Along the lines of several other new threads, I was wondering if there are any devotees of the Catalan system who might want to share interesting games or ideas they've come across. I've been experimenting with those openings with a fair amount of success, but I'd like to improve it - specifically with better utilization of the kingside knight and dark bishop, which I find myself often just trading rather than effectively using them.
-mike
Hello Mike! My name is Davy Jones, "SonofShaddey" is my username.
When I play Online Chess such as "ICC," "WorldChessNetwork," or "pogo," I play the Reti-Catalan Opening almost every game where I am White. The games are usually timed at 5 to 20 minutes per player and I find this opening stalls the opponent somewhat as this is
not a common opening! I do not play my Reti system correctly as the
books do properly teach; furthermore, I would not play my stunt on an e-mail game as Black would likely find a weakness with enough time to
study each move and break my practiced system. However, during rapid play my opponent usually enters the "Middle Game" with my pieces comfortably controling the center with great pawn formation!
I consider e-mail chess to be a lot different from rapid time clock games. I believe 1.e4 is the best move for a long thought out game, however, if I am Black, I never answer 1.e4 with ...e5. The Sicillian and the French defense is the best way to counter attack 1.e4 (also the
Cara Kann which I have yet given any study)
If you are interested in my Reti system that I use for rapid games with generally a successful game I will share how I play it.
It may interest you to know that thr Reti Opening or the Reti-Catalan is also known as the Zukertort Opening, although not as commonly as
Reti Opening.
I wish you the best chess success!
Feel free to contact me anytime. We can learn from each other!
Davy Jones,
<kingsknight32@hotmail.com>
One more quick note Mike as I read your posting again.
I play h3 before Black's Bishop is able to hit the g4 square pinning my Kings Knight which is on the f3 square, the Reti-Catalan's first move. I find that pin to be very bothersome.
Davy Jones,
<kingsknight32@hotmail.com>
Originally posted by SonofShaddeyThanks for the analysis, I'm glad to see that someone else finds this to be an interesting opening to play. I agree that h3 is a useful move in blocking black's light bishop, however, do you find that it weakens your castle? I'm always afraid of opening the h file since I think that tends to be a large weakness in playing this opening. To avoid the pin I try to play an early Qc2 (after playing c4, obviously). Keeping the queen there also allows set up of a nice queenside attack, which I find fitting for this opening system.
One more quick note Mike as I read your posting again.
I play h3 before Black's Bishop is able to hit the g4 square pinning my Kings Knight which is on the f3 square, the Reti-Catalan's first move. I find that pin to be very bothersome.
Davy Jones,
<kingsknight32@hotmail.com>
Any good books you could recommend on this opening? Thus far I've tended to steer clear of opening-specific books, since I'm still at the stage where I'm learning more fundamentals of middle and endgame play. However, I'd make an exception for this opening because I think learning more about how it develops would give a greater understanding of hypermodern openings and positional play in general.
-mike