Taking it easy in the Queen’s Gambit
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. e3
A move characteristic of my ‘take it easy’ approach to the QGD variations back in the day. Lines where White plays Bg5 are more aggressive, and perhaps more testing of Black’s theoretical preparations, but I enjoy playing the restrained approached where the c1 bishop is left at home for a while. Transpositional possibilities abound here: 4…dc4 5.Bc4 c5 leads to a Queen’s Gambit accepted, 4…c6 is the Semi-Slav, 4…c5 is a Tarrasch, while even the plausible 4…b6 leads to (an inferior line of) the Queen’s Indian Defence. Black’s move further delays having to make a choice about the opening.
Inviting Black to ‘win’ a tempo and clarify the central pawn structure. But the loss of tempo is compensated by the fact that Black has already committed his knight to d7, and so must play an inferior version of the Queen’s Gambit accepted. Here, if Black plays 5…c6, hoping to transpose in the Meran after 6.Nc3, I can take advantage of my move order and play 6.Ndb2, so that I have the option of recapturing on c4 with the knight. White then ends up with a comfortable middlegame position after the eventual e3-e4 push.
Intending to employ an "extended fianchetto" with …b5 and …Bb7.
7. a4
I didn’t feel like allowing that.
7… b6 8. O-O Bb7 9. Nc3 Bd6
By placing the bishop to d6 Black signals that he in aiming to develop a setup where, after the queen goes to e7, the e5 thrust will be enabled, and Black will be well-centralized. The plan makes even more sense considering that b5 square is covered by the a6 pawn, and so White will not be able to harass the d6 bishop with Nb5.
My play revolves around using my positional trump: the central pawn majority. The planned e3-e4 advance will also solve the problem of the inactivity of the c1 bishop.
More logical than the alternative, less successful ways approaches to using the central pawns:
11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. f4 Bxc3! (13… Bd6?! 14. e4+/-) 14. bxc3 O-O=
11… exd4 12. Nxd4 O-O 13. Nf5
An excellent square for the knight, where it attacks the bishop and probes the sensitive g7 square. The mere presence of this looming terror causes Black’s position enough discomfort such that over the next few moves spent ejecting this piece, the equilibrium shifts and Black’s pieces lose coordination.
Black removes the d6 bishop from attack, and threatens to win the e4 pawn by removing the guard at c3.
Ignoring the threat, and increasing the pressure on Black’s position.
Black takes the booty. It’s generally considered worthwhile to make an extra effort to nab a central pawn, and in addition, this move also forces White to make a choice about the f5 knight.
16. Ng3 Bg6
Black retreats to the kingside, lending additional support to f7, and preventing Nh5. There is a drawback to this placement however…
Taking advantage of the bishop’s lack of squares. Black must now tread very carefully in this position to avoid drifting into inferiority.
I don’t like this move; Black is not gaining a tempo by attacking the queen, rather, he encourages White go to the square he wanted anyways, and at the same time removes support for the potentially vulnerable f7 square.
My chess engines suggest that 17… h6 18. Bh4 Re8 19. Qa2 Qe7 20. f5 Bh7 21. Nh5 Ne5 is a better defence, but I still prefer White.
Black tries to initiate counterplay and distract White from the pressure on the diagonal leading to f7.
19. Bb3! bxa4 20. Bxa4 c6?
After this move Black’s position falls apart. The best continuation was
20… Bd3! with the idea of retreating the bishop to b5 and alleviating the pressure on the a4-e8 diagonal. 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Bxd7 Red8 23. Ba4 Bxf1 24. Rxf1 Qxc3 25. Bb3 Rd7 with equal play.
White forces a queen trade and exploits the vulnerability of c6.
22… Qxf2+ 23. Rxf2 Bh5 24. Bxc6 Ra7 25. Bxf6 1-0 [Robert Sasata]