16 Jun 06
Well, I was more successful this time against my "otb" opponent when he played the English Opening. I checked into e5, f5 for black, but I opted to use e5, Nf6. Someone mentioned that Black should use the black squares on the Queen side or to protect the black squares if I am not wrong. I ended with a draw. My "otb" opponent may try to play 1. c4 2. Nc3 3. e3 possibly so that the Knight on g1 can go to e2 early and so that my Bb4 won't take a knight off of c3 due to a replacement knight for c3.
This time I thought about changing to 1 c4 c5 and see what c5 offers me as black. Any ideas on this approach for Black? Does c5 offer much hope for black?
16 Jun 06
1 edit
Originally posted by KingOnPointI used to use the English, and how black responded generally didn't matter too much to me, because I often went into a Botvinnik formation which many amatuers are unfamiliar with. I'd say e5 was (maybe) a little more challenging to me, but unless you know what you are doing as black how you respond won't really matter.
Well, I was more successful this time against my "otb" opponent when he played the English Opening. I checked into e5, f5 for black, but I opted to use e5, Nf6. Someone mentioned that Black should use the black squares on the Queen side or to protect the black squares if I am not wrong. I ended with a draw. My "otb" opponent may try to play 1. c4 2. ers me as black. Any ideas on this approach for Black? Does c5 offer much hope for black?