Tartakower Variation (7...b6)
With ...h6 and ...b6 Black develops the Bishop on b7, where it controls the long diagonal. After the exchange on f6 it has the bishop pair.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.Be2 Bb7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b4 c6 12.O-O a5
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White takes the center with the queen's pawn and opens the diagonal for the c1 Bishop. It usually continues with c4 to attack the d5 pawn.
- 1...d5 – Black contests the center with a pawn and prevents e4. This is the basis of the Queen's Gambit Declined: d5 will be defended at all costs.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit: White attacks d5 with the c-pawn to draw it away from the center. If we took it, White would regain the pawn with e3 and Bxc4.
- 2...e6 – Black declines the gambit and supports d5 with the e-pawn: a rock-solid structure. The price is the c8 Bishop shut in behind e6, the problem to be solved throughout the course.
- 3.Nc3 – The Knight attacks d5 a second time and controls e4. Black must add a defender to the central pawn.
- 3...Nf6 – The Knight defends d5 a second time, controls e4 and prepares short castling. It is Black's most natural development.
- 4.Bg5 – The Bishop pins the f6 Knight to the Queen and reduces its control of d5 and e4. Black must break the pin.
- 4...Be7 – Black breaks the pin in the simplest way and prepares castling. Now an exchange on f6 is recaptured with the Bishop.
- 5.e3 – White opens the f1 Bishop's diagonal and consolidates d4. Its position is solid, but the g5 Bishop has no target yet.
- 5...O-O – The King is safe and the f8 Rook connects. Black can now think about how to free the c8 Bishop.
- 6.Nf3 – White develops the Knight toward the center, controls e5 and prepares Rc1 or Bd3.
- 6...h6 – Black asks the Bishop to decide: Bxf6 gives up the bishop pair, Bh4 keeps the pin but moves the piece away. The h6 pawn also gives the King air.
- 7.Bh4 – The Bishop keeps the pin on f6. Black can now choose between ...b6 (Tartakower) and ...Ne4 (Lasker).
- 7...b6 – The Tartakower move: the c8 Bishop will go to b7, on the long diagonal, where it supports d5 and the future ...c5 push.
- 8.Be2 – White develops the Bishop on e2 and prepares castling. It is a modest development that leaves Black time for ...Bb7.
- 8...Bb7 – The Bishop on the long diagonal controls e4 and d5 and supports ...c5. The problem of the c8 piece is solved.
- 9.Bxf6 – White gives up the bishop pair to be able to exchange on d5 and put a pawn in front of the b7 Bishop.
- 9...Bxf6 – Black recaptures with the Bishop: it has the bishop pair and the f6 Bishop presses on d4.
- 10.cxd5 – White exchanges on d5 to force Black to recapture with the e-pawn and close the b7 Bishop's diagonal.
- 10...exd5 – Black recaptures with the pawn: the b7 Bishop's diagonal is closed, but the center is stable and Black prepares ...c5.
- 11.b4 – White controls c5 and prevents the freeing ...c5 push. It also prepares b5 to attack a pawn on c6.
- 11...c6 – Black reinforces d5 and prepares ...a5 to hit the b4 pawn. The b7 Bishop stays shut in, but it can return to the game from a6.
- 12.O-O – White castles and gets ready for b5 or Qb3 to continue the minority attack.
- 12...a5 – Black attacks b4 before White can calmly push b5: if bxa5, White's structure is weakened; if b5, the c6 pawn gets exchanged.
How to exploit the position
Black has the bishop pair and a solid structure; White tries to exploit the minority attack.
- If White plays bxa5, recapture with the Rook or with the b-pawn and open the b-file for your Rooks.
- If White pushes b5, play ...c5 or exchange on b5: do not leave a backward pawn on c6.
- Bring the b7 Bishop to a6 to exchange it for the e2 Bishop: the bad Bishop disappears.
- The b8 Knight goes to d7 and the Rook to e8: the f6 Bishop presses on d4.
Master tips
The c8 Bishop
In the Queen's Gambit Declined the c8 Bishop is the hardest piece to develop: in the Tartakower it goes to b7 and supports the ...c5 push.