Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack

Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack

Definition

The Tartakower Attack is a particular way for White to meet the “East-Indian” move order 1…g6 against 1.d4. Using an early Bg5 pin, White develops quickly and tries to combine central pressure with potential kingside threats.

The most common modern move sequence is:

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Bg5

After 5.Bg5 the opening is coded A48 in the ECO system and labelled “Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack.” Earlier manuals also call it the East Indian, Tartakower Variation.

How It Is Used in Play

• Early Pin: 5.Bg5 puts immediate pressure on the knight on f6, discouraging Black from pushing …dxc4 or …c5 too early because the e-pawn could become loose after exchanges.
• Flexible Structure: White usually chooses between a quiet development with e3 & Be2 or a sharper plan with Qb3, Rc1 and sometimes h4–h5.
• Anti-Grünfeld/King’s Indian Device: Many Grünfeld and King’s Indian players reach the position by transposition, so 5.Bg5 is a handy surprise weapon to avoid their favourite main lines.
• Model Pawn Center: White often keeps pawns on d4 & c4 (and sometimes e3), aiming for space, while Black strives to free the game with …c5 or …Ne4–c5.

Strategic Themes

• Central Tension: After 5.Bg5, either side may capture on c4/d4/d5. Correct timing decides whether Black equalises or drifts into a cramped position.
• Dark-Square Battles: Because Black’s bishop sits on g7, exchanges on d5 often leave weaknesses on the dark squares e4 & c6. White’s bishop on g5 (or h4 after …h6) keeps those targets in view.
• King-side Attacking Chances: When Black castles short, plans with h4–h5, Qd2/Bh6 or a rook lift via h1-h3-Rf3 can appear, echoing ideas from the Sämisch or Torre lines.
• Minor-Piece Manoeuvres: Typical manoeuvres include Nb5–c3–d5 for White or …Ne4–xg5 followed by …dxc4 for Black.

Historical Background

The line is named after the colorful Polish-French grandmaster Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956). He used the early Bg5 system in several games during the 1920s, often as a practical weapon to drag his opponents out of book. While never the absolute mainline of top-level theory, it has remained a sound sideline for a century.

Modern grandmasters such as Pavel Eljanov, Alexander Grischuk, and Bassem Amin have all employed the Tartakower Attack as a rapid-play surprise.

Illustrative Game

The following miniature shows the danger for Black if he underestimates the Bg5 pin.

(Savielly Tartakower – Ludwig Rellstab, Vienna 1922, courtesy of public domain game sources.) White’s early pressure forced structural concessions; after simplifications the passed a-pawn and weak dark squares gave White an enduring advantage.

Typical Continuations

1. 5…dxc4 6.e3 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.exd4 O-O – Black grabs space, but White’s lead in development and pressure along the e-file give compensation.
2. 5…Ne4 6.Bh4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.e3 – a double-edged line where White accepts an isolated pawn on c3 for the bishop pair and central majority.
3. 5…c6 6.e3 O-O 7.Be2 h6 8.Bh4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 – Black builds a Slav-like queenside expansion while White keeps the bishop on h4 to annoy the knight.

Practical Tips

• If you play the Tartakower Attack with White, be ready to transpose into structures from the Torre Attack or certain Queen’s Gambit lines—flexibility is a virtue.
• After …Ne4, avoid automatic exchanges; moves like Qc1 or Bh4 keep the tension and can punish premature simplification by Black.
• When Black delays …d5 (for instance, tries …c5), the simple cxd5 Nxd5 e4 grabs the center and rewinds into a Maroczy-type bind.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Tartakower was famous for coining aphorisms (“The blunders are all there on the board, waiting to be made”). This opening embodies his philosophy—create tricky positions and wait for something to happen!
• Because of the early Bg5, many amateur databases mis-classify games as a Torre Attack. The key difference is the black pawn on d5.
• The line enjoyed a small renaissance in internet rapid chess during the COVID-19 era; surprise value matters even in the age of engines.

Summary

The Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack is a sound, off-beat system that combines a positional pin with dynamic central play. It avoids heavy theory while posing practical problems for Grünfeld and King’s Indian players. Whether you seek a surprise weapon for rapid events or a main-stay sideline in classical chess, the Tartakower Attack offers rich strategic and tactical possibilities rooted in one of the game’s most creative minds.