Watch
Step 1 · The chain
Black to move
rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 3White’s pawns on d4 and e5 form a chain. e5 is the head: it cramps you and is protected by d4. d4 is the base: nothing protects it but pieces. Chains are attacked at the base. First the bishop comes out, then …e6, and the break is ready.
The line: 3…Bc8-f5 4.Ng1-f3 e7-e6 5.Bf1-e2
Decide
Step 2 · Find the base
Black to move
rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 3Two white pawns stand in a chain.
Which pawn is the base of White’s chain?
Quick check
- The pawn on d4
- The pawn on e5
- The pawn on c2
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: The pawn on d4 — d4. It holds e5 up and is itself held only by pieces. Attack it with …c5, and every piece you add to d4 counts.
- The pawn on e5 — e5 is the head of the chain: strong, protected by d4, and hitting it with …f6 opens your own king. Go for the base.
- The pawn on c2 — Not yet. After c3 it becomes the new base and the fight for d4 gets harder. That is why …c5 comes early.
Your move
Step 3 · The break
Black to move
rn1qkbnr/pp3ppp/2p1p3/3pPb2/3P4/5N2/PPP1BPPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - 1 5Bishop out, …e6 played. Now attack the base.
Hint: The base of the chain is d4. Which pawn attacks it?
The move: 5…c6-c5
5…c5. The base is attacked, the c-file will open, and …Nc6 and …Qb6 can pile on. If dxc5 then …Bxc5, and your bishop joins in with a gain of time.
Also good here
5…Nb8-d7— Also fine: …Nd7 first, …c5 next; the knight heads for the break too.5…Ng8-e7— Also fine: …Ne7 develops toward c6 or g6; …c5 follows.
Why not another move?
5…f7-f6— Playable, but …f6 hits the head of the chain, and exf6 opens your king with the queen still on d8. Attack the base.5…g7-g5— …g5?? Bxg5: the pawn was hanging. What follows:6.Bc1xg55…Qd8-b6— …Qb6 hits b2 and d4, but the pawn break comes first: …c5 is the real attack, the queen joins after.
Your move
Step 4 · Add an attacker
Black to move
rn1qkbnr/pp3ppp/4p3/2ppPb2/3P4/5N2/PPP1BPPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 1 6White castled. The tension on d4 is yours to keep. Add an attacker rather than releasing it.
Hint: Keep the tension and add an attacker on d4.
The move: 6…Nb8-c6
6…Nc6. d4 is now attacked twice and defended twice. One more attacker (…Qb6) and the base falls, so White must react at once.
Also good here
6…Ng8-e7— Also fine: …Ne7 develops and can join via c6 or g6.
Why not another move?
6…c5xd4— …cxd4? Nxd4 hits your bishop and the knight sits happily on d4: the base is gone, but so is your pressure. What follows:7.Nf3xd46…Qd8-b6— …Qb6? c4! dxc4 Na3 and White wins the pawn back with a big lead in development, your king still on e8. What follows:7.c2-c46…a7-a6— A waiting move. The fight is on d4 now.
Watch
Step 5 · White props the base
White to move
r2qkbnr/pp3ppp/2n1p3/2ppPb2/3P4/5N2/PPP1BPPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 2 7White props the base up with c3. Now d4 has a pawn behind it, and taking on d4 will be answered by cxd4. The tension changes.
The reply: 7.c2-c3
Decide
Step 6 · Count on d4
White to move
r2qkbnr/pp3ppp/2n1p3/2ppPb2/3P4/5N2/PPP1BPPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 2 7White to move, and c3 is coming.
Why did White have to do something about d4 at once?
Quick check
- d4 is attacked twice and defended twice; one more attacker wins it
- To prepare b4
- To open the queen’s diagonal to a4
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: d4 is attacked twice and defended twice; one more attacker wins it — Yes. The c5 pawn and the knight attack d4; the queen and the f3 knight defend it. …Qb6 would make three attackers, and the base would fall. c3 adds a defender first.
- To prepare b4 — c3 does support b4 later, but that is a bonus. The reason was the count on d4.
- To open the queen’s diagonal to a4 — c3 does not open that diagonal; it runs through c2 and b3. c3 is about d4.
Your move
Step 7 · Open the file
Black to move
r2qkbnr/pp3ppp/2n1p3/2ppPb2/3P4/2P2N2/PP2BPPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 0 7c3 is in. Now the exchange on d4 opens the c-file, and your queen can hit d4 and b2 together. Choose.
Hint: Open the c-file, or add pressure on d4 with a piece.
The move: 7…c5xd4
7…cxd4 8.cxd4 Qb6. The c-file is open, the queen hits d4 and b2, and the base is under permanent pressure: White’s pieces are tied to defending it.
Also good here
7…Bf5-g4— Also good: …Bg4 hits the knight that defends d4; the exchange can come next.7…Bf5-g6— Also fine: tucking the bishop away before …Nge7; the tension keeps.
Why not another move?
7…Qd8-b6— …Qb6? dxc5! Bxc5 b4 and White wins a move against the bishop while b2 is guarded. What follows:8.d4xc5 Bf8xc5 9.b2-b47…Ng8-e7— …Nge7? dxc5! and your own knight blocks the bishop from recapturing; b4 keeps the pawn. What follows:8.d4xc5 Ne7-g6 9.b2-b47…f7-f6— …f6 opens your king with the queen still at home. The base, not the head.
On your own
Step 8 · On your own
Black to move
rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3pP3/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 3The same chain in a different opening: the French Advance. Your bishop is already shut in by …e6, but the chain is the same. Attack the base.
Hint: Same chain, same base. Which pawn attacks it?
The move: 3…c7-c5
3…c5. The base is attacked on move three: in the French, …c5 is the whole plan, played before White can prop the chain up with c3 for free.
Also good here
3…Bc8-d7— Also fine: …Bd7 first, a useful move; …c5 next.3…Ng8-e7— Also fine: developing; …c5 follows.
Why not another move?
3…f7-f6— …f6 hits the head, where the pawn is strong, and exf6 opens your king. Hit the base.3…Nb8-c6— …Nc6 blocks your own c-pawn: the break …c5 is now impossible without moving the knight again.
A quick refresher
In the app this position is not part of the lesson itself: it comes back later, as a review, to check that the idea stuck.
Your move
Same plan
Black to move
rn1qkb1r/pp2nppp/2p1p3/3pPb2/3P4/5N2/PPP1BPPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 3 6Your knight went to e7 first and White castled. The plan has not changed.
Hint: Bishop out, …e6 done. What comes next?
The move: 6…c6-c5
6…c5. Base attacked; …Nec6 follows and the knight lands on the square it wanted.
Also good here
6…Nb8-d7— Also fine: …Nd7 first; …c5 next.6…h7-h6— Also fine: a useful move giving the bishop h7; …c5 next.
Why not another move?
6…f7-f6— …f6? exf6 gxf6 and your king has no shelter for the rest of the game. What follows:7.e5xf6 g7xf6
What you learned
Bishop out, …e6, …c5. Keep the tension while you add attackers on d4; release it only when it wins something.
In your next game
In the Advance Caro-Kann, get the bishop to f5, play …e6, then …c5 against d4. Add …Nc6; keep …cxd4 for when White has played c3 and …Qb6 can follow. Never …f6 while the king is on e8.