150 Attack - Chess Opening Strategy
150 Attack
Definition
The 150 Attack is an aggressive set-up for White against the Pirc and Modern Defences. The name derives from the joking idea that “even a 150-rated player” (in the old English Chess Federation grading system) could play it because the moves are logical, easy to remember, and often lead to a direct kingside assault. The typical structure features:
- Bishop to e3
- Queen to d2
- Pawns on f3, g4, and h4 (in many lines)
- Opposite-side castling with long-term plans of launching pawns at Black’s king
Origins & Nomenclature
The system arose in British weekend tournaments during the 1980s when club players looked for a no-nonsense way to meet the Pirc (1…d6 2…Nf6 3…g6). English International Master Paul Motwani helped popularise the approach, but it was the humorous name—suggesting accessibility to low-rated players—that stuck. Grandmasters soon adopted it, proving that the idea works at every level.
Typical Move Order
The attack can be reached through either the Pirc or the Modern:
- e4 d6
- d4 Nf6
- Nc3 g6
- Be3 Bg7
- Qd2 O-O
- f3 …
From here, White usually castles queenside (O-O-O) and pushes the kingside pawns with g4, h4, and sometimes h5, aiming for a direct mating attack.
Strategic Themes
- Space and Flexibility: White gains central control with pawns on e4 and d4 while keeping options open for c2-c4 or g2-g4.
- Opposite-Side Castling: Castling long signals mutual race positions: White storms the kingside; Black strikes at the centre or queenside with …c5, …b5, and …a5.
- Dark-Square Domination: The Be3–Qd2 battery eyes h6 and can pivot to h6 after Bxh6, weakening Black’s monarch.
- Pawn Storm Timing: Knowing when to launch g4-g5 or h4-h5 is critical. Too early can backfire; too late may let Black counterplay with …c5 or …b5.
Example Game
One of the cleanest demonstrations is H. Nielsen – V. Epishin, Bundesliga 1995:
Nielsen’s pawn storm crashed through on h7 and g6 before Black’s queenside play could bite.
Related Systems
- Austrian Attack: 150 Attack players sometimes transpose if they choose f4 instead of f3.
- Classical Systems with Be3–Qd2: Similar plans arise against the Sicilian Dragon (the Yugoslav Attack) and the King’s Indian Defence.
Interesting Facts
- The 150 Attack has a “cousin” called the 2300 Attack, a tongue-in-cheek upgrade implying grandmaster precision rather than club-level simplicity.
- Garri Kasparov employed the set-up in blitz games, proving its validity at the highest echelon.
- Because the moves Be3, Qd2, and f3 are so natural, beginners often stumble into the opening without knowing its name—only later discovering they have launched a 150 Attack.
Practical Tips for Players
- Delay O-O-O until Black commits with …O-O; surprise value matters.
- If Black plays …c5 early, consider dxc5 followed by e4-e5 to clamp the centre.
- Never forget defence: keep pieces like the dark-squared bishop ready to drop back to d3 or e2 against queenside counterplay.