Chess Opening: Veresov Attack

[Odhinn222]

excellent analysis: very lucid. Thank you.

[multiYellowHorse]

not once before have I watched a chess video and agreed with every single word. thank you so much, this is brilliant

[IBOUGHTYAMOM]

i just love how u fixed the f pawn, i know its basic but i needed so long to look for such it almost became a master move 4 me

[KnightInFire]

I still wonder why Topalov didn't used it in 2010 against Anand.

[keyar87]

what music is it that you have in the background? I've heard it in previous videos too and like it sooo much! thanks in advance! Keyar87

[Knightgames31]

Your opponent got cornered becouse he didn't take your attack seriously. I think i'm gonna try the Veresov Attack:)

[7777Ralph]

You pawned him :)

[PandaAbomination]

I like your idea of playing the Stonewall against 3...Nbd7; I actually think that this is the best way to play a Stonewall. Black's best defense against the Stonewall IMO is a King's Indian-type setup, as he is often able to get in an early ...e5. 2 Nc3 goads Black into ...d5, which isn't so good with the positions of Black's knights (it is not easy to place them both on d6 and e4 and follow through with the ...f6 and ...e5 advance), and the dark-squared bishop is actually active.

[PandaAbomination]

This video convinced me to try the Veresov again, especially seeing as how I hated both of the 'accepted' lines after 3...Nbd7. 4 Nf3 just leads to a position for White where Black has all of the potential pawn breaks, while Tal had a strong line against 4 f3. IIRC it went ...c6 5 e4 dxe4 6 fxe4 e5 7 dxe5 Qa5, when after the possible 8 exf6 Qxg5 9 fxg7 Bxg7, Black has the Bishop pair, better development, the e5 square, and a slightly drafty White king for the pawn.

[GreenCastleBlock]

@PandaAbomination I do like that Tal line for Black. Thanks for your response.

[Zelrio28]

The pirc defense was the first defense I ever discovered on my own. I don't know why everyone underrates it.

[r4ng3bl4sts]

Looks somewhat like a Zukertort Colle system. I wonder, does the bishop on g5 work better? Or the fianchetto'ed bishop on b2?

[krunalbiotech]

after d4 black play d5. then we play nc3 then black reply bf5. its making strong position so what reply for white

[GreenCastleBlock]

@krunalbiotech 3...Bf5 is one of the main moves. I've come to realize the 4.f3 lines are really not good for White if Black knows what he's doing (see kingscrusher's comment below) I started playing 4.Bxf6 over the board with good results though.

[croopaN]

on 2:16 i think its modern defence, no?

[gtamateur]

by playing b3 yes you are right it is transpose on the pirc/modern defence

[GPS1971]

nice win!

[Kynhu1]

Great Video, do you know where can I learn more about this opening ???

thank you ;-)

[geekorthodox9]

do i hear chinese restaurant music in the background?

[jerkhead777]

I love the way you play chess

plus, the way you give us so much insight into the game it gives me a lot of understanding, id love to play a game with you

[GPS1971]

nice win!

[Marsdjinn]

this opening is pretty sweet

[lilondra]

awesome :) I'm really learning and at first I thought gay music but then it made me nervous lol

[nobi7155]

very good video!

[jcc207]

06:25 If the pawn forks the black knight and bishop, I think black advances a pawn to threaten g5 bishop - swapping like for like and black remaining material up.

[GreenCastleBlock]

Well, if Black does this White will retreat the bishop, in order to ensure White gets a piece back.

This is not an endorsement of the Fork Trick though... I now know that this line is bad for White. See the comment posted by kingscrusher earlier.

[kadsawy]

not that good.. i give it 2/5

his example is against a weak player and the opening variations are not explained in detail..

[GreenCastleBlock]

It's an introduction video, I can only put 11 minutes in there, not sure what you expected

[Deathtof7]

Ты Русский? Правда? I can't really tell your accent is Russian. I'm a chess player also, and just started making some videos. Was wondering, how do you become a "guru"? I think that's cool.

[GreenCastleBlock]

I don't speak Russian sorry.

You become a guru just by going to

youtube {.} com {/} my_profile

and click "Change channel type." You don't really get anything for doing so however.

[jre92685]

sorry, i meant nice music

[jre92685]

i do that opening to! nic music :)

[Me0wnz0rZch00]

good opening

[idlenessss]

this opening really looks somewhat passive. I dont think i would play any of the 3rd moves you covered..I would consider either 3...Ne4 or probably 3...c5, If you really want to take on f6 just to play e4, i dont mind. i would retake with e pawn, and if you actually dare to play e4 i tihnk you accomplish little but open the position where black is better developed and has the static advantage of the bishop pair.

[GreenCastleBlock]

When people take on f6 to play e4, the point is to attain a superior pawn ending (White has 4 on 3 on the queenside, Black has a crippled 4 on 3 on the kingside) as in the Ruy Lopez Exchange. Black has better middlegame play with his Bishop pair to compensate. I don't usually play those lines (although if Black burnt a tempo with ..h6 I'd consider it)

3...Ne4 is a weak move in my opinion after the simple 4.Nxe4 dxe4 5.e3.

3...c5 is good though - better than I thought it was when I made this.

[idlenessss]

that structure after your response to Ne4 is typically seen in the Bg5 version of the grunfeld, and is suprisingly good for black in that opening...this isnt exactly the grunfeld, but i can see the important similarities.

[GreenCastleBlock]

No, it's not, and you have to be careful when you apply conclusions about openings to other openings. Compared to the Grunfeld Bg5 line, White would have c2-c4 (weakens long diagonal) and Black would have g7-g6 (strengthens long diagonal). And the long diagonal is the main point of the Grunfeld!

After playing 5.e3, White can, instead of rushing ahead with c4, play simply with Qd2 and O-O-O (and possibly a disruptive d4-d5). The game Maryasin-Manor 2002 looks pretty convincing to me.

[DirtyGhettoKidnumba1]

Really, really good stuff.

[dxggfggfs]

not bad actualy but what would happen if he didnot play the c pawn? then??

[AppleSouffle]

I like that your explanations are easy to follow. And also, I don't have any trouble understanding your thick, Russian accent ;)

(I saw a few other chess videos with these 2 Russian guys. They're trying to be helpful, but they go too fast for me to follow and their Russian accents are as thick as cheese.)

[StrokaviMozak]

Love the music x))!

[StrokaviMozak]

Nice opening love it..

[GrakovskyChess]

That was a nice game

[proggoth]

Another cool trap in the 3...Bf5 lines is after 4.f3 the natural looking 4...e6? loses by force!

[destacaal]

very very nice....

[Katfish4321]

i play on FICS and i'm rated 1537 and i beat a 1700 after watchin this video so thanks for the win :)

[TunedInAndOut]

Bf6 was a good move to find in blitz.

[weakperception]

Thanks for the Lectures. Very helpful.

[Dessan01]

Lol I take back everything I said about the Czech pirc -- I've just joined a new chess club after a couple of years break from playing OTB and after using it in a series of games, I've decided that it's about as much use as a condom machine in the Vatican.

Better brush back up on the Sicilian defence for when the new tourney season starts over here in October.

[chessqueenie]

so, a won game, actually it would be great to get some of your classical music recommendations here, that hovers on background...would that be possible?

[chessqueenie]

hello matt!

just wanted to let you know that your name (matt) means checkmate in estonian ,,,(=

your gambit-ridden style is spectacular and proud, hope to learn from this a lot

[joyofthehunt]

interesting. thanks for posting this vid!

[ChessTheBlitzer]

black don't need to delay g6, black can play 3..g6 without any problems

[GreenCastleBlock]

3...g6 is a little bit committal, but not too bad. 4.Qd2 makes sense, preparing Bh6 followed by h4-h5.

[ChessTheBlitzer]

4.Qd2 followed by Bh6 and h4-h5? come on now, are you sure you are double checking with your computer software?

[GreenCastleBlock]

I was speaking conceptually, not necessarily those moves one after the other.

[kingscrusher]

Great video! One thing though - I'm not sure the folk trick (5:54) is good for White. I put it through Rybka, and it gives:

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 4. f3 Nbd7 5. Nxd5

Nxd5 6. e4 h6! 7. Bc1 e5! 8. exf5 Qh4!+ 9. g3 Qxd4 and black has a slight advantage.

[GreenCastleBlock]

7.Bc1? is a bad move. White must endure the complications after 7.Bh4 Ne3 8.Qd3 Nxf1 9.exf5 Nc5 as in Bairamov-Smagin 1982. (I got my book btw!)

In the game White played 10.Qb5+ and lost, but Davies gives analysis that suggest White's better after 10.Qc3. The pawn on f5 has a cramping effect.

[kingscrusher]

7.Bh4 is a bit dodgy because of the e3 square being vulnerable (in principle), but not straight away with Ne3. The stats are good for White with the immediate 7... Ne3.

Instead, first 7... Nd7-b6!

E.g.

Aronian vs Das 58 0-1 1993

Tartakower vs Thomas 53 1-0

Seeck vs Putzbach 57 0-1 1989

Van den Herik vs Demarre 33 1-0

Smerdon vs Leskiewicz 26 0-1 1997

Czap vs Kaplan 25 0-1 2006

Krgovic vs Todorovic draw 2008

[GreenCastleBlock]

I'll have to get back to you on that 7...Ndb6 move. It's only given in one little note and called "interesting". I can't find a good path for White yet. But still this has to be better than 7.Bc1 e5 after which Black has great development.

[GreenCastleBlock]

I've come to the conclusion that the whole line with 5.Nxd5 is bad for White. 5...Nxd5 6.e4 h6 7.Bh4 (7.Bc1 e5 gives Black too much activity) N7b6 8.exf5 Ne3 and I looked at three queen moves, 9.Qd3,9.Qe2, and 9.Qc1. In all three lines White is fighting for a draw.

The Veresov Fork Trick should go the way of the dinosaur. I guess I'll play the gambit 5.e4 dxe4 6.Bc4 instead next time I get this.

[kingscrusher]

Yes possibly. But you never know with chess - there are so many hidden amazing resources. However Veresov himself seems to have lost in this line:

[Event "URS-ch sf"]

[Site "Leningrad"]

[Date "1938.??.??"]

[Round "0"]

[White "Veresov,Gavriil N"]

[Black "Makogonov,Vladimir Andreevich"]

[Result "0-1"]

[Eco "D01"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 Bf5 4.f3 Nbd7 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 h6 7.Bh4 N7b6 8.exf5 Ne3

[kingscrusher]

9.Qe2 Qxd4 10.Bf2 Qxb2 11.Qb5+ Qxb5 12.Bxb5+ c6 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Bxe3 Nd5 15.Bd2 e6 16.fxe6 fxe6

[kingscrusher]

17.Ne2 Bc5 18.Ng3 Nf6 19.Ke2 0-0 20.Rab1 Rf7 21.Bb4 Bb6 22.Rhe1 Rd8 23.Rbd1 Rfd7 24.Rxd7 Rxd7

25.Rd1 Rxd1 26.Kxd1 Nd5 27.Bd2 Bc7 28.Ke2 Kf7 29.Kd3 Ke7 30.c4 Nf4+ 31.Bxf4 Bxf4 32.Nf1 Kd6

33.g3 Bc1 34.Kc2 Bg5 35.f4 Bf6 36.Nd2 Kc5 37.Kd3 Kb4 38.Ne4 Bb2 39.Nd6 a5 40.Nb7 Bf6

41.a3+ Ka4 42.h4 h5 43.c5 g6 44.Kc4 e5 45.fxe5 Bxe5 46.Nd8 Bxg3 47.Nxc6 Bxh4 48.Ne5 Bd8

49.Nxg6 h4 50.Nf4 Bc7 51.Nh3 Kxa3 52.c6 Kb2 53.Nf2 Kc2 54.Kd4 a4 55.Ke3 a3 0-1

[brucewallace2]

Nice kill. That attack is really interesting combining elements of Q pawn opening provoking a Pirc. Worth considering.

[smiley917]

good video as usual, but i like watching your live blitz games :)

[Dessan01]

As soon as you played 2.Nc3 I'd play 2...d6 and if 3.e4 I'd play 3...c6 converting into a Czech Pirc -- if 4.Nf3 then 4...Bg4 and your in what Andrew Martin calls 'the classical variation'. I love that opening as Black, I play it all the time against 1.e4 -- never actually lost with it yet I don't think, though I've forced a lot of draws. You should maybe consider that possibility for the tourney!

Great vid Matt, back on form :)

[ongyj]

Maybe not. That kind of tactics to draw as Black sound better for head-to-head match play? In tournaments you have to strive to win as many games as possible. Of course it depends on the type of tournament, as well as the "anticipated playing field". But drawing tactics may be useful when you are a sole leader and all it takes is a draw to win =)

[GreenCastleBlock]

Hi. I have a 1988 manuscript by Jansa and Pribyl on the 3...c6 Pirc. The problem with this opening is 4.f4! where even the inventor of the opening admits the main line is +-. I'm not aware of any recent analysis to challenge this claim.

As I mentioned in the video, the Veresov transposes to a lot of king pawn openings. Black can get a Caro-Kann, French, Pirc, Philidor, or your Czech defense. On the other hand the Sicilian, Scandy and 1...e5 are avoided.

An interesting repertoire choice!?

[Dessan01]

No, if anything I welcome 4.f4 -- the main line then is 4...Qa5. White has a number of responses to this, but the most common I have met OTB is 5.e5 -- but no problem 5...Ne4 6.Qf3, d5 enticing White to surround the Knight and win a pawn 7.Bd3, Na6 8.Ne2, Nb4 9.Bxe4, dxe4 10.Qxe4 and can you see it?? 10...f5!! -- Very nice little trap.

Of course White won't always fall for it and might play something like 9.f5 -- but I think Black does very well here by just playing 9...Nxd3+

[GreenCastleBlock]

Take a look at 5.Bd2. That's supposed to be White's best line.

[Dessan01]

I actually think 5.Bd3 is white's best response - not sure that Bishop is ideally placed on d2 :-)

[GreenCastleBlock]

This is getting rather off topic. Maybe I'll make a video to discuss the Czech Pirc and we can discuss it there.  Better yet, you make one.

[Dessan01]

Oi, don't be giving away my pet opening you ;-) Lol

I've actually thought about making videos, but I don't pretend my knowledge is anywhere near as deep as yours, so I suspect people would rip me to shreds with lines I miss etc. Plus I have a strong northern England accent, which I don't think would help in getting me taken seriously lol

Sorry for hijacking your vid!

[badmephisto]

interesting game. i liked how in the end you moved the bishop to f6 to block kings escape. I think I would have gotten too eager to checkmate and I would probably go after the free pawn with my queen, thinking that I'm getting closer to check mate. Also the white bishop sacrifice for the pawn seemed pretty non-trivial. You must be really confident that you can achieve checkmate if you do that.

[360GodF1]

your amazing at chess i have watched like nealey all your videos on chess

[BigStupidFingers]

Wow very good game, I always try and wait to castle to away from the attack. Look how inactive his pieces are. Rook on a8 never moved. Way to take advantage of a bad position.

[NickRowfeelia]

Nice game. I especially liked Bf6. I would never have thought of that. Also, couldnt that line you showed also be a variation of the trompowski (i'm not too familiar with d4 theory though)?

[GreenCastleBlock]

You would probably be able to find that move in an important game. The most obvious Qxh5 allows ..f6 and Black gets a flight square. So you think, 'how do I solve this problem'? The answer is to place a piece on f6 so Black cannot give himself that f7 square. Bf6 is the only way to do this.

The game should have continued Bf6 Rd8; Qg5 Kf8; Qxg7+ Ke8; Qg8+ Kd7; Qxf7+ etc. where Black escapes mate but suffers heavy material loss.

[GreenCastleBlock]

The Torre, Trompowski, and Veresov attacks are all of the same ilk: Queen Pawn games where White plays Bg5 without c2-c4. Not surprisingly there are many transpositions.

[ongyj]

I think the real mistake by Black was not ...0-0 but rather the absence of ...Re8 followed by ...Nf8, a key defender to the h7 "checkmate square" Maybe after ...Re8 Black might consider ...Ne4 as well. But this is very well played indeed. I wouldn't have stand a chance =(

[GreenCastleBlock]

It's possible to defend the kingside after ...O-O but it's very tricky and there's no particular reason for Black to put his king over there since White isn't opening lines in the center.

This game reminds me a lot of playing the Torre Attack for White. Even at top levels if Black castles prematurely he may lose a very short game - White's pieces are perfectly placed for a K-side attack.

[ClassicPo0h]

interesting analysis!

[MAfr3ak]

nice video. heres a little story- i play the ponziani and i thought using its ideas to create other openings. So, i looked it but from a queen pawn game. this has happened to me so many times. i make up an opening, but it already exists....

[ongyj]

It doesn't matter, so long as you're contributing in a way or another. At the very least, you're validating the ideas of the opening ^Ô^

[slattster]

great stuff! I recently won a tournament game using a stonewall attack with the ideas from your videos. Thanks a ton!

[DamnControl2]

First to comment

[GreenCastleBlock]

If you count the description as a comment, I was first.

[DamnControl2]

hehehehe