Chris Ward - The Queens Gambit Accepted

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To my brother Jeremy, for his continued support

The Queens Gambit Accepted

BATSFORD CHESS OPENING GUIDES

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Batsford Chess Opening Guides

Chris Ward

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Queens Gambit Accepted, Eduard Gufeld (Batsford 1986)

Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings vol.D, (Sahovski Informator 1987)

New Ideas in the Queens Gambit Accepted, Glenn Flear (Batsford 1994)

The Queens Gambit Accepted, Iakov Neishtadt (Cadogan 1997)

Informator

New in Chess Yearbook

Chess Base Megabase CD-ROM

Chess Monthly

British Chess Magazine

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In my role as a coach of junior players, the Queens Gambit Accepted (QGA) has in the past caused me to reconsider some basic teaching principles. I recall demonstrating the Queens Gambit and then on 2...dxc4, have members of the audience chuckle. As if Black would do that was the audience view, with the children obviously preferring 2...c6 or 2...e6, keeping the centre intact. Yes, the general opinion was definitely that 3 e4 would be winning, which brings to mind my own story. As a nine-year-old just starting out, I was happy playing the natural 3 e4 until I was told by an experienced player that it was a mistake. Hence I switched to the more solid 3 f3 and 4 e3, only to discover some seven or eight years later that I had actually been misinformed! Of course at the end of the day it all boils down to taste and I had no hesitation in returning to my first love of 3 e4 (rather bitterly though in view of those wasted years!).

In the 1990s the QGA (whose advocates include Anand and Short) is considered a perfectly acceptable defence. Black does indeed concede the centre, but the intention is to strike back when the time is right. For his part, White may eschew the immediate 3 e4 in favour of the slower plan of retaining this move as a long-term aim (i.e. after he is satisfactorily developed or feels that he is ready).

Black has two main breaks in the QGA, which we deal with in turn:

...c7-c5

After this move Blacks pieces are granted more freedom to manoeuvre. His queen can leave its home square and the c-file could later become useful for a rook or two. White no longer has a free hand in the centre as e3-e4 is dissuaded by the pressure on his d4-pawn. Note that the above diagram is characteristic of the Classical variation ().

...e7-e5

Black generally wants to play either ...c7-c5 or...e7-e5 in the QGA to buy some space of his own. In the above diagram, Black has just played 4...e5! and what better way could there be of preventing White from playing e4-e5 himself? In situations such as this, White gains nothing from the queen trade 5 dxe5 xd1+. Usually Black is fine whether both sides retain their doubled pawns or a c4 for e5 (or e4) swap is initiated. If White advances with 5 d5, then he is reducing the scope of his light-squared bishop, whilst allowing Black access to the c5-g1 diagonal. Also 5...b5!? becomes an option because the c3-knight plays an integral part in holding Whites centre together.

I pride myself on having taken an objective approach throughout this book. I can safely say that I would be prepared to play the QGA with either colour, but first I should take to task the gambit part. At grandmaster level, opening gambits are very rarely seen as they tend to have a bad reputation (especially in these days when analysis is aided by materialistic computer programs). Acceptance of the Queens Gambit would imply that you have snatched a lukewarm to hot pawn and could suggest that you have a little suffering to do before your extra material hopefully sees you through. In reality thats just not the way things are. The Queens Gambit isnt really a gambit at all, as there is no satisfactory way for Black to keep his pawn. The only way this would be possible would be try something with...b7-b5, but in practice White could undermine this with a2-a4 and b2-b3.

While were on the topic, there is an idea that Black must steer clear of. After 3 e3 b5? 4 a4 c6 5 axb5 cxb5

Instead of following up with the usual undermining 6 b3, White has the devastating 6 f3! Black must always be wary of this diagonal and for that matter the damage that the sneaky white queen can cause elsewhere, e.g. 3 e3 f6 4 xc4 g4? 5 b3

Simultaneously attacking f7 and b7.

If White demonstrates that he is not in a hurry to recapture on c4, preferring to , 4 e4 is the correct response), Black can use the advance of the a-pawns to his advantage with 4...c6! 5 e3 a5.

The c4-pawn will remain a thorn for a while as it is surprisingly difficult to regain it (e.g. 6 f3, intending 7 e5xc4, is foiled by 6...g4). In such instances, at worst Black will temporarily have the use of the b3-square to cause some damage.