Generally, a Chess game undergoes through three phases, namely Opening, Middle-game and
Endgame. The first few moves, wherein players try to mobilize their forces in optimal way, is
called the opening phase. The next phase, trying to attack the opponent’s forces, is known as the
Middlegame. If the games does not end in Middlegame and if both the players are reduced to
comparatively less material, then the game is known to have reached Endgame phase. In this
chapter, we are going to see some basic opening moves along with the strategy behind these
moves. Chess openings is a very vast subject and hundreds of thousands Chess authors have
tried to ‘teach’ different openings in depth, sometimes till move 30 or more, without bothering to
explain the reason/logic behind the moves played. Needless to say, this only results in confusing
a new player, who ends up in believing that he/she is unprepared to participate in tournaments
till the moves are learnt by heart or memorized. It is, therefore, our intention to make the reader
understand what ‘Opening’ phase is all about. Former World Champion Dr Emanuel Lasker,
probably the greatest Chess teacher of all times, has made a very significant comment on the
openings — “Games are not won or lost by one or two mistakes in the opening”. *[Of course, the World Champion didn’t refer to “Fool’s Mate” or “Scholar’s Mate” which take place with one single
gross blunder]* It is true that nowadays many top players in the world spend most of the
practice time studying and memorizing the moves in the openings — ‘Prearrangement’ as Bobby
Fischer called it — but even their games always end with some mistakes in the further course of
the game rather than the opening phase. I, therefore, emphasize on the readers playing the
openings on their own, making their own plans and trying to execute them.

The opening phase is very simple to learn and play if we bear the simple principles of Chess, which determine the outcome of the game. These principles, which apply to all phases of the
game, are as under :–
(1) Safety of the King :– This is the most important principle in Chess as the object of a game
is to checkmate the enemy King. Keeping our King safe and trying to weaken the defiance of the
enemy King is what the game should ideally revolve around.
(2) Safety of Material :– If the Kings are well guarded, the players need to use their material
to eliminate the guards of the King. In general, a player with more material is likely to win the
game unless a sudden checkmate is permitted due to an oversight.
(3) Activity of pieces :– This includes placing pieces and pawns in safe and aggressive
positions with proper harmony and co-ordination between them.
(4) Centre control :– Activity of pieces largely depends on Centre control. The activity is
considerably hampered when one loses the control in centre.
(5) Weaknesses :– Every move made leads to losing control on some squares and acquiring
control on some other squares. Therefore, it is clear that we will have to create some weakness
all the time. It is upto us to ensure that the weakness created is less serious than the threats we
create. If readers are alert about safety of King & other Chessmen and if they move the pieces
to gain activity & center control, they are likely to get into satisfactory positions in opening in all
games.
Today we will see a game by Boris Spassky which finds place in almost all books of modern
miniatures. This game may be considered as a top game ‘the outcome of which was decided
in the opening phase itself’. Though White was also one of the best players in the world when
the game was played, it is the “I can get away with anything” attitude that led to an early debacle.
Whoever violates the ‘rules’ of opening strategy would face such fate against strong opposition.
Perhaps Bent Larsen might have got away with such an unscientific play against other opponents.
The game is a typical example of how the violation of opening strategy can be punished without
making further mistakes. The simplicity & accuracy of Black’s play are indeed outstanding. Typical
of Spassky’s naturally aggressive attacking style, with simple and natural moves.
Bent Larsen – Boris Spassky, 1970.
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nf3
Usually such a Knight move, allowing it to be attacked with a Pawn, violates basic principles of
Chess but here it is possible due to tactical reasons which the player had not seen. Therefore,
though the move does not deserve a Question Mark objectively, it was certainly a Doubtful move.
4.g3?! looks natural but fails to 4…d5! 5.cxd5?! Qxd5 6.Nf3 e4 7.Nc3 Qa5!
4.Nc3 looks possible but Black already has excellent initiative after 4…d5! 5.cxd5 Nxd5
4…e4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Nxc6?!
A violation of obvious and basic Chess Principles laid down in 19th century. White violates
common norms of opening, such as development, activity and King safety.
6.Nf5! , though artificial, was necessary. The game could go 6…0–0 7.e3 d5 8.cxd5 Nb4 9.Ng3
Nfxd5 with sharp play. The ‘e4’ Pawn is taboo here. 10.Nxe4?? Bf5 11.d3 Bxe4 12.dxe4 Nxe3!!
13.fxe3 Qh4+ 14.Ke2 Rad8 15.Qc1 Nd3! and Black wins.
6…dxc6 7.e3
7.d3? was unplayable due to both 7…Ng4 8.e3 Qg5 9.dxe4 Nxf2! as well as 7…Bf5!? 8.d4 e3 9.f3
Nh5! etc. This variation demonstrates the importance of playing opening as per standard basic
principles of King safety, development and activity of pieces.
7…Bf5! 8.Qc2 Qe7 9.Be2?!
White does not see the danger coming. Let us look at other alternatives.
9.d3? would have led to a very passive position after 9…Bb4+! 10.Bc3 c5! 11.Bxb4 cxb4 12.Nd2
0–0 13.dxe4 Qe5! 14.Rd1 Bxe4! 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bd3 Qc3+ 17.Qxc3 Nxc3 when White is all
tied down. 18.Rd2 Rfd8 19.f3 Nxa2 20.Be4 Rxd2 21.Kxd2 c6.
9.Nc3 0–0–0 10.a3 was better but White is already defending.
9…0–0–0!
White is in bad way. In absence of a Knight on ‘f3’, Castling on King side would be very dangerous.
(As written by Greco centuries ago as a general observation). For example, 10.0–0 Ng4! 11.h3
h5! 12.Nc3 Qd6! 13.g3 Qg6 with a crushing attack.
However, the move chosen by White is even worse.
10.a3! was called for. 10…Kb8 11.b4 Bd6 12.c5 Be5 13.Bxe5 Qxe5 14.Nc3 followed by 0–0–0 was
the relatively best option.
10.f4? 10…Ng4! 11.g3?!
The ‘natural’ 11.0–0? Diagram 1.
XABCDEFGHY
8-+ktr-+-tr(
7zppzp-wqpzpp’
6-+p+-+-+&
5+-vl-+l+-%
4-+P+pzPn+$
3+P+-zP-+-#
2PvLQzPL+PzP”
1tRN+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
fails to 11…Rxd2!! 12.Nxd2 Nxe3!–+ 13.Qc1 Nxf1+ 14.Kxf1 Qh4 15.Qe1 Qxf4+ etc.
11.Bxg4? loses to 11…Qh4+ 12.g3 Qxg4 13.Nc3 Rd3 14.Rf1…Rhd8 15.Rf2 Bxe3 16.dxe3 Rxe3+
17.Ne2 Red3 18.Ng1 e3 19.Re2 Qh5 20.Qc1…Bg4 and Black wins.
11.Qc1! is relatively best but loses to 11…Qh4+! 12.g3 Qh3 13.Bf1 Qh5 14.Be2 g5! 15.Bxh8 gxf4
16.Bd4 (16.exf4 Bf2+ 17.Kd1 17…Ne3#)
16…Bxd4 17.exd4 fxg3 18.d3 g2 19.Rg1 Qh4+ 20.Kd2 Nf2 21.Rxg2 Qf4+ 22.Kc2 exd3+ 23.Kb2
Qxd4+ 24.Qc3 dxe2 25.Qxd4 Rxd4 26.Rg8+ Rd8 27.Rxd8+ Kxd8 28.Nc3 Nd3+ 29.Ka3 e1Q.
11.Nc3 loses brilliantly to 11…Rxd2! 12.Qxd2 Bxe3 13.Qc2 Bf2+ 14.Kd2 Ne3 15.Qb1 Rd8+ 16.Kc1
Qd6 17.Nxe4 Qxf4 18.g3 Nxc4+! 19.gxf4 Be3+ 20.Kc2 Bxe4+ 21.Kc3 Bd2+! 22.Kxc4 b5+ 23.Kc5
Rd5+ 24.Kxc6 Diagram 2.
XABCDEFGHY
8-+k+-+-+(
7zp-zp-+pzpp’
6-+K+-+-+&
5+p+r+-+-%
4-+-+lzP-+$
3+P+-+-+-#
2PvL-vlL+-zP”
1tRQ+-+-+R!
xabcdefghy
24…Bb4!! 25.Bg4+ (25.Qxe4 Rc5#) 25…f5! 26.Bxf5+ Rxf5+ 27.Qxe4 Rc5#
Let us go back to the actual game. 11…h5 12.h3 Diagram 3.
XABCDEFGHY
8-+ktr-+-tr(
7zppzp-wqpzp-‘
6-+p+-+-+&
5+-vl-+l+p%
4-+P+pzPn+$
3+P+-zP-zPP#
2PvLQzPL+-+”
1tRN+-mK-+R!
xabcdefghy
White was hoping to create a fortress after Black retreated the Knight but a surprise awaited him.
The natural 12.Nc3 was unplayable due to 12….Rxd2!–+]
12…h4! 13.hxg4
13.Bxg4 was no better. 13…Bxg4 14.hxg4 hxg3 15.Rg1 Rh2 16.Nc3 Bxe3! 17.0–0–0 Bxg1
18.Rxg1 Qc5 19.Rxg3 Qf2 20.Nxe4 Rh1+ etc.]
13…hxg3 14.Rg1 Rh1!
14…Qh4 is also good enough. 15.Rg2 (15.gxf5 Qh1 16.Rf1 g2)
15…Qxg4!! 16.Rg1 Qh4 17.Nc3 g2+ 18.Kd1 Qf2 19.Qc1 Qxg1+ 20.Kc2 Qxc1+ 21.Rxc1 Rh1 etc.
15.Rxh1 g2 16.Rf1?
16.Rg1 is relatively best but loses rapidly anyway. 16…Qh4+ 17.Kd1 Qh1–+
16…Qh4+ 17.Kd1 gxf1Q+ White resigned. 0–1
The game could have gone 17…gxf1Q+ 18.Bxf1 Bxg4+ 19.Kc1 (19.Be2 Qh1#) 19…Qe1+ 20.Qd1
Qxd1#
             Certainly not a right way to play the opening, particularly when you are playing the
World Champion!
Pravin Thipsay, Arjuna Awardee