---
title: Paul Keres uses 2.Ne2 and Kotov's tree of analysis collapses soon after!
description: Kotov is famous for his "tree of analysis" - it seemed the tree collapsed here!
image: https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=kingscrusher-youtube:ublog:4qCYaxAA:AFHpWHSm.jpg&w=880&sig=07d93b584d94987540b988f093bb09fcdb9dc203
---

Hi all

Here is a fascinating encounter between Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov

## Video annotation based on Study Analysis

[https://youtu.be/XgIsiqwB72k](https://youtu.be/XgIsiqwB72k)

## 2.Ne2 is a favorite of Keres

https://lichess.org/study/7YTVUTSI/oTqXvUDk#3

## And here is the real beautify of 2.Ne2 - to encourage terrible improvisation moves!

https://lichess.org/study/7YTVUTSI/oTqXvUDk#6

## "Please come and crush me" could be easily accompanied with this b5 move - "I am now making this up as I go along!"

Black's position is already full of exploitable weaknesses

https://lichess.org/study/7YTVUTSI/oTqXvUDk#12

## The most bleedingly obvious lever to make use of to start with!

https://lichess.org/study/7YTVUTSI/oTqXvUDk#17

## Yes, the a5 to d8 diagonal is a bit sensitive

https://lichess.org/study/7YTVUTSI/oTqXvUDk#21

## Black already has some tactical problems to solve

https://lichess.org/study/7YTVUTSI/oTqXvUDk#27

## Final position

https://lichess.org/study/7YTVUTSI/oTqXvUDk#39

Oh dear oh, dear......

## The major point being that the Queen has been checkmated!

If dxe5 then Qd8 is checkmate:

https://lichess.org/study/7YTVUTSI/oTqXvUDk#41

## Key takeaway points

* The thrill Keres must have had against weaker opposition when faced with 2.Ne2 must be immense
* When players improvise - they often create exploitable weaknesses, justifying fully those strange weird and wonderful "chameleon" moves like 2.Ne2
* The transpositional destinations should be clear to both players and try and minimise improvisation
* The a6 b5 structure is prone to a4 undermining and this can be the start of a major downfall of the entire position

***

Want to go further? Explore all my online chess courses at [https://www.chessworld.net/online-chess-courses.asp](https://www.chessworld.net/online-chess-courses.asp) – learn openings, tactics, strategy, and more.

Cheers, K