Bronstein-Larsen Variation 5...gxf6!?
The hyper-aggressive choice: it opens the g-file to assault the white King
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 6.c3 Bf5 7.Ne2 e6 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.h4
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White takes the center with the pawn and frees the Queen and the f1 Bishop. Against 1.e4 this course answers with the Caro-Kann, which prepares ...d5 without shutting in the c8 Bishop.
- 1...c6 – Caro-Kann Defense: the c6 pawn prepares ...d5 and supports it. Unlike the French, the c8 Bishop's diagonal stays open: it can come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6.
- 2.d4 – White builds the e4-d4 center: Black has not attacked it yet and White gains space.
- 2...d5 – Black attacks e4 with the support of the c6 pawn: after exd5 it will recapture cxd5, keeping a pawn in the center. White chooses between e5, Nc3, exd5 and f3.
- 3.Nc3 – Classical Variation: White defends e4 by developing the Knight. Black usually trades on e4 at once to develop the c8 Bishop with tempo.
- 3...dxe4 – Black gives up the center but eliminates the e4 pawn: now it can develop its pieces by attacking the Knight that recaptures.
- 4.Nxe4 – The Knight recaptures and centralizes on e4, where however it can be attacked with tempo by ...Bf5, ...Nd7-f6 or ...Nf6.
- 4...Nf6 – The Knight attacks e4 and accepts recapturing with a pawn after Nxf6+: Black gives up a perfect structure in exchange for active play.
- 5.Nxf6+ – White trades and forces Black to recapture with a pawn, ruining its structure.
- 5...gxf6 – Bronstein-Larsen Variation: Black recaptures with the g-pawn and opens the g-file. The structure is ruined, but Black controls e5 and f5 and gets active play.
- 6.c3 – White reinforces d4 and prepares quiet development, without giving Black immediate targets.
- 6...Bf5 – The Bishop develops on the b1-h7 diagonal, controlling d3 and e4.
- 7.Ne2 – The Knight heads for g3, from where it will attack the f5 Bishop.
- 7...e6 – Black closes the structure and frees the f8 Bishop, which can go to d6 against the g3 Knight.
- 8.Ng3 – The Knight arrives on g3 and attacks the f5 Bishop, preparing h4-h5.
- 8...Bg6 – The Bishop retreats to g6 staying on the diagonal; the Rook will be able to use the g-file.
- 9.h4 – White threatens h5 to drive the Bishop away from g6.
How to exploit the position
Unbalanced position: Black has the ruined structure but the open g-file and active pieces; White tries to exploit the weaknesses with h4-h5.
- Answer h4 with ...h5: the pawn stops and the Bishop gets the h7 square.
- ...Nd7, ...Qc7 and ...O-O-O: the black King goes to the queenside and the Rook to g8.
- ...Bd6 attacks the g3 Knight; later ...f5-f4 drives it away with the pawns.
Master tips
Castle long in the Bronstein-Larsen
With the g-file open and the kingside pawns ruined, the black King is better on the queenside, while the Rook uses the g-file.