Chess: Understanding the Veresov Part I

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 Nf3 g6 5 e3 Bg7
6 Bd3 O-O 7 O-O c5 8 Re1 b6 9 e4 dxe4 10 Nxe4
10 ... cxd4 11 Nxd4 Bb7 12 c3 h6 13 Bh4 Rc8
14 Qe2 Nc5 15 Nxf6+ exf6 16 Bc4 Line



What's the game plan for White?

White first acquires e4 (2 Nc3/6 Bd3/8 Re1/
9 e4/10 Nxe4) and then uses it to compro-
mise Black's pawn structure (15 Nxf6+).

What's the game plan for Black?

Black responds with a strike against d4
(7 ... c5/10 ... cxd4).

1 d4



Claiming e5 and c5 plus letting out the c1 bishop.

1 ... d5



Black also grabs his share of territory (e4/c4).
Additionally, he activates the c8 bishop.

1 ... Nc6

2 Nc3



Initiating the Veresov. The knight contends
for e4.

2 ... Nf6



But Black gains a firmer grip on the focal point.
He now has two pieces eyeing e4 whereas White has
only one.

2 ... f5
2 ... e6
2. ... Bf5
2 ... c6
2 ... g6
2 ... c5
2 ... Nc6
2 ... Nc6
2 ... e5

3 Bg5



Threatening to capture or pin the knight.
Thus, White questions its e4 influence.

3 Nf3
3 f3
3 e4
3 e3
3 Bf4
3 g3
3 f4

3 ... Nbd7



Covering its counterpart and checking out e5/c5.

3 ... c6
3 ... c5
3 ... Bf5
3 ... e6
3 ... h6
3 ... g6
3 ... Ne4
3 ... b6

4 Nf3



White wants in on e5. He also reinforces d4.

4 f3
4 e3
4 Qd3
4 e4
4 Qd2
4 g3

4 ... g6



So that the bishop can develop to g7, where it can
mind the a1-h8 diagonal.

4 ... h6
4 ... e6
4 ... c6

5 e3



Strengthens d4 and enables the f1 bishop to reach d3.

5 Qd3
5 Qd2
5 e4
5 a3
5 Bf4

5 ... Bg7



5 ... c6
5 ... h6

6 Bd3



6 Be2

6 ... O-O



7 O-O



7 ... c5



The strike against d4 is a critical theme for
the defense.

7 ... h6
7 ... b6

8 Re1



Centralization.

8 Ne5

8 ... b6



Vacating b7 for the c8 bishop. The intended fianchetto
will give Black some say on the light squares along the
h1-a8 diagonal.

8 ... h6
8 ... c4

9 e4



The key move in White's opening play

9 ... dxe4



9 ... c4
9 ... h6

10 Nxe4



10 ... cxd4



10 ... Bb7
10 ... h6

11 Nxd4



11 ... Bb7



12 c3



Securing d4 and limiting the g7 bishop's scope along
the a1-h8 diagonal.

12 ... h6



Black wants the bishop to declare its intentions.

12 ... Rc8
12 ... Nxe4
12 ... Ne5

13 Bh4



Maintaining its menacing presence along the
h4-d8 diagonal.

13 ... Rc8



The half open c-file was just beckoning.

13 ... Nxe4

14 Qe2



14 ... Nc5



Threatening to trade the knight for the d3 bishop.

15 Nxf6+



15 ... exf6



15 ... Bxf6

16 Bc4



The bishop avoids capture by assuming control of the
a2-g8 diagonal.

By ChessCoach@care2.com

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