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FNM

Joined
04 Apr 04
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18 Aug 04
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I want to improve my middle game.
I control the openings I play pretty well, but my main problem is what comes after.

This is opening I use a lot,and have no idea how to continue from there:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Bd3 c5xd4 7. c3xd4 d7 8. 0-0 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10. Nc3

this is the french opening, the milner barry gambit (I ussually play this as black)
I know from experience that taking the e5 pawn with the queen is a bad move, so what is a good move?
I really need help from someone more experienced in this line, because i ussually end up losing my queen or my bishop.


thanks, FNM

T

Joined
07 Apr 03
Moves
130055
Clock
18 Aug 04
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Originally posted by Faith No More
I want to improve my middle game.
I control the openings I play pretty well, but my main problem is what comes after.

This is opening I use a lot,and have no idea how to continue from there:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 N ...[text shortened]... ussually end up losing my queen or my bishop.


thanks, FNM
That's the main line. Usually black follows up with 10...a6 and white plays 11. Qe2, protecting the e5 pawn and there are some choices with black. One idea is to play 11...Rc8 or 11...Ne7, and after white plays 12. Rd1, Qb6 is probably the safest continuation getting the queen out of the way from any possible discoveries.

White has some pressure in this position, but black can look forward to some winning chances with the extra pawn. I am no grandmaster, but I think this is all right :-)

-Tim

no1marauder
Naturally Right

Somewhere Else

Joined
22 Jun 04
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18 Aug 04
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Originally posted by Faith No More
I want to improve my middle game.
I control the openings I play pretty well, but my main problem is what comes after.

This is opening I use a lot,and have no idea how to continue from there:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Bd3 c5xd4 7. c3xd4 d7 8. 0-0 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10. Nc3

this is the french opening, the milner barry gam ...[text shortened]... ienced in this line, because i ussually end up losing my queen or my bishop.


thanks, FNM
From Modern Chess Openings (MCO 14): "White has a dubious gambit [the moves you give] Either 10 ..... Qxe5 11 Re1 Qb8! 12 Nxd5 Bd6 or 10 .... a6 11 Qe2 Ne7 12 Kh1 Nc6 13 f4 Nb4 leaves Black with slightly better chances." Of course, as I pointed out in a prior thread, sometimes the books can get you in trouble! And I don't play the French, except against it as White and I don't play the Advance Variation (3e5) so I'm no expert on it but both those lines look pretty good for Black to me. Good luck!

T

Joined
11 Jul 03
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8101
Clock
18 Aug 04
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As Tim pointed out, usual reply is 10...a6. It is the least-risky one too - you will not worry about Nb5 anymore. Black then usually put his knight on c6 through e7, and bishop on a7-g1 diagonal. 10...Qxe5 is considered playable as well. But black should watch for tactics carefully in this line. Black should be fine. But if you don't like facing Milner-Barry, you can play without Qb6 (for instance 5...Bd7 lines).

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