Queen s Gambit.

Queen's Gambit

Kenneth Curmi
I am twenty years of age. I am a third year B.A. Hons. student at the University of Malta, currently reading for a degree in Italian and a chess club player as well as a chess aficionado. I consider myself an average player but I love chess literature.

In my opinion, not only is the Queen's Gambit one of the most powerful gambits, it is also a powerful opening, which leaves black, if not well prepared, in quite an unpleasant position, constantly trying to find his counterplay. White on the other hand, can reach quite a comfortable position, and, with patience, will have a number of attacking chances. I used this opening line against a number of players, some of them stronger than me, and even though I did not win all the time, I have rendered things difficult for all of them at some point or other of the game. In fact, I have used the Queen's Pawn Opening in the last match I played during a local tournament, and my opponent (who is not a bad player) immediately showed signs of anxiety. Indeed many chess players fear the QPO, and panic when White plays 1. d4.

But where does this fear come from? Usually, it's because of lack of preparation, lack of opening knowledge, or simply because of a lack of understanding of the concept. If one wants to win with the Queen's Gambit, both players need to understand what is happening, and, maybe a little more difficult to achieve, understand what is going to happen.

The Queen's Gambit is reached after the following moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4:

White offers a pawn to Black so as to develop rapidly and obtain a pawn majority in the centre. Furthermore, one is wise to notice that this gambit is not a real 'gambit', since White can easily regain the pawn. In fact, if Black decides to take the pawn on the c-file (Queen's Gambit Accepted), he would be wise to continue on with his development and to let White regain the pawn and not try to defend it. For example: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 b5 (Black decides to defend his pawn at all costs) 4. a4 c6 (If 4 ...bxa4 5. Qxa4+ regains the pawn on c4) 5. axb5 cxb5? 6. Qf3! and Black's perseverance costs him at least a knight.

When White plays 2. c4 his intention is to control the centre, luring Black away from his central position, in order to achieve a pawn majority. Furthermore, White intends to open the c-file, so as to position his major pieces there ( - ahh! that's why White plays Qc2).
Black can impede White's conquest of the centre by defending the pawn on d5. He can do so via a number of options, of which two make most logical sense: either playing 2 ...e6 (Queen's Gambit Declined), or 2 ...c6 (Slav Defence). Both defences can transpose into other defences like the Semi-Slav or the Tarrasch.

Space

Even when Black defends his position well, he risks getting cramped. White must try to achieve this very situation, while Black must try to avoid such a position. In the last game I have played , my opponent suffered just because of this harsh error, and liberated himself thanks only to an even harsher error of mine. (the game is reproduced at the end).

An example of good play by both sides could be the following game: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.Qc2 0-0 9. Nf3 Re8 10. 0-0 Nf8 11. Rab1

The game could continue: 11 ...Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. b4 a6 14. a4 Ng6 15. b5 axb5 16. axb5 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 Bg4

As White one must remember to use the c-file to amass the major pieces and to be able to attack the queen side as well as to turn to the king side if necessary.

Queen's Gambit Accepted

After the Queen's Gambit Accepted (2 ...dxc4) White has various possibilities. My favourite is 3. e3 opening the way for the queen and the king's bishop - I don't think it is so bad to close the queen's bishop diagonal: one must keep in mind that after all this cramping effect is temporary, and the eventual e4 will soon occur. With e3 White can realize the trap which we have seen earlier if Black decides to defend the pawn on c4.
Obviously there are other variations which White could follow after 2 ...dxc4 (like 3. Nf3), but I have no intention of listing them here. I suggest to whoever is interested, to look up such lists and games on the internet.

Queen's Gambit Declined

If after 2. c4 Black decided not to capture the pawn, he can defend his own pawn on d5 in various ways, fighting against White for the domination of the centre. As we have already seen, Black can play 2 ...e6 (3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6), or maybe 2 ...e6 with 3 ...c5 in mind (Tarrasch Defence) or even 3 ...c6 (Semi-Slav). There are too many variations to list properly here and I suggest to whoever is interested, to look up such lists and games on the internet.

As promised, I shall reproduce the game I played recently at a local tournament, in which I used the Queen's Pawn Opening - attention! my opponent chose not to defend as discussed in this small article.

Grand Hotels Chess Tournament 2002: Kenneth Curmi - Kevin Attard, Qawra.

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nc3 0-0 7. Qc2 Nc6 8. a3 e6 9. b4 Ne7 10. e4 d6 11. Bg5 Nd7 12. 0-0 c5 13. Nb5 Nb8 14. Rac1 a6 (up to this point all is well) 15. Qa4?? (but here is my first mistake!!) axb5 16. Qb3 bxc4 17. Bxc4 Bxe4 18. bxc5 d5 19. Be2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nbc6 21. Qxb6 Rb8 22. Qa6 Qc8 23. Qa4 Nf5 24. Bf4 Ra8 25. Qd1 Rd8 26. Qd3 Ra4 27. Be3 Nfxd4 28. Bd1 Qa6 29. Qd2 Rxa3 30. Rb1 Qd3 31. Rb6 Qxd2 32. Bxd2 Rb8 33. Bf4 e5 34. Bc1 Ra1 35. Bb2 Rb1 36. Rxb8+ Nxb8 37. Bxd4 exd4 38. Bc2 Rxf1+ 39. Kxf1 Na6 40. c6 Nc7 41. Ke2 Kf8 42. Kd3 Ke7 43. f4 Ke6 44. g4 h5 45. h3 Bh6 46. gxh5 gxh5 47. Bd1 Bxf4 48. Bxh5 Be3 49. Bd1 Kd6 50. Ba4 Na6 51. h4 Nb8 52. h5 Nxc6 53. Bxc6 Kxc6 54. Ke2 Kd6 55. h6 Ke6?? (time trouble!!) 56. h7 Kd6 57. h8Q
0-1

The blunders at the end should be excused...please keep in mind that time was of the essence!!!

The game ended just before I was able to mate. I lost on time!

And to finish this article, here is another game, this time played to a win by the great Capablanca:

Janowsky - Capablanca, New York 1916.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Qxb6 axb6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 cxd5 9. e3 Nc6 10. Bd2 Bd7 11. Be2 e6 12. 0-0 Bd6 13. Rfc1 Ke7 14. Bc3 Rhc8 15. a3 Na5 16. Nd2 f5 17. g3 b5 18. f3 Nc4 19. Bxc4 bxc4 20. e4 Kf7 21. e5 Be7 22. f4 b5 23. Kf2 Ra4 24. Ke3 Rca8 25. Rab1 h6 26. Nf3 g5 27. Ne1 Rg8 28. Kf3 gxf4 29. gxf4 Raa8 30. Ng2 Rg4 31. Rg1 Rag8 32. Be1 b4 33. axb4 Ba4 34. Ra1 Bc2 35. Bg3 Be4+ 36. Kf2 h5 37. Ra7 Bxg2 38. Rxg2 h4 39. Bxh4 Rxg2+ 40. Kf3 Rxh2 41. Bxe7 Rh3+ 42. Kf2 Rb3 43. Bg5+ Kg6 44. Re7 Rxb2+ 45. Kf3 Ra8 46. Rxe6+ Kh7
0-1

Click here to download the games in PGN!

Contact me at: askchess@yahoo.com

Position of the day White to move and win. New FIDE rating list 01.07.10 A.Khalifman. TOT ZIENS! 27.02.07 A.Khalifman. WILL IT GET BORING? 02.02.07	Queen's Gambit Kenneth Curmi I am twenty years of age. I am a third year B.A. Hons. student at the University of Malta, currently reading for a degree in Italian and a chess club player as well as a chess aficionado. I consider myself an average player but I love chess literature. In my opinion, not only is the Queen's Gambit one of the most powerful gambits, it is also a powerful opening, which leaves black, if not well prepared, in quite an unpleasant position, constantly trying to find his counterplay. White on the other hand, can reach quite a comfortable position, and, with patience, will have a number of attacking chances. I used this opening line against a number of players, some of them stronger than me, and even though I did not win all the time, I have rendered things difficult for all of them at some point or other of the game. In fact, I have used the Queen's Pawn Opening in the last match I played during a local tournament, and my opponent (who is not a bad player) immediately showed signs of anxiety. Indeed many chess players fear the QPO, and panic when White plays 1. d4. But where does this fear come from? Usually, it's because of lack of preparation, lack of opening knowledge, or simply because of a lack of understanding of the concept. If one wants to win with the Queen's Gambit, both players need to understand what is happening, and, maybe a little more difficult to achieve, understand what is going to happen. The Queen's Gambit is reached after the following moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4: White offers a pawn to Black so as to develop rapidly and obtain a pawn majority in the centre. Furthermore, one is wise to notice that this gambit is not a real 'gambit', since White can easily regain the pawn. In fact, if Black decides to take the pawn on the c-file (Queen's Gambit Accepted), he would be wise to continue on with his development and to let White regain the pawn and not try to defend it. For example: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 b5 (Black decides to defend his pawn at all costs) 4. a4 c6 (If 4 ...bxa4 5. Qxa4+ regains the pawn on c4) 5. axb5 cxb5? 6. Qf3! and Black's perseverance costs him at least a knight. When White plays 2. c4 his intention is to control the centre, luring Black away from his central position, in order to achieve a pawn majority. Furthermore, White intends to open the c-file, so as to position his major pieces there ( - ahh! that's why White plays Qc2). Black can impede White's conquest of the centre by defending the pawn on d5. He can do so via a number of options, of which two make most logical sense: either playing 2 ...e6 (Queen's Gambit Declined), or 2 ...c6 (Slav Defence). Both defences can transpose into other defences like the Semi-Slav or the Tarrasch. Space Even when Black defends his position well, he risks getting cramped. White must try to achieve this very situation, while Black must try to avoid such a position. In the last game I have played , my opponent suffered just because of this harsh error, and liberated himself thanks only to an even harsher error of mine. (the game is reproduced at the end). An example of good play by both sides could be the following game: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.Qc2 0-0 9. Nf3 Re8 10. 0-0 Nf8 11. Rab1 The game could continue: 11 ...Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. b4 a6 14. a4 Ng6 15. b5 axb5 16. axb5 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 Bg4 As White one must remember to use the c-file to amass the major pieces and to be able to attack the queen side as well as to turn to the king side if necessary. Queen's Gambit Accepted After the Queen's Gambit Accepted (2 ...dxc4) White has various possibilities. My favourite is 3. e3 opening the way for the queen and the king's bishop - I don't think it is so bad to close the queen's bishop diagonal: one must keep in mind that after all this cramping effect is temporary, and the eventual e4 will soon occur. With e3 White can realize the trap which we have seen earlier if Black decides to defend the pawn on c4. Obviously there are other variations which White could follow after 2 ...dxc4 (like 3. Nf3), but I have no intention of listing them here. I suggest to whoever is interested, to look up such lists and games on the internet. Queen's Gambit Declined If after 2. c4 Black decided not to capture the pawn, he can defend his own pawn on d5 in various ways, fighting against White for the domination of the centre. As we have already seen, Black can play 2 ...e6 (3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6), or maybe 2 ...e6 with 3 ...c5 in mind (Tarrasch Defence) or even 3 ...c6 (Semi-Slav). There are too many variations to list properly here and I suggest to whoever is interested, to look up such lists and games on the internet. As promised, I shall reproduce the game I played recently at a local tournament, in which I used the Queen's Pawn Opening - attention! my opponent chose not to defend as discussed in this small article. Grand Hotels Chess Tournament 2002: Kenneth Curmi - Kevin Attard, Qawra. 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nc3 0-0 7. Qc2 Nc6 8. a3 e6 9. b4 Ne7 10. e4 d6 11. Bg5 Nd7 12. 0-0 c5 13. Nb5 Nb8 14. Rac1 a6 (up to this point all is well) 15. Qa4?? (but here is my first mistake!!) axb5 16. Qb3 bxc4 17. Bxc4 Bxe4 18. bxc5 d5 19. Be2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nbc6 21. Qxb6 Rb8 22. Qa6 Qc8 23. Qa4 Nf5 24. Bf4 Ra8 25. Qd1 Rd8 26. Qd3 Ra4 27. Be3 Nfxd4 28. Bd1 Qa6 29. Qd2 Rxa3 30. Rb1 Qd3 31. Rb6 Qxd2 32. Bxd2 Rb8 33. Bf4 e5 34. Bc1 Ra1 35. Bb2 Rb1 36. Rxb8+ Nxb8 37. Bxd4 exd4 38. Bc2 Rxf1+ 39. Kxf1 Na6 40. c6 Nc7 41. Ke2 Kf8 42. Kd3 Ke7 43. f4 Ke6 44. g4 h5 45. h3 Bh6 46. gxh5 gxh5 47. Bd1 Bxf4 48. Bxh5 Be3 49. Bd1 Kd6 50. Ba4 Na6 51. h4 Nb8 52. h5 Nxc6 53. Bxc6 Kxc6 54. Ke2 Kd6 55. h6 Ke6?? (time trouble!!) 56. h7 Kd6 57. h8Q 0-1 The blunders at the end should be excused...please keep in mind that time was of the essence!!! The game ended just before I was able to mate. I lost on time! And to finish this article, here is another game, this time played to a win by the great Capablanca: Janowsky - Capablanca, New York 1916. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Qxb6 axb6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 cxd5 9. e3 Nc6 10. Bd2 Bd7 11. Be2 e6 12. 0-0 Bd6 13. Rfc1 Ke7 14. Bc3 Rhc8 15. a3 Na5 16. Nd2 f5 17. g3 b5 18. f3 Nc4 19. Bxc4 bxc4 20. e4 Kf7 21. e5 Be7 22. f4 b5 23. Kf2 Ra4 24. Ke3 Rca8 25. Rab1 h6 26. Nf3 g5 27. Ne1 Rg8 28. Kf3 gxf4 29. gxf4 Raa8 30. Ng2 Rg4 31. Rg1 Rag8 32. Be1 b4 33. axb4 Ba4 34. Ra1 Bc2 35. Bg3 Be4+ 36. Kf2 h5 37. Ra7 Bxg2 38. Rxg2 h4 39. Bxh4 Rxg2+ 40. Kf3 Rxh2 41. Bxe7 Rh3+ 42. Kf2 Rb3 43. Bg5+ Kg6 44. Re7 Rxb2+ 45. Kf3 Ra8 46. Rxe6+ Kh7 0-1 Click here to download the games in PGN! Contact me at: askchess@yahoo.com (c) Kenneth Curmi, 2002. More articles A.Khalifman. TOT ZIENS! 27.02.07 A.Khalifman. WILL IT GET BORING? 02.02.07 A.Khalifman. Everything is going according to plan. Almost everything. 02.02.07 Lonely Knight Dance. To the light memory of G.M.Chepukaitis is dedicated. 13.10.2005 In one game... 10.12.2004 In the beginning of June our school was visited group of schoolchildren from USA. 30.06.2004 A.Khalifman. A Midsummer Night's Dream., 02.07.2004 A. Khalifman, O. Biriukov. Opposite-coloured geometry lesson, 17.02.2003 Happy New Year!, 16.01.2003 Autumn came round. Mastodons are going to come soon..., 09.09.2002 Queen's Gambit (by Kenneth Curmi), 24.08.2002 Chess Summer, 19.08.2002 Amazing and usual Dortmund, 06.08.2002	HOME LINKS ARTICLES GUESTBOOK NALIMOV EGTB FIDE RATINGS ABOUT SCHOOL ABOUT PRICES & CONDITIONS SAMPLE LECTURE OUR TEACHERS CHESS STARS PUBLISHING

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Queen's Gambit

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Queen's Gambit Accepted

Queen's Gambit Declined

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