Activity versus Structure

by Davide Nastasio
8/27/2018 – We often hear the advice to replay classical games played by World Champions in order to improve our chess understanding. What if we could unite the fun of learning a new opening with improving our chess? Yes, the Tarrasch Defence answers both these conditions. Many World Champions played it throughout their careers in very crucial moments, when a win would define their own existence as chess players. Now we can learn it from a top GM, who adds his own wisdom to the theoretical knowledge we can find in books.

Are you looking for an active defence against 1.d4? Look no further! The Tarrasch Defence (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5) is one of Black's most ambitious ways to meet 1.d4.

Activity beats structure?

The Tarrasch Defence has a long history. For many of the best players in the world, it played a big role at one time or another.

L'Ami mentions that Kasparov used the Tarrasch Defence successfully in his match against Smyslov, and less successfully against Karpov...

The Tarrasch Defence starts with the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 and Black immediately challenges White's centre:

 
The Tarrasch Defence

Kasparov used this setup in games 4 and 12 of his match against Smyslov. For Garry, this was an important milestone — winning the match allowed him to become Karpov's challenger in a fight for the world crown.

 
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1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Be2 dxc4 9.Bxc4 a6 10.Qe2 b5 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.e4 Nh5 14.Bd2 Qc7 15.g3 Rad8 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Qc5 18.Rfe1 Nhf6 19.a3 Ng4 20.Qxc5 Nxc5 21.Bc2 f5 22.Ng5 f4 23.Rad1 Rxd1 24.Bxd1 Ne5 25.gxf4 Ned3 26.b4 h6 27.bxc5 hxg5 28.Re3 Nxf4 29.a4 b4 30.Ne2 Rc8 31.Bb3 Rxc5 32.Nxf4 gxf4 33.Bxe6+ Kf8 34.Re1 Re5 35.Bb3 Rxe4 36.Rd1 Ke7 37.Rc1 Kf6 38.Kf1 a5 39.h3 g5 40.Rc7 Re7 41.Rc5 Re5 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Smyslov,V2600Kasparov,G27100–11984D37Candidates final4
Smyslov,V2600Kasparov,G27100–11984D34Candidates final12

Are there other champions who used the Tarrasch Defence successfully? Yes, Spassky, Keres and Gligoric are just a few of the names which come to mind. Here we included one game from each of them, so you can have an idea of what you can accomplish with the Tarrasch.

 
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1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 11.Be3 Bg4 12.Nb3 Be6 13.Rc1 Re8 14.Re1 Qd7 15.Bc5 Rac8 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.e3 Red8 18.Qe2 Bg4 19.f3 Bf5 20.Rcd1 Ne5 21.Nd4 Bg6 22.Bh3 Rc4 23.g4 Rb4 24.b3 Nc6 25.Qd2 Rb6 26.Nce2 Bh7 27.Bg2 Re8 28.Ng3 Nxd4 29.exd4 Re6 30.Rxe6 Qxe6 31.Rc1 Bg6 32.Bf1 Nh7 33.Qf4 Nf8 34.Rc5 Bb1 35.a4 Ng6 36.Qd2 Qf6 37.Kf2 Nf4 38.a5 Bd3 39.Nf5 Qg5 40.Ne3 Qh4+ 41.Kg1 Bxf1 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian-Boris Spassky-0–11969D34Petrosian - Spassky World Championship Rematch4
Mikhail Tal-Paul Keres-0–11959D34Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates24
Jan Smejkal-Svetozar Gligoric-0–11980D34EUR-chT (Men) 7th2

In more recent times, Grischuk is an exponent of the Tarrasch Defence.

And now let's finally get to the review of the DVD!

L'Ami notices that Rubinstein — in the beginning of the previous century — was the one who found the most effective setup to fight the Tarrasch. Rubinstein's idea was to push the g-pawn to g3 and develop the bishop to g2. This variation follows the moves 1. d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0. L'Ami also mentions this as the first position of the Tarrasch.

 
The Rubinstein setup against the Tarrasch

L'Ami explains well the pros and cons of the Isolated Queen Pawn (IQP from now on), which can happen in the Tarrasch Defence.

L'Ami brings up that, while he was researching the material for the DVD, he got passionate about the opening and played a couple of games, which he drew. I found them for those as curious as me:

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.d4 Nc6 6.Bg2 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.a3 Ne4 11.Qc2 Nxc3 12.Qxc3 Bb6 13.b4 Bf5 14.Bb2 d4 15.Qd2 Re8 16.Rad1 Rc8 17.Qf4 Bc2 18.Rd2 Be4 19.Nxd4 Bxg2 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Rxd8 Rcxd8 22.Qg5 Bd4 23.Bxd4 Rxd4 24.Qc5 Rd2 25.b5 Rd5 26.Qc2 Rxb5 27.f3 a5 28.Rd1 Rbe5 29.Rd2 a4 30.e4 f5 31.exf5 Bxf3 32.Qc4+ Kh8 33.f6 gxf6 34.Kf2 Rf5 35.Qc1 Bc6+ 36.Kg1 Rfe5 37.Kf2 Kg7 38.g4 h5 39.gxh5 Rxh5 40.Kg1 Rg5+ 41.Kf1 Ree5 42.Rd4 Bb5+ 43.Kf2 Re2+ 44.Kf3 Rge5 45.Rd6 Rf5+ 46.Kg3 Rg5+ 47.Kf3 Rf5+ 48.Kg3 Rg5+ ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Edouard,R2607L'Ami,E2611½–½2018Bundesliga 17187.6
Korobov,A2652L'Ami,E2634½–½2018Tata Steel-B 80th10

L'Ami has more experience in playing against the Tarrasch, since he is a 1.d4 player, which is good, because we want a teacher who knows and points out weak points of the opening we are going to learn.

L'Ami has made a great job in dividing the material. He began the DVD with a strategy section, which outlines the ideas and motifs behind the Tarrasch Defence. This allow us to play the opening without memorising the theory — if we know the changes of pawn structures or when to play the right exchange, then we know what move to play in each situation.

The themes of the strategic section are as follows:

  • The right exchange
  • Structure vs Activity
  • Changing the pawn structure
  • The squeeze
  • The exchange sacrifice on e3

Upon the last topic, The exchange sacrifice on e3, I'd like to spend a few words. Some players believe it is a waste of time to study openings, but here we have a world-class teacher, who leads us from the opening into the middlegame, showing how we should think and why. This holistic teaching method cannot be done with books because in a book we often don't know when we need to pay attention. Instead, through L'Ami's tone of voice and body language, we become more involved in learning these fundamental concepts.

The DVD continues with over 5 hours of theory! Yeah, you understood me well. In 5 hours, L'Ami explores systematically a very complex opening, which has been used a lot in the last hundred years, detailing move orders, evaluations and games that are important to remember. The guidance will be very useful when we find ourselves playing this opening in tournaments.

After the theory, there is a chapter with five videos where five games are deeply annotated. If one doesn't care to learn the Tarrasch for playing in tournaments, one should just watch these videos, as they are eye-opening for the big number of manoeuvres, tactical ideas and endgame skills shown. Yes, these five games explained by L'Ami are worth the price of the DVD, in my opinion. The way I used them is the following: I got the pgn of the five games, stripped of comments, and made my own annotations — then, I followed the videos with L'Ami teachings and found out what I had missed. This way, I replayed the games at least two times, so they will be better saved in my memory when the moment to use the knowledge will be needed.  

Then, there is over one hour of interactive tests, in which L'Ami presents a position and we must step in and find the right move. This type of training is amazing, as L'Ami gives feedback when needed, helping clarify some ideas one might have believed to have understood, despite the fact they were not grasped correctly.

The DVD comes with a database of 50 selected games by the major exponents of the Tarrasch. Many of the games were played by Kasparov with Black.

Before concluding the review, I'd like to leave the reader with some position to work upon. I'd love the reviews to be a learning moment for everyone. While writing it, I had the chance to watch a big number of games, and some definitely sparked my imagination. Thanks to Chessbase's innovative training tools, everyone can play the following positions against the engine.

 
Taimanov vs. Spassky, 1971

This is a great game between Taimanov and Spassky from 1971. White just played 31.Bd3, closing the d-file and preventing Black from playing Rd2. What would you play as Black?

 
To push or not to push, this is the dilemma!

This position comes from Marshall vs. Rubinstein and was played in 1907. When one wants to learn a new opening, particular attention should be given to the right timing of pawn pushes. We are at move 11 and Black must decide what to do. He could defend the d5-pawn or push it. What would you play? This type of exercise is more interesting than just solving tactics, because it's similar to what we are likely to find in a real game — it's also a choice that might have long-term consequences in the middlegame.

For those interested in the entire game, it is available in the the Mega Database 2018.

 
Euwe vs. Kroone - Amsterdam match

A game from 1919, part of a match played between Euwe and Kroone in Amsterdam — they played many matches. Here, the future World Champion lost in just 28 moves. Notice the power of the Megabase 2018, and how easy it is to find interesting positions to study in order to learn the opening.

Once again you are Black and need to decide what to play. White just played 19.Rc4. What would you do?

And let's finish with some excitement!

 
Mohota vs. Gunina, 2008

This comes from the game Mohota vs. Gunina, 2008. White has just played 21.h4. What would you play as Black?

Final thoughts: As we have seen in the many games presented in this review, the Tarrasch is a must-learn opening, as it can bring our opponents out of their theoretical preparation, especially when they play 1.Nf3 or 1.c4.

Openings like the Tarrasch Defence are formative bones for each chess player's skeleton. They teach us about pawn structures — like the way to fight against or with the IQP — or when it's correct to release the central tension. All these typical elements can only be learned through classical openings like the Tarrasch Defence.

I loved the idea of active pieces, especially in the middlegame. This particular trait of the Tarrasch appeals to my chess player personality. I like an opening where I have space and active pieces, and where I can put continuous pressure over the enemy.

Last but not least, even if you don't plan to play the Tarrasch, get the DVD, as L'Ami is a top class teacher, and it is clearly worthy to spend a few hours with him. I cannot imagine who wouldn't improve from listening to L'Ami's wise explanations.

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Davide is a chess aficionado who regularly reviews books and DVDs.

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