09 May '10 11:54>
Hi
I'm not going potty. Someone, somewhere mentioned this
in one the (phew) opening threads on here. I cannot find it.
2.a3 with the plan of playing White as though you were Black
thus avoiding the Lopez and certain Two Knights & Piano lines
is a valid idea. (though the reply 2...a6! is a perfect response).
However.
This scheme of passing the coloured buck can backfire.
You have to consider what Black opening is deemed unplayable
because there appears a pawn a6.
(Which would be the case with White and his extra 2.a3 move).
Every hot blooded Latvian Gambit player has etched into his brain.
"If the King can reach a6, then he wins."
So today we meet J.Cantero v C.Labat who crossed swords in Paris in 2002.
This arose White has just played 17.Nxd6+
Black played 17...Ka6, reaching the magic square,
and White resigned 4 moves later.
Had there been a pawn on a6.
No Ka6 and Black is mated in a few moves. (Ka7...Nc8+ etc).
Here is the game.
White resigned after playing 22.Nc3+ seeing nothing but gloom
after Black moves.(22..Ka5). He is 2 Rooks and a piece down.
So with colours reversed and 2.a3 thrown in White would have lost.
I'm not going potty. Someone, somewhere mentioned this
in one the (phew) opening threads on here. I cannot find it.
2.a3 with the plan of playing White as though you were Black
thus avoiding the Lopez and certain Two Knights & Piano lines
is a valid idea. (though the reply 2...a6! is a perfect response).
However.
This scheme of passing the coloured buck can backfire.
You have to consider what Black opening is deemed unplayable
because there appears a pawn a6.
(Which would be the case with White and his extra 2.a3 move).
Every hot blooded Latvian Gambit player has etched into his brain.
"If the King can reach a6, then he wins."
So today we meet J.Cantero v C.Labat who crossed swords in Paris in 2002.
This arose White has just played 17.Nxd6+
Black played 17...Ka6, reaching the magic square,
and White resigned 4 moves later.
Had there been a pawn on a6.
No Ka6 and Black is mated in a few moves. (Ka7...Nc8+ etc).
Here is the game.
White resigned after playing 22.Nc3+ seeing nothing but gloom
after Black moves.(22..Ka5). He is 2 Rooks and a piece down.
So with colours reversed and 2.a3 thrown in White would have lost.