It is a visitor publish by Worldwide Grasp Richard Palliser, one of many authors of the brand new Chessable course, The Killer Colle-Zukertort System.
It’s been a fortnight or so since Chessable printed The Killer Colle-Zukertort System. On this fashionable period, that’s loads of time for customers, aided by the Quickstarter part, to already take pleasure in enjoying the Colle-Zukertort in their very own video games. White’s fundamental setup is an easy one:
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.b3 Nc6 6.Bb2
It’s not arduous to understand why this stays a wonderful weapon on the membership and novice ranges. White will full improvement with 0-0 and Nbd2, after which towards any barely passive black set-up he can be fast to grab the initiative and attacking possibilities with Ne5 and f2-f4.
One other key attacking idea for White entails making use of these superb, raking bishops on b2 and d3, as American lawyer Alex Davis received to do in a latest sport.
Alex Davis (1610) – ‘Cyclist9’ (1995)
Lichess blitz (3+3), 06.12.2022
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 Nbd7 5.b3 c5 6.Bb2 Be7 7.0-0
The usual Colle-Zukertort set-up. Be aware the attacking potential of White’s two bishops, though you could not be capable to guess the place they’ll land on this sport!
7…0-0 8.Nbd2 a6
8…b6 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.Qe2 is the primary line of this specific black set-up. White connects the rooks forward of getting ready to assist the properly superior and powerfully positioned knight on e5 with f2-f4.
9.Ne5
Thematic play, and now Black, as typically occurs at novice degree, arguably mixes up his methods.
9…Qc7
9…Nxe5 10.dxe5 Nd7 11.c4!? is given in The Killer Colle-Zukertort System and provides White a really nice edge. Now, Qc2 is one concept, Qh5 one other, and even cxd5 exd5; e6 could be a menace.
10.f4 b5!?
Constant, if additionally provocative.
11.Nxd7!
Exchanging off the dominating knight, however Alex is absolutely conscious that the traces that are opening for White’s bishops will greater than compensate. Apart from, Black would possibly simply fall for the lure…
11…Nxd7?
With 11…Bxd7 12.dxc5 Qxc5 13.Qf3 Black has stored his kingside intact, however White nonetheless enjoys an edge and attacking possibilities, with Bd4 adopted by Qg3 and Nf3 one approach to start to take a agency grip on the place.
12.dxc5!
A powerful trade and one which forces Black to seek out the least pure of the three attainable recaptures.
12…Nxc5?
12…Bxc5? 13.Bxh7+! Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Bxg7! echoes the sport and can be successful for White. For instance: 15…f6 16.Bh6 Bxe3+ 17.Kh1 Ne5!? 18.Bxf8 and White will wind up materials forward and nonetheless with a lot the safer king.
12…Qxc5!? 13.Bxh7+! Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Bxg7!. Even right here the basic double-bishop sacrifice is on, though Black has some defensive possibilities because of his energetic queen: 15…Qxe3+ 16.Kh1 Kxg7 17.Rf3 d4! (and never 17…Qxd2?? 18.Qg4+ Kh8 19.Rh3+) 18.Qg4+! Kh8 19.Qh3+ Kg8 20.Qg3+ Kh8 21.Re1!? (persevering with to dangle the knight earlier than Black) 21…Nf6! 22.Rexe3 dxe3 23.Qh4+!? Nh7 24.Qxe7 exd2 25.Rd3 is an extended, however vital line. Materially Black has sufficient for the queen, however with such an energetic queen and the safer king, White might be barely for alternative.
13.Bxh7+! Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Bxg7!
Alex will get to land each Colle-Zukertort participant’s dream: a decisive double-bishop sacrifice. There’s merely no defence.
15…Kxg7 16.Qg4+!
A key follow-up, forcing the king to the h-file forward of lifting the rook.
16…Kh6 17.Rf3 1-0
Whereas White ought to all the time be looking out for making Nxd7, dxc5, and the basic double-bishop sacrifice work, extra normally the dominant knight stays on e5, performing as a bridgehead whereas White builds up on the kingside. A superb instance of such play was not too long ago given by none apart from Ginger GM Publishing Supervisor, Dylan Mize.
Dylan Mize – Frank Whitsell
KC Invitational, 05.12.2022
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.b3!
Dylan unsurprisingly is aware of his stuff, ruling out any risk of …c4 earlier than putting the light-squared bishop on d3.
4…Nf6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.0-0 cxd4 7.exd4
Many a participant as Black has launched the stress so within the centre. It does imply that White is unlikely to win with a double-bishop sacrifice, however it comes at a value: White will exploit the half-open e-file to regulate the important thing e5 level and so make it tough for Black to acquire counterplay.
7…Be7 8.Bb2 0-0 9.Nbd2
White’s ideally suited minor piece set-up. However isn’t …Nb4 going to be annoying? Nicely, no.
9…Nb4 10.Be2
Retaining a key piece and now White will merely reset with a2-a3 and Bd3.
10…b6 11.a3 Nc6 12.Bd3
Taking inventory, White has made three strikes with this bishop; Black, three together with his queen’s knight. The engines, probably with a nod to their previous failure to see long-term hazard, declare that Black is OK in this kind of place, however for a human issues should not so nice – simply the place is Black’s counterplay?
12…Bb7 13.Qe2
Additional precision. Management of e4, in addition to e5, could be very helpful for White. As a substitute, 13.Ne5?! Nxe5! 14.dxe5 Ne4 frees Black’s place and equalises.
13…Re8 14.Rae1!?
Involving the ultimate piece. White may leap at once: 14.Ne5 adopted by f2-f4, with particular attacking possibilities and a nice edge.
14…a6 15.Ne5!
Right here we go. Black’s final two strikes haven’t added an enormous quantity to his place and he now faces a scary-looking assault with f2-f4 even in a position to be adopted up with Rf3-h3.
15…Bd6
15…Nxe5!? 16.dxe5 Nd7 17.Nf3!? Nc5 18.Nd4 can be a nice edge for White. Sure, the important thing light-squared bishop may be exchanged, however White will nonetheless management all of the potential entry factors on the c-file. Simply examine the dominant knight on e4 with the passive bishop on b7 and whereas Black lacks counterplay, f2-f4 probably even adopted by f4-f5 will arrive.
16.f4 Ne7
A standard defensive manoeuvre, as Black desperately tries to supply some assist to his king.
17.g4!?
Tremendous-aggressive, however properly why not with 17…Ne4 simply costing Black a pawn? Now White would possibly even start to extend the stress with Qg2-h3, and Dylan has additionally set a bit lure…
17…Nd7?
Black is set to problem the annoying knight on e5, however this turns the bishop on d6 right into a unfastened piece.
18.Nxf7!
LPDO, as John Nunn would say. And that was already that! With 18….Kxf7 19.Qxe6+ Kf8 20.Qxd6 White has ripped open the black king and netted a pawn. He additionally retains two very cellular and helpful pawns within the f4 and g4 duo, and nonetheless devoid of any play, it’s arduous responsible Black for already falling by the wayside.
It’s value being conscious that each 1.Nf3 and 1.b3 nonetheless enable White the choice of a well timed transposition to the Colle-Zukertort, as demonstrated of late by the world no.1 no much less.
Magnus Carlsen (2859) – Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (2678)
Meltwater Tour Remaining 2022, 19.11.2022
1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 e6 5.d4 Bd6 6.dxc5!?
A contemporary strategy, however the thematic set-up with 6.Bd3 is the one advisable in The Killer Colle-Zukertort System.
6…Bxc5 7.c4 0-0 8.Nbd2 Qe7 9.a3
White hints at growth with b3-b4, additionally enjoys a little bit of stress on d5, and could have two finely-placed bishops as soon as the light-squared one arrives on d3. Carlsen finally triumphed after an extended, arduous combat (1-0, 74).
The Colle-Zukertort participant ought to all the time be searching for a well timed trade on c5 and it’s an particularly potent weapon in what would possibly arguably be thought of the primary line of the entire opening, the place Black units up with …Nc6 and …Bd6.
Ruben Koellner (2412) – Kemal Bashirov (2178)
twenty fifth OIBM Open, Tegernsee, 12.11.2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nbd2 d5 4.e3 c5 5.b3 Nc6 6.Bb2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.dxc5!?
8.0-0 is the advisable transfer order in The Killer Colle-Zukertort System and right here play could properly transpose to our principal sport: 8…Qe7 9.dxc5!? Bxc5 10.a3 e5 11.b4! and we’re again in Koellner-Bashirov. As a substitute, right here 9.Ne5 Qc7! is a contemporary useful resource that has proved fairly awkward for White.
Black challenges e5 and in addition threatens 10…cxd4 11.exd4 Nb4. Fortunately, White can simply keep away from this place with 9.dxc5.
8…Bxc5 9.a3!
A helpful transfer. White desires to broaden with b3-b4, in addition to c2-c4.
9…Qe7 10.b4! Bd6 11.0-0 e5 12.c4!
All as advisable within the course. Black would possibly assume he’s completed properly to get …e5 in, however he’s really nonetheless a way from with the ability to declare equality. Are you able to see why White needn’t worry 12…e4?
12…Bc7?
12…e4? 13.Bxf6! gxf6 (13…Qxf6 14.Bxe4! dxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxh2+ 16.Nxh2 additionally leaves White a transparent pawn to the great and in management) 14.cxd5 exd3 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Nd4. Black’s construction is way from appetising, both c6 or d3 ought to shortly fall and White is clearly for alternative, as proven within the course.
As a substitute, 12…dxc4 13.Nxc4 Bc7 14.Ncd2!? is a artful retreat, endorsed within the course. White’s management of e4 (if 14…e4? 15.Bxf6 once more) leaves him with a nice edge.
13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.b5!
Black is beneath heavy stress and now shortly makes issues worse for himself.
14…Nb8?! 15.Rc1 Bg4? 16.Qc2
Already there isn’t a passable defence. White’s principal menace isn’t even Bxh7+, however somewhat Be4, overloading the knight on d5.
16…Bd6 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.Bf5! Bxf5 19.Qxf5
White has gained a pawn and significantly weakened the black king’s defences. Not a foul end result after 19 strikes!
19…Nd7 20.Ne4 f6?
Or 20…N7f6 21.Nfg5!. Even right here White enjoys near-decisive stress with Qh3+ and the line-opening f2-f4 on the best way.
21.Nh4! 1-0
There’s simply no actual approach to cowl g6.
The Killer Colle-Zukertort System provides an entire repertoire for White with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 and in addition examines the Colle Queen’s Indian, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3, in addition to looking at 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3. It doesn’t, nonetheless, study King’s Indian and Fashionable set-ups – each Simon and myself think about e3 and Bd3 too tame and simple for Black to face there.
Whereas set-ups with …d5 and …e6 are quite common in any respect ranges, stronger membership gamers are generally postpone 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 by Black’s alternate options to three…e6. The excellent news, as proven within the course, is that White want not worry the Grünfeldesque 3…g6: 4.c4 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4! is at present inflicting issues for Black. White additionally has good possibilities for an edge after 3…Bg4 4.Nbd2!? and whereas 3…Bf5 could be very strong for Black, right here you could want to comply with the course and shock Black with 4.Nh4!? (4.c4 with a transposition to the Slav and Avrukh-type play is the choice). Lastly, there’s additionally 3…c5 4.dxc5 when White can play positionally with c2-c4, however we want to follow-up with 4…e6 5.b4!?, aiming for a enjoyable and reversed Abrahams-Noteboom-type place.