kib This lecture is intended to show you how to play the Stonewall attack, an age-old white opening that requires little effort to learn and often makes for exciting attacks on the castled black position.
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Kib Now the disclaimer - This lecture was written by MBDil, a 1500-ish player and a self-proclaimed expert on the stonewall. This lecture is intended for players of up to about 1300 strength, though stronger players may benefit from it.
20
kib Why play the Stonewall? It follows standard opening principles such as control of the center and rapid development. The theory on this opening hasn't changed much in the last hundred years,  so once you learn it, you don't have to spend a lot of time keeping current on theory. It's also very helpful for learning concepts such as pawn storms, strong knights and bad bishops, and sacrificial kingside attacks.
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kib The stonewall also has minor psychological advantages. Many developing players (<1300) are more comfortable answering e4 than d4.  In addition, the stonewall typically leads to closed positions, which are usually more intimidating for your opponents that may not be familiar with the "full looking" chessboard that often results.
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kib So that we can see the basic concepts and ideas of the Stonewall, let's first look at a game where black doesn't put up much of a defense.
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d4
d5
e3
kib This announces your intentions. White chooses to put a bishop on d3 and set up pawns at d4 and f4 to hold the e5 square. The queen bishop is intentionally locked in to allow better movement for the other pieces. It's not a huge drawback. In many cases, it gets to join in the attack anyway.
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Nf6
Bd3
e6
Nd2
c5
kib Black, wisely, decided to put his queen knight behind his cpawn and also attempts to break up the wall of strong pawns.
kib White doesn't need to worry about cxd, since exd frees his queen bishop without giving up the e5 square.  He does need to be concerned with the c4 push, since it would drive his well-placed bishop off of the b1-h7 diagonal. Thus:
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c3
kib Then, if black plays c4, white can bring his bishop back to c2
7
c4
Bc2
Nc6
f4
kib White has set up the main pawn structure. He wants to put a knight at e5 to hit deep into black's position and also prevent black from playing e5.
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Bd6
Ngf3
Ng4
kib This move merely wastes time. It's a one-move threat on the undefended e-pawn.
8
Qe2
kib White doesn't mind playing this move at all... Not only does it defend the pawn, it prepares the queen to swing over to g2 or h2 after the pawns begin storming. It makes room for the rooks to move over as well, and it indirectly supports b2 in the event of a queenside attack by black, which frequently occurs in the Stonewall.
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Bd7
o-o
Nf6
kib Avoiding O-O?, where white wins a pawn and continues his attack with Bxh7+, and if Kxh7, Ng5+ wins the g4 knight.
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h3
o-o
g4
kib The storm is afoot! White's plan is to drive the knight from f6 with g5 and pile his forces against the weakened h7 pawn.
13
Qb6
kib Black stumbles onto the correct plan. The idea is a queenside attack, taking advantage of the somewhat cramped white queenside. Better is b5 followed by Qb6.
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Ne5
kib Its best square. Note that Nxe5 fxe5 forks the bishop and knight. It also opens the f-file and strengthens the attack by white.
10
Nxe5
fxe5
6
back 2
kib Black is also threatened by g5, since moving the knight away will hang the d7 bishop to the knight, which will then fork the Queen and Rook.
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Qd8
g5
Ne8
kib At this point, the h7 square is weakened and the Queen has freedom to go to h5. Note that an immediate attack is likely to fail, primarily because of the relatively strong pawns in front of the king and the lack of sufficient force to sustain a sacrificial attack.
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Kib for instance:
2
Qh5
g6
Nxg6
fxg6
Bxg6
hxg6
Qxg6+
Kh8
Qh6+
Kg8
g6
Qe7
kib And white cannot further the attack.
10
back 12
kib a different move order is called for, but that isn't sound either...
8
Bxh7+
Kxh7
Qh5+
Kg8
g6
kib Threatening mate on h7.
5
fxg
Nxg6
kib And white will have trouble making progress because the king can slip out of the attack at f7. Black could also organize a strong defense before white's currently dormant pieces could move in to intensify the attack.
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back 7
kib Note that this line wins only if black refuses the free bishop. The extra piece is just too much to fight.
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Bxh7
Kh8
Qh5
Nf6
gxf6
kib any black move leads to the same result here.
5
gxf6
Bg6+
Kg7
Qh7 ++
8
back 9
kib Since it's rarely a good idea to play unsound sacrifices, white decides to make room for his rook to come to g1 and strengthen his attack.
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Kh2
f6
kib Black doesn't like being cramped in this way. He hopes for gxf6, Nxf6. Unfortunately, his move breaks apart the king's last defense.
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Bxh7+
Kxh7
Qh5+
Kg8
g6
kib This is the proverbial nail in the coffin. Qh7 ++ is white's next move.
8
back 999
kib You may be thinking now that black put up a lousy defense. This is true. There were many better moves, but the game is instructive in showing the ideal setup of the white pieces during the stonewall attack.
20
kib the attack would not have succeeded without the combination of several white pieces bearing down on the kingside castled position and the huge space advantage held by white.
15
kib Now we'll look at three other games where the basics ring true although the moves change.
8
Kib E. Horowitz vs. an amateur, Milwaukee, 1950. Courtesy of "How to think ahead in chess" by I.A. Horowitz and Fred Reinfeld.
6
wname Horowitz
1
bname Amateur
1
d4
d5
e3
Nf6
Bd3
kib One of the characteristic moves of the stonewall.
5
e6
Nd2
kib White must prevent Ne4. Otherwise, black will almost literally turn the tables and "Stonewall" white.
10
c5
c3
kib The only response. White's dxc is ludicrous, since it gives away control of e5, and gaining e5 is half the point of the stonewall.
12
Nc6
kib Note that after this move, black threatens to take the initiative with e5. White CAN'T let that happen.
10
f4
kib This prevents it nicely.
5
Be7
Ngf3
Kg8
Ne5
Qc7
Kg1
b6
kib White is playing according to plan. He's set up the strong knight at e5 while preventing black from doing the same at e4. He's taken a commanding lead over the b1-h7 diagonal, and has lines open for Qh5 and the rook maneuver R-f3-h3.
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kib The pawns cover the dark squares of the center and are formidably placed to keep the necessary lines open for attack.
10
kib These are the defining moves of the Stonewall. See why it's so easy to learn?
10
g4
kib Threatening to follow through with the plan to drive the king knight away with g5.
10
Bb7
kib Here, black could actually gain lots of freedom with NxN. For instance:
10
a3
kib The equivalent of doing nothing.
5
Nxe5
fxe5
Ne4
kib The bishop provides enough support to e4 to make this possible. The diagonal is blocked, and black has a strong hold on the center. That's an awful way to end what would have been a strong attack by white.
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back 4
kib So then what?
6
Qf3
kib Now NxN followed by Ne4 loses a pawn while white's attack is sustained.
10
a6
kib This doesn't look like much, but it's the precursor to a queenside attack by black. Since the kingside couldn't be defended much more than it is, this is probably the correct plan for black.
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g5
Ne8
Bxh7+
kib When you look at this position, you'll notice the similarity to the previous game in which white had to wait for black to attempt f6 for the bishop sacrifice to work. Why does it work here when it didn't work there?
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kib The position of black's kingside is identical with the exception of the bishop on e7 instead of d6. White's entire camp is identical to the previous game with the exception of the queen on  f3 instead of e2 and the pawn on h2 instead of h3.
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kib So how does this work?
10
kib The h-pawn is the key. In this second game, white has the opportunity to bottle up black's kingside and then leisurely play Rf3 and Rh3, with mate to follow.
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kib This implies that the h3 push in the previous game was premature. Perhaps another action was needed, such as allowing the queen to do the honors of driving the knight away.
15
kib Can you say "Instructive?" Now might be a good time.
4
Kxh7
kib Kh8 sends black down in flames as in the previous example with Qh5/Bg6+/Qh7++
10
Qh5
Kg8
Rf3
g6
kib Black puts up a fight.
6
Qh6
Ng7
Rh3
Nh5
Kib Aha! Black appears to have halted the attack by blocking the file. Could it be that the attack has died? Is there nothing left for our hero with the white pieces? Isn't there something else he can give away to bring black to a halt?
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Nxg6
kib Black has to deal with the attack on his own knight and mate on h8.
6
fxg6
Qxg6+
Ng7
Kib The only defense. Kh8 fails to RxN mate.
5
kib According to Reinfeld and Horowitz, white can win here with a beautiful sacrifice.
10
Rh8
Kxh8
Qh6+
Kg8
g6
kib and mate is unavoidable.
9
back 5
kib But not to worry. It isn't necessary to see all of the sacs to win with the Stonewall attack. It just takes a bit longer.
10
Rh7
Bd6
kib This brings the queen into the game. Note that the king can no longer slip out via f7 since Rxg7 wins the queen.
10
Qh6
Kib Threatening g6 and Rh8 mate.
5
Kib Black finds a novel answer to that threat:
5
Bxf4
Kib Pinning the g pawn and delaying the inevitable.
5
kib Here Horowitz missed a crushing win:
5
Rh8
Kf7
Qf6
Ke8
Rxf8
Kd7
Rf7
kib White will finish ahead a whole queen.
10
back 7
kib However, Horowitz's strong position allowed him to win after the less violent exf4.
10
exf4
Rxf4
g6
kib Now what? Reinfeld's and Horowitz's analysis is that the king cannot escape unscathed via f8.
10
Kf8
Rh8
Ke7
Qxg7+
Kd6
Nc4+
dxc4
Bxf4+
kib "... and it's all over," they say.
12
back 8
6
Rg4+
Kh1
kib Kf1 would be a mistake since it allows black to exchange queens via Qf4+. The pressure would be off and black would win eventually with his extra piece.
15
Rxg6
kib Black really has no other choice than to return the extra material.
12
Qxg6
Rf8
kib To prevent Nf3. Note that Qf7 loses.
6
back 1
Qf7
Rh8+
Kxh8
Qxf7
8
back 4
Rf8
Nf3
Kib He plays it anyway! Another sac!
Rxf3
Bh6
Rf7
Rg1
kib ... and black resigns. Can you blame him? Look at it on your own. Go ahead. I'll give you 20 seconds.
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back 999
Kib Another?
Kib Kujoth vs. Crittenden, Milwaukee, 1949. Courtesy of "How to think ahead in chess" by I.A. Horowitz and Fred Reinfeld.
8
wname Kujoth
1
bname Crittenden
1
d4
d5
e3
Nf6
Bd3
e6
f4
kib Better is Nd2 first, preventing the knight from intruding at e4.
6
Nbd7
Nd2
c5
c3
kib  As before, giving the bishop a free escape square in the event of c4.
8
cxd
kib an error... it allows the bishop to gain freedom and does nothing to relax white's hold on the center. White should be able to attack more strongly when the time to attack comes.
15
exd
kib The only drawback for white is the currently undefended fpawn.
6
Be7
kib Black decides not to make the fpawn an issue. Had he played Bd6, Ndf3 would have sufficed, since it clears the way for the c1 bishop to guard f4, though it has the drawback of weakening white's hold on e4. g3 is another possibility, but it has the possible drawback of delaying the 0-0 - Rf3 - Rh3 maneuver until g4 is played.
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g1f3
b6
Ne5
kib The pattern is there...
Nxe5
kib This is another inaccuracy. White merely has to take with the f-pawn and proceed with a devastating attack that includes the force of the c1 bishop and the open f-file.
15
fxe5
kib A word of advice...  anytime the knight on e5 is taken, it is necessary to take back with the f-pawn. This assures white's control of the kingside by locking up any potential attacks by black along the a7-g1 diagonal and opening the lines for the rook on the f-file and the c1 bishop. It also negates the need for g2-g4-g5, since the e5 pawn is enough to drive away the knight on f6.
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Nd7
Kg1
a5
kib Black's plan is to exchange white's strong d3 bishop by playing Ba6. The guiding principle is that when you're defending, any exchanges you can force will usually ease your pressures.
15
Qg4
kib attacking the undefended gpawn. Castling would usually be the simplest cure, but the castled position would be rather weak here. For instance...
15
O-O
Qh5
h6
Nf3
kib threatening the sac Bxh6 and breaking through. White could finish the job with a rook maneuver to g3.
10
back 2
g6
Qh6
kib and white has a strong position with threats of N-f3-g5 and R-f3-h3.
10
back 2
f5
exf
Nxf6
Rxf6
Rxf6
Qxh7+
Kf8
Nf3
Rxf3
gxf3
kib and white is up a pawn with more potential attacks to follow.
8
back 12
g6
Bc2
kib ... dodging the simplification by black's Ba6.
5
Bg5
kib trying to muster some defense. Black realizes that castling is dangerous due to 14 Nf3 and 15 Bh6.
15
Nc4
kib a discovered attack that, if unrealized, leads to mate!
7
Bxc1
Nd6+
Kf8
Rxf7
Kg8
Bxg6
h5
Bh7++
kib Horowitz and Reinfeld's analysis shows this as the only line, but black also has Bg5 as a defense.
10
back 2
Bg5
kib Black can avoid mate, but it's not much fun.
5
Qxe6
kib Note that the bishop is immune because of hxg Qxg++. White also threatens Rxh7 dis.ch, Kf8, Qf7++.
10
Ra7
Rxh7
Kf8
Qf7
10
back 12
kib So....
5
dxc4
Bxg5
Qc7
Rxf7
kib !! This sac is made possible by White's stranglehold on the f-file and his monopoly on the black squares.
12
Kxf7
Rf1+
Kg7
kib Ke8 fails because of Qxe6 mate. Kg8 isn't much better. Qxe6 Kg7 Qf7++ .
18
Bh6+
kib another sac that reduces the black king's mobility to nothing.
4
Kxh6
Rf7
kib The threat is Qh4 mate. Black's next move covers it, but there's another sacrificial threat of mate in two. Can you find it? You've got 10 seconds.
20
Qd8
10
Rxh7+
Kxh7
Qxg6 ++
kib This is reason enough to enjoy playing the Stonewall. White is down two rooks and a knight, but wins the game from his consistent planned play.
15
back 999
kib Here's a bonus game, played by myself about a year ago. I commit two basic inaccuracies that black luckily did not exploit. See if you can spot them.
15
kib I call this a bonus game because it only serves to reinforce the points already mentioned, and since I'll avoid using more commentary than necessary. If you'd like to analyze this game on your own, it's in MBDil's journal, entry A.
18
wname MBDil
1
bname shannu
1
d4
d5
e3
e6
Bd3
Nf6
 f4
c5
 c3
c4
Bc2
Bd6
Nf3
O-O
 O-O
Ng4
 Qe2
Nc6
h3
Nf6
 Nbd2
b5
Ne5
 Bb7
g4
b4
kib Black has been moving right along with his relatively strong plan. You'll notice as you play this system that the queenside frequently is attacked in this manner.
15
g5
Nd7
 h4
 bxc3
bxc3
 f6
Ng4
kib Bxh7! instead would have lead to a winning attack as we have seen earlier.
8
 fxg5
hxg5
 Qa5
 Qh2
g6
Bb2
Ba3
kib At this point my development is as good as I'm going to get it, and because of my less than perfect play on the queenside, I'm just about to lose material. So, what else? I've gotta do something to keep him occupied.
20
Bxg6
hxg6
 Qh6
kib I don't believe this line is entirely sound, but I continue to win with my overall good position anyhow.
10
 Rf7
 Qxg6+
Rg7
 Qxe6+
Kh8
Kf2
Nf8
Rh1+
Rh7
 Rxh7+
Nxh7
Rh1
Be7
kib And now the heat is off of my queenside!
5
Qh6
kib ... and black ran out of time.
8
kib Time for the quiz... with regard to the points mentioned in this lecture, what were my two opening inaccuracies? You have 10 seconds.
20
kib For one, I failed to prevent Ne4 with Nd2. Secondly, I played an early h3. Luckily, neither became a major drawback in the game.
10
kib Give yourself partial credit if you claimed that my first mistake was playing d4. :)
8
kib Thank you for listening to my lecture. I hope that you learned something and can now employ the stonewall attack with confidence.
8
kib Though I'm sure there are several good books on this attack, I recommend the classic "How to think ahead in chess" by Horowitz and Reinfeld for a more somewhat more complete understanding of this opening.
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