Contents The open games
./ Attacldng the £2.'" and
In this chapter we shall consider some typical
f7�squares
situations arising from open games, in which White
./ Rapid'mobilization
mounts an attack on the f7-square (or Black attacks
./ Security of the king
the f2-square). As you already know, you have to
./ Praetical examples
be particularly careful in open positions; the pieces
may easily reach very active positions, and it can be
difficult to recover if you fall behind in development.
For that reason, the main motto in the open games is:
rapid mobilization!
It is also very important to get your king into
safety. Every budding chess player who has had
some bitter experiences with Scholar's Mate knows
how unpleasant an attack on the sensitive f2- or
f7-squares can be. In the starting position these
squares are protected only by the king, and so are
not sufficiently well defended. The simplest way to
defend these important points is by castling kingside.
But sometimes we underestimate the danger, or we
may not yet be ready to castle. If White places his
bishop on c4, then his opponent must take particular
care!
Here are some examples, taken from various
openings, which demonstrate the dangers that may
threaten f7 (or f2), and which also show how to
defend against these threats.
Philidor Defence
l.e4 e5 2.tDf3 d6 3 ..ic4 tlJf6?
Black underestimates the danger of being attacked
on f7 for a second time.
Black should prefer 3 ...�e7 4.d4 (or 4.c3 tt:lf6
5.'1Wb3 0-0 6.ttlg5 '1We8=) and now:
a) 4 ... tt:ld7? is not good:
Diagram 7-1
5.dxe5! tt:lxe5 (5 ...dxe5 6.\Wd5!+-) 6.tt:lxe5 dxe5
7.\Wh5 and White wins a pawn.
b) The correct way for Black to play is 4 ... exd4!
followed by ... tt:lf6 and ... 0-0.
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The open games
Diagram 7-2
4.ltlg5! d5!
The only sensible option.
5.exd5 �d6
5 ... tt:lxd5?! is simply met by 6.'\Wf3 '1Wxg5 7.�xd5±
with a double attack on f7 and b7.
6.d3
White has a clear advantage.
Scotch Gambit
l.e4 e5 2.ltlf3 ltlc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3
4 ... d5 is a safer variation.
5.�c4 �e7?!
5 ... d6 is better, and Black can successfully defend
the f7 -pawn:
a) Mter 6.tll g 5 Black can even play 6 ... cxb2!.
b) 6.tll xc3 t2l f6 7.'\Wb3 (7.tll g5 is met by 7 ... tll e 5!)
7 ...'\Wd7 8.tll g5 l2le5
Diagram 7-3
6.Wfd5!
Now it is not so easy for Black to protect f7.
6... ltlh6 7.hh6 0-0! 8.hg7
Less good is: 8.�cl tll b4! 9.'\Wdl (9.'\Wh5 tll c2t
10.�e2 tll x al l l .ctJxc3 ctJc2 12.h4 d5!+) 9 ... c2+
However, White has a reasonable alternative in
8.t2lxc3!? gxh6 9.0-0 d6 10.'\Wh5 with a dangerous
attack.
8 ...c;t>xg7 9.ltlxc3±
The black king is very exposed.
a b c d e f g h
Two Kni hts Defence
l .e4 e5 2.ltlf3 ltl c6 3.i.c4 ltlf6 4.ltlg5
Diagram 7-4
4...d5!
An important defensive resource. This is one of the
main lines of the Two Knights Defence.
5.exd5 ltla5!
For 5 ... tt:lxd5?! see the lesson on 'Opening traps'
(Chapter 8 of Boost Your Chess 1).
6.�h5t c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.�e2 h6 9.ltlf3
9.t2lh3!? is Fischer's move.
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Opening 1
9...e4 10.ttle5 i.d6 l l.f4 exB 12.ttlxf3 0-0
13.0-0 c5
Black has good compensation for the sacrificed
pawn.
l.e4 e5 2.ttlf3 ttlc6 3.i.c4 i.c5 4.c3 ttlf6 5.d3
5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 1b4t is the old main line.
5 ...a6 6.0-0 i.a7 7.i.b3 d6 8.ttlbd2 0-0 9J�el
9.tt:lc4 is a safer alternative. White may then
continue with ctJ e3, either straight away or after first
exchanging dark-squared bishop with 1e3.
Another idea is 9.h3 h6 l O.Eie l . Black can now
play 1 0 ... li:Jh5 (planning ... tt:lf4 and ...�f6), since
l l .ctJxe5? is met by l l .. .tt:lxe5 (or l l ...�h4!?)
1 2.�xh5 tt:lxd3.
Diagram 7-5
9 ... ttlg4!?
White can easily parry the attack on f2, but that is
not Black's only idea.
10.ge2 <i>h8!
Black is preparing ... f5.
ll.h3 ttlh6
Mter l l . ..ctJxf2? 1 2.Eixf2 Black gets only rook
and pawn for two minor pieces, which is not quite
enough.
12.tlJfl f5
Play has become very sharp.
13.i.xh6?!
White should probably prefer 1 3.d4oo.
13 ...gxh6 14.exf5 i.xf5
Black obtains a dangerous initiative on the king
side. He has the bishop pair along with some open
lines against the white king. In practice, Black has
scored well from this position.
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