Logical Chess: Move by Move

The Tarrasch Defense is one of the Queen's Gambit Declined sidelines.

In this 23 minute video by GM Medvegy he gives an overview of the QGD sidelines after 3.Nc3 including:

• Charousek Variation (3...Bb7) https://www.chess.com/openings/Queens-Gambit-Declined-Charousek-Variation
• Queen's Knight Variation (3...Nf6): https://www.chess.com/openings/Queens-Gambit-Declined-Queens-Knight-Variation-3...Nf6
• Tarrasch Variation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbsbt886Xz8&list=PL9RQPxG_e-Lm4JomVnj_N2vkZqM_1URgH&index=4

Here is the PGN that accompanies the above video:

and here are the QGD mainlines:

The Stockfish engine says 3.Nf3 is very slightly better than 3.Nc3 (+0.24 instead of +0.20) however 3.Nc3 is the book move and is played a bit more often.

Tarrasch Defense Opening Theory (Hanging Pawns, 27 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esjT83wWr78

Game analysis:

                 White Black

CAPS         93% 65.6%
Inaccuracy 1     3
Mistakes    1     2

The Tarrasch defense begins with 3...c5 and the only good reply is Rubinstein's 4.cxd4 after which 4...exd5 is mandatory

According to Hanging Pawns 5.e3 used to be a popular move but this is very passive.

5.Nf3 is the move played in this game, the Two Knight's variation, and this is the best move.

Black played 5...Nf6 here, although 5...Nc3 a lot more popular nowadays as it puts pressure on the d4 pawn.

Chernev says "It makes little difference whether Black plays the or 5...Nc6 first." Typically Black will make each knight move one after the other before White has the chance to do much, but the statistics heavily favor 5...Nc6 see here: https://www.chess.com/openings/Tarrasch-Defense-Two-Knights-Variation

The Stockfish engine rates 5...Nf6 as +0.55 and 5...Nc6 as +0.23

6.g3! is a good move regardless of whether Nc3 of Nf6 was played, as it allows White to fianchetto his bishop. It is categorized as a book move (+0.22)

Pallabi says playable alternatives are 6.e3 (-0.14) or 6.Bf4 (0.00) or 6.Bg5 (best according to engine+0.58)

Black makes an inaccuracy with 22...Rc7 and mistakes with 25...Rb8 and 28...Ra8

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzb7ak1wN7s

Game analysis

                 White Black

CAPS         93.9%  49.4%
Inaccuracy 1         2
Mistakes    1         4
Blunder      0         1

There is a video by Ginger GM where he talks about the Colle System and recommends a more modern setup than the one that we see in this game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psgc1B5ZIwQ but if your opponent plays as badly as Hahlbohm did here then the version that Chernev played will almost certainly win you the game.

Five moves in, the position is almost exactly even.

The point were Black first gives the advantage to White is 10...e5, which was played to prevent White from playing e5 and to allow the bishop to come out.

The problem Black has he cannot play dxe4 because White can recapture with Nxe4 and fork the bishop and the knight, forcing ...Nxe4 and allowing Qxe4 which looks like this:

10...d4 would not have been a good move either, because of Nd3 forcing Bb6, and allowing e5 which attacks the knight, forcing the knight to move, and then Black loses a pawn.

Instead Black should have immediately played 10...Bb6.

Capturing the d5 pawn with 11...Nxd5 seems like the best move as the pawn is threatening to capture Back's other knight, but the engine says the 11...e4 pawn fork is better.

The engine says Chernev made his only mistake with 12.Nb3, with the best move being 12.Ne4.

Both of these knight moves gain a tempo by forcing the bishop to move, and unblock the White dark-squared bishop, but the knight is more powerful in the center of the board.

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeo3B0s1U1A

This opening becomes the Pillsbury attack with the move 9.Ne5! Chernev comments:

"This is the key move in the famous 'Pillsbury Attack'. The knight anchors itself on a square from which its striking power is terrific! Its attack extends in all directions, affecting the queenside as well as the kingside."

The engine evaluates this position as almost entirely even (+0.06). White has some more active pieces, but is yet to castle, whereas Black's King is very safe.

After this, Black makes a mistake with 10...c5 and Chernev explains:

"Black wants to attack on the queenside where, after playing 11...c4, he will have a three to two pawn majority. What he underestimates is the speed and vigour with which White can get an attack rolling on the kingside. It will strike faster and with more force than any action of Black's on the queenside. Black must deprive White's attack of some of its strength by effecting some exchanges and then counterattacking in the centre."

Black then proceeds to make two blunders: 19...a5 (Qe8 is best) and 20...Ra6 (again Qe8 is best)

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lxbqMzLy8k

GM Dejan Bojkov lesson: https://www.chess.com/lessons/the-carlsbad-pawn-structure/harry-nelson-pillsburys-carlsbad-pawn-structure-plan

Game analysis:

                 White Black

CAPS        86.5% 98.5%
Best          18        25
Mistakes   2         1

What a game played by Znosko-Borovsky!

Russ Bell has an article on the Stonewall Attack here: https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/stonewall-attack

If you have a diamond membership check out this video by IM Daniel Rensch: https://www.chess.com/video/player/pawn-structure-101-the-stonewall and if you like that the rest of the series is here: https://www.chess.com/article/view/video-series-on-pawn-structure-101

After 7 full moves the position is this:

Here it is better to capture the d4 pawn with the e-pawn rather than the c-pawn.

exd4 allows Qxf4 however white can follow with Ne4 which attacks the Queen with the bishop on c8. After the Queen moves away White can play Nxf6+

The inaccuracy cxd4 allowed Black to follow up with a knight attack on the bishop on d3.

A bigger error from white was 11.O-O

White should have just captured the pesky knight with axb4 and would be a piece up with a more active rook. But this is another point that Chernev misses in his book. He only notes "Now the bihop is guarded by queen and rook, and so safe from capture. The king meanwhile goes into hiding."

After black plays 7 consecutive best moves, the position is this:

Chernev says "White is almost paralysed:

• His e1-rook and queen are prevented from moving by Black's b5-bishop
• His bishop cannot move at all.
• One knight must stay at d2 to prevent 14...Ne4
• The a1-rook can move, but to no avail"

Principles learned from this game (by Pallabi)

• Occupy the centre with pawns
• Develop your pieces towards the centre
• Don't just move pawns in the opening, develop your pieces
• Heavy pieces like the Queen and Rook fulfill their functions best when placed on open files or files likely to be opened
• Occupy outposts as soon as possible, possibly with knights
• Checkmating threats are not likely with few pieces on the board, hence bring your king out into the open
• Double-up your rooks whenever possible
• Place your rooks on the seventh or eight rank whenever possible
• Simplify the position when you have extra pawns or material

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkaTxK9gcHU

Game analysis:

White Black

CAPS 98.5% 66.1%
Best 11 5
Mistakes 0 2

A fine game played by the great Capablanca.

Book introduction: "White does nothing but develop his pieces, but it's enough to summon up all sorts of piquant little combinations. What makes the feat impressive is that all the combinations are in White's favour, right up to the threat of mate in one (a smothered mate), which is enough to persuade Black to resign. A Capablanca jewel!"

Mattison plays well in the opening but never manages to equalise. The first mistake he makes is 15.f5

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDTaqcUBKes

Getting started with the Nimzo-Indian Defense as Black: https://www.chess.com/lessons/a-kaleidoscope-of-openings/nimzo-indian-defense

Hanging Pawns Introduction to the Nimzo-Indian Defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX_bnk7nKNg

Hanging Pawns Nimzo-Indian Classical including the 4...c5 Berlin variation played in this game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F76JoIqy3Cg

Jonathan Schrantz on Nimzo-Indian Defense Classical Variation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SzZnyyWpIA

Game analysis:

White Black

CAPS 96.9% 90.0%
Best 26 22
Inaccuracies 0 2
Mistakes 0 3

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqLOsKVLCCg

Game 26 - Ossip Bernstein - Jacques Mieses

Coburg 1904

Sicilian Defense

https://www.chess.com/openings/Sicilian-Defense-Taimanov-Variation...6.Nxc6-bxc6-7.e5-Nd5-8.Ne4

Game analysis:

White Black

CAPS 95.9% 83.8%
Best 26 20
Inaccuracies 2 2
Mistakes 3 5

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHjT55_UQBA

Game analysis:

White Black

CAPS 94.0% 37.6%
Best 19 8
Inaccuracies 2 0
Mistakes 2 2

White has just a very slight advantage over Black in the opening, and then Black makes the mistake 11...b5 which increases White's advantage to +2.84

Chernev points out the advantages of 11...b5 (attacks the bishop and allows Black's bishop on c8 to come out).

The better option for Black would be 11...Nxc3

White also makes a mistake with 12.Be2 as he should have captured with 12.Nd5

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-JZv_JgPRE

Pallabi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDbj2GwSC0E

Kevin -- I appreciate that you are continuing to add to this thread with the games.  A nice service for the rest of us!

Thanks Sholom. Here is the Perpetual Chess episode on Logical Chess:

Chernev's introduction:

"Marshall-Tarrasch (No. 29) is a little known masterpiece, which features a duel between genius of attack and a virtuoso of defence. The methods of the positional player prove superior, his continual acquisition of territory driving White to the wall.

Against Tarrasch's steady accumulation of positional advantages, any attack by his opponent seems futile."

Game analysis:

White Black

CAPS 42.1%% 89.3%
Best 14 23
Inaccuracies 8 3
Mistakes 2 1
Blunders 1 0

Of course Tarrasch played well, but modern engines reveal that Marshall also played this game badly, starting with his first mistake 15. Qb3

In the book Chernev says of 15.Qb3 "Trying to lure Black into 15...Na4 16.Qxb7 Rxc3 17. Rxc3 Qxc3+ 18. Ke2, when he has counterplay"

The engine gives the line 15... f6 16. Be3 Ba4 17. Qb2 Nc4+ 18. Bxc4 Rxc4 which ends with Black having an advantage equivalent to more than 3 pawns.

The engine recommends 15.Ke1 with the line following 15... Rxc3 16. Bd2 Rxc2 17. Bxa5 Rxc1+ 18. Rxc1

I don't think many humans would think of Ke1 in that position.

The next mistake by White is 22.Qa2

Chernev seems to like this move, writing "Double attack on the knight! This is less a threat than a convenient means of gaining time to switch the queen over to the kingside. White's only chance, of course, is to dream up some sort of counterattack. Passive play will only lead to his being gradually crushed to death."

The engine recommends the even more aggressive move 22.Bh7+ with the line following 22... Kh8 23. Be4 Bc6 24. Bd3 Ndb6 25. Bxc4 Bxf3

The blunder is the King move 44.Kh2 but the game was already lost by then.

The well known trap:
5. c4xd5 e6xd5 6. Nxd5 NxNd5 7. BxQ Bb4+

More typical is 7. Nf3 and then Nd2

8. ... Bb4, Cambridge Springs on the board and ahead.

9. Kd2, what 9. Rc1

12. exd4, white has hanging pawns ( c & d )

16. ... Ba4 and then ... Nc4 looks tasty.

23. ... Nc3 and white is in trouble.

Note how from 26. ... NxR by 34. Tarrasch has moved king side.

If
35. Qxb7?? Nxd4 36. Qc8+ Kh7 36. Qc3 g5 exploiting the pin

37. ... f5, think 37. ... Qe4 re-establishing the pin.

39. Qc3, again the b-pawn is poison

Yes that King move is really bizarre and not nearly as good as the obvious move Rc1.

There are a lot of other games that Marshall played that are brilliant. This one is the worst that I have seen him play.

Chernev's introduction:

"White offers to sacrifice his queen, but where in most games such an offer is the high point of a combination, here it is subordinate to the grand strategy of securing a positional advantage. It leads to control of the d-file, and this in turn is converted to a queenside majority of three pawns to two. Skillful play resolves this into a lone passed pawn, heavily blockaded, until another queen sacrifice opens wide the gates."

Game analysis:

White Black

CAPS 96.8%% 94.1%
Best 19 18
Inaccuracies 1 1
Mistakes 0 0
Blunders 0 1

The surprisingly bold move 18.Nxd7 is the top engine move, and if Black captured the White Queen with 18...dxe3 that would have been an inaccuracy in that position.

Chernev explains:

"If he accepts the offer and plays 18...dxe3 White reveals this combination: 19 Nxf6+ Kh8 (or 19...gxf6 20. Rg4+ Kh8 21. Bxf6#) 20 Rh4 (threatening 21. Rxh7#) 20...h6 21 Rxh6+! gxh6 22. Nd5+ Kg8 23. Nxc7 and White, with two pieces for a rook, wins easily."

Kudos! I just picked this book up last week. Enjoying it so far. Thanks for posting!

FWIW, acclaimed chess instructor Dan Heisman says that there are three first/essential things to do for a player under 1600 or so to improve:

1. practice, practice, practice -  by playing slow (30+ minutes) games -- and analyze them afterwards!
2. appropriate level tactics (start with Bain's book)
3. go over well annotated games, and he recommends this Chernev book as the first one to go over. 

(Obviously, one needs some other stuff -- but these three rank very high)

So -- enjoy your Chernev book!

Chernev introduction:

"Havasi-Capablanca (No. 31) is a superb specimen of positional play featuring the art of squeezing the most out of a tiny advantage. Capablanca secures a pawn majority on the queenside and sets to work to translate it into a passed pawn. This he does by getting control of the open c-file and then by exploiting the weaknesses of his opponent's light squares. The rest consists of escorting the passed pawn safely to the queening square."

Game analysis:

White Black

CAPS 81.8% 98.0%
Best 14 21
Inaccuracies 1 1
Mistakes 3 1
Blunders 0 0

Havasi's inaccuracy is 25.Qb2. The top engine move is Qd1 (to defend the pawn) with the line 25...Nc2 26.Qe2 Qc4 27.Qxc4 R3xc4

In the book Chernev comments "If he tries to hold on to the pawn by 25.Qd1, then 25...Qc4 26.Rb2 (the rook was attacked) 26...Nc2 (now the other one is threatened) 27. Re2 Qxa4 28 Ne1 (striking at the pinned black knight) 28...Qxd4! wins for Black."

I entered this Chernev line into the analysis and it says 25...Qc4 is best, 26.Rb2 is an inaccuracy and 26.Rb4 is best. If 26.Rb4 is played then 26...Nc2 is an inaccuracy and 26...Rc1 is best. 

Capablanca's inaccuracy is 25...Qxa4. The top engine move is 25...Nc2 with the line 26.Rd1 Qe2 27.Qb1 Qxe4 28.Ne1

Havasi's first mistake is 26.Re2. The top engine move is 26.Rea1 with the line 26... Qb5 27. Qd2 Nb1 28. Qg5 Qxg5 29. Nxg5

Capablanca's only mistake is 27...exd5. The top engine move is 27...b4 with the line 28.Ra1 a5 29.Nd4 h6 30.Ree1

Havasi's second mistake is 29. Qd2. The top engine move is 29. Ra1

Havasi's third and final mistake is 31. Qe3. The top engine move is 31. Qd3

Chernev's introduction:

"Canal-Capablanca (No. 32) is a game for the connoisseur. Canal surprises Capablanca by a combination that wins two pieces for a rook. Or was it a surprise? Apparently Capablanca anticipated the combination and, looking further into the position than Canal, saw resources that were not revealed to his opponent. The ending that follows is a fascinating study and illustrates a 'domination' theme rare in actual play. There is a pawn to be queened, but it would take an eagle eye to find the particular pawn that will be crowned."

Game analysis (2021)

White Black

CAPS 91.5% 97.1%
Best 30 35
Inaccuracies 0 1
Mistakes 5 2
Blunders 0 0

Game analysis (June 2023, maximum)

CAPS 88.1% 88.6%
Great 4 2
Best 20 25
Inaccuracies 5 0
Mistakes 1 3
Blunders 0 0

Game with computer analysis

I’m gonna hafta reread Logical Chess. I’d forgotten how many Capablanca games are in the book.