Irregular Opening.

1.  P-Q4 P-QB4

With this move Black tries to avoid well-trodden paths of tournament practice.  White can, at will, lead into a peaceful Queen’s Gambit by 2.  P-K3 or into a Sicilian Defence by P-K4.  It is more usual, however, to play P-Q5, which blocks up the Black centre to some extent.

If 2.  PxP, Black regains his pawn after P-K3 without any disadvantage.

2.  P-Q5 P-Q3
3.  P-QB4

Coupled with 4.  P-K4, this move is of doubtful value, as Black gains command of White’s Q4.  It is advisable to keep the QBP back, thus retaining the option of driving off a hostile piece from Q4 by P-QB3.  Moreover, the White KB is hemmed in by the pawn at QB4.

3. ...        P-KKt3
4.  P-K4      B-Kt2
5.  B-Q3      P-K3

The development of the KKt is not desirable at B3, where it would block the long diagonal.  From K2, however, it commands KB4, where it can take up a strong position after the exchange of pawns in the centre, or else it can support the advance of the KBP.

6.  Kt-QB3 Kt-K2
7.  KKt-K2

Kt-B3 would have been slightly better, because the Black QKt might play to his K4.

7. ...  PxP
8.  KPxP Kt-Q2
9.  P-B4

This move weakens the King’s position, and would be justified only if there was a possibility of opening the file for the Rook by P-B5.  But Black has too strong a hold on his KB4.  The text move aims at preventing the exchange of White’s KB through Black’s Kt-K4.  It would have been better to withdraw the B to B2.

9. ...        Kt-KB3
10.  Kt-Kt3    P-KR4!

Now White cannot enforce P-B5, as Black can attack the Knight by P-R5.  White cannot prevent this with P-KR4, as the Black Knight would take up a commanding position at Kt5.  Black’s game is superior.  He can concentrate all his minor pieces on the King’s wing, while White’s QB is ineffective on account of the ill-considered advance of the KBP.

---------------------------------------
8 | #R |    | #B | #Q | #K |    |    | #R |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | #P | #P |    |    | #Kt| #P | #B |    |
|---------------------------------------|
6 |    |    |    | #P |    | #Kt| #P |    |
|---------------------------------------|
5 |    |    | #P | ^P |    |    |    | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    | ^P |    |    | ^P |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
3 |    |    | ^Kt| ^B |    |    | ^Kt|    |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | ^P |    |    |    |    | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R |    | ^B | ^Q | ^K |    |    | ^R |
---------------------------------------
A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H

Diag. 163

11.  Castles P-R5
12.  KKt-K4 KtxKt
13.  BxKt