Does anyone play the Center counter?

Funny you should mention that, samdog, because I started playing the center-counter as black almost exclusively a few months ago, and I've had very good luck with it. I always thought it was an opening for newbies, and felt comfortable when I saw it as white, mainly because new players recapture with 2. .....Q takes pawn, allowing you to chase the queen around with Knight-c3, etc. But the Marshall variation for black(2.pawn takes pawn...Knight f6) gives black a good game, contesting the center and gaining tempo if white goes wrong in any way. There's nothing wrong with the Center-Counter.

Originally posted by Samdogg

I switched over from sicilian to center counter (Scandinavian). I like it because you have room to manouever and you do have attacking chances if white considers it an easy win. It isn't. Having said that, I will admit white is much more successful in rhp, compared with blitz or otb, because he has time to research databeses for effective lines. And there are a few lines where black is lucky to equalize,but you can say that about the queen's gambit as blacktoo. So I consider it perfectly playable. Just make sure you have a good book to explain principles and lines. Andrew Martin has a good video out and a book. Having both helps a lot, both with knowledge and confidence.

Originally posted by Dodger11
Funny you should mention that, samdog, because I started playing the center-counter as black almost exclusively a few months ago, and I've had very good luck with it. I always thought it was an opening for newbies, and felt comfortable when I saw it as white, mainly because new players recapture with 2. .....Q takes pawn, allowing you to chase the queen ar ...[text shortened]... gaining tempo if white goes wrong in any way. There's nothing wrong with the Center-Counter.

Anyways I like the center counter because it kinda throws off white in geting a good solid control over the center but I do admite it kinda destroys the fact that there may not be an control over the center later in the game depending on how white plays the opening

If black doesn't take back with the queen, instead bringing his K knight out to f6 is called the Portuguese Variation of Scandinavian, which also has its adherents. If I'm white I'll just let him take the pawn with his knight, push my pawn to c4, kicking the knight and hope my lead in development will be enough.

cool, I almost always use the Scandinavian Variation

Originally posted by Samdogg
cool, I almost always use the Scandinavian Variation

Originally posted by Alopinto
I would like to try playing against the 2...Nf6 variation and study that opening

Originally posted by Samdogg
ok when ever I have a free game I would play you but you better be qick about it, I think I am about to win one of my games pretty soon.

What is the game id number so I can watch it if you will let me

Originally posted by Samdogg
What is the game id number so I can watch it if you will let me

http://www.chesscenter.com/twictheory/index.html

enjoy 🙂

Has anyone ever tried e4 ..d5, exd5 ..Qxd5, c4! followed by d4? I've never lost with this line, though i very rarely play e4. White can claim the center and added space with the tempo gained off the queen, transposing into the Queens gambit.