The Sicilian Defense

1.e4 c5

The Sicilian Defense has the reputation of being black's most aggressive response to 1.e4. With 1...c5, black immediately discourages white from playing 2.d4 because black would be able to capture the pawn. In response, white would be reluctant to recapture with the queen because the queen would be extremely vulnerable in the center of the board.

In order to pursue the center, white must instead prepare d2-d4 with 2.Nf3. When white continues with d4, black will capture and white will be able to recapture with the Nf3 rather than the queen.

Black can pursue many different strategies in the Sicilian, but nearly all have one thing in common. Black will usually try to take advantage of the open c-file by placing one or more rooks and sometimes the queen there. Very often, therefore, black will castle on the kingside and pursue an attack on the queenside. By contrast, in part because the black king is on the kingside, white will attack there.

The following "variations" may provide you with a sense of the complexity of the Sicilian. Try to get a feel for the patterns of development.

The Dragon:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6

The Velimirovic Attack:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 0-0 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Bb3 a6

The Najdorf:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5

Sources for further reading

J.Edwards, THE SICILIAN: AN OVERVIEW, R&D Publishing, 1993

D.Levy, HOW TO PLAY THE SICILIAN DEFENCE, David McKay, 1978

J.Nunn and J.Gallagher, BEATING THE SICILIAN, Henry Holt, 1995

 

 

 

The Center Counter Defense

1.e4 d5

With 1...d5, black immediately challenges the white center. White cannot successfully continue with 2.d4 because black would win a pawn with 2...dxe4.

But white has an excellent alternative. By simply capturing the black pawn with 2.exd5, black has an immediate problem. The only way to regain the pawn is with the queen (2...Qxd5), but we have learned that it is usuallky wrong to develop the queen early. That is certainly true here. After 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5, white can develop a piece and attack the queen at the same time with 3.Nc3.

Black would then have to move the queen for a second time. White would then proceed to develop towards the center with moves such as d4, Nf3, and probably Be2 and 0-0.

Sources for further reading

J.Grefe and J.Silman, THE CENTER COUNTER, Chess Enterprises, 1983

A.Dunne and D.Taylor, CENTER COUNTER UPRISING, Thinkers Press, 1990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The French Defense

1.e4 e6

In the French Defense, black does not immediately challenge the white center. White should therefore immediately place another pawn there with 2.d4. Black will counter with 2...d5.

The French has the reputation as a very solid defense, but the black pawn structure does create a lasting difficulty for black. If white seals in the center with the move e4-e5 on move three or later, black will usually have trouble finding an effective place to develop the Bc8. In a very real sense, black's early moves lock in this light-squared bishop.

White will usually play e4-e5 in order to confine the black Bc8 and Nb8 to the queen's side of the board. White will seek to trade his relatively bad dark-squared bishop for black's, and then proceed with an attack upon black's kingside. Development often involves moves such as Nf3, Bd3, and h4.

Sources for further reading

S.Taulbut, HOW TO PLAY THE FRENCH DEFENSE, Batsford, 1983

A.Suetin, FRENCH DEFENSE, Batsford, 1982

L.Psakhis, THE COMPLETE FRENCH, Henry Holt, 1993

T.Harding, THE CLASSICAL FRENCH, MacMillan, 1991

 

 

 

Alekhine's Defense

1.e4 Nf6

In Alekhine's Defense, black prevents white from capturing the center immediately with 2.d4 by first attacking white's pawn on e4. White has a choice. White can defend the e4-pawn with 2.Nc3, but it is far stronger to advance the e-pawn further to e5.

By so doing, white will attack the black knight on f6 and force it to move again. As you know, you usually want to develop all of your pieces before you move any one of them again. Black's strategy is unusual and not to every player's taste: to invite the white center forward where it might become weak and collapse.

White should almost certainly play 2.e5 and, after 2...Nd5, continue with 3.d4. White can then develop normally, bringing out the knights first before the bishops and likely castling on the kingside. If white is ambitious, it is possible to establish a broad pawn center with 4.c4, again attacking the black knight on d5, and then playing 5.f4 to support the pawn on e5. Not surprisingly, this is called the Four Pawns Attack in the Alekhine's.

Sources for further reading

G.Burgess, THE COMPLETE ALEKHINE, Henry Holt, 1992

L.Christiansen, ALEKINE'S DEFENSE AS WHITE: THE FOUR PAWNS ATTACK, Thinker's Press, 1989

 

Knights belong in the middle of the board

In the middle of the board, the knight has access to eight squares.

On the side of the board, the knight has access to only 4 squares. That's why we say that "a knight on the rim is dim."

In the corner of the board, the knight has access to only two squares. There's a poem for that too. A knight in the corner makes you a mourner.

 

An introduction to pawn structure

Unlike the other pieces, the pawns can move in only one direction. Forward. Ever forward. Reach the final rank and the lowly pawn, the foot-soldier of chess, can transform itself into any other piece, though almost always into a queen. And yes, you are allowed to have more than one queen on the board, though it is very rare to see more than two. If you are lucky enough to have more than one queen, either borrow a queen from another set, or else take one of your captured rooks and turn it upside down. Chess players understand that an upside-down rook represents a second queen.

As the pawns move forward, they open up diagonals for the bishops, protect other pieces, and often lead the way for attacks. They can pry open an opponents' kingside, but they can also spell doom when they become weak and are easily subject to capture.

In the following diagram, white's pawns are considered very strong despite the fact that they have not yet moved. We say that there are no pawn weaknesses in white's camp. By contrast, all of black's pawns are isolated and weak. Without addition captures, it is not possible for any of the black pawns to protect to protect the others. As you play chess, you should generally try to keep your pawns coordinated. Think of them as the foundation of your house. Every crack and every hole can eventually lead to disastrous consequences for the whole house.