Chess Digest, Inc.

The Tchigorin Defense

Copyright© 1995
Andrew Soltis

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ISBN 0-87568-258-8

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Author: Andrew Soltis

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Final Preparation and diagrams: Roy DeVault
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 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 6
Wilhelm Steinitz-Tchigorin, 6th Match Game 1889 6
S.F. Lebedev-Tchigorin, Correspondence 1 900 10

CHAPTER ONE 14
Irregular Variations
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6
A 3 e3 14
B 3 Bf4 16
C 3 cxd5 17
Illustrative Game
(1) Schiffer-Baumhus, Bundesliga 1988 20

CHAPTER TWO 22
The Old "Refutation" 4 Qa4
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 NfJ Bg4 4 Qa4 BxfJ
A 5 exfJ 23
B 5 gxfJ 24

CHAPTER THREE 27
The Modern 3 NfJ Main Line
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 NfJ Bg4 4 cxd5 BxO
A 5 HfJ n
B 5 gxfJ (note: 5 dxc6 is in Chapter Four) 29
Illustrative Games
(2) Suirin-Matichenkov, Smolensk 1985 32
(3) Bareev-Kamsky, Tilburg 1991 34

CHAPTER FOUR 38
Following in Pillsbury's Path (5 dxc6)
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 NfJ Bg4 4 cxd5 BxfJ 5 dxc6 38

CHAPTER FIVE 41
3 NfJ Odds and Ends
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 NfJ Bg4
4 TAB LE OF CONTENTS

A 4 Nc3 41
B 4 Nbd2 43
C 4 e3 45
Illustrative Games
(4) van Vely-Morozevich, Tilburg 1993 48
(5) Vukic-Gavric, Pale 1990 51
(6) Hugue-Rogers, Loyds Bank ( London) 1988 53
(7) Pillsbury-Tchigorin, London 1899 55

CHAPTER SIX 59
White Takes the 3 Nc3 Risk
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 59
Illustrative Game
(8) Sitarek-Gibbons, 14th World Correspondence 61
Championship 1985-90

CHAPTER SEVEN 65
The Modern 3 Nc3 Then 4 Nf3 Approach
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 Nf3 Nf6
A 5 e3 �
B 5 Q� �
C5BU �
D5B� �
E 5� m
F 5 d5 72
Illustrative Games
(9) Conquest-Diugy, New York Open 1984 73
(10) Zuger-Rongguang, Lucerne 1989 76

CHAPTER EIGHT 80
White Accepts the 4 d5 Challenge
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 d5 Ne5
A 5 Bf4 80
B 5� 81
C5 U �
D 5 Q� M
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

CHAPTER NINE 87
White Avoids c2-c4
1 d4 d5 2 NO Nc6 (How to play against the Colle System -
2 e3 - and Stonewall 2 e3 then 3 f4 are in the notes)
A3BU �
B 3 g3 89
Illustrative Game
(12) Bator-Duckstein, European Club Championship 91
1990
6
INTRODUCTION

The Tchigorin's Defense is the opening that won't go away. When

Mikhail Tchigorin introduced it to master chess in the 1880's it often
worked wonders. But it's detractors said that was a tribute to Tchigorin, not
to his defense.

Discarded by the opening authorities after his death, the opening has
been periodically revived by original players - from Edgar Colle to David
Bronstein to Tony Miles. With each revival, the defense is met with a new
wave of theoretical criticism. Many masters, who learned early in their
chess development not to block their c-pawns, just don't trust ... Nc6. But
that doesn't matter, as long as there are imaginative players looking for a
fighting defense to 1 d4. The opening just won't go away.

The basic Tchigorin strategy is relatively simple: after White's first

move, 1 d4, Black declares that the d-pawn will be a source of weakness as
much as it is a source of strength. To attack it, Black needs three elements:
(a) a Knight onc6 that watches d4, (b) a Bishop that will capture onj3 after
White defends d4 with Nj3, and (c) the ability to discover an attack on d4
with his Queen by way of . . dxc4.
.

Depending on how White responds to this elementary approach,

Black will modify his development. For example, the attack on d4 can be
supplemented by Black's Kingside pieces with ... Bg7 and ...Nge5-j5.
Because the Queenside pieces are developed first, Black often needs to find
King safety in the only available place for it - with ... 0-0-0. And in some
cases Black may use his e-pawn as a battering ram (... e7-e5!?).

Mikhail Tchigorin's original idea was to play ... Bg4 before .. Nc6. It
.

doesn't work if White meets 1 d4 d5 with 2 c4. But when his opponents
delayed advancing their c-pawn, Tchigorin was quick to attack the center
with ...Bxj3, ... Nc6 and ... e7-e5.

Here's a fine example of his basic formula. Bear in mind that this is a
world championship match game.

Wilhelm Steinitz Tchigorin

6th Match Game, 1889
1 NO d5
2 d4 Bg4
 INTRODUCTION 7

In a 1 886-7 telegraph match between London and St. Petersburg,

Tchigorin had convinced his team to try Black's second move mainly, as he
later explained, "to avoid the usual paths of development in this opening."
Even then masters wanted to get their opponents out the books.
3 c4
The principal drawback to Black's move order is that it allows 3 Ne5,
which White avoids here. We are soon back in territory more closely
identified with what later became known as the Tchigorin's Defense.
3 ... Bxf3
4 gxf3 dxc4!
5 e4?

This is an error which allows Black to carry out his plan of

demolishing d4. Better was 5 e3, which Steinitz later adopted.
5 ... eS!
6 dxeS
On 6 d5 Bc5 the dark squares are highly vulnerable (... Qh4).
6 ... Qxdlch
7 Kxdl Nc6
If White could play Bxc4 and bring his King to safety quickly, his
pressure on the light squares would mean more than Black's piece activity
or Queenside majority. But Black keeps the initiative (8 Bf4 Rd8ch and
Nge7-g6).
...

8 f4 Rd8ch
9 Bd2
King moves allow 9 . Nd4 (ch). Black apparently didn't play
. .
8 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

8...0-0-0ch because he didn't want to give White Bh3 as check and didn't
want his Kingside pawns to be vulnerable.
9 ... BcS
l ORgl Nge7
1 1 Bxc4
Tchigorin noted that 1 1 Rxg7 Ng6 12 Bxc4 Nxf4 13 Rxf7 gives
Black the better of it after 13...Nxe5 14 Rxf4 Nxc4 or just 13 ... Nd3.
1 1 ... Ng6
12 Kcl Bxf2
13 Rg2 Bb6
14 NcJ Nd4!

This move is important because the Knight can land strongly onj3.
15 Nd5 NO
16 Nxb6
Better, according to the winner, was 16 Bc3, although he believed
16...Nxf4 17 Rxg7 Ne6 still favored Black.
16 ... Nxd2
17 Rxd2 ub6
18 Rxd8ch Kxd8
19 Bxf7 Nxf4
The position has clarified quite a bit. Black will win if he can grab
the h-pawn, creating two Kingside passers, and, at the same time, keep
White's Queenside pawns under surveillance.
20 Kd2 Rf8
21 BbJ Ng6
22 e6
 INTRODUCTION 9

White now activates his Rook and King at the cost of the h-pawn.
22 ... Ke7
23 Rgl Rf2ch
24 Ke3! Rxh2
25 Rg5?

This was fatal, according to Steinitz. The Rook now ends up as a

spectator on b5. He recommended 25 Rfl Ne5 26 Rf5 as best, although
26...Rh3ch 27 Ke2 Rxb3! keeps Black's advantage.
25 ... Rh3ch
26 Kd4 RfJ
27 Rb5 Nf4
28 a4 h5!
Not allowing himself to be lured into 28...c5ch? 29 Ke5 Nd3ch 30
Kd5 and Black has technical problems.
29 aS h4
30 axb6 c6!
The winning move. White's Rook cannot penetrate the Queenside
now and the h-pawn decides.
31 Rf5 Ne2ch
32 KcS Rxf5ch!?
Good enough to win was 32...Rxb3. Black prefers the pawn race.
33 exf5 h3
34 Ba4 h2
35 Bxc6 bxc6
36 b7 hl(Q)
 10 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

37 b8(Q) Qclch
White res i&ns

Be warned: this opening Is not for evel)'one. Many players are

uncomfortable developing their Queenside pieces before the Kingside ones.
They don't like castlins last • - or on the Queenside, another common idea
in the Tchigorin's Derense.

To play it also requires an original approach to matters of of strategy.

Most players don't like to give up Bishops for Knights and prefer to have
more pawns in the center than their opponent. The Tchigorin's is not for
them.

It is also not for players who are reluctant to see their pieces pushed
to the side of the board - - or off of it. In some key variations, Black must be
willing to sacrifice a Knight that has been exiled to a5. Here's how the
inventor played these positions:

S. F. Lebdev Tchigorin
Correspondence tournament 1 900
1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
J NcJ dxc4
4 d5 Na5!?
5 Qa4ch
White goes straight after the stalemated Knight which doesn't seem
to have any way ofbeing maintained on a5 or of being protected against b2-
b4 or Bd2.
5 ... c6
6 b4
In another Lebdev-Tchigorin game from this tournament, White
played 6 dxc6 Nxc6 7 e3 Bd7 8 Bxc4 e6 9 Nf3 Nf6 10 0-0 Rc8 l l Qdl and
Black concluded that it seemed he had gained a full move.
6 ... cxbl
7 axbJ e6
(See next diagram)
 INTRODUCTION 11

White has various ways of picking off the Knight, but all grant Black
excellent compensation. For example, 8 Bd2 Nxb3! 9 Qxb3 exd5 was
known, even in 1900, to be good enough for Black. White prefers:
8 Bb2 Qb6!
9 Qxa5 Qxb3
Black has the passed Queenside pawns to work with, but he also has
considerable pressure on the enemy King, which is 13 moves away from
castling.
10 Rb1 Bb4
1 1 Qa1 Nf6!
12 dxc6 Ne4
13 Rcl
White apparently counted on 13. .. Nc5 14 Qbl! with advantage, e.g.
14 ...Na4 15 Ba1 Qxb1ch 16 Rxb l Bxc3ch 17 Bxc3 Nxc3 18 cxb7.
13 ... a5!
14 NfJ
White would like to play 14 f3, but Black would then ram the a-pawn
down his throat: 14 ... a4!! 15 fxe4 a3 16 Kf2 axb2 17 Qxa8 bxc1(Q) 18
Qxc8ch Ke7 19 Qc7ch Kf6 and Black wins -- an incredible bit of analysis.
14 •.. a4
15 Nd4 Qd5
16 e3 a3
17 Bxa3
Anything else loses at least the exchange.
17 .. . Nxc3!
18 Bxb4
 u TIIK 'I'(�Jti(�ORIN DEFENSE

Al ..t 1111lltl111t II IM lh«l� Rxn:l.

II... Rxal
19 R11l Na2!

After this nice move, shutting off the b4 Bishop, the game heads
speedily to a natural conclusion. Black can afford to have his King tickled
by the Bishops.
20Bb5 Kd8!
21 Ba5ch Ke7
22 0-0 e5
Now 23 Nf3 bxc6 makes it easier.
23 e4 Qxd4
24 Rxa2 bxc6
25Bxc6 Be6
26 Ra4 Qd3!
The Black King now ends up safe and sound on g6 -- but not so the
one currently on g 1.
27 Bb4ch Kf6
28 f4? Rc8
29 fxe5ch Kg6
30Bd5
With a Rook, Bishop and pawn, White seems to have adequate
compensation for the lost Queen. However...
30 ... Rcl!
White resigns
 INTRODUCTION 13

After 3 1 Rxc l Black wins with checks at e3, cJ andf4, followed by

34...Bxd5, winning because of the fourth rank pin. And after 31 Bel, Black
has 3 l...Qe3ch 32 Bf2 Rxflch 33 Kxfl Qd3ch 34 K e l Bg4! and it's all over.

The moral is: keep an open mind and be willing to consider the
bizarre -- and you'll do quite well with Tchigorin's Defense.

We'll organize our look at this unique opening in this way:

Chapter One: Irregular Variations (3 e3, 3 Bf4, 3 cxd5)

Chapter Two: The Old "Refutation" 4 Qa4

Chapter Three: The Modem 3 Nf3 Main Line (4 cxd5)

Chapter Four: Following in Pillsbury's Path (5 dxc6)

Chapter Five: 3 Nf3 Odds and Ends

Chapter Six: White takes the 3 Nc3 Risk

Chapter Seven: The Modem 3 Nc3/4 Nf3 Approach

Chapte r Eight: White Accepts the Challenge 4 d5

Chapter Nine: White avoids c2-c4.

 (�IIAP'n:R ONE
lrreaular Variations
I d4 d5
l c4 Nc6

Of the three irregularly played lines, (a) 3 e3 is too timid and is now
seen mainly in the games of B-players and below, (b) 3 Bf4 makes more
sense but it still is a rarity, and (c) 3 cxd5 is a relatively common move
below the master level that can be dangerous if handled carelessly by Black.
You should pay the most attention to the third possibility.

(a) 3 e3
3 e3
This move constitutes an admission by White that his ambitions in
this game will be very modest. It carries with it a threat of 4 cxd5 Qxd5 5
Nc3, gaining time. But there are several good moves to anticipate that.
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER ONE 15

3 ... e5!
And this is the best of them. Black is at least equal now, following 4
Nfl exd4 5 Nxd4 Nxd4 6 Qxd4 Nf6. If, instead, 4 Nc3, Black will continue
with the pinning strategy that characterizes the Tchigorin, 4... Bb4, e.g. 5
Qb3? exd4 6 exd4 Nxd4! (7 Qxb4 ?? Nc2ch) or 5 cxd5 Qxd5 as in section
(c) below.
4 d.xe5?!
The safest policy is 4 cxd5, also transposing into section (c) below.
4 ... d4!
This is the most aggressive plan available, seeking an endgame in
which White has all sorts of holes on the vulnerable Queenside.

Good enough for equality is 4...Bb4ch 5 Nc3 Nge7. But with a mini­
initiative thanks to his slight lead in development, Black has reason to play
for more.
5 exd4 Qxd4
Much better than 5 ... Nxd4 because after 6 Qxd4 Nxd4 Black
threatens 7... Nc2ch. thanks to the absence of Queens on the board.
6 Qxd4
Other moves are no improvement (6 Nj3 Qxdlch 7 Kxd/ Bfi and
...Nxe5 or . . . 0-0-0ch).
6 ... Nxd4
If White tries to cover c2 with his King, Black answers with 8...Bf5
and 9...0-0-0.
7 Bd3 Bg4
This last is a little finesse to provoke 8 fl, placing a pawn on a
square that interferes with White's development.
16 TfiE TCHIGORI N DEFE NSE

ID
or '-'OilriO, M Ne2'7 Bxc2 9 Bxe2 Nc2ch loses material, and 8 h3 Bh5
u J&4 n,.t. 10 Rxaft hxJ6 limply creates a new problem on c2.
a... Be6
Thora 11 1011Mithinato be laid about 8 Bh5 (and a later . . Bg6). But
... .

lhG IGHI II J&ood onough.

9 Bel
A bll bcllcr 11 9 Ncl 0-0-0 10 Nxd4 Rxd4 which occurred in Green­
ltlullnno, New York 1983. White made use of his eighth move and gave
huck 1he pawn with II Be41 Rxc4 12 BeJ Bc5 13 Ke2 Bxe3 14 Kxe3. He
nuuutged to draw after 14 f61 15 exf6 Nxf6 1 6 Nc3 Rhe8.
. . .

9 ... 0-0-0

This position is significant for the Tchigorin's Defense because it

appeared during the variation's revival in the 1920's in a game between two
up-and-coming grandmasters - - Reti-Bogolyubov, Kiel l921.

White found nothing better than 10 Bxd4 Rxd4 11 Ke2, after which
Black demonstrated a growing advantage with l l...Ne7 1 2 Nd2 Ng6 1 3
Bxg6 hxg6 and 1 4 ... Bf5, thanks to the two Bishops.

Turning now to our second irregular variation:

(b) 3 Bf4
3 Bf4
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6)
 CHAPTE R ONE 17

3 Bf4
The Bishop move is somewhat logical: the object of Black's attack is
d4, so White wants to bring out his Bishop before solidifying matters with
e2-e3.
3 ... d.xc 4

But this move attacks d4 and clears for .. . Nfo-d5. Black is already in
good shape.
4 d5
On 4 N f3 Black equalizes with 4 ... Nf6 and 5 ...Nd5, e.g. 5 Nc 3 Nd5 6
Bg 3 Bf5.
4 ••• e5!
The thematic punch that appears in a number of Tchigorin lines. As
in similar situations, 5 dxc6 Qxd lch 6 Kxdl exf4 is at least equal for Black.
5 Bg3 Nce7
The Knight is headed for g6 and perhaps/4. Typical play, leading to
at least equality, would be 6 Nc3 Ng6 7 e4 and now 7 ... a6 (to prevent
Bb5ch) 8 Bxc4 Bc5. White probably does better with 7 e3 a6 8 Bxc4, but
8... Nf6 9 Nf3 Bd6 gives Black a nice game also.

Finally, let's consider the third irregular response to 2 . .. Nc6:

(c) 3 cxd5
( After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6)

3 cxd5
Ill Tlllt TCH IGORIN DEFENSE

Thl1 11 • vory 111111rnl move because it works so well against other

llltllllllr MMJUd movo1 (J N,ftj .f cxc/Jl; 2. ..c5 3 cxd5l) and appears to gain
...

lllllf h)' h•UIIIhll lho Q\IOOn.

J... Qxd5
Nnw 4 Nu.1 Qxd4 11 quite unsound.
4 N fJ
Wllh 4 cl While Is again indicating his pacific mature. Black can
Ot llllllllt 111011 cn1i ly with 4. . .es S Nc3 Bb4.

Then (, Ud2 Bxc3 7 bxc3 exd4 8 cxd4 Nf6 followed by . .. Bf5 or

IlM-I nnd perhaps .. Ne4. For example, 9 Ne2 0-0 10 Nf4 Qd6 11 Bd3 and
.

nuw IJ...Nb4 (and 12 Bbl c5). After 12 Bxb4 Qxb4ch 13 Qd2 Qe7 14 Qc2
\:(, JUnek stood well in Gross-Gibbons, Saratoga 1978.

4 ... e5
Once again the proper prescription. Now 5 dxe5 Qxd l ch 6 Kxdl Bg4
and 7... 0-0-0ch gives Black easy play even if he doesn't regain his pawn
(which he should).
5 NcJ
The only attempt at a White advantage lies with this move (5 e3 exd4
6 exd4 Bg4 and . .. 0-0-0).
5 ... Bb4
And, as usual, Black should not relinquish his commanding Queen
position (5... Qa5?l) when he can make this pin.
6 Bd2
Now 6 dxe5 Bxc3ch! 7 bxc3 Qa5 regains the pawn with a nice game
(8 Qb3 Nge7 9 e3 Be6).
 CHAPTE R ONE 19

6 ... Bxc3
The main point of this move is that White loses a pawn after 7 bxcJ.
7 Bxc3 e4!
White also allows this annoying advance if he captures the other way.
It is thematic for Black to keep the position somewhat closed (compared
with 7... exd4? 8 Nxd4) but here 7.. e4 has the added point that he can push
.

the pawn to e3 next move.

8 Nd2
After 8 Ne5, the advance is more dangerous: 8 Ne5 eJ 9 fxeJ Nxe5
10 dxe5 Be6 with excellent compensation due to White's messed up pawns.

More promising for White may be 9 0, hoping to encircle the e­

pawn later on. After 9...Nge7 10 QdJ Nxe5 II dxe5 QxdJ II exdJ Bf5
Black has enough compensation for any lost pawn (1 3 d4 0-0-0 14 Bc4 Be6
as in Kharitonov-Malyutin, Smolensk, 1991).
And see Illustrative Game 1 for the immediate 9 QdJ.
8 •..
Nf6
The immediate 8 . e3 allows 9 fxeJ Nf6 10 e4! Nxe4 11 Nxe4 Qxe4
. .

12 d5 and White has the upper hand since his Bishop comes alive.
9 e3 0-0
Now 10 Be2 Qg5 can create problems for White (1 1 0-0 Bh3).
10 Qc:2 Re8
Not much new in this variation has arisen since Petrov-Ravinsky,
USSR 1940(!), which went l l Bc4 Qf5 (more exact may be Jl... Qg5) 12
Nfl Qg6 13 NgJ Be6 and ended in Black's favor soon after 14 Bxe6 Rxe6
15 QbJ Rd6 16 0-0 Nd5!.
JU 'I'IIV. TC'tiiGORIN l>li:FENSE

IU.tJSTRATIV ..: GAME

(I) llrhtffntr·R•umhul, Bundesliga 1988
I d4 d5
l f4 Nc6
3 cxd� Qxd5

4 Nf3 e5
5 NcJ Bb4
6 Bd2 BxcJ
7 Bxc3 e4!
8 Ne5 eJ
9 QdJ?!
This is an indifferent defense, but 9 Nxc6 exflch lO Kxf2 Qxc6
(Tennant-Michaelides, New York 1979) is hardly an improvement.
9 ... exflch
10 Kxf2 Nf6
1 1 Qf3
The apparent point of White's defense is to challenge the Black
Queen on her wonderful outpost.
1 1 ... Nxe5
12 dxe5 Ne4ch
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER ONE 21

13 Kel Nxc3
14 Qxc3 0-0
White has a bad King, bad development and bad pawns. His opening
has been a disaster. Now 15 Rd 1 Qxa2 and 15 e3 Re8 begin the loss of
material.
1 5 b3 Bf5
16 Rd1 Qe4
Black uses his control of the light squares to swing his Queen to the
Kingside, h4 in particular. White's last chance was to get the Queens off the
board with something like 17 Qd4.
17 Rg1 ? Qh4ch
18 g3
Or 19 Qg3 Qb4ch (the 19.. Qxg3ch
. ending isn't bad either) 20 Kf2
Rad8 and the Black heavy pieces invade.
18 ... Qxh2
19 Rg2 Qh1
20 Rd4 Rad8!
White had hoped for 21 Rh4, trapping the Queen, but this would now
be met by 2l...Rd1ch 22 Kxd1 Qxflch and 23... Qxg2. Many grandmasters
would resign a position like this -- to other grandmasters.
21 e3 Bh3
22 Rf2 Bxfl
23 Rxfl Qg2
24 g4 Qg3ch
White resigns.
After the second pawn falls (25... Qxe5) White has no hope.
22
CHAPTER TWO
The Old "Refutation" 4 Qa4
1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
3 NO
Grigory Levenfish, one of the strongest Soviet masters before World
War II, maintained that this was the best third move for White, since it
discourages both 3 ...e5 and 3 ...dxc4 -- both possible ideas after 3 Nc3.
3 ... Bg4
This is the refined version of the Tchigorin idea: to pressure d4 by
way of ... Bxj3. It should be noted, however, that 3 ...e5 is playable since 4
cxd5 Qxd5 transposes in to variation (c) of the last chapter.

The real test of 3...e5 is 4 dxe5 or 4 Nxe5 Nxe5 5 dxe5, offering to go

into Albin Counter Gambit positions. But in each case Black can try for a
non-Albin game with 4...dxc4 (or 5 .. dxc4).
.

4 Qa4

The fate of this move illustrates the capriciousness of opening theory.

The Tchigorin's Defense had been analyzed at the highest levels before
Alexander Alekhine tried this novel Queen move in 1925 and was rewarded
with a brilliant victory over Edgar Colle. For the next 50 years, 4 Qa4 was
considered something of a main line. Almost forgotten today, this line
appeared in opening books up until the 1970's in prominent display.
4 ... BxO
This was the purpose of Black's third move, so why not take? Black
will build a solid pawn structure now on light squares. Now we should
consider (a) 5 exf3 and (b) 5 gxfl.
 CHAPTER TWO 23

(a) 5 exfJ
5 exfJ
This damages White's center in order to get the /1-Bishop into the
game quickly. Black should continue solidly.
5 ... e6

6 Nc3 N &e7!
This plan of development revitalized the Tchigorin's. Black will
fianchetto the remaining Bishop to attack d4 (in coordination with a later
. ..Nf5).
7 Be3
Another plan common in such position is c4-c5 and Bb5 or Qb3. But
in the absence of additional pressure on the Queenside, Black can meet 7 c5
with 7...g6 and castle into safety, e.g. 8 Be3 Bg7 9 Qb3 Rb8 and . . . Nf5 or
. . 0-0 followed by ...b6 is coming up.
.

7 ••• &6
8 cxd5
Black, once he as castled, will be able to play ... dxc4 usefully. For
example, 8 Be2 Bg7 9 0-0 0-0 10 Rd1 dxc4 1 1 Qxc4 (1 1 Bxc4 Nxd4)
1 1...Nd5.
8 ... exd5
9 0-0-0
After 9 Bb5 Black can unscramble his Queenside with 9...Bg7 10 0-0 0-0
and .. . Qd6/... Nd8-e6/. . . c7-c6. In Fuster-Bronstein, Budapest-Moscow match
1949, Black obtained the upper hand after 1 1 Bxc6? Nxc6 12 Qb5 Nxd4 13
Bxd4 Bxd4 14 Rad l c6!.
9 ... Qd7
24 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

Black carefully prepares the option of Queenside castling, but 9...Bg7

can also be played.
10 Bb5 Bg7
ll Bg5!

This is the best way for White to exploit his decision at move five.
Now 12 Bxe7 Qxe7 13 Rhe 1 is threatened, and 11...0-0-0 12 Bxe7 costs
him a pawn (although it is not clear that it isn't a good sacrifice).
ll... f6
Black adopts a conservative approach.
12 Bf4
Here 12... 0-0-0?! would follow Katishonok-Kavalerov, Leningrad
1990, which led to equal play after 13 Rhe1 Qf5 14 g3 Kb8.
12 ... 0-0
This makes more sense as it allows Black to punch the pining Bishop
back with 13...a6 (and perhaps ... b7-b5). Black has no problems on the
horizon.

Since many players don't like fixed pawn structures like the one
arising out of 5 exO, greater attention should be paid to:

(b) 5 gxfJ
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 NfJ Bg4 4 Qa4 BxfJ)

5 gxfJ
 CHAPTER TWO 25

This makes a bit more sense since the d4 pawn can be protected by
e2-e3 and, if White has any hopes of Queenside castling, control of the g­
file will be a natural asset.
5 ... e6
Once again the solid policy stands out. Black will render g-file
pressure insignificant by playing ... g7-g6 and ... Bg7.
6 Nc3

6 ... Nge7
The fianchetto makes more sense than the pin here, although after
6...Bb4 7 e3 Nge7 8 Bd2 0-0 Black is doing OK, e.g. 9 Qc2 Ng6 10 f4 Nh4
1 1 0-0-0 Ne7 12 Kb 1 c6 (Kir. Georgiev-Morozevich, Tilburg 1993).
7 e3
Here 7 Bf4 might be answered by 7. ..dxc4 8 e3 (or 8 Nb5) 8...Nd5.
7 ... Qd7
Black could also continue with the immediate 7...g6.
8 Bdl g6
9 Be2
Here 9 0-0-0 is riskier than in section (a) because White will lack
squares for his Rooks, while Black can favorably open the position with
... dxc4 and . .. a7-a6/... b7-b5. Note that on 9 h4 (or later on 10 h4 , 11 h4 ,
etc.) Black will keep the Kingside closed with 9...h5.
9 •.. Bg7
White's choice of middlegame plan is coming up soon, but there does
not appear to be a way to obtain an advantage. John Watson suggests 10 b4
0-0 1 1 b5 Nd8 and now 12 c5 is met by 12...e5!
26 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

While should try to contain that center break with 12 f4, but then
12 c.5 (13 bxc6 Ndxc6 14 c5 b6 or 13 dxc4 d4) gives Black excellent
...

chances.
 27
CHAPTER THREE
The Modern 3 NfJ M ain Line
1 d4 d5
2 c:4 N c:6
3 NfJ Bg4
4 c:xd5!

This is now recognized as by far the most promising choice White

has - although it may still not bring him a significant advantage.
-

4 ... BxfJ
Not much choice here: 4...Qxd5? 5 Nc3 favors White rather
obviously.

The capture onj3 poses the same choice that we saw in Chapter Two.
This time, however, he has three alternatives. We'll examine (a) 5 exf3?!
and (b) 5 gxf3 in this chapter. For 5 dxc6 see the next chapter.

(a)
5 exfJ?!
This has even less to recommend it than in the comparable 4 Qa4
position from the last chapter. Black's Queen will have a commanding
central post and constant pressure on the isolated d-pawn now.
5 ... Qxd5
The d4-pawn is under immediate attack and the 6 Nc3 Qxd4 7 Be3
gambit is handled simply by 7. .Qb4 (or
. 7 Qb3 Qb4 or 7 Qe2 0-0-0 8 Be3
Qb4). Moreover, there is no convenient way of defending it except:
6 Be3
28 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

As usual in the Tchigorin's Defense, White is one move away from

obtaining a fine game with 7 Nc3. But White is usually one away from an
advantage in most semi-open games.
6 ... e6!
I t makes little sense to dissolve White's only weakness with 6.. e5.
.

7 Nc3
And here the pinning 7. Bb4 is also playable, but Black has better
..

prospects with the simple...

7 ... Qd7
Black threatens to put the d-pawn to death with 8. 0-0-0 and/or
..

.. . Nge7-j5.
John Watson pointed out how barren White's chances are here: 8 d5
exd5 9 Nxd5 0-0-0 followed by ... Nf6, or 8 Qb3 Bb4 with excellent chances
for Black.
 CHAPTER THREE 29

(b) 5 gxf3
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 NO Bg4 4 cxd5 Bxf3)
5 gxf3
With the Tchigorin's Defense revival of the 1980's this recapture has
been the favored response of such players as Gary Kasparov, Anatoly
Karpov -- and a whole lot of lesser lights.
5 ... Qxd5
Clearly the only good move.
6e3
And this i s clearly the best defense of the attacked d-pawn. After 6
Be3?! 0-0-0 7 Nc3 Qa5 (8 d5 N/6) the d-pawn is doomed.

Black's biggest choice of the opening is coming up here: does he play

the open game or the semi-closed one?
6 ... e6!?
Closed i t is. With 6.. e 5 7 Nc3 B b4 8 Bd2 Bxc3 9 bxc3 w e get a
.

somewhat different battle in which Black eventually exchanges his e-pawn

for the c-pawn. Lately, this line has suffered a number of serious defeats but
that may be the fault of the players playing Black. For a good illustration of
his options see Illustrative Game 2.
7 NcJ Qh5
With no real pressure on the center here, there is little point to
7...Bb4, which is only a temporary expedient and leads to an eventual
...Bxc3. On h5 the Queen watches f3 and the other weakened Kingside
squares.
8 f4! ?
30 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

White may do better with a Bishop move. For example, 8 Be2

prepares 9 f4 and 10 Bfl.

This is probably best, so that after 8...0-0-0 9 f4 Qh4 10 Bfl Black

can reorganize his pieces with IO... Nce7!? 11 Qa4 Kb8 and ... c6-c6 if
allowed. Then 12 Qa5 can be met by 12 ...Nc8 or just 12 ...a6 l 3 h3 Nf6 14
b4 Ned5 15 Nxd5 Nxd5 (Cech-Landenbergue, Prague 1989).
8 ... Qxdlch
The White King will be quite safe behind his shell of pawns in the
ending, and he has two half-open files for his Rooks.

But Black can obtain sufficient counterp1ay by shifting a Knight to f5

(and perhaps h4) while preparing for ...g7-g5 with ...h7-h6.
9 Kxdl

9 ... 0-0-0
Now lO Ke2 has been tried a few times with the idea of avoiding d­
file pins and of putting the /1-Bishop on g2. Black gets plenty of
counterchances, however, with 10... Nf6 11 Bg2 Ne7! and ...Nf5.

For example, 12 Bd2 Nf5 13 Rhc1 Kb8 14 Na4 h6 and . ..g5

(Giigoric-Sahovic, Bled/Portoroz 1979). Similarly, 12 Ne4 Nxe4 13 Bxe4
h6 14 Bd2 g5 15 fxg5 hxg5 16 Rag1 f5 (Brunner-Short. Solingen 1986).
10 Bg2
Another method of development is lO Bd2 Nf6 11 Bb5, which pushes
Black in the direction he wants to go: 11...Ne7 12 Ke2 Nf5 (Karpov-Miles,
Nugojno 1986).
10 ... Nce7!
 CHAPTER THREE 31

This is another form of the regrouping plan mentioned above. It also

frees the c-pawn to advance, which explains White's next move. He cannot
allow l l ...c5.
1 1 Kel
Not 11 Kc2 because White wants to use a Rook on the c-file.
1 1 ... Nf6
12 Bdl

12 ... h6
The .. . g7-g5 break is essential to Black, who suffers from a spatial
inferiority that would ultimately prove fatal if he doesn't get scope for his
Rooks.

Also here 12 ... Nf5 13 Rhc1 Kb8 14 Na4 and only then 14 ...h6 has
been played. This proved to be a good plan in Panchenko-Khudyakov, Kiev
1987 (15 Nc5 Bxc5 16 dxc5 Rhg8 17 c6 b6 18 a4 a6 19 Rc4 g5 and Black
eventually won).
1 3 Nb5
This idea is designed to bring the Knight into play at e5 via a3-c4.
After 13 Rhc1 Kb8 we would transpose into the previous note if White
continued 14 Na4 h6.
13 ... Kb8
14 Na3 g5!
We are following Bareev-Kamsky, Tilburg 1991 which saw Black
achieve full equality after 15 fxg5 hxg5 16 RagI Nf5. See Illustrative Game
3.
32 THE TCH I GORI N DEFENSE

I llustrative Games
(2) Svirin-Matichenkov, Smolensk 1985
1 NfJ Nc6
One of many ways of reaching the Tchigorin's. Now on 2 e4 Black
can continue 2 ... e5 and defend a Ruy Lopez.
2 d4 d5
3 c4 Bg4
4 cxd5 BxfJ
5 gxfJ Qxd5
6 e3 e5
7 Nc3 Bb4
Absolutely wrong is the surrender of d5 with 7 ...Qa5? 8 d5! and
White has the edge.
8 Bd2 BxcJ
9 bxc3 Qd6

This move has replaced the immediate 9...exd4 as the main line of
the 6 ... e5 variation. An example of the older line is 9 ... exd4 10 cxd4 Nge7
11 Bg2!? 0-0-0 (here EC02 says "unclear", but Black is really better
because of his quickly developing Kingside attack) 12 0-0 Rd6 13 f4 Rg6 14
f3 Rd8 15 Rf2 Rdd6 16 Qb3 Qh5 17 Rei Rh6 and Black won in 23 moves,
S. Williams-R Dicks, correspondence 1994.
Now, after 9...Qd6, 10 Qb3 0-0-0 11 0-0-0 Nge7 12 Kb l Qf6
followed by doubling Rooks on the d-file will put some Black pressure on
the White center (13 Rgl Rd6 14 Kal Rhd8 15 Bel exd4 16 cxd4 Kb8 and
Black is aiming for ... c7-c5 as in Rian-Van Riemsdijk, Thessaloniki 1989).
10 Rb1 b6
 CHAPTER THREE 33

Despite the success of Black in the last note, many players don't like
castling into a half-open b-file controlled by the enemy. For this reason,
10 . .b6 may be preferable to 10 ...0-0-0.
.

1 1 Rg1
Or the Kasparovian 11 f4!? exf4 12 e4 Nge7 13 Qf3 0-0 14 Bxf4 Qa3
with confused chances.
1 1 ... g6
12 Qa4 Ne7
13 h4 Rd8! ?
The general rule that Black should keep the Kingside closed suggests
1J ...h5 was better.
14 h5 0-0
Nevertheless, Black has few King-security fears because of the
inability of White to get his Queenside pieces to the other wing.
15 Rg4!? exd4
16 cxd4 Ne5!
The point of Black's 13th move (17 dxe5?? Qxd2 mate). Now 17 Rf4
g5 18 Bb4 cS.
17 Rg3 Nf5
18 f4! Nc6
19 Rh3 Rfe8
With obvious threats to capture on d4 -- whether or not there is a pin
on the e-file. White's forces, split into the two wings, simply don't
coordinate for proper defense.
20 Kd1 Qf6
21 Kcl Nce7
22 hxg6 hxg6
Black disdained a sacrifice on d4 in favor of preparing 23 ... c5.
23 Rb2 Nd5
24 Bg2 Nxf4!
But this looks simpler. He will now double Rooks on the open d-file.
25 exf4 Nxd4
26 Bfl Re6
(See next diagram)
34 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

27 Rd3 c5
28 Be3 Red6
29 Qxa7?
A bad move in a difficult position. Now 29 ...c4 30 Rdd2 c3 or 30 Rbl
Nb3ch! would win faster.
29 ... c4
30 Rxd4 Rxd4
31 Bel
Or 31 Bxd4 Qxd4 32 Be2 Qc3ch 33 Rc2 Qal mate and 33 Kbl
Qelch.
31 ... R4d6
32 Rxb6 Qc3ch
White resigns

(3) Bareev-Kamsky, Tilburg 1991

1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
3 NfJ Bg4
4 cxd5 BxfJ
5 gxfJ Qxd5
6 e3
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER THREE 35

6 ••• e6
It isn't seen much, but 6... Nf6 is an alternative to moves by the e-
pawn.

After 6...Nf6 7 Nc3 Qh5 we get a position much like the main line
after 8 f4 Qxd1ch 9 Kxd1 and now 9...e6, transposing. This occurred in
Khenkin-Frog, Moscow 1985, and led to a draw after 10 Bg2 h6 11 Ne4
Nxe4 12 Bxe4 f5!? 13 Bxc6ch bxc6 14 Rg1 g5!.
7 Nc3 Qh5
8 f4 Qxd1ch
The old plan of 8...Qh4 and a later . . g7-g5 has
. never been refuted,
but the text is more solid. There is still a lot of room for experimentation in
this opening.
9 Kxdl 0-0-0
10 Bg2 Nce7
1 1 Ke2 Nf6
12 Bd2 h6
13 Nb5
This is the beginning of a maneuver to get the Knight to e5, where it
attacks the hard-to-defend j7 pawn.

The older plan of Na4-c5 looks better, but Black can also meet 13
Racl Kb8 14 Na4 with 14 . b6 here.
. .

13 ... Kb8
14 Na3 g5!
(See next diagram)
36 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

This is Black's best bet for counterplay. Since White cannot afford to
allow 15 ... gxf4 he must open half of the h-file for his opponent.
15 fxg5 hxg5
16 Rag1
Thanks to his 14th move, Black is equal after 16 Nc4 Nf5 17 Ne5
Rh7!. Note that White's hl-Rook has become a prisoner to the defense of
h2.
16 ... Nf5
17 Nc4 Be7
18 BfJ Nd5
Now, of course, 19 e4? allows 19...Nxd4ch.
19 Ne5 Rh7
20 Be4
It is hard to come up with a good plan for White here. His only
credible target is on g5 but he needs a minor piece to attack it.
20 ... (6
21 NO Rh6
22 Bc2 Nh4
Anticipating 23 e4 and trying to eliminate a defender of h2.
23 a3 Bd6
24 Ne1 !
White ends up with the worst of it after 24 Nxh4 Rxh4 2 5 h3 Rdh8.
24 ..• c6
25 Bb3 Ng6
26 Nd3!
 CHAPTER THREE 37

Now 26 ... Rxh2 27 Rxh2 Bxh2 gives White an initiative from 28 Rhl
and 29 e4.
26 ... Rdh8
27 e4 Ndf4ch
Cautious but exact play by Black, who avoids 27... Nc7 28 e5! fxe5 29
Bxg5 which can only bring trouble.
28 Bxf4 Nxf4ch
29 Nxf4 Draw
 . CHAPTER FOUR
Following in Pillsbury's Path (5 dxc6)
1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
3 NO Bg4
4 cxd5! BxfJ
5 dxc6
With this move, White says he is willing to give Black an excellent
Bishop diagonal in return for a nice pawn center. Yet for many years the
move 5 dxc6 was considered a blunder. In the 1950's, Vasily Panov -- he of
the Panov Attack -- wrote "After this move Black quickly has the
advantage."
5 ... Bxc6

6 Nc3
White cannot be stopped from building his center (6... Nf6 can be met
by 7 Bg5 followed by Qd3 or f2-j3 and e2-e4). Black should therefore make
plans for attacking the center once it is fully established.
6 ••• e6
Black will be able to attack d4 with minor pieces (... Bb4-a5!-b6) and
heavy pieces along the d-file. He can also attack e4 with his f-pawn, but that
is quite risky.
7 e4
Without this move, White will find it difficult to move his Bishop off
of fl. For example, 7 Bf4 Nf6 8 e3 Bb4 9 Qb3 Nd5 10 Bg3 0-0 and in
Teichmann-Tchigorin, Cambridge Springs 1904, Black won in crushing
style after 11 Bd3 Qg5 12 Qc2 fS 13 Be5 Rf7 14 0-0-0 Bxc3 15 bxc3 b5 and
... Qe7-a3ch.
 CHAPTER FOUR 39

Nevertheless, 7 e4 received a question mark, e.g. in a 1951 Soviet

biography of Tchigorin. There 7 e3 was recommended with 7 ...a6 ("!")
being the follow-up ("to prevent
8 Bb5"). However, 7...Nf6 looks fine (8
Bb5 Bxb5 9 Nxb5 c6 10 Nc3 e5! and if 11 dxe5, then 11... Qxd1ch and
12... Ng4).
7 ... Bb4
Again, a pin a Ia Tchigorin. After 7...Nf6 8 f3 Black has only tricks
to keep him from disadvantage (8... Bb4 9 Be3 0 -0 10 Bc4 ReB 11 0 -0? Nd5!
worked in Pinchuk-Kishinev, USSR 1974, because 12 exd5 exd5 attacks
two pieces favorably.
8 fJ
Clearly not 8 Bd3?? Qxd4 or the clumsy 8 Qd3 Nf6.
8 ••. Qh4ch
Tchigorin's Defense gained a place in the opening books thanks to a
defeat by the great man himself of Harry Pillsbury, at St. Petersburg 1895-6.
That game saw 8...f5 9 e5? Ne7 and Black took control of the light-colored
squares.

Later, a major strengthening of White's play appeared in the form of

9 Bc4! fxe4 10 0-0, e.g. 10...exf3 11 Bxe6 with many threats.

Probably too many. The text leads to a slight weakening of the White
Kingside and, more important, the addition of a Rook at d8 to pressure on
d4.
9 g3

9 ••• Qf6
40 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

Now, for example, 10 Bc4 is met by 10...0-0-0 1 1 Be3 Bc5! with

powerful pressure on the center (12 e5 Qg6 13 Bd3 Qh5 14 dxc5 Bxj3,
according to Watson).
10 Be3 0-0-0
Black can use the pin on the d-file to add .. . e6-e5 and ... Bc5 to the
attack on d4 (11 Bg2? Bc5 12 Ne2 e5 and Black has the edge). White
cannot slip his Queen easily out of the pin because the f-pawn is loose after,
say, 1 1 Qc2??.

Better, of course, is 1 1 Qe2 after which both l l...h5 and l l...Qg6

(preparing .. ,P-j5) look good. For example, l l ...Qg6 12 Bh3 Kb8 13 Qc4
Bxc3ch 14 bxc3 Ne7 15 Qc5 Rhe8 with a nice game for Black (Bayer­
Baumhas, Bundesliga 1989).
1 1 Bd3
This appears to be the best way of handling the pin on the d-pawn.
1 1 ... Ba5!
And this is just as certainly the best way of increasing pressure on d4.
The Bishop goes to b6 next move.
12 0-0

12 ... Bb6
Now, for example, 13 Ne2 allows 13 ...e5 strongly. White's best is 13
e5 Qe7 14 Be4, but Black breaks his bind on the center with 14... Bxe4 and
15...f6! regardless of how White retakes. Black then stands quite well, e.g.
15 fxe4 f6 16 exf6 Nxf6 17 e5 Nd5.
 41
CHAPTER FIVE
3 N fJ Odds and Ends
White has a few other possibilities at move four that, while neither a
new main line or an old one, should still be examined in detail by anyone
who wants to adopt Tchigorin's Defense. Generally, Black obtains sufficient
counterplay to equalize if he takes the opportunity to pressure the enemy
center or weaken his Kingside (... Bb4, ... dxc4, ... Bxj3).
1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
3 N fJ Bg4

Here we'll consider (a) 4 Nc3, (b) 4 Nbd2, and (c) 4 e3.

(a)
4 Nc3
Another oddity is 4 Bf4, which takes aim at c7. Black might consider
the ambitious 4 ...Bxf3 and 5 ... e5 ! ?, e.g. 5 gxfJ e5 6 dxe5 d4 with a good
version of the Albin Counter Gambit, or 6 cxd5 Qxd5 7 dxe5 Bb4ch 8 Nc3
Qc4.
But the simple 4 . . .e6 has its appeals, and it worked out well for Black
in van Wely-Morozevich, Tilburg 1 993, after 5 e3 Bb4ch 6 Nc3 Nge7 7 Rei
0-0 8 Bd3 Ng6 9 h3 Bh5 10 Bh2 Nh4!?. See Illustrative Game 4.
4 •.. BxfJ!?
Although not as good as after 4 Qa4, this capture retains its basic
logic here. Also playable is 4 . . . e6, but then 5 Qa4 is annoying (not5 e3 Nf6
6 Qa4 because of 6 ... Nd7 with equality, e.g. 7 c5 a6 8 Be2 Be7 9 h3 Bjj! -­

Belov-Pavlov, Bulgaria 1989). Note, by the way, that after 4 . . . e6 White

probably has nothing better than 5 e3, transposing into note (c) below.
41 THE TCH I GORI N DEFENSE

5 exfJ
For once, this recapture seems better than 5 gx:f3, which can be met
once again by Bronstein's fianchetto plan (5 gxf3 e6 6 e3 Nge7 and 7... g6).
5 ... e6
6 cxd5
Putting pressure on d5- and b7- pawns, and the a4-e8 diagonal
appears to be White's best chance for an edge. After 6 Be2 Nge7 7 0-0 g6
Black will continue with 8 . . .Bg7 and . . . dxc4, threatening the d-pawn.
6 ... exd5
Now 7 Qb3 Nxd4 8 Qxb7 Rb8 and 9 . . . Nc2ch may be playable for
Black, and in fact it may be winning, but 7. . . Bb4 is a lot safer and simpler
(8 a3 Qe7ch 9 Be3 Bxc3ch 10 Qxc3 0-0-0 - and not 9 Be2 ? Nxd4! 10
Qa4ch b5l).
7 Bb5
Adding pressure with 7 Qa4 can be delayed a move, since 7 Qa4
allows Black to avert problems on the diagonal with 7 ... a6 (although
7... Nge7 is perfectly good, as in Chapter Two).
7 ... Bb4
The cold-blooded 7 . . . a6 8 Bxc6ch bxc6 may be another way of
equalizing, but it looks ugly. Yet after 9 0-0 Bd6 lO Qa4 Qd7 11 Reich Ne7
Black had good chances as in Illustrative Game 5.
8 Qa4
Mikhail Gurevich claims a small edge for White with 8 Bxc6ch bxc6
9 0-0.
8 ... Qd7!
Now, however, Black avoids the worst of the Bxc6 problems because
he can meet 9 Bxc6 with 9 . . . Bxc3ch 10 bxc3 Qxc6 1 1 Qxc6 bxc6 and, if
anything, Black is a bit better. Note also that 9 Qxb4 Nxb4 10 Bxd7ch Kxd7
leads to a drawish, Bishop-of-opposite color ending.
9 0-0
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER FIVE 43

�
. u.
"
�
-
a
9
... Nge7
Black should be equal after this unless there are problems from .
..

10 Bg5
White can meet 10...0-0 with 1 1 Bxe7.
10 ... f6
1 1 Bd2 Bd6
Thus far we are following M. Gurevich-Miles, Groningen 1 992,
which turned in White's advantage in the endgame after 12 Rfel 0-0 13 Bd3
a6 1 4 Ne2 Ne5? 1 5 Qxd7 Nxd7 16 Bf4!.
He has better chances staying the sharp middlegame of 14 ... f5,
preparing to push the pawn further. Gurevich notes that if White stops that
with 15 f4, then 15 ...Ne5! is a good ending.

(b) 4 Nbd2
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 NO Bg4)

4 Nbd2
(See next diagram)
44 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

Not much new has arisen in this line in the past 20 years: it's still too
unambitious to offer White anything.
4 ... dxc4
Exposing d4 to attack is the most natural way for Black to continue,
but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with 4. .. e6 either.
5e3
It would seem that 5 Qa4, threatening 6 Ne5, in a better bid for
advantage. But 5 ... Bxf3 6 Nxf3 Qd5 ! centralizes the Queen powerfully and
threatens 7 ... b5. Then 7 e4!? Qxe4ch 8 Be3 e6 (Pieper-Emden-Andruet,
Bundesliga 1987) leaves White searching for compensation.
5 ... e5
Once again, this move takes advantage of the pin on the j3-Knight.
Now 6 dxe5 Nxe5 7 Qa4ch is handled by 7. . . Bd7 8 Qc2 Nd3ch and a later
. . . Bc6. Black here returns the pawn for excellent piece play.
6 Bxc4
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER FI VE 45

6 .. . exd4
7 exd4 Nf6
With the White Knight misplaced on d2, he has no claim on
advantage. Black castles in two moves and should have good middlegarne
prospects.

(c) 4 e3
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nf3 B &4)

4 e3
The only good thing about this move is that if Black responds
aggressively with 4 e5, experience has shown that White obtains the upper
...

hand with 5 Qb3.

4 ... e6
(See next dia&ram)
46 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

Now we have a Queen's Gambit Declined with three extra features:

(1) White's cl-Bishop is locked in by his e-pawn, (2) Black's g4-Bishop is
not, and (3) Black's c6-Knight is misplaced. On balance, this situation
should not give White much to cheer about.
5 Nc3
Other moves lack bite:
(a) 5 h3 Bf5 ! and Black gets the best diagonal on the board for a
light-squared Bishop. See Illustrative Game 6.

(b) 5 Qb3 Bxf3 6 gxf3 Bb4ch and now 7 Nc3 transposes into our
main line below, while 7 Bd2 can be met by 7 ...a5, since 8 Bxb4 axb4 gives
Black a terrific pawn structure, as does 8 a3 a4.
5 ... Bb4
The Tchigorin prescription. Against quiet play, Black gains sufficient
play on light squares to equalize, e.g. 6 a3 Bxc3ch 7 bxc3 Nf6 8 Be2 0-0 9
0-0 Ne4 10 Qc2 Nd6! (Spiridonov-Mechkaraov, Bulgaria 1952).
6 Qb3
Nothing else challenges Black. For instance, 6 Bd2 Nge7 7 Bd3 Bf5 !
and Black is ready to trade both his Bishops and leave White with a bad
Bishop versus good Knight middlegame.
The immediate 6 Bd3 has another problem, and that is 6 ... e5 !,
threatening 7 ... e4.
6 ... BxfJ
7 gxfJ Nge7
8 Bd2
There is no better way of developing this Bishop.
8 ..
. 0-0
 CHAPTER FIVE 47

9 f4
Other ideas have proven ineffective:
(a) 9 Bd3 Rb8 10 cxd5 Nxd5 1 1 0-0-0 and now Black's ninth move is
explained by 1 l ...Bxc3 12 Bxc3 b5! with good play. See Illustrative Game
7.

(b) 9 a3 forces an exchange Black is happy about - 9 ... Bxc3 10 Bxc3

Rb8 1 1 Rg1 Ng6 12 0-0-0 Qd6 13 Rg3 dxc4 14 Qxc4 b5 and 15 ... b4 was
more than enough in Burn-Tchigorin, Berlin 1897.

(c) 9 Rg1 telegraphs White's intention to castle Queenside. After

9 ...dxc4 10 Qxc4 Rb8 1 1 f4 b5 Black is OK, as shown by another Tchigorin
game (12 Qe2 Ng6 13 Rg5 a6 14 Qg4 Be7 vs. Burn, Paris 1900).
--

9 ... Rb8
Black's plan is to exchange on c4 and ram the b-pawn up the board.
10 0-0-0 dxc4!
1 1 Bxc4 b5
(See next diagram)
48 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

Now 12 Bd3 Bxc3 13 Qxc3 (Pillsbwy-Tchigorin, St. Petersburg

1 985-96) 1 3 . . . Qd5 looks promising for Black. It's remarkable how a century
later White's doesn't seem to be able to improve on certain lines.

Illustrative Games
(4) van Wely-Morozevich, Tilburg 1993
1 d4 d5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bf4 Bg4
4 c4
An odd order of moves, since White usually plays c2-c4 early on if he
intends to do it at all.
4 ... e6
5 e3 Bb4ch
6 Nc3
If 6 Nbd2, Black would be tempted to develop his Knight on f6 and
later occupy e4.
6 •.• Nge7
7 Rcl 0-0
8 Bd3 Ng6
Now 9 Bh2 allows Black to break in the center with 9 . . .e5.
9 h3! Bh5
Not willing to get drawn into 9 . . . Nxf4 10 Bxh7ch Kxh7 I I hxg4ch.
White's next move threatens to trap the Bishop with 1 1 g4.
10 Bh2 Nh4!
 CHAPTER FI VE 49

1 1 g4 NxfJch
12 QxfJ Bg6
13 Bxg6 hxg6
On some Queenside openings, notably in the Slav Defense, Black can
profitably retake with the f-pawn so as to (a) minimize White's attacking
chances on the h-file and (b) create his own counterplay on the f-file. But
here 13 . . . fxg6 would seriously undermine e6 and therefore d5.
14 cxd5 exd5
15 Kfl !
Castling Kingside was questionable, particularly if White wants to
open the h-file for his Rooks. His King will be quite safe on g2. Note that he
now threatens both 16 Nxd5 and h4-h5xg6.
15 ... Ne7
16 h4 Bxc3
17 Rxc3 c6
This solves Black's problems in the center. If he doesn't get mated
he'll be just fine.
18 h5 g5
1 9 h6
Since l 9. . . g6?? is impossible (20 Qf6) Black must consent to the
opening of the h-file.
19 ..•
f6!
20 hxg7 Kxg7
(See next diagram)
 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

Black can now challenge the h-file with ... Rh8, exploiting the fact
that White's Rooks are not connected.
21 Bg3 Qd7
22 Kg2 Rh8
23 R3cl Rxhl
A curious decision. Black decides to use his remaining Rook in the
center and give White the only fully open file.
24 Rxhl Qe6
25 Qe2?! ReS
26 fJ Ng6
27 Ret
White appears to have reorganized his pieces and pawns well, but
Black's next move reveals that he can still claim the initiative.
27 ... fS
28 gxf5 QxfS
29 e4! Qd7
30 Qe3
White will emerge now with the "perfect center", pawns at d4 and e4.
If theycan advance -- without being blockaded -- they may turn the late
middle game in favor of the Bishop over the Knight.
30 .. . dxe4
31 Kgl Qf5
32 fxe4 Qg4
33 d5
 CHAPTER FI VE 51

Now 3 3 . . . Nh4 o r 33 . . . Nf4 might have been interesting, but the game
sped towards a time-trouble decision with:
33 ... cxd5
34 Qc3ch Kh6
35 exd5 ReS!
36 Qe3 Rd8
White cannot protect both the pawn and Bishop (37 Rdl ?? Qxdlch;
37 Qd2? Qxg3ch).
37 d6!? Rxd6
38 Qfl Nf4
39 Kfl Rf6
40 Re4 Qdl ch
White resigns
In view of 4 1 Rei Qd3ch 42 Kgl Nh3ch.

(5) Vukic-Gavric, Pale 1990

1 Nf3 Nc6
2 d4 d5
3 c4 Bg4
4 Nc3 Bxf3
5 exf3 e6
6 cxd5 exd5
7 Bb5 a6!?
Black, i n effect, declares that White's last move is dubious.
8 Bxc6ch bxc6
52 THE TCH I GORI N DEFENSE

9 0-0 Bd6
10 Qa4 Qd7
1 1 Retch Ne7

Who has the greater weaknesses? Black believes that d4 will be at

least as weak as c6 and more easily attacked.
--

12 b3 0-0
13 Ba3
A good plan: whatever attacking chances Black had with the Bishop
-- and whatever bad-Bishop liability White had - is about to be erased.
13 ... aS
14 Bxd6 Qxd6!
15 Racl Rfb8
Suddenly Black, who has trapped the enemy Queen on a4, appears to
stand quite well on the Queenside. He now begins an original attack on the
other wing.
16 a3 hS
1 7 g3 Qf6
18 h4?
The f-pawn can't be taken (18. . . Qxj3 19 Rxel) but 18 Kg2 was still
the right move here.
18 ... g6
19 Kg2 Kg7
20 f4 NfS
21 ReS Qd6
22 Ndl Ra6!
 CHAPTER FIVE 53

With targets at b3 and d4, White's defenses are being pushed to the
limit.
23 Nb2 Rab6
24 Rc3 Rb5
25 Nd3 Ne7!
The threat of . . . Nc8-b6 now forces White's hand.
26 b4 u:b4
27 Nxb4 R8b6
28 Re2 NfS
29 Nd3 Rb1
30 Re8?
A passive defense would not have fared much better (30 Rcl Nxh4ch
31 gxh4 Qg4ch).
30 ... Qd7
31 Qa8

31 ... Nxh4ch!
Now 32 gxh4 Qg4ch 33 Kh2 Qxh4ch 34 Kg2 Qh l ch and mate next.
32 Kh2 Rh1ch!
33 White Resigns
It's mate after 33 Kxhl Qh3ch. Cute.

(6) Hugue-Rogers, Loyds Bank (London) 1988

1 d4 dS
2 c4 Nc6
 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

3 NO Bg4
4 e3 e6
5 h3 Bf5
6 a3
This is played to stop .. Nb4-c2.
.

6 ... Nf6
7 Nc3 a6
And this is a handy move which enables Black to play . . . Bd6 without
Nb5 harassment. It's odd how often these "beginner's moves" appear in
master games. White now decides to punish Black for failing to play
another one, . . h 7-h6.
.

8 Nh4 Bg6
9 Nxg6 hxg6

A good alternative plan in such positions is h3-h4 and g2-g3

followed by Bd3 and the promotion ofh4-h5 at the right moment.
10 Bel dxc4
1 1 Bxc4 Bd6
12 b4 b5!?
The normal procedure is such positions is 12. . .e5 and if 13 d5, then
1 3 ... Ne7.
13 Bb3 Ne7
14 e4 e5
15 f4
This is tactically attractive (15... exf4 16 e5) but fails for a simple
reason that White seems oblivious to.
15 ... exd4
 CHAPTER FI VE 55

16 Qxd4 Nc6
17 Qfl?
The Queen should have gone to e3 or d3.
17 ... Nxb4!
18 axb4 Bxb4
With threats of 19.. Bxc3ch and 19 ...Nxe4 facing him, White is
.

forced.
19 Bd2 Qd3!
20 QfJ
Black would have castled against 20 Rei as well.
20 ... 0-0-0

Now 2 1 Qxd3 Rxd3 22 Rei Rhd8 would have been ominous. But it
would have been better than. . .
21 0-0-0?? BaJ mate

(7) Pillsbury-Tchigorin, London 1899

1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
3 NfJ Bg4
4 Nc3 e6
5 e3 Bb4
(See next diagram)
56 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

6 Qb3 BxfJ
White was threatening 7 Ne5 Nxe5 8 Qxb4, winning a pawn.
7 gxfJ Nge7
8 Bd2 0-0
9 Bd3
Two years earlier, at Berlin, Tchigorin had won in 27 moves against
Amos Burn after 9 a3 Bxc3 10 Bxc3 Rb8 1 1 Rhg1 Ng6 12 0-0-0 Qd6 1 3
Rg3 dxc4! and . . b7-b5-b4. Afterwards 9 0-0-0 was recommended as
.

strongest -- but evidently the American champion did not agree.

9 ... Rb8!
10 cxdS
White anticipates the by-now-familiar Tchigorin freeing plan of
. . . dxc4 and . . b7-b5.
.

10 ... Nxd5
1 1 0-0-0 Bxc3
12 BxcJ bS!
Black must strike quickly on the Queenside or be overwhelmed. After
1 3 e4 Nf4 14 d5 he is in trouble. But Black can insert: 1 3 ...b4 ! and if 1 4
Bd2, then 1 4 . . . Nxd4 15 Qc4 Nb6 16 Qxb4 c5 ! with advantage.
13 Bd2 Rb6
14 Rdg1 aS
15 (4
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER FIVE 57

White feels he must stop 1 5 . . . e5 and he is probably right.

15 ... fS
16 Rg3 a4
17 Qd1 Ncb4
Now 1 8 Bel Rc6ch is unacceptable.
18 Bxb4 Nxb4
19 Rhg1 Rf7
20 Bb1 a3!
21 bxa3 Nd5
22 Qb3 b4
Now Black meets 23 a4 with 23 . . . c5 24 dxc5 Rc6 with a strong
attack.
23 axb4 Rxb4
24 Qd3 c5
25 dxc5 Qa5
26 Bel Qxa2
27 fJ
This last move clears the second rank for White's Rook, which can
play a defensive role.
27 ••• Rc4
28 R1g2 Rd7
29 c6!
The best try in a lost position.
29 ... Rxc6
30 Qd4 Qa3ch
31 Kd2
58 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

31 ... Rxclch!
32 Kxcl Nxe3ch
33 Kbl Rxd4
34 Rxg7ch Kf8
35 Rg8ch Ke7
White resigns
 CHAPTER SIX
White Takes the 3 Nc3 Risk

1 d4 dS
2 c4 Nc6
3 Nc3

We are gradually moving into more aggressive responses by White :

as 3 NO is more challenging than 3 e3, so does 3 Nc3 have more bite than 3
NO. By bringing out his own Queen Knight, White is exploiting Black's
inability to defend the attacked d-pawn with ... c7-c6.
3 ... dxc4
Of course, if Black defends d5 with 3...e6? he will have no
compensation for blocking in his forces with . Nc6.
.. There is, on the other
hand, something to be said about 3... Nf6. The text, which unveils an attack
on d4, is more in keeping with the spirit of the Tchigorin.
4 e3
This quiet protection of the d-pawn has more point than in
comparable 3 NO positions. White will continue with 5 Bxc4 while Black
tries to decide what to do with his c8-Bishop (4... Nf6 5 Bxc4 Bg4 6 Qb3).
4 ••• eS
Thematic. Now 5 dxe5? Qxd lch and 6... Nxe5 gives Black an
excellent endgame.
5 dS
If White has to protect his center with 5 NO exd4 6 exd4 he can't
claim an edge. Play might then continue 6...Bg4 7 Bxc4 Nf6 8 0-0 (8 Qb3
Qe7ch and 9.. . 0-0-0) 8...Be7 and 9.. 0-0.
.

5 ... Nce7
60 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

There is a tradition in the Tchigorin's Defense, dating back to St.

Petersburg in the 1880's, of Black shifting the Knight to a5 when it is
attacked by a White d-pawn.

In some of the analyses the Knight winds up getting trapped on the

rim, but gaining a few pawns as compensation. Whether it is enough
compensation is a subject of debate for decades (e.g. 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 d5 Na5 5
Qa4ch c6 6 b4 b5 7 Qxa5 Qxa5 8 bxa5 b4). We recommend you try to
avoid . . . Na5 in favor of more fluid maneuvers, such as . . . Ne7-g6.

6 Bxc4 Nf6
Black's Knights have a role to play on the K.ingside, particularly on
f4, via g6.
7 Nf3
What is best here? After 7 Bb5ch, White tries to exchange off his bad
Bishop (7. . . Bd7 8 Qb3! Rb8 9 e4). Yusupov-Henly, Lone Pine 1 98 1 (with
6... Ng6 in place of 6... Nf6) went 9 . . . a6 10 Bxd7ch Qxd7 1 1 Nf3 Bc5 1 2 0-0
Nf6 13 Qc4 Bd6 14 Ne2 Nh5 ! with slightly better chances for White.
7 ... Ng6
8 Qc2
Now on 8 Bb5ch Bd7 9 Qb3 Black can offer the b-pawn with 9 . . . Bd6,
e.g. 10 Bxd7ch Qxd7 1 1 Qxb7 0-0 12 0-0 e4 and . . . Qg4 with attacking
chances, or 10 e4 0-0 1 1 Bxd7 Qxd7 12 0-0 b6 (Loftsson-Gibbons, 1 978).
8 ... Bd6
The Bishop is a better piece than it appears on this square. After a
well-timed ... e5-e4 the Bishop obtains one of the best diagonals on the
board.
9 Bd2
 CHAPTER SIX 61

Preparing to castle Queenside, where the King might be safest. After

9 0-0 0-0 10 b3 Re8 Black prepares a Kingside attack with . e5-e4 and
. .

. . Ng4!.. Nh4.
.

9 ... 0-0
10 0-0-0

White can make his King position more secure with Kbl!Rcl, while
taking aim at c7.
10 ... a6
A good multi-purpose move. It safeguards against Nb5xc7 (or Nxd6)
and also prepares the . . b7-b5-b4 thrust that worked so well in Tchigorin's
.

games. For a good example of Black's resources, see Illustrative Game 8.

Illustrative Game
(8) Sitarek-Gibbons,
14th World Correspondence Championship, 1985-90
1 d4 dS
2 c4 Nc6
3 Nc3 d.xc4
4 e3 e5
S dS Nce7
6 Bxc4 Nf6
7 NfJ Ng6
8 Qc2 Bd6
62 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

9 Bd2
Essentially, White wants to avoid e3-e4 - even though the advance
would benefit this Bishop significantly because it surrenders f4 to a Black
--

Knight and gives up White's chances of occupying the white squares (like
e4,j5) with minor pieces.
9 ... 0-0
10 0-0-0 a6
1 1 h4
With the center semi-closed, White meets a perceived wing attack
(... b7-b5-b4) with an advance on the other wing. Black, however, can stop
this easily.
1 1 ... Bg4!
12 Rdg1 ! b5
13 Bb3 Ne7
14 Ng5
A typical maneuver (bringing a Knight to e4) that occurs in many
Queen's Gambit Declined positions.
14 ... h6
15 Nge4 Nxe4
16 Nxe4 e5!
An excellent stroke: White doesn't want to open the c-file, but he can
hardly allow 17 c4.
...

17 dxe6 ReS
18 Qd3 Rxe6eh
19 Bel
 CHAPTER SIX 63

Who is trapping whom? White thinks he is taking advantage of

Black's cheap threats to line up a Queen and Bishop battery against h7.
19 ... BfS
20 g4?
Now 20 . . . Bg6 2 1 h5 or 20. . . Bh7?? 2 1 Nf6ch are avoidable. But
White had missed:
20 •.. Bb4 ! !
21 Kb1
The point is that 2 1 . . .Qxd3 was threatened by Black's last move, and
that 2 1 Qxd8 could be met by 2 l . . .Bxe4 ! .
Then White has a Queen for a Bishop -- but faced with 2 2. . . Rxc2ch
and 22 . . . Rxd8. His best chance would be 22 Qxf8ch KxflJ but then 23 Bxb4
Rxc2ch 24 Kdl Rxb2 looks awful for him.
21 •.. Qxd3
22 Bxd3 Bxe4
23 Bxe4 Bxd2
24 Bxc6 Nxc6
The position has clarified dramatically and the resulting endgame
must favor Black because of the minor pieces.
25 g5?! Kh7
26 h5 hxg5
27 Rxg5 f6
28 Rgg1
White's only chance lies in trading off a pair of Rooks and then
penetrating to the vulnerable Queenside. His Kingside adventurism is a
flop.
64 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

28 ... Rd8
29 Rd1 e4!
30 a3 Ne5
The Knight can be anchored at j3, effectively killing White's Rook
play.
31 b3 NfJ
32 Rh3 Kh6
33 Kc2 Nelch
34 Kb1 Rd3
As Black pointed out in Chess Life, on 35 Ka2, Black responds
35 . . . Bc3 and wins.
35 Rg3 aS!
36 Rg6ch Kxh5
37 Rxg7 b4

It is this b-pawn that ultimately decides the game. Again, 38 axb4

axb4 39 Ka2 loses to 39 . . . Bc3 40 Rxd3 exd3 and 4 l . . .d2.
38 axb4 axb4
39 Rg1 Rxb3ch
40 Ka2 Ra3ch
41 Kb1 Bc3
The real threat is. . .
42 Rgxe1 b3!
White resigns
Mate on al. A very nice game by one of the great exponents of the
Tchigorin's Defense.
 CHAPTER SEVEN
The Modern 3 Nc3 then 4 NfJ Approach

1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
3 Nc3 dxc4
4 NfJ
For years this was considered a somewhat cowardly evasion of the
"main line", 4 d5, and an admission that White's plan of pressuring d5 was
not well thought out.
Today the situation is somewhat altered: 4 Nf3 has become perhaps
even more popular than the advance. One advantage of it is that on 4 d5,
Black's most exact move may be 4 . . .Ne5, but after 4 Nf3 White takes the e5-
square away and threatens to push the Knight to the side of the board with 5
d5.
4 ••• Nf6

Here White has one of the broadest choices he faces in all of the
Tchigorin's Defense. His alternatives include developing moves and pawn
advances : (a) 5 eJ, (b) 5 Qa4, (c) 5 Bf4, (d) 5 Bg5, (e) 5 e4 and (f) 5 d5.

(a) 5 e3
5 e3
This strongly resembles the last chapter if Black continues 5 . . . e5 6 d5
Ne7. A good alternative -- and more "Tchigorin-ish" - is the pinning
strategy:
5 ...
66 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

6 Bxc4 e6
Now 7 0-0 is a book line in the Queen's Gambit Accepted (usually
reached by way of 1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Nj3 Nf6 4 e3 Bg4, etc.).
7 BbS

7 ... Bb4!
To gain access to d5 (8 a3, Bxc3ch 9 bxc3 0-0 10 0-0 Qd5 and
perhaps . . . Qh5).
8 Qa4
If White inflicts some pawn damage first (8 Bxc6ch bxc6 9 Qa4)
Black does the same (9. Bxj3 10 gxj3 Qd6).
..

8 ... BxfJ
9 gxfJ
Or 9 Qxb4 Bxg2 10 Rg1 Be4 and Watson evaluates the position as
good for Black after 1 1 Rxg7 Bg6 12 e4 Nd7 (threatening to trap the Rook
with . . Qf6) 1 3 Bxc6 bxc6.
.

9 ... Qd6
The Queen stands well here, where it eyes both wings.
l0 Bd2 0-0
Black will capture on c3 when provoked and use d5 as a jumping-off
spot. He should stand well (11 a3 Bxc3 12 bxc3 Qd5 13 Be2 Qg5 or 12
Bxc3 Nd5, Yakhin-Boleslavsky, USSR 1964).

(b) S Qa4
(After l d4 dS 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 NfJ Nf6)
S Qa4
 CHAPTER SEVEN 67

This reaches another Queen's Gambit Accepted position, one usually

found via 1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 NO Nf6 4 Qa4ch Nc6 5 Nc3 .

5 ... Nd5!
This maneuver, threatening to keep the pawn with 6 . . . Nb6 gained
,

widespread attention when it became the most memorable TN to emerge

from the 1 963 Botvinnik-Petrosian World Championship match. .

I n a game played late i n that match, Black equalized easily after 6 e4

Nb6 7 Qdl Bg4 8 d5 (or 8 Be3 Bxj3 9 gxj3 e6 and .. Qh4) 8 . . .Ne5 9 Bf4
.

Ng6 10 Be3 e6 and a draw resulted.

No better is 10 Bg3 e5 ! 1 1 dxe6 Bxe6 12 Qxd8ch Rxd8 13 Bxc7 Rd7.
6 Qxc4
Black simply keeps the pawn after 6 Ne5 Nb6 7 Nxc6 Qd7 !, e.g. 8
Ne5 Nxa4 9 Nxd7 Bxd7 10 Nxa4 Bxa4 1 1 e3 Nc6 and 12 . . .b5 as in
Odendahl-Diugy, World Open 1 985.
Also insufficient is 6 Bg5 because of 6 . . . Nxc3 7 bxc3 Qd5 and Black
is ready to consolidate his Queenside with . . . b7-b5. In Klaman-Taimanov,
Leningrad Championship 1963, White tried to upset Black's intention with
8 e4, but after 8 . . . Qxe4ch 9 Be3 Bd7 10 Qxc4 Black played 10 . . . e6 and
completed his development with a safe extra pawn.
6 ... Nb6
7 Qd3 e5
After this move Black should equalize easily: 8 dxe5 Qxd3 9 exd3
Bf5 followed by Queenside castling should win back a pawn with good
chances.
8 Nxe5
AI '1' 1 1 11: TCII IGORIN DEFENSE

Black can take on d4, but there is a neater way of accomplishing the
goal of material equality.
8 ... Nb4!
Now 9 Qd1 Qxd4 10 Nfl is a doubtful complication (JO . Qd6 11 e4
. .

Bg4 -- see Illustrative Game 9).

9 Qd1 Qxd4!
10 Qxd4 Nc2ch
And Black reaches an even endgame (11 Kd1 Nxd4 12 e3 Ne6 -- and
Davies-Stempin, Polanica Zdroj 1989 was drawn here).

(c) S Bf4
(After 1 d4 dS 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 Nf3 Nf6)
S Bf4
This seems like a natural developing move but it runs into the same
maneuver that equalizes against 5 Qa4.
S ... NdS!
( See next diagram)
 CHAPTER SEVEN 69

Now 6 Nxd5 Qxd5 7 a3 Bf5 8 e3 e6 and 7 Bxc7 e5! (with 8. .. Bb4ch

coming up) both favor Black according to Watson.
6 Bg3 Bg4
Black can try 6 ...Bf5 to stop 7 e4 (because of 7... Nxc3) but 7e3
appears to give White the better chances.
7 e3
On 7 e4 B xf3 8 gxf3 Nxc3 9 bxc3 Bd6 1 0 Bxc4 0-0 followed by
.. . Na5 and . c7-c5 should be OK for Black.
..

7 .•• e6
A more stubborn defense is 7. . . Nb6, keeping the c4 pawn and
restricting White's development.
8 Bxc4 Bd6
And Black continues his smooth development with castling Kingside
and perhaps . . Nxc3/..e6-e5. Note that 9 Nxd5 exd5 10 Bxd5 fails to
.

IO. . . Bb4ch.

(d) 5 Bg5
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 NfJ Nf6)
5 Bg5
This makes considerably more sense than 5 Bf4 since it puts the
Bishop on a pinning diagonal after the inevitable . . . e7-e5 or ... e7-e6.
5 ... Bg4
6 d5
(See next diagram)
70 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

On 6 Ne5 Black should equalize with 6 . Nxe5 7 dxe5 Nd7. And 6 e3

. .

BxO 7 QxO e5 or 7 gxf3 e6 8 Bxc4 Be7 is also quite nice for Black.
6 ... BxfJ
Black inserts this because he may want to use e5 for the Knight, e.g.
7 gxf3 Ne5 8 Qd4 Nfd7 9 Bh3 c5 10 Qe3 (Vinot-Bonneville,
correspondence 1983).
7 exfJ Ne5
Also playable is 7. . . Na5 8 Bxc4 Nxc4 9 Qa4ch c6 or 8 Qa4ch c6 9 b4
b5 with another version of the piece sacrifice (10 Qxa5 Qxa5 11 bxa5 b4).
8 f4 Ned7
On 8 . . .Nd3ch 9 Bxd3 cxd3 10 Qxd3 c6 Black may well be all right,
but I 0 Qb3 poses problems.
9 Bxc4 g6
And Black completes the fianchetto and castles, followed by
preparing to break in the center with . . Nb6 and ... Qd7 (and perhaps . RadB
. ..

or ... c7-c6).

(e) 5 e4
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 NfJ Nf6)
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER SEVEN 71

Another Queen's Gambit Accepted position arises (normally seen by

way of 1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Nj3 Nf6 4 Nc3 Nc6).
5 e4 Bg4
As usual, Black must put pressure on d4 to justify his second move.
6 Be3
Regaining the pawn with 6 d5 Ne5 7 Bxc4 Nxc4 8 Qa4ch allows
Black rough equality, according to Euwe, by way of 8 ... c6! 9 Qxc4 Rc8. The
main point is that 9 dxc6 loses to 9 . . . Nb6! 10 c7ch Qd7.
6 ... e6
A more conservative approach than 6...Bxf3 7 gxf3 e5, which gives
White too much play from 8 d5 and 9 Qa4ch.
7 Bxc4 Bb4
8 Qcl Qe7
A relatively new try for Black is 8. . .0-0 9 Rdl Bxf3 10 gxf3 and now
10 . . . Nh5 with the Queen headed for h4 and the c6-Knight headed for g6.
Now on 1 1 e5 Black can reposition his other Knight on f5 with
1 1 . . .Ne7 12 0-0 Nf5 13 Kh1 Qh4.
In van der Sterren-Lobron, Munich 1994, Black blundered with 14
Rg1 Rad8? 1 5 Ne4! Be7 (else 16 Bg5l) 16 Rg4 Qh3 17 Nd2 and 1 8 Bfl .
But 15 . . . Qh3 seems to improve Black's chances considerably.
(See next diagram)
72 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

9 Bb5!
Other moves seem to allow Black an easy life:

(1) 9 0-0-0? Bxc3 10 bxc3 Qa3ch 1 1 Kb1 Nxe4 12 Qxe4? Bf5 or 1 1

Kd2 e5 1 2 d5 Na5 and in Bouwrneester-Boey, correspondence 1 977, Black
won soon after 1 3 Be2? 0-0 14 Nxe5 Nxe4ch! .

(2) 9 Rd1 0-0 1 0 0-0 and now 1 0. . .e5 1 1 d5 B xf3 1 2 gxf3 Nd4! i s a
sound sacrifice for control of the dark squares such as f4 (13 Bxd4 exd4 14
Rxd4 Bd6 and ... Nh5).
9 ..• 0-0?
Best is 9 . . . Bxf3 lO gxf3 0-0 with good chances.
10 Bxc6 bxc6
1 1 Ne5 c5
12 f3 Bh5
And in Finegold-Denefle, Paris 1989, White obtained the edge with
1 3 Nc6. As noted, Black's improvement lies at move nine.

(f) 5 d5
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 NO Nf6)
5 d5 Na5
( See next diagram)
 CHAPTER SEVEN 73

6 Bg5
The latest try. Black does not appear to be in any danger after the
piece sacrifice (6 Qa4ch c6 7 b4 b5 8 Qxa5 Qxa5 9 bxa5 b4 and JO. cxd5).
..

More interesting alternatives are:

( I ) 6 e4 e6 7 Qa4ch is an attempt to improve on the last line, but
allows 7 . . c6 8 b4 cxb3 ! and if 9 axb3, then 9 . . . Qb6 10 Qxa5? Qxa5 1 1
.

Rxa5 Bb4, forking Rook and Knight.

(2) 6 b4 is another version: 6...cxb3 7 axb3 e6 8 Qd4 c6 9 dxc6 Qxd4
10 Nxd4 Bb4 ! and Black is clearly better (Blees-Boersma, Amsterdam
1 986).
6 ... h6
7 Bxf6?!
This makes life easy for Black. After 7 Bh4 Black will have to
liberate his pieces in another manner. Perhaps 7 . .e6 8 e4 Be7 is then best.
.

7 •.• exf6
8 e3
Also unavailing is 8 Qa4ch c6 9 0-0-0 Bd7 and Black stands
excellently.
8 .•• Bd7
9 Bel b5
Black has the better prospects, as shown in Illustrative Game 10.

Illustrative Games
(9) Conquest-Diugy, New York Open 1984
1 d4 dS
2 c4 dxc4
74 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

3 NfJ Nf6
4 Qa4ch Nc6
5 Nc3 Nd5
6 Qxc4

6 ... Nb6
Aside from this, 6 Ndb4 is a try for more than the equality which
...

6 Nb6 assures.
...

7 Qd3 e5
8 Nxe5 Nb4

9 Qb1 ?! Qxd4!
10 NfJ Qd6
1 1 e4 Bg4!
12 a3 BxfJ
 CHAPTER SEVEN 75

Now Black's superior pawns are one of several factors which add up
to a win for him. He also has a Kingside to attack and the use of the d-file
for his pieces.
13 gxfJ Nc6
14 NbS Qe7!
15 Be3 0-0-0
16 Bh3ch Kb8
1 7 0-0 Qh4
Black swings the heavy pieces (... Rd6-g6 or -h6) against the White
King with great speed.
18 Kg2?! a6
19 Nc3 Rd6
20 Ne2 Nc4!
21 Bf4
White has to find some manner of protecting h2 and shielding his
King -- and this Bishop seems to do the job.
21 ... Rg6ch
22 Bg3 Nd2
23 Qa2 Nxfl
24 Rxfl Qf6
With an extra exchange, Black needs only to trade off a Rook and
two minor pieces to guarantee victory.
25 f4? Nd4!
26 Nxd4 Qxd4
27 Rel DeS
76 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

28 b4 Bb6
29 Bf5 Rf6
30 Bg4 h5!
This wins a piece because of . h5-h4.
. .

31 e5 Rfb6
32 Rd1 Qc3
White resigns

(10) Zuger-Rongguang, Lucerne 1989

1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
3 Nc3 Nf6

This is an alternative move order that is best avoided because it can

lead Black into other complications (e.g. 4 Bg5).
4 NfJ dxc4
5 d5 Na5
6 Bg5 h6
7 Bxf6 exf6
This solves the problem if how Black was going to get his }8-Bishop
onto the board.
8 e3 Bd7
9 Be2 b5
10 0-0 Bb4?
 CHAPTER SEVEN 77

This allows White to get back into the game. With 10 . . . f5 Black
guarantees an edge (1/ Nd4 a6).
1 1 Nd4 a6
12 Bg4!
The exchange of Bishops helps White considerably, since c6 and jJ
and then possible invasion squares.
12 ... g6
13 Bxd7ch Qxd7
14 Ne4 Be7
Black later pointed out 14 . . .Qe7, which allows 1 5 Qf3 fS 16 Ng3 and
17 e4, giving White plenty of compensation.
15 QfJ
And this is better than 15 Qd2, which allows 1 5 . . . Qxd5 16 Qxa5
Qxe4 1 7 Qxc7 0-0 with a good game.
15 ... fS
16 Ng3
The cute 16 d6 fails tactically to 16 . . . fxe4 1 7 Qxe4 ReS ! 1 7 Qxe7
Qxe7 18 dxe7 c5 ! .
1 6 ... Rd8
17 e4 fxe4
18 Nxe4 0-0
19 Rad1 b4
20 Nc2?
After this White begins to go downhill quickly. After the more exact
20 Rfe1 he still has a reasonable game.
20 ... fS!
78 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

21 Ng3 Bf6
22 Nxb4 Bxb2
23 d6 Q f7

24 RdS?
White apparently didn't like 24 dxc7 Qxc7 25 Nd5 Qf7 so he tries to
advance the pawn to d7 -- where it dies a quick death.
24 ... Nb7
25 d7 Nd6
26 Nxa6 Rxd7
Black consolidates without difficulty from here on (27 Nxc7 Rxc7 28
Rxd6 c3 and the pawn races on).
27 NcS Re7
28 Na4 Bg7
29 h4 f4
30 Ne2 NfS
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER SEVEN 79

31 g3
Or 3 1 Rfdl Nxh4 32 Qg4 g5 and wins.
31 ... fxg3
32 fxg3 Rxel!
White resigns
The new handwriting on the wall reads "33 Qxe2 Qxd5 loses a piece
while 3 3 Rxf5 allows 3 3 . . . Bd4ch 34 Kh l Qxf5."
80
CHAPTER EIGHT
White Accepts the 4 d5 Challenge

Now we proceed with the variation that some would-be Tchigorin's

Defenders are afraid of, the one in which they have to start retreating the
Knight from c6 at move four.

1 d4 d5
2 c4 Nc6
3 Nc3 dxc4
4 d5

This is the oldest challenge to 3 .. dxc4 and the most aggressive.

.

4 ... NeS
The more adventurous will prefer Tchigorin's 4 ...Na5 over this more
modest idea of Vassily Smyslov's. Black is willing to have his Knight driven
to g6 now, so that he can follow up with ... e7-e5 and .. . Bc5 or . . Bd6 with
.

play on the dark squares. For example, 5 Nf3 plays right into Black's hands
-- 5 . . . Nxf3ch and 6 . . e5 secures him a fine game.
.

Here the path diverges into four: (a) 5 Bf4, (b) 5 f4, (c) 5 e4 and (d) 5
Qd4.

(a) 5 Bf4
The position takes on something of the character of the Nimzovich
Defense (1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 d5 Ne5).
5 ... Ng6
 CHAPTER EIGHT 81

This tempo-gaining retreat secures Black the time he needs to get his
house in order.
6 8g3

6 ••• e5!
Now 7 dxe6 was played in Gligoric-Smyslov, Amsterdam I97 I -- the
game that sparked a Tchigorin's Defense revival. White eventually got his
pawn back after 7...Bxe6 8 NO Nf6 9 Nd4 Bd7 IO e3 Bb4 I I Bxc4.
But Black, with smooth development ( 1 1...0-0 12 Qc2 g6 13 h3 Qe7
14 0-0 Bxc3! 15 bxc3 Ne4 16 Bh2 c5) soon had the advantage.
7 e4
This is more in keeping with the Queen's Gambit Accepted policy,
but should not lead to anything significant for White.
7 ••. Bd6
This Bishop can take up a better diagonal on c5 once all the c-file
dangers have passed.
8 Bxc4 a6!
Black will now continue ... Nf6, ... 0-0 and -- when White develops a
Knight on e2 orj3 - with ... Nh5-f4, or just . Ng6-f4.
..

(b) 5 e4
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 d5 Ne5)
5 e4
This natural move was Frank Marshall's favorite answer to
Tchigorin's 4 ... Ne5. Marshall wanted to bring his Bishop to f4 as quickly as
possible, since then c7 is vulnerable to Nb5.
82 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

5 ... e6

6 Bf4
Other moves (e.g. 6 f4, 6 Qd4) allow Black to return the extra pawn
by . . Nd3ch. For example, 6 Qd4 Nd3ch 7 Bxd3 exd3 is nothing special for
.

White (8 Nj3 exd5 followed by 9 .. Nf6 and 10... 0-0).

.

6 ••. Ng6
Since 6 Bf4 is a more useful move than 6 f4 or 6 Qd4, there is no
reason to rush into . Nd3ch.
..

7 Bg3 Nf6
And this is better than trying to get into Gligoric-Smyslov a tempo
down with 7 . e5.
. .

8 Bxc4 exd5
9 Bxd5!
 CHAPTER EIGHT 83

White is willing to allow 9 ...Nxd5 10 Nxd5 in order to get such a

well-centralized Knight.
9 ... Bd6
Black would like to play . . . Bb4 but 9 . . . Bb4?? loses a piece to 10
Qa4ch and the intermediary 9 ...c6'n allows 10 Bxf7ch.
10 Nge2 0-0
1 1 0-0 Bxg3
We are following Toth-Gobet, Reggio Emilia 1 983, which turned in
White's favor after 12 Nxg3 Ng4? 1 3 h3 N5e4 14 f4 c6 15 Bb3 Nd3 16 f5
Nge5 17 f6.
Better is 12 ...Nxd5 and if 13 Nxd5 c6 followed by 14 . . .Be6 with
excellent prospects. After the superior 13 exd5 Black has more problems,
but they seem to be solved by 1 3 . . . f5 !? followed by . . . a7-a6, ... Qd6 and
... Bdl.

(c) 5 f4
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 dxc4 4 d5 Ne5)
5 f4
So many lines in the Tchigorin's Defense resemble those of entirely
different openings. Here we have a kind of Alekhine's Defense Four Pawns
Attack.

5 ... Ng4!?
This strange move is an attempt to gain time (with the threat of 6 . . . e5
and 7 . . . Bc5) so that Black can gain a foothold in the center before his pieces
are pushed back.
84 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

By comparison, 5 . . .Ng6 runs into problems with 6 e4, after which

6 . . . e6 (or 6... e5) 7 dxe6 Qxdl ch 8 Kxdl ! and Black must retake on e6 with
a pawn since 8 ...Bxe6 allows the 9 f5 fork.
6 e4
Clearly the most natural move, preparing 7 Bxc4 or 7 h3.
6
•.• eS
Black has 7 ... Bc5 on hand, so the best reply for White appears to be:
7 f5
By attacking the Knight White appears to gain the initiative. After 7
Nf3 Black can offer a pawn by playing 7 . .. Bc5, and then 8 Nxe5 Nf2 9
Qa4ch Bd7 10 Qxc4 Bb6 with fine play.
7
••• h5!
This suggestion of Smyslov now appears to be best.
8 Bel Do
Here the former world champion's analysis ends, but Black has his
choice after 9 Bxg4 of offering a gambit (9... hxg4 10 Qxg4) or simply
retaking safely on g4 after 9 . .Qh4ch. In the face of 9.. .Nt2 White has
.

nothing better than this.

(d) 5 Qd4
(After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 NcJ dxc4 4 d5 NeS)
5 Qd4
Finally we turn to this centralizing tempo-gainer. It is so imposing
that thus far the outlandish-looking 5 ...f6 has been considered almost a
main line (!).
5 ... Na6
However, Black can obtain a good game with relatively normal
moves.
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER EIGHT 85

6 e4
With 6 . . . e5 coming up, White might prefer 6 Qxc4 so that he can
respond 6 . . . e5 7 dxe6 Bxe6 8 Qb5ch, winning a pawn. This suggests 6 ... a6
is best and now instead of 7 h4 h5 8 Bg5 (Watson) Black should continue
7 ... e6, and if 8 h5 then 8 . . Ne7.
.

•.•6 eS
7 Qxc4 a6
Preparing to post the Bishop at d6. As usual, this Bishop resembles
an oversized pawn on this square, but does a good job of anchoring the only
Black pawns that may be attacked, the e5 and c7 pawns.

Note that 7 . . . Bd6 immediately allows 8 Qb5ch Bd7 9 Qb3 and White,
with a minor threat of l O Bb5, has improved his Queen position.
8 Nf3
Here 8 Qa4ch has no point because of 8 .. Bd7.
.

8
... Bd6
9 h4
(See next diagram)
86 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

This has been considered White's best choice for 20 years. After quiet
play (9 Be2 Nfo 10 0-0 0-0 11 Be3 Nh5) Black has reasonable prospects.

After 9 h4 White threatens to shoot the h-pawn up the board,

creating holes in its wake. Perhaps best is 9 . . Bg4 and then 10 Qb3 BxO 1 1
.

gxf3 Rb8 or 10 h5 N6e7.

 87
CHAPTER NINE
White Avoids c2-c4

So what happens if White does not advance his c-pawn? So much of

Black's counterplay, as we've seen, comes from . . . dxc4 and the attack on d4.
What options does the second player retain then?
If White avoids -- or delays -- the advance of his c-pawn, the position
takes on a more closed nature. Neither side exerts much direct pressure on
the enemy center. This reduction in the center tension tends to benefit
Black: he can continue with the same Tchigorin plan of . . Nc6 and . . . Bg4
.

without being troubled by pins along a4-a8 or attacks on d5. And his
Knight isn't kicked off c6 by d4-d5. In short, he should have an easier time
equalizing.

1 d4 d5
Now against 2 e3, the Colle System, Black will play 2 . . . Nc6 and
prepare to push his e-pawn two squares (3 Bd3 e5! and 3 Nj3 allows
3. . . Bg4).
Or going for the Stonewall Attack with 2 e3 Nc6 3 f4, when Black
plays 3 . . .Bf5 and has no problems. He will continue with . . . e6,. . . Bd6 and
. . Nf6-e4. When the time is right for him to activate his Rooks he can play
.

... Nb4 (if it attacks c2 with the help of ...Bj5) or . Ncel and . . . c7-c5.
. .

2 NO

2 •.. Nc6
Now 3 c4 transposes back into Chapter One.
There are, of course, other useful Black moves -- including 2 . . . Nf6
and 2 . . . Bf5. But with 2 . . . Nc6 Black stays within the Tchigorin framework.
88 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

(Remember, Tchigorin himself wanted to meet 2 Nj3 with 2... Bg4 but often
developed problems after 3 Ne5l).
We now turn to the two main alternative forms of development for
White -- (a) the classical, with Bf4, Nbd2 and e2-e3 -- and (b) the
fianchetto, with g2-g3 and Bg2.

(a) 3 Bf4
White wants this Bishop here to stop . . e7-e5. Note that 3 e3 Bg4 4
.

Bd3? e5 or 4 Ne2 e6 lead to positions that arise after 2 e3 and were

mentioned earlier.
3 ... Bg4
Now 4 c4 would transpose back into Chapter Five, note to White's
fourth move. This unusual move order (rather than 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nj3
Bg4 4 B/4) appeared, in fact, in van Wely-Morozevich, Tilburg 1993.
4 Nbdl
By not putting pressure on d5 White is relinquishing one of his basic
anti-Tchigorin plans. A more optimistic idea is 4 e3 e6 5 c4, which can give
White a very small edge after 5 ...Bd6 6 Bg3 Nf6 7 Nc3 0-0 8 cxd5 Nxd5 9
Be2 and now 9 ... Nce7 10 0-0 Bxg3 and 1 l ...c5 (Anastasian-Malyutin, Azov
1991).
4 ••• e6
5 c3
With the Knight at d2 rather than c3, White has virtually no pressure
on d5 after 5 c4. Black might reply with the more adventurous 5 ... dxc4 6 e3
e5 and 7 Qa4 Qd7 8 Qxc4 Nf6 and 9 . . .Nd5.
5 ... Nf6
6 e3 Bd6
7 Bb5
This seems to be White's best strategy -- working against the
Queenside pawns with Bxc6 and Qa4. Routine developing play such as 7
Bd3 0-0 8 0-0 leaves Black with an easy time after 8 ...Ne7 and . . c7-c5 (e.g.
.

9 Qc2 Bfi).
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER NINE 89

•••7 0-0
8 Bxc6
Otherwise Black has a nice Ne7-f5-d6 maneuver later on and
...

White has no clear way of activating his Rooks.

8 ... bxc6
9 Qa4 BxfJ!
Better than 9 ... c5 10 Ne5.
10 Nxf3 cS
This was Larsen-Kristiansen. Danish Championship 1 991, which
continued with balanced chances after 1 1 dxc5 Bxc5 12 0-0 Bd6 13 Rad1
Bxf4 14 exf4 c5.

(b) 3 g3
(After 1 d4 dS 2 NfJ Nc6)
3 g3
(See next diagram)
90 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

The fianchetto development is another conservative but quite

playable system for White that doesn't trouble Black much.
3 ... Bg4
Again the Bishop is best placed here. Black may now toy with the
idea of Queenside castling -- and a Kingside attack -- with ... Qd7, ... 0-0-0
and . Bh3.
..

4 Bg2
This position arises naturally out of other move orders. For example,
1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 Nc6!? and now to stop 3 ...e5 White usually replies 3 d4 (and
then 3... Bg4 4 Bg2).
4 ... Qd7
S hJ
Forcing the Bishop to choose between its original diagonal (and its
hopes of ... Bh3xg2) or the dl -h5 line.
s ... Bf5
Probably best. Now White cannot castle without hanging the h-pawn.
6 a3
(See next diagram)
 CHAPTER NINE 91

This keeps open the option of a Queenside pawn stonn in case Black
castles Queenside. It also stops . Nb4xc2.
..

6 ... h6
7 b4 a6
This occured r in Bator-Duckstein, European Club Championship
1 990. See Illustrative Game 1 1 .

Illustrative Games
(11) Bator-Duckstein,
European Club Championship 1 990
1 d4 d5
2 NO Nc6
3 g3 Bg4
4 Bg2 Qd7
(See next diagram)
92 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

5 h3
More energetic is 5 c4, and if 5 ... dxc4 then 6 d5 0-0-0 7 Nc3, but
7 . . . e6 8 e4 exd5 9 exd5 Bb4 may be dangerous for White.
5 ... Bf5
6 a3
Not to his liking is 6 c4 Nb4.
6 ... h6
7 b4 a6
Once again we see the "beginner's moves" with the Rook pawns
being played by both players. White's plan -- of b4-b5 -- is the more active
one so far, and Black has to search for a way to conduct the middlegame.
8 c4 e6
9 Nc3 Nge7
10 0-0 g5
 CHAPTER NINE 93

This is his choice: he hints at opening lines with ... g5-g4 and adds
pressure to d4 with Bg7. But White acts first.
...

1 1 b5 ub5
12 cxb5 Na5
13 Ne5 Qd8
14 g4
Perhaps 12 e4 was a better choice. White is playing for an j2-/4-./5
pawn rush.
14 ... Bh7
15 f4! f6!
16 Bd3 Bg7
17 Nc5 Qd6
18 e4!
White appears to have a commanding game in the center, but now
makes a serious oversight.
18 ... b6
19 e5? fxe5
20 fxe5 Bxe5!
White apparently missed 2 1 dxe5 Qxc5ch. Now, however, 2 1 Be3
Nc4 would have been annoying, so White goes in for a desperado...
21 Nxe6 Bh2ch
22 Kh1 Qxe6
23 Nxd5?!

Instead of regammg material with 23 Kxh2, White plays a

combination based on 23 ...Nxd5? 24 Rei .
94 THE TCHIGORIN DEFENSE

23 ... 0-0-0!
24 Rel Qxelch!
Black now gets a Rook and piece for the Queen - and his minor
pieces become very active.
25 Qxel Nxd5
26 Qe6ch Kb8
27 Kxh2
Or 27 Bxd5 Rde8 28 Qf7 (28 Qxh6 ?? Be4ch) 28 ...Bd6 29 Bd2 Re2
with dangerous threats (30...Rxd2; 30... Bg8).
27 ... Nb3
28 Bxd5
White counts on 28 ...Nxal 29 Qc6 Rxd5 30 Qxd5 and he keeps a
material edge.
28 ... Bg8!
29 Bxb3?
Semi-desperation. White should have tried 29 Qe3 Bxd5 30 Rbl
Rhe8 3 1 Qf2.
29 ... Bxe6
30 Bxe6 Rxd4

The Bishops are surprisingly clumsy (31 Bb2 ? Rd2ch; 31 Be3 Re4).
31 Bf5 Re8
32 Kg3 Rdl
The threat is 32 . . . Reel . There is no defense in 33 Bc2 Rgl ch and
34 . . .Reel, or 33 Bb2 Rd2 (threatening mate on e3).
33 Kfl Reel
34 Bd2 Rflch
CHAPTER NINE 95

White resigns
7!
s