English hedgehog
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
| 8th |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
8th |
| 7th |  |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th |
| 6th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th |
| 5 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4th | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
4th |
| 3 | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 | |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
2 |
| 1 |  |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
A key position to achieve the English hedgehog
An English hedgehog is a sequence of moves leading to a hedgehog position within the symmetry variant of the English opening in chess . The English hedgehog is the only variant leading to a hedgehog position that has its own opening code [ECO A30].
Main variant
To a typical position, which can also be achieved by changing trains , z. B. the following opening moves:
1. c2 – c4 c7 – c5 2. Nb1 – c3 Ng8 – f6 3. g2 – g3 e7 – e6 4. Ng1 – f3 b7 – b6 5. Bf1 – g2 Bc8 – b7 6. 0–0 Bf8 – e7 7. d2 – d4 c5xd4 (see diagram)
With this exchange of the black c-pawn for the white d-pawn and the fianchetto of both white-field bishops, the eponymous English hedgehog position is achieved.
In order to avoid the exchange of Bg2 for the time being and to work immediately in the d-file now happens
8. Qd1xd4 .
As in the Maróczy structure of the Taimanow variant of the Sicilian Defense , d7 is now the most productive square for Nb8 because it maintains the effect of Bb7, does not hinder counterplay on the half-open c-file and the siege of d6 by b2 – b3 and Bc1 – a3 can fend off with Nd7 – c5. That is why White fears 8.… Nb8 – c6 9. Qd4 – f4 a7 – a6 ( 9.… Qd8 – b8 10. Nc3 – b5 d7 – d6 11. Rf1 – d1 ) 10. Rf1 – d1 Ra8 – c8 11. b2– b3 Qd8 – c7 12. Qf4xc7 Rc8xc7 13. Bc1 – f4 with siege of the backward d-pawn not.
Because of the lack of a7 – a6 , after
8.… d7 – d6
9. b2 – b3 Nb8 – d7 the siege of d6 by Viktor Korchnoi 's 10th Nc3 – b5 is interesting. He settled against Alon Greenfeld in 1990 in Be'er Scheva after 10.… Nd7 – c5 11. Rf1 – d1 Nf6 – e4 on 12. Qd4xg7! Be7 – f6 13. Qg7 – h6 Bf6xa1 14. Nf3 – g5. On 14… Ba1 – e5 it becomes 15. Ng5xe4! recommended. Ulf Andersson had used 12. b3 – b4 against Greenfeld after 10. Nc3 – b5 Nd7 – c5 11. Rf1 – d1 Nf6 – e4 in Thessaloniki in 1988.
- After 9. b2 – b3 a7 – a6 comes too late because of 10. Bc1 – a3 0–0 11. Rf1 – d1 Nf6 – e8 12. Nc3 – e4.
- 9. b2 – b3 0–0! 10. Bc1 – a3 Nb8 – a6 11. Rf1 – d1 Sa6 – c5 goes the other way to protect d6.
9. Rf1 – d1 keeps the bishop development open. a7 – a6 completes Black's pawn moves and prevents 10. Nc3 – b5. Another path to the siege of d6 now begins 10. Bc1 – g5 . On z. B. Nb8 – d7 allows the retreat 11. Qd1 – d2 after the 0-0 12. Bg5 – f4 without running into the pawn fork e6 – e5. With further Nf6 – e8 13. Nf3 – g5 Bb7xg2 14. Kg1xg2 Ta8 – c8 15. b2 – b3 , however, the lateral cover Rc8 – c6 is okay due to the lack of both white -squared bishops .
With 7. Rf1 – e1 d7 – d6 8. e2 – e4 Nb8 – d7 9. d2 – d4 c5xd4 White can play 10. Nf3xd4 while avoiding the exchange of bishops. Frank Zeller now practices Qd8 – c7! 11. Nd4 – b5 Qc7 – b8 12. f2 – f4 0–0! 13. Bc1 – e3 Rf8 – c8!
Alternative 6.… a7 – a6
The logical 6… a7 – a6 in anticipation of the hedgehog position does not lead to any fundamental change. The connoisseur of the English hedgehog, Ulf Andersson, introduced this nuance, and Mihai Șubă also spoke out in favor of it.
In the case of 6. d2 – d4 !? c5xd4 7. Dd1xd4 would 7th ... a7-a6 premature because eighth-L c1 e3 disturbs the black Ideal construction. And on 7.… d7 – d6 , in preparation for the cover move Nb8 – d7, 8. Bc1 – g5 gains strength with the siege of the black pawn d6 by Nc3 – b5 and Ra1 – d1. Eg after Nb8 – d7 9. Nc3 – b5 h7 – h6 10. Bg5xf6 Nd7xf6 11. Ra1 – d1 Nf6 – e4 12. Nf3 – h4 Ne4 – c5
After 7. d2 – d4 c5xd4 8. Qd1xd4 d7 – d6 , the siege of the pawn d6 by Nb5 would be ruled out and b6 would be covered by Nbd7.
9. Bc1 – g5 Nb8 – d7 10. Qd4 – d2 plans Rfd1 and Bf4. The counterattack on the pawn c4 with 10.… Ra8 – c8 would be fended off by 11. b2 – b3, a pawn breakthrough b6 – b5 or d6 – d5 through the preparatory 11.… Qd8 – c7 can be fought off by covering 12. Ra1 – c1 invalidate.
In the English hedgehog position, space e4 is free for maneuvers, unlike the normal hedgehog position. The effect of Bb7 on this e4 square can be eliminated by exchanging the white square bishops on g2. This can be seen in variations like 9. Bc1 – e3 Nb8 – d7 10. Nf3 – d2 (or 10. Nf3 – g5) Bb7xg2 11. Kg1xg2 Bf8 – e7 12. Rf1 – d1 0–0 13. Nd2 – e4 Nf6– e8 or 9. Rf1 – d1 Bf8 – e7 10. Nf3 – g5 Bb7xg2 11. Kg1xg2 0–0 12. Nc3 – e4! .
As white, Andersson delayed the opening of the d-file with 7. b2-b3 after 6.… a7 – a6 against Florin Gheorghiu at the 1982 interzonal tournament in Moscow . Only after 7.… Bf8 – e7 happened 8. d2 – d4 c5xd4 9. Qd1xd4, so that after 9.… d7 – d6 (9.… 0–0 10. Bc1 – e3 Be7 – c5 11. Qd4 – d3 and Rf1– d1) 10. To bring Bc1 – a3. The classic hedgehog setup with Nb8 – d7 is no longer possible.
Therefore on 7. b2 – b3 it is better to do 7.… d7 – d6 8. d2 – d4 c5xd4 9. Qd1xd4 Nb8 – d7 10. Bc1 – a3 Qd8 – c7 11. Rf1 – d1 Nd7 – c5 .
literature
- David Cummings: The Hedgehog . In: ders .: Symmetrical English , Everyman, London 2001, pp. 7-27. ISBN 1-85744-292-X .
- Magnus Georg Grabitz: Chess for hedgehogs. The “fable” -like introduction to a current middlegame system . Düsseldorf 1990, ISBN 3-7919-0332-2 .
- Ľubomír Ftáčnik / Stefan Löffler: Lost in the Informator . Ľubomír Ftáčnik on his hedgehog game against Polugajewski , Lucerne 1982 [1] . In: Karl. The cultural chess newspaper , 2, 2001, pp. 50–53.
- Anatoli Karpow : Game analyzes for Karpow - Ftáčnik, Saloniki 1988 [2] ; Kortschnoi - Greenfeld, Beer Sheva 1990 [3] ; Anand - Milov , Biel 1997 [4] . In: ders .: English ... played correctly . Beyer, 2003, pp. 95-111. ISBN 3-88805-479-6 .
- Guido Kern , Jürgen Kaufeld: World-class chess strategy . Chessgate, Nettetal 2009, ISBN 978-3-935-74817-9 .
- Alexander Khalifman : The Hedgehog & Double Fianchetto Systems . In: ders .: 1. Nf3 - Opening for White according to Kramnik . Chess Stars, Sofia 2001. Vol. 2, chap. 3, pp. 64-119. ISBN 954-8782-18-9 .
- Mihail Marin : Symmetrical Hedgehog . In: New in Chess Yearbook , No. 35, 1995.
- Mihail Marin: Symmetrical Hedgehog . In: New in Chess Yearbook , No. 44, 1997.
- Jószef Pálkövi: The hedgehog system against the English opening . Pagans 1997.
- Mihai Șubă : The Hedgehog . London 2000, ISBN 0-7134-8696-1 .
- Sergey Shipov: The Complete Hedgehog Volume I . Mongoose Press 2009, ISBN 978-0-9791482-1-7 .
- Frank Zeller: Insights into master practice . Schachverlag Kania, Schwieberdingen 2004, ISBN 3-931192-27-X .