Senior Chess Improver

openingsmodern-defense150-attack

Back to the roots - The 150 Attack vs. Modern Defence

Revisiting the 150 Attack, an old favorite opening from my early chess days.

, 8 min read

Photo by Ravi Kumar on Unsplash

Introduction

As a chess enthusiast, I recently found myself drawn back to an old favorite: the 150 Attack. Watching the Serbian Women’s Chess Championship, I was captivated by WFM Vera Vujovic’s strategic prowess in employing this often-overlooked opening. So, I thought sharing some insights and opening strategy thinking was worth it.

Exploring the 150 Attack vs Pirc and Modern Defense

The position showcased below, from Vujovic’s game in round 7, epitomizes the essence of the 150 Attack against Black’s Modern Defense:

150 Attack

I would categorize this as the 150 Attack, a powerful system against the Pirc and Modern Defenses, favored by GMs such as Vishy Anand and Michael Adams. As White, you build up with pawns on e4 and d4, knights on c3 and f3, with 5.Be3 and 6.Qd2 to follow, or you move your white square bishop to d3 and then Qd2. You can play the 150 Attack against all Modern and Pirc move orders. This aggressive setup aims to prevent Black from achieving their usual setup with g6, Bg7, and e5 or c5, while giving White a straightforward kingside onslaught with f3, g4, h4, h5, and Bh6.

In response to Black’s hypermodern setup, White has several options at their disposal:

  • Seizing control of the center with early d4, restricting Black’s counterplay.
  • Developing the dark-squared bishop to b5 or c4 to pressure Black’s knight on c6 and dominate the d5 square.
  • Delaying Nc3 to maintain flexibility, possibly opting for the Austrian Attack with f4.
  • Launching a kingside assault with moves like g4 and h4-h5 to exploit Black’s exposed king.
  • Exploiting Black’s early queenside pawn moves with ideas like a4-a5.

Overall, an accurate opening play as white requires understanding key strategic and tactical ideas against the Modern Defense. Control of the center and rapid development are essential to punish Black’s hypermodern setup. The Two Knights Variation lines require precision as the position quickly becomes very sharp.

I played as White the same opening to reach the position Vera Vujovic played in round 7. In case I made you curious about this game, here is the complete game analysis, annotated by Glorias Sergio and Schroeer Egbert:

[Event "Round 7: Vera Vujovic - Mila Radenkovic"]
[White "Vujovic,Vera"]
[Black "Radenkovic"]
[Site ""]
[Round ""]
[Annotator ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[Date "2024.02.09"]
[PlyCount "99"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 d6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 a6 5. Be3 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. Qd2 {White is
more active.} (7. O-O $0 $16 )Nd7 $0 $10 8. Ne2 $6 {Inaccuracy. O-O was best.}
(8. O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. b4 Nxd3 11. cxd3 Rc8 12. Nd4 Nf6 )({White should
try} 8. O-O $0 $10 )h5 $6 {Inaccuracy. Ngf6 was best.} (8... Ngf6 9. Ng3 c5 10.
c3 Ng4 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 $1 cxd4 13. cxd4 Qb6 14. h3 Ngf6 15. O-O )(8... Ngf6
$0 $15 )9. O-O $0 $14 {White is slightly better.} Ngf6 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 (11.
Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Ng4 $0 $15 )Ne4 12. Bxe4 Bxe4 13. e6 $1 {Inaccuracy. Ng5 was
best.} Ne5 $0 $10 14. Qxd8+ (14. exf7+ $0 $0 $142 Nxf7 15. Nfd4 )Rxd8 15. Ng5
Bf5 {This pair of bishops is nice.} 16. Bd4 O-O (16... Bxe6 $0 $15 {feels
stronger.} 17. Nxe6 fxe6 )17. Bxe5 {Remove Defender} Bxe5 18. exf7+ Kg7 19. Ng3
Bc8 20. c3 Rd2 $1 21. Rab1 (21. Nf3 $5 Rd5 $7 22. Ne4 $0 $10 )Rd5 {Threatens to
win with ...Bxg3.} 22. N3e4 Bf6 23. f4 Bf5 24. Rbe1 {[%cal Yb1e1,Ye1e4,Ye4e6]}
Bxe4 25. Ne6+ Kxf7 26. Rxe4 Rc8 27. Ng5+ Kg8 28. Re6 Rd6 29. Rfe1 Rcd8 30. R6e2
c6 {[%cal Yc7c6,Yc6c5]} 31. Ne6 R8d7 32. Nc5 {[%csl Ya6,Yd7]} Ra7 33. Ne4 Kf7 $4
{Blunder. Rd5 was best. Black is now going downhill.} 34. Nxd6+ $0 $18 exd6
{Endgame. KRR-KRB} 35. Re8 c5 36. Rc8 Be7 37. h3 h4 38. g3 $1 hxg3 39. Kg2 a5
40. Rb8 b4 41. a3 (41. Kxg3 Bf6 42. Rb6 Rd7 $0 $18 )bxa3 42. bxa3 d5 43. Rd1
(43. Kxg3 $6 d4 44. c4 d3 )Rd7 44. Ra8 ({Much less strong is} 44. Kxg3 d4 45.
Rb5 Rc7 46. Rxa5 (46. cxd4 c4 $0 $18 )dxc3 $0 $18 )Bd8 45. Kxg3 d4 46. cxd4 cxd4
47. Kf3 Bb6 48. Ra6 Rd6 (48... Bc7 49. Ke4 Re7+ 50. Kd3 (50. Kxd4 $2 {perishes.}
Rd7+ {Skewer} 51. Ke3 Rxd1 $0 $19 )a4 )49. Rb1 Bc5 50. Rxa5 {Weighted Error
Value: White=0.15 (very precise) /Black=0.29 (precise) . Loses game: --- Black=1
Mistake: White=3 Black=3 Inaccurate: White=1 Black=1 OK: White=19 Black=15 Best:
White=2 Black=1 Strong: --- Black=1} 1-0

Heart attack with 150 Attack?

Legend has it that the 150 Attack earned its name from the sheer power it bestows upon players, allowing even those with an ECF rating of around 150 to wield it effectively. But fear not, for you’re in illustrious company alongside super GMs and world champions who have mastered this formidable opening.

Renowned chess author Richard Palliser once remarked that the 150 Attack is so effortlessly playable that even a club player of modest rating could secure a strong position against a grandmaster. This line of play emerged in the 1980s, pioneered by a new wave of English players like John Nunn, Nigel Short, and Mickey Adams.

The moniker “150 Attack” is said to have originated in Argentina, resonating with players seeking a dependable opening system that’s easy to grasp and execute without drowning in the sea of opening theory.

Personal Reflections and Recommendations

As I revisited this opening for the first time since my return from the 25-year hiatus, I was reminded of its complexities and challenges. Despite previous setbacks, I find myself intrigued by the strategic depth offered by the weapon against the Pirc and Modern Defense.

Currently, I’m delving into Viktor Moskalenko’s The Perfect Pirc-Modern - 10 Years Later, a valuable resource for understanding the nuances of this opening. Alongside my own exploration, I encourage fellow enthusiasts to join me in studying and mastering the intricacies of the Pirc and Modern Defense.

Analyzing Games

Let’s take a closer look at two intriguing games featuring the same position for White:

Game 1: Van der Hoeven’s Approach Van der Hoeven opted for a strategic approach, delaying Qd2 in favor of a timely a4, demonstrating the versatility of White’s position.

Game 2: A Dynamic Encounter This game showcases dynamic play from both sides, highlighting the tactical intricacies inherent in the Modern Defense.

[Event "Wch23 Final"]
[White "Van der Hoeven,David A"]
[Black "Persson,Conny"]
[Site "corr ICCF"]
[Round ""]
[Annotator ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[Date "2007.12.31"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "91"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O Nd7 8. a4 b4
9. Ne2 Ngf6 10. Ng3 a5 11. c3 bxc3 12. bxc3 O-O 13. Qd2 Rb8 14. Bh6 e5 15. Rfe1
Re8 16. Bg5 Ba8 17. h4 Qc8 18. h5 Nxh5 19. Nxh5 gxh5 20. Rab1 Rxb1 21. Bxb1 Kh8
22. Nh4 Rg8 23. Nf5 Qe8 24. d5 Bf6 25. Be3 Nb6 26. Bxb6 cxb6 27. Nxd6 Qd7 28.
Nf5 Bg5 29. Qd1 Bb7 30. Bd3 Qc7 31. Bb5 Qxc3 32. d6 Bc6 33. Bxc6 Qxc6 34. Qxh5
Rg6 35. Qd1 h6 36. g3 Rg8 37. Qb3 Rf8 38. Kg2 Kh7 39. Kf3 Qd7 40. Qxb6 Qxa4 41.
Qc5 Re8 42. Rb1 Kg6 43. Rb7 Qd1+ 44. Kg2 Qd3 45. Qc6 Rd8 46. Ra7 1-0

Van der Hoeven held back with Qd2 and castled first, then pushed a4, which is quite interesting!

[Event "RUS-chT 30th"]
[White "Shuvalova,Polina"]
[Black "Tsydypov,Zhamsaran"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Round "7.1"]
[Annotator ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[Date "2023.05.08"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2538"]
[PlyCount "99"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. h4 h6 8. e5 e6 9.
Ne4 Nc6 10. c3 Nge7 11. Bf4 Nd5 12. Bg3 dxe5 13. dxe5 Nce7 14. Nc5 Bc6 15. Nd4
h5 16. Bxg6 Nxg6 17. Nxc6 Qc8 18. O-O Kf8 19. a4 Qe8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Qxa8
22. Nd4 Ndf4 23. Bxf4 Nxf4 24. Qf3 Qxf3 25. Nxf3 Ke7 26. Rd1 Nd5 27. Ra1 Rb8 28.
Ra6 Rb6 29. Rxb6 Nxb6 30. Kf1 Bh6 31. Ke2 Bg7 32. g3 Ke8 33. Nd3 Nd7 34. Ke3 c5
35. Ke4 c4 36. Nf4 Nc5+ 37. Kd4 Na4 38. Nxh5 Bf8 39. Nf6+ Kd8 40. h5 Nxb2 41.
Ng5 Nd3 42. h6 Ke7 43. h7 Bg7 44. f4 Nc1 45. Kc5 Na2 46. Kxb5 Nxc3+ 47. Kxc4 Ne2
48. Nfe4 Bh8 49. Kd3 Nc1+ 50. Ke3 1-0

Further Reading

Coincidentally, when I wrote this blog, Chessbase posted a blog on their website. It’s a great read, and I highly recommend it even when I disagree with their assessment, but hey, the GMs are always right!

Conclusion

As I travel back in time to the roots of my chess openings, which I abandoned, let’s embrace the challenges and intricacies offered by such refreshed views. Your repertoire is your signature in chess. It reflects how you play. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a novice enthusiast, there’s always something new to discover in the vast realm of chess.

I welcome your thoughts and encourage other senior players to keep pursuing chess goals!

Amici Sumus

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