Chess Drills
Colle System: one setup and the push to e4
The Colle System is a quiet but dangerous setup after 1.d4. You put your pawns on d4 and e3, your knights on f3 and d2, your bishop on d3, and castle. Only then do you show the real plan: the push from e3 to e4, which opens lines towards Black's king.
Unlike the London System, your dark-squared bishop (the one on c1) stays at home at first. That makes the start a little passive. But your bishop on d3 points straight at h7, and many Colle games end with an attack on the king.
Good fit for: Players who like one fixed setup with one clear plan, and who enjoy attacking the king once the centre opens.
Drill these 4 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- Prepare the push to e4. Almost all your moves (knight to d2, bishop to d3, rook to e1, sometimes queen to e2) support the push from e3 to e4. When it comes, your pieces spring to life.
- Two setups. With the pawn on c3 (the Koltanowski) you prepare e4 in the centre. With the pawn on b3 and the bishop on b2 (the Zukertort), that bishop helps an attack on the king, often with a knight on e5 and the pawn to f4.
- The bishop on d3 aims at h7. If you push your pawn on to e5, Black's knight on f6 has to move. Then the classic bishop sacrifice on h7, with the knight to g5 and the queen to h5 as follow-up, can appear. Check that the follow-up really works before you play it.
- Setup first, then strike. Moving your queen's bishop or pushing pawns too early weakens your position. Finish the setup first, then strike.
The main lines
Koltanowski: pawn to c3 and the push to e4
This is the classical Colle. You build your setup with the pawn on c3, and both sides castle. Then you often swap your d-pawn for Black's c-pawn and push your e-pawn to e4.
- Your plan: after the push to e4, look for a chance to push on to e5.
- Why e5? It chases Black's knight away from f6, and then h7 becomes a target for your bishop on d3.
- Good to know: swapping pawns on c5 first releases the tension in the centre.
Zukertort: pawn to b3 and bishop to b2
Here your dark-squared bishop goes to b2. From there it supports a knight on e5 and a later push of the f-pawn to f4.
- Your plan: knight to e5, pawn to f4, then push your kingside pawns towards Black's king (a pawn storm).
- Why b2? Your bishops on b2 and d3 both aim at Black's king.
Against an early bishop on f5
Sometimes Black brings the light-squared bishop out to f5 before pushing the pawn to e6. Then you put your bishop on d3 and offer a trade, and take back with the queen.
- Why trade? Without that bishop, Black's kingside is easier to attack.
- Your plan: castle, then push your c-pawn to c4 for play in the centre.
Against the King's Indian setup: Black's bishop on g7
Black plays a fianchetto (bishop on the long diagonal after g6). Against this setup the push to e4 is harder to achieve, and the Colle loses some of its punch.
- Your plan: many Colle players switch to the pawn push c4 here.
- Good to know: you can also switch to a London setup with your bishop on f4.
Questions
Colle or London?
In the London your bishop goes to f4 early. In the Colle it waits, and you play for the push to e4. The Colle is more direct, the London more flexible.
Is the Colle good for beginners?
Yes. The setup is easy to remember and the plan (push to e4, then attack) is clear. Just know that it works less well when Black puts a bishop on g7.
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