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3 Check Strategy: How to Beat Fianchetto Systems Part 1

3 Check Strategy: How to Beat Fianchetto Systems Part 1

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TenThousandDays
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Fianchetto systems are popular among intermediate and advanced players because they avoid a lot of the opening traps that their opponent can throw at them. Generally the players employing these systems have somewhat limited 3 Check opening knowledge but are strong otherwise. Their goal is simply to get out of the opening unscathed and then try to outplay their opponent later. That's why it's important to put pressure on these players early on. If you play too slowly or too stereotypically then you give your opponent time to equalize and create counterplay. 

I've found that the most effective way to play against these systems is to play in a hyper-aggressive style. Ideally you want to constantly apply pressure, create threats and not give your opponent a moment to breath. This way of playing is not always possible and can sometimes backfire, but it's my general philosophy nonetheless.

What are the 2 main drawbacks of these systems?

  1. They can create weak squares in one's position.
  2. The fianchetto pawn on g6/g3 can be a target of attack.

What is a weak square? A square can become weak when it is no longer possible to control that square with a pawn. For example, players will frequently combine the move g6 (to fianchetto their Bishop on g7) with the move e6 (to blunt a Bishop coming to c4). This leaves the dark squares in their position (d6, f6 and h6) particularly vulnerable to invasion.

It is no longer possible to defend the highlighted squares with a Black pawn.

Very often you can exploit this by maneuvering your pieces to target these weaknesses. If you can successfully invade on one or more of these squares then you will likely be very close to victory. Even the threat of invading on these squares can be decisive. Let's take a closer look at the above example:

It's important to keep in mind that you don't necessarily want to invade on these squares at the very first opportunity, even if you can get a check while doing so. Very often it's useful to keep the check in reserve in order to keep your opponent's pieces tied down. I employed this waiting strategy in the following 2 games:

Sometimes you won't be able to immediately exploit the holes in your opponent's position. It can take some work to break down a fianchetto'd position against good defense. However, if you are persistent and keep building up the pressure then even strong players will likely succumb to the constraint on their position.