Chess Opening Secrets Revealed*: Chess: Understanding the Veresov Part III

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 e4 dxe4 4 d5 Nb8 5 Bf4 Nf6
6 Bc4 a6 7 Qe2 b5 8 Bb3 c5 9 dxc6 Nxc6 10 Rd1
10 ... Qa5 11 Bd2 Nd4 12 Nxe4 Qd8 13 Nxf6+ gxf6
14 Qh5 Line

What's the game plan for White?

* Sacrifice the e4 pawn in order to enable d4-d5.
The idea is to cramp Black's game in the center.

What's the game plan for Black?

* Loosen White's grip on the center via ... c7-c5.
This thrust obligates White to capture en passant
on c6, otherwise ... c5-c4 will suffocate his
queenside.

1 d4

1 ... d5

1 ... Nc6

2 Nc3

2 ... Nc6

2 ... Nf6
2 ... f5
2. ... e6
2 ... Bf5
2 ... c6
2 ... g6
2 ... c5
2 ... e5

3 e4

3 g3
3 Nf3
3 Bf4
3 e3

3 ... dxe4

Not only does Black gain a pawn, but he also exposes
the d4 one to double attack from the Queen and knight.

3 ... e6
3 ... Nf6
3 ... e5? 4 dxe5 d4 5 Nd5 f5 6 exf6 Nxf6 7 Bg5 Be6
8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Bc4 Bb4+ 10 Nxb4 Bxc4 11 Nxc6 bxc6
12 Qh5+ Bf7 13 Qc5 Qd6 14 Qxd6 cxd6.

4 d5

So the pawn moves out of danger by attacking the
knight and gaining space.

4 Bb5
4 Bf4

4 ... Nb8

Back to square one.

4 ... Ne5
4 ... Nb4

5 Bf4

(i) Enables a rapid mobilization of the queenside.
(ii) Increases White's central control by claiming
the h2-b8 diagonal, particularly the e5 square.

5 Bc4
5 Nxe4
5 Qd4
5 Bf4

5 ... Nf6

Scoping out d5/e4 and initiating kingside
development.

5 ... a6
5 ... Bf5

6 Bc4

The d5 pawn is the cornerstone of White's position.
As a result, he reinforces it. He also begins to activate
his kingside.

6 Qd4
6 Qe2
6 Qd2
6 Nge2

6 ... a6

Preparation for ... b5. The impending pawn storm
is intended to destabilze the c4 bishop and
c3 knight. The idea is to undermine d5 by getting
at two of its key defenders.

6 ... g6
6 ... Bg4

7 Qe2