03 May 04
I'm kicking around some defenses to e4 that avoid many of the obnoxious openings.
The main motive to this is that most white players, after 1. ... e5, seem to go into some annoying ruy, and the most popular alternatives, mainly the french, the caro, and the sicilian, are, respectively, wimpy, over-theorized, and REALLY GROTESQUELY over-theorized,
Soo....
1. Petroff defense
2. Alekhine defense
3. Icelandic gambit.
Discuss. :-)
(And if anyone wants to have a few unrated games featuring any of these defenses on both sides to mutually work out the kinks, I'm happy to paticipate...)
03 May 04
Originally posted by paultopiaIs "discuss" an homage to the great Mike Meyers character, Linda Richman?
I'm kicking around some defenses to e4 that avoid many of the obnoxious openings.
The main motive to this is that most white players, after 1. ... e5, seem to go into some annoying ruy, and the most popular alternatives, mainly the french, the caro, and the sicilian, are, respectively, wimpy, over-theorized, and REALLY GROTESQUELY over-theorized,
...[text shortened]... any of these defenses on both sides to mutually work out the kinks, I'm happy to paticipate...)
Anyway, too bad you didn't ask about the Caro Kann defense. 1.e4 c6. It's the only thing I've played against 1.e4 for the last four years. I like it because it gives you a position that has very little weakness, is fairly easy to play, and many players down at our level don't know how to play against the Caro Kann properly.
03 May 04
Originally posted by paultopiaIf you think there's little theory on the Petrov you might be in for a surprise.Same goes for the Alekhine.
I'm kicking around some defenses to e4 that avoid many of the obnoxious openings.
The main motive to this is that most white players, after 1. ... e5, seem to go into some annoying ruy, and the most popular alternatives, mainly the french, the caro, and the sicilian, are, respectively, wimpy, over-theorized, and REALLY GROTESQUELY over-theorized,
...[text shortened]... any of these defenses on both sides to mutually work out the kinks, I'm happy to paticipate...)
Of course,it's nothing like a sicilian,french or caro.THANK GOODNESS!
03 May 04
Originally posted by SirLoseALotI'm sure. The basic theory is that my opponents will almost certainly be far more booked up on the various billion obnoxious traps etc. in the caro, ditto with the sicilian (and I just HATE the french) than they will in, say, the Alekhine.
If you think there's little theory on the Petrov you might be in for a surprise.Same goes for the Alekhine.
Of course,it's nothing like a sicilian,french or caro.THANK GOODNESS!
I'm actually leaning to adopting the Alekhine over the Icelandic (with the Petrov only in there because someone much better than me suggested it) just because it seems really perverse, knights dancing around and such.
03 May 04
2 edits
Originally posted by paultopiaActually I think that is unlikely. At least OTB, very few class players (I think this is the US term for players under 2000) have much idea of 'billions' of traps in their opening - at most one or two. And most games diverge pretty quickly anyway.
I'm sure. The basic theory is that my opponents will almost certainly be far more booked up on the various billion obnoxious traps etc. in the caro, ditto with the sicilian (and I just HATE the french) than they will in, say, the Alekhine.
Obviously this changes as you move up the chain. But I used to be scared of main lines for similar reasons, until I realised that I had as much / little idea of what to do in them as my 'booked-up' opponents. And IMO they are much more fun to play.
(Edited to correct stupid formatting error)
04 May 04
Originally posted by OsseWhy don't you play the phillidor? Yes, it's kind of shoddy but it avoids the Lopez and gets black a solid yet cramped defense. Your choice of openings seem quite oddly mixed though! What kinda player are you, because the Petroff and the Icelandic and two different boats! Do you like to attack and fight for the initiative or are you more of a sloth-like player? You have to pick an opening according to the positions you want to see too. 😀
Actually I think that is unlikely. At least OTB, very few class players (I think this is the US term for players under 2000) have much idea of 'billions' of traps in their opening - at most one or two. And most games diverge pretty quickly anyway.
Obviously this changes as you move up the chain. But I used to be scared of main lines for similar reasons, un ...[text shortened]... pponents. And IMO they are much more fun to play.
(Edited to correct stupid formatting error)
04 May 04
Originally posted by !~TONY~!hmm... good point. well... lets see. as white, I usually play the king's gambit. as black against d4, I usually play the albin. Give you any kind of idea what kind of player I am? :-) Problem is, there don't seem to BE any real solid attacking openings, that aren't scary like the sicilian, as black against d4... Marshall seemed to make the Petroff an attacking opening, which is a pretty good reccomendation for me. The Icelandic seems nice, but a bit unsound, and can be avoided by white. And the Alkehine... just seems twisted. Confuse 'em early, confuse 'em often, I say. :-)
Why don't you play the phillidor? Yes, it's kind of shoddy but it avoids the Lopez and gets black a solid yet cramped defense. Your choice of openings seem quite oddly mixed though! What kinda player are you, because the Petroff and the Icelandic and two different boats! Do you like to attack and fight for the initiative or are you more of a sloth-like player? You have to pick an opening according to the positions you want to see too. 😀
04 May 04
Originally posted by SirLoseALotYea. Its 1. e4 d5 2. dxe5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. dxe6 Bxe6 where for his pawn, black has two pieces developed (3 if you count the file for the queen to work in) and is only a move away from castling.
What exactly is the icelandic?Is it a variation of the scandinavian?
In a related note... the following is extremely funny, especially to us attackers. (I quite like the idea of sacrificing the queen whenever it hasn't been active enough...) everyone should read it. :-)
http://www.goddesschess.com/humour/aggressivscale.html