1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4+:
A dual-purpose move. Black ensures rapid kingside
castling and likely e4 domination. If the b1 knight
jumps to c3/d2, it’s then unable to challenge f6 on
e4. If the c1 bishop covers e1, Black is still solid
on e4.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOGO-INDIAN DEFENSE
BOGO-INDIAN DEFENSE ELECTRONIC-BOOK (E-BOOK)
KRAMNIK: My Life And Games
EVERYMAN CHESS: Vladimir Kramnik & Iakov Damsky
No. 126
Kramnik-Ulibin
Chalkidiki 1992
Bogo-Indian Defence
Attack in the endgame
Position after 16 ... Rfe8.
Significantly stronger was the attempt to support the knight
at e4, since, firstly, in the given variation this is a very
important square for Black, and secondly, White’s long-range
light-square bishop, which later becomes rampant, would then
have been securely restricted. Thus the set-up with …b7-b6
followed by …f7-f5 was effectively essential for Black in his
battle for equality. Moreover, it is unfavourable for Black to
exchange queens, and it later transpires that without exchanging
queens the outpost at e4 can longer be maintained.
SILICON SUSPIRE!?:
Position after 16 Ba3.
16 ... Rfe8 17 Qd5 Nec5 18 Rfe1 Qf6 19 Qf3 Qg6
20 Bh3 Rab8 21 Bf5 Ne5 22 Bxg6 Nxf3+ 23 exf3.
16 ... a4 17 Qd5 Nec5 18 Rfe1 Qf6 19 Qf3 Qg6
20 h3 Rfe8 21 Qg4 Qxg4 22 hxg4 Rab8.
16 ... Ndf6 17 b3 Rfe8 18 Bb2 Qe6 19 e3 Nc5
20 Qd4 Nce4 21 f3 Nc5.
16 ... Nec5 17 b3 Rfe8 18 Re1 Qg5 19 Bb2 Nf6
20 a3 Rad8 21 h3 c6 22 Bc3 a4.
16 ... Rad8 17 Qd4 Rfe8 18 Qe3 b6 19 Rfd1 f5
20 Qf4 Qf7 21 h3 Re6 22 b3 Rde8. 
Position after 16 Ba3.
16 ... Ndc5 17 Qd5 Rfe8 18 Qf5 Qf8 19 b3 Re5
20 Qf4 Qe7 21 Bb2 Rh5 22 Rcd1 Qe6.
16 ... Rab8 17 Qd4 Rbe8 18 Qa7 Ndc5 19 Qxa5 Ra8
20 Qe1 Qe5 21 h3 Rfe8 22 Rc2 Qf6 23 Qc1.
16 ... Rfb8 17 Qd5 Nec5 18 Rfe1 Qf6 19 Rcd1 Re8
20 Qf3 Qg6 21 h3 Re4.
16 ... Rfd8 17 Qd5 Nec5 18 Rcd1 Re8 19 Rfe1 Qf6
20 Qf3 Qg6 21 h3 Re4.
16 ... Rae8 17 Qa4 Ndc5 18 Qxa5 Ra8 19 Qe1 Qe5
20 h3 Rfe8 21 Rc2 Qf6 22 Qc1.
SILICON VISION:
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4+:
4 Nbd2 d5 5 e3 0-0 6 a3 Bd6 7 c5 Be7 8 Bd3 Nbd7 9 0-0.
4 Bd2 Qe7 5 e3 0-0 6 Bd3 Nc6 7 0-0 Bxd2 8 Nbxd2 e5
9 Bf5 d6 10 Bxc8 Raxc8 11 Qb3.
4 Nc3 c5 5 dxc5 Na6 6 Bd2 Nxc5 7 a3 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 0-0
9 Bxf6 Qxf6 10 Qd4 Qe7 11 Rd1 d5.
4 Nfd2 d5 5 a3 Be7 6 cxd5 Qxd5 7 e3.
SILICON VISION:
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4+ 4 Bd2:
4 ... Qe7 5 e3 Bxd2+ 6 Nbxd2 Nc6 7 Ne5 0-0 8 Be2 Nb8
9 0-0 d6 10 Nd3 Nbd7 11 Bf3.
4 ... Bxd2+ 5 Nbxd2 Nc6 6 e4 d6 7 e5 Nd7 8 Qe2 Nb4
9 Ne4 d5 10 Neg5.
4 ... Be7 5 e3 0-0 6 Bd3 d5 7 Nc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 Nc6
9 0-0 Qd6 10 Nb5.
4 ... Nc6 5 Bxb4 Nxb4 6 e3 0-0 7 Be2 d6 8 0-0 c5
9 a3 Nc6. 
4 ... Bf8 5 Nc3 d5 6 e3 Bd6 7 c5 Be7 8 Bd3 0-0
9 0-0 Nbd7 10 Ne5.
4 ... a5 5 e3 d6 6 Bd3 Nc6 7 0-0 0-0 8 a3 Bxd2
9 Nfxd2 e5.
4 ... Na6 5 a3 Be7 6 e3 0-0 7 Bd3 d5 8 0-0 dxc4
9 Bxc4 Nb8 10 Nc3 Nbd7 11 e4.
4 ... Bd6 5 Qc2 Be7 6 e4 d5 7 e5 Ne4 8 Bd3 Nxd2
9 Nbxd2 dxc4 10 Qxc4 Nc6 11 0-0 0-0 12 Rfd1.
4 ... c5 5 Bxb4 cxb4 6 Nbd2 0-0 7 e3 d6 8 Bd3 Nc6
9 0-0 Re8 10 e4 Qa5.
SILICON VISION:
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4+ 4 Nbd2:
4 ... 0-0 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Bxd2 d6 7 Qc2 Qe7 8 0-0-0 Nc6
9 Bg5 e5 10 d5 Nb8.
4 ... d5 5 cxd5 Qxd5 6 a3 Bd6 7 e3 0-0 8 Bd3 Qh5
9 Nc4 Nbd7 10 e4 Be7 11 Bf4.
4 ... c5 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Qxd2 cxd4 7 Qxd4 Nc6 8 Qh4 d6
9 Bg5 Qa5+ 10 Bd2.
4 ... d6 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Qxd2 0-0 7 g3 Nc6 8 Bg2 Re8
9 0-0 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11 b3.
4 ... Nc6 5 e3 d5 6 a3 Bxd2+ 7 Bxd2 0-0.
4 ... Qe7 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Qxd2 0-0 7 Qg5 d6 8 e4 e5
9 Bd3 h6 10 Qh4 exd4 11 Nxd4 Qe5.
4 ... a6 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Bxd2 d6 7 Qc2 Nc6 8 e4 e5
9 d5 Ne7 10 Bd3 0-0.
4 ... b6 5 e3 Bb7 6 Bd3 Ne4 7 0-0 f5 8 Bxe4 fxe4
9 Ne5 0-0 10 Qg4 Nc6.
4 ... Ba5 5 e3 0-0 6 a3 c6 7 Bd3 Bc7 8 0-0 d5
9 e4 Nbd7.
4 ... Be7 5 e4 d6 6 Bd3 c5 7 0-0 cxd4 8 Nxd4 0-0
9 N2b3 Nc6 10 Nxc6 bxc6 11 Be3.
SILICON VISION:
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4+ 4 Nfd2:
4 ... d5 5 a3 Be7 6 e3 0-0 7 cxd5 Nxd5 8 Qc2 f5
9 Bd3 Bd6 10 Nc3 Nc6.
4 ... Nc6 5 e3 0-0 6 a3 Be7 7 Nc3 d5 8 cxd5 Nxd5
9 Qf3 Qd6 10 Bd3.
4 ... 0-0 5 a3 Be7 6 e4 d5 7 e5 Ne4 8 Nxe4 dxe4
9 Nc3 Nc6 10 Be3 f6.
4 ... c5 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Qxd2 cxd4 7 Qxd4 Nc6 8 Qh4 Qb6
9 e3 0-0 10 Nc3 d6 11 Bd3. 
4 ... Ne4 5 Qc2 d5 6 Nc3 Nxd2 7 Bxd2 0-0 8 e3 c6
9 Bd3 Qh4.
4 ... c6 5 a3 Ba5 6 e3 d5 7 Bd3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 0-0
9 0-0 Nbd7 10 b3 Re8.
4 ... d6 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Bxd2 0-0 7 Nc3 e5 8 dxe5 dxe5
9 Bg5 Nbd7 10 e4 h6.
4 ... a6 5 a3 Be7 6 e4 d6 7 Bd3 e5 8 d5 Nbd7
9 b4 0-0.
4 ... Be7 5 e4 d6 6 Nc3 0-0 7 Be2 e5 8 Nf3 exd4
9 Nxd4 Nbd7.
4 ... a5.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOGO-INDIAN DEFENSE
Bogo-Indian Defense: Black Bishop Bound
Ruy Lopez (Open Variation): Edenic Entrenchment!?
Position after 9 ... Be7.
What's the game plan for White?
* Dislodge the errant e4 knight
(Bb3-c2, Nb1-d2, Nf3-d4, f2-f3)
and look for attacking possibilities
against Black's kingside.
* If possible, contain Black's
queenside counterplay via Be3
and Nb1-d2-b3.
What's the game plan for Black?
Position after 9 ... Be7.
* Seek queenside counterplay through
... c5 and ... d4. On occasion, ... d4 is
playable even without ... c5.
* Execute a propitious ... f6 or ... f5
in response to White's central/kingside
activities.
Silicon Suspire!?:
Position after 9 ... Be7.
10 Re1 Qd7 11 Nbd2 Nc5 12 Bc2 0-0
13 b4 Na4 14 Nb1 f5 15 Bxa4 bxa4
16 Nbd2 f4.
10 Nbd2 Nc5 11 Bc2 0-0 12 Nb3 Nxb3
13 axb3 f5 14 Qd3 Qe8 15 Be3 a5 16 Rfd1.
10 Bf4 0-0 11 Nd4 Qd7 12 Nd2 Nc5
13 Bc2 f6 14 Qh5 g6 15 Bxg6.
Position after 9 ... Be7.
10 Bc2 0-0 11 Nbd2 f5 12 Nd4 Qd7
13 Nxc6 Qxc6 14 Nb3 Bd7 15 Nd4 Qg6.
10 Nd4 Nxe5 11 Qe2 Bg4 12 f3 c5
13 fxg4 cxd4 14 cxd4 Nc6 15 Qe3 0-0
16 Rf5 Nb4.
10 a4 Nc5 11 Bc2 0-0 12 axb5 axb5
13 Rxa8 Qxa8 14 Be3 Ne4 15 Qd3 f5
16 Bb3 Na5.
Position after 9 ... Be7.
10 Be3 0-0 11 Nbd2 Nc5 12 Bc2 Nd7
13 Re1 Bg4 14 Bf4 Re8 15 Qb1 h6 16 b4.
10 Qe2 Qd7 11 Bc2 0-0 12 Nd4 f5
13 f3 Nc5 14 b4 Nb7 15 a3 Nxd4 16 cxd4.
10 a3 0-0 11 Nbd2 Qd7 12 Nxe4 dxe4
13 Qxd7 Bxd7 14 Nd2 e3 15 Nf3 exf2+
16 Kxf2 Rad8 17 Be3 a5.
10 Qe1 0-0 11 Bc2 Qd7 12 Bxe4 dxe4
13 Qxe4 Rad8 14 Nbd2 Bd5 15 Qe3 Qg4.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RUY LOPEZ
Ruy Lopez: Risible Retreat?
Ruy Lopez (Marshall Gambit): Devious Devising Daze
Ruy Lopez (Marshall Gambit): Devious Devising Daze
Position after 8 ... d5
9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6
12 d4 Bd6 13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3
15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8 17 Nd2 Re6
18 a4 Qh5 19 axb5 axb5 20 Ne4 Bf5
21 Bd2 Rxe4 22 Rxe4 Nf6 23 f3 Qg6 24 Qf1 Nxe4
25 fxe4 Bxe4 26 Bf4 Bd3 27 Qf2 Bxf4 28 Qxf4 h6 Line
What's the Game Plan for Black?
Position after 8 ... d5
9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6
12 d4 Bd6 13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3
15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8 17 Nd2 Re6
18 a4 Qh5 19 axb5 axb5 20 Ne4 Bf5
21 Bd2 Rxe4 22 Rxe4 Nf6 23 f3 Qg6 24 Qf1 Nxe4
25 fxe4 Bxe4 26 Bf4 Bd3 27 Qf2 Bxf4 28 Qxf4 h6 Line
* Sacrifice the e5 pawn in return for:
(i) an attack along the dark squares
(12 ... Bd6, 13 ... Qh4).
(ii) an attack along the light squares
(14 ... Qh3, 15 ... Bg4).
(iii) an open e-file (16 ... Rae8).
What's the game plan for White?
Position after 8 ... d5
9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6
12 d4 Bd6 13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3
15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8 17 Nd2 Re6
18 a4 Qh5 19 axb5 axb5 20 Ne4 Bf5
21 Bd2 Rxe4 22 Rxe4 Nf6 23 f3 Qg6 24 Qf1 Nxe4
25 fxe4 Bxe4 26 Bf4 Bd3 27 Qf2 Bxf4 28 Qxf4 h6 Line
* Accept the proffered pawn (10 Nxe5).
* Prevent Black's dark- and light-squared
threats by 14 g3 and 16 Qd3 respectively.
* Promptly mobilize the queenside
(15 Be3, 17 Nd2).
* Liberate the a1 rook by opening up the
a-file (18 a4, 19 axb5).
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RUY LOPEZ
Ruy Lopez: Risible Retreat?
Ruy Lopez (Open Variation): Edenic Entrenchment!?
Center Counter: Dancing Queen Delight
Position after 2 ... Qxd5
3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Bc4 Bg4
7 h3 Bh5 8 Bd2 e6 9 Qe2 Bb4 10 a3 Nbd7
11 O-O-O Bxc3 12 Bxc3 Qc7 13 g4 Bg6
14 Ne5 Nd5 15 Bd2 O-O-O Line
What's the game plan for White?
* Control the center, starting with 3 Nc3
and d2-d4.
* Attain the e5 outpost by Ng1-f3-e5 and
consolidate it according to the dictates
of the position. Some common buttress-
ing maneuvers are: f2-f4, Bc1-f4, Rf1-e1,
and Qd1-e2.
* Use the outpost to seek attacking
opportunities against Black's kingside/
queenside.
* Aim for a timely d5 central break.
This advance gains space in the center
and encroaches on Black's position.
Position after 2 ... Qxd5
3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Bc4 Bg4
7 h3 Bh5 8 Bd2 e6 9 Qe2 Bb4 10 a3 Nbd7
11 O-O-O Bxc3 12 Bxc3 Qc7 13 g4 Bg6
14 Ne5 Nd5 15 Bd2 O-O-O Line
What's the game plan for Black?
* Lessen White's central preponderance by
pinning the c3 and f3 knights with the Queen
and c8 bishop respectively. Once they are
nailed down to those squares, the knights
can no longer influence central affairs.
* Utilize the c8 bishop not only to
pressurize the d1-h5 diagonal but also to
contend for the b1-h7 and h1-a8 diagonals.
* Strengthen d5 through ... c7-c6
and ... e7-e6 so as to cushion it against
White's prospective d5 break. In some lines,
Nf6-d5 is used to hold White up in the center.
* Challenge White's occupation of e5.
Usually, Nbd7 initiates pressure against the
outpost. The Queen then weighs in on the
matter from a5 or c7, aided by ... Bd6.
* Use the half open d-file to gain
central play. In some variations, Black
castles long and subsequently uses the
d8 rook to bear down on this file.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Pawn Majority Parade!
Position after 15 f3.
Since White has a queenside pawn majority
and space advantage, his ultimate aim is
to advance and create a passed pawn on
that wing.
Silicon Suspire!?:
Position after 15 f3.
15 ... Rfd8 16 Bd3 Kf8 17 Rhe1 h5
18 a4 h4 19 Ne4 Ke7 20 Nxf6 Kxf6
21 a5 d5.
15 ... Rfc8 16 Nb5 Ne8 17 Bd3 h5
18 Rhc1 h4 19 Ke3 d5 20 c5 Kf8
21 a4 bxc5.
15 ... d6 16 a4 Rfb8 17 a5 d5
18 c5 bxc5 19 dxc5 a6 20 Na4 Bc6
21 Nb6 Ra7 22 Re1.
15 ... h5 16 Nb5 Bc6 17 Nd6 Ne8
18 Nxe8 Rfxe8 19 a4 Bb7 20 a5 d5
21 c5 bxc5. 
Position after 15 f3.
15 ... Rfb8 16 Bd3 Rd8 17 Rhe1 Kf8
18 a4 h5 19 a5 d5 20 c5 bxc5.
15 ... h6 16 Bd3 d6 17 a4 Rfd8
18 Rhe1 Kf8 19 a5 d5 20 c5 bxc5
21 dxc5 d4 22 Ne4.
15 ... Bc6 16 Bd3 Rfd8 17 Rhb1 Rac8
18 a4 Kf8 19 Nb5 Bxb5 20 axb5 d5
21 c5 Rc7.
15 ... d5 16 c5 bxc5 17 dxc5 a6
18 Bd3 e5 19 Rhe1 Rfe8 20 a4 d4
21 Ne2 Rac8 22 Ng3.
White to move:
White’s queenside space advantage and
c-file domination call for an attack on
the weakened b6 and a4 pawns.
Nonetheless, the d7 bishop is covering a4.
It’s also protecting b6 by preventing Rc6.
It’s therefore logical for White to eliminate
this good defensive bishop by offering his
own bad one: 1 Bb5!
Following the inevitable exchange, White
will play Rc6 and Qb5 to expose the Black
position to significant pressure.
White to move:
1 Qxb8 is obvious because after 1 … Rxb8 2 Rc1
followed by 3 Rc7, White’s rook is powerfully
placed on the only open file.
