Bishop's Opening [C25]

The topic for this February is a back to basics Bishop's Opening in a variation where slightly inaccurate play by Black
lets White get an early and powerful Qg4.

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4

[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/4p3/2B1P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK1NR b KQkq - 0 2"]

This move targets the f7-square, which is always the weakest square for Black at the start of the game since only the
king defends it.

2...Bc5

This is sort of unusual because it is committal: Black knows that the knights belong on c6 and f6, but the bishop may be
useful on several possible squares. For example, Black does give up the possibility of playing ...Bb4 versus the Vienna

Game and has to be prepared for the game to transpose to the King's Gambit Declined if White pursues the Vienna with
Nc3 and f4. The biggest threat Black has to watch for is attacks on the g7-pawn, which this move 2...Bc5 abandons
early.

3.Nc3

This is the most flexible choice. White can transpose to the Vienna game (a future Nge2 or f4) or to the Italian (Nf3).
3.b4 This is a sort of accelerated Evans Gambit. The regular Evans Gambit is the same position with the addition of the
White knight at f3 and Black knight at c6. 3...Bxb4 4.c3 Bc5 5.d4 exd4 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qxc5 Kg7 9.cxd4
This actually looks promising for White, who at the end of this sample line controls the center and has an unopposed
dark-squared bishop that will attack the weak f6-g7-h6 dark square complex around the Black king.

3.Qg4 This right away might even be the most accurate since in the ensuing variations, the c3-knight does little while
the Black c6-knight causes trouble by jumping to d4. 3...Nc6!? 4.Qxg7 Qf6 5.Qxf6 Nxf6 This variation is why I
originally disliked an early Qg4, but it turns out that this variation might be unavoidable for White. 6.Nc3 Nd4 7.Bd3
This transposes to the later 4.Qg4.

3...Nc6

Now White can try to take advantage of the unprotected pawn on g7. 3...Nf6 This is more usual. 4.d3 Nc6 5.f4 White
could also play 5.Nf3, the Italian game. 5...d6 6.Nf3 This has transposed into a King's Gambit Declined.

4.Qg4
White challenges Black's move order.

4...Kf8

I think this is also a victory for White. However, Black avoids weaknesses.
4...Qf6 This is a mistake and where things
get fun for White. 5.Nd5 We will get to see the aftermath of this brave move in the first illustrative game.

4...g6

[FEN "r1bqk1nr/pppp1p1p/2n3p1/2b1p3/2B1P1Q1/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1B1K1NR w KQkq - 0 5"]

This creates a dark-squared weakness, making this is a victory for White. 5.Qf3

A) 5...f6 Now the a2-g8 diagonal is weak as well. 6.d3 (6.Nge2

This move to cover the d4-square is a little better.)
6...Nd4 7.Qd1 c6 8.Nge2 Ne7 9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.Bh6 This nice move further prevents Black from castling. Black does
not want to play ...g5 because of Qh5+ 10...d5 Forced because Bg7, trapping the rook, was coming. 11.Bb3 This move
keeps the Black knight bottled up on e7. White is much better.

B) 5...Qf6 6.Qg3 (6.Nd5 This also keeps the initiative.

6...Qxf3 7.Nxf3 Bd6 8.d3 Na5 9.Bb3 c6 10.Ne3 Nxb3 11.axb3
White is a little better because of the pressure on the center from the knights and Bd2-c3.)
6...Nge7 7.Nge2 We will
pick this up in the second illustrative game.

C) 5...Nf6 This is most natural and best. 6.Nge2 d6 7.d3 Bg4 8.Qg3 Be6 9.Bg5 Nh5 10.Qh4 Qd7 11.Ng3 White has the
better game because of the strong dark-squared bishop. 1-0 Watson,W (2555)-Murshed,N (2505)/London 1992.

4...Nd4 This is really interesting! 5.Qxg7 This is the only follow-up that makes sense. 5...Qf6 6.Qxf6 (6.Bxf7+ This
move is for the brave, or the reckless.
6...Qxf7 7.Qxh8 Nxc2+ 8.Kd1 Nxa1 9.Nd5 Bd6 10.Nf3 Who knows, maybe the
activity and weak Black king are worth the piece for White. However, I question the value of spending time studying a
rare position. White has more practical options.)
6...Nxf6 7.Bd3 White won the g7-pawn, but maybe the position is just
even! 7...Rg8 8.Kf1 (8.g3 This makes a hole on the f3-square, so if White plays Nge2, Black can play ...Nf3+ and
...Ng4 to strong effect.) 8...d6 9.Nge2 A handful of games have featured 4...Nd4 and things went White's way when the
Black d4-knight got traded off quickly. This is probably only even.

5.Qg3

5...d5 with a discovered attack on the bishop was a threat. White keeps the pressure on the kingside and center.

5...Nf6

Black starts to finish his development. 5...d6 6.Nge2 I prefer White. After 6...Nf6 and ...Bg4 Black should have decent
chances. What follows is a series of poor trades that show the vulnerabilities of Black's king and pawns. 6...Nd4 7.Nxd4
exd4 8.Na4 Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nxc5 dxc5 11.Qb3 Qc8 12.Qf3+ Ke7 13.Qg3 Kf7 14.Qf4+ Kg6 15.Qg4+ Kf6 16.d3
b6 17.h4 Kf7 18.Qf3+ Ke8 19.Qh5+ Kf8 20.Bg5 Qe8 21.Qf3+ Qf7 22.Qg3 Nf6 23.0-0-0 h6 24.Bd2 Kg8 25.Kb1 Rf8
26.Qh3 Rh7 27.h5 It was a long struggle, but White won. 1-0 Anand,V (2405)-Ravisekhar,R (2390)/New Delhi 1986
(57).

6.Nge2

[FEN "r1bq1k1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2N3Q1/PPPPNPPP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 0 6"]

White covers the d4-square against Black's knight and also works on finishing development.

6...d6

The light-squared bishop will challenge the c4-bishop.

7.d3

White will in turn challenge Black's best piece, the c5-bishop.

7...Nd4

Black decides to trade the knights to relieve some pressure, but it doesn't really help. 7...h6 8.Na4 Bb6 9.Nxb6 axb6
10.f4 White works to open the f-file, where the Black king is. 10...Qe7 11.0-0 Na5 12.Bd5 c6 13.Bxf7 Kxf7 14.b4 Be6
15.bxa5 Rxa5 16.Bd2 And White went on to dominate this game in the center. 1-0 Rogers,I (2529)-Olarasu,G
(2347)/Saint Vincent 2001 (48).

8.Nxd4

White trades the inactive knight for the active one.

8...Bxd4

Black recaptures this way in order to keep the center intact and semi-closed.

9.0-0

[FEN "r1bq1k1r/ppp2ppp/3p1n2/4p3/2BbP3/2NP2Q1/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 9"]

White gets the king to safety and gets the rook to the f-file.

9...Qe7

Black prepares ...Be6 so to recapture with the queen.

10.Be3

I like this plan the best.

10...Bxe3

10...Bb6 11.a4 Either Black trades this bishop or faces structural problems with the queenside pawns. 11...Bd7 12.a5
Bc5 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.a6 b6 15.Nd5 The light squares are really weak.

11.fxe3

Of course White recaptures this way rather than with the queen. The move fxe3, whether in this position or in related
Italian game positions, is very strong because the e3-pawn helps control the center and the f-file is opened to White.

11...Be6

There is no better place.

12.Bxe6

White has to trade this nice active bishop, but in return the light squares are weakened around Black's position.

12...Qxe6

This is essential. 12...fxe6 13.d4 Black covers the light squares, but the problem is now in the center. 13...exd4 14.exd4
15.e5 is impossible to stop. Black's king is in big trouble. 14...Kg8 15.e5 dxe5 16.dxe5 Nd7 17.Ne4!

13.Rf5!

[FEN "r4k1r/ppp2ppp/3pqn2/4pR2/4P3/2NPP1Q1/PPP3PP/R5K1 b - - 0 13"]

White gets lasting f-file pressure.

Emms,John M (2305) - Hawksworth,John C (2400)

BCF-ch Southampton (3), 1986

White keeps up the initiative by making threats from move four. Black's queen moves not only leave the queen open to
being trapped, but also open the f-file for White.

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Qg4 Qf6 5.Nd5

[FEN "r1b1k1nr/pppp1ppp/2n2q2/2bNp3/2B1P1Q1/8/PPPP1PPP/R1B1K1NR b KQkq - 0 5"]

This is where we left off.

5...Qxf2+

Clearly the only choice since the knight is also attacking c7.

6.Kd1

White's king is in no danger here. Black has no backup pieces to attack not to mention his own king issues.

6...g6

After this it is over. This move makes the f6-square weak on an already weak open f-file. 6...Kf8 This protects the g7-
pawn and sidesteps the fork on c7, but the king is hardly safe. 7.Nh3 Qd4 (7...h5 This is the best try since Black forces
the White queen to g5, where a ...Be7 move with tempo can help defend the f6-square. 8.Qg5 Qd4 9.d3 Be7 10.Qg3
Nf6 11.c3 Qc5 12.Be3 Qd6 13.Ng5 This is still great for White.) 8.d3 The threat is 9.c3 trapping the Black queen. 8...d6
(8...Be7 9.Rf1 Nf6 10.Nxf6 Bxf6 11.Qh5

[FEN "r1b2k1r/pppp1ppp/2n2b2/4p2Q/2BqP3/3P3N/PPP3PP/R1BK1R2 b - - 0 11"]

Now we see the power of the c4-bishop attacking f7. There is no good defense that does not lose material.
11...g6
12.Qh6+ Bg7 13.Rxf7+) 9.Qh4 The position is already lost for Black. 9...Bxh3 10.Qxh3 Na5 11.Rf1 This sets up a
pretty combination. 11...Nxc4 12.Qd7! f6 13.Nxf6 Qf2 (13...gxf6 14.Rxf6+ Nxf6 15.Bh6+ Kg8 16.Qg7#) 14.Rxf2 Bxf2

15.Nh5 1-0 Mieses,J-Chigorin,M, Ostend 1906.

6...Nf6 7.Qxg7 Nxd5 8.Qxh8+ Ke7 9.Qg8 White guards the g-pawn and Black has no chances to attack.

7.Nh3

7.Nxc7+? Kd8 8.Nxa8 d5 The discovered attack has White now rocking on his heels.

7...Qd4 8.d3

The queen is again in trouble by the trapping move 9.c3.

8...Bb6

Black makes room for the queen and guards c7.

[FEN "r1b1k1nr/pppp1p1p/1bn3p1/3Np3/2BqP1Q1/3P3N/PPP3PP/R1BK3R w kq - 0 9"]
9.Qf3!

A nice subtle move that targets f7.

9...f6 10.Rf1 d6

Black self-traps his queen, but there was nothing better. Without any activity White would just win on the f-file.

11.c3 Qc5 12.b4

Black is forced to give up a piece.

12...Nxb4 13.cxb4 Qd4 14.Rb1 h5 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.Qxf6 Bg4+ 17.Kc2 Kd7 18.Qg7+ Kc6 19.b5+ Kc5 20.Ba3# 1-0

After the abandonment of the kingside by the Black pieces, the Black king finds itself the victim of a king hunt to the
other side of the board.

Kosteniuk,Alexandra (2409) - Bouchaud,Vincent (2195)

Oz.com qual blitz ICC INT (9), 05.03.2000

This was a blitz game, but this game does a good job of showing how explosive White's position is.

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 g6 5.Qf3 Qf6 6.Qg3 Nge7 7.Nge2

This is where we left off. White protects the d4-square.

7...Nd4

7...d6 Slow play reveals the poor position of the Black pieces. 8.d3

[FEN "r1b1k2r/ppp1np1p/2np1qp1/2b1p3/2B1P3/2NP2Q1/PPP1NPPP/R1B1K2R b KQkq - 0 8"]

8...h6 9.Nb5 Bb6 10.0-0 Be6 11.Be3 There's a lot of pressure on the Black position. A future f4 could be in store as
well.

8.Nxd4

White trades off the active knight.

8...Bxd4
8...exd4 9.Ne2 This makes f4 and e5 really easy to do and the dark-squared Black bishop is blocked.

9.d3 h6

This makes castling difficult, but better to prevent Bg5 when the Black queen gets kicked around. 9...a6 10.Bg5 Qd6
11.Qf3 0-0 12.Bh6:

[FEN "r1b2rk1/1pppnp1p/p2q2pB/4p3/2BbP3/2NP1Q2/PPP2PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 0 12"]

10.0-0 c6

It's hard to find a plan.

10...Nc6 11.Nd5.

10...d6 11.Nb5 Bb6 12.Be3 The Black queen is trying to defend the f and g-pawns, but now the c7-pawn is a problem
too.

11.Kh1

[FEN "r1b1k2r/pp1pnp2/2p2qpp/4p3/2BbP3/2NP2Q1/PPP2PPP/R1B2R1K b kq - 0 11"]

11.Be3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 d5 13.Bb3 This is more to the point and the opening of the position will leave the Black king
defenseless.

11...Bxc3
11...d6 12.Be3 Be6 13.Bxe6 Qxe6 14.Bxd4 exd4 15.Ne2 This is Black's better plan, leaving White with only a
comfortable edge. f4 is coming.

12.bxc3 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5

13...cxd5 This was a little better to keep a hold on the center. 14.Bb3 Be6 15.Re1 0-0-0 16.Qxe5 Better to give up a
pawn and keep the king safe than let White crash through as in the game.

14.Bd2!

Maybe not the fastest way to win, but this is the kind of move that seperates great players from good ones: great players
use all their available pieces. Never forget development.

14...Nb6 15.Bb3 Be6 16.Rae1 Nd7 17.f4

And in a few moves, the game is winning for White.

17...Bxb3 18.fxe5 Qe6 19.axb3

[FEN "r3k2r/pp1n1p2/2p1q1pp/4P3/8/1PPP2Q1/2PB2PP/4RR1K b kq - 0 19"]

19...0-0-0 20.Qf2

There is a double threat on f7 and a7.

20...Rdf8 21.Qxa7 g5 22.c4 c5 23.b4 Nxe5 24.Qxc5+ 1-0

White traded off all Black's active pieces and used open lines along the f-file and g1-a7 diagonal to attack the Black
king.

Lessons Learned

With the bishop attacking f7 and the queen attacking g4 White focuses on the kingside and takes advantage of the
early ...Bc5. Often Black either concedes weaknesses with 4...g6 or lets White get fast development after 4....Qf6
5.Nd5.
On the other hand, the queen's absence on d1 makes getting the knight to d4 a priority for Black. White generally
tries to neutralize this by Nge2.
As both illustrative games showed us, poor play by Black is swiftly punished. This is because White has the
initiative and strong, immediate threats. However, I am surprised the move 4...Nd4 has not gotten more attention
since White gets a pawn, but Black has good compensation.
Practitioner

Ian Rogers is an Australian grandmaster. He was the strongest player in Australia for over twenty years and one
of the top 50 players in the world.
John Emms is an English grandmaster and renowned chess author. He is one of my favorite authors. My favorite
chess book of all time is Play the Open Games as Black.
Alexandra Kosteniuk is a Russian grandmaster and was the 2008 Women's World Champion.

Further Reading

Attacking with 1 e4 by John Emms.

Beating 1 e4 e5 by John Emms.
Starting Out: Open Games by Glenn Flear.

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