Great video going over the stonewall attack, seems like some typical queens pawn ideas with Ne5, and even Greek gift and rook lift attacks on the kingside with Qh5 motifs as well in this opening. I can see keeping the center closed as the kingside attack commences with blacks pieces mainly on the queenside. Love your clear analysis and instruction! Thanks Ben!
"There's only two things I hate in this world: openings that are intolerant of other openings, and the Stonewall Dutch." I predict Ben will say this :)
It's one of the easiest openings to dive into (with the exception of the ultrapassive Hippo, I guess?) because not only is it a system-type opening with very flexible move orders and clear long term plans, but you can play it with both black and white. And unless your opponent knows how to immediately and proactively test you, they end up playing pretty darn similar (which is unlike most other mirrored openings, like the KID vs. the KIA.) And it's great fun, with both positional and attacking elements to tinker with. I flat out ignored theory and just tinkered around until I found a pawn storm variation--and connected open trap--that I quite like. Checked it with an engine and it's all sound stuff (sure objectively it's too slow/passive, but it isn't losing and I only use it vs. people who are playing slow/passive vs. me so it generally works out.) I rave about it at greater length in another comment here. Wouldn't have wasted to many keystrokes on it but it is the Finegold Trap, after all.
I actually invented a Stonewall trap I call the *Finegold Trap* (for reasons that will become clear) and I've pulled many hundreds of times on Lichess by now. It's INCREDIBLY satisfying to pull off. It works as so: (For notation, I'm assuming white playing Stonewall attack but I've also done many times as black). This isn't a rote memorization trap. There's no set move order; and it works vs. a variety of black solid-passive-modest positions. This happens a LOT in blitz and bullet when people are just banging out easy moves. (In bullet, I've had multiple >2000s stumble into the trap.) Basically, whenever you're facing a passive/solid opponent who has played d5, hasn't played bishop f5, and is apparently going O-O, you keep your Stonewall structure static (don't break in the center), you preemptively keep his knight out of e4 with your pieces (with your queen knight, Bd3, and--if he's fianchettoing is queen bishop--also Qf3. ) Next step: Having kept the center locked and prevented his king knight from being a pest, you plant your own knight on e5. They usually won't take with a piece (and if they do, it's good for you.) Black makes some random legal move, and then on your very next move--assuming he's castled by now--play g4 (I'm usually O-O myself by this point, but not always.) Note that this pawn storm is entirely safe--the center is locked solid, your pieces are aimed at the kingside and your king certainly isn't going to be attacked in the forseeable future unless black is prepared to sacrifice a significant amount of material.) Now comes a pause and brief think. If he moves his knight off of f6, THAT IS A GOOD SIGN. Immediately bang out g5. The quicker, the better. And now is the moment of truth. If he's moved his knight off of f6, there's a 90%+ chance that even though you played g5, he'll still play f6 to kick away your knight. And that's the fatal move. *Never play f6* At this moment in time I usually click the "add time" button a few times to give my opponent more of a chance to think over what he just did. Ignore your attacked knight, and greek gift sac your bishop. King takes bishop, Qh5+. Kg8. And now the comes moment of exquisite beauty and joy: *g6* . Pawn and Queen alone are now threatening to completely ruin black's day. Sometimes it's unavoidable mate on the spot, while other times his rook and minor pieces are arranged such that he can survive by sacrificing some material back (but you always have an advantage, usually but not always a very large one.) I've had a few really interesting games where the black king does manage to run away to the queenside and black has enough material left to launch some Hail Mary dubious-but-dangerous attack of his own. Good times, good times. I've done it probably 1/3-1/4 as often playing the Stonewall with black as I have with white because the extra tempo and psychological advantage of playing white means they are less likely to play passively. If they don't play f6 (or f3), it's still a great position for you. Black is unable to open the center and his pieces are generally misplaced somewhere on the queenside. You can usually continue your kingside attack in one fashion or another with your pawns, bishop, queen, a rook lift, etc. Your opponent will have queenside space, but this very rarely matters unless you wildly over-commit to some sort of stalled kingside attack. (So just be flexible enough to shift your attention to the center or to the queenside if he does manage to defend well on the kingside.) Anyway, so that's the Stonewall: Finegold Trap
Start with D4, baby, here as I am. E3 and then F4, try and understand. Stonewall is hunger, is the fire I breathe. The centers a banquet on which we feed. Knight H3, try and understand Defends F4 on the rim he lands You want D4? Too bad brother You can't take it now, you can't take it now, you can't take it noOoOoOow. Because the knight has gone to H3. Because the knight is on the rim. Because the knight belongs to H3. Because the knight is on the rim.
This lecture got me stoned. Thanks, anonymous!
Great lecture as always Mr. Grandmaster
The Stonewall is my favorite civil war opening
I love all of the lectures by Ben so much
A great opening innovation by Howard Stonewall.
Nice lecture ben cheers, learned a lot.
The whole list of various mates around 18:50 is great
Excellent lecture, thank you very much Ben!!
Great video going over the stonewall attack, seems like some typical queens pawn ideas with Ne5, and even Greek gift and rook lift attacks on the kingside with Qh5 motifs as well in this opening. I can see keeping the center closed as the kingside attack commences with blacks pieces mainly on the queenside. Love your clear analysis and instruction! Thanks Ben!
Hello Ben, thanks for the video and the sponsor.
Hello sponsor, thank you for the video and ben
This opening prevents White from ever playing F3. So you know it's good.
Thanks for the free lesson.
Coming outta Stone mountain Georgia.. i play the stonewall alot. Via d4. E3. Then F4
it is my favourite opening!
Tremendously helpful comment!
"There's only two things I hate in this world: openings that are intolerant of other openings, and the Stonewall Dutch." I predict Ben will say this :)
i'll have to try the stonewall now
It's one of the easiest openings to dive into (with the exception of the ultrapassive Hippo, I guess?) because not only is it a system-type opening with very flexible move orders and clear long term plans, but you can play it with both black and white. And unless your opponent knows how to immediately and proactively test you, they end up playing pretty darn similar (which is unlike most other mirrored openings, like the KID vs. the KIA.)
And it's great fun, with both positional and attacking elements to tinker with. I flat out ignored theory and just tinkered around until I found a pawn storm variation--and connected open trap--that I quite like. Checked it with an engine and it's all sound stuff (sure objectively it's too slow/passive, but it isn't losing and I only use it vs. people who are playing slow/passive vs. me so it generally works out.)
I rave about it at greater length in another comment here. Wouldn't have wasted to many keystrokes on it but it is the Finegold Trap, after all.
GO BEN
Go Ben!
I like Ben
During the first game I'm really wondering why Weiss didn't push c5..
Congressional hearing witnesses will come here for prep, but leave in disappointment.
if i'd have to name 1 opening i dislike to play against the most, this would be it. weirdly though i actually have a good score against it
I actually invented a Stonewall trap I call the *Finegold Trap* (for reasons that will become clear) and I've pulled many hundreds of times on Lichess by now. It's INCREDIBLY satisfying to pull off. It works as so:
(For notation, I'm assuming white playing Stonewall attack but I've also done many times as black).
This isn't a rote memorization trap. There's no set move order; and it works vs. a variety of black solid-passive-modest positions. This happens a LOT in blitz and bullet when people are just banging out easy moves.
(In bullet, I've had multiple >2000s stumble into the trap.)
Basically, whenever you're facing a passive/solid opponent who has played d5, hasn't played bishop f5, and is apparently going O-O, you keep your Stonewall structure static (don't break in the center), you preemptively keep his knight out of e4 with your pieces (with your queen knight, Bd3, and--if he's fianchettoing is queen bishop--also Qf3. )
Next step: Having kept the center locked and prevented his king knight from being a pest, you plant your own knight on e5. They usually won't take with a piece (and if they do, it's good for you.)
Black makes some random legal move, and then on your very next move--assuming he's castled by now--play g4 (I'm usually O-O myself by this point, but not always.) Note that this pawn storm is entirely safe--the center is locked solid, your pieces are aimed at the kingside and your king certainly isn't going to be attacked in the forseeable future unless black is prepared to sacrifice a significant amount of material.)
Now comes a pause and brief think. If he moves his knight off of f6, THAT IS A GOOD SIGN. Immediately bang out g5. The quicker, the better.
And now is the moment of truth. If he's moved his knight off of f6, there's a 90%+ chance that even though you played g5, he'll still play f6 to kick away your knight.
And that's the fatal move.
*Never play f6*
At this moment in time I usually click the "add time" button a few times to give my opponent more of a chance to think over what he just did.
Ignore your attacked knight, and greek gift sac your bishop.
King takes bishop, Qh5+. Kg8.
And now the comes moment of exquisite beauty and joy:
*g6* .
Pawn and Queen alone are now threatening to completely ruin black's day.
Sometimes it's unavoidable mate on the spot, while other times his rook and minor pieces are arranged such that he can survive by sacrificing some material back (but you always have an advantage, usually but not always a very large one.) I've had a few really interesting games where the black king does manage to run away to the queenside and black has enough material left to launch some Hail Mary dubious-but-dangerous attack of his own. Good times, good times.
I've done it probably 1/3-1/4 as often playing the Stonewall with black as I have with white because the extra tempo and psychological advantage of playing white means they are less likely to play passively.
If they don't play f6 (or f3), it's still a great position for you. Black is unable to open the center and his pieces are generally misplaced somewhere on the queenside. You can usually continue your kingside attack in one fashion or another with your pawns, bishop, queen, a rook lift, etc.
Your opponent will have queenside space, but this very rarely matters unless you wildly over-commit to some sort of stalled kingside attack. (So just be flexible enough to shift your attention to the center or to the queenside if he does manage to defend well on the kingside.)
Anyway, so that's the Stonewall: Finegold Trap
White seems to have a crushing position in that Wikipedia illustration, though he may have difficulty checkmating Black's king since there isn't one.
The famous Abdication Gambit
It looks like black didn't show up to that 4 o clock after school appointment.
goood...good!
Do The Bird!
Comment for the algorithm
Start with D4, baby, here as I am.
E3 and then F4, try and understand.
Stonewall is hunger, is the fire I breathe.
The centers a banquet on which we feed.
Knight H3, try and understand
Defends F4 on the rim he lands
You want D4? Too bad brother
You can't take it now, you can't take it now, you can't take it noOoOoOow.
Because the knight has gone to H3.
Because the knight is on the rim.
Because the knight belongs to H3.
Because the knight is on the rim.
no clue what song thats supposed to be
Not a single gay joke about Stonewall. Confusing the audience.
Passé
Hit the gym