The Koltanowski Variation is a variation of the Colle System, catalogued as ECO A04. The line runs 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. dxc5 Bxc5, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after eight moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the Colle System generally: ECO A04. A chess opening with 3 known variations.
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See all 6 Colle System variations →
The Koltanowski Variation goes 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. dxc5 Bxc5. It is a variation of the Colle System and is catalogued as ECO A04.
The Koltanowski Variation is ECO A04. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Colle System.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. dxc5 Bxc5 at +0.16 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.