Originally posted by Northern Lad A Russian GM, whose name I forget (there are so many!), has brought out a book on the variation (1.e4 c5 2.a3), so I suppose it can't be too bad. I think the idea is to play for b4 and get Wing Gambit type positions which may be improvements on the originals.
I did never heard about 1.e4 c5 2.a3, but I know Russian GM Zvjagincev who did invent 1.e4 c5 2.Na3!?
1 f4 is a good choice that I've tried because it is a bit unusual... '
...and it can be very aggressive in that the f2-f4 advance can help you to go on a King-hunt if Black castles that way.
Grandmaster Danielsen plays 1 f4 all the time as White.[/b]
Do you have any books to recomend? I thought about the everyman book abuot the 1.f4 but I've heard that it's rather bad... Do you play the polobear setup in the Bird?
There's a swedish GM who has played 1.e4 Nh6!? I think he actually managed to win three games with black with that in a tournament (the three he played)
Originally posted by Northern Lad A Russian GM, whose name I forget (there are so many!), has brought out a book on the variation (1.e4 c5 2.a3), so I suppose it can't be too bad. I think the idea is to play for b4 and get Wing Gambit type positions which may be improvements on the originals.
Although 1.b3 is too passive and easy to play against, I have on occasion tried 1.e4 c5 2.b3! ...[text shortened]... 0s in the Tchigorin-Tarrasch matches. The move isn't even mentioned in ECO Vol C 5th edition.
A quick Google search turned up this:
http://www.chessville.com/reviews/ChallengingSicilianWith2a3.htm
Originally posted by Northern Lad A Russian GM, whose name I forget (there are so many!), has brought out a book on the variation (1.e4 c5 2.a3), so I suppose it can't be too bad. I think the idea is to play for b4 and get Wing Gambit type positions which may be improvements on the originals.
Although 1.b3 is too passive and easy to play against, I have on occasion tried 1.e4 c5 2.b3! ...[text shortened]... 0s in the Tchigorin-Tarrasch matches. The move isn't even mentioned in ECO Vol C 5th edition.
That book on the a3 line against the Sicilian is by a russian GM named Bezgodov.
And speaking of gambit openings, I can suggest 1. c4 d5 2. cxd5 c6!?.
A reversed Smith-Morra, called the Vector Gambit. I had no luck finding it in any major opening book, so it has some surprise value and (probably) gets your opponent out of book on move 2!
Those who play the English according to Kosten's "The Dynamic English" will be scratching their heads as what to do. 🙂
Originally posted by Kalhornov That book on the a3 line against the Sicilian is by a russian GM named Bezgodov.
And speaking of gambit openings, I can suggest 1. c4 d5 2. cxd5 c6!?.
A reversed Smith-Morra, called the Vector Gambit. I had no luck finding it in any major opening book, so it has some surprise value and (probably) gets your opponent out of book on move 2!
Those who pla ...[text shortened]... according to Kosten's "The Dynamic English" will be scratching their heads as what to do. 🙂
correct me if i'm wrong but if white then plays d4, cxd5 - it's the Slav, exchange?
Originally posted by onyx2006 correct me if i'm wrong but if white then plays d4, cxd5 - it's the Slav, exchange?
You mean if white plays d4 on move 2:
1. c4 d5 2. d4 ?
That transposes to a Queen's Gambit, and black can choose a Slav with c6, a Queen's Gambit Declined with e6, Queen's Gambit Accepted with dxc4, or Albin Counter-Gambit with e5...
The Slav exchange is (usually) 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5.
A possible transposition is 1. c4 d5 2. d4 c6 3. cxd5.
Originally posted by Fat Lady A quick Google search turned up this:
http://www.chessville.com/reviews/ChallengingSicilianWith2a3.htm
Thanks for that; I've looked at the website and it does actually look quite interesting. I may even give it an outing sometime on RHP!
Kalhornov is right - it was written by a GM called Bezgodov. With my limited Russian I know that 'bez' means 'without'. I'm just wondering what 'godov' might mean!?
13 Jul '07 10:14
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