Colle System Chess Opening [Colle-Koltanowski System]

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If you want to have a “simple to learn” chess opening that can give you a win as early as move 8, and also surprise your opponent by playing it, you’re going to love this.

In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov will show you one of the most underrated chess openings that will help you beat even stronger opponents.

The opening is called the Colle System, also known as the Colle–Koltanowski System, which is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game and is characterised by a systematic development of White's minor pieces to support a quick pawn move to the e4-square.

A lot of the chess players underestimate this system and none of the top GMs play it because it looks slightly passive. However, in reality, this opening has great potential with plenty of hidden attacking opportunities that almost no chess player is aware of.

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► Chapters

00:00 Chess opening to WIN in 8 moves
00:25 Happy New Year 2022!
01:39 Colle System: Do NOT underestimate
03:46 Evil trap humans almost can't see
05:22 Tactical pattern: sacrifice on h7
07:45 Kingside Attack: The rook lift
10:03 Bring your queen to the attack
12:26 Can you find the best move?

#GMSmirnov #ChessOpenings #ChessOpening

[christopherpavlicas]

Igor, My wife and I watch your videos for almost 10 years now and have purchased your fantastic courses. Thanks for making us much better at chess. Today she leaned over my shoulder while I was watching this video and I thought she was going to ask me a a technical chess question, but instead, she said, "how in the world does Igor seem to look younger every year? What's his secret? LMAO.

[GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters

00:00 Chess opening to WIN in 8 moves
00:25 Happy New Year 2022!
01:39 Colle System: Do NOT underestimate
03:46 Evil trap humans almost can't see
05:22 Tactical pattern: sacrifice on h7
07:45 Kingside Attack: The rook lift
10:03 Bring your queen to the attack
12:26 Can you find the best move?

[jonathangough]

Thank you for the video, it was very informative and I’m definitely going to add this to my opening repertoire! To answer the question at the end, no you can’t play Bg5 because black can play Bf8 and trap your queen.

[robertpease]

Back in 1980, when our chess team went to State, this is the opening I played as white. We ended up winning state. It was the first time in at least 5 years that Yasser Seirawan's high school team didn't win state.

[Chunda]

Hi GM Smirnov, thanks for this. The way I have been thinking about the Colle is as an upgraded London. I think the Fianchetto gives it a little more power and flexibility and addresses some of the drawbacks of the London. Namely that weak b2 square...I do realize it is not often played at the higher levels, I see the London more often. People forget that the purpose of these White systems is to get into a Middlegame without falling into traps, tricks, gambits that Black can do to equalize. I don't mind showing this to the kids, there is nothing that can turn someone off to chess more than getting checkmated quickly. For a kid this could be very discouraging. People disparage these systems, but if you want to castle and not really lose any pieces, they actually work. If a player is flexible with the move order and still paying attention to what Black is doing, these are still very playable. I'm thinking for those under or near 1000 Elo, this is a great option.

[TheRampax]

Whenever I play this (around 1700 level) black uses anti Colle tactics, so it never goes down these pleasant lines for white, and often ends up in more of a queens gambit declined position.

[skfiend]

I've come across the Colle when looking at the London System, but also interested in the modern version of the Colle, The Colle-Koltanowski System
Something I've never looked at before (until now)

[vinceslaven]

Nice video.

You didn't mention Black's most logical resource, in my opinion. White's white squared bishop is central to this opening, therefore it makes sense for Black to trade bishops by b6 and Ba6, the black knight stays on b8 to support this. Normally, the bishop on d3 will be on the same diagonal as the rook on f1, so White loses the exchange by avoiding the trade. The absence of the white squared bishop negates the opportunity to play the Greek Gift sacrifice, etc. If White tries to stop the trade with Qe2, then a5 puts the trade back on. White can sometimes play c4 to oppose the bishop trade, but the game is now much more about central tension than White having a free hand on the king side.

It is still a solid opening for White, but by playing the above, Black gets less passive positions than in the video.

[tibi_chess]

12:40 after Bg5, black plays Bf8! and traps white's queen

[peter-qvtq]

First time out . Checkmate on move 17. Exactly as you described. However I lost the next two . As my opponents made that opening impossible. This makes a case for having a repertoire instead of trying only one favourite play. But thank you for this addition to mine.

[johnmarlin]

I first learned about the Colle System when I was in high school (early 1970s) from Irving Chernev's little classic, "Logical Chess, Move by Move." I've used it since then with varying success.

[scottski]

what's the continuation if (@ 13:15) after white plays qd2, black simply pushes his h-pawn forward to h5? Q to g4+ ?? Then take the knight?

[markusantonious]

Bg5 works....If Black plays Bf8 trapping White's Queen, simply sac the Queen for the Bishop...then no matter what Black plays, White follows up with BxNf6, followed by Ng5....with winning continuations no matter Black's play.

[mauricem]

“Let’s say they play all the moves needed to make this set up work”

[dennisdavidson]

You can play B-g5 but black has bf8 threatening the Queen.
Moving the rook saved the immenent mate.

[TheAnshuman]

12:40 After Rd8, Bg5 is still a good move but I think black can defend by playing Be7. Then after Bxf6 Bxf6 Qxh7+ Kf8, white can't play Qh8 due to the bishop on f6 which also attacks the white rook on h4.

[chilakashalemraju]

Very instructive and useful. Thank you

[adamk]

Finally hit 1100 in rapid! Thank you Igor, you’ve helped me tremendously! I feel like I’ve been stuck in a rut for years and you’ve helped me think differently about my game. I appreciate your lessons & methods so much

[BRUCEW]

I've now have played several games using your queen pawn opening and it has been working great!!Thanks for making another great video you are a great teacher!!

[favoritetoons]

I think position given at 12:57, Be7 is a good move. How it can be able to countered by white?