12° Classical Chess Thinking: 1 e4 eS 6 wee bs Black decides it is the right moment to block White’s idea of x6. Snatching another pawn in his undeveloped state would be fraught with peril: 6...exd4 7 Hel d5 8 Axd4 and White has the double threat of 9 Axc6 and 9 £3, winning material in either case. 7 2b3 The bishop has to retreat but it now has a good view of {7 — the weakest square in Black’s position. Black returns the pawn in order to: shut out the white bishop support the knight on e4 # open the diagonal for the queen’s bishop. 8 dxeS White regains his pawn and can be pleased at having emerged from the opening with a little space advantage: the pawn on e5 can be used as the spearhead for a kingside attack Sa. Leo The threat of 9 &xd5 had to be met, and if it can be done whilst developing a piece, then so much the better! 9 Dbd2 White develops and challenges the black knight which is sitting on an excellent centre square. A horrible mistake would be 9 c3? as after 9...2xc3 10 bxc3. White’s queenside pawns are inert and the bishop on b3 finds itself unable to move anywhere. Dow DeS Black could have continued developing with 9..&c5, but preferred not to have his pawns broken up in the unclear variation 10 Axed dxed 11 Qxe6 fxe6 12 De5. Therefore the knight retreats and keeps the tension in the centre. 3 10 White contests the d4 square and prepares to retreat his bishop to c2 where it would enjoy an open diagonal. It is a good moment to sum up the outcome of the opening phase.