1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5

We are all pushed for time these days.  Life runs at a frenetic pace.  With limited time available, what is the best way to get on top of chess theory, to study new opening lines and to master them?   There's a clear procedure which helps.

The first thing to do is to get to know the opening via the use of complete games.  After all, the opening leads to the middlegame and onwards to the ending, so collect and then play through at reasonable speed a typical series of recent games.  I prefer books but most of you will use a database these days which will be more efficient in terms of time.  John Nunn thought fifty about right but I think 20-30 is enough for the average player.  Get to know the typical plans, ideas, tricks and traps, the pawn structure wrinkles, the basic philosophy of the variation.  Make some notes of the points of immediate interest as you go along.  One could call this a FAMILIARIZATION phase.

I would then recommend trying the opening out in non-serious games, whether at the club, with friends or on the Internet it does not matter.  This will reinforce your basic knowledge and you can compare the moves of your games with the stuff in the book.  This is the PRACTICE phase which might pan out over a couple of months or so.  Give yourself ample time to think things through.  Why take risks ?

It's now time to return to your basic collection which you should update with all the recent games in that line.  This is easily done on the Internet via TWIC or if you are using books alone, see if anything new has been published.  You have to be prepared to look more deeply at this stage, taking care at those critical moments identified earlier.  You should have developed a pretty good feeling for the opening by now so it's time to make repertoire choices.  What and how EXACTLY are you going to play?  This is the CONSOLIDATION phase.

Finally it's time to play your new opening in competitive games. Good luck!

This procedure therefore features gradual, unhurried improvement, small steps forward over three to four months.  To me that is the best way to learn.  Let time work for you, what's the rush?

I've recently been very impressed by a book on the Veresov by GM Nigel Davies, so much so that I've decide to include the opening in my repertoire. White limits Black's choice and shapes the game as early as move three!  Let me show you a couple of recent games unearthed during MY familiarization phase.  I hope they inspire you to have a look yourself!

Frolov,D (2415) - Katkov,S (2185) [D01]
1st Stage n Cup, Tomsk Stade (6), 2003

[Click here for an interactive JavaScript board to follow this game on]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 c5

Black's most active line.  At the cost of pawn weaknesses Black fights for the initiative.

4. dxc5!?

Extremely unusual, not even mentioned by Davies and throws Katkov completely.  4 dxc5 was a move that certainly caught my eye.  I very much doubt that it can be correct to cede the centre so early, but the creation of unusual and original problem is the basic idea of the Veresov as far as I can see.  I quite like 4.Bxf6 gxf6 5. e4 dxe4 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Qd5!?

...putting the pressure right on Black to find a good move.  White streaks ahead in development and he's simply threatening to castle long and/or Bb5+, Nge2-g3 etc.  7...a6 isn't bad, but if that's the best that he can do I much prefer to be White. 7 Qd5 is intimidating.

4... d4 5. Bxf6 gxf6 6. Ne4 f5

Katkov is duly provoked.  The positions reached after 6...Qd5 are irregular: 6... Qd5 7. Ng3 Nc6 (7... Qxc5 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Nf3) 8. e3 e5 9. Nf3 Bxc5 10. c3 with an unclear position, doubtless all part of Frolov's plan.

7. Nd2 e5 8. Nb3 Nc6

The tentacles of database theory curl into every nook and cranny of everyday chess life.  I was absolutely gobsmacked to find the following reference: 8...Qc7 9. Qd2 Be6 10. e3 Bh6 11. O-O-O  (Never mind the quality, feel the width!  Hereabouts White can improve. How about 11. Bb5+! for starters.  11... Nd7 (11... Nc6 12. Qa5! O-O-O 13. Qxc7+ Kxc7 14. Bxc6 Kxc6 15. exd4 exd4 16. Nf3) 12. Qa5  An interesting resource.  12... Qxa5+ 13. Nxa5 dxe3 14. Nxb7 Ke7 15. Nf3) 11... Nd7 12. Qb4 dxe3 13. fxe3 Bxe3+ 14. Kb1 O-O-O 15. Be2 Nxc5 16. Nf3 Rhg8 17. Qc3 f4 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Qxe5 Qxe5 20. Nxe5 Nxb3 21. axb3 Rd2 22. Bf3 1/2-1/2 Brychta,V-Crha,J/Brno 1961

9. e3!

White has the initiative.

9...dxe3 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. fxe3 Be6 12. Bb5 Nb4

One can sense Black's discomfort.  He is being asked to play real chess-each move must fit in as part of a concrete plan.  This is where the skills of the superior player shine.  12...Nb4 looks poor - a one-move wonder.

13. O-O-O+ Kc7 14. Kb1 Bh6 15. Nf3! a6

15... e4 16. Nfd4 Bxe3 17. Nxe6+ fxe6 18. Rd7+ Kc8 19. Rhd1

Surely is better for White, whose initiative is plain for all to see.  19...a6 20. Bc4 Nd5 21. Bxd5.

16. Ba4 e4 17. Nfd4 Nd5

17... Bxe3 18. Nxe6+ fxe6 19. Rd7+ Kc8 20. Re1 (20. Rhd1 Nd5 21. Rf7 Rd8 with an unclear position) 20... Bf2.

18. Nxf5! Nxe3 19. Nxe3 Bxe3 20. Rde1 Bxb3 21. Bxb3 Bxc5 22. Rxe4 1-0

Clearly completely demoralized, Black decides to a call it a day.  He's a pawn down without counterplay and f7 is soon to fall.  I would have played on with opposite-coloured Bishops but Tomsk is a beautiful city at this time of year.  A slight game, but one where the hidden power of the Veresov reveals itself.  It's a very good opening for sidestepping familiar positions, one for the orienteer.  Not everyone feels comfortable in such a situation.

I felt that the following game had to be included.  Against one of Black's most solid lines and very strong opposition, White fashions an excellent win.
 

Maryasin,B (2390) - Horvath,A (2500) [D01]
2nd Open, Condom France (7), 2003

[Click here for an interactive JavaScript board to follow this game on]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 c6

Very sensible indeed.  Black reinforces the centre and prepares to bring his Queen out.  The b2 square is a little bit vulnerable now that the Queen's Bishop has left the roost.

4. e3

I wondered:  4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 f5 6. Bd3 g6 7. Nce2 Nd7 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 Be6! is the recommended plan for White, but after 10...Be6 has he really got anything out of the opening?  Frankly, I prefer Black, who has two good Bishops and a grip on the centre.  There might be a tendency to suppose that once white plays Bg5, he HAS to play Bxf6.  Davies contradicts that view and Maryasin seems to be in full agreement.  Of course 4 e3 is sensible, preparing to develop, not revealing White's hand.  I much prefer it to 4 Bxf6.

4... Ne4?!

Black throws down the gauntlet.  I don't know why but for some players the Veresov is the equivalent of holding a red rag in front of a bull.  Moves which would never normally be considered are played.  Maybe Horvath just feels 2 Nc3 isn't worthy of any respect.  It's an opening with a one-paced reputation and he is going sharpen the game up and give White the treatment.  He soon gets a shock!  4... Qb6 5. Rb1 Bf5 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. cxd3 Nbd7 8. Nf3 e6 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4 Be7 11. b4!  A very good move, cramping Black's queenside.  11... O-O 12. Na4 Qd8 13. Qb3 b5 14. Nc5 Nxc5 15. bxc5 a5 16. Rfe1 Nd7 17. Bg3 Rc8 18. e4!

This is the way to make use of the extra central pawn.  18... Bf6 19. Bd6 Re8 20. Re2 Nf8 21. Rbe1 Veresov-Krogius USSR Team Ch 1953.  With enviable control of the position, White is considerably better, although this game eventually ended in a draw.

5. Nxe4 dxe4

No tricks with ...Qa5 if you don't mind.

6. Qd2 $1 g6 7. Bc4 Bg7 8. Ne2

Straightforward development.

8... h6 9. Bf4 Nd7 10. Nc3 Nb6 11. Bb3 Nd5 12. Be5

I like this move a lot.  Simplification holds few terrors for Maryasin who offers the exchange of Black's valuable fianchettoed Bishop.  With the f2-f3 lever imminent, White is calling all the shots.

12... f6

12... Bxe5 is a joyless excursion towards a bad pawn structure:  13. dxe5 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Bf5 (14... O-O 15. Qb4! Bf5 16. e6 fxe6 17. h3!) 15. Rd1 Qb6 16. e6 f6 17. O-O

13. Bg3 f5 14. f3 $1 a5

14... exf3 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. gxf3 e6 17. c4 shows that White has a second pawn lever available.

15. fxe4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 a4 17. Bc4 fxe4

17... b5 18. Bd3

18. O-O

A single, brief glance is enough.  Horvath's pawns are very exposed and his King is unhealthy.

18...Bf5 19. Rab1 b5

How else to get castled, but it's a further weakness.

20. Be2 O-O 21. c4! Be6 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8 23. cxb5 cxb5 24. a3

A little cautious but with victory at hand against such an eminent opponent, one can forgive Maryasin; it's a natural reaction.  I think White could take on b5:  24. Bxb5 Bxa2 25. Ra1 Bf7 (25... Qb6 26. Qb4 Bf7 27. Rxa4 Rxa4 28. Qxa4) 26. Bc6!  In both cases, White wipes up.

24... Qd5 25. Bxb5 Qa2 26. Rf1+ Kg8 27. Bc6 Rc8 28. Bxe4 Qxa3 29. Bxg6 Qb2 30. Qa5 a3

This 'creeping' manouvre is certainly aesthetic.  Maryasin finishes neatly.

31. Qa6 Qa2 32. Bf7+!

 

32... Bxf7 33. Qxc8+ Kh7 34. Qc3 1-0

Very safe.  To the end, Black's fianchettoed Bishop is imprisoned.  An impressive victory and a game with a feel-good factor.  It makes me want to go out and play the Veresov.

More recent games are appended for your enjoyment and edification:  to download a zipped PGN file containing 36 illustrative Verosov games, click here.  [Editor: another 242 games from 2004 to date have been added as a zipped PGN file.]

Further recommended reading :

[Return to the Index of IM Andrew Martin's Columns]