The French Defense Revisited,

Dragoljub J & Boroljub Z, Thinkers

Publishing 2023-TLS Dragoljub J &
Boroljub Z
Visit to download the full and correct content document:
https://ebookmass.com/product/the-french-defense-revisited-dragoljub-j-boroljub-z-thi
nkers-publishing-2023-tls-dragoljub-j-boroljub-z/
The French Defense
Revisited

A Practical Guide
for Black

Dragoljub Jacimovic &

Boroljub Zlatanovic

Thinkers Publishing 2023

www.thinkerspublishing.com
First edition 2023 by Thinkers Publishing
Copyright © 2023 Dragoljub Jacimovic & Boroljub Zlatanovic

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher.

All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium.

Email: info@thinkerspublishing.com
Website: www.thinkerspublishing.com

To our families for their

wholehearted support

To all French Defense

lovers worldwide

Managing Editor: Adrien Demuth

Assistant Editor: Daniel Vanheirzeele

Proofreading: Kai Tan

Software: Hub van de Laar

Cover Design: Iwan Kerkhof

Graphic Artist: Philippe Tonnard

Production: BESTinGraphics

ISBN: 9789464201802
D/2023/13732/15
 Table of Contents

Key to Symbols 5
Preface 6
Introduction 7

PART I – Theory 8
Chapter 1 – Early Sidelines 9
Chapter 2 – The Exchange Variation – 3.exd5 22
Chapter 3 – The Advance Variation – 3.e5 36
Chapter 4 – The Tarrasch-Guimard Variation – 3.Nd2 53
Chapter 5 – The Winawer Attack – 3.Nc3 75

PART II – Analyzed Games 113

PART III – Exercises 207

 Key to Symbols

! a good move
? a weak move
!! an excellent move
?? a blunder
!? an interesting move
?! a dubious move
™ only move
N novelty
‰ lead in development
ʘ zugzwang
= equality
∞ unclear position
© with compensation for the sacrificed material
² White stands slightly better
³ Black stands slightly better
± White has a serious advantage
µ Black has a serious advantage
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
‚ with an attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
… with the idea of
¹ better is
≤ worse is
+ check
# mate

5
 Preface

For “French lovers“, their favorite defense is equal to love. It is easy to fall in love with specific
structures, to learn to be patient and to have the gift of understanding chess!

The dance by Black’s pieces during deep middlegame is often the key to a deep strategy. I was only
14 when I started feeling that the French Defense would become my eternal companion, and this
affinity has lasted almost half a century. I will forever remember my tough fights against Timman,
Caruana, Speelman, Psakhis, Velimirovic, Lobron... and I am glad to see stars such as Carlsen, Caruana,
Nepomniachtchi, Ding and So being attracted to playing the French.

I have really enjoyed reading this book. It is divided into three parts and it is expertly conceived.
Zlatanovic and Jacimovic have regularly played their favorite opening for decades and they have a
great sense of the nuances. Boroljub radiates creativity, energy, understanding, a talent in tactical
clashes and a strong desire to win. How beautiful is his victory against the strong grandmaster Ante
Brkic! I witnessed Boroljub’s triumphs in tournaments facing famous grandmasters. He is indeed an
eminent coach and author.

Dragoljub’s pieces are always on the right spots, guided by the hand of a skilled strategist. Our
meetings at tournaments and conversations about “our opening” were a treat for me. I enjoyed
watching his victory over the European champion Macieja – another shining moment of the French
Defense! Dragoljub’s performance at the Olympiad in Istanbul in 2000 was a great achievement,
when he won the gold medal for his results on the third board!

I am glad to see the authors devote an entire chapter to rare systems. Such variations may cause you
to feel uncomfortable if you are not well prepared. The book is a valuable guide for chess players
who play the French Defense and those who are about to fall in love with this defense.

The book is authentic and is to be recommended. It is a delight for me and has motivated me to “dive
into the French whirlpools” once again. Both less devoted players and strong grandmasters will read
this book with great enthusiasm.

Grandmaster Milan Drasko, Serbia, January 2023

6
 Introduction

For almost two centuries the French Defense has been a universally popular opening. Many
authorities have made their contribution to establishing the theory. Thanks to their efforts, players
nowadays can easily make a choice between the many and various options, whether peaceful or
sharp, whether statically or dynamically orientated. Just as importantly, if not more so, fans of the
French worldwide can today find good options to play both for a win and a draw! All this makes the
French Defense very popular. However, the authors think that many lines have not been well
explained or should be revisited. Some other lines deserve a better reputation. Finally we have also
suggested some new approaches. Simply speaking, the French Defense looks to be inexhaustible and
there cannot be enough books dedicated to it. This book takes a step in the direction of revitalizing
our favorite opening!

The authors have decided to set the book in order from the less to the more popular and complex
lines. In the case of the most popular moves 3.e5, 3.Nd2 and 3.Nc3, we decided to offer two options
for Black – one aims to lead to calm play, taking care first with finding balance and equalizing; the
other aims to lead to a direct game. Needless to say, we wish to arm the reader in all scenarios that
can arise in a practical game of chess, depending on their intentions, wishes, preparation, motivation
level, and standings etc.

In the theoretical part, we have given more or less common lines suggested and tried to set out plans
and patterns for both sides. Additionally, in the model games and exercise sections, we have
explained some typical mistakes, failures, tactical motifs, and strategic regroupings in action! Some
meticulous readers may think that some lines have not been covered in detail in the theoretical part,
but this has been decided deliberately with the intention of paying attention to the last two practical
parts. We have tried to keep lines where it’s always possible to win as Black (as a real fighting game),
and we have also explained the variations from a psychological aspect.

Finally, we have tended to present fragments or whole games that have been played by the true
authorities of the defense, simply because they are the ones who set the trends! However, unlike the
majority of books, we have also presented many games played by those who are not famous, or even
anonymous and unrated! In sum, everyone who has created a masterpiece should find a place in
publications. Moreover, this approach should help average players who are lovers of the French to
become more confident!

Dragoljub Jacimovic & Boroljub Zlatanovic, Serbia, January 2023

7
 Part I
Theory

8
 Chapter 1
Early Sidelines

1.e4 e6

Chapter Guide

Chapter 1 – Early Sidelines

1.e4 e6

a) 2.b3

b) 2.Qe2

c) 2.d3 – King’s Indian Attack

d) 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3

9
White generally has many ways to answer on his second move. Therefore as a result Black has many
options on his second move. This can lead to a plethora of lines and generally players should be
equipped with knowledge of structures that may occur from other lines and openings. Here we
present 2.b3, 2.Qe2 and the King’s Indian Attack, 2.d3. These lines sometimes follow similar patterns,
but we give various different approaches, with the aim of presenting relatively simple ways to
equalize and to reach sufficiently complex positions so as to keep chances even or for more. We also
present a deviation on the third move 3.Bd3. This is a unique deviation that is deserving attention at
the moment. Here the reader will gain some suggestions that can easily progress beyond the opening
to reach a solid middlegame.

a) 2.b3

1.e4 e6 2.b3?! This is our suggestion here. White has a few

options. The point is to wait for White’s
development idea before reacting. Furthermore
Black waits for the potential capture to free his
light-squared bishop. Another option is to go for
the promising advance ...d4 from a Benoni
structure. Very often in the Indian Defenses it is
dangerous for Black to meet the d5-advance
with a fianchettoed bishop on b7. This is the
approach we suggest here.

Position after: 2.b3?! 4.exd5

This is often used by tacticians. The idea is to get This primitive move is probably the best here.
out of theory, to castle queenside quickly and to
attack on the dark-squared diagonal. Black has A) 4.e5 This is pointless, but possible. 4...d4!?
many options, and although capturing looks to 5.Nf3 a6!
be the most principled, we would rather suggest
another approach – surprise someone who
wanted to surprise you!

2...d5 3.Bb2 Nc6

Position after: 5...a6!

Black’s knight must stay alive on c6. It is both a

defender and an attacker, the key piece here.

Position after: 3...Nc6

10
A1) 6.Bd3 Nb4!? 7.Be4 [7.Nxd4 c5 8.Nf3
Nxd3+ 9.cxd3 Qxd3 10.Qe2 Qxe2+ 11.Kxe2
Ne7³] 7...f5! 8.exf6 Nxf6
Position after: 8...Nxf6
9.d3 [9.a3 Nxe4 10.axb4 Bxb4 11.Bxd4 0-0
12.Nc3 Ng5! Black has an advantage.] 9...Nxe4
10.dxe4 c5 11.c3 dxc3 12.Bxc3 Nd3+ 13.Kf1
Bd7! 14.Nbd2 Be7 15.Bxg7 Rg8 16.Bh6 Bf6
Black is in a great position and has more than
enough compensation.
A2) 6.Na3 Qd5 7.c4 Qe4+ 8.Qe2 Qxe2+ 9.Bxe2
f6 10.exf6 gxf6 This is excellent for Black.
B) 4.Bb5?! Another silly attempt.
Position after: 4.Bb5?!
B1) 4...dxe4 To be fair this is also good. 5.Nc3
Qg5 This gives Black an advantage, in Tsydypov,
Z (2460) – Rapport, R (2717) Danzhou 2016.
Here White should choose the following.
6.Bxc6+ [6.g3? This allows Black to play 6...Bd7!.
White is already hopeless without anything for
the pawn and the opponent has superior
11
development.] 6...bxc6 7.g3 Nf6 Black is in a
slightly worse situation.
B2) 4...Nge7
B2.1) 5.Nc3? d4 6.Nce2 a6 7.Bd3 e5 8.f4 [8.c3
Ng6 9.cxd4 exd4 10.Rc1 Nb4 11.Bb1 c5µ]
8...exf4 9.Nxf4 Ng6 Evidently Black is better.
White has passive bishops.
B2.2) 5.Qe2 a6
Position after: 5...a6
6.Bxc6+ [6.Bd3? This doesn’t make sense in
view of 6...Ng6!.] 6...Nxc6 Now White has a few
options.
B2.2a) 7.f4 b6 8.Nf3 Bb7 9.d3 dxe4 10.Qxe4
[10.dxe4 Qd6! 11.g3 Qc5 12.a3 a5 13.Nc3 0-0-
0µ] 10...Qd5 11.Qxd5 exd5 This gives Black a
better endgame after ...f6!.
B2.2b) 7.exd5 Qxd5 8.Nf3 Qf5 9.d3 [9.Na3? b5
The knight is excluded from the game, and at the
same time Black installs his bishop on the most
dangerous diagonal.] 9...Bd7 10.Nbd2 0-0-0
11.0-0-0 e5 12.Ne4 f6 Black is preferable with
the bishop pair and perfectly restricts the
opponent’s minor pieces.
C) 4.Nc3?! A strange move. Black with tempo
has the following. 4...d4 5.Nce2 e5
 Position after: 5...e5 Position after: 5.Nf3

This position should not be played with the 5...Nf6

bishop on b2.
5...f6 The plan is ...Bf5 and ...Qd7, and
C1) 6.f4? Bg4 7.fxe5 [7.h3 Bh5 8.d3 exf4–+] probably ...0-0-0 is also good.
7...d3–+
6.Be2
C2) 6.Ng3 a6!
A) 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 Bg4 9.Bxc6 bxc6
C2.1) 7.a4 Be6 8.Nf3 h5 A natural reaction with 10.h3 Bh5 11.d3 Nd7 This is good for Black.
the knight on g3 which gives Black an advantage.
B) 6.d4 This is strange with the bishop already
C2.2) 7.c3 A natural reaction, but it achieves set on b2. The idea of installing the knight on e5
nothing here. Black has the following. 7...Nge7 can be easily parried. 6...Bd6
8.cxd4 exd4 The black knight goes to g6 and
then f4 or e5. This cannot be prevented with 9.f4
because 9...Ng6 10.Qf3 Nb4 is crushing.

C2.3) 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.Nf3 b5 9.Bd3 h5! 10.h4

[10.a4 This gives nothing in view of the following.
10...bxa4 11.Bc4 h4 12.Ng5 Be6µ] 10...Bg4
Black has a clear advantage.

C3) 6.Nf3 This can be met as follows. 6...g5!?

7.h3 h5 8.c3 Bg7 9.cxd4 exd4 10.d3 g4 11.hxg4
hxg4 12.Rxh8 Bxh8 13.Nd2 Nge7 Black has an
advantage.
C4) 6.g3 This is too slow. 6...f5! 7.d3 Nf6 8.Bg2
fxe4 9.dxe4 Bg4 10.f3 [10.h3 Bb4+! 11.c3 dxc3
12.Qxd8+ Rxd8 13.Nxc3 Bh5 14.g4 Bg6 15.f3
Rd3–+] 10...Be6 11.Nh3 Bc5µ
4...exd5 5.Nf3
Position after: 6...Bd6
7.Be2 [7.Bd3 Qe7+ 8.Qe2 Qxe2+ 9.Bxe2 Nb4
10.Bd1 Bf5 11.Na3 0-0 12.0-0 a5 This gives
Black an evident advantage.] 7...0-0 8.0-0 Ne7
9.Ne5 Ng6 10.Bd3 c5 11.Bxg6 hxg6 12.dxc5
Bxc5 13.Bd4 b6 Black is preferred.
6...Bd6 7.0-0 0-0

12
 9.Nb5 Bf4 10.Re1 a6 11.Nbd4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4
Qd6

Black has got out of the difficulties and optically

seems even to be somewhat preferable.

Position after: 7...0-0

8.Na3

8.Nc3?! a6! The knight on c3 is very bad.

8...Re8 Position after: 12...Qd6

8...a6 This is good here, but White has 9.c4

justifying the knight’s position on a3. 9...Re8
This is better for Black.

b) 2.Qe2

1.e4 e6 2.Qe2
Black players often play this move here. The idea
is to prevent d4 and secure this spot for the
knight. White usually plays c3.

A) 2...e5 This is another good and simple move

that will not be analyzed here in detail. Black
wants to switch to an open game, intending for
the queen to stay on the bad e2-square.

B) If Black wants to insist on advancing ...d5,

Position after: 2.Qe2
This is an attempt to lead the game in the
manner of a King’s Indian with colors reversed.
It can be similar to a King’s Indian Attack, but can
also generate completely different structures
and positions. We will try to explain the patterns
and ideas.
then 2...Be7 is the move. Some minor problems
may arise after White advances e5 and the
knight on g8 then needs time to get activated.
On the other hand White cannot advance d4
easily and the queen is also bad on e2. Black is
generally OK.
3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3

2...c5 4.c3 This can be played immediately, but here

Black has 4...d5. This works well now, because

13
after the queen takes, there is no longer the
move Nc3.

Position after: 7...Nge7

B1) 8.c3 b6 9.Nbd2 0-0

Position after: 4...d5

5.d3 [5.e5? This is bad. 5...Qc7 6.g3 f6 7.exf6

Nxf6 8.Bg2 e5 9.0-0 Bd6 Black is better; 5.exd5
This is primitive. 5...Qxd5 6.g3 e5 7.Bg2 Bg4
Black will castle queenside next and obtain an
excellent game.] 5...d4 6.e5 dxc3 7.bxc3 b6 8.g3
Nge7 The idea is ...Ba6 which is great for Black.

4...g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0-0 d6

Position after: 9...0-0

Now White has a few options for the rook.

B1.1) 10.Re1 Qd7 11.Nf1 Ba6 12.h4 Rae8

13.N1h2 f5 This, for instance, is definitely
preferable for Black.

B1.1a) 14.exf5 Nxf5 15.a4 [15.g4? Nh6!µ]

15...e5!
Position after: 6...d6
B1.1b) 14.h5?! gxh5! 15.Ng5 h4
7.c3

A) 7.c4? This cannot be a good recommendation.

7...Nge7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.d3 a6 10.a4 b6 This gave
Black an advantage, in Kamsky, G (2657) –
Grischuk, A (2764) chess.com INT 2022.

B) 7.d3 Another common move. 7...Nge7 Now

White has a few possible setups.

Position after: 15...h4

14
16.Qh5 [16.exf5 This leads to a nice forced line.
16...hxg3! 17.fxg3 Nxf5 18.g4 Ncd4! 19.Qd1
Nh4 20.cxd4 Bxd4+ 21.Be3 Nxg2 22.Kxg2
Bxb2 23.Rb1 Bg7 Black is dominant.] 16...h6
17.Nh3 hxg3 18.fxg3 Rf6!

B1.2) 10.Rd1 The rook here is preparing d4 at

some moment. Black has, for instance, the
following active possibility. 10...e5 11.Nf1 d5
12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Ne3 Bb7 Black’s situation is Position after: 8.Na3
preferable.
This is the point of the previous move. The
knight goes to c2 to support d4. However this is
B2) 8.Nbd2 This is a more flexible idea. White
not easy to do.
still waits with the c-pawn advance. Here we
suggest the following. 8...b6 8...Nge7

It’s not a usual French structure, but this was

probably the best choice. For instance, the game
can continue as follows.
9.Nc2 0-0 10.Rd1 f5 11.d3 h6

Black is setting the bishop on e6 and is

preparing ...d5.
12.b4!?
Position after: 8...b6
Here this move can be an interesting attempt to
9.Re1 [9.c3 This does not change much. Black is obtain rich play.
very good after 9...Ba6.] 9...0-0 Black can follow
the same abovementioned plan with ...e5 12.d4? White can never play this because of the
and ...d5. typical following reaction. 12...fxe4 13.Qxe4
cxd4 14.cxd4 d5 Black will play ...e4 with
It is important to note that some of the ideas domination.
that are similar to a King’s Indian Attack, such as
12...cxb4 13.cxb4 a6 14.Bb2 Be6
10.h4, will achieve nothing because Black has
the following simple response: 10...h6 11.Nf1
e5 White does not have a pawn wedge on e5,
and thus there is no attack on the kingside at all.
Black is to be preferred for instance after the
following. 12.c3 Be6 13.a4 [13.N3h2 Qd7 14.f4
Rae8 15.Nf3 f5µ] 13...Qd7 Black will soon
play ...f5 or ...d5 (or even both) with advantage.

7...e5!? 8.Na3
Position after: 14...Be6

Black is doing very well here.

15
c) 2.d3 – King’s Indian Attack
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5
Position after: 2...d5
3.Nd2
The idea for White is to create a setup in the
manner of the King’s Indian with colors reversed.
Of course, White has in mind an attack on the
kingside. There are many possible plans and
setups for Black, but here we will present one
simple approach that we think will suit you.
3.Qe2 Another system that has become quite
popular recently. The idea is that in the classical
lines of the King’s Indian Attack, the knight will
sometimes get to c3 to attack the d5-pawn.
3...Nc6 4.Nf3 dxe4 5.dxe4 e5 We play in the
same spirit as our main line. 6.c3 Nf6
Position after: 6...Nf6
7.Qc2 [7.g3 a5! Preventing b2-b4 secures the
c5-square for the bishop on c5. 8.Bg2 Bc5 9.0-0
0-0 10.Nbd2 b6³ Ideas of ...Ba6 are highly
16
unpleasant for White.] 7...Bd6 8.Nbd2 0-0
9.Nc4 h6 10.Be2 Be6 11.0-0 a5 The position is
balanced.
3...Nf6!
3...Nc6 This is a less flexible move order because
of the following. 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 dxe4 White has
the possibility to play as follows. 6.Nxe4 Nxe4
7.Bxe4
Position after: 7.Bxe4
This may cause some technical problems for
Black when trying to smoothly develop his
queenside pieces.
4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3
A) 5.e5? This is bad for White. 5...Nd7 6.d4 f6
After this Black gets a typical Tarrasch Variation
with 3...Nc6, but with an extra tempo for Black
– White has spent two moves to place a pawn
on d4!
B) 5.Be2 This would lead to a Philidor-type
position with inverted colors; we won’t pay any
serious attention to this move here.
5...dxe4 6.dxe4
6.Nxe4 Nxe4 7.dxe4 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 Bc5 9.Ke1
Nb4 This already gives Black the initiative.
6...Bc5
Position after: 6...Bc5
7.Bg2
7.Bb5 This seems to make no sense in view of
the fact that the pawn has already moved to g3.
7...0-0 and 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 e5 This leads to
problems for White because of the ultra-
powerful black light-squared bishop.
7...0-0 8.0-0
8.e5 This gives up a pawn with no compensation
after the following. 8...Ng4 9.0-0 Ngxe5
10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Qe2
8...e5 9.c3
A) 9.Nb3? Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Bb6 This leads to
disaster because of the threat of ...Ng4 and the
hanging e4-pawn.
B) 9.Qe2?! b6 10.Nb3 Bd6 After Black’s ...a5
with ideas of ...a4 and ...Ba6, Black is to be
preferred.
C) 9.h3?! a5 10.c3 This may transpose to the
main line. See 9.c3.
9...a5!
17
Position after: 9...a5!
A very important move for Black in this type of
positions. This move not only prevents the
important b4 resource, but also secures the
position for the bishop that is often placed on a6.
Black prepares the important advance ...a4
which may lead to an unpleasant fixing of
White’s queenside pawns. Now White is at an
important crossroads – there are several
possibilities, all of them leading to promising
positions for Black.
10.Qc2
This is perhaps the best.
A) 10.a4?! This is a very common approach, but
it is actually a serious weakening move, which
also wastes time. 10...Qd3!
Position after: 10...Qd3!
A good way to start exploiting the many light-
squared weaknesses in White’s camp. 11.Nb3
Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Ba7 13.Nbd2 Be6 Black is clearly
better.
B) 10.Re1?! Ng4 11.Re2 Be6 This gives Black a
perfect position.
C) 10.Qe2?! This also cannot be recommended
because now there is 10...b6 with ...Ba6
becoming an even more dangerous threat.
Position after: 10...b6
C1) 11.a4? Ba6 12.Nc4 Ne8! The idea is to force
White to double their pawns on c4 – this was
tested in one of the author’s games. 13.b3 Nd6
14.Nfd2 Qd7 15.Re1 Qe6 16.Bf1 Qf6 17.Bh3
Nd8! 18.Kg2 N8b7 19.Bd7 Rad8 20.Bg4 Nxc4
21.Nxc4 Nd6
Position after: 21...Nd6
Black achieved a winning position, in Petkovic, D
(2281) – Zlatanovic, B (2371) Serbia 2007.
C2) 11.Nc4 Ba6 12.b3 Qe7! Black has a clear
edge. 13.Nh4 For instance, this can now be met
by the following powerful line. 13...Qe6 14.Nf5
a4! Black dominates.
D) 10.h3?! This is a primitive way to
prevent ...Ng4 and to make Re1 possible.
18
10...a4! Now Black has this move and placing the
bishop on e6 will cause serious problems with
the a2-pawn. White can solve this by playing a2-
a3 which will induce light-squared weaknesses.
Now for instance, there are the following
possibilities.
D1) 11.Nh4? Qd3! 12.Qf3 [12.Kh2? a3 This is
lost for White, as in Hvenekilde, J (2257) –
Sorensen, B (2242) Copenhagen 1977.]
12...Qxf3 13.Nhxf3 Nh5!
Position after: 13...Nh5!
14.Kh2 b6 Black is threatening ...Ba6 and
winning.
D2) 11.Re1 Be6
D2.1) 12.Qe2 Nd7 13.Nc4 f6 14.Nh4 Qe8 Black
is to be preferred due to the important
resources ...Qf7, ...b5 and ...Na5.
D2.2) 12.Ng5? A funny line showing all the
attacking potential of Black’s setup after
12...Ng4!. Black dominates after the following.
Position after: 12...Ng4!
13.hxg4 [13.Nxe6? Bxf2+! 14.Kh1 fxe6 15.hxg4
Bxg3–+] 13...Qxg5 14.Bf3 Rfd8

E) 10.Nh4?! Qd3! 11.Nb3 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Ba7!

Position after: 13...Rfd8

14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Rxd5 16.Nd4

16.Qa4 Rd6 17.Ng5 h6

Position after: 12...Ba7!
A) 18.Bxc6?! Rb8!
Again with the same ideas of ...a4 and ...Ng4.
13.a4 Ng4 14.Rf1 Be6 15.Nd2 Rfd8 This is
horrible for White.

F) 10.Nb3?! This is an attempt, but it achieves

nothing after the following simple move by
Black. 10...Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Ba7! The two ideas
are ...a4 and ...Ng4.

10...Qe7!
Position after: 18...Rb8!
The most flexible and precise way to determine
White’s plan. 19.Bg2 [19.Ne4? b5 20.Qxa5 Rxc6µ; 19.Nf3?
Rxc6 20.Qxc6 Bb7µ] 19...hxg5 20.b4! b5!
11.Nc4 b6 12.Ne3 Ba6

12...Bxe3 13.Bxe3 Ba6 This leads to balanced

positions where Black should be satisfied with
the outcome of the opening.

13.Re1

13.Rd1?! Rad8 Now White makes a silly attempt

which gave Black an easy win as follows. 14.Nd5?
Nxd5! 15.exd5 e4! 16.dxc6 exf3 17.Bxf3 Rxd1+ Position after: 20...b5!
18.Qxd1 Rd8 19.Bd2 Qf6 Barahona, D (2250) –
Gdanski, J (2430) Santiago de Chile 1990 21.Qxa5 Bb6 22.Qa3 Rbd8³

13...Rfd8 B) 18.Ne4 Rg6 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.Be3 Qc4 The

position is dynamically balanced.

19
16...Rxd4 17.Bxc6 Rdd8 18.Bxa8 18...Rxa8

A double-edged position where Black holds

some initiative.

Position after: 18.Bxa8

d) 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3?!

Position after: 5...Nbd7

Position after: 3.Bd3?!
The idea of this (in our view, primitive) move is
to transfer the bishop to the “Catalan diagonal”
with pressure on Black’s queenside. The
problem here is that it wastes time and exposes
this very important piece.
3...dxe4
With this move Black wants to eliminate White’s
remaining central pawn to equalize.
6.Ne2
A) 6.Nc3 a6!? Securing the bishop after the next
move. [6...Bd6 This is also quite ok. 7.Nb5 Bb4+
8.c3 a6 9.Nxc7+ Qxc7 10.cxb4 e5 For instance,
this looks solid for Black.] 7.Nge2

A natural concept which we want to present

here.

3...c5 Another logical approach where Black

wants to exploit the fact that the queen doesn’t
protect d4 anymore.

4.Bxe4 Nf6 5.Bf3 Nbd7

Position after: 7.Nge2

20
7...Bd6 [7...Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Ng3 Rb8 10.a4 b5
11.axb5 axb5 12.Ra7 b4 13.Na4 Nb6] 8.0-0 0-0
9.Ng3 Rb8!? 10.Nce4 b5 11.Nxd6 cxd6 12.Re1
Bb7 13.Be2 Qc7 The position is balanced. Black
is fine due to the control of the light squares in
the center.

B) 6.Bf4 Bd6!

B1) 7.Bg3? e5 [7...0-0 Delaying any action also Position after: 8...0-0
gives Black an edge.] 8.Nc3 Qe7 9.dxe5 Nxe5
Black is better. 9.Bg5

B2) 7.Bxd6 cxd6 8.Ne2 0-0 9.0-0 Qc7 10.Nd2 d5 The main continuation.
Black equalizes.
9.Be3 This is not aggressive enough. 9...Re8
6...e5 7.0-0 10.Ng3 exd4 11.Bxd4 Bc5 12.Bxc5 Nxc5
13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Rad1 Black equalizes after
A) 7.Nbc3 Bd6 8.Be3 0-0 14...Bg4!.

9...h6 10.Bh4 Re8 11.Ne4

11.dxe5?! Nxe5 12.Bd5 Ng6 13.Bg3

Position after: 8...0-0

9.Ng3 [9.d5? Nb6! 10.0-0 Ne8 Black is evidently

better after ...f5.] 9...exd4 10.Qxd4 Bc5 11.Qf4
Position after: 13.Bg3
Bxe3 12.fxe3 Nb6 This is unclear.
A) 13...Nxd5 This is another, primitive and
B) 7.dxe5?! A bad attempt to keep the black king
classical way to obtain a promising middlegame
in the center. 7...Nxe5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nd2
or even an endgame after the following.
Now Black is to be preferred after the following
14.Qxd5 [14.Nxd5? Bg4!µ] 14...Bxg3 15.Nxg3
example line. 9...Bd6 10.0-0 Nxf3+ 11.Nxf3 Re8
c6
12.Ng3 Ne4 13.Rd1 Bd7 14.Nxe4 Rxe4 15.b3
Kc8 16.Bb2 f6
B) 13...a5!? A fine computer option where Black
is great after 14.Bb3 Ra6!.
7...Bd6 8.Nbc3 0-0
11...Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6

This is good for Black.

21
 Chapter 2
The Exchange Variation – 3.exd5

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5

Chapter Guide

Chapter 2 – The Exchange Variation – 3.exd5

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5

a) 4.c4

b) 4.Nc3

c) 4.Bd3

d) 4.Nf3

22
In the era of the legendary Morphy, players followed his idea of installing the “Morphy’s knight” on
e5 and attacking on the kingside. Thus this “primitive” exchange was connected with aggressive ideas!
Black players subsequently found ways to neutralize White’s (to be fair, poor) attacking potential.

Nowadays, there are mostly other reasons behind the decision to choose the Exchange Variation –
perhaps with a surprising idea in mind, or to avoid preparation; or perhaps to aim for calm and
strategic slow play against an attacking opponent. Last, but not least, it is often the case that true
“French lovers” choose this with the idea to obtain a reversed French and to enjoy an extra tempo in
their beloved opening! Whatever the reason, the reader must be equipped to know this variation, in
order to deal with the wide spectrum of White’s reasons.

a) 4.c4

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5
This is the move that a wide number of players
use to avoid main lines. It may lead to strategic
and slow play, but in numerous lines it may also
produce sharp play, if White plays c4 or the
players castle on opposite sides. The advantage
of this move is that it has not been as deeply
explored as Nd2 and Nc3.
3...exd5
Symmetry, of course. Capturing with the queen
is bad because White can immediately gain
tempi by attacking it.
where knights are used to control the square in
front of the isolated pawn. Instead, Black goes
for an active setup delivering an imminent
attack to the pawn.
5.Nc3
The most logical move. The kingside knight
keeps both options, while the queenside knight
must go to c3.
A) 5.c5? This is a nonsensical waste of time.
5...g6! After this move, Black is already better
with rich play and aggression against the d4-
pawn as follows.

4.c4

Position after: 5...g6!

Position after: 4.c4 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Bb5 Nge7

4...Nc6 B) 5.cxd5?! Qxd5 6.Nf3 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Bg4 8.Be2

Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Qc4
This move directly attacks the weak pawn on d4.
The move rarely leads to “normal” positions

23

Position after: 9...Qc4
A forced line proving that White has made poor
moves in the opening.
C) 5.Be3 This looks normal, strengthening the
d4-square. It also looks flexible, keeping many
possibilities for the cavalry. However, in actual
fact it is bad; for instance after the following
simple array of moves, Black’s position is perfect.
5...Nf6 6.Nf3 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Bd3 dxc4
9.Bxc4 Bg4
D) 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 [6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2
Nge7 8.c5 Ng6 Black is better because White
has nothing with the weakness on d4 and the
disorder in their army. 9.g3? 0-0 Now this is even
lost for White.] 6...Nf6
Position after: 6...Nf6
D1) 7.a3?! Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 0-0 9.Be2 dxc4 10.Bxc4
Re8+ 11.Be3 Na5 12.Bd3 Qd5 13.0-0 Bg4 This
is almost forced and a clear line that gives Black
an advantage.
D2) 7.Bg5 Bg4
24
D2.1) 8.a3? Qe7+ 9.Qe2 [9.Be2 Bxf3] 9...Bxf3
Black is dominant.
D2.2) 8.Be2 dxc4 This is logical; for instance the
following continuation is excellent for Black. 9.0-
0 0-0 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nxd4 12.Bxb7 Rb8
13.Ba6 Ne6 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Bxf6 gxf6
16.Bxc4 Rd4
D3) 7.Be3 After 7...0-0 this transposes to 5.Be3.
D4) 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Bg4 A “normal”
variation where Black is excellent.
Nevertheless, Black has a few good options and
one of them is as follows.
5...Nf6
This is better than 5...Bb4 only from a statistical
point of view.
6.Nf3
6.c5 Here we would suggest the following.
6...Bg4 7.Be2 [7.f3 Bf5 Black has caused some
disorder in White’s camp.] 7...Bxe2 8.Ngxe2
[8.Qxe2+ Qe7 This is about equal.] 8...Qd7 9.0-
0 Be7
Position after: 9...Be7
10.b4 0-0 Black is OK. White’s campaign on the
queenside is not dangerous.
6...Bb4 7.Be2
A) 7.Be3 0-0 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Bg4 This was
also shown above, with good prospects for Black.
B) 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 0-0 As This was shown
above, and is preferable for Black.
7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 0-0 9.0-0 Bg4
b) 4.Nc3
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nc3
Position after: 4.Nc3
4...Bb4
This variation usually arises from the Winawer.
If White wants to play the Steinitz (3.Nc3 Nf6)
and does not want to test out the sharp
Winawer (3.Nc3 Bb4) then capturing on d5 is a
reasonable way to avoid it.
5.Bd3
A) 5.Bf4 This may be played with the sharp idea
to instantly castle queenside. Black can opt for
instance for the following. 5...Nf6 Cutting off
White’s plans. 6.Bd3 [6.Qd2?? Ne4] 6...0-0
25
Position after: 9...Bg4
As shown above. As we can see, very often there
is a transposition between 5.Nc3 and 5.Nf3;
usually Black easily finishes development,
obtaining active play against the isolated d4-
pawn.
7.Nge2 Re8 8.0-0 Bg4 9.f3 Bh5 Black will
principally go for trading the light-squared
bishops with a good game.
B) 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7
Position after: 6...Ne7
After giving up the bishop for a knight Black
wants to go for the most promising setup,
known from Nimzowitsch’s
time: ...Ne7, ...Nbc6, ...Bf5, and ...Qd7. Then
Black may even castle queenside and generally
with the help of the pawn on f6, to advance the
kingside pawns with initiative. This setup is
flexible and allows for another
approach: ...Na5-c4, with a firm blockade on d5
if White captures on c4. 7.Bd3 [7.Nf3 This is less
promising. Black can simply play as follows.
7...Nbc6 8.Be2 Bf5 9.0-0 0-0 Black has an easy 5...Nf6 6.Nge2 0-0
game and the abovementioned idea of possibly
transferring the knight to c4.] 7...Bf5 This is the
move that we suggest here. We may perhaps
improve White’s structure, but more
importantly, what we will achieve will be the
trade of bishops. 8.Ne2 Qd7 9.0-0 [9.Rb1 This
will always be answered with 9...b6 with White
not achieving anything.] 9...Nbc6 10.Ng3 Bxd3
11.cxd3
Position after: 6...0-0

7.a3

7.Bg5 This pin may look dangerous. 7...h6 8.Bh4

c6 However after this, White cannot transfer the
e2-knight to the kingside in view of ...g5.

Position after: 11.cxd3

Here both 11...0-0 and 11...0-0-0 is OK for Black,

who has a pleasant choice.

C) 5.Qf3 Qe7+ 6.Nge2 [6.Be3 Nf6 7.h3 Ne4

8.Nge2 Nc6 This is excellent for Black.] 6...Nc6
White has problems with disorder. Position after: 8...c6

Black needs to only find a way to get rid of the

pin – a good way would be to transfer the b8-
knight to f8. In addition, Qd2 can be met by the
powerful ...Ne4. Black is solid here as shown for
instance, as follows.. 9.0-0 [9.Qd2 Re8 10.0-0-0
Nbd7 11.a3] 9...Re8 10.a3 Bd6 11.f3 [11.f4?!
This is a natural move with the idea of setting
the pawn on f5 to restrict the black army before
organizing a kingside attack. 11...Bg4 12.h3
Position after: 6...Nc6 Bxe2 13.Nxe2
7.Qe3 [7.Qxd5 This gives Black an initiative after
the following. 7...Nf6 8.Qb5 Bd7; 7.Qd3 Nf6;
7.Be3 Nf6 Black has an excellent game in every
case.] 7...Nf6 8.a3 Ba5 9.f3 This was played in
Jobava – Bukal Vladimir, Plovdiv, 2012, where
9...Bf5 would have led to a slightly preferable
game for Black, at least optically.

26
 Position after: 13.Nxe2 Position after: 8...c6

13...Nbd7 Black has got rid of his traditional A very important plan to restrict the c3-knight.
problem – the c8-bishop.] 11...Nbd7 12.Qd2
Qc7 13.Kh1 Nh5 9.Ng3 Re8 10.Bg5

10.Bf4 Bg4 11.f3 Bh5

Position after: 13...Nh5

14.f4 Now this move will be risky in view of the

Position after: 11...Bh5
following. 14...Ndf6 15.h3 Ne4 Black has some
advantage.
Now this is OK. The pawn is already on f3, so the
black dark-squared bishop is the more valuable
7...Be7
one. 12.Nf5 [12.Nxh5 Nxh5 13.Bd2 Bd6 This is
promising for Black.] 12...Bf8 There is
7...Bd6 This is possible, but we think it is less
approximate equality, with the upcoming ...Bg6.
precise because White has the promising 8.Nb5.
10...h6 11.Bf4 Bd6
8.0-0
11...Bg4
Queenside castling is bad now because it will
cost White too much time. Furthermore the
pawn is already on a3 which will provide a
strong impetus to Black’s attack after advancing
the b-pawn.

8...c6

27
 Position after: 11...Bg4
This is possible again. 12.Qd2 [12.f3 Bh5 13.Nf5
Bf8 An alternative choice.] 12...Nbd7 13.Rae1
Bf8 Both lines will give White a possible optical
but not significant advantage.
12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Qd2 Be6 14.Rae1 Nbd7
c) 4.Bd3
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3
Position after: 4.Bd3
If White wants to play without c4 this is the
optimal square for the bishop. If so, it should be
activated first – whereas the spots for the other
pieces may vary.
4...Nc6
We recommend this move, although there are
many good options here. The point is to define
the position for White’s kingside knight and
prevent if possible the annoying moves Qf3 and
Qh5.
28
Position after: 14...Nbd7
White has a symbolic advantage. However the
risky move below will even give Black an
advantage.
15.f4?! Nb6 16.f5?! Bd7
5.c3
This is a better move, restricting the black knight
and keeping all possibilities opened.
5.Ne2 Less logical and a less promising move
than the main line 5.c3. White allows Black to
eliminate the important piece. However Black
will invest time with this and risks being left with
a bad bishop against a good knight in the
endgame after the potential exchange of the
dark-squared bishops. 5...Nb4
Position after: 5...Nb4
6.0-0 Nxd3 7.Qxd3 Bd6 This allows White to
trade the dark-squared bishops, but secures
harmonious development after ...Ne7. 8.Bf4
Ne7 9.Re1 0-0 There is full equality.

5...Bd6

Position after: 8...Ne7

A1) 9.0-0 This is better. 9...Ne4!?

A1.1) 10.c4!? Ng6 11.cxd5 Nh4

Position after: 5...Bd6
A1.1a) 12.Qxe4??
Black also activates the bishop on the optimal
spot keeping the kingside knight ready for action,
both on f6 and e7.

6.Ne2

The most normal move. White avoids the

annoying pin ...Bg4 and prepares the
strategically good Bf4.
Position after: 12.Qxe4??
A) 6.Qf3 Nf6
12...f5 13.Qe3 f4 14.Qd2 [14.Qe4 Bf5–+]
14...Bxh3–+

A1.1b) 12.Qe3 Nf6 13.Nbc3 Re8 The position is

unclear. Black has some initiative for the lost
pawn.

A1.2) 10.Bxe4 dxe4 11.Qxe4 Re8 12.Ng3 c5

Position after: 6...Nf6

A very good move because of the logical-looking

Bg5. 7.h3 This is the most precise and White will
opt to castle kingside, trading the dark-squared
bishops with a small optical plus. [7.Bg5 Black
has the strong response 7...Bg4!.] 7...0-0 8.Ne2
Ne7 The idea is ...Ng6-h4 which is the critical
variation here.
Position after: 12...c5

29
This would give Black a strong bishop pair as
compensation for the pawn.
A2) 9.Bg5?! Ne4! Black has this strong reply
with an advantage. 10.Bxe4 dxe4 11.Qxe4 Re8
B2) 8.Bxf5 Nxf5 9.Re1+ Nfe7 10.Qb3 It looks
like White has gained some tempi, but in actual
fact he has nothing. 10...b6 11.Nbd2 [11.Bg5
This move, whether now or at some other
occasion, can be met by the simple 11...f6.]
11...Qd7 12.Nf1 0-0 This is equal.

6...Nf6

The Svenonius principle!

7.0-0

7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 Qe7

Position after: 11...Re8

12.Qd3 [12.0-0? Nf5! 13.Bxd8 Rxe4 14.Nc1 f6–

+] 12...h6 13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 Bf5 15.Qd2 Bxg3
16.fxg3 Nd5 This is one of many fine lines
proving that Black’s strong bishop pair is
sufficient compensation for the pawn.

B) 6.Nf3 Nge7 A very important principle by

Svenonius: Black must not support the Position after: 8...Qe7
symmetrical development of the knights. Black
prepares to trade the light-squared bishops, at 9.Bg3 [9.0-0? Bxh2+ 10.Kxh2 Ng4+ 11.Kg3 g5–
the same time keeping the possibility to castle +] 9...0-0 This is equal.
queenside using the scheme: ...Bg4, ...Qd7, ...f6,
and ... 0-0-0. 7.0-0 Bf5 7...h6 8.Bf4 0-0 9.Bxd6 Qxd6

Position after: 9...Qxd6

Position after: 7...Bf5

White has managed to trade bishops, but Black

B1) 8.Re1 Qd7 9.Bxf5 [9.Ne5? This jump is not
has liberated his play and his pieces come into
dangerous because it is strategically good for
the game smoothly.
Black. 9...Bxe5! Black has an advantage.]
9...Qxf5 10.Nbd2 0-0 This is equal.
10.Re1 Re8 11.Nd2

30
11.Na3 Ne7 12.Ng3 Bg4 13.Qd2 [13.Qb3?! h5!] 13...Ng6 This is OK for
Black.

11...Bd7

This is about equal.

Position after: 12...Bg4

d) 4.Nf3

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 6.c4

This is the move that justifies the idea of Bb5.

Other moves are less aggressive and not
dangerous, for instance as set out below.

Position after: 4.Nf3

White players from the early era tried to install

their knight on e5. It was known from Paul
Morphy as one of the models for a successful
attack on the opponent’s king. We suggest the
next move for Black which radically prevents the
installation of “Morphy’s knight”.
Position after: 6.c4
A) 6.0-0 Nge7 7.Re1 0-0 It becomes clear that
the bishop on b5 is doing nothing.

4...Nc6 5.Bb5 B) 6.c3 This leads to similar passive play by

White after 6...Nge7.
This is the main line. White insists on installing
their knight on e5. 6...dxc4

5...Bd6 6...a6? A wrong move order that allows White to

play as follows with serious advantage. 7.Bxc6+
5...a6!? Primitive, but playable. 6.Bxc6+ bxc6 bxc6 8.c5
7.0-0 This gives White a small but lasting
advantage. 7.d5

31
7.0-0 Nge7 8.Bxc4 This may seem to benefit
White because the black knight is not on f6, but
in actual fact it is nothing.

Position after: 12...Bxe3

13.fxe3 [13.Re1 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Be6µ] 13...Nf6

Position after: 8.Bxc4 10...Ne7 11.Qxa4 Rb8

8...0-0 9.Nc3 Bg4 After this Black is excellent.

The e7-knight in numerous variations may
deliver an additional attack to the d4-pawn from
f5 and go to g6 and f4 as well.

7...a6 8.Ba4

8.Bxc4 Qe7+ 9.Be2 Ne5 This is solid for Black.

8...b5 9.dxc6 bxa4 Position after: 11...Rb8

The best move for Black. This multi-purpose

move targets the b2-pawn and enables the rook
to be transferred to the kingside.

12.a3

A) 12.Qxc4?! This is bad. 12...0-0 Now this gives

Black a strong initiative due to the exposed
white queen. The game below is a perfect
Position after: 9...bxa4 example demonstrating the difficulties that
White can face with careless play. 13.Nc3?! Rb4
10.0-0 14.Qe2 Nxc6

10.Qxa4 Qe7+ 11.Be3 Bf4 This is somewhat

preferable for Black after the following. 12.0-0
Bxe3

32
 A2) 15.h3? Re8 16.Qc2 Nd4 17.Nxd4 Rxd4
18.Be3 Rh4

Position after: 14...Nxc6

A1) 15.a3? This is a bad move that simply helps

Black to transfer his rook to the desired position
on the kingside, attacking the crucial g2-square.
In a recent game by the author, Black easily
achieved a winning position. 15...Rg4 16.Be3
Re8 17.Rad1 Rg6 18.Qc4 Bb7 19.Nd5
Organdziev, O (2261) – Jacimovic, D (2400)
Struga 2021
Position after: 18...Rh4
19.Qd2 Bb7 Black’s attack is unbearable, as
happened in Svicevic, R (2257) – Lundin, J (2335)
Belgrade 2019.
A3) 15.Bg5 The best move here, but Black has a
strong reply. 15...Nd4! Now there is an almost
forced line. 16.Bxd8 Nxe2+ 17.Nxe2 Rxb2!
18.Bxc7 Bxc7 This must lead to a win for Black
due ultimately to the powerful bishop pair.

B) 12.Nbd2 This is a good move. 12...0-0

13.Ne4?! [13.a3 This is correct again.] 13...Rb4

Position after: 19.Nd5

A1.1) 19...Ne7 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 This was the

correct way to win. White is hopeless because of
the many tactical motifs on the kingside on the
light squares. Both the following lines are
hopeless for White. 21.Ne1 [or 21.Kh1 Qd7]
21...Qd7 22.Qh4 [22.g3 Qh3] 22...Bxh2+ Position after: 13...Rb4

A1.2) 19...Qa8?! This was an imprecision which 14.Qd1? [14.Qc2 This is better and here
gives White chances to prolong resistance. 14...Bf5 would result in dynamic balance.]
20.Rd2? [20.Bf4! This was instead a good way to 14...Nxc6
delay collapse but Black should win anyway
after the following. 20...Ne7 21.Nxe7+ Bxe7
22.Bg3 h5] 20...Ne7 21.Nxe7+ Bxe7 Here
White resigned.

33
 Position after: 14...Nxc6 Position after: 17.h3

Black already has a better position, in 17...Qxf3!!

Marinkovic, I (2549) – Ivanisevic, I (2648)
Belgrade 2014. Beautiful, but practically necessary.

12...0-0 13.Nbd2 Rb5 14.Nxc4 Nxc6 18.gxf3 Rxg5+ 19.Kh1 Bxh3 20.Rxd6!

This is a key move that leads to an equal

endgame, as happened in the author’s game,
Mijatovic – Zlatanovic, Kragujevac, 2018.

A) 20.Nxd6? Bg2+

Position after: 14...Nxc6

There is dynamic balance again. Black has a

dangerous bishop pair. White can eliminate one
bishop and get a better structure, but Black’s
remaining bishop will be more influential than
its white counterpart. Now the next array of Position after: 20...Bg2+
logical moves may become a prelude to an
amazing queen sacrifice. 21.Kg1 Ne5!–+ This was played in an amazing
game that has informed this whole line, in
15.Bg5 Slavina – Rajlich, Budapest, 2005.

15.Nxd6 cxd6 This would again lead to dynamic B) 20.Rg1? This does not help because Black has
balance. 20...Rh5!–+.

15...Qd7 16.Rad1 Qg4 17.h3 20...cxd6 21.Rd1 Bg2+

34
 22.Kh2 Bxf3

The game is unclear.

Position after: 21...Bg2+

35
 Chapter 3
The Advance Variation – 3.e5

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5

Chapter Guide

Chapter 3 – The Advance Variation – 3.e5

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5

a) 4.--

b) 4.c3 Bd7

c) 4.c3 Bd7 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bd3

d) 4.c3 Bd7 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Be2

36
The Advance Variation was known as “the most dangerous” during the romantic era. The list of the
greatest names in chess who have given their opinions, analyses and suggestions, is very long indeed.
Let us just mention Steinitz, Tarrasch, Nimzowitsch. Thanks to their efforts from the 1920’s and the
last century, chess players worldwide have been equipped with knowledge of well-known patterns.
For several decades, the variation was almost forgotten, but other later authorities (such as
Sveshnikov) have revitalized it.

Nowadays, the ideas for Black are commonly known and well explained. Various resources are well
known – on both wings! Here we will present two different approaches: first, slow play based on
exchanging the light-squared bishops; and secondly, quicker development with pressure on d4 and
often even targeting the head of White’s pawn chain after ...f6.

The first approach is rather static, whereas the second is more dynamic. This does not mean that the
reader should choose a favorite approach – not at all! We strongly suggest that you must be familiar
with both approaches. Then, depending on the opponent, standings, or even some other factors, you
should make a choice accordingly. Nowadays it is very important to have an opening repertoire that
is not only deep enough, but also broad enough!

a) 4.--

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 3...b6 This is another line, intending to trade the
light-squared bishops.

Position after: 3.e5

Since the 19th century this move has been
recognized as the most dangerous for Black. The
idea is to gain space and to prevent activation of
Black’s kingside knight. Suddenly this knight
becomes another of Black’s problems – Black
players mostly activate it by placing it
somewhere via e7 and only then activate the
kingside bishop. Black has two respectable
moves and we will focus here on the main line.
3...c5
Position after: 3...c5
4.Nf3
A) 4.Qg4? This is a move that has been widely
explored by Nimzowitsch. Nowadays it is know
to be incorrect. 4...cxd4 Principal move. White
must invest many tempi to retain the material
balance – if he wants to do so at all. If not Black
has many resources to attack the e5-pawn and
to disturb White’s exposed queen.

37

Position after: 4...cxd4
A2.1) 7.Qg3 h4 8.Qf4 [8.Qg4 Nh6 9.Qf4 f5 This
would lead to a position where the white queen
is surrounded by pieces and Black is already
winning.] 8...f6 9.Bg6+ Kd7 White is unable to
secure a stronghold on e5. Black’s plan is to
liberate the black central phalanx with simple
and natural moves such as ...Nge7 and ...Qc7.
The king is temporarily placed in the center but
this does not affect the evaluation – Black is
winning.

A1) 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Qg3 [6.Nf3 This transposes to A2.2) 7.Qf4 f6! 8.Bg6+ Kd7
5.Nf3.] 6...Qc7 7.Nf3 [7.f4 Nb4–+; 7.Bf4 f6!
8.exf6 e5–+] 7...f6

A1.1) 8.exf6 Qxg3

Position after: 8...Kd7

White is in difficulties. The only reasonable

attempt is to complicate the position and resist
Position after: 8...Qxg3 as follows.

9.hxg3 [9.f7+ Kxf7 10.hxg3 Bd6 This changes
nothing.] 9...gxf6 Black has a terrifying center
and full domination.
A1.2) 8.Bf4 g5–+
A2.2a) 9.c4 dxc4 10.0-0 Nge7 11.Be4 [11.exf6
This is a funny line, but still insufficient for
resistance. 11...Nxg6 12.fxg7 Bxg7 13.Qf7+
Qe7

A2) 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bd3 h5

Position after: 13...Qe7

14.Qxg6 Qf6 This must be winning.] 11...Nd5!

Position after: 6...h5 White is in a horrible situation.

38
A2.2b) 9.c3 A similar idea. 9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5+ B2) 7.Bf4?! f5!
fxe5 11.Qxe5 Qf6 However this forces an
endgame with an extra pawn.

Position after: 7...f5!

Position after: 11...Qf6

8.exf6? This will simply make ...e5 stronger.
[8.Re1 h6 The idea is ...g5 and to play widely on
12.Qg5 [12.Qxf6 gxf6 13.cxd4 f5! The bishop is
the entire board with an advantage. 9.h4? This
trapped.] 12...Qxg5 13.Bxg5 Be7 This must be
does not stop anything in view of: 9...g5!
winning.
10.hxg5 Ng6–+.] 8...gxf6 9.Nh4 Bg7
B) 4.Bd3 More solid and a similar idea to 4.Qg4
but without exposing the queen. 4...Nc6 5.Nf3
[5.c3? This now does not make sense in view of
5...cxd4 6.cxd4 Nxd4.] 5...cxd4 6.0-0 Nge7

Position after: 9...Bg7

10.Qh5+ [10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Qh5+ Kd7 12.Qxh6

Qf8–+ This changes nothing] 10...Kf8 11.Bh6 e5
This is winning for Black.
Position after: 6...Nge7

B3) 7.Re1 Ng6

B1) 7.a3?! This is slow and not logical because
the bishop is not on c5. 7...Ng6 8.Re1 Qc7
9.Qe2 [9.Bxg6 hxg6 This is the recommendation
of the engine with advantage, but we
recommend instead: 9...fxg6 with kingside
castling, attacking on the f-file, playing against
the unstable f3-knight and e5 weakness. Black is
to be preferred.] 9...Be7 After castling Black
wants to push ...f6 (or ...f5) with advantage.
10.c3!? White can use this move to complicate,
but there is no compensation for the pawn after
Position after: 7...Ng6
10...dxc3 11.Nxc3 a6.

39
B3.1) 8.Qe2?! This is imprecise. 8...Be7 Now
this is a solid developing move underlining the
fact that White does not have any normal moves.
9.a3 [9.Nbd2 Nf4–+; 9.Bxg6 hxg6! Now it is
better to recapture like this. Black will play ...f6
and ...Kf7 if necessary with a brutal central
phalanx and a powerful bishop pair.] 9...f6
10.exf6 Bxf6 Black is dominant.

B3.2) 8.Nbd2 Qc7 9.Bxg6 [9.Qe2? Nf4 10.Qf1
Nxd3 11.cxd3 Qb6 White is cramped and simply
lost.] 9...fxg6 We recommend this move – there
is play on the f-file, the f3-knight and e5-pawn
are unstable, and there are possibilities
of ...Ne7-f5, ...h6, ...g5, and ...Bd7-e8-h5 (or g6).
Position after: 5...Bxc5
C1) 6.Nc3?! a6 7.Bd3 f6! 8.Bf4 fxe5 9.Bxe5
[9.Nxe5 Qf6–+] 9...Nf6 Black has an advantage.
C2) 6.Bb5?! This does not fit with the idea.
6...Nge7 This is a simple move with an
advantage.

C3) 6.Bd3 f6

C3.1) 7.exf6?! Nxf6! 8.0-0 e5 Black has a dream

position.

C3.2) 7.Bb5?! This is possible but evidently

White must have gone awry if he must opt for
Position after: 9...fxg6 this move. 7...fxe5 8.Nxe5 Nge7 9.Qh5+ g6
10.Qh6 Bd6 11.Qg7
10.Nb3 Be7 11.Nbxd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 0-0 This
is a possible line with an excellent game for
Black.

C) 4.dxc5 White wants to prove that c3 is a

waste of time – so both moves should not be
connected. The idea is, after a3 and b4, to install
the queenside knight on d4 using the route d2-
b3-d4 and support it with the bishop on b2.
Black is out of difficulties and can opt for various
paths to prove that he is doing perfectly here. Position after: 11.Qg7
4...Nc6 5.Nf3 Bxc5
11...Bxe5 12.Qxe5 0-0 This is an almost forced
line giving Black an advantage.

C3.3) 7.Qe2 fxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.Qxe5 Nf6

10.0-0 0-0 This is somewhat preferable for Black
who will liberate the central duo and seize the
initiative.

40
4...cxd4 5.Nxd4 6.Bd3 Nbc6 7.Nxc6 Nxc6 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.f4

A) 5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qg4 Qc7 7.Qg3 Nge7 8.Bd3

Ng6 9.Bxg6 fxg6 10.0-0 Be7 11.Bg5 0-0
12.Bxe7 Nxe7 Black is somewhat preferred due
to the semi-open f-file and the idea of
advancing ...h6 and ...g5.

B) 5.Bd3 This transposes to 4.Bd3.

5...Ne7
Position after: 9.f4

9...Nb4

A primitive way to equalize and to hope for

something more.

Position after: 5...Ne7

b) 4.c3 Bd7
will explore the following setups: ...Bd7
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 with ...Qb6; and ...Bd7 with ...Nc6.

4...Bd7 5.Nf3

A) 5.a3?! This is not dangerous at the moment

because Black has the strange, but solid 5...Nc6
6.b4 c4!?.

Position after: 4.c3

Here there are many options for Black, but all of

them are based on attacking d4, the base of the
pawn chain, which is the natural approach that
we know from Aron Nimzowitsch. Usually, Black
players in the next two moves opt for two of Position after: 6...c4!?
following three options: ...Nc6, ...Bd7, or ...Qb6.
There may be some transpositions but often the 7.a4 [7.Nf3 b5! Black has pressure after ...a5.
setups have their independent value. Here we 8.a4? Now this would be a mistake because

41
Black is dominant after the following. 8...bxa4
9.Rxa4 a5; 7.Be2 f6!] 7...f6! Black uses White’s
lack of development to strike in the center with
initiative. 8.Nf3 Now this leads to a very forced
line. 8...fxe5 9.b5 Na5 10.Nxe5 Nb3

Position after: 5...Qb6

6.Be2

A) 6.a3 Nc6 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Rc8 This is solid for

Black. White is at a crossroads with three
Position after: 10...Nb3 possibilities.

11.Ra2 [11.Qh5+? g6 12.Nxg6 Nf6–+] 11...Nxc1 A1) 9.Be2 a5

12.Qxc1 Bd6 13.Nxd7 Kxd7! Black is solid.

B) 5.f4?! This is dubious because Black has the

comfortable h6-spot for the knight. 5...Nc6
6.Nf3 Nh6 7.Na3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Qb6 9.Nc2 Nf5
This is excellent for Black.

C) 5.Be3 Qb6 6.Qd2 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb5

Position after: 9...a5

A1.1) 10.b5? This is natural but wrong.

Position after: 7...Bb5
8.Bxb5+ Qxb5 9.Nc3 Qd7 10.Nge2 Nc6 11.0-0
Nge7 Some tempi have been invested in trading
the bishops, but nevertheless the position is still
solid.
10...Nxd4! 11.Nxd4 Rxc1 12.Qxc1 Qxd4 Here
Black is dominant in all the following lines.
13.Nd2 [13.Qc7 Bc5!–+ 14.0-0 Qxa1 15.Qxc5
Qxe5; 13.Qc3 Bc5 14.0-0 Ne7] 13...Qxe5
14.Nf3 Qb8
A1.2) 10.0-0!? This is interesting where White
has some compensation for a pawn after:
10...axb4 11.axb4 Bxb4 12.Na3.
A2) 9.Bb2 Na5 10.Nbd2 Nc4

5...Qb6

42
 Position after: 10...Nc4 Position after: 13...Nb8!

A2.1) 11.Bxc4 dxc4 12.Rc1
A2.1a) 12...Qa6 13.0-0 Now 13...Ne7 and
13...Nh6 are two good options, depending on
the development scheme – Black must choose a
spot for the knight.
14.Qe2 [14.Nb3 This is now prevented because
of 14...Ba4!.] 14...Rc3 15.Rac1 Rxc1 16.Rxc1 a5!
Black has an excellent position, in Savic, M (2507)
– Jacimovic, D (2398) Backi Petrovac 2018.
B) 6.Bd3 cxd4

A2.1b) 12...c3 13.Bxc3 Qa6 An interesting pawn

sacrifice.

A2.2) 11.Nxc4 dxc4 12.Rc1 Qa6 13.d5 exd5

14.Qxd5 Ne7

Position after: 6...cxd4

B1) 7.Nxd4 Nc6 8.Nxc6

B1.1) 8...bxc6 This looks logical, but it is risky.

Position after: 14...Ne7
15.Qd2 [15.Qd6 Qxd6 16.exd6 Nf5 This is
about equal.] 15...Be6 16.Be2 [16.Nd4 This is
not dangerous in view of 16...Nf5.] 16...g6 Black
is OK.
White can activate the queen on the kingside
and organize c4 with f4 gaining space. The
positions are very tense and complex and
generally Black should not go for this.
B1.2) 8...Bxc6 Keeping ...Bb5 in mind.

A3) 9.Be3 Nh6 10.Bd3 Ng4 11.0-0 Nxe3

12.fxe3 Be7 Here one of the author’s games
proceeded as follows. 13.Nbd2 Nb8!

43
 13.cxd4? [13.0-0 Rd8 This is good for Black.]
13...Bxg2–+

B1.2b) 9.Qe2 A solid developing move, at the

same time preventing the thematic ...Bb5.
9...a5!? Now Black prevents the opponent’s
activities on the queenside. Black gets the c5-
square for the bishop and other pieces. 10.Be3
Bc5 11.Bxc5 Qxc5
Position after: 8...Bxc6

B1.2a) 9.a4 The idea is to prevent ...Bb5 and to

gain space on the queenside. 9...Ne7

B1.2a1) 10.Nd2 Ng6 11.Nf3 d4

Position after: 11...Qxc5

12.Nd2 [12.Qg4 There is nothing in view of the

simple 12...Ne7 and the g7-pawn is taboo.]
12...d4 13.cxd4 [13.Nb3 Qd5!] 13...Qxd4
14.Nc4 Nh6 15.Nd6+ Kf8 Although the
Position after: 11...d4
position may look ugly for Black, in fact the
jump ...Ng4 gives Black a solid position. The
Again this important resource! 12.a5 [12.Nxd4
position requires serious analysis and test.
Nxe5 Black is solid.] 12...Qc7 13.Nxd4 [13.cxd4
Bb4+ 14.Bd2 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Bxf3 16.gxf3 0-0
B1.2c) 9.0-0 A simple move. White is fine trading
This is great for Black.] 13...Nxe5 White is
bishops if it means Black needs to spend a few
slightly optically better with nothing significant.
tempi to do so. 9...Ne7 Black must take care of
his development. Trading the bishops should be
B1.2a2) 10.a5?! Now Black can force the move
postponed until a better time.
f4 which is somewhat weakening. 10...Qc7
11.Qe2 Ng6 12.f4 d4!?

Position after: 9...Ne7

Position after: 12...d4!?

44
[9...Bb5?! This is possible but risky. 10.Be3 Qa6
11.Bxb5+ Qxb5 12.Nd2 Ne7 13.c4! dxc4
14.Qe2 This gives White an initiative.] 10.Qe2
Ng6 11.b4 a5 12.b5 [12.Be3 Qc7 13.b5 Bd7
14.f4 Bc5 This is OK for Black.] 12...Bd7 13.a4
Rc8
Position after: 13...Rc8
Precise. The bishop will probably go to e7. 14.g3
Be7 15.Be3 [15.h4 f6! The knight gets access to
the e5-square and Black gets rid of all his
problems.] 15...Bc5 16.Bxc5 Rxc5 This is slightly
more preferable optically for White. Black
should not complain.
B2) 7.cxd4 Bb5 8.Bxb5+ Qxb5
Position after: 8...Qxb5
9.a3 [9.Qe2? This is often played in blitz, but
Black achieves a dream endgame after trading
queens. 9.Nc3?! Bb4] 9...Ne7 10.Nc3 Qa6
White is somewhat preferable due to his space
advantage, but such endgames are usually even
better for Black due to White’s bad bishop.
6...cxd4
45
Position after: 6...cxd4
7.cxd4
7.Nxd4 Not logical, with the bishop on e2. White
has no active options with the queen on the
kingside. Black easily equalizes and tries to get
even more. 7...Nc6 8.Nxc6 The only logical and
good move. 8...Bxc6 This move is our
recommendation. Black renews the “threat”
of ...Bb5. [8...bxc6 This leads to more complex
positions and is good as well.]
Position after: 8...Bxc6
A) 9.Nd2 The knight goes to d4, or g5 perhaps –
a natural move. 9...Bb5 10.0-0 [10.Qb3 Bxe2
11.Qxb6 axb6 12.Kxe2 b5 Black’s structural
defect is only optical. We think that the
supremacy of the black bishop is a more
important factor – this is great for Black.]
10...Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Ne7 Black has comfortable
light squares for the knight on c6, f5, g6 and is
simply doing great.
B) 9.0-0 Ne7 10.a4
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
a sweet and clear voice, wherewith it daily sang the praises of God
in the highways of Eden.
This beautiful bird, thought Eblis, when he saw it, is surely vain, and
will listen to the voice of flattery.
Thereupon he addressed it as a stranger, beyond the hearing of
Ridhwan. “Most beautiful of all birds, do you belong to the denizens
of Paradise?”
“Certainly,” answered the peacock. “And who are you who look from
side to side in fear and trembling?”
“I belong to the Cherubim who praise God night and day, and I have
slipped out of their ranks without being observed, that I might take a
glimpse of the Paradise God has prepared for the saints. Will you
hide me under your feathers, and show me the garden?”
“How shall I do that which may draw down on me God’s disfavour?”
asked the peacock.
“Magnificent creature! take me with you. I will teach you three words
which will save you from sickness, old age, and death.”
“Must then the dwellers in Paradise die?”
“All, without exception, who know not these three words.”
“Is this the truth?”
“By God the Almighty it is so.”
The peacock believed the oath, for it could not suppose that a
creature would swear a false oath by its Creator. But, as it feared
that Ridhwan would search it on its return through the gates, it
hesitated to take Eblis with it, but promised to send the cunning
serpent out, who would certainly devise a means of introducing Eblis
into the garden.
The serpent was formerly queen of all creatures. She had a head
like rubies, and eyes like emeralds. Her height was that of a camel,
and the most beautiful colours adorned her skin, and her hair and
face were those of a beautiful maiden. She was fragrant as musk
and amber; her food was saffron; sweet hymns of praise were
uttered by her melodious tongues; she slept by the waters of the
heavenly river Kaulhar; she had been created a thousand years
before man, and was Eve’s favourite companion.
This beautiful and wise creature, thought the peacock, will desire
more even than myself to possess perpetual youth and health, and
will gladly admit the cherub for the sake of hearing the three words.
The bird was not mistaken; as soon as it had told the story, the
serpent exclaimed: “What! shall I grow old and die? Shall my
beautiful face become wrinkled, my eyes close, and my body
dissolve into dust? Never! rather will I brave Ridhwan’s anger and
introduce the cherub.”
The serpent accordingly glided out of the gates of Paradise, and
bade Eblis tell her what he had told the peacock.
“How shall I bring you unobserved into Paradise?” asked the
serpent.
“I will make myself so small that I can sit in the nick between your
front teeth,” answered the fallen angel.[69]
“But how then can I answer when Ridhwan addresses me?”
“Fear not. I will whisper holy names, at which Ridhwan will keep
silence.”
The serpent thereupon opened her mouth, Eblis flew in and seated
himself between her teeth, and by so doing poisoned them for all
eternity.
When she had passed Ridhwan in security, the serpent opened her
mouth and asked Eblis to take her with him to the highest heaven,
where she might behold the majesty of God.
Eblis answered that he was not ready to leave yet, but that he
desired to speak to Adam out of her mouth, and to this she
consented, fearing Ridhwan, and greatly desiring to hear and learn
the three salutary words. Having reached Eve’s tent, Eblis uttered a
deep sigh—it was the first that had been heard in Eden, and it was
caused by envy.
“Why are you so disquieted, gentle serpent?” asked Eve.
“I am troubled for Adam’s future,” answered the evil spirit, affecting
the voice of the serpent.
“What! have we not all that can be desired in this garden of God?”
“That is true; but the noblest fruit of the garden, the only one
securing to you perfect happiness, is denied to your lips.”
“Have we not abundance of fruit of every colour and flavour—only
one is forbidden?”
“And if you knew why that one is forbidden, you would find little
pleasure in tasting the others.”
“Do you know?”
“I do, and for that reason am I so cast down. This fruit alone gives
eternal youth and health, whereas all the others give weakness,
disease, old age and death, which is the cessation of life with all its
joys.”
“Why, dearest serpent, did you never tell me of this before? Whence
know you these things?”
“An angel told me this as I lay under the forbidden tree.”
“I must also see him,” said Eve, leaving her tent and going towards
the tree.
At this moment Eblis flew out of the serpent’s mouth, and stood in
human form beneath the tree.
“Who art thou, wondrous being, the like of whom I have not seen
before?” asked Eve.
“I am a man who have become an angel.”
“And how didst thou become an angel?”
“By eating of this fruit,” answered the tempter,—“this fruit which is
denied us through the envy of God. I dared to break His command
as I grew old and feeble, and my eyes waxed dim, my ears dull, and
my teeth fell out, so that I could neither speak plainly nor enjoy my
food; my hands shook, my feet tottered, my head was bent upon my
breast, my back was bowed, and I became so hideous that all the
beasts of the garden fled from me in fear. Then I sighed for death,
and hoping to find it in the fruit of this tree, I ate, and lo! instantly I
was young again; though a thousand years had elapsed since I was
made, they had fled with all their traces, and I enjoy perpetual health
and youth and beauty.”
“Do you speak the truth?” asked Eve.
“I swear by God who made me.”
Eve believed this oath, and broke a branch from the wheat-tree.
Before the Fall, wheat grew to a tree with leaves like emeralds. The
ears were red as rubies and the grains white as snow, sweet as
honey, and fragrant as musk. Eve ate one of the grains and found it
more delicious than anything she had hitherto tasted, so she gave a
second grain to Adam. Adam resisted at first, according to some
authorities for a whole hour, but an hour in Paradise was eighty
years of our earthly reckoning. But when he saw that Eve remained
well and cheerful, he yielded to her persuasions, and ate of the
second grain which Eve had offered him daily, three times a day,
during the hour of eighty years. Thereupon all Adam’s heaven-given
raiment fell from him, his crown slipped off his head, his rings
dropped from his fingers, his silken garment glided like water from
his shoulders, and he and Eve were naked and unadorned, and their
fallen garments reproached them with the words, “Great is your
misfortune; long will be your sorrows; we were created to adorn
those who serve God; farewell till the resurrection!”
The throne recoiled from them and exclaimed, “Depart from me, ye
disobedient ones!” The horse Meimun, which Adam sought to mount,
plunged and refused to allow him to touch it, saying, “How hast thou
kept God’s covenant?” All the inhabitants of Paradise turned their
backs on the pair, and prayed God to remove the man and the
woman from the midst of them.
God himself addressed Adam with a voice of thunder, saying, “Did
not I forbid thee to touch of this fruit, and caution thee against the
subtlety of thy foe, Eblis?” Adam and Eve tried to fly these
reproaches, but the branches of the tree Talh caught Adam, and Eve
entangled herself in her long hair.
“From the wrath of God there is no escape,” cried a voice from the
tree Talh; “obey the commandment of God.”
“Depart from Paradise,” then spake God, “thou Adam, thy wife, and
the animals which led you into sin. The earth shall be your abode; in
the sweat of thy brow shalt thou find food; the produce of earth shall
cause envy and contention; Eve (Hava) shall be afflicted with a
variety of strange affections, and shall bring forth offspring in pain.
The peacock shall lose its melodious voice, and the serpent its feet;
dark and noisome shall be the den in which the serpent shall dwell,
dust shall be its meat, and its destruction shall be a meritorious work.
Eblis shall be cast into the torments of hell.”
Our parents were then driven out of Paradise, and one leaf alone
was given to each, wherewith to hide their nakedness. Adam was
expelled through the gate of Repentance, that he might know that
through it alone could Paradise be regained; Eve was banished
through the gate of Grace; the peacock and the serpent through that
of Wrath, and Eblis through the gate of Damnation. Adam fell into the
island Serendib (Ceylon), Eve at Jedda, the Serpent into the desert
of Sahara, the Peacock into Persia, and Eblis into the river Eila.[70]
Tabari says that when the forbidden wheat had entered the belly of
Adam and Eve, all the skin came off, except from the ends of the
fingers. Now this skin had been pink and horny, so that they had
been invulnerable in Paradise, and they were left naked and with a
tender skin which could easily be lacerated; but, as often as Adam
and Eve looked on their fingernails, they remembered what skin they
had worn in Eden.[71]
Tabari also says that four trees pitying the shame of Adam and Eve,
the Peacock, and the Serpent, in being driven naked out of Paradise,
bowed their branches and gave each a leaf.
Certain Rabbis say that Adam ate only on compulsion, that he
refused, but Eve “took of the tree,”—that is, broke a branch and
“gave it him,” with the stick.
According to the Talmudic book, Emek Hammelech (f. 23, col. 3),
Eve, on eating the fruit, felt in herself the poison of Jezer hara, or
Original sin, and resolved that Adam should not be without it also;
she made him eat and then forced the fruit on the animals, that they
might all, without exception, fall under the same condemnation, and
become subject to death. But the bird Chol—that is, the Phœnix—
would not be deceived, but flew away and would not eat. And now
the Phœnix, says the Rabbi Joden after the Rabbi Simeon, lives a
thousand years, then shrivels up till it is the size of an egg, and then
from himself he emerges young and beautiful again.
We have seen what are the Asiatic myths relating to Adam and Eve;
let us now turn to Africa. In Egypt it was related that Osiris lived with
Isis his sister and wife in Nysa, or Paradise, which was situated in
Arabia. This Paradise was an island, surrounded by the stream
Triton, but it was also a steep mountain that could only be reached
on one side. It was adorned with beautiful flowers and trees laden
with pleasant fruits, watered by sweet streams, and in it dwelt the
deathless ones.
There Osiris found the vine, and Isis the wheat, to become the food
and drink of men. There they built a golden temple, and lived in
supreme happiness till the desire came on Osiris to discover the
water of Immortality, in seeking which he left Nysa, and was in the
end slain by Typhon.[72]
The following is a very curious negro tradition, taken down by Dr.
Tutschek from a native in Tumale, near the centre of Africa.
Til (God) made men and bade them live together in peace and
happiness, labour five days, and keep the sixth as a festival. They
were forbidden to hurt the beasts or reptiles. They themselves were
deathless, but the animals suffered death. The frog was accursed by
God, because when He was making the animals it hopped over His
foot. Then God ordered the men to build mountains: they did so, but
they soon forgot God’s commands, killed the beasts and quarrelled
with one another. Wherefore Til (God) sent fire and destroyed them,
but saved one of the race, named Musikdegen, alive. Then Til began
to re-create beings. He stood before a wood and called, Ombo
Abnatum Dgu! and there came out a gazelle and licked His feet. So
He said, Stand up, Gazelle! and when it stood up, its beast-form
disappeared, and it was a beautiful maiden, and He called her
Mariam. He blessed her, and she bore four children, a white pair and
a black pair. When they were grown up, God ordered them to marry,
the white together, and the black together. In Dai, the story goes that
Til cut out both Mariam’s knee-caps, and of each He made a pair of
children. Those which were white He sent north; those which were
black He gave possession of the land where they were born.
God then made the animals subject to death, but the men He made
were immortal. But the new created men became disobedient, as
had the first creatures; and the frog complained to Him of His
injustice in having made the harmless animals subject to death, but
guilty man deathless. “Thou art right,” answered Til, and He cast on
the men He had made, old age, sickness, and death.[73]
The Fantis relate that they are not in the same condition as that in
which they were made, for their first parents had been placed in a
lofty and more suitable country, but God drave them into an inferior
habitation, that they might learn humility. On the Gold Coast the
reason of the Fall is said to have been that the first men were offered
the choice of gold or of wisdom, and they chose the former.[74]
In Ashantee the story is thus told. In the beginning, God created
three white and three black men and women, and gave them the
choice between good and evil. A great calabash was placed on the
earth, as also a sealed paper, and God gave the black men the first
choice. They took the calabash, thinking it contained everything, and
in it were only a lump of gold, a bar of iron, and some other metals.
The white men took the sealed paper, in which they learned
everything. So God left the black men in the bush and took the white
men to the sea, and He taught them how to build ships and go into
another land. This fall from God caused the black men to worship the
subsidiary Fetishes instead of Him.[75]
In Greenland “the first man is said to have been Kallak. He came out
of the earth, but his wife issued from his thumb, and from them all
generations of men have sprung. To him many attribute the origin of
all things. The woman brought death into the world, in that she said,
Let us die to make room for our successors.”[76]
The tradition of the Dog-rib Indians near the Polar Sea, as related by
Sir J. Franklin in his account of his expedition of 1825-27, is that the
first man was called Tschäpiwih. He found the earth filled with
abundance of all good things. He begat children and he gave to
them two sorts of fruit, one white and the other black, and he bade
them eat the white, but eschew the black. And having given them
this command, he left them and went a long journey to fetch the sun
to enlighten the world. During his absence they ate only of the white
fruit, and then the father made a second journey to fetch the moon,
leaving them well provided with fruit. But after a while they forgot his
command, and consumed the black fruit. On his return he was angry,
and cursed the ground that it should thenceforth produce only the
black fruit, and that with it should come in sickness and death.
Dr. Hunter, in his “Memoirs of Captivity amongst the Indians,” says
that the Delawares believe that in the beginning the Red men had
short tails, but they blasphemed the Great Spirit, and in punishment
for their sin their tails were cut off and transformed into women, to be
their perpetual worry. The same story is told by Mr. Atherne Jones,
as heard by him among the Kikapoos.
The ancient Mexicans had a myth of Xolotl, making out of a man’s
bone the primeval mother in the heavenly Paradise; and he called
the woman he had made Cihuacouhatl, which means “The woman
with the serpent,” or Quilatzli, which means “The woman of our
flesh.” She was the mother of twins, and is represented in a Mexican
hieroglyph as speaking with the serpent, whilst behind her stand the
twins, whose different characters are represented by different
colours, one of whom is represented slaying the other.[77] Xolotl, who
made her out of a bone, was cast out of heaven and became the first
man. That the Mexicans had other traditions, now lost, touching this
matter is probable, for they had a form of baptism for children in
which they prayed that those baptized might be washed from “the
original sin committed before the founding of the world.” And this had
to do, in all probability, with a legend akin to that of the Iroquois, who
told of the primeval mother falling, and then of the earth being built
up to receive her, when precipitated out of heaven.
The Caribs of South America relate that Luoguo, the first man and
god, created the earth and the sea, and made the earth as fair as the
beautiful garden in the heaven where dwell the gods. Luoguo dwelt
among the men he had made for some while. He drew the men out
of his navel and out of his thigh which he cut open. One of the first
men was Racumon, who was transformed into a great serpent with a
human head, and he lived twined round a great Cabatas tree and ate
of its fruit, and gave to those who passed by. Then the Caribs lived
to a great age, and never waxed old or died. Afterwards they found a
garden planted with manioc, and on that they fed. But they became
wicked, and a flood came and swept them away.[78]
In the South Sea Islands we find other traditions of the Fall. In Alea,
one of the Caroline Islands, the tale runs thus:—
“The sister of Eliulap the first man, who was also a god, felt herself in
labour, so she descended to earth and there brought forth three
children. To her astonishment she found the earth barren; therefore,
by her mighty word, she clothed it with herbage and peopled it with
beasts and birds. And the world became very beautiful, and her sons
were happy and did not feel sickness or death, but at the close of
every month fell into a slumber from which they awoke renewed in
strength and beauty. But Erigeres, the bad spirit, envied this
happiness, so he came to the world and introduced into it pain, age,
and death.”[79]
With the Jewish additions to the story given in Genesis, we shall
conclude.
The godless Sammael had made an alliance with all the chiefs of his
host against the Lord, because that the holy and ever blessed Lord
had said to Adam and Eve, “Have dominion over the fish of the sea,”
&c.; and he said, “How can I make man to sin and drive him out?”
Then he went down to earth with all his host, and he sought for a
companion like to himself; he chose the serpent, which was in size
like a camel, and he seated himself on its back and rode up to the
woman, and said to her, “Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every
tree of the garden?” And he thought, “I will ask more presently.” Then
she answered, “He has only forbidden me the fruit of the Tree of
Knowledge which is in the midst of the garden. And He said, ‘In the
day thou touchest it thou shalt die.’” She added two words; God did
not say anything to her about touching it, and she spoke of the fruit,
whereas God said the Tree.
Then the godless one, Sammael, went up to the tree and touched it.
But the tree cried out, “Let not the foot of pride come against me,
and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down! Touch me not,
thou godless one!” Then Sammael called to the woman, and said,
“See, I have touched the tree and am not dead. Do you also touch it
and try.” But when Eve drew near to the tree she saw the Angel of
Death waiting sword in hand, and she said in her heart, “Perhaps I
am to die, and then God will create another wife for Adam; that shall
not be, he must die too.” So she gave him of the fruit. And when he
took it and bit, his teeth were blunted, and thus it is that the back
teeth of men are no longer sharp.[80]
 V.
ADAM AND EVE AFTER THE FALL.

When Adam reached the earth, the Eagle said to the Whale, with
whom it had hitherto lived in the closest intimacy, “Now we must part,
for there is no safety for us animals since man has come amongst
us. The deepest abysses of ocean must be thy refuge, and thou
must protect thyself with cunning from the great foe who has entered
the earth. I must soar high above the clouds, and there find a place
of escape from him who is destined to be my pursuer till death.”[81]
According to certain cabbalistic Rabbis, Adam, when cast out of
Eden, was precipitated into Gehenna, but he escaped therefrom to
earth, by repeating and pronouncing properly the mystic word
Laverererareri.[82] In the Talmud it is related that when Adam heard
the words of God, “Thou shalt eat the herb of the field” (Gen. iii. 18),
he trembled in all his limbs, and exclaimed, “O Lord of all the world! I
and my beast, the Ass, shall have to eat out of the same manger!”
But God said to him, because he trembled, “Thou shalt eat bread in
the sweat of thy brow.”[83]
Learned Rabbis assert that the angel Raphael had instructed Adam
in all kinds of knowledge out of a book, and this book contained
mighty mysteries which the highest angels could not fathom, and
knew not; and before the Fall the angels used to assemble in
crowds, and listen to Adam instructing them in hidden wisdom. In
that book were seventy-two parts and six hundred and seventy
writings, and all this was known; but from the middle of the book to
the end were the one thousand five hundred hidden secrets of
Wisdom, and these Adam began to reveal to the angels till he was
arrested by the angel Haddarniel. This book Adam preserved and
read in daily; but when he had sinned, it fled out of his hands and
flew away, and he went into the river Gihon up to his neck, and the
water washed the glory wherewith he had shone in Paradise from off
his body. But God was merciful, and He restored to him the book by
the hands of Raphael, and he left it to his son Seth, and Enoch and
Abraham read in this book.[84]
Along with the book Adam retained the rod which God had created
at the close of the Sabbath, between sun and sun; i.e. between
nightfall and daybreak, so says the Rabbi Levi. Adam left it to Enoch,
and Enoch gave it to Noah, and Noah gave it to Shem, and Shem to
Abraham, and Abraham delivered it to Isaac, and Isaac gave it to
Jacob; Jacob brought the staff with him to Egypt, and gave it to his
son Joseph. Now when Joseph died, his house was plundered by
the Egyptians, and all his effects were taken into Pharaoh’s house.
Jethro was a mighty magician, and when he saw the staff of Adam
and read the writing thereon, he went forth into Edom and planted it
in his garden. And Jethro would allow none to touch it; but when he
saw Moses he said, “This is he who will deliver Israel out of Egypt.”
Wherefore he gave him his daughter Zipporah and the staff. But the
book Midrash Vajoscha relates this rather differently, in the words of
Moses himself: “After I had become great I went out, and seeing an
Egyptian illtreat a Hebrew man of my brethren, I slew him and buried
him in the sand. But when Pharaoh heard this he sought to slay me,
and brought a sharp sword the like of which was not in the world;
and therewith I was ten times smitten on my neck. But the Holy God
wrought a miracle, for my neck became as hard as a marble pillar, so
that the sword had no power over me. And I was forty years old
when I fled out of Egypt; and I came to Jethro’s house and stood by
the well and found Zipporah his daughter; and when I saw her, I was
pleased with her, and asked her to marry me. Then she related to
me her father’s custom, and it was this. ‘My father proves every
suitor for my hand by a tree which is in his garden; and when he
comes to the tree, the tree clasps him in its branches.’ Then I asked
her where such a tree was, and she answered me, ‘This is the staff
which God created on the eve of the Sabbath, which was handed
down from Adam to Joseph; but Jethro saw the staff at the
plundering of Joseph’s house, and he took it away with him from
Pharaoh’s palace and brought it here. This is the staff on which is cut
the Schem hammphorasch and the ten plagues that are in store for
Egypt, and these are indicated by ten letters on the staff, and they
stand thus: dam, blood; zephardeim, frogs; kinnim, lice; arof, various
insects; defer, murrain; schechim, blain; barad, hail; arbeh, locusts;
choschech, darkness; and bechor, first born:—these will be the
plagues of Egypt. This staff was for many days and years in my
father’s house, till he one day took it in his hand and stuck it into the
earth in the garden; and then it sprouted and bloomed and brought
forth almonds, and when he saw that, he proved every one who
sought one of his daughters by that tree.’” These are the words of
the Book Midrash Vajoscha, and thereby may be seen that the staff
of Adam was of almond wood; but Yalkut Chadasch, under the title
“Adam,” says that the staff was of the wood of the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil.[85]
When Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden, says the
Talmud, they wandered disconsolate over the face of the earth. And
the sun began to decline, and they looked with fear at the diminution
of the light, and felt a horror like death steal over their hearts.
And the light of heaven grew paler, and the wretched ones clasped
one another in an agony of despair.
Then all grew dark.
And the luckless ones fell on the earth, silent, and thought that God
had withdrawn from them the light for ever; and they spent the night
in tears.
But a beam of light began to rise over the eastern hills, after many
hours of darkness, and the clouds blushed crimson, and the golden
sun came back, and dried the tears of Adam and Eve; and then they
greeted it with cries of gladness, and said, “Heaviness may endure
for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; this is a law that God has
laid upon nature.”[86]
Among the Manichean myths prevalent among the Albigenses, was
one preserved to us by the troubadour Pierre de Saint-Cloud. When
Adam was driven out of Paradise, God in mercy gave him a
miraculous rod, which possessed creative powers, so that he had
only to strike the sea with it and it would forthwith produce the beast
he might require.
Adam struck the sea, and there rose from it the sheep; then Eve took
the staff and smote the water, and from it sprang the wolf, which fell
on the sheep and carried it off into the wood. Then Adam took back
the staff, and with it called forth the dog to hunt the wolf and recover
the sheep.
According to the Mussulman tradition, Adam’s beard grew after he
had fallen, and it was the result of his excessive grief and penitence:
how this affected his chin is not explained, the fact only is thus boldly
stated. He was sorely abashed at his beard, but a voice from heaven
called to him, saying, “The beard is man’s ornament on earth; it
distinguishes him from the feeble woman.” Adam shed so many
tears that all birds and beasts drank of them, and flowing into the
earth they produced the fragrant plants and gum-bearing trees, for
they were still endued with the strength and virtue of the food of
Paradise.
But the tears of Eve were transformed into pearls where they
dribbled into the sea, and into beautiful flowers where they sank into
the soil.
Both wailed so loud that Eve’s cry reached Adam on the West wind,
and Adam’s cry was borne to Eve on the wings of the East wind. And
when Eve heard the well-known voice she clasped her hands above
her head, and women to this day thus testify their sorrow; and Adam,
when the voice of the weeping of Eve sounded in his ears, put his
right hand beneath his beard,—thus do men to this day give
evidence of their mourning. And the tears pouring out of Adam’s
eyes formed the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates. All nature wept with
him; every bird and beast hastened to him to mingle their tears with
his, but the locust was the first to arrive, for it was made of the
superfluous earth which had been gathered for the creation of Adam.
There are seven thousand kinds of locusts or grasshoppers, of all
colours and sizes, up to the dimensions of an eagle; and they have a
king to whom God addresses His commands when He would punish
a rebellious nation such as that of Egypt. The black character
imprinted on the locust’s wing is Hebrew, and it signifies, “God is
One; He overcometh the mighty; the locusts are a portion of His
army which He sends against the wicked.” As all nature thus wailed
and lamented, from the invisible insect to the angel who upholds the
world, God sent Gabriel with the words which were in after-time to
save Jonah in the whale’s belly, “There is no God but Thou; pardon
me for Mohammed’s sake, that great and last prophet, whose name
is engraved on Thy throne.”
When Adam had uttered these words with penitent heart, the gates
of heaven opened, and Gabriel cried out, “God has accepted thy
penitence, Adam! pray to Him alone, He will give thee what thou
desirest, even the return to Paradise, after a certain time.”
Adam prayed, “Lord, protect me from the further malice of my enemy
Eblis.”
“Speak the word, There is no God but God; that wounds him like a
poisoned arrow.”
“Lord, will not the meat and drink provided by this earth lead me into
sin?”
“Drink water, and eat only clean beasts which have been slain in the
name of Allah, and build mosques where you dwell, so will Eblis
have no power over you.”
“But if he torment me at night with evil thoughts and dreams?”
“Then rise from thy couch and pray.”
“Lord, how shall I be able to distinguish between good and evil?”
“My guidance will be with thee; and two angels will dwell in thy heart,
who shall warn thee against evil and encourage thee to good.”
“Lord, assure me Thy grace against sin.”
“That can only be obtained by good works. But this I promise thee,
evil shall be punished one-fold, good shall be rewarded tenfold.”
In the meanwhile the angel Michael had been sent to Eve to
announce to her God’s mercy. When Eve saw him, she exclaimed,
“O great and almighty Archangel of God, with what weapon shall I,
poor frail creature, fight against sin?”
“God,” answered the Angel, “has given me for thee, the most potent
weapon of modesty; that, as man is armed with faith, so mayest thou
be armed with shamefacedness, therewith to conquer thy passions.”
“And what will protect me against the strength of man, so much more
robust and vigorous than I, in mind and in body?”
“Love and compassion,” answered Michael. “I have placed these in
the deepest recesses of his heart, as mighty advocates within him to
plead for thee.”
“And will God give me no further gift?”
“For the pangs of maternity thou shalt feel, this shall be thine, death
in child-bearing shall be reckoned in heaven as a death of
martyrdom.”[87]
Eblis, seeing the mercy shown to Adam and Eve, ventured to entreat
God’s grace for himself, and obtained that he should not be
enchained in the place of torment till the day of the general
Resurrection, and that he should exercise sovereignty over the
wicked and all those who should reject God’s Word in this life.
“And where shall I dwell till the consummation of all things?” he
asked of Allah.
“In ruined buildings, and in tombs, and in dens and caves of the
mountains.”
“And what shall be my nourishment?”
“All beasts slain in the name of false gods and idols.”
“And how shall I slake my thirst?”
“In wine and other spirituous liquors.”
“And how shall I occupy myself in hours of idleness?”
“In music, dancing, and song.”
“What is the word of my sentence?”
“The curse of God till the Judgment-day.”
“And how shall I fight against those men who have received Thy
revelation, and are protected by the two angels?”
“Thy offspring shall be more numerous than theirs: to every man
born into this world, there will be born seven evil spirits, who,
however, will be powerless to injure true Believers.”
God then made a covenant with Adam’s successors; He rubbed
Adam’s back, and lo! from out of his back crawled all generations of
men that were to be born, about the size of ants, and they ranged
themselves on the left and on the right. At the head of those on the
right stood Mohammed, then the other prophets and the faithful,
distinguished from those on the left by their white and dazzling
splendour. Those on the left were headed by Kabil (Cain).
God then acquainted Adam with the names and fate of all his
posterity; and when the recital arrived at David, to whom God had
allotted only thirty years, Adam asked God, “How many years are
accorded to me?”
Allah replied, “One thousand.”
Then said Adam, “I make a present to David of seventy years out of
my life.” God consented; and knowing the shortness of Adam’s
memory, at all events in matters concerning himself inconveniently,
He made the angels bring a formal document of resignation
engrossed on parchment, and required Adam to subscribe thereto
his name, and Michael and Gabriel to countersign it as witnesses.
A very similar tradition was held by the Jews, for in Midrash Jalkut
(fol. 12) it is said: God showed Adam all future generations of men,
with their captains, learned and literary men. Then he saw that David
was provided with only three hours of life, and he said, “Lord and
Creator of the world, is this unalterable?” “Such was my first
intention,” was the reply.
“How many years have I to live?”
“A thousand.”
“And is there such a thing known in heaven as making presents?”
“Most certainly.”
“Then I present seventy years of my life to David.”
And what did Adam next perform? He drew up a legal document of
transfer, and sealed it with his own seal, and God and Metatron did
likewise.
To return to the Mussulman legend.
When all the posterity of Adam were assembled, God exclaimed to
them, “Acknowledge that I am the only God, and that Mohammed is
my prophet.” The company on the right eagerly made this
acknowledgment; those, however, on the left long hesitated,—some
said only the former portion of the sentence, and others did not open
their mouths.
“The disobedient,” said Allah to Adam, “shall, if they remain
obstinate, be cast into hell, but the true believers shall be received
into Paradise.”
“So be it,” replied Adam. And thus shall it be at the end of the world.
After the covenant, Allah rubbed Adam’s back once more, and all his
little posterity retreated into it again.
When now God withdrew His presence from Adam’s sight for the
remainder of our first parents’ life, Adam uttered such a loud and
bitter cry that the whole earth quaked.
The All-merciful was filled with compassion, and bade him follow a
cloud which would conduct him to a spot where he would be directly
opposite His throne, and there he was to build a temple.
“Go about this temple,” said Allah, “and I am as near to you as to the
angels who surround my throne.” Adam, who was still the size that
God had created him, easily strode from Ceylon to Mecca after the
cloud, which stood over the place where he was to build. On Mount
Arafa, near Mecca, to his great delight, he found Eve again, and
from this circumstance the mountain takes its name (from Arafa, to
recognize, to know again). They both began to build, and erected a
temple having four doors—one was called Adam’s door, another
Abraham’s door, the third Ishmael’s door, and the fourth
Mohammed’s door. The plan of the temple was furnished by Gabriel,
who also contributed a precious stone, but this stone afterwards,
through the sin of men, turned black. This black stone is the most
sacred Kaaba, and it was originally an angel, whose duty it had been
to guard the Wheat-Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and to
warn off Adam should he approach it. But through his inattention the
design of God was frustrated, and in punishment he was
transformed into a stone, and he will not be released from his
transformation till the Last Day.
Gabriel taught Adam also all the ceremonies of the great pilgrimage.
Adam now returned with his wife to India, and lived there till he died,
but every year he made a pilgrimage to Mecca, till he lost his
primitive size, and retained only the height of sixty ells.
The cause of his diminution in height was his horror and dismay at
the murder of Abel, which made him shrink into himself, and he was
never afterwards able to stretch himself out again to his pristine
dimensions.[88]
The Book of the Penitence of Adam is a curious apocryphal work of
Syriac origin; I give an outline of its contents.
God planted, on the third day, the Terrestrial Paradise; it is bounded
on the east by the ocean in which, at the Last Day, the elect will
wash away all those sins which have not as yet been purged away
by repentance.
On leaving this garden of delights, Adam turned to take of it one last
look. He saw that the Tree which had caused his fall was cursed and
had withered away.
He was much surprised when night overtook him, for in Paradise he
had not known darkness. As he went along his way, shedding tears,
he overtook the serpent gliding over the ground, and licking the dust.
That serpent he had last seen on four feet, very beautiful, with the
hair of a young maiden, enamelled with brilliant colours. Now it was
vile, hideous, and grovelling. The beasts which, before the Fall, had
coveted its society, fled from it now with loathing.
Filled with rage at the sight of Adam and Eve, to whom it attributed
its present degradation, the serpent flew at them and prostrated
them. Thereupon God removed from it its sole remaining possession
—the gift of speech, and it was left only its hiss of rage and shame.
Adam soon felt exhaustion, heat, fear and pain;—afflictions he had
not known in Eden. As the shadows of night fell, an intense horror
overwhelmed the guilty pair; they trembled in every limb and cried to
God. The Almighty, in compassion, consoled them by announcing to
them that day would return after twelve hours of night. They were
relieved by this promise, and they spent the first night in prayer.
But Satan, who never lost sight of them, fearing lest their prayers
should wholly appease the divine justice, assembled his host of evil
angels, surrounded himself with a brilliant light, and stood at the
entrance of the cave where the banished ones prayed. He hoped
that Adam would mistake him for God, and prostrate himself before
him.
But Adam said to Eve: “Observe this great light and this multitude of
spirits. If it were God who sent them, they would enter and tell us
their message.” Adam did not know then that Satan cannot approach
those who pray. Then Adam addressed himself to God and said, “O
my God! is there another God but Thou, who can create angels and
send them to us? Lord, deign to instruct us!”
Then a heavenly angel entered the cavern and said, “Adam, fear not
those whom you see; it is Satan and his host. He sought to seduce
you again to your fall.”
Having thus spoken, the angel fell upon Satan and tore from off him
his disguise, and exposed him in his hideous nakedness to Adam
and Eve. And to console them for this trial, God sent Adam gold
rings, incense and myrrh, and said to him, “Preserve these things,
and they will give you at night light and fragrance; and when I shall
come down on earth to save you, clothed in human flesh, kings shall
bring me these three tokens.”
It is because of this present that the cavern into which Adam and
Eve retreated has been called the Treasure-cave.