How To Win A Game With The Black Pieces?

Any experienced tournament player knows that playing for a win with the black pieces can be quite challenging, especially against a well-prepared opponent. Indeed, in most openings, White gets some initiative right from the start of the game due to their ability to make the first move. What can we do in order to grab the initiative and play for a win as Black? 

Many years ago a famous Soviet grandmaster and coach, Vladimir Bagirov, said: "When you play Black against a patzer, move your knight to e4 as soon as possible!" While it was intended as humorous advice to one of his students, in reality, it is a sound strategy—provided that the knight on e4 is supported by two pawns on d5 and f5. This way it starts resembling the famous "Pillsbury Attack" which we analyzed in this article. I remembered Bagirov's advice while watching a recent game featuring the American Chess Superman:

GM Hikaru Nakamura has proven that you can successfully employ this strategy not just against patzers, but also against super-strong grandmasters such as GM Amin Tabatabaei! Watch Nakamura's entertaining and instructive comments on the game:

Notice that White kept full control of the all-important central d4 square and securely blockaded the isolated pawn on d5, yet Black's Ne4 supported by two pawns singlehandedly compensated for all these deficiencies in Black's position. It reminded me of the following game of GM David Bronstein:

I have to confess that a knight in the center supported by two pawns has been my favorite strategic pattern since childhood, and I have tried to get it whenever possible. I remember how I started learning the French Defense as Black after I saw the following impressive win by GM Alexander Chernin:

Last month, one of my students played a game where both opponents had a chance to establish such a monstrous knight!

You are probably thinking: "I like this attacking set-up, but how can I get it in my games?" What if I told you that there is an opening that practically assures that you will have your knight on e4 supported by two pawns on f5 and d5? Too good to be true? Not at all! Just watch my new YouTube video: "The Secret Opening Grandmasters Don't Want You To Know!"

Just kidding! The opening I am talking about has been known for over 100 years and is called the Stonewall Dutch. Here is one of the classical games where this dangerous attacking setup was employed:

I hope that the idea of Ne4 supported by pawns on d5 and f5 will bring you many wins!