Chess: The Unsounded Center

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 f4 c5

6 c3



6 dxc5
6 Ndf3
6 Ngf3

6 ... Nc6



6 ... b6
6 ... cxd4
6 ... Qb6

From now on Black will focus on weakening
d4 and e5. The knight is already set for that
purpose.

7 Ndf3



Allows d4 to have 3 defenders.
7 Ngf3 covers d4 only 2 times.
It's important for White to
really strengthen d4 because
that particular point is the base
of his center formation.
If it falls, so will the entire set-up.

7 Nb3
7 Ngf3

7 ... Qb6



d4, d4, d4 ... and maybe b2!

7 ... c4
7 ... cxd4
7 ... f5
7 ... f6
7 ... Be7
7 ... Nb6
7 ... Qa5
7 ... Rb8

8 Ne2



8 a3
8 g3
8 h4
8 Be2

8 ... f6



8 ... a5
8 ... cxd4
8 ... Be7

9 g3



9 a3
9 h4
9 Qb3

9 ... cxd4