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Hello and welcome to the page that details the War Zone position on a chessboard.
This position is fairly uncommon and difficult to achieve, but may offer substantial
rewards if it is achieved. Do not go out of your way to achieve this position. However,
sometimes the opportunity presents itself, and then you could possibly attain a similar
position to this one. |
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Advantages
- An aggressive method of playing against the Sicilian, using the f4 pawn to threaten Black's
Kingside.
- Interlocked Knights dull the threat of pins from the opposing Bishops.
- The "War Zone" is so named because the minor pieces form a battle line on the third rank,
ready to engage the enemy as they choose.
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Disadvantages
- Both Bishops play passive roles, and are not aggressive enough until late in the middle
game.
- Ne2 invites a pin against it, unless the usual Sicilian Bishop parks itself at d7.
- The weak diagonal of g1-a7, with only Be3 standing in the way of an invasion, which is
fortunately difficult to begin.
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Move Sequence
- e4. The King's Pawn Opening.
- Bc4. The Bishop's Opening.
- d3. Releasing the other Bishop.
- Ne2. Bait for the opposing Bishop.
- 0-0. Castling to safety.
- f4. Launching an assault on the Kingside.
- Nc3. Interlocking Knights for stability.
- Be3. Defending the weak diagonal.
- a6. Against a future pin on the Knight.
- Bb3. Better to play Ba4 then Bb5.
- The Queen now prepares to go to e1, and invade on the Kingside, or the Knight goes to g3
if there is no pin. f4 is the extra threat in this variation.
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Pitfalls
Throughout the entire opening sequence, black can give white trouble with these moves:
- d4 is an embarassing fork on Nc3 and Be3, best avoided by trading with e4
- Bg4 troubles the Kingside, pinning the Knight until the Queen moves to evade the pin
- Na5 threatens Bc4 or Bb3, and also ...b5 and ...c4, which aims to break up the pawn
structure
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Similar Openings
1. e4 c5 is the Sicilian Defense.
2. Bc4 is the Bowlder Attack of the Sicilian Defense. |
Warzoneus