3. Lasker Defense (7...Ne4 and Simplification)
The historic method of the 2nd World Champion Emanuel Lasker to ease the pressure.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.cxd5 Nxc3 10.bxc3 exd5 11.Qb3 Rd8 12.c4 dxc4
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White takes the center with the queen's pawn, already defended by the Queen, and opens the diagonal for the c1 Bishop. The repertoire plan is c4 next move to attack Black's d5 pawn at once.
- 1...d5 – Black answers symmetrically: the d5 pawn prevents e4 and contests the center. White can now hit it from the side with the c-pawn.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit attacks d5 with a flank pawn. It is not a real sacrifice: after 2...dxc4 White regains the pawn with e3 and Bxc4, or takes the center with e4.
- 2...e6 – The Queen's Gambit Declined: Black supports d5 with the e-pawn. The structure is rock solid, but the c8 Bishop stays shut in behind e6: this will be Black's main problem throughout the chapter.
- 3.Nc3 – The Knight attacks d5 a second time and controls e4. It prepares Bg5 to pin the future f6 Knight, the main defender of d5.
- 3...Nf6 – Black defends d5 for the third time and gets closer to castling. White now chooses between 4.Bg5, which keeps the tension, and 4.cxd5, which fixes the structure at once.
- 4.Bg5 – White pins the f6 Knight, the main defender of d5, and keeps the tension in the center instead of exchanging. This is the Orthodox Variation: e3, Nf3 and Rc1 will follow.
- 4...Be7 – Black breaks the pin and prepares castling. It is the most solid answer, leading to the Tartakower and Lasker defenses.
- 5.e3 – The pawn supports d4 and opens the f1 Bishop. Having already developed the Bishop to g5, White does not shut it in behind the pawn chain.
- 5...O-O – Black castles and completes the kingside. The development of the c8 Bishop, shut in by the e6 pawn, remains to be solved.
- 6.Nf3 – The Knight controls e5 and d4 and prepares Rc1 or Bd3. White completes development before deciding whether to exchange on d5.
- 6...h6 – Black asks the Bishop to decide: Bxf6 gives up the bishop pair, Bh4 keeps the pin. The h6 pawn also gives the King an escape square.
- 7.Bh4 – White keeps the pin on f6, which limits Black's control of d5 and e4. The bishop pair should not be given away without a concrete reason.
- 7...Ne4 – Lasker Defense: the Knight jumps to e4 to exchange two pairs of minor pieces. Black accepts a somewhat passive position in exchange for a lot of space for the remaining pieces.
- 8.Bxe7 – White exchanges the Bishops: after Bg3 Black would have the comfortable ...Nxg3 and the bishop pair. Black's Queen is now forced to recapture.
- 8...Qxe7 – The Queen recaptures on e7, from where it controls b4 and the diagonal toward a3. Black now threatens ...Nxc3 followed by exchanges on d5.
- 9.cxd5 – White exchanges on d5 before ...Nxc3: that way the c3 pawn arising after bxc3 will support d4 and the b-file will be semi-open for the Queen.
- 9...Nxc3 – Black eliminates the c3 Knight to complete the simplification. After 9...exd5 10.Nxe4 dxe4 the e4 pawn would be weak.
- 10.bxc3 – White recaptures toward the center: the c3 pawn supports d4 and the b-file opens for the Queen and Rook against b7.
- 10...exd5 – Black recaptures on d5. The structure is symmetrical in the center, but White has the c3 pawn and the b-file, while Black has three pawns against two on the queenside.
- 11.Qb3 – The Queen attacks d5 and pins the c8 Bishop to the defense of b7. Black must defend d5 before completing development.
- 11...Rd8 – The Rook defends d5 and takes the d-file, where it can press on d4 if the center opens. The c8 Bishop remains tied to b7.
- 12.c4 – White gets rid of the c3 pawn and attacks d5 a second time. After the exchange it will get an isolated d4 pawn but very active pieces.
- 12...dxc4 – Black gives up the center but opens the d-file against d4. The c4 pawn cannot be held: White regains it at once.
How to exploit the position
After 13.Bxc4 White has an isolated d4 pawn but active pieces; Black has three pawns against one on the queenside, useful in an endgame.
- Recapture with 13.Bxc4: the Bishop forms a battery with the Queen on b3 against f7.
- Castle and bring the Rooks to c1 and d1, then prepare d4-d5 to open the game before Black blocks the pawn.
- Avoid passive exchanges: in an endgame Black's a7-b7-c7 majority would create a passed pawn.
- Black wants ...Nc6 and ...Bg4 against d4: keep the f3 Knight well defended and consider h3.
Master tips
Isolated pawn: play in the middlegame
After 12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 the d4 pawn gives you space and the e5 and c5 squares: use piece activity while the Queens are still on.