The Colle-Koltanowski System

Chessbibliophile (otherwise known as Prof. Nagesh Havanur) is a senior academic and research scholar. He taught English in Mumbai for three decades and has now settled in Bangalore, India. His interests include chess history, biography and opening theory. He has written more than 60 reviews & articles for web sites like Chessville.com and magazines like KARL and Kingpin. He would welcome feedback from readers.
He has already published 8 reviews on chess.com in the last three weeks and will continue to publish more. To see his reviews, keep checking: http://www.chess.com/members/view_content/chessbibliophile

 

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The Colle-Koltanowski System

by Valerij Bronznik

Schachverlag Kania. 2004

Hard-cover, 223 pages

Published 6/2004
ISBN 3-931192-25-3

 

When Harald Keilhack, the indefatigable publisher, Schachverlag Kania, wrote to me about this book, my first reaction was one of disbelief. Surely, this opening was abandoned after the defeat of Colle himself in the hands of Alekhine. Besides, the whole line,1.d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 showed excessive caution, if not cowardice.One couldn’t help feeling that this was a solid, but passive system.So it was out of sheer curiosity that I asked Keilhack to send me the book. And I must confess that this book has proved me wrong in all respects.First, let us have a look at the game I mentioned.

 

Edgar Colle-AlexanderAlekhine (D04)

San Remo 1930

 

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Bf5 4.Bd3 e6 5.Bxf5 exf5 6.0–0 Nbd7 7.c4 dxc4 8.Qa4 Bd6 9.Nbd2 0–0 10.Nxc4 Nb6 11.Nxb6 axb6 12.Qc2 Qd7 13.Ne5 Qe6, and Black is better.

 

Indeed, Alekhine went on to outplay Colle in the middlegame and won in 28 moves.White’s error here is 4.Bd3.After the exchange of bishops the Black king would only feel safer. Instead he should play 4.c4 to fight for the control of d5 square and also be ready to punish Black for the early development of his bishop. If Black plays 4…c6, it leads to Slav Defence by transposition. But if he plays 4…e6, White continues with 5.Qb3 preparing to punish the early development of Black bishop. This variation (Baltic Defence) is rather a speculative line for Black. It should be pointed out that Colle had learned his lesson from this defeat and continued to play his system with success.

What is more important, Alekhine himself adopted this system and beat Flohr in Bern 1932 tournament.Here is the game:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Colle-Koltanowski Opening has always been treated as an opening for amateurs, especially, club players.This humble reputation is, indeed, a blessing. It is a solid opening, and you cannot lose. Besides, under its quiet surface there are enough dangers lurking for Black. Take a look at the following example:

 

 

 

 

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While the author does caution us about expecting instant results, the book itself is packed with short and swift victories.What is more, he takes a lot of care to explain both the strategic and tactical motifs in this system. Last but not the least, this is a surprise weapon against opponents armed to teeth with theory in regular lines of Queen’s Gambit Declined and Accepted, beginning with 1.d4 d5 2.c4. None of that is going to be of any use against this system.But what to do with customers who avoid this opening as Black. Chapter 5 of the book deals with this issue alone. For example, how does one deal with 1.d4 Nf6 ? The author recommends the Trompowsky Attack with 2.Bg5, a suggestion that I would whole-heartedly endorse.

If you are still sceptical about the whole concept, you only need to take a look at the preview thoughtfully provided by the publisher on his site.

This is one of the best opening books I have read.

 

Links:

http://www.kaniaverlag.de/htm/englisheditions.html

http://www.chess.com/article/view/colle-koltanowski-revisited

http://www.chess.com/article/view/winning-with-the-trompowsky-review

 

 

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