Panov Attack - Fianchetto System 5...g6
The preferred modern variation to smother the isolated pawn with Bg7
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Qb3 Nb6 8.Nf3 Bg7 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Ne5 O-O 11.Nxd7 N8xd7
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.exd5 – White exchanges in the center: after the recapture it will choose between the Exchange Variation with Bd3 and the Panov Attack with c4.
- 3...cxd5 – Black recaptures with the c-pawn: the c-file opens and the d5 pawn stays in the center.
- 4.c4 – Panov-Botvinnik Attack: White attacks d5 and accepts an isolated pawn on d4 in exchange for active piece play.
- 4...Nf6 – The Knight defends d5 and develops; Black prepares ...e6 or ...g6.
- 5.Nc3 – The Knight increases the pressure on d5, now attacked by the c4 pawn and the Knight.
- 5...g6 – Black chooses the fianchetto: the g7 Bishop will press on d4 along the long diagonal.
- 6.cxd5 – White takes on d5 at once, exploiting the fact that Black has not played ...e6.
- 6...Nxd5 – The Knight recaptures: d5 is a central square for Black's pieces, but here the Knight can be attacked.
- 7.Qb3 – The Queen attacks the d5 Knight and the b7 pawn.
- 7...Nb6 – The Knight retreats to b6 and closes the b-file, protecting b7; from b6 it controls d5 and c4.
- 8.Nf3 – The Knight develops and defends d4, now that the isolated pawn is the target of the g7 Bishop.
- 8...Bg7 – The Bishop goes into a fianchetto and attacks d4.
- 9.Bb5+ – Check: White forces Black to interpose and prepares Ne5.
- 9...Bd7 – The Bishop parries the check and offers the trade; Black does not worry about giving up the bishop pair.
- 10.Ne5 – The Knight jumps to e5 attacking the d7 Bishop and the f7 square.
- 10...O-O – Black castles and lets the trade on d7 happen: the King is safe and the g7 Bishop becomes its best piece.
- 11.Nxd7 – White trades the Knight for the Bishop and gets the bishop pair.
- 11...N8xd7 – The b8 Knight recaptures and develops: now d4 is attacked by the g7 Bishop and Black is ready for ...Nf6 and ...Nbd5.
How to exploit the position
White has the isolated d4 pawn and the bishop pair, Black is well developed and presses on d4 with the g7 Bishop and the Knights.
- ...Nf6 and ...Nbd5: the Knights block the square in front of the isolated pawn.
- The c-file is open: ...Rc8 presses on the c3 Knight.
- ...a6 drives away the b5 Bishop, then ...Qd6 and ...Rfd8 increase the pressure on d4.
Master tips
Block d5 and press on d4
With the Bishop on g7 the isolated pawn is always under attack: Black blocks it with a Knight on d5 and attacks it with the heavy pieces.