Taking Advantage of

Weak Opening Moves

- Playing 1.E4 - E5
2.Nf3 Opening
Variations

Samantha212

| Feb 13, 2015 at 7:30 PM

| Posted in: Samantha212's Blog

| 2869 reads

| 0 comments

Openings are about gaining an advantage

in development, which include three main tasks:
1. Moving all pieces to control the most squares.
2. Occupying and attacking/controlling centre squares: e4, e5, d4,
and d5.
3. Hindering your opponent's development with tempo - without
wasting your initial moves.

Being ahead in development is the aim of the opening. An

advanced player can easily convert a lead in development into a
larger advantage by an attack or combination. It's very important,
therefore to be efficient with opening moves. Wilhelm Steinitz,
Siegbert Tarrasch, and Aron Nimzowitsch advocated several opening
laws:
1.
Each piece must be moved only once during the opening.

2.

Pawn are moved only to control centre squares, open lines for
pieces, or attack more valuable enemy pieces.
3.
Pieces must not be placed where they can be attacked by less
valuable pieces.
4.
Consider the King's safety at all times.
An advantage in development is quite easy to spot - you will
have more pieces out than your opponent. When possible, look for
"forcing moves" that combine attack and development and try to
develop with a gain of time.
For example, after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, White has attacked the
e5-pawn, forcing Black to defend it. Of course, Black could easily
defend the pawn with 2....d6, but this doesn't develop a piece.
Black's best moves then are either 2....Nc6, developing and
defending, or 2....Nf6, developing and attacking the e4-pawn. An
advantage in development, is an advantage. When you have more
pieces out you can easily attack an uncastled king.
Development is a dynamic advantage; if you do not use it, it
will immediately evaporate.
Both sides should follow natural opening rules: Devolop, gain control
of center squares and get the king to safety. When your opponent
violates these rules be ready to take advantage of their weaknesses.

Taking Advantage of a Weak Bishop Move in The Opening

1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Be7Very passive bishop move. It blocks
the queen and doesn't dominate the center.
(3... Bc5A move active bishop move that controls center
squares. )4. d4Attacks the center.
4... exd45. c3This move entices the pawn to take a "Free
Pawn"...but it is "poisoned".

5... dxc3Black should not take the pawn. It allows white to

create a forceful battery with the B/Q eying the f7 square.
(5... d6Better move that's defensive and prevents the B/Q
battery. 6. cxd4White simply takes the pawn. )6. Qd5A
strong, forcing move. At this point, black doesn't have many
defensive moves. IF
6... Nh6To defend the f7 square.
7. Bxh6The bishop takes the defender.
7... O-OBlack's best move is to castle - to get the king to safety.
If the king doesn't castle and takes the bishop it's mate in one.
(7... gxh68. Qxf7#)8. Bc1The bishop retreats to handle Black's
c3 pawn, which poses a threat if not tended to. White is already
up a piece.
8... cxb29. Bxb2Now there's more pressure added to black's
kingside.
Taking Advantage of Inferior Developing Moves
1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Be7Same Passive Bishop
move. Weakens black's development.
4. Nc3White continues to develop.
4... Nf6Black develops.
5. d4Attacks the center.
5... exd46. Nxd4d67. O-OO-O8. h3Re89. Re1All
natural developing moves.
9... Nd7Be on the look out for these WEAK moves. It
smothers the queen and blocks the bishop's diagonal.
Now white can take advantage of black's inferior

development.
10. Bxf7+IF
10... Kxf7(10... Kh8If the king doesn't take the
bishop. 11. Ne6Traps the
queen. 11... Rf812. Nxd8Rxd813. Nd5A forcing move that
will gain more material. )11. Ne6The knight attacks the
queen and the only piece available to keep her "honor" is
the king.
11... Kxe6IF
(11... Kg8The king retreats. 12. Nxd8The queen is
snatched. 12... Rxd8)12. Qg4+Kf613. Qf5#The king is
unable to retreat...blocked in by his own pieces.
Taking Advantage of the Fishing Pole Tactic
1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Bc5Black moves the bishop to
a better square.
4. Nc3Nf65. d3O-O6. Bg5h67. h4This is called "The
Fishing Pole" Tactic. If black takes the bishop, white will
have an open file for the rook to attack the kingside. This
can only be done if white hasn't castled yet.
7... hxg5This is a bad move for black. It's not advisable
to take the bishop.
8. hxg5Opens the rook's file.
8... Ng4Black creates an attack on the uncastled king's
f2 square.

9. g6Pushes the passed-pawn.

9... Nxf2Forking the Q & R.
10. Nxe5This is the best move. It adds a third attacker to
the f7 square.
(10. Bxf7+Rxf711. gxf7+Kxf712. Nxe5+Nxe513. Qh5+Ng
614. Qd5+Ke715. Qxc5+d616. Qxf2)10... Nxd1The
queen is sacrificed.
(If the knight takes back Ne5. 10... Nxe5Mate is even
quicker!! 11. Rh8+Kxh812. Qh5+Kg813. Qh7#)11. gxf7
+Now white "Crashes through".
11... Rxf712. Bxf7+Kf8The bishop is defended by the
knight.
13. Rh8+Ke714. Nd5+Kd615. Nc4#
Taking Advantage of a Pinned Piece
1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Bc54. Nc3Nf65. d3d66. Bg5
O-O7. Nd5An outpost for the knight that attacks the
pinned knight.
7... Kh88. Bxf6A forcing and attacking sacrifice. The
queen doesn't take because it will be recaptured.
8... gxf69. Qd2Aiming for the h6 square.
9... f5This moves allows the f7 pawn to push forward.
10. Qh6f6Allows the pawn to capture if 11. Ng5
11. Nh4POW - The knight comes around to attack on 12.
Ng6+

11... Rg8(11... Rf712. Ng6+Kg813. Nxf6+Qxf614. Qf8#)

(11... Kg812. Ne7+Kh813. Nhg6#)12. Nxf6Rg7Guards
the h7 square.
13. Ng6+Rxg614. Qxh7#
Taking Advantage of An Inferior Bishop Move
1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Bc54. c3d65. d4Bb6Retreating the bishop
allows white to gain material with the following tactic.
(5... exd4These mainline moves are better for
black. 6. cxd4Bb4+7. Nc3Is a better follow up for
black. )6. dxe5(6. Ng5If white immediately attacks the f7
square with the knight 6... Nh6Black defends. 7. Qf3OOCastles to safety. Black now has 3 defenders on the f7
square against 3
attackers. )6... Nxe57. Nxe5dxe58. Bxf7+Kxf7(8... Ke7King
doesn't take the
bishop. 9. Qxd8+Kxd810. Bxg8Rxg811. Bg5+Ke812. Nd2
White has a very comfortable game. )9. Qxd8White's up
significant material. A Bishop/Knight exchanged for a queen and

Taking
Advantage of Weak
Opening Moves - Playing
a positional advantage.

1.E4 - E5 2.Nf3 Opening

Variations

Samantha212

| Feb 13, 2015 at 7:30 PM

| Posted in: Samantha212's Blog

| 2869 reads

| 0 comments

Openings are about gaining an advantage

in development, which include three main tasks:
1. Moving all pieces to control the most squares.
2. Occupying and attacking/controlling centre squares: e4, e5, d4,
and d5.
3. Hindering your opponent's development with tempo - without
wasting your initial moves.
Being ahead in development is the aim of the opening. An
advanced player can easily convert a lead in development into a
larger advantage by an attack or combination. It's very important,
therefore to be efficient with opening moves. Wilhelm Steinitz,

Siegbert Tarrasch, and Aron Nimzowitsch advocated several opening

laws:
1.
Each piece must be moved only once during the opening.

2.

Pawn are moved only to control centre squares, open lines for
pieces, or attack more valuable enemy pieces.
3.
Pieces must not be placed where they can be attacked by less
valuable pieces.
4.
Consider the King's safety at all times.
An advantage in development is quite easy to spot - you will
have more pieces out than your opponent. When possible, look for
"forcing moves" that combine attack and development and try to
develop with a gain of time.
For example, after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, White has attacked the
e5-pawn, forcing Black to defend it. Of course, Black could easily
defend the pawn with 2....d6, but this doesn't develop a piece.
Black's best moves then are either 2....Nc6, developing and
defending, or 2....Nf6, developing and attacking the e4-pawn. An
advantage in development, is an advantage. When you have more
pieces out you can easily attack an uncastled king.
Development is a dynamic advantage; if you do not use it, it
will immediately evaporate.
Both sides should follow natural opening rules: Devolop, gain control
of center squares and get the king to safety. When your opponent
violates these rules be ready to take advantage of their weaknesses.

Taking Advantage of a Weak Bishop Move in The Opening

1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Be7Very passive bishop move.

It blocks the queen and doesn't dominate the center.
(3... Bc5A move active bishop move that controls center
squares. )4. d4Attacks the center.

4... exd45. c3This move entices the pawn to take a

"Free Pawn"...but it is "poisoned".
5... dxc3Black should not take the pawn. It allows white
to create a forceful battery with the B/Q eying the f7
square.
(5... d6Better move that's defensive and prevents the B/Q
battery. 6. cxd4White simply takes the pawn. )6. Qd5A
strong, forcing move. At this point, black doesn't have
many defensive moves. IF
6... Nh6To defend the f7 square.
7. Bxh6The bishop takes the defender.
7... O-OBlack's best move is to castle - to get the king to
safety. If the king doesn't castle and takes the bishop it's
mate in one.
(7... gxh68. Qxf7#)8. Bc1The bishop retreats to handle
Black's c3 pawn, which poses a threat if not tended to.
White is already up a piece.
8... cxb29. Bxb2Now there's more pressure added to
black's kingside.

J#,.@
Taking Advantage of Inferior Developing Moves

1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Be7Same Passive Bishop

move. Weakens black's development.
4. Nc3White continues to develop.
4... Nf6Black develops.
5. d4Attacks the center.
5... exd46. Nxd4d67. O-OO-O8. h3Re89. Re1All
natural developing moves.
9... Nd7Be on the look out for these WEAK moves. It
smothers the queen and blocks the bishop's diagonal.
Now white can take advantage of black's inferior
development.
10. Bxf7+IF
10... Kxf7(10... Kh8If the king doesn't take the
bishop. 11. Ne6Traps the
queen. 11... Rf812. Nxd8Rxd813. Nd5A forcing move that
will gain more material. )11. Ne6The knight attacks the
queen and the only piece available to keep her "honor" is
the king.
11... Kxe6IF
(11... Kg8The king retreats. 12. Nxd8The queen is
snatched. 12... Rxd8)12. Qg4+Kf613. Qf5#The king is
unable to retreat...blocked in by his own pieces.

f
J#,.@
Taking Advantage of the Fishing Pole Tactic

1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Bc5Black moves the bishop to

a better square.
4. Nc3Nf65. d3O-O6. Bg5h67. h4This is called "The
Fishing Pole" Tactic. If black takes the bishop, white will
have an open file for the rook to attack the kingside. This
can only be done if white hasn't castled yet.
7... hxg5This is a bad move for black. It's not advisable
to take the bishop.
8. hxg5Opens the rook's file.
8... Ng4Black creates an attack on the uncastled king's
f2 square.
9. g6Pushes the passed-pawn.
9... Nxf2Forking the Q & R.
10. Nxe5This is the best move. It adds a third attacker to
the f7 square.

(10. Bxf7+Rxf711. gxf7+Kxf712. Nxe5+Nxe513. Qh5+Ng

614. Qd5+Ke715. Qxc5+d616. Qxf2)10... Nxd1The
queen is sacrificed.
(If the knight takes back Ne5. 10... Nxe5Mate is even
quicker!! 11. Rh8+Kxh812. Qh5+Kg813. Qh7#)11. gxf7
+Now white "Crashes through".
11... Rxf712. Bxf7+Kf8The bishop is defended by the
knight.
13. Rh8+Ke714. Nd5+Kd615. Nc4#

J#,.@
Taking Advantage of a Pinned Piece

1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Bc54. Nc3Nf65. d3d66. Bg5

O-O7. Nd5An outpost for the knight that attacks the
pinned knight.
7... Kh88. Bxf6A forcing and attacking sacrifice. The
queen doesn't take because it will be recaptured.
8... gxf69. Qd2Aiming for the h6 square.

9... f5This moves allows the f7 pawn to push forward.

10. Qh6f6Allows the pawn to capture if 11. Ng5
11. Nh4POW - The knight comes around to attack on 12.
Ng6+
11... Rg8(11... Rf712. Ng6+Kg813. Nxf6+Qxf614. Qf8#)
(11... Kg812. Ne7+Kh813. Nhg6#)12. Nxf6Rg7Guards
the h7 square.
13. Ng6+Rxg614. Qxh7#

f
J#,.@
Taking Advantage of An Inferior Bishop Move

1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Bc54. c3d65. d4Bb6Retreatin

g the bishop allows white to gain material with the
following tactic.
(5... exd4These mainline moves are better for
black. 6. cxd4Bb4+7. Nc3Is a better follow up for
black. )6. dxe5(6. Ng5If white immediately attacks the f7
square with the knight 6... Nh6Black defends. 7. Qf3O-

OCastles to safety. Black now has 3 defenders on the f7

square against 3
attackers. )6... Nxe57. Nxe5dxe58. Bxf7+Kxf7(8... Ke7
King doesn't take the
bishop. 9. Qxd8+Kxd810. Bxg8Rxg811. Bg5+Ke812. Nd2
White has a very comfortable game. )9. Qxd8White's up
significant material. A Bishop/Knight exchanged for a
queen and a positional advantage.
I hope this sheds some light on how to take advantage of weak and
passive developmenting moves. Remeber, these weak positions can
occur with white as well.
Look for the next in the series - Tactics in the The Giuoco Piano. Until
then...Cheers.