Anti-French defence; Reti gambit

I'm going to try this rare system the next time I face the French over-the-board.
Any thoughts? Any devotees?

1.e4...e6 2.b3...d5 3.Bb2

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
I'm going to try this rare system the next time I face the French over-the-board.
Any thoughts? Any devotees?

1.e4...e6 2.b3...d5 3.Bb2

[fen]rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/4P3/1P6/PBPP1PPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 1[/fen]

I probably wouldn't accept it. I think I'd play 3. ... c5 to prepare d4. Now white has to capture 4. exd5 exd5. I think the bishop on b2 will sooner or later rot.

Originally posted by kbaumen
I probably wouldn't accept it. I think I'd play 3. ... c5 to prepare d4. Now white has to capture 4. exd5 exd5. I think the bishop on b2 will sooner or later rot.

white does not "have to" do anything regarding the e4-pawn. It's still a valid gambit until black does something like play Nf6. Personally I play Nf6 immediately in the diagrammed position.

I think it's a good weapon for white to get black out of book.

Originally posted by zebano
white does not "have to" do anything regarding the e4-pawn. It's still a valid gambit until black does something like play Nf6. Personally I play Nf6 immediately in the diagrammed position.

I think it's a good weapon for white to get black out of book.

Why he doesn't have to recapture? Doesn't black threaten d4 to shut the diagonal for b2 bishop? I think that's a threat. However, Nf6 is good also. But c5 I think has to be pushed.

Originally posted by kbaumen
I probably wouldn't accept it. I think I'd play 3. ... c5 to prepare d4. Now white has to capture 4. exd5 exd5. I think the bishop on b2 will sooner or later rot.

Even so, after 4.exd5...exd5 5.Bb5+...Bd7 6.Qe2...Qe7 7.Nc3 White is ok.

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
I'm going to try this rare system the next time I face the French over-the-board.
Any thoughts? Any devotees?

1.e4...e6 2.b3...d5 3.Bb2

[fen]rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/4P3/1P6/PBPP1PPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 1[/fen]

That's quite an interesting idea. But what happens after Black takes on e4?

Originally posted by David Tebb
That's quite an interesting idea. But what happens after Black takes on e4?

I'll try and dig a game or two out, but it's rather hard for black to hold the pawn w/o playing f5 which I consider a weakening move at this point.

Originally posted by David Tebb
That's quite an interesting idea. But what happens after Black takes on e4?

There's no good way to keep the pawn.
I think the main line is
1.e4...e6 2.b3...d5 3.Bb2...dxe4 4.Nc3...Nf6 5.Qe2

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
There's no good way to keep the pawn.
I think the main line is
1.e4...e6 2.b3...d5 3.Bb2...dxe4 4.Nc3...Nf6 5.Qe2

Ok, thanks. I'll have to look it up on my database. It seems like a reasonable gambit.

Originally posted by David Tebb
Ok, thanks. I'll have to look it up on my database. It seems like a reasonable gambit.

Half the guys at my club answer 1.e4 with ...e6 & it's incredibly annoying.

I've already ordered this:
http://www.chessville.com/reviews/TheFascinatingRetiGambit.htm
Largely because I really liked Johansson's infectious attitude in KG for the creative aggressor.

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
Half the guys at my club answer 1.e4 with ...e6 & it's incredibly annoying.

I've already ordered this:
http://www.chessville.com/reviews/TheFascinatingRetiGambit.htm
Largely because I really liked Johansson's infectious attitude in KG for the creative aggressor.

That was an excellent review. I'm impressed... so impressed that I also ordered the book!

Actually I have his King's Gambit book and think he's a brilliant author, so this should also be good.

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
I'm going to try this rare system the next time I face the French over-the-board.
Any thoughts? Any devotees?

1.e4...e6 2.b3...d5 3.Bb2

[fen]rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/4P3/1P6/PBPP1PPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 1[/fen]

cmsmaster plays this one a lot..

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
Half the guys at my club answer 1.e4 with ...e6 & it's incredibly annoying.

I've already ordered this:
http://www.chessville.com/reviews/TheFascinatingRetiGambit.htm
Largely because I really liked Johansson's infectious attitude in KG for the creative aggressor.

How does 1. c4 get answered at your club squelch? I still don't see why one should ever run into the french 🙂

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
I'm going to try this rare system the next time I face the French over-the-board.
Any thoughts? Any devotees?

1.e4...e6 2.b3...d5 3.Bb2

[fen]rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/4P3/1P6/PBPP1PPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 1[/fen]

Woohoo, that's my line, baby. Absolutely excellent. In my experience black plays the moves 3...dxe4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Be7 between 50 and 75% of the time. I have very good results with the gambit.

Originally posted by David Tebb
That was an excellent review. I'm impressed... so impressed that I also ordered the book!

Actually I have his King's Gambit book and think he's a brilliant author, so this should also be good.

Yes, I've heard only good things about the book as well - and Johannson is a great author based on what I've heard. Good luck with the Reti. 🙂