{"id":2561,"date":"2023-06-28T12:49:34","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T12:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/?p=2561"},"modified":"2023-10-18T09:05:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T09:05:57","slug":"review-countering-the-queens-gambit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/review-countering-the-queens-gambit\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Countering the Queen&#8217;s Gambit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Book Review of <a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/countering-the-queen%27s-gambit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Countering the Queen&#8217;s Gambit<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><em><strong>\u201cAs a result of the minority attack, Black will be left with at least one weak pawn. If he is not to sink deeper into positional disadvantage, Black must look for counter-chances.\u201d <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u2013 <\/em>Former world champion Max Euwe, in his book <em>The Middle Game, Book 1<\/em>, Bell and Sons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf678fa76a5-1\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf678fa76a5-1\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"rnbqkbnr\\\/ppp2ppp\\\/4p3\\\/3p4\\\/2PP4\\\/8\\\/PP2PPPP\\\/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 3\",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queen%27s_Gambit_Declined\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Queen\u2019s Gambit Declined<\/a> (<strong>1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6<\/strong>) has a curious existence. It\u2019s a trusted defense for grandmasters and world champions alike (including Magnus Carlsen), but it\u2019s often shunned as a defense by club players. Part of the problem may be all those White 1.d4 repertoire books that give the same recipe for White against this defense:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Play the Exchange Variation (3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Initiative a queenside minority attack.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tie Black down on the queenside, eventually win a pawn there, and use the extra pawn to later win the game.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s an easy recipe, but surely that can\u2019t be the whole story, as otherwise why would anyone (including the world champion!) play this defense against 1.d4? And of course, it isn\u2019t the whole story as <a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/countering-the-queen%27s-gambit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Countering the Queen&#8217;s Gambit<\/a> clearly shows. The key for Black in this variation is Euwe\u2019s recipe in the quote above: <strong>seek counter chances.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Books-97.png\" alt=\"Countering the Queen's Gambit by Michael Prusikin\" class=\"wp-image-2562\" width=\"292\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Books-97.png 378w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Books-97-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Books-97-150x192.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 292px) 100vw, 292px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/sample\/countering-the-queen%27s-gambit\" style=\"background-color:#8bd1d3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>View Free Sample<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:45px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The author of this book, GM <a href=\"https:\/\/de.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Prusikin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michael Prusikin<\/a>, writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe reasons for the eternal popularity of the Queen&#8217;s Gambit Declined lie in the nature of this opening. It offers Black reliability without depriving him of winning chances and relies more on an understanding of the type of positions that arise than on memory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe repertoire presented here has served me well at grandmaster level for decades &#8211; I trust it! Club players need only master a small number of the variations, and these are summarised in the list of variations. The move orders analyzed in the text will help you to understand the typical positions, plans, and tactical ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s always very useful when the author of an opening book uses the systems that he recommends, as he has detailed knowledge of what works, and perhaps more importantly, what doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/EM-Dresden-2007-1536x1205-1.webp\" alt=\"Michael Prusikin\" class=\"wp-image-2572\" width=\"430\" height=\"336\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">GM Michael Prusikin. Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/schachtrainer-bayern.de\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chess training &#8211; Michael Prusikin<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The book is divided into four parts. The first part discusses the key ideas and pawn structures of the Exchange Variation and the Tartakower Variation (3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 5.Bg5 h6). The Tartakower is a very solid variation that was a particular favorite of former world champions Spassky and Karpov, and it is still used by top players. Part 2 covers the detailed theory of the Queen\u2019s Gambit Declined, including the Catalan, and this part complements the general discussion in Part 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Part 3 offers a compact repertoire against other first moves by White except for 1.e4, including the mainstream R\u00e9ti and English Openings, and less-common openings such as Bird\u2019s and Larsen\u2019s Openings, and even the Grob (1.g4)! Here, Prusikin offers suggestions that complement the rest of the repertoire, and this means using 1\u2026d5 whenever possible, except for against 1.b4, where he recommends 1\u2026e5. The final part of the book contains 36 exercises for readers to solve, together with detailed solutions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, the author suggests practical choices that minimize the amount of work for the reader to study, while maintaining a sound repertoire. However, he doesn\u2019t shy away from offering aggressive choices where appropriate. Prusikin provides very clear commentary on the variations, and he includes key tips and ideas throughout the book. The typical plans are highlighted through a good selection of illustrative games, including some by the author, and many correspondence games since these games generally involve deep analysis of the variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An example from the book is given below, with annotations from the book.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Countering the Queen&#8217;s Gambit Illustrative Example<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf678fa76a5-2\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf678fa76a5-2\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"Bundesliga 8788\\\"]\\n[Site \\\"Germany\\\"]\\n[Date \\\"1988.??.??\\\"]\\n[Round \\\"?\\\"]\\n[White \\\"Andruet\\\"]\\n[Black \\\"Spassky\\\"]\\n[Result \\\"0-1\\\"]\\n[ECO \\\"E11\\\"]\\n[WhiteElo \\\"2450\\\"]\\n[BlackElo \\\"2565\\\"]\\n[SetUp \\\"1\\\"]\\n[FEN \\\"r2qr1k1\\\/1p1b1p1p\\\/p1p3p1\\\/1P1p4\\\/P2P2nn\\\/3BP1N1\\\/2QN1PPP\\\/1R3RK1 b - - 0 21\\\"]\\n[PlyCount \\\"15\\\"]\\n[EventDate \\\"1987.10.??\\\"]\\n[EventType \\\"team-tourn\\\"]\\n[EventRounds \\\"15\\\"]\\n[EventCountry \\\"GER\\\"]\\n[SourceTitle \\\"GER-chT\\\"]\\n[Source \\\"ChessBase\\\"]\\n[SourceDate \\\"1999.07.01\\\"]\\n[SourceVersion \\\"1\\\"]\\n[SourceVersionDate \\\"1999.07.01\\\"]\\n[SourceQuality \\\"1\\\"]\\n[WhiteTeam \\\"Koblenz\\\"]\\n[BlackTeam \\\"Solingen\\\"]\\n[WhiteTeamCountry \\\"GER\\\"]\\n[BlackTeamCountry \\\"GER\\\"]\\n\\n{[#]} 21... axb5 $5 {Black is faced with the usual dilemma of how to respond to b4-b5.} ({The alternative} 21... cxb5 $5 22. axb5 a5 {certainly came into consideration, the speedy passed a-pawn would compensate for the weakness on d5. But Spassky has no ambitions on this side of the board. His idea is to hold together the queenside and mate on the kingside!}) 22. axb5 h5 $1 {This pawn could become a dangerous attacking weapon &#8211; even though things ultimately turned out differently in the game.} 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Rfe1 Qf6 (24... Nxg2 $5 {, with the idea to actually harass the white king with the h-pawn, was a strong alternative, although in this case White can equalise neatly with a countersacrifice:} 25. Kxg2 h4 26. Nf3 ({but not} 26. Ngf1 $2 Qg5) 26... hxg3 27. hxg3 $11) 25. Ndf1 {The white defence would have been easier to conduct after} (25. Re2 {, but objectively speaking the move in the game is fine.}) 25... Ra3 $1 {The white queen is overloaded; 26&#8230;Rxd3 followed by 27.. .Qxf2 is threatened.} 26. Re2 {Defends against the aforementioned threat.} c5 $1 {The position is still equal, and even though Spassky&#8217;s surprising pawn move does nothing to change that&#8230;the French player cracks under the increasing pressure and overlooks the main idea of 26&#8230;c5!.} 27. dxc5 $2 ({After} 27. h3 c4 28. Bxg6 fxg6 29. hxg4 Bxg4 30. f3 Bf5 31. Qc1 Bxb1 32. Qxa3 Bd3 33. Rf2 {, White would still hold, if only just.}) 27... Ne5 $1 {This is what the push with the c-pawn was about! Spassky wanted the e5-square for his knight! The reason for this will become clear on the very next move.} 28. Bb5 Qf3 $3 (28... Qf3 $3 {What a fantastic move! Accepting the queen sacrifice is forced, its point is the quiet thirtieth move:} 29. gxf3 Nhxf3+ 30. Kh1 Bh3 $1 {and it&#8217;s impossible to prevent the mate on g2.}) 0-1\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The game commentary in this example shows that the author provides a balanced approach to the repertoire and shows where both sides could have improved or where the resulting positions are balanced. This is much more acceptable than misleading readers by erroneously claiming that the suggested repertoire is a virtually forced win for the repertoire side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The subtitle of the book is \u201cA Compact (but Complete) Black Repertoire for Club Players against 1.d4\u201d, and the book certainly lives up to this claim, although the repertoire is actually much broader than this! The author has compiled a sensible repertoire without overwhelming the reader with far too much detail. All this is achieved in under 200 pages of theory, which is quite a feat. Provided readers are prepared to update the suggested repertoire with more recent developments as theory inevitably marches on, it\u2019s a repertoire that is sound and can be used for a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:24px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size\" style=\"background-color:#8bd1d3\"><strong>Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Book Review of Countering the Queen&#8217;s Gambit \u201cAs a result of the minority attack, Black&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2561"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2561"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3238,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2561\/revisions\/3238"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}