How About That Queen?

Author

Shifa Somji enjoys learning, playing, and reading about chess.

Chess4Girls held a strategy session with Grand Master Greg Serper at the Redmond Public Library in January. In a powerful session, GM Serper discussed Alekhine’s game against Hoelscher. The game was played in 1933 and demonstrates queen’s amazing power in the center of the board. Here, I analyze some of the best positions from the game: 

The set of moves, leading to the first important position found below, are as follows: 

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 

In the first position, just five moves into the opening, White’s Queen dominates the center. It is very difficult for Black to develop its pieces and build an attack with White’s Queen controlling the entire board. 

The next set of moves, leading to the second position found below, are as follows:

5. … Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Bg5 Nf6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. O-O-O O-O 10. h4 h6

White’s Queen continues to dominate the center while Black’s pieces remain passive. White is developing its attack, supported by the beautifully placed queen, and Black is forced to defend his pieces and support his King. 

The next set of moves, leading to the third position found below, are as follows: 

11. Nd5 hxg5 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. hxg5 Nxe4 14. Rh5 

White’s rook dominates the h-file and will soon be supported by the second rook. It is difficult for Black to play with White’s powerful queen and rooks. This position especially highlights the benefits of playing aggressively, as merely placing two or three pieces in the center restricts Black’s moves. 

The final position, 1-0, is the fourth position in the gallery below. 

The idea of placing the Queen in the center within a few moves of the game is also illustrated in Kiselev’s game against Rogovoi Mark. The game starts off as follows: 

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 

Even though this game’s opening is different from the opening in Alekhine’s game, the idea is still the same. Placing the Queen in the center is a highly effective method to play aggressively and White is able to win easily. 

The next set of moves, leading to the second position found below, are as follows: 

4. … Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 e6 8. Bg5 Nf6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O 11. e5 dxe5 12. Qh4 Qc7 13. Nxe5 Rad8 14. Ng4 Nd5 15. Rxd5 exd5 16. Bxe7 Rfe8 17. Nf6+ 

Although the Queen is forced to move from the center, White’s knight replaces the queen and the two rooks dominate the central files. White’s pieces easily overpower Black’s cramped pieces, enabling a win in less than twenty moves.

Both games illustrate the power of centralized pieces. The bold styles of play made both games memorable.

​Overall, the session was very insightful. Through the two effective games, girls who attended the session learned about the power of a centralized Queen in employing an aggressive style of play. Chess4Girls hopes to host more sessions in the future.