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The Stonewall in the Slav Defence
by
Alexey Kuzmin
In the opening
classification, the position
belongs to the Dutch Defence,
but in practice it arises almost exclusively from the Slav line
1.d4 d5
2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e3
Bd6 5.Bd3
f5.
Even the very first moves
require some comment. We can start by pointing out that there is also the
move order 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. Since 3.Nf3
sharply increases the opponent's range of options in the Queen's Gambit (for
example, he now has the Vienna Variation), many White players prefer 3.Nc3,
and after 3…c6 we return to our variation. By continuing 4.e3, White avoids
the sharp Noteboom variation (4.Nf3
dxc4 5.e3 b5) and also declines to play the Slav Gambit 4.e4 (see the
article about this in CBM 123). Sometimes Black plays f7-f5 on move 4, but
this allows White the by no means unfavourable line 5.g4!? and therefore
more often Black prefers 4…Bd6
5.Bd3 (5.Qc2;
5.Nf3) 5...f5. In this case,
6.g4 (for this and other rare continuations, see the game
Sokolov,I - Timofeev,A 0-1) is not dangerous, since White has already
spent a tempo on Bd3. So, we
reach the position in the diagram. Formally speaking, this is the Stonewall
variation of the Dutch. White's main strategical idea against it (in the
classical variation: 1.d4 f5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3
d5 4.g3 c6) is the exchange of dark-squared bishops by means of Bf4 or Ba3. Here, however, the moves
e2-e3 and Nb1-c3 have already
been played, so we have a relatively favourable version for Black. In the
diagram position, White has three main strategical plans:
A) Nf3, b3, Bb2 followed by Ne5. He then plans to evict the
black knight from e4 by means of the manoeuvre Ne2 and f2-f3.
6.Nf3
Nf6 7.0-0 0-0 8.b3
Ne4 9.Ne2
Nd7 10.Bb2
Now the positional plan 10…b6
(Grigore,G
- Sveshnikov,E ½-½) is perfectly possible for Black. With accurate play,
he should be able to solve his opening problems. However, in my opinion, the
move 10…Qf6!? is more
interesting, preventing the enemy knight coming to e5 and preparing an
attack on the kingside with g7-g5 (Cvitan,O
- Erenburg,S ½-½).
B) The
semi-symmetrical plan: White plays f2-f4, shutting down Black's possible
activity on the kingside, and trying to exploit the minimal space avantage
given by the pawn on c4 vs that on c6.
6.f4
Nf6 7.Nf3
0-0 8.0-0
In this variation, play takes
on a strictly positional character. Black occupies e4 with his knight, plays
b7-b6, develops his bishop to b7 or even a6 and plans, after due
preparation, the advance c6-c5. It should be noted that the early knight
jump to e5 does not bring White any dividends (Beliavsky,A
- Timofeev,A ½-½). Instead, the most serious problems for Black are
posed by the manoeuvre Bc1-d2-e1-h4.
This plan can be seen in the notes to the game
Aleksandrov,A - Timofeev,A 0-1. All in all, Black is able to solve his
opening problems, but after f2-f4 it is very difficult for him to fight for
the initiative.
C) Preparing the
advance e3-e4. With this aim, White develops his knight to e2 and then
continues f3, Qc2 etc. This is
the most aggressive plan and leads to non-standard, double-edged positions.
6.Nge2
Nf6 7.f3 0-0
Now if White chooses
8.Qc2,
there is a very interesting plan with ...dxc4 and then b7-b5 (Kosyrev,V
- Frolyanov,D ½-½). In this case, an important resource is the move Nb8-a6 with the threat of playing
...Nb4 with tempo.
If White
prefers 8.0-0, then the analogous counterplay is less well-founded. I would
instead recommend Grischuk's more universal (because it is also OK after 8.Qc2)
plan: 8...b6 9.0-0 a6, preparing the advance c6-c5! (Zhu
Chen - Negi,P 0-1). Truly enough, Alexander started with ...a6 and only
then played ...b6. But in terms of the principal strategical idea this is
not so important, and the move order with a7-a6 first permits the
possibility of c4-c5 which, in my view, is less accurate. |
