Annotated chess game: League division C3 Torre Attack

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ANNOTATED GAME

League division C3 Torre Attack
loveguitarplay (2103) vs. mybookrunsdeep (1872)
Annotated by: mybookrunsdeep (1431)
Chess opening: Queen's pawn (A46), Torre attack

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1. d4

This game is a Torre attack, where I played a less critical line than the line 3...c5, however, still gives Black a solid game after the most trying continuation 4. Bxf6. My 2100 rated opponent, enters into this line, then let's off the accelerator with 5. e3, instead of the obvious 5. e4, with a central space advantage. The position that results features a good example of play against an isolated d-pawn.

1... Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5

The idea behind the bishop move is to exchange the defender of the e4-square and play e4.

3... h6

Modern theory regards inmmediately striking White's center with 3...c5 as the most critical test of White's opening strategy. After 4. e3 Qb6 5. Qc1 Black gets a good game with 5...Ne4.

4. Bxf6

4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 b6 6. Nbd2 Bb7 7. Bd3 Be7 8. 0-0 d6 9. c3 Nbd7, and Black's Hedgehog-style setup gives him harmonius development with little pressure from White.

4... Qxf6 5. e3

White adopts a modest setup, choosing to establish a stable center before undertaking any attack. Not really in the spirit of the opening, but Black doesnt have any immediate attack either.

5... c5 6. Be2

Again, 6. Bd3 is more aggressive.

6... cxd4

This move could have waited, however, I wanted to get the extra center pawn before White played c3, when the symmetrical pawn structure would have made things less dynamic.

7. exd4 Nc6

Now we are really out of book. This knight typically goes to d7, however, with White's unambitious play, I decided to put the knight on a more aggressive square.

8. O-O d5

Having established the central pawn majority, I decided to part with it to play against the Isolanus, if White so chooses. Maybe not the best strategy, however, I think Black can hold his own.

9. c4

White gets aggressive.

9... dxc4

Attempting to keep the position dynamic and since the position is opening, the loss of tempo in recapturing the pawn will help Black.

10. Nc3

White is ahead in development. I need to get moving.

10... Bd6

Too slow would have been the typical bishop fianchetto of the Torre systems. Here the dark-squared bishop goes to an active diagonal and fights for the e5-square.

11. Bxc4

Still behind in development and with an uncastled king, I am now looking down the barrel of a d5-break.

11... Qf4

Utilizing a pin to stop the break at the same time keeping the f3-knight tied to the defense of h2. An active defense is the best solution.

12. Qd3 O-O 13. Rad1

If 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. g3 ed and Black is fine.

13... Rd8

Preventing d5 again via 14...Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 threatening mate and hitting the queen, and after 16. Qg3 Qxc4 Black is down a piece.

14. Rfe1

Anticipating an opening of the e-file.

14... Bd7

The only real problem with the Black position is the light-sqared bishop. Here I clear a space for the a8-rook, but temporarily block any discovery tactics on the d-file from the d8-rook. This was the major trade off. In absence of any active plan, White is going to get a space advantage on the queenside, in addition to his advantage in the center, and I would slowly suffocate. Here I can at least develop my pieces and get some counterplay on the open files.

15. a3 Rac8 16. Ne4 Be7

Better than ...Bb8, as the pressure against h2 is not as potent as White's queenside and center pressure. Here I can swing the Bishop to f6 and to g7 after ...g6 if necessary.

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