160Cd}c1-bishop. So why not delay development until the king-bishop has been stationed? Thereafter the king-knight can be moved to e7 without liability. As for the full merit of 3... Bf8-b4, we can add that the move places a pin on the {R}{N1:c3}{W:160Ce}c3-knight. By rendering the steed immobile, Black threatens to capture White's king-pawn {A:Bd5e4}{N1:e4}{W:160Cf}(4... d5xe4). A typical way to answer this threat is for White to advance the king-pawn {R}{C}{S:e4e5}{W:160Cg}(4. e4-e5), ending the tension and constricting Black's central formation, so that the c8-bishop's mobility is reduced. As a counter to this, Black may strike back with the undermining thrust {S:c7c5}{W:160Ch}4... c7-c5, with the ensuing play mixing strategy and tactics globally across the board. {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:f8b4}{W:160Ci}Wait a nanosecond. Doesn't the move 3... Bf8-b4 violate the principle that advocates developing knights before bishops? Yes, it does, but then this is a fairly limited principle, with numerous exceptions. If you want to play good chess, ignore the principle and do what you think is right. If you want to demonstrate your ability to rotely remember platitudes, start with this one about "knights before bishops" and see if it helps you win real chess games. I tend to think it won't.;3... Ne7;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:g8e7}{W:160I}Incorrect. At this point (move three) developing the king-knight to e7 shouldn't turn out too well. On e7 the knight blocks in the {N1:f8}{W:160Ia}f8-bishop, so in order to get this bishop out, either Black will have to move the e7-knight again, or commence a kingside fianchetto (g7-g6), greatly weakening the dark-squares. Since Black has already retarded the development of his queen-bishop by positioning the king-pawn on {N1:e6}{W:160Ib}e6, moving the knight to e7 only compounds the problem. Thereafter neither of Black's bishops will be serving optimally. Moreover, the move 3... Ng8-e7 doesn't have any bite to it either, for this particular placement doesn't attack White's king-pawn, as does the development 3... Ng8-f6. So let's see. It causes problems and it doesn't really do anything. I say we don't play it.}]

21.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:161. After 1. e4 c6  2. d4 d5  3. Nc3, should Black take a pawn or develop a piece?{W:161}{A:Bd5e4}{H1:e4}{W:161a}{A:Bg8f6}{H1:f6}{W:161b};3... dxe4;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:d5e4}{W:161C}Correct. Black aims to remove the e4-pawn from the board in the Caro-Kann Defense (1. e2-e4 c7-c6). So long as it remains in place Black is stuck for a good developing scheme. After the capture, 3... d5xe4, the pawn is replaced by White's queen-knight, {S:c3e4}{W:161Ca}4. Nc3xe4. But the {N1:e4}{W:161Cb}e4-knight in turn is subject to harassment. Black can develop either a bishop {A:Bc8f5}{W:161Cc}(4... Bc8-f5) or a knight {A:Bg8f6}{W:161Cd}(4... Ng8-f6), both of which storm White's centralized minor piece on e4. Or Black can prepare an attack on e4 by first moving the queen-knight to d7 {R}{S:b8d7}{W:161Ce}(4... Nb8-d7). On the next move he could challenge e4 by mobilizing the king-knight {S:g8f6}{W:161Cf}(5... Ng8-f6). Whichever of these plans is selected, Black should do just fine.;3... Nf6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:g8f6}{W:161I}Incorrect. Not only is this knight move (3... Ng8-f6) inefficacious, it's actually quite detrimental to Black's game. White meets the threat to the e4-pawn by turning the attack around to threaten Black {S:e4e5}{W:161Ia}(4. e4-e5), to which the defender has only inferior responses. On 3... Ng8-f6 4. e4-e5{S:f6e4}{W:161Ib}Nf6-e4, White sidesteps the exchange on e4 with {S:c3e2}{W:161Ic}5. Nc3-e2, which menaces {S:f2f3}{W:161Id}6. f2-f3, trapping the overextended e4-knight. {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pp2pppp/2p2n2/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:e4e5}{W:161Ie}After 4. e4-e5, of course the troubled f6-knight could also retreat to the back rank {A:Bf6g8}{W:161If}(4... Nf6-g8). But this would connote a loss of time and prestige. Finally, Black could withdraw the f6-knight to d7, but after {R}{S:f6d7}{W:161Ig}4... Nf6-d7 {S:e5e6}{W:161Ih}5. e5-e6!, Black must be very careful. If he then takes the invasive king-pawn {S:f7e6}{W:161Ii}(5... f7xe6), White threatens mate by developing the king-bishop {S:f1d3}{W:161Ij}(6. Bf1-d3), and Black has to make sure to ward off White's looming queen check at {N1:h5}{W:161Ik}h5. Black's position still has defensive spunk, but the attacker's moves are easier to find.}]

22.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{QB:162. After 1. e4 c6  2. d4 d5  3. e5, should Black develop or solidify his center?{W:162}{A:Bc8f5}{H1:f5}{W:162a}{A:Be7e6}{H1:e6}{W:162b};3... Bf5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:c8f5}{W:162C}Correct. The better move is 3... Bc8-f5, activating the bishop before it gets locked inside the pawn chain. After the queen-bishop is so developed, then Black can follow by advancing the king-pawn, {S:e7e6}{W:162Ca}4... e7-e6. This illustrates why some players opt for the Caro-Kann (1. e2-e4 c7-c6) over the French (1. e2-e4 e7-e6). In the Caro-Kann, Black can get his queen-bishop out before it gets locked inside the pawn chain. He can't do this in the French Defense, however, because the e6-pawn obstructs the c8-h3 diagonal from move one onward. Thus in the French Defense the c8-bishop is often identified as the so-called "problem bishop" because of its limited scope.;3... e6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:e7e6}{W:162I}Incorrect. The push 3... e7-e6 is premature at this juncture. The idea is to open the line of the {N1:f8}{W:162Ia}f8-bishop, paving the way for the counter c6-c5. But what's good for one Black bishop can be bad for the other. Playing 3... e7-e6 opens a path for the dark-square bishop while impeding the light-square bishop's diagonal {N1:c8d7e6f5g4h3}{W:162Ib}(c8-h3). With a little foresight, however, Black can have the best of both worlds. He can delay the king-pawn's movement until the queen-bishop is activated to f5. After {C}{S:e6e7}{S:c8f5}{W:162Ic}3... Bc8-f5, Black can follow with {S:e7e6}{W:162Id}4... e7-e6 and then develop the {N1:f8}{W:162Ie}king-bishop. This way both bishop's can participate, and neither is hindered by pawn obstructions.}]

23.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/3p1n2/8/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:163. After 1. e4 d6  2. d4 Nf6  3. Nc3, should Black take a stand in the center or prepare further development?{W:163}{A:Be7e5}{H1:e5}{W:163a}{A:Bg7g6}{H1:g6}{W:163b};3... e5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/3p1n2/8/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:e7e5}{W:163I}Incorrect. The timing is not right for 3... e7-e5. First White trades center pawns {S:d4e5}{W:163Ia}(4. d4xe5 {S:d6e5}{W:163Ib}d6xe5). Then he follows by trading queens  {S:d1d8}{W:163Ic}(5. Qd1xd8+ {S:e8d8}{W:163Id}Ke8xd8). The result is that Black's king is stranded in the center, without the ability to castle, subsisting as a standing target for White's pieces. If Black were so desirous of playing e7-e5, he should do it on the first move, making the game a double king-pawn opening. But once Black initiates the Pirc Defense (1. e2-e4 d7-d6), the counterattack of the king-pawn is ruled out, at least not without further preparation. Instead Black should look to develop the {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/3p1n2/8/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{N1:f8}{W:163Ie}king-bishop by flanking it at g7 {C}{S:g7g6}{W:163If}(3... g7-g6). Moreover, if Black is really intent on moving the king-pawn, he might try placing the queen-knight on {S:g6g7}{S:b8d7}{W:163Ig}d7 first. This avoids the exchange of queens when and if the d-file opens, because the knight at {N1:d7}{W:163Ih}d7 functions as a shield between the opposing queens.;3... g6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/3p1n2/8/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:g7g6}{W:163C}Correct. There is no need to take a stand in the center just yet, so 3... g7-g6 is quite logical. Nor can White use this apparent respite to barrel through the center, for the d6-pawn provides just enough resistance to thwart the advance of White's king-pawn. If White does follow by moving the king-pawn {S:e4e5}{W:163Ca}(4. e4-e5), Black exchanges pawns {S:d6e5}{W:163Cb}(4... d6xe5  {S:d4e5}{W:163Cc}5. d4xe5) and then trades queens, beginning with {S:d8d1}{W:163Cd}5... Qd8xd1+. In the ensuing circumstances Black has excellent chances. If White doesn't push the king-pawn to e5, Black will use the next few moves to complete his development and to get the king to safety. Thus Black would probably continue by completing the fianchetto {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp1pp1p/3p1np1/8/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:f8g7}{W:163Ce}(4... Bf8-g7) and castling kingside {S:h8f8}{S:e8g8}{W:163Cf}(5... 0-0). Black might wind up not moving the king-pawn at all. Instead he could attack {N1:d4}{W:163Cg}d4 by throwing out the queen-bishop pawn to {S:c7c5}{W:163Ch}c5, thereby trying to obtain play while avoiding obstruction to the {N1:a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8}{W:163Ci}a1-h8 diagonal at {N1:e5}{W:163Cj}e5. It's another way to go, and it's not a bad one.}]

24.
[{F:B}{B:rnb1kbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3q4/8/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:164. After 1. e4 d5  2. exd5 Qxd5  3. Nc3, should the queen flee or do something aggressive?{W:164}{A:Bd5a5}{H1:a5}{W:164a}{A:Bd5e5}{H1:e5}{W:164b};3... Qa5;{F:B}{B:rnb1kbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3q4/8/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:d5a5}{W:164C}Correct. Nothing wrong with running toward the board's outer perimeter (3... Qd5-a5). At a5 the queen is safe from time-gaining attacks by White's pieces and pawns, so Black can devote his efforts to calling up the rest of the forces. Curious thing is that even from the side of the board the Black queen incandesces tremendous power. For one, her majesty stands sentinel over the middle focal points at {N1:d5e5}{W:164Ca}d5 and e5. Moreover, once White advances the d-pawn two squares to {C}{S:d2d4}{W:164Cb}d4, which is bound to happen soon, the {G:WNc3}{W:164Cc}queen-knight at c3 will automatically be in a pin, queen at a5 to king at e1. Thus even though it costs Black an extra tempo to get the queen to a5, it's not such a bad idea because of all that the queen does from there.;3... Qe5+;{F:B}{B:rnb1kbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3q4/8/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:d5e5}{W:164I}Incorrect. keeping the queen in the center (3... Qd5-e5+) is too ambitious and should misfire. Not that the idea of combining defense and attack isn't laudable, but this is not the way to make it work. White easily deals with the check {S:f1e2}{W:164Ia}(4. Bf1-e2), developing a piece in the bargain. No matter how Black responds, White then has a choice of ways to assail Black's queen. White can attack the opposing queen either with the king-knight {A:Wg1f3}{W:164Ib}(5. Ng1-f3) or the queen-pawn {R}{A:Wd2d4}{W:164Ic}(5. d2-d4), depending on which is a more effective response to Black's fourth move. Both of these rejoinders gain time on the queen, and both are moves that White would like to play anyway. So Black's queen check (3... Qd5-e5+) makes little sense. It merely helps White build his own game.}]

25.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3P4/2P5/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{QB:165. After 1. e4 d5  2. exd5 Nf6  3. c4, which is the more traditional way to offer a gambit?{W:165}{A:Be7e6}{H1:e6}{W:165a}{A:Bc7c6}{H1:c6}{W:165b};3... e6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3P4/2P5/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:e7e6}{W:165I}Incorrect. This sacrifice of the king-pawn (3... e7-e6) is the relatively new Icelandic Gambit. If White accepts the pawn {S:d5e6}{W:165Ia}(4. d5xe6), Black's pieces come leaping out of the starting gate with {S:c8e6}{W:165Ib}4... Bc8xe6. White will be on the defensive for quite some time, playing catch-up on development while being careful to safeguard his king. It could be that White is better off declining Black's kind offer of a pawn all together. Should a developing player risk sacrificing a pawn in this fashion? Absolutely! Taking chances, placing yourself in difficult situations where you have to create possibilities, in which you need to make things happen in order to survive, is one of the best ways to expedite your growth as a chessplayer. Moreover, I'd be willing to wager that the carry-over value to coping with everyday experience is not irrelevant. Don't underrate the merit of what can be learned in "the black and white jungle.";3... c6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3P4/2P5/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:c7c6}{W:165C}Correct. There may not be a best way to offer a gambit here, but 3... c7-c6 is the more typical method. If White accepts the challenge {S:d5c6}{W:165Ca}(4. d5xc6), Black brings out the queen-knight {S:b8c6}{W:165Cb}(4... Nb8xc6) and zeroes in on {N1:d4}{W:165Cc}d4. By following with a subsequent two-square advance of the king-pawn {C}{S:e7e5}{W:165Cd}(5... e7-e5), Black should have sufficient activity to justify the offer of a pawn. For this reason many players prefer turning down the gambit, instead transposing into the Panov-Botvinnik Attack of the Caro-Kann Defense with {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pp2pppp/2p1n2/3P4/2P5/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:d2d4}{W:165Ce}4. d2-d4. (It's usually arrived at by a different move order, 1. e2-e4 c7-c6  2. d2-d4 d7-d5  3. e4xd5 c6xd5  4. c2-c4.) The other good thing about this transposition, as is the case whenever moves are transposed, is that its unexpectedness could take the play out of the opponent's hands. It's all about control. You want to maintain control when you already have it, and seize control when you don't.}]

26.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:166. After 1. d4 d5  2. c4 e6  3. Nc3, which is the better knight move?{W:166}{A:Bg8f6}{H1:f6}{W:166a}{A:Bb8c6}{H1:c6}{W:166b};3... Nf6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:g8f6}{W:166C}Correct. Developing the king-knight (3... Ng8-f6) is the better idea. Black thereby announces his intention to quickly position the king-bishop (usually 4... Bf8-e7){S:f8e7}{W:166Ca}, followed by castling kingside {S:e8g8}{S:h8f8}{W:166Cb}(5... 0-0). Once Black's king is safely tucked away he can turn his focus to the center and queenside. The actual approach will depend on what White does. Black could decide to bolster the center by advancing the queen-bishop pawn {F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/ppp2ppp/4pn2/3p4/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}{A:Bc7c6}{W:166Cc}(c7-c6), or he may choose to menace White's queen-pawn by the counter {R}{A:Bc7c5}{W:166Cd}c7-c5. Still another plan is to flank the queen-bishop, first advancing the queen-knight pawn {R}{S:b7b6}{W:166Ce}(b7-b6) and then deploying the bishop {S:c8b7}{W:166Cf}(Bc8-b7). Regardless which of these schemes is selected, Black has good options stemming from the building move 3... Ng8-f6.;3... Nc6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:b8c6}{W:166I}Incorrect. Do not play 3... Nb8-c6 in this position. It leads to a lifeless game for Black, who lacks the firepower to break out in the center. This is because to obtain any real play Black must have the opportunity to move up the c-pawn to {A:Bc7c5}{W:166Ia}c5, but after 3... Nb8-c6 the c-pawn's movement is held back by the {R}{G:BNc6}{W:166Ib}queen-knight. Innocent bystanders include the queen-rook at {O}{N1:a8c8}{W:166Ic}a8 and the queen-bishop at c8, both of which must also suffer because of Black's deficiency in queenside space arising from the blocked c-pawn. Finally, even Black's queen has reduced promise, for the obstruction of the c-pawn keeps the {N1:a5b6c7d8}{W:166Id}a5-d8 diagonal closed and therefore unusable. {C}{W:166Ie}In queen-pawn openings in particular, as a rule (though not an untransgressible one), try not to develop the queen-knight in front of the c-pawn, hindering its movement. Usually you will need the possibility of advancing the c-pawn in order to muster serious activity in the center and on the queenside. Otherwise, your play could be non-existent.}]

27.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pPP3/8/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{QB:167. After 1. d4 d5  2. c4 dxc4  3. e4, which is the better move for Black's king-pawn?{W:167}{A:Be7e6}{H1:e6}{W:167a}{A:Be7e5}{H1:e5}{W:167b};3... e6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pPP3/8/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:e7e6}{W:167I}Incorrect. The one-square advance (3... e7-e6) is entirely too conservative. After White recovers his gambit pawn, {S:f1c4}{W:167Ia}3... Bf1xc4, he will have everything he could desire from the opening. He will have open lines for development, {N1:d4e4}{W:167Ib}two classically aligned center pawns, an unimperiled king, and a growing initiative. If Black doesn't react quickly, and with spirit, he'll be chased off the cliff. Just because Black starts out as the second player, and superficially the defender, doesn't mean that he has to remain on the defensive. Black can take a more active stance, boldly fighting back to get a share of the center with the sharp rejoinder {C}{A:Be7e5}{W:167Ic}3... e7-e5, a two-square advance of the king-pawn.;3... e5;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pPP3/8/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:e7e5}{W:167C}Correct. The two-square advance (3... e7-e5) is the more enterprising and better choice. The reason many players would be dissuaded from trying it is that it appears to lose the king-pawn. But the apparent offer is just a cog in a whole system of counterplay that enables Black to hold his own. Up front we see two things about the move 3... e7-e5. It places the king-pawn where it can be taken for free by White's queen-pawn (4. d4xe5). But it also issues its own forewarning, menacing in turn the expropriation of the very thing threatening to capture it, that same White queen-pawn (4... e5xd4). If White responds by taking the king-pawn {S:d4e5}{W:167Ca}(4. d4xe5), Black trades queens {S:d8d1}{W:167Cb}(4... Qd8xd1+  {S:e1d1}{W:167Cc}5. Ke1xd1), leaving White's king vulnerable in the center, which is one of the key aspects of Black's countergambit. (In order to avoid this debilitating queen trade, and the concomitant change in fortune of White's king, White instead can answer {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pPP3/8/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}{S:e7e5}{W:167Cd}3... e7-e5 by the developing move {A:Wg1f3}{W:167Ce}4. Ng1-f3.) After the opening of the d-file {R}{S:d4e5}{W:167Cf}(4. d4xe5) and the exchange of queens {S:d8d1}{W:167Cg}(4... Qd8xd1+ {S:e1d1}{W:167Ch}5. Ke1xd1), Black can retain his c-pawn {S:c8e6}{W:167Ci}(5... Bc8-e6), which ordinarily falls victim to White's f1-bishop {A:Wf1c4}{N1:c4}{W:167Cj}(Bf1xc4). This is why Black can afford to sacrifice the e-pawn. He knows, on his side of the ledger, that losing the e-pawn doesn't matter so much because he can keep his c-pawn, insuring material balance. So we see the move 3... e7-e5, though a sacrifice on the surface, actually leads to equality in force. The reason it works so well is because it's played with a gain of time. The time is gained by virtue of the direct attack on White's d4-pawn, which in some way must be answered. This threat stops White in his tracks. The move 3... e7-e6, on the other hand, does not. It threatens nothing, so White can merrily proceed with the building of a fine game. To buffer the sting of this countergambit {F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pPP3/8/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR}{W:167Ck}(3... e7-e5), White usually delays the two-square advance of the king-pawn (3. e2-e4), instead opting to develop the king-knight first {S:g1f3}{W:167Cl}(3. Ng1-f3). This seizes control of {N1:e5}{W:167Cm}e5, so that if Black then offers the king-pawn (3... e7-e5), White can take it with the knight {S:e7e5}{S:f3e5}{W:167Cn}(4. Nf3xe5), avoiding the opening of the d-file and the ensuing trade of queens.}]

28.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:168. After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4  3. Nf3, which is the better minor piece development?{W:168}{A:Bc8e6}{H1:e6}{W:168a}{A:Bg8f6}{H1:f6}{W:168b};3... Be6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c8e6}{W:168I}Incorrect. Don't try to hold the gambit pawn with 3... Bc8-e6. It won't work anyway, and the bishop sitting on e6 only compromises Black's game. Consider the role of the respective king-pawns. Black's king-pawn at {N1:e7}{W:168Ia}e7 is completely immobilized, blocked in place by the {N1:e6}{W:168Ib}e6-bishop. White's e2-pawn, on the other hand, is free to advance. The ideal place for it is e4. After advancing the king-pawn two squares ahead {C}{S:e2e4}{W:168Ic}(4. e2-e4), White has commanding central possibilities, with a threat to push on the bishop {S:d4d5}{W:168Id}(d4-d5). Once the bishop is driven away, {S:e6c8}{W:168Ie}White's f1-bishop should be able to take the Black pawn on {S:f1c4}{W:168If}c4, reestablishing material equality. As a rule, try not to block your center pawns by developing your own pieces in front of them. In many instances you'll wind up moving the same pieces again, wasting time in the process. And even if this doesn't become necessary, there's a good chance your pieces and pawns will get in each other's way, making development and maneuvering difficult just the same.;3... Nf6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:g8f6}{W:168C}Correct. Black should ignore the c4-pawn and develop naturally with 3... Ng8-f6. The merit of the knight move is that it prevents White from advancing the king-pawn two squares (4. e2-e4). This means that, to let out the f1-bishop, and to attack c4, White will probably content himself with a one-square movement of the king-pawn {S:e2e3}{W:168Ca}(4. e2-e3). But While this is going on Black can pursue his own plans, moving the king-pawn to king-three {S:e7e6}{W:168Cb}(4... e7-e6) to prepare the combative thrust {S:c7c5}{W:168Cc}5... c7-c5. This sudden pressure on White's {N1:d4}{W:168Cd}d4 acts as a counterweight against his attack, insuring that White's opening initiative does not get out of hand.}]

29.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:169. After 1. d4 Nf6  2. c4 e6  3. Nc3, how should Black develop his king-bishop?{W:169}{A:Bf8b4}{H1:b4}{W:169a}{A:Bg7g6}{H1:g6}{W:169b};3... Bb4;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:f8b4}{W:169C}Correct. The better move is to use the dark-square to pin White's queen-knight (3... Bf8-b4). By doing so Black neutralizes the knight and takes control of the square {N1:e4}{W:169Ca}e4. If White were thinking of playing his king-pawn up two squares, the idea now has to be put on hold, for after {S:e2e4}{W:169Cb}4. e2-e4 Black could take White's king-pawn for free {A:Bf6e4}{N1:e4}{W:169Cc}(4... Nf6xe4). Note how Black's dark-square bishop attacks both the {R}{A:Bb4c3}{N1:c3}{W:169Cd}c3-knight, which sits on a dark-square, as well as the function of this knight, which is to guard {R}{N1:e4}{W:169Ce}e4, a light-square. It's possible that White could menace the b4-bishop with the queen-rook pawn, hoping to drive off the pesky minor piece, but this comes to nothing for Black has no qualms surrendering bishop for knight, {F:B}{B:rnbqk2r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/1bPP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:a2a3}{W:169Cf}4. a2-a3 {S:b4c3}{W:169Cg}Bb4xc3+ {S:b2c3}{W:169Ch}5. b2xc3. Although Black has given White the two bishops at this point, he's saved time and doubled White's pawns (here this is not yet terribly significant). Moreover, Black still retains control of {N1:e4}{W:169Ci}e4, thanks to the {G:BNf6}{W:169Cj}f6-knight.;3... g6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:g7g6}{W:169I}Incorrect. Black loses time and weakens his position if he plays 3... g7-g6. This is because, by moving the king-knight pawn, he actually takes two moves to develop the king-bishop when it could be done in one. Just move it along the {N1:a3b4c5d6e7f8}{W:169Ia}a3-f8 diagonal, and forget about moving up the king-knight pawn. Another problem is that by pushing the g-pawn Black weakens {N1:f6}{W:169Ib}f6 unnecessarily. Generally, it's a bad idea to advance both the e- and g-pawns to develop the king-bishop. Select one of the ways, and go with it. Either Black should move the {N1:e6}{W:169Ic}e-pawn and develop the king-bishop along the {N1:a3b4c5d6e7f8}{W:169Id}a3-f8 diagonal, or move the {N1:g6}{W:169Ie}g-pawn and flank the king-bishop at {N1:g7}{W:169If}g7. One last nail in the coffin, by moving 3... g7-g6, Black does nothing to contest the square {N1:e4}{W:169Ig}e4. Without opposition on this point, White will soon expand in the center and gain a huge spatial edge.}]

30.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/8/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}
{QB:170. After 1. d4 Nf6  2. c4 g6  3. Nc3, which is the better choice?{W:170}{A:Bf8g7}{H1:g7}{W:170a}{A:Bb7b6}{H1:b6}{W:170b};3... Bg7;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/8/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:f8g7}{W:170C}Correct. Black has two good moves here. One of them is to complete the fianchetto started on the kingside, 3... Bf8-g7. The other is to play {A:Bd7d5}{W:170Ca}3... d7-d5, entering upon a branch of the King's Indian known as the Gruenfeld Defense. Nothing other than these two moves makes much sense in this situation. For the most part, if you start a fianchetto, don't go off on a tangent and fail to consummate the fianchetto. Otherwise you will be stuck with the weaknesses engendered by the corresponding knight-pawn's advance without the remedy of a bishop in place to offset those weaknesses.;3... b6;{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/8/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}{S:b7b6}{W:170I}Incorrect. Avoid for now the second fianchetto initiated by the advance 3... b7-b6. Don't make the mistake made by some players who reason that, if one fianchetto is good, two must be twice as good. Sometimes a pair of crisscrossing flanked bishops harmonize, sometimes they don't. The one thing that is certain in the given situation, however, is that Black has commenced the fianchetto of the king-bishop (2... g7-g6). It therefore is logical to complete the fianchetto with dispatch {S:f8g7}{W:170Ia}(3... Bf8-g7). Moreover, since there's a chance that Black will wind up playing a dark-square game, because of the flanked king-bishop, it might be sensible to move the d-pawn to {S:d7d6}{W:170Ib}d6 and to develop the light-square bishop on the {N1:c8d7e6f5g4h3}{W:170Ic}c8-h3 diagonal. In this way the bishop could be used to attack, for example, a White knight stationed on {N1:f3}{W:170Id}f3, which indirectly would influence the central dark-squares by threatening to remove a piece that guards them.}]

31.
[{F:B}{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/2P5/2N2N2/PP1PPPPP/R1BQKB1R}
{QB:171. After 1. c4 e5  2. Nc3 Nf6  3. Nf3, should Black defend the king-pawn or push it?{W:171}{A:Bb8c6}{H1:c6}{W:171a}{A:Be5e4}{H1:e4}{W:171b};3... Nc6;{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/2P5/2N2N2/PP1PPPPP/R1BQKB1R}{S:b8c6}{W:171C}Correct. The {N1:e5}{W:171Ca}e5-pawn needs a guard, and Black best supplies one by 3... Nb8-c6. In addition to protecting his center pawn, by bringing out the queen-knight Black maintains the equilibrium in development. This gives Black two knights in the field, the same as White, so neither side is far ahead. Another satisfactory way to support the e-pawn would be with the queen-pawn {A:Bd7d6}{W:171Cb}(3... d7-d6), but this slightly inhibits the development of the king-bishop at {N1:f8}{W:171Cc}f8. Moreover, it's not yet clear if Black should move the d-pawn two squares ahead instead of one, so perhaps it's reasonable to wait a few moves before deciding. Could there be a better waiting move than 3... Nb8-c6, a building idea that Black would like to implement anyway?;3... e4;{B:rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/2P5/2N2N2/PP1PPPPP/R1BQKB1R}{S:e5e4}{W:171I}Incorrect. Impelling the e-pawn forward (3... e5-e4) is an error, for the adventurous foot soldier outruns its support. The f3-knight shifts to attack mode at g5, Black's queen must defend from e7, and then White's queen provides the exclamation point at c2, with the king-pawn soon falling,{S:f3g5}{W:171Ia}4. Nf3-g5 {S:d8e7}{W:171Ib}Qd8-e7 {S:d1c2}{W:171Ic}5. Qd1-c2. Next move, White's g5-knight gobbles the morsel on {A:Wg5e4}{N1:e4}{W:171Id}e4. Three attackers dominate two defenders, and we don't need the "new math" to explain it. Black has overextended himself, and that's that.}]

32.
[{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2PP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:172. After 1. c4 e5  2. Nf3 Nc6  3. d4, which is the better capture?{W:172}{A:Bc6d4}{H1:d4}{W:172a}{A:Be5d4}{W:172b};3... cxd4;{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2PP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:e5d4}{W:172C}Correct. Taking with the pawn (3... exd4) is the loftier way. The capture is more or less necessary because the White-queen pawn menaces an advance to d5, dislodging the c6-knight out of position. No time is wasted by the capture on d4 since, in order to maintain material equality, White must spend a tempo to take back with an already developed piece {S:f3d4}{W:172Ca}(4. Nf3xd4). After the take-back Black has a temporary initiative and can use it to develop a new piece, either the {N1:g8f8}{W:172Cb}king-knight or the king-bishop. What about White's potential threat to take the queen-knight, doubling Black's c-pawns? Black can ignore this, for after {C}{S:d4c6}{W:172Cc}5. Nd4xc6 he retakes with the knight-pawn {S:b7c6}{W:172Cd}(5... b7xc6), adding pawn power to the center and opening the b-file for the queen-rook. Certainly this is not a transaction for Black to fear.;3... Nxd4;{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2PP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c6d4}{W:172I}Incorrect. The knight capture 3... Nc6xd4 is dead wrong. It doesn't lose material, but it gives away too much in space and time, and too much in development and security. After White takes Black's knight {S:f3d4}{W:172Ia}(4. Nf3xd4) and Black recaptures with the king  pawn {S:e5d4}{W:172Ib}(4... exd4), White's queen assumes residence in the center with {S:d1d4}{W:172Ic}5. Qd1xd4. It's this last move by White that causes most of the problems. From the center the White queen reigns supreme, attacking in all directions, and with real menace. Normally this kind of placement is impossible, for a White queen occupying d4 can usually be driven away by Black's queen-knight from c6. But this cannot be, for here the queen-knight has left the playing arena for good (3... Nc6xd4  4. Nf3xd4). The result is that White has a significant advantage and should be able to maintain a strong initiative right into the middlegame. As a rule, don't draw the enemy queen to the center if you can't see a way to exploit this positioning, especially if you can't unseat the queen with a gain in development and/or time. Otherwise you'll be defending yourself for quite a while, possibly till the start of the next game.}]

33.
[{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/16/5NP1/PPPPPPBP/RNBQK2R}
{QB:173. After 1. Nf3 Nf6  2. g3 g6  3. Bg2, which is the more natural move?{W:173}{A:Bd7d5}{H1:d5}{W:173a}{A:Bf8g7}{H1:g7}{W:173b};3... d5;{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/16/5NP1/PPPPPPBP/RNBQK2R}{S:d7d5}{W:173I}Incorrect. The advance of the queen-pawn (3... d7-d5) is the less natural of the two ideas. Don't get us wrong. It's a perfectly acceptable move. But it doesn't follow logically from Black's previous play, 2... g7-g6. Black's last move began a fianchetto, which should now be consummated, for there is no compelling reason to abandon or delay the completion of this two-part process, even temporarily. The king-bishop should go to {A:Bf8g7}{N1:g7}{W:173Ia}g7 forthwith. Beyond this, why should Black place his d-pawn on d5 unnecessarily, when it might suit his needs more to position it on {R}{N1:d6}{W:173Ib}d6? More information is needed to decide whether it's better to move the queen-pawn either one or two squares ahead. So why not wait a bit, instead playing a move that must be played anyhow, {C}{A:Bf8g7}{W:173Ic}3... Bf8-g7, which fulfills the flanking movement. It's important when deciding on a particular development to envision how this specific move is going to fit into an overall scheme. Try to determine if a specific placement, such as the thrust 3... d7-d5, is going to work smoothly with the positioning of the other forces (here, the flanking of the king-bishop at g7). Indeed it might thrive, but if you're not yet sure, it's more prudent to wait until your opponent has committed himself to something more definite. Then you can decide by referring to the concrete, rather than the imaginary.;3... Bg7;{B:rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/16/5NP1/PPPPPPBP/RNBQK2R}{S:f8g7}{W:173C}Correct. The overwhelming and more natural choice here is 3... Bf8-g7. This is so, not because the other choice, 3... d7-d5, is so bad, but because once a fianchetto has been started (by moving a knight-pawn) it should be completed. Otherwise the move of the knight-pawn becomes a total waste, and a weakening one at that. The knight-pawn move (2... g7-g6) only prepares the development of the king-bishop. It doesn't constitute it. Until the bishop is actually deployed at knight-two (here, {N1:g7}{W:173Ca}g7), it's still undeveloped. Then there's the question of the d-pawn itself. Since Black is going to flank his king-bishop at g7, he is likely to be playing a dark-square game, trying especially to influence the dark squares in the middle, {N1:d4e5}{W:173Cb}d4 and e5. The pawn move d7-d5 attacks central light squares, not dark ones, so this advance is not particularly germane to Black's kingside set-up. This doesn't mean that Black shouldn't play a two-square queen-pawn advance at some point. Perhaps Black will shortly want to play d7-d5. But it might be better to see how the game develops before being so committal, for once you've made a pawn move, you're stuck with the consequences.}]

34.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2p5/4PN2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKB1R}
{QB:174. After 1. Nf3 d5  2. c4 dxc4  3. e3, should Black defend c4 or develop a piece?{W:174}{A:Bb7b5}{H1:b5}{W:174a}{A:Bg8f6}{H1:f6}{W:174b};3... b5;{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2p5/4PN2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:b7b5}{W:174I}Incorrect. There's no chance to keep the extra pawn by the protective 3... b7-b5, and since the move itself is quite weakening, Black shouldn't even bother with it. This defensive effort fails because Black's resulting queenside pawn structure is unstable. It can be undermined and riven apart by the one-two punch of White's a- and b-pawns. The most thematic response to 3... b7-b5 is {S:a2a4}{W:174Ia}4. a2-a4, a disruptive advance of the queen-rook pawn. To keep his pawns united, Black must now play {A:Bc7c6}{W:174Ib}4... c7-c6. Defending with the queen-rook pawn {R}{S:a7a6}{W:174Ic}(4... a7-a6) is refuted by the direct capture, {S:a4b5}{W:174Id}5. a4xb5, when the a6-pawn can't take back {S:a6b5}{W:174Ie}(5... a6xb5) without exposing the a8-rook to apprehension {S:a1a8}{W:174If}(6. Ra1xa8). After the temporary expedient {B:rnbqkbnr/p1p1pppp/8/1p6/P1p5/4PN2/1P1P1PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c7c6}{W:174Ig}4... c7-c6, White first exchanges on b5 {S:a4b5}{W:174Ih}(5. a4xb5 {S:c6b5}{W:174Ii}c6xb5), and then follows with the unsettling pawn move {S:b2b3}{W:174Ij}6. b2-b3. This threatens to win back the pawn by capturing twice on c4 {S:b3c4}{W:174Ik}(7. b3xc4 {S:b5c4}{W:174Il}b5xc4  {S:b5c4}{S:f1c4}{W:174Im}8. Bf1xc4). And if Black trades off the c4-pawn {B:rnbqkbnr/p3pppp/8/1p6/2p5/1P2PN2/3P1PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:c4b3}{W:174In}(6... c4xb3), White delays the b3-recapture till after taking the b-pawn with check {S:f1b5}{W:174Io}(7... Bf1xb5+). No matter how Black replies{S:c8d7}{W:174Ip}, his opponent can answer {S:d1b3}{W:174Iq}8. Qd1xb3, restoring the material balance and leaving White with the better game. White has the superior chances because he has more center pawns than his opponent, and also because Black's isolated {N1:a7}{W:174Ir}a7-pawn is a potential target along the a-file. White might be able to attack it a number of times, especially by eventually doubling rooks on the a-file. Can Black offset the weakness of his queen-rook pawn? He might be able to, but this would entail advancing the a-pawn in a timely and effective manner. Then it might be transformed into a dangerous passed pawn, capable of becoming a new queen. Or maybe the opponent will be forced into making damaging concessions just to cope with it. But this is a long way off, and the way may not be real.;3... Nf6;{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2p5/4PN2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKB1R}{S:g8f6}{W:174C}Correct. Since the c4-pawn cannot be maintained, Black is advised to ignore it and play 3... Ng8-f6, developing a new piece. After White follows with {S:f1c4}{W:174Ca}4. Bf1xc4, regaining the pawn, Black counters with the pawn attack {S:c7c5}{W:174Cb}4... c7-c5, exerting pressure on the {N1:d4}{W:174Cc}d4-square, where White is likely to place his queen-pawn. In this way Black is able to both develop and influence the center meaningfully, without incurring liabilities or insoluble problems. After developing the king-knight (3... Ng8-f6), Black is starting to get ready for business.}]

35.
[{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/8/1P2P3/PBPP1PPP/RN1QKBNR}
{QB:175. After 1. b3 e5  2. Bb2 Nc6  3. e3, which pawn move is more appropriate?{W:175}{A:Bd7d6}{H1:d6}{W:175a}{A:Ba7a6}{H1:a6}{W:175b};3... d6;{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/8/1P2P3/PBPP1PPP/RN1QKBNR}{S:d7d6}{W:175C}Correct. With the queen-pawn's advance (3... d7-d6), Black strengthens his king-pawn, so that when White's bishop attacks the c6-knight {S:f1b5}{W:175Ca}(4. Bf1-b5), nothing is really threatened because the king-pawn is guarded by the d6-pawn. If Black is concerned about the doubled pawns emanating from the exchange on c6 {S:b5c6}{W:175Cb}(5. Bb5xc6 {S:b7c6}{W:175Cc}b7xc6), he can add reinforcement to c6 by {B:r1bqkbnr/ppp2ppp/2np4/1B2p3/8/1P2P3/PBPP1PPP/RN1QKBNR}{S:c8d7}{W:175Cd}4... Bc8-d7. Then, on the next move, Black can follow with {S:a7a6}{W:175Ce}5... a7-a6, "putting the question" to White's {N1:b5}{W:175Cf}b5-bishop. This practically forces White into an unfavorable exchange {C}{S:b5c6}{W:175Cg}(6. Bb5xc6 {S:d7c6}{W:175Ch}Bd7xc6) of bishop for knight, with Black obtaining the two-bishop advantage. Moreover, Black derives good central play by virtue of this transaction. His center pawns will guard the dark squares and his c6-bishop will patrol the light ones.;3... a6;{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/8/1P2P3/PBPP1PPP/RN1QKBNR}{S:a7a6}{W:175I}Incorrect. It's not worth taking the time out to play the preventive move, 3... a7-a6.  White's threat to play {A:Wf1b5}{W:175Ia}4. Bf1-b5 is annoying, but not fearsome. Furthermore, there are other ways to deal with the intrusive bishop once it gets to b5. Rather than opting for a purely defensive move like 3... a7-a6, Black should be eyeing something more energetic. Moving the {R}{N1:d7}{W:175Ib}d-pawn on move three, either one or two squares, looks fine, as is the building move {C}{A:Bg8f6}{W:175Ic}3... Ng8-f6. With any of these Black can do quite nicely. Generally, try to avoid playing overly passive moves, aimed at preventing distant, tenuous threats. Such hobgoblins are unnecessary and they throw away valuable tempi. The "threats" you stop may pale before the consequences of the time wasted in stopping them. Moves such as 3... a7-a6 in the present situation are like the cure that's worse than the disease.}]