Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer (
More info?)
On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 02:16:30 GMT, nimrod@nimrods.org (Rudy Lopez)
wrote:
>I think overplaying the Colle system can be bad for one's chess game.
>
>At least I found myself in that position and made a point of dropping
>it in favor of the Queens Gambit (at least until I feel I have played
>it enough so that I am not just avoiding it).
>
>Koltanoski was the man as far as the Colle system goes. Most of the
>Colle system books seem to be out of print right now, but Chessbase
>has a really good Colle System CD-ROM.
>
>I too am interested in studying a d4 repertoire that avoids the QGD
>and just ordered "A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire" by Aaron
>Summerscale from Amazon.com. I don't think the book covers the Colle
>System (at least not the Koltanowski variation).
>
>Can't tell you anything about the book, it hasn't arrived yet.
>
>Andrew Soltis wrote a few books on the Colle System and Stonewall and
>Torre Attack. I liked the way he presented the material. They are out
>of print but they pop up used on the net now and then.
>
Why would anyone want to AVOID the QGD? It's the easiest of the
non-gambit openings (where black isn't giving up pawns) for White to
obtain an advantage. So naturally, you want to avoid it for a system
where it's easier for black to equalize or gain an advantage? Just
so you can learn a system, where you hope to win if your opponent
doesn't know the right variation--and if he DOES, then you suffer a
miserable game--again and again--and then try to avoid playing that
guy...uh uh...that's chess all right...
Learn how to play a GOOD system--understand the GAME, play strong
systems, not " i want to avoid theory and give my enemy an easy
position" system.
A good system used to be the Tromposky, but Black can equalize easily
with several dynamic systems (including winning a pawn then sacing it
back and blowing open lines...the Tromposky isn't in favor anymore;
even the famous Qxb6 endgame is -good- for Black if he takes axb6; the
doubled b pawns are nothing, and black's pressure on the a and c files
gives him wonderful prospects.
BTW, the weakness of the colle system is: in the most dangerous line
(Ne5/f4), black gains equality or MORE, by sac'ing a pawn, stopping
white's attack by getting rid of the d3 bishop and the e5 knight, this
leaves White with nothing left--the f1 rook gets traded, the Queens
come off, and white still has a BAD bishop on c1 and rook on a1, and
that B has nowhere to go. Black's B goes to a6/c4, controlling the f
file, and White has to sac the pawn back to free himself. It's an old
line but so effective that no one good does it anymore. White has to
trade Queens...if he retreats the Q, the B of opposite colors gives
Black an even bigger advantage, despite the pawn minus, as the f file
is taboo (white can NEVER control it), and with mate threats like Qf1+
RxQ RxR#, well...
In the standard colle lines, Black has several options, including
attacking d4, trading when white plays e4, then Nd7-f6 followed by a
quick c5, either giving white an IQP under unfavorable conditions, or
if d4xc5, then capturing with the b pawn (!), with dynamic pressure on
white's Queenside majority.
What else is there? The Verasov? Good for Black but you have to
know it. Catalan? main line involving a quick dxc4 and Nc6,
attacking d4, has led to great games for Black, with him ahead in
development. Only other line is the Qa4xc4 /Bf4 line, where White
hopes for a +/=, but Black is active and white's advantage is nothing
more than he gets in any other -good- opening where Black plays
accurately. But I would rather be black in this Catalan line than
hopelessly passive in the QGD !
So learn the Queen's Gambit.
It will make for interesting chess. And learn how to fight against
the best reply to 2. c4 --the Slav. Winning chances for both sides
right off the bat- unless you chicken out with the exchange variation,
which guarantees White +/= but nothing more.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram