The advantage of playing white is you start with initiative. By playing c3 as your first move you effectively give this advantage to black. c3 does not open up many of your pieces, only the queen actually. In doing so however you have blocked the best square for your queenside knight. Notice the difference between c3 and say d4 (my preferred first move).
c3 makes a claim on the d4 square by attacking it, d4 also does the same thing by occupying it and also attacks the e5 square. Claiming two of the centre four squares (that is d4,d5,e4 and e5) is better than just one.
c3 opens up the Queen to move out to the queenside. d4 opens up the queenside bishop on the kingside. Opening up the bishop is preferable as moving the queen this early is generally a bad idea.
These are just some of the reasons I would not play 1. c3.
Originally posted by Fat mans revengeThe Van't Kruys starts with 1. e3 doesn't it? Isn't 1. c3 the Saragossa? The Saragossa, I believe, aims for a Caro-Kann with colors reversed. Whereas the Van't Kruys aims for a French with colors reversed. Both require some cooperation from Black to meet the goal.
I've always just naturally used this opening, and I was wondering what some of the disadvantages to doing so are. The move is c2-c3. I use it because it leaves me in a defencive position, and opens up everything except kings bishop and rooks.
Originally posted by Fat mans revengehaha, oh well just forget about it.
I feel so silly now, the van kruijs is 1. d3. It's moving the kings pawn one instead of the customary two.
Pardon my lapse in intelligence...
I think d3 and c3 are both weak, passive openings. However d3 is probably better because you'll have more opportunities to transpose into better openings ;-)
Doh! I seem to be having a VERY off day today...Soon after I read the post following my second one, I realized the mistake I had made, and was hoping this thread would not be thrown into the top position again.
You smashed my hopes of this thread(And my idiocy) floating off into thread oblivion.
Now then, please, allow me to make my final correction...
The Vant Kruijs opening is 1. e3. Please give me cons to doing so...And any flames as to my stupidity are welcome, and well deserved...
