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ANNOTATED GAME
Running into a Stonewall
E.Horowitz (?) vs. Amateur (?)
Annotated by: tomwhufc (1200)
Chess opening: Queen's pawn (D00), stonewall attack
E.Horowitz (?) vs. Amateur (?)
Annotated by: tomwhufc (1200)
Chess opening: Queen's pawn (D00), stonewall attack
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This is a notable game of the 'Stonewall Attack' where where white sets up his desired 'Stonewall' pattern in impeccable form. Without depending on any major blunders on black's part, the game develops into a smahing attack on black's castled king orchestrated by Horowitz. | ||||||
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1. d4 |
More common is 1.e4 | |||||
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1... d5 |
Black replies symetrically also staking a claim for the centre. | |||||
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2. e3 |
?! From a theoretical point of view, White's last move has certain advanatges and disadvantages. I think the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Now white can develop his King's Bishop. Thi is a big factor in this game as this bishop plays a large role in whites coming attacking plans. This move however blocks the development of whites queen bishop. This is the "Stonwall's Bad Bishop" Incidently in reaching the desired pawn pattern, it is essential for white to play his moves in the proper sequence, as indicated in this game. This has now become harder for white and has now seen the 'Stonewall attack' see little action even in club or internet games, let alone master games! | |||||
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2... Nf6 |
This is a standard developing move which has the merit of controlling e4 and also prepares for castling. The alternative move here is 2..Bf5 which also controls e4 but leads to a totally different pattern. | |||||
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3. Bd3 |
This is one of whites key moves in his desired opening pattern. This move develops a move prepares for castling, sets the bishop up on a strong attacking diagonal aiming at blacks prospective castled position, and disputes control of the e4. As we shall see from whites next move it is of utmost importance for him to have the the d4square in his power. | |||||
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3... e6 |
Black follows suit, preparing to develop his King Bishop. | |||||
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4. Nd2 |
! White intends to play f4 one of the characteristic moves of the 'Stonewall' pattern. once he has played that move black can play ...Ne4 with out inccuring any danger of having it driven it away by f3. therefore before playing f4, white first plays out his Queen Knight to prevent ..Ne4. I decided to give this move a ! becuase it is a clever thinking ahead move. | |||||
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4... c5 |
This is a good move theoretically as it engages whites d4 pawn and therefore minimizes somewhat, white's pressure on e4. White can't reply with 5. dxc5 as that would relax his grip on the valuable square e4. In this opening control of the centre is absolutely paramount. Now there is a threatof ...c4, driving White's Bishop off the powerful attacking diagonal. | |||||
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5. c3 |
This is another characteristic move of the stonewall pattern. White supports d4 and also creates a retreat for the Bishop along the powerful attacking diagonal in the event of the move i talked about earlier ...c4. | |||||
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5... Nc6 |
This is another useful develping move, Black threatens, if permitted, to play ..e5with complete freedomand the intiative. In this we encounter a sharp tempo in the struggle for control of the centre. Where black develops systematically, there is a tense fight for the control of centre from the very beginning. At this point the fight for the centre must absorb both of the players thoughts. One negligent move could give the other player the intiative. In the event of 5...c4, trying to drive whites light squared bishop of that powerful attacking diagonal, white will not oblige by reacting passively with 6.Be2, when the bishop is left out of the attack with no aggressive prospects, Instead white will play 6. Bc2! so that his Bishop exerpts precisely the same aggressive effect as from d3. | |||||
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6. f4 |
?! This move completes the stonewall pattern, ..e5 is permanently prevented, and white prepares to anchor his King Knight at the powerful outpost on e5. Here the Knight wil exert commanding influence on the enemys' terrain. The idea behind the 'Stonewall' is to keep the centre blocked and launch an attack on the wing. As you can see it is a fairly rigid pawn formation which can often leave little room for the pieces to operate. The e5 square is whites only central invasion point. This opening 'system' ( I say system because it can be played by both sides) is more popular with inexperienced players becasue they can be fairly certain that they're moving their pieces to their proper squares. I think this is the wrong way to learn chess as it does not teach you to think. I think you should learn more flexible opening. | |||||
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6... Be7 |
This deve;ops a piece and prepares castling. This is slightly passive I would recomend 6...Bd6 with no attacking prospects but being able to defend or exchange the oncoming White Knight to e5. Now you will se how the stonewall pattern got its name! | |||||
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7. Ngf3 |
The knight starts its journey to the formidable outpost of e5. | |||||
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7... O-O |
Black thinks he is getting his king into safety where he can then hope to develop his pieces and eventually attack whites formidable pawn formation. You will see this is the wrong choice because black has actually castled on the wing where all the action is going to take place. I think it would be a better plan for black to continue developing is pieces and castle queenside then pawnstorm the kingside . | |||||
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8. Ne5 |
White has now achieved his opening objectives: he has set up the 'Stonewall' formation, which gives him a firm grip on the centre; he has posted his King bishop at d3 with strong attacking prospects; he has brought his King Knight to e5, emphasising his strong grip on the centreand his aggressive intentions towards Black's King. | |||||
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8... Qc7 |
Black intends to fianchetto his Queen Bishop before he can do this, however,he must give his Queen knight additional protection. Once Black's Queen Bishop is developed, he can start thinking of finding the most favourable squares for the placement of his rooks. We cn now ask ourselves the question; What is White's plan in the middlegame? This requires a careful assesment of the position. Material is even in. In development Black seems to have a slight advantage; he has castled, moved his queen and is on the point of developing his Queen Bishop. White lags in most of these details. However White as you will see make up for his la in development. I conlude that white has better prospects. WHY? Whereas Black has not posted one man beyond the fifth rank, White's King Knight is powerfully placed at e5 well supported by two pawns. This factor alone is enough to outweigh any element which is at the moment in Black's favour. But there is another poin: Whites Bishop at d3 is aimed directly at Black's castled position. Black can't block the attacking diagonal by ...Ne4. Therefore Whites basic plan us to aim for attack. | |||||
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9. O-O |
While automatically bringing his king to safety, white enhances the force of the coming attack by bringing his King Rook into action. You may say that castling the same side that you prepare to pawnstorm is quite risky.hoever if white takes time to develop his Queenside pieces then castle Queenside then pawnstorm the Kingside Black will already of organized his forces to defend his King and may well be in the midst of attacking White's King! | |||||
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9... b6 |
White has some alternatives wich are not satisfactory. If 9...cxd4 then 10. exc4 opening the diagonal for white's Queen Bishop, which can then move as soon as the Knight on d2 has moved. Another point in White's favour is the opening of the e-file for his Rooks. As the move 9...cxd4 gives Black no compensation advantage, the move must therefore be out of the question. Secondly if 9...c4 as has already been pointed out the bishop can just retreat to c2 remaining on the powerful attacking diagonal, still aimed at Black's castled King! Also Whites grip on the centre is extremely strong and he surely will benefit from black stopping the posibility of exchanging pawns in the centre or maintaining the tension. Thirdly is 9...NxN then 10.fxe5. At first sight you can be forgiven for thinking this idea is attractive, as it rids Black of a piece which is bound to be a thorn in his side. But the answer is still negative. After 9...NxN 10.fxe5, with the result that the f-file is opened for white. The power of Whites King Rook would be enhanced x1000, another equally convincing arguement that after 9...NxN 10.fxe5 Black's valuable protective Knight is driven away from f6. The result is the attack by White's d3 Bishop on h7 becomes more and more powerful! I think that arguement just about rules out any other move, no? | |||||
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10. g4 |
Whites violent pawn thrust is made with a few objectives in mind. His basic idea is obviously to drive away Black's Knight on f6 from its key defencive post. Thereby building pressure on h7. Another reason for this move is after the pawn advance g4-g5 there are often the opportunities to exchange it. Pawn advances result in open lines. In this case this exchange of the pawn would give White the new line of attack the open g-file. | |||||
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10... Bb7 |
Now Black actually threatens to play 11...NxN. But isn't this strange. A moment ago I said that 9...NxN would be bad. Now I claim that this this move would be good. What has happened to change my mind. The point is thi8s: After 11...NxN; 12.fxe5 Black would be able (after10...Bb7) to play 12...Ne4! establishing and maintaining an outpost os his own. whites attacking plans would be permanently disrupted as the attacking diagonal of his Bishop at d3 would be completely neutralized. N.B- Black's hope of killing the attack is contingent withon getting the upperhand in the centre (12...Ne4); and this in turn is the result of 10...Bb7, a move which exerts pressureon the centre. And so, it is a struggle for control of the centre which determines the success or failure of the attack! | |||||
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