Tag Archives: Rapid chess

Standard Chess #273: Game 2 vs. Tom (Queen’s Gambit Declined)

I take on my former student, Tom (USCF: 1902), in a pair of 15+10 games. Here an Exchange Queen’s Gambit Declined leads to a customary minority attack for White, but I struggle to counter Tom’s response 15…b5, intending …Nb6-c4. The play shifts to the center and kingside, and with mutual time pressure looming all three… Read More »

Standard Chess #272: Game 1 vs. Tom (English Rat Defense)

I take on my former student, Tom (USCF: 1902), in a pair of 15+10 games. With Black, I use the move order 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 to offer a queenless middlegame where Black experiences few problems despite lagging in development and losing the right to castle. I’m able to develop queenside pressure as well as… Read More »