Colle-Zukertort, your experiences please

The vast majority of players and reference materials indicate that the Zukertort is the more ambitious opening...closer to a "real try" for an advantage.

 I played the Koltanowski version for years before switching to the Zuke over 10 years ago. Now I play ONLY the Zukertort. The problem with the Koltanowski is that if Black knows what he is doing, it isn't hard at all to defuse White's attack...without even really using a "pet defense."

...Which is why I decided to write "Zuke 'EM," 257 pages dedicated to the opening.

-David

 1.d4 f5 2.g4 is an intersting line considered in NCO. So is 1.d4 f5 2.e4 although you can just play a kingside fianchetto. 

On the Colle Zuk, what do you plan to play against 1.d4 d5 2.e3 (or 2.Nf3) Nc6. ???

I really think Colle players will struggle against this move order since an early ...e5 AND ...Bg4 is threatened. Interesting! Dont be fooled into thinking that the Colle is a shortcut to theory becuase against some people (maybe me! muhahhaa)  it wont be!

Graw81 

A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire is a Everyman Chess book written by Aaron Summerscale. First published in 1998 and my volume is a reprint from 2004. Good book that features some scintillating ideas against most of the replies to 1 d4.

Starting Out: The Colle by Palliser is also an excellent book.

Combining the lessons of these two books and some diligent research with a database and engine would probably be enough to make you well versed in how to play this opening and the resulting middlegames and endgames.

There is also a chess mentor course "understanding the Colle-Zukertort" by Nigel Davies on this very site.

http://www.chess.com/chessmentor/view_course.html?id=231

The Polgar DVD is also a great product 

Phil, "A killer Chess Opening Repertoire" looks like a good lead.  Reading the reviews opened my eyes to d4, as well as c4 and e4, repertoire books, too.  Thanks.  Right now I can only find it used for $135 US!  I saw one used on amazon.uk for about 18 pounds. If anyone knows of a new one in stock in US or nearly new for close to new-price, let me know.  I'll continue to google.

I've seen some of Polgar's DVD and d4 Dynamite.  I liked d4 Dynamite better, though didn't watch either in their entirety.  That's actually what put the zuk on my radar.  In d4 Dynamite, I can still remember some of the attacking themes and interesting rook forks.  Though I watched the beginning of that DVD probably 5-10 times.  (I've watched Roman's DVD on the KIA probably 20 times and not sure I retained more than a couple ideas.)  Everyone learns differently.  I'm very low photographic memory.  I have to reason it out and make it mine, and don't get enough time as it flashed by on the video.  I do use vids for dead time where I just feel like watching a movie, or for something productive when I'm sitting in front of the TV riding the stationary bike anyway.

I'm mostly a book learner.  I like to enter the pgn in chessbase and annotate it, then go over the moves at my own pace.  The annotated pgn in chessbase makes a quick way to review later, too. I wish more books were in electronic, annotated pgn format.  I only know of a few.

Fafou, chess mentor on the zuk looks interesting, too!  Thanks, I didn't know about that.

I've tried to follow the comments on ways that black can foil white's zuk, too, and will come back to them after I learn more about the zuk. 

Scofio, helpful to know that the d4 main line is 1.d4 2.c4, with Zuk as a notable sideline for some GMs.  At least that's the way I took your comment.  As a noob I hadn't known even that 1.d4 2.c4 was the usual main line.  I've been previously concentrating just on the KIA as my first opening for white.

Great conversation everyone.  I've gotten a lot out of it.  

 Buy my book and find out ;) It's on page 198 [chapter 11, section 4]

-Zukertort

normajeanyates, I did a quick database search. She opened with a Colle-Zuketort setup in about 15 / 522 of her games as White, most of them serious and 7 of them against stronger opposition. My database only tracks her games after she reached the high 2200s, so perhaps at that master level she feels it's better as a surprise or only in special circumstances than as a mainstay of her repertoire. She does well when she uses it.

You can play the Colle against the Dutch.  Here is a simple example (among many choices) - note, I am not looking for theoretical responses here, just simple development.  Anything deeper than this, you can search for yourself.

Oh thanks, likesforests! [for the posted game] - God, she played it as late as 2 years ago - against stronger rated opp! I won't dismiss the Colle so easily now.. I am intrigued!

That post was the best ad for the colle system i've seen :)

 But the fine print is disappointing - it is a rapid game, not decent time controls. :(

 normajeanyates -> "That post was the best ad for the colle system i've seen :)"

I dunno, I found the technical endgame and 57 moves a little discouraging.  I thought Colle games were supposed to go sac, mate, around move 20. ;)

At least at skittles (rapid chess) ;)

You see, my last post, read with the last part  of my last-but-one post, implicitly says that that 'best ad' is misleading.

i am suprised you are even thinking about colle , isnt it just for1600 and below players (said with toungue in cheek)

thats what i always hear,  off higher rated players and when reading articles on openings in general

Lostapiece, that would be me; under 1600 :).  Well under in OTB.

I'm not looking to make a major effort out of the Colle.  I just want to read up on it and give it a try and learn a few things.  Probably more OTB than CC, so if the games go south on me the pain's over in less than an hour :).