Unleash the Spikes: Mastering Chess's Most Dangerous Defense
Dear Chess Friends!
The Hedgehog isn’t just an opening—it’s a psychological trap. Like a coiled spring, it lures opponents into overextending before striking with venomous counterattacks. In my recent workshop, I dissected this iconic system, revealing how Black turns apparent passivity into lethal poison. Watch the full recording here, and explore these 3 explosive game fragments that expose the Hedgehog’s secrets.
Why The Hedgehog Stings?
Born from hypermodern philosophy, the Hedgehog (pawns on a6-b6-d6-e6) surrenders space to:
- Suffocate attacks by luring pawns forward
- Explode with ...d5/...b5 breaks when White overcommits
- Turn kingside weaknesses (h2/g2) into fatal targets
But beware: One misstep, and those spines impale you.
4 Masterclass Fragments: From Defense to Destruction
1. My Battle vs. GM Diego Flores (2023)
Takeaway: f3 solidifies the center but demands precision against ...Bd6/Qb8 batteries.
2. Hort vs. Ljubojević (1973)
Takeaway: Hedgehogs win by letting opponents hang themselves.
3. Karpov vs. Andersson (1975)
Takeaway: Space advantage means nothing if you miss the spike.
If you would like to participate in our next event in live, you can register here: https://chesslance.com/masterclass/
Your participation is absolutely free.
Stay patient. Stay poisonous.
FM Viktor Neustroev
