Chess: The Unsounded Center

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4
Nxc3 6 bxc3 Bg7 7 Bc4 O-O 8 Ne2 c5 9 O-O
9 ... Nc6 10 Be3 Qc7

11 Rc1



11 Bb3
11 Qc1
11 Rb1

11 ... Rd8



Play so far has centered around White's
effort to uphold his strong center
and Black's design to focus an armada
of pieces against it, particularly d4.

11 ... b6
11 ... e6
11 ... Na5

12 h3



Indirectly shielding d4 since ... Bg4
might chop off its much needed
defender (Ne2). A more direct
way of bolstering the center is
by 12 Qd2 followed by 13 Rfd1.

12 f3
12 f4
12 Bf4
12 Kh1
12 Qa4
12 Qd2
12 Qe1

12 ... b6



Since g4 is no longer an option, the bishop
heads for a8-h1, where it can check out e4
especially.

12 ... a6

13 f4



It's all about taking space and also entertaining
f4-f5. In such set-ups, Black's kingside is always
in danger from f4-f5.

13 ... e6



14 Qe1



14 g4
14 Qd2

14 ... Na5



14 ... Bb7

15 Bd3



15 ... f5



Praying for the square-giving 16 e5 c4 17 Bb1 Bb7.