Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack

What Is The Harrwitz Attack?

The Harrwitz Attack sidesteps the entire Bg5 industry. Developing the bishop to f4 denies Black the Lasker and Tartakower recipes built around the pin, and it is anything but passive. The f4 bishop controls e5 and hits c7, so Black's natural freeing break, ...e5, stays off the table for a long time. White follows with e3, Nf3 and Qc2, and meets ...c5 with dxc5, opening lines while ahead in development.

Black strikes with ...c5 anyway, because waiting hands White a queenside clamp with c5 and b4. After dxc5 Bxc5, get a rook to d1 fast: these games are decided by pressure against d5 and the d-file, not by kingside fireworks. Black's counterplay runs through ...Qa5 and ...Nh5, the knight harassing the very bishop that defines the line.

How Should You Respond To The Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack?

You are Black and the field is open: 23% play 4...Bd6, 21% 4...Bb4 and 14% 4...Be7. White has developed the bishop to f4 outside the pawn chain, which is more active than Bg5 and gives up the pin that usually annoys you.

A bishop on f4 is only good while it has the d6 square, so contest it directly with ...Bd6 and offer the trade. Trading dark-squared bishops solves the main problem the Queen's Gambit Declined has, which is finding useful squares for your minor pieces. ...c5 also hits back at the centre while the bishop is committed. White scores 53% to 43% over 377 games, so this deserves an active reply.

What Do Players Choose At The Decision Point?

Move	Share		Games
Nf3	31%		2,164
Bg5	27%		1,879
cxd5	19%		1,342
e3	9%		599

How Does Play Continue From Here?

Move	Share		Games
Bd6	23%		105
Bb4	21%		96
Be7	14%		65
a6	11%		52