Article on New Colle Line

I guest wrote a column for chessvibes on what I am certain is the future of the c3-Colle: The Phoenix Attack.

Different people like different styles of chess. The C-Z and C-K [the two colle systems] don't put "pressure" on Black immediately, but that doesn't make them worse. The C-Z aims to contain and constrict Black, the C-K aims to execute a general opening strategy that Black has trouble stopping.

The idea that an opening has to "pressure" your opponent to be good seems a bit over-simplistic. White has historically done just as well with 1.Nf3 as he has with either 1.d4 or 1.e4, but it is hardly a pressuring move. The English opening [1.c4 e5 2.Nc3] puts no pressure on Black at all, yet it is considered totally viable.

I believe you will find that in the attack I propose in the article and my Quick-start guide, it is White who invites Black to seek center occupation he cannot sustain. Indeed, my suggestion turns the Colle-Koltanowski into a near hyper-modern opening.

Whatever the objective soundness of any opening (as long as it's not the wandering King attack), it's my belief that at the club level the player who has better familiarized himself with the typical plans and ideas, and to a lesser extent the move orders, has a better chance than their opponent. Below Master level I think something like the Colle Systems or Torre attack are ideal for this, but are also playable at higher levels as well..