Review: The Colle System | ChessBase

International Master Robert Ris, known for his countless ChessBase videos and as a renowned trainer of Dutch talent, has dedicated his latest course to an opening that is often underestimated in practice: the Colle System, or more precisely, The Colle & Zukertort System.

The Colle opening is generally considered harmless. Many club-level players have labelled it a “boring” opening, but my own experience tells a different story. Early on, I had some negative experiences playing Black against Colle. I particularly remember round 1 of the 2016 German U12 Championship:

After solid preparation, I completely lost my train of thought on the 17th move when I wanted to keep my pawn structure intact with …Qxf6, whereupon Nd7 already won the exchange and ultimately the game. So I started with a defeat against the number 2 seed Köllner, who is considered one of the greatest specialists in this variation today. I was all the more excited to see what Robert Ris would present in his course, and indeed, one of Köllner’s games is among the examples.

Free sample video: Introduction

Structure

The course is structured in such a way that you first learn the basic ideas from older games. Ris uses examples to illustrate the approaches of Edgar Colle himself and other pioneers of this opening. This allows you to build a foundation step by step before delving into modern theoretical details.

An important part of this is understanding typical pawn structures. A video presents the idea of playing dxc5 followed by b4 and Bb2.

Typically, this is supported by moves such as a3 and c4 to activate the bishop on b2. In the model game, Black set up a blockade with b5, but Ris has a clear answer for this too: instead of relying on the classic e4 lever, White consistently shifts the game to the queenside with a4!

Of course, the plan with a direct e4 should not be overlooked.

In this classic game, White plays e4, and since Black did not counter that move adequately, White followed up with e5. This advance opened up an attack on the king. Although Black went on to win the pawn on e5, this turned out to be a mistake. The tactical move Bxh7+! Kxh7 Qh5! led to a decisive advantage, as the rook on e8 is suddenly hanging. Such patterns are typical of the Colle System and show that the opening is far more dynamic than its reputation suggests.

Free video sample: e4-e5 attacking ideas

This course is primarily aimed at club players who want to build up a solid repertoire. The Colle can be learned with relatively little theory, but it often leads to positions in which you can rely on understanding and typical plans. Ris manages to explain the structures in such detail that even beginners can easily follow along, while more experienced players up to 2000 Elo can benefit from the strategic guidelines.

Of course, as is usual with ChessBase and Ris, there are interactive exercises at the end where you can test your knowledge directly. You also have the option of playing the positions covered against Fritz, thereby actively deepening your understanding of structures and ideas.

Summary

Robert Ris has once again succeeded in breathing new life into a supposedly boring sideline. The Colle System is presented here as a serious weapon that can be integrated into your own repertoire with a manageable amount of learning effort. Anyone looking for a solid white system that delivers reliable results at both club and tournament level will find an excellent foundation in this course and will be surprised at how dynamic and dangerous the Colle can actually be.

About the author:

International Master Robert Ris (born in 1988) has successfully represented his home country, the Netherlands, at many youth championships. Today, he is primarily active as a chess coach in schools and chess clubs and trains students from various countries online. He has also appeared as a live commentator for the Dutch Championship and the traditional tournament in Wijk aan Zee.

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