Chess with Sam Collins

Irish Women’s Chess Championship, 2016

The Irish Women’s Chess Championship took place in Dublin’s Buswells Hotel in October. The tournament was one of the strongest of recent years, featuring several promising players. Monika Gedvilaite successfully defended her title, leading throughout.

1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 c6

Playing this pawn to c5 would more actively contest the centre.

4.Nd2 e6

Again, slightly passive. I would prefer to develop the light-square bishop outside the pawn ...