Chess: Understanding the English Opening (Symmetrical Variation) Part III

1 c4 c5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4 Nxc3
6 bxc3 g6 Line



What's the game plan for White?



(i) Decentralize the d5 knight through e2-e4.
(ii) Take advantage of Black's light-squared
vulnerability (Bf1-b5+-c4-d5/Qd1-b3/a2-a4) .

What's the game plan for Black?



(i) Pressurize the a1-h8 diagonal, particularly
d4, by means of .... g6 and ... Bg7.
(ii) Use the half open d-file to further the above
objective.
(iii) Respond accordingly to White's light-squared
play (... Bd7, ... b5, ... Nc6, ... b4, ... e6).

Sample Variation Below

Also available:
Understanding the English Opening (1 c4 e5 Line)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-english-opening.html
Chess: Understanding the English Opening
(Symmetrical Variation) Part I
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-english-opening.html
Chess: Understanding the English Opening
(Symmetrical Variation) Part II
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-englis_115360840095778197.html
Chess: Understanding the English Opening
(Symmetrical Variation) Part IV
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-englis_115362587088403691.html

Sample Variation

For explanations of moves 1 through 4
please refer to:Chess: Understanding
the English Opening (Symmetrical
Variation) Part I

1 c4 c5



2 Nf3 Nf6



3 Nc3 d5



4 cxd5 Nxd5



5 e4 Nxc3



6 bxc3 g6



Preparing for ... Bg7.

7 Bb5+



Developing the bishop at the Black monarch's expense.
Always mobilize with attack, if possible. It speeds
up development and harasses the enemy.

7 d4 Bg7
7 Ba3 b6 [7 ... Qc7] 8 d4 Bg7 9 Bb5+ Bd7 10 Be2 O-O
11 O-O Nc6 12 Rc1 Qc7 13 Qd3 Na5.

7 ... Bd7



7 ... Nc6 8 Ba3 Qb6 9 Rb1 a6 10 Ba4 Qa5 11 Ne5 b5
12 Nxc6 Qc7 13 Bb3 Bb7.

8 Bc4



Awaiting active duty along the a2-g8 diagonal.

8 a4 Bg7 9 O-O O-O 10 Ba3 a6 11 Bxd7 Nxd7
12 d4 Qa5 13 Qb3 b5.
8 Qb3 Bg7 9 Bc4 O-O 10 Qxb7 Bc6 11 Qb1 Nd7
12 O-O Rb8 13 Qc2.

8 ... b5



But Black decides not to give the bishop a comfortable
waiting period.

9 Bd5 Nc6



Prevention against 10 Bxa8.

10 a4 b4



Evading attack and gaining space in the process.

11 Qb3 e6



Because 12 Bxf7+ is not an option.

12 Bxc6 Bxc6



13 cxb4 Bg7



And the ball is now in White's court.

By ChessCoach@care2.com

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