Attacking 101: Volume #001

Joel Johnson

Edited by: Patrick Hammond

1 © Joel Johnson, August 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from Joel Johnson.

Edited by: Patrick Hammond

Cover Photography: Barry M. Evans

Cover Design: Joel Johnson

Proofreading: Joel Johnson

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2 CONTENTS Preface 7 Opening Selection 7 Dropping Pieces 8 Volume #001 8 Computer Software 8 Kudos 8

Center Game 9 Techniques Learned 9 Game #001 – MassCarnage – king92 (1339) 10 Game #002 – Joel Johnson – Daniel Pecherski (1134) 12 Game #003 – Joel Johnson – Gianni Giaconi (1280) 15 Game #004 – Joel Johnson – Phil Kusner (1380) 16 Game #005 – MassCarnage – cajob321 (1330) 17 Game #006 – FearNoEvil – Clever (1444) 19 Game #007 – MassCarnage – mukundan (1647) 20 Game #008 – MassCarnage – onti (1358) 21 Game #009 – MassCarnage – Drums (1459) 23 Game #010 – Joel Johnson – Phil Kusner (1480) 24 Game #011 – MassCarnage – esadpo (1542) 25 Game #012 – FearNoEvil – theKing (1583) 27

Danish 28 Techniques Learned 28 Game #013 – MassCarnage – adna (1479) 28 Game #014 – MassCarnage – adna (1473) 30

Alekhine’s Defense 31 Techniques Learned 31 Game #015 – MassCarnage – thisurthat (1654) 32 Game #016 – FearNoEvil – Boletus (1792) 34 Game #017 – Joel Johnson – Tyler Sypherd (1580) 35 Game #018 – Joel Johnson – Nikola Ogrizovic (1706) 36

3 Nge2 Caro Kahn 39 Techniques Learned 39 Game #019 – MassCarnage – ucanthide (1279) 39 Game #020 – MassCarnage – Akaba (1648) 41 Game #021 – MassCarnage – Clockwork64 (1477) 43

Sicilian Grand Prix 44 Techniques Learned 44 Game #022 – MassCarnage – Mondrogan (1445) 44 Game #023 – Joel Johnson – Mark Webb (1246) 46 Game #024 – MysteryMan – blackending (1674) 48 Game #025 – MassCarnage – mwu2007 (1327) 50 Game #026 – MysteryMan – happychess (1629) 51 Game #027 – MassCarnage – sergiofabian (1445) 52 Game #028 – MassCarnage – mentor123 (1642) 53 Game #029 – MassCarnage – qs16 (1663) 54 Game #030 – MassCarnage – jasep (1644) 55 Game #031 – Joel Johnson – Tim Suzman (1780) 56 Game #032 – MassCarnage – killaduck44 (1361) 58

Smith-Morra Gambit 59 Techniques Learned 59 Game #033 – MassCarnage – jimh (1456) 60 Game #034 – MassCarnage – nando3 (1633) 61 Game #035 – MassCarnage – DADASH (1651) 62 Game #036 – MassCarnage – jusmove (1559) 64 Game #037 – MassCarnage – jusmove (1540) 65 Game #038 – Joel Johnson – Richard Smouse (1521) 68

Pirc/ 70 Techniques Learned 70 Game #039 – MassCarnage – Izeelden (1568) 70 Game #040 – MassCarnage – gladiator46 (1672) 71 Game #041 – MassCarnage – Green-Pigeon (1623) 74 Game #042 – MassCarnage – JorgeIV (1727) 76 Game #043 – MassCarnage – RRCHESSMAN2009 (1412) 78

4 Yugoslav Attack 79 Techniques Learned 79 Game #044 – FearNoEvil - baron25 (1545) 79

Center Counter 82 Techniques Learned 82 Game #045 – MassCarnage - Floppyboard (1573) 82 Game #046 – MassCarnage - torre1217 (1685) 85

Qd3 French 87 Techniques Learned 87 Game #047 – FearNoEvil – SnowTiger (1793) 87 Game #048 – Joel Johnson – Kevin Huynh (1434) 89 Game #049 – Joel Johnson – Anu Menon (1093) 91 Game #050 – MysteryMan – Lzmann (1763) 92 Game #051 – MassCarnage – BillietheKid (1375) 95 Game #052 – MassCarnage – Superman (1792) 97

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit 98 Techniques Learned 98 Game #053 – MassCarnage – Nielsferatu (1511) 98 Game #054 – MysteryMan – Kendo (1641) 99

Stonewall Attack 101 Techniques Learned 101 Game #055 – MassCarnage -- Launchywiggin (1501) 102 Game #056 – MassCarnage -- nigelst (1551) 103 Game #057 – MassCarnage -- orien (1680) 104 Game #058 – MassCarnage -- Reyad86 (1505) 105

Unusual Openings 106 Techniques Learned 106 Game #059 – FearNoEvil_US -- OrangSemelai (1516) 106 Game #060 – MassCarnage -- jnader (1171) 108

5 1.e4 e5 2. d4 d6 3. Bc4 Game (C44) uuuuuuuu 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 rhb1kgn4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 0p0pdp0p (C45) 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 sDsdsDsd Nc6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Nxd4 dsds0sds Nxd4 6. Qxd4 sds)PdsD (C50) 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 dsdsdsds Nc6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Nxd4 P)Pds)P) Two ’s Defense (C55) $NGQIBHR 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 llllllll Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 ------Opening Lines Transpositions ------

My definition of the Center Game The Center Game is loaded with includes all of the openings that move transpositions. One has to can be transposed from the be constantly aware of them. starting position above. The list would include the following ------openings: Techniques Learned Center Game (C21) ------1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 The Center Game is designed for ’s Opening (C24) wide-open play. You immediately 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 open up the diagonals for both of Nf6 4. Nf3 d5 your Bishops. You want to develop Verasov’s Gambit (C24) your pieces quickly and attack 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 fast. You are not concerned about Nf6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 recapturing the Black pawn on d4 right away should Black capture it Philidor Defense (C41) with 2. ... exd4 as most players

6 do. You would prefer to capture ”, you will win back the pawn back later with your the Black d-pawn and have a very Knight on g1 (Ng1-Nf3-Nxd4) . good position. Of course, I must The decision to delay the capture point out that Grandmasters will of the Black pawn on d4 provides not play c5 to hang onto the Black with an opportunity to err pawn. They will develop their by defending the advanced d- pieces instead. pawn with c5 . 4.Nf3 h6? Our first attack game just happens So many players have been to be a case where Black did burned by the Fried Liver Attack exactly that . that they consider the move h6 ------Game #001 ------necessary to their survival. The truth is, developing a piece is (W) MassCarnage (2200) more beneficial, like Nc6 . (B) king92 (1339) 5.0-0 [C21] ICC 5 12, 11/20/2010 White can already win with the 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 c5? move Ne5! because of the Black So many weaker players are errors. However, Chess Masters material mongers. They grab are not out to blast you off the every piece of material they can board, even if at times it seems and play to hang onto it as long as that way. Generally speaking, we they can. As I tell my students, want to develop most or all of our when your opponent plays 3. ... pieces before attacking. c5? to hang onto the pawn, let Undermanned attacks can be a them keep it! The plan here is to very risky venture especially if the play 4. Nf3, 5. 0-0, and 6. c3 to defender repels your premature permanently give them the pawn. advances. Part of a player’s Our for the pawn growth is related to knowing will come in the form of faster when to attack and when to wait development and weak squares to for more forces before attack namely d5 and d6 . Under proceeding. the worse case scenario, where 5. ... Be7? your opponent “plays like a

7 Once again Black should develop 3) gaining space for White’s his Knight to c6 . For the most part pieces. you want to develop your Knights 8. ... Nh7 before your Bishops because of the Knight’s limited range. Unfortunately Black has no other 6.c3 quality alternatives. 9.Re1 Once again 6. Ne5 wins right away. This move is designed to prevent 6. ... dxc3? Black from playing d6 to complete the development of his Nf6 , d5 , and Nc6 are all better queenside. choices. 9. ... 0-0 7.Nxc3? The move 9. ... d6 would lose the Shame on me!, I should never, Bishop on e7 after 10. exd6. Black ever miss the game ending move would compound his issues by 7. Qd5!. The move Qd5 must following up with 10. ... Qxd6 always be checked out because 11. Qxd6 losing his . frequently it wins a piece and the 10.Bf4 game instantly. Games #003 and #004 provide other examples of White continues to deter the this opening trap. Black move d6. 7. ... Nf6 8.e5 10. ... Nc6 11.Qe2

Another key move in this opening The White Queen vacates the d1 is e5 . The move e5 causes square for the queenside . problems for Black by: 11. ... Ng5 12.Bxg5! 1) forcing the Knight on f6 to move from his best square; Why trade the White Bishop for 2) enabling White to open the the Black Knight instead of the e-file for his kingside Rook White Knight? The answer lies in should Black decide to play d6 square control. The White Knight to develop his queenside on f3 controls the critical d4 Bishop; and square. If Black is able to play

8 Nd4 , he will be able to the immense pressure on an White pressure down the d-file opponent, they crack and lash out and with a poor move. The move unravel his bad position. played fits into that category. 12. ... Bxg5 13.Rad1 15.Bxd5

White completes the Nxd5, Bxd5, and Rxd5 are all development of all his pieces. The good moves. I chose Bxd5 White Rook exerts a great deal of because I felt the threats of pressure along the d-file. White’s Bxf7+ and Bxc6 could not be advantage in the position is adequately defended. roughly a pawn 15. ... Qe7? despite being down a pawn. 13. ... Re8 14.Qe4 Black needed to try 15. ... Qb6 to defend his Knight on c6 again. Once you have finished 16.Nxg5 developing, the next step is to improve your position in some The decision to capture the Black way. In games between strong Bishop at this point in the game is chess players, the winner is predicated by the upcoming usually decided by these piece White capture of the Black Knight improvement maneuvers. The on c6. Basically the White Knight other moves I considered in this on f3 will no longer be required to position were: defend against a subsequent Nd4 move by Black. The other reason 14. h3 to remove the possibility of for the move is that White is a back rank . winning and trading down helps 14. Ne4 to attack the weak d6 the winning side. and c5 squares. 16. ... Qxg5 17.Bxc6 Bf5? I chose 14. Qe4 because I liked Black counters with a very poor the additional possible options of move. When making moves of h4, Bd3, Qd5, Qf5, etc. this type, you always have to ask 14. ... d5? yourself, “what happens if he just ignores my threat?” Here I can see Frequently when you apply

9 that I will end up with a Rook, Black was threatening to capture Bishop, Knight, and a great the White f-pawn with position after the smoke clears. 25. ... Qxf2+. uuuuuuuu 25. ... Qg5 26.Re2 rdsdrdkd After realizing that Black could not 0pdsdp0s capture the White f-pawn, White simply ignores the possibility and sdBdsds0 dares Black to capture the ds0s)b1s poisoned pawn. sDsdQDsD 26. ... Rxf3? dsHsdsDs Black’s error leads to a quick P)sDs)P) finish. dsdR$sIs 27.Re8+ Rf8 28.Rde1 Qf6 llllllll 29.Rxf8+ Qxf8 30.Re8 1-0 18.Bxe8! Bxe4 19.Nxe4 In the Center Game you must This move provides White with a always for the move Qd5 to by attacking the Black determine if it works. I refer to Queen. The extra tempo will be this move as the Knockout Punch. utilized to rescue the White The move works in a multitude of Bishop from danger. positions. The next two games illustrate the two types of 19. ... Qxe5 20.Nd6 Qxb2 positions where the move can be Black is pawn grabbing in an employed. As a general rule you attempt to reach material never want to play Qd5 if your equality. opponent can defend all the threats. Your Queen being located 21.Bxf7+ Kh7 22.h4 on the d5 square leaves her White removes all back rank susceptible to counterattack. issues and plans on wedging in his ------Game #002 ------Bishop on g6 after the move h5 . 22. ... Rf8 23.h5 Qf6 This is another example of Black 24.Bg6+ Kg8 25.f3 refusing to return the pawn on d4 . The initial White strategy is

10 the same as when Black played 8. ... h6 9.Bh4 c5 . You still want to play Nf3 , 0-0 , and c3 to let him have it. The purpose of pinning an enemy piece is to create pressure and (W) Joel Johnson (2250) opportunities for exploitation. (B) Daniel Pecherski (1134) Capturing the Knight on f6 would [C21] Dave Small Invitational, release the pressure and be a Phoenix, AZ, (Round 3), mistake. 06/10/2006 9. ... Be6 10.Nd5 Bxd5? 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 Black needed to play g5 to break the . The move Bxd5? enables Once again Black refuses to return White to open the e-file for his the pawn. Rook and displaces the Black 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 Knight on c6 to a less desirable location. Frequently I play the alternate move h3 here to prevent the pin 11.exd5 Ne7? move, Bg4, before proceeding Black should return the pawn with with the original plan . the move 11. ... Ne5 12. Re1 0-0 6. ... dxc3 7.Nxc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Rxe5. However many players have The determination of where to difficulty with the decision to place the White dark-squared return material, even if it relieves Bishop relates directly to what the pressure. Black does with his dark-squared 12.Bxf6 Bishop. If the Black dark-squared Bishop is outside the pawn chain This move destroys the Black (c7, d6 ) and cannot return to e7 kingside . Black breaking the pin, then White’s was willing to head down this dark-squared Bishop should be route because he plans on placed on g5 to pin the Black queenside and will attempt to Knight on f6 . If the Black Bishop is utilize the open g-file to attack the defensively posted on e7 , then White King. White should play h3 to prevent Ng4 , followed by Be3 . 12. ... gxf6 13.Re1

11 In order to prevent Black’s plan, White will apply severe pressure The Black Queen is stuck between to the Black Knight on e7. a rock and a hard place, she needs to defend the checkmate on e7 . 13. ... Qd7 17. ... Bxe1 18.Rxe1 Rd8 Black proceeds with his plan to 19.Qxe7# 1-0 castle queenside. Checkmate, not Queen capture! 14.Qe2 ------Game #003 ------White brings a halt to the Black plan. If Black castles here, he will The first example of the Knockout lose his Knight on e7. Punch occurs because the f7 square is extremely weak and 14. ... Bb4?? defending the square causes a Black does nothing to remedy his significant loss of material. problem. The moves Kf8 and Kd8 (W) Joel Johnson (2201) remove the pin on Black’s Knight and are the first step towards (B) Gianni Giaconi (1280) preventing what happened in the [C24] Valley Chess, Phoenix, AZ, game. (Round 3), 06/08/2008 15.Bb5! c6 16.dxc6 bxc6 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.bxc3 uuuuuuuu Be7?? rdsdkds4 Black needed to play 6. ... Bc5 so 0sdqhpds if White eventually played Qd5, sdp0s0s0 both the f7 square and his Bishop on c5 could be defended with the DBdsdsds move Qe7. sgsdsDsD 7.e5 Ng8 8.Qd5! DsdsDNDs White heads right for Black’s fatal P)sDQ)P) weakness. I cannot stress enough $sds$sIs that I would not play this move if llllllll the threat were not lethal. If you 17.Bxc6! place your Queen on d5 and he

12 can defend your threat or you do 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nf6 not have a threat, your Queen will 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.bxc3 Bc5 be misplaced and vulnerable to attack. I also would never play the This time around Black plays the move with the hope he will not correct move Bc5. see the checkmate. If I decide to threaten checkmate at any time, it 7.e5 Ne4?? is because the move is: A poor response to the move e5, as Black needed to play the move 1) unstoppable; . White would have a small 2) creates a weakness; d5 3) gains a free tempo; or advantage after 7. ... d5 8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. fxg7 4) wins material. Re8+ 11. Kd1. 8. ... Nh6 uuuuuuuu Black defends the threatened rhb1kds4 checkmate, Dxf7# . 0p0pdp0p 9.Bxh6 sdsdsdsd White captures the defender and Dsgs)sds the checkmate threat is in play sdBdnDsD again. Ds)sDNDs 9. ... Rf8 10.Bxg7 1-0 Pdsds)P) ------Game #004 ------$NGQIsdR The second example of the llllllll 8.Qd5! Knockout Punch demonstrates another situation where the move The double attack Knockout is lethal. Punch wins the Black Knight on e4 after Black defends the (W) Joel Johnson (2200) checkmate on f7. Both Black (B) Phil Kusner (1380) Knight moves that defend the f7 [C24] Valley Chess, Phoenix, AZ, square, namely Ng5 and Nd6 , (Round 4), 08/31/2008 just leave Black in deeper trouble after White captures the Knight.

13 the White e-pawn. As a result, the 8. ... Qe7 9.Qxe4 move threatens to capture on d6 Many high rated players resign followed by trading Queens. After here because of the piece loss. all trading is a primary method of Much like Black, I need more closing out a game for the player convincing before proceeding who is winning. If you trade all the down that path. Also I have won pieces off the board, Black will many, many completely lost find himself still down the Knight. positions. It is a special skill of 11. ... Be6 12.exd6 Bxd6 mine. How did I reach the point where I could accomplish this feat Over the next few moves White on a regular basis? By fighting to proceeds to trade everything he the bitter end in every game. can. Resigning at the firt sign that you 13.Bxe6 Qxe6 14.Qxe6+ are losing robs you of the fxe6 15.Rxe6+ Kf7 16.Ng5+ opportunity to work on this skill. Kf8 17.Ba3 Re8 18.Rxe8+ And conversely if you compete Kxe8 19.Bxd6 cxd6 20.Nd2 regularly against players who h6 21.Ne6 g5 22.Re1 Kd7 23.Nd4 1-0 resign early, you will never learn how to put people away, another ------Game #005 ------important chess skill. Black’s passive play leads to a Lay 9. ... d6 10.0-0 Down to expose all the When you have won enough weak dark squares around the material to win the game, as in Black King. this case, you want to complete your development and prevent (W) MassCarnage (2200) any counter play. What you (B) cajob321 (1330) should not do is spend moves [C21] ICC tourney 387829 (3 0), grabbing more material before all (Round 4), 08/31/2011 your defensive issues have been 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 Nc6 resolved. 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.bxc3

10. ... Nc6 11.Re1 The move Nxc3 is also good but I This move defends the White prefer bxc3 . Queen, which breaks the pin on 6. ... Bc5

14 been played immediately. The move Be7?? would be a due to the Knockout 12. ... Qe8 Punch move, Qd5. uuuuuuuu 7.0-0 Nf6 rdbdq4kd Black should play d6 hindering the 0p0php0p White move e5 . sgndsdsd 8.e5! Ng8? Dsds)sGs Black’s first choice in response to sdBdNDsD White’s move e5 , should be the Ds)sDNDs counterattacking move d5!. The Pds!s)P) only exception is when Black has a Bishop on e7 and White can $sdsdRIs capture two pieces for one. llllllll 13.Nf6+!! 9.Bg5 A very powerful Lay Down Another alternative for White is Sacrifice because Black has no 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qd5+ Kf8 choice but to accept the material, 11. Qxc5+ winning the pawn back otherwise White will capture his and preventing the Black King Queen on the next move. The from castling. other reason why this move is so 9. ... Nge7 10.Nbd2 0-0 strong relates to the exposing of 11.Ne4 Bb6? all the weak dark squares around the Black King. Black had to play either d5 or d6 . Now Black is losing. 13. ... gxf6 14.Bxf6

12.Qd2 Now White controls the g7 and h8 squares and Black has no means White is eyeing the Lay Down of fending off the invading White Sacrifice move, Nf6+ . The move Queen. Qd2 prepares for a subsequent invasion of the weak dark squares 14. ... Nf5 around the Black King. As it turns out the move Nf6+ could have

15 The move Ng6 stops the White check along the g-file but leaves the weak g7 square as easy pickings after Qh6 . And the problem with Nf5 is … 15.Qg5+ Ng7 16.Qxg7# 1-0

16