19. Noteboom Variation (3...e6 4.Nf3 dxc4)
Black captures on c4 and holds the pawn with ...b5 and ...a5. After the exchanges White has the c4-d4 center and the bishop pair, Black two connected passed pawns that can decide in the endgame.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bb4 6.e3 b5 7.Bd2 a5 8.axb5 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxb5 10.b3 Bb7 11.bxc4 b4 12.Bb2 Nf6
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White opens with the Queen's pawn: it occupies d4, controls e5 and c5 and prepares c4 to put pressure on the Black center.
- 1...d5 – Black answers symmetrically: the d5 pawn prevents e4 and claims its share of the center.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit: the c4 pawn attacks d5 and threatens cxd5, to take away Black's control of e4.
- 2...c6 – The Slav Defense: c6 supports d5 without blocking the diagonal of the c8 Bishop, which can come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6.
- 3.Nc3 – White develops the Knight to c3 before Nf3: it presses on d5 and prepares e4, but leaves Black the push ...e5 and the Noteboom with ...e6.
- 3...e6 – Black plays ...e6 before ...Nf6: it enters the Semi-Slav and allows both the Marshall Gambit with 4.e4 and the Noteboom after 4.Nf3.
- 4.Nf3 – White develops the Knight instead of pushing e4: now Black can capture on c4 and hold it with ...b5.
- 4...dxc4 – The Noteboom: Black captures on c4 before ...Nf6 and wants to hold the pawn with ...b5, giving up the center.
- 5.a4 – White prevents ...b5 and prepares e3 with Bxc4, but weakens the b4 square.
- 5...Bb4 – The Bishop goes to b4, the square weakened by a4: it pins the c3 Knight and prepares ...b5.
- 6.e3 – White opens the f1 Bishop to recapture on c4: Black must decide at once how to hold the pawn.
- 6...b5 – Black defends c4 with the pawn: the pin on the c3 Knight prevents axb5 followed by Nxb5.
- 7.Bd2 – The Bishop goes to d2 to remove the pin and prepare axb5.
- 7...a5 – The pawn supports the b4 Bishop, while c6 protects b5: after the exchanges Black will have two passed pawns on the queenside.
- 8.axb5 – White takes on b5 and attacks the Black pawn chain: now c6 must recapture.
- 8...Bxc3 – Black exchanges the Bishop for the c3 Knight, which would otherwise attack b5: it gives up the dark-squared Bishop to keep the pawns.
- 9.Bxc3 – White recaptures with the Bishop, which now aims at the long diagonal toward g7: White will have the bishop pair.
- 9...cxb5 – Black recaptures and keeps the b5-c4 chain: the a5 and b5 pawns are passed and connected.
- 10.b3 – White attacks the c4 pawn with a pawn: it wants to break the chain before it becomes too strong.
- 10...Bb7 – The Bishop develops on the long diagonal and aims at f3 and g2, without worrying about c4.
- 11.bxc4 – White captures on c4 and creates a strong c4-d4 center, but Black gets two connected passed pawns.
- 11...b4 – The pawn advances with tempo on the c3 Bishop: the a5 and b4 pawns are passed, connected and already advanced.
- 12.Bb2 – The Bishop retreats to the long diagonal, where it presses on g7 and supports the push d5.
- 12...Nf6 – The Knight develops to f6, controls d5 and e4 and covers g7 in view of the push d5, which would open the diagonal of the b2 Bishop.
How to exploit the position
Unbalanced position: Black has the passed pawns a5 and b4, White the center and the bishop pair.
- Castle and complete development with ...Nbd7: before pushing the pawns the King must be safe.
- Control the d5 square with ...Nbd7, ...Qc7 and ...Rc8: if White pushes d5 it opens the diagonal of the b2 Bishop against your King.
- The e4 square is a good place for the f6 Knight, supported by the b7 Bishop.
- Every exchange of pieces favors Black: in the endgame the two passed pawns are worth more than the White center.
Master tips
The passed pawns in the endgame
In the Noteboom Black plays for the endgame: the a5 and b4 pawns become stronger and stronger as pieces are exchanged.