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ECO A41Semi-closed game

Wade Defense

The bishop comes out first; the pawns can wait

  • Offbeat

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4: Black pins the f3 knight at once and decides on the centre later. Usually Black follows with …Nd7 and …e5, and trades bishop for knight when it suits. The opening is rare but respected: it is flexible, has little theory, and White has to think for themselves.

Interactive Opening Board

4…e5

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White
4…e5
Speed:

Moves

(8 plies • 4 moves)
4…e5Tabiya
  1. 1–4moves
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  5. 4.

Defining move

2…Bg4 — the pin before the pawns

The move that sets the Wade apart from a quiet …d6 set-up

The bishop comes out beyond the pawn chain before the chain exists. It pressures the f3 knight, and through it White's centre. White usually answers with c4, Nc3 or e4. If Black later trades the bishop on f3, White gets the bishop pair, so the trade has to be worth something.

Tabiya

White builds the centre, Black holds e5

White has pawns on d4 and c4 and both knights out, while Black has backed the centre with …e5 and put a knight on d7. The g4 bishop still presses on the f3 knight. White has to choose between a capture on e5, e2-e4 and e2-e3. Black prepares …Ngf6 and …Be7 and waits for the right moment for …Bxf3.

White’s plan

  • Take the centre with c4, Nc3 and e2-e4.
  • Keep the bishop pair if Black trades on f3.
  • Open the game with d4xe5 before Black has finished developing.

Black’s plan

  • Hold the centre with d6 and e5 and develop the knights to d7 and f6.
  • Trade the bishop for the f3 knight when it pays.
  • Free the position with …c5 or …f5.

History

The name comes from the British master Bob Wade, who played it for decades. Julian Hodgson later brought it more attention by playing it often and with success.

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