A thread to discuss the Colle System.
I'm going to assume that you have never heard of the Colle System, or have heard of it but never studied it. I'm also going to assume that you are have at least finished the material in my Beginner Course here:
Wikipedia has this to say:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colle_System
"The Colle System, also known as the Colle–Koltanowski system, is a chess opening strategy for White introduced by the Belgian master Edgard Colle in the 1920s. It was then further developed by George Koltanowski.
This variation of the Queen's Pawn Game is characterised by a systematic if modest development of White's minor pieces to support a quick pawn move to the e4 square. It is solid, but inflexible."
As an "opening system" the Colle is more concerned with piece placement than move order; though at higher levels of chess move order is considered very important. Learning an opening system is one way to avoid learning an opening by rote.
The piece placement for White in the Colle starts out per this diagram:
Wikipedia has this to say:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colle_System
"The Colle System, also known as the Colle–Koltanowski system, is a chess opening strategy for White introduced by the Belgian master Edgard Colle in the 1920s. It was then further developed by George Koltanowski.
This variation of the Queen's Pawn Game is characterised by a systematic if modest development of White's minor pieces to support a quick pawn move to the e4 square. It is solid, but inflexible."
As an "opening system" the Colle is more concerned with piece placement than move order; though at higher levels of chess move order is considered very important. Learning an opening system is one way to avoid learning an opening by rote.
The piece placement for White in the Colle starts out per this diagram:
Understanding some chess history and evolution of chess theory can help understand how the Colle came to be and how people played chess when it was introduced.
The Classical School (lichess.org/forum/team-jomegas-tabia/the-schools-of-chess?page=2#17) had a very specific approach to control of the center of the board. They thought it best to have 1, 2, or even more pawns in the center. They especially thought that having a pawn phalanx on the 4th rank was desired. So for White, pawns at d4 and e4. This was not a new idea. The Romantic School had been playing 1.e4 e5 2.f4, the King's Gambit, with one idea being that if the gambit was accepted, then White would eventually play d4 and so achieve the phalanx.
When the King's Gambit stopped being popular the Queen's Gambit (QG) became popular. The idea was similar. After 1.d4 d5 2.c4, if Black captured the c-pawn then White might get the pawn phalanx d4/e4. There was an issue with the QG though - what to do with the development of the Queen Bishop.
The belief at first was that the Queen Bishop had to stay on the queenside. On the queenside, the QB could defend the b-pawn, or, if fianchettoed, it could defend the dark squares and support the QR on the c-file. Hence in games in the late 19th century we find the QB either being fianchettoed or developed at Queen's second square.
Some masters had tried bringing the QB to f4 or g5, but the idea of bringing the Bishop to g5 in the QG was popularized by the success of Pillsbury at the Hastings 1895 tournament. Today the Trompowsky Attack and Torre Attack feature the QB on g5.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_Attack
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompowsky_Attack
That said, the Colle System is also trying to achieve the pawn phalanx d4/e4, but with a slow build-up to e4. The QB is held on its initial square waiting to be released once e4 is played and the QN moves.
So what was Black playing when the Colle was being introduced? Well, though the Hypermodern School was in full swing at that time, there were still many more players that played in the classical style. Hence, Black was playing moves like ...d5, ..Nf6, ...e6, ...Be7 or ...Bd6 and counter-attacking White's center with ...c5 and either ...Nbd7 or ...Nbc6. Black would more often than not, fianchetoe his QB. The Classical School response by Black is a good place to start our investigation of the Colle because beginners also are likely to play this way.
The Classical School (lichess.org/forum/team-jomegas-tabia/the-schools-of-chess?page=2#17) had a very specific approach to control of the center of the board. They thought it best to have 1, 2, or even more pawns in the center. They especially thought that having a pawn phalanx on the 4th rank was desired. So for White, pawns at d4 and e4. This was not a new idea. The Romantic School had been playing 1.e4 e5 2.f4, the King's Gambit, with one idea being that if the gambit was accepted, then White would eventually play d4 and so achieve the phalanx.
When the King's Gambit stopped being popular the Queen's Gambit (QG) became popular. The idea was similar. After 1.d4 d5 2.c4, if Black captured the c-pawn then White might get the pawn phalanx d4/e4. There was an issue with the QG though - what to do with the development of the Queen Bishop.
The belief at first was that the Queen Bishop had to stay on the queenside. On the queenside, the QB could defend the b-pawn, or, if fianchettoed, it could defend the dark squares and support the QR on the c-file. Hence in games in the late 19th century we find the QB either being fianchettoed or developed at Queen's second square.
Some masters had tried bringing the QB to f4 or g5, but the idea of bringing the Bishop to g5 in the QG was popularized by the success of Pillsbury at the Hastings 1895 tournament. Today the Trompowsky Attack and Torre Attack feature the QB on g5.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_Attack
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompowsky_Attack
That said, the Colle System is also trying to achieve the pawn phalanx d4/e4, but with a slow build-up to e4. The QB is held on its initial square waiting to be released once e4 is played and the QN moves.
So what was Black playing when the Colle was being introduced? Well, though the Hypermodern School was in full swing at that time, there were still many more players that played in the classical style. Hence, Black was playing moves like ...d5, ..Nf6, ...e6, ...Be7 or ...Bd6 and counter-attacking White's center with ...c5 and either ...Nbd7 or ...Nbc6. Black would more often than not, fianchetoe his QB. The Classical School response by Black is a good place to start our investigation of the Colle because beginners also are likely to play this way.
Let's talk about the White position given in
lichess.org/forum/team-jomegas-tabia/colle-system#2
We assume that White could not play e4 before reaching this position. As a trivial example if
1.d4 a6 2.e4, and White has achieved the pawn phalanx d4/e4.
Let's discuss each piece's roles.
d4: Part of the desired phalanx. Attacking e5 and c5. By attacking e5, White inhibits Black playing ...e5. A pawn at d4 helps support pieces on e5 (and perhaps c5) later in the game. It also prohibits Black from playing a Knight to c5 or e5, which would attack the d3-Bishop.
c3: The c3 pawn protects the d4 pawn allowing for the possibility on ...cxd4 of cxd4. It also inhibits a Black Knight from playing to b4, which would attack the d3-Bishop. The c-pawn being on c3 is much different than playing it to c4, which would be part of the Queen's Gambit opening. At c3 the pawn takes that square away from the White Queen Knight. Hence, White plays the QN to d2. Also, the advance of the c-pawn to c3 makes a retreat square (c2) for the KB. Note: White can omit playing c3 if Black has not played ...c5 and also Black has no Knight that can play immediately to b4. As soon as Black plays ...c5 or plays a Knight that could move to b4, White should play c3.
e3: White plays e3 so as to develop his King Bishop at d3, which helps an early castling move. The e3-pawn is destined for e4, but if Black captures the d-pawn with ...cxd4 and the White c-pawn is still at c3, then White can play exd4. This is a slight change of plan from getting a pawn phalanx. The alternative of cxd4 and then e4 later will almost surely give White an isolani. For beginners we recommend avoiding the isolani until they have learned how to play with one.
Bd3: Whites King Bishop guards the light squares in the center. It helps the e4 push. The KB attacks h7, which can become a vulnerable square for Black. If the Bishop is attacked by a pawn at c4, then it can retreat to c2.
Nf3: The King Knight guards d4 and prohibits ...e5. It may move to e5 or g5 or h4 as part of a kingside attack. It defends h2 if Black creates a battery on that square.
Nd2: The Queen Knight also guards the light center squares. It helps the e4 push. The Knight may be exchanged on e4 if Black captures there. In some variations the QN plays to f1/g3 and helps a kingside attack.
lichess.org/forum/team-jomegas-tabia/colle-system#2
We assume that White could not play e4 before reaching this position. As a trivial example if
1.d4 a6 2.e4, and White has achieved the pawn phalanx d4/e4.
Let's discuss each piece's roles.
d4: Part of the desired phalanx. Attacking e5 and c5. By attacking e5, White inhibits Black playing ...e5. A pawn at d4 helps support pieces on e5 (and perhaps c5) later in the game. It also prohibits Black from playing a Knight to c5 or e5, which would attack the d3-Bishop.
c3: The c3 pawn protects the d4 pawn allowing for the possibility on ...cxd4 of cxd4. It also inhibits a Black Knight from playing to b4, which would attack the d3-Bishop. The c-pawn being on c3 is much different than playing it to c4, which would be part of the Queen's Gambit opening. At c3 the pawn takes that square away from the White Queen Knight. Hence, White plays the QN to d2. Also, the advance of the c-pawn to c3 makes a retreat square (c2) for the KB. Note: White can omit playing c3 if Black has not played ...c5 and also Black has no Knight that can play immediately to b4. As soon as Black plays ...c5 or plays a Knight that could move to b4, White should play c3.
e3: White plays e3 so as to develop his King Bishop at d3, which helps an early castling move. The e3-pawn is destined for e4, but if Black captures the d-pawn with ...cxd4 and the White c-pawn is still at c3, then White can play exd4. This is a slight change of plan from getting a pawn phalanx. The alternative of cxd4 and then e4 later will almost surely give White an isolani. For beginners we recommend avoiding the isolani until they have learned how to play with one.
Bd3: Whites King Bishop guards the light squares in the center. It helps the e4 push. The KB attacks h7, which can become a vulnerable square for Black. If the Bishop is attacked by a pawn at c4, then it can retreat to c2.
Nf3: The King Knight guards d4 and prohibits ...e5. It may move to e5 or g5 or h4 as part of a kingside attack. It defends h2 if Black creates a battery on that square.
Nd2: The Queen Knight also guards the light center squares. It helps the e4 push. The Knight may be exchanged on e4 if Black captures there. In some variations the QN plays to f1/g3 and helps a kingside attack.
Continuing the discussion of the White position given in
lichess.org/forum/team-jomegas-tabia/colle-system#2
Once White has this position his next goals are to castle and play the e4 push. Assuming that Black is playing in the Classical School style, there will be a Black pawn at d5 and Black Knight at f6. Assuming Black has no other attackers of e4 then, since White has already two defenders of e4, White could play e4 without material loss. However, White has to judge whether leaving his King in the center is a good idea before the e4 push, and whether it would be better to have another defender on e4 before the push.
The reason for another defender of e4 is because if multiple exchanges happen on e4, White may be better served by being able to make the final capture with a Queen or Rook instead of with the d3-Bishop. Assuming these are safe moves, White would then either have a Queen/Bishop battery on h7 or the possibility of completing the Rook lift, say to the h-file. However, if Black has played ...Nc6 then White may be able to push e4 before having another defender.
lichess.org/forum/team-jomegas-tabia/colle-system#2
Once White has this position his next goals are to castle and play the e4 push. Assuming that Black is playing in the Classical School style, there will be a Black pawn at d5 and Black Knight at f6. Assuming Black has no other attackers of e4 then, since White has already two defenders of e4, White could play e4 without material loss. However, White has to judge whether leaving his King in the center is a good idea before the e4 push, and whether it would be better to have another defender on e4 before the push.
The reason for another defender of e4 is because if multiple exchanges happen on e4, White may be better served by being able to make the final capture with a Queen or Rook instead of with the d3-Bishop. Assuming these are safe moves, White would then either have a Queen/Bishop battery on h7 or the possibility of completing the Rook lift, say to the h-file. However, if Black has played ...Nc6 then White may be able to push e4 before having another defender.
When Black plays ...Nc6, I recommend an early dxc5 to avoid an isolani. White can then castle, play Qe2 and then push e4. This results in reaching the position I've labeled A1 in the study below. Some sample games between masters are given.
When Black plays ...Nbd7 instead of ...Nc6, White wants to avoid dxc5 because Black would recapture with the Knight and be attacking the d3-Bishop and e4. Now the position of Black's King Bishop becomes critical.
When the Black KB is on d7 White can castle and play Qe2 and the e4 push. Black will most often play ...cxd4 at that point in an attempt to give White an isolani.
When the Black KB is on d6 White can castle but should play Re1 instead of Qe2. The reason is that the Queen on e2 could become exposed on the e-file - Black could play ...e5/...exd4 which would pin White's e-pawn. When White pushes e4, Black will most often play ...cxd4. However, White cannot play Nxd4 because of the double attack on his h2. Hence, White does best here to accept the isolani with cxd4.
When the Black KB is on d7 White can castle and play Qe2 and the e4 push. Black will most often play ...cxd4 at that point in an attempt to give White an isolani.
When the Black KB is on d6 White can castle but should play Re1 instead of Qe2. The reason is that the Queen on e2 could become exposed on the e-file - Black could play ...e5/...exd4 which would pin White's e-pawn. When White pushes e4, Black will most often play ...cxd4. However, White cannot play Nxd4 because of the double attack on his h2. Hence, White does best here to accept the isolani with cxd4.
Even if Black plays ...d5, ...e6, ...Nf6, he may vary from the Classical School style by not advancing the c-pawn. See the following two chapters in the above study.
Another variation for Black sort of Classical School style is the Anti-Colle. While Black plays ...d5 and ...Nf6 in Classical School style, he plays ...Bf5 which violates the ROT of keeping the QB on the queenside. See the chapter
Black can also play according to the Hypermodern School. Two such defenses are the Queen's Indian Defense and the East Indian Defense (which is related to the King's Indian Defense). See these chapters in which we assume that White continues to set up the Colle formation.
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