[Event "Malis59's Colle Study: Chapter 1, Colle Blinders or Flexible Colle system"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/ZSabtWa1/DvegKAnr"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D05"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Colle System"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Malis59"] [UTCDate "2016.05.27"] [UTCTime "23:59:59"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/ZSabtWa1/DvegKAnr"] [Orientation "white"] { Source Material and References 1. Zuke-em, David Rudel; Thinkers Press 2008 2. Moment of Zuke, David Rudel, Thinkers Press 2009 3. Zuka, David Rudel, Thinkers Press 2012 4. Starting Out: D-Pawn Attacks, Richard Palliser, Everyman chess, 2008 5. A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire, Aaron Summerscale and Sverre Johnsen 6. Starting Out the Colle, Richard Palliser, Everyman Chess, 2007 7. The Koltanowsky-Phoenix Attack, David Rudel, Thinkers Press 2011 8. The Ultimate Colle, Gary Lane, Batsford 2001 9. The Zukertort System: A Guild for Black and White; Grigory Bogdanovich 10. The Colle-Koltanowski System - Deceptive Peace behind the Stonework, Valarie Bronznik ** Various other sources and Databases Colle Blinders or Flexible Colle system We've all heard about the Colle being a good opening system for beginners. That encourages play along standard set of moves, a Schematic handed out by "Win With...., or Dominate your Opponent with..." crowd. Develop your pieces thus. Attack on the Kingside and bam, bam win! A very jaundiced approach to the Colle, which is quickly outgrown when coming up against experienced players that don't fit the pattern taunted by these, systematic, authors. They give little in the way of what to do when the schematic falls short. In general, the Colle concepts are relatively easy to understand, but much more complex when looked at in depth. Black's defences have evolved and ways to avoid the standard Colle are well known at Club levels. Most players have a pet line against particular openings and with the Colle we have to be flexible enough to adjust our play accordingly. There are times when the Colle may not be the "best" system to use against the set up that Black uses. (i.e. Kings Indian and Dutch comes to mind.) In Summary: The Colle is a great base of operations to play from and can be flexible enough to use through out our chess playing careers. If we know the concepts, and have good idea of what we are after, we can respond wisely. } 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 { The Colle crossroads "If there ever was an opening that epitomizes the concept of understanding principles rather than memorizing variations, the Colle System is it." The Dogs of War - Practical Play in the Colle System, by Teresa and David Hatch Colle Kowtanowski or Colle Zukertort are two differing ways to play the Colle. Two sons of the same mother. Which is better and which one to favor? Both have differing personalities, but both seek to attack the Kingside. Both have been around for some time played by high level players. Normally the road splits after 4...c5 is played. CK places a pawn to c3 and the QB works along the c1 to h6 diagonal in most cases. The Colle-Zukertort differs by placing a pawn on b3 and fianchettoes the QB to b2 and leaving the c-pawn on c2, but may advance to c3 or c4 as situation warrants. Either can be played independent of the other but when used together can be a formidable weapon. } 5. O-O (5. c3 { Most of us are introduced to the Colle through the CK rather than the CZ. I think this is a case of theory that is easier to understand for the Novice or Intermediate player because of the immediacy of Whites attack on the Kingside. At least initially. (develop systematically, play e4 and attack the blacks kingside, followed by Mate or winning material gain.) If Black plays passively, a devistating attack can happen. sacrifices made, pawn storms, piece attacks are all seen. Exciting chess. } 5... Nc6 (5... c4 { Questionable at this stage, but still seen quite often. } 6. Bc2 Bd6 (6... a6 { Lawson, Robert vs. Forbes, Alistair 122nd ch-SCO 2015 | Edinburgh SCO | Round 8.40 | 18 Jul 2015 | ECO: D05 | 1-0 (Plenty to look at and typical of this play. } 7. Nbd2 Nc6 8. O-O b5 9. Qe2 Be7 10. e4 { Again the e4 push is important here to prevent passivity. } 10... dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nd5 12. Re1 O-O 13. Bd2 Qc7 14. Rad1 h6 15. Ng3 Bb7 16. a3 Rad8 17. Bc1 Bxa3?! { The a-pawn is just to tempting! } 18. Nh5 Be7 19. Qe4 { The Queen/Bishop battery often forces changes. } 19... g6 20. Bxh6 Nf6 21. Nxf6+ Bxf6 22. Qg4 Bg7 23. Bf4 Qc8 24. h4 b4 25. h5 b3 26. Bb1 Ne7 27. hxg6 fxg6 28. Bg5 Bxf3 29. gxf3 Bf6 30. Bh6 Bg7 31. Bxg7 Kxg7 32. Rxe6 Qd7 33. Rde1 Rf7 34. Bxg6 Nxg6 35. Rxg6+ Kh8 36. Qh4+ Rh7 37. Qf6+ Rg7 38. Rxg7?! { Not best but white sees a winning Rook and Pawn endgame. } (38. Re5 { [%csl Ge5,Gh5][%cal Ge5h5] }) 38... Qxg7+ 39. Qxg7+ Kxg7 40. Re5 Kf6 41. Rc5 Re8 42. Kf1 Rb8 43. Rxc4 Kf5 44. Ke2 Ra8 45. Ra4 Ke6) 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. Qe2 Qc7 9. e4 { The e4 break is a common theme in the Colle-Koltanowski. After the ...c4 push by Black, it's critical to get counterplay in the center and prevent a passive game. } 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 { We are following --- Capablanca, Jose vs. Stahr, J Chicago | Chicago, IL USA | Round 1 | 1915 | ECO: D05h | } 11... Nf6 12. Qh4 h6 13. O-O b5 14. a4 b4 15. cxb4 Bxb4 16. Bf4 { Blacks king in the center and even if he had time to castle its not a better place. } 16... Bd6 17. Be5 Bb7 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qxf6 Rg8 20. a5 Bxh2+ { Not an uncommon occurance in the Colle. } 21. Kh1 Bd6 22. Rfe1 Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Qd8 24. Kg1 Rc8 25. Ba4+ Ke7 26. d5 Rg6 27. dxe6 fxe6 28. Rad1 Qxa5 29. Qe4 Rcg8 30. Qb7+ Bc7 31. Rd7+ Kf6 32. Qf3+ Qf5 33. Rxe6+ Kxe6 34. Qc6+ Ke5 35. Rd5+ Kf4 { With an interesting mate in nine! (I did not see the mate in nine.) (Recreated from a previous study I did.) }) 6. O-O { Traditional Colle, Black has several options of where to place his pieces and what type of setup he is comfortable with. Where does he place his KB? The QB is currently blocked by the pawn on e6. } { [%csl Ge7,Gd6] } 6... Be7 7. Nbd2 { It's important to keep an early eye on the Knight on f6. It would like nothing better than to plant itself on e4 when the exchange does not result in the loss of a pawn! Nbd2 keeps an eye on e4 and c4, clears b1 for his Bd3 if needed. Alekhine, Alexander vs. Flohr, Salo Bern | Bern SUI | Round 1 | Jul 1932 | ECO: D05k | 1-0 } { [%csl Ge4] } 7... Qc7 { [%csl Ge5] } 8. Qe2 O-O 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 f5 14. Bf3 Bf6 15. Rd1 Rd8 16. Be3 f4 17. Rac1 Qd6 18. Bd2 Bxd4 19. Ba5 Rd7 20. Rxd4 Qxd4 21. Qxe6+ Rf7 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. Qxc8+ Rf8 24. Qxb7 Re8 25. h3 Qc5 26. Bc3 Qe7 27. Bd5+ Kh8 28. Qxe7) (5. b3 { The Zuckertort or Rubinstien variation of the Colle. The CZ is a more complex approach with tranpositions to other QP opening and many believe is the more solid approach than the Colle-Kowtanowski. With many of the same sacrifices and attacking themes as the CK, the Indian bishop has a more direct role in the attacks along the long diagonal. These attacks usually occur a bit later than in the CK but the foundation for them may be more positionally sound. But a Mate is a Mate, Mate. } 5... Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. Nbd2 cxd4 9. exd4 b6 10. a3 Bb7 11. Ne5 Qc7 12. Qe2 Ne7 13. f4 b5 14. Rf3 Rac8 15. Rc1 b4 16. a4 Ng6 17. Rcf1 Ne4 18. Rh3 f5 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Qh5 Bxe5 21. fxe5 Qxc2 22. Qxh7+ Kf7 23. Rg3 Qxd2 24. Rxg6 Rg8 25. Rxe6 Kxe6 26. Qxf5+ Ke7 27. Qf7+ Kd8 28. e6 e3) 5... Nc6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. dxc5 *