Richter-Veresov Attack

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Richter-Veresov Attack

Moves

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5

ECO

D01

Origin

1902

Named after

Kurt Richter and Gavriil Veresov

Parent

Closed Game

Synonym(s)

Veresov Opening

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The Richter-Veresov Attack or Veresov Opening is a chess opening. It is characterized by an attack-minded system of opening moves 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5. It is also often reached by transposition, for example 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nc3, or 1.Nc3 Nf6 2.d4 d5 3.Bg5.

The opening was named after the German International Master Kurt Richter and later the Soviet chess master Gavriil Veresov, who played it on a frequent basis, for over a quarter of a century.

1 Incremental development
2 The Veresov Today
3 Further reading
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Incremental development

It is thought that the opening dates back as far as the game Marshall-Wolf, Monte Carlo 1902. It was Savielly Tartakower though, who played it regularly in the 1920s and even at the end of his life. It featured in his victory over Donner at the Staunton Centenary in 1951. Tartakower's interpretation and treatment of the moves generally led to a close, manoeuvring game.

Kurt Richter was the next player to develop new ideas, during the 1930s. He mostly found it useful to facilitate his risk-taking style and he produced some dazzling victories, that contributed to a whole chapter of his book of best games. Some theoreticians refer to the opening as the Richter Attack, or Richter-Veresov Attack.

It was however Veresov who greatly strengthened both the theory and practice from World War II to his heyday in the fifties and sixties. He is credited with many beautiful games, demonstrating that the opening contained more subtlety and depth than was previously considered, often culminating in a central advance or direct assault on the opponent's king. As a tool for rapid piece development, it resembled a king pawn opening, requiring fewer pawn moves than standard queen pawn fare.

The opening has never been very popular at the top level, but various prominent players have employed it occasionally. In 1959, for example, David Bronstein played the Richter Variation against Veresov himself; the game was drawn in 16 moves.^[1]

The more famous Ruy Lopez opening looks like a mirrored Richter-Veresov Attack. Of course, since the d-pawn is protected from the start by the queen, the dynamics of play are quite different.

[edit] The Veresov Today

Moving into the last third of the 20th century, grandmasters of the calibre of Spassky, Tal, Smyslov, Larsen and Bronstein all experimented with the Veresov Opening as an occasional surprise weapon. Even Karpov employed it with success against Romanishin in a Soviet Team Championship. Other, more frequent practitioners have included Hector Rossetto, Lev Alburt, Victor Ciocaltea, Nikola Padevsky and Tony Miles.

In more contemporary play, the system has remained popular. Grandmaster Jonny Hector has become an adherent of the Veresov and some interest has also been shown by leading GM Alexander Morozevich.

After 3.Bg5 (see diagram), black's most popular choices are 3... Nbd7, 3... e6, 3... Bf5, 3... c6 and 3... c5, all potentially leading to different variations. White's plans typically include rapid Queenside castling, and an early f3 and e4.

The ECO code for the Richter-Veresov Attack is D01.

Along with the Trompowsky Attack, Colle System and Torre Attack, the Richter-Veresov Attack is one of the more common branches of the Queen's Pawn Game. After the Black reply 3...Bf5, the German master Kurt Richter, after whom the opening is half-named, usually replied 4.f3, hoping to build up a large pawn centre. Soviet player Gavril Veresov, on the other hand, usually played 4.Bxf6, damaging the Black pawn structure. Today, these two variations are known as the Richter Variation and Veresov Variation respectively.