World Chess Academy

February 2005

Learning Chess (#02), by A.J. Goldsby I

Click on links (blue highlighted text) throughout lesson

Now that I have laid a little groundwork, (see last month’s column), this week I can plow right into one of my favorite topics. (Make sure that you do the monthly lessons in order, I will try to avoid going back over material covered in previous lessons!)

I have given an almost countless number of lessons, both in person and on the Internet. And probably one of the most requested topics that I hear {from basically beginners} is that, “I am getting killed in the opening! Can you teach me a good, solid {sound} opening system?” One good opening system that I have taught {repeatedly} is The Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation. (1.e4, e5; 2.Nf3, Nc6; 3.Bb5, a6; 4.Bxc6!?, dxc6.)

This is a good opening system, I can teach the basics of this particular opening in a single afternoon. However there are several caveats, one being is that Black does not have to play the move 1…e7-e5; he might play the Sicilian, the Pirc, the Alekhine’s Defense, (and many other lines – like the Petroff – where Black does not even play the move, 2…Nc6.); et cetera. I once taught the Exchange Variation to a friend of mine, a FIDE-rated Master who also lives in Pensacola, by the name of Moshe Khatena. He went to the World Open, and did very well with the opening repertoire I had prepared for him. (For many years he had never lost a game with the Exchange Variation of the Ruy Lopez as White!)

Personally the Exchange Variation is VERY good, but I think a student should probably have been playing chess for a couple of years before tackling this system!!! (Some fairly detailed knowledge of chess is really prerequisite before you can play and understand this system properly.) If you think you would like to explore this idea further, then perhaps you would allow me to recommend a book to you? (It is a book that I own and have already personally studied with more than one student.) I am referring to the excellent volume: “The Chess Advantage in Black and White,” by IM Larry Kaufman. [more] Here a seasoned veteran picks out a whole opening repertoire for you, and it is based primarily on the Exchange Variation as White. (After 1.e4, e5.) I recommend this book highly, but ONLY if you have already been playing tournament chess for at least a year, preferably 2-3 years!!

I was thinking of something a little more basic, something that I could outline the fundamental mechanics of here … and even a near “bare-bones” beginner could pick it up and start using it right away – at least, after having studied this lesson!

What I had in mind was “The Colle System/Opening.” It is a line that I learned when I was around 6-7 years old at a chess club in New York. And although I did not always play this opening, (I liked the KP because both my Dad and Bobby Fischer played it!); it served to teach me the fundamentals of the opening, especially as White. It is relatively simple, VERY solid, and will serve the beginner-to-intermediate player in an excellent manner. Probably one of the most important aspects of this opening is that you can learn the basic moves quickly, and begin using this opening almost right away!

Most of what I am going to outline here is based on a series of pamphlets/books on the Colle by the {former} “Dean of Chess,” IM George Koltanowsky. However, I had to completely re-do this material … in order to correct mistakes discovered by the computer, and also to bring the material up to date - - and reflect the latest advances of modern opening theory. MUCH of what Kolty covers there cannot be covered here (!!) … the last version of his book ran close to (or over) 100 pages!

What I am advising that you adopt is the “Colle Opening.” The first moves for both sides are typically: 1.d4! d5; 2.Nf3. (‘!’) (Center, center, center.)

Why are these moves – and this particular opening system - so good?

You control the center and you get to develop.
(It is based on Principles! - Good chess!)

You can generally castle fairly early, my experience is that the beginner usually gets in trouble the most often for failing to get the King to safety in the first 5-10 moves of a chess game.

You avoid many of the tricky gambits and lines, like the Budapest Gambit and the Albin Counter-gambit … both of which feature tricky pawn sacks that involve the early advance of …e7-e5. (Which are unsound vs. the Colle.)

You establish an extremely solid center … the pawn phalanx at c3, d4, and e3 is VERY tough to tear down, even for a really good player!

MEMORY does NOT play a vital role. (I am going to provide you more material here than you could ever remember!) However, the basic moves – and the fundamental ideas – are easily learned in about 5 minutes!

Unlike many other openings, you avoid simple traps. On the other hand, it is sufficiently aggressive that you can learn several attacking formations – that arise naturally from the Colle – as you grow with this opening.
[ Here is one example of the attack that you can obtain with this opening. ]

The moves that I am going to offer you are ROCK SOLID. They have been meticulously checked with a computer and against modern books. Further, all the moves that I am going to show you have been tested REPEATEDLY by dozens of amateurs. I think I can offer a series of moves that the average player is most likely to play against you!!!

Ok now study the diagram below.

{Diagram #1}

This K+P ending is easily won for White … no matter whose turn it is to move!

(It is based on the fundamental principle that in a K+P ending, an outside, passed pawn is usually decisive.)

Now look at the next two diagrams.

{Diagram #2 and Diagram #3}

This is one of the basic endgames that we strive for in the Colle, with good technique, White should be able to create the outside passed … and win naturally in the ending. (Even if your opponent defends the middle-game perfectly … you should still have good chances to win. ORGANIC PLAY!!) {After you have studied the material, it will be easy for you to understand that Diagram #2 could arise from a game played with the Colle Opening. Diagram #3 is what we strive for in the K+P ending. And while Diagram #3 is not a guaranteed win, it almost certainly favors White ... who can create an outside passed pawn on the Queen-side.)

OK - - - let’s get right down to the business of learning the Colle System. (Edgar Colle was a Dutch IM who invented and played this system. While he was not one of the best players in the world, his system really works well for the average player.)

The first move is 1.d2-d4. This move does many things that are positive. (Controls e5, gains space and prepares rapid development.) The feedback that I get from most of my students is that d4 is a more difficult opening to meet than when White opens with the KP. Note the natural outpost on e5, a Knight can often grab this square early in the middle-game. (The great Pillsbury was fantastic at using the Knight outpost on e5 in QP Openings. He would routinely convert this advantage into a decisive King-side attack, here is an example of his play, be on the lookout for Ne5!)

OK, after 1.d4, Black – the majority of the time – will respond with 1…d7-d5. (If Black responds with any other move on his second turn, White simply continues with the “Colle Formation.” See replay lesson #5.) White’s second move will always be 2.N/g1-f3. This key move: A.) Controls the e5-square and also supports d4 as well. B.) Develops a piece. C.) Prepares rapid King-side castling.

Black's best second move is 2…Nf6. (Other second moves, like 2…Bg4, are covered in the various replay lessons as well.) Now White’s third move will be 3.e3. {See diagram #4, just below.}

{Diagram #4}

What is the point of this move? Doesn’t it block in White’s QB? (Yes.)

The logic behind White playing e3 is as follows: White would really like to play the Pawn to e4, but currently this is not possible, as Black has that square covered very well. So the first player will play e3 first as a matter of convenience. This will allow White to play the following moves: Bd3, 0-0, Nbd2 and c2-c3. This will complete a large part of White’s development and get White’s King out of the center. Then White’s plan is to play R/f1-e1 and e3-e4! to liberate his pieces and free his QB.

Do not let this loss of time fool you. Many masters will say that this makes the Colle Opening a bad system – but this is far from being true. For instance, the regular Queen’s Gambit Declined, White often plays B/f1-d3, and then will have to move this piece several more times, especially when Black plays P/d5xP/c4.

So to refresh our memories the first three moves are:

1.d4, d5; 2.Nf3, Nf6; 3.e3.
(You can refer back to diagram four, if you have forgotten this position or need to jog your memory.)

Now White will play the moves: Bd3, 0-0, Nbd2, and c3.
{See diagram 5, just below.}

{Diagram #5}

Now White is ready to liberate his QB with the explosive central advance of e3-e4!
(I often like to preface this move with Re1 first, but this is not really necessary in all lines of this opening system.)

( Note: I have deliberately NOT shown the development of Black's pieces beyond his second move. The whole idea here is for you to focus completely on the "Colle Formation" shown above. Concentrate on remembering mainly what pieces White moves here... and what squares they move to!! )

Now you are ready to dive in to the “re-play” lessons, given just below. Please do them slowly and IN THE ORDER that they are given!! I strongly advise the use of at least one chess board, taking notes is not a bad idea either. (I spent almost two months of thought and preparation for this lesson, I also am roughly following the format of George Koltanowsky.) I advise playing through each of the re-play lessons at least five times. (Do the variations as well. It might not be a bad idea to record all of the moves in a notebook, and keep track of your thoughts, ideas and questions.)

Understand that this cannot be a complete work on this opening … although I have taken great pains to dispense with the most common moves. You should also bear in mind that I have taught this opening system literally dozens of times. I am very familiar with the common problems, questions, and other details that are associated with the beginner or average player learning this particular opening system.

Be sure to visit my “annotated games page,” and play over the two Colle games there as well! (E. Colle – Max Euwe; and also G. Koltanowski – J Sunyer.) AFTER you have thoroughly mastered the material presented here, spend a couple of afternoons carefully studying these two games. (Revisit my “Training Page.” There I not only talk about WHAT to study … but also HOW to study as well!) These games were carefully chosen and annotated … to thoughtfully reflect some of the positions and problems a player using this exact opening system might commonly encounter. (Between these two annotated games, this lesson, and the five replay lessons, nearly all the common moves and ideas you might see while playing this opening system have been covered.)

I hope you have enjoyed this lesson, please be sure to contact the webmaster, and thank him for bringing this lesson to you! If you want to contact me, you can e-mail me as well.

[ Obvious questions that are covered in this lesson, will result in my simply referring you back to this material. ]

February 2005 Replay Games

Click items to select replay games.

Further reading - or research and study, (on the Colle)?

The Colle-Koltanowski System by Valerij Bronznik, {Schachverlag Kania}
223 pages hardcover, £14.99.

Further reading - or research and study, (on the Colle)?

The Colle-Koltanowski System by Valerij Bronznik, {Schachverlag Kania} 223 pages hardcover, £14.99.

The Colle-Koltanowski System by Valerij Bronznik, {Schachverlag Kania}
223 pages hardcover, £14.99.