Every so often, I find myself playing a position like black's after this...
and then I just lose. I mean, the position is obviously completely indefensible, because none of black's pieces can GO ANYWHERE. But what happened here? It's like being hit by a truck... how can you have a hopelessly lost position in 10 moves out of the opening without making any tactical blunders, developing heavy pieces straight into threats, etc. etc.?
How do I stop doing this?? Help?
Originally posted by paultopiaUnless I am missing something this is certainly NOT a hopelessly lost position.
Every so often, I find myself playing a position like black's after this...
[pgn]1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 Nf6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe1 O-O 10. Qh4[/pgn]
and then I just lose. I mean, the position is obviously completely indefensible, because none of black's pieces can GO ANYWHERE. But what happened here? It's ...[text shortened]... eloping heavy pieces straight into threats, etc. etc.?
How do I stop doing this?? Help?
I am not even sure White is much better, sure he has some pressure but you have a pawn.
After 10...h6 Black seems okay to me 😕
Originally posted by paultopiaMmmm.........on closer inspection you might be right.
Really? but what about Bxh6 gxh6 Qxh6 and then black still can't move the knight, so there's nothing to prevent white from, Ng5, Rxf6, and a horrible king-hunt...
Black could be struggling to survive here 🙁
let's see: instead of Nbd7, play something like Bf5 or Bg4 and only then e6 and Nbd7
postpone castling longer; his only central break is d5 which can be safely met by cxd5 most of the time, and he's hardly threatening any piece sacrifices to break open your position.
Tim McGrew's first and second articles for his Chess Cafe Column "The Gambit Cartel" studied this Milner-Barry Gambit against the Caro Kann.
You could do worse than reading those two articles which gives some of the history and ideas for this line. . .
They have now been archived but you may download them here.
http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#The%20Gambit%20Cartel
Hi all;
paultopia dude I would simply ask why don't you try a good ole Sicilian in order to have a better counterplay overall!
But this very position is quite tenable (however 10. ...h6 looses immediately after the Bishop sac over that pawn -and also it 's never a good idea to weaken your castled position for nothing);
These positions look crampy for the Black, but after 10. ...Re8 in order to forward your N from e7 to g6, in addition with the exchange of your c pawn and White's d pawn, the situation is favourable for the Black;
Anyway, if you start studing some Sicilians you will soon see which way you must develop your pieces, avoiding to fall victim of an early attack, seeking for rapid counterplay at White's queenside, being ready to react at the centre in order to stop threats to your castled position, and finally getting some advantage from the bad pawn structure of the White;
Originally posted by paultopiaHow does white continue after 10... g6. I know it weakens the dark squares. But does white have a forced win I'm not seeing?
Every so often, I find myself playing a position like black's after this...
[pgn]1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 Nf6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe1 O-O 10. Qh4[/pgn]
and then I just lose. I mean, the position is obviously completely indefensible, because none of black's pieces can GO ANYWHERE. But what happened here? It's ...[text shortened]... eloping heavy pieces straight into threats, etc. etc.?
How do I stop doing this?? Help?
Originally posted by sh76There is not a forced win but the Black cannot gain any counterplay, and he will still suffer due to his undeveloped pieces (Ra8 and w/sq B); so 10. ..g6 seems a loss of time and eases the White to invest his extra tempi in order to double his Rooks and press at the f file.
How does white continue after 10... g6. I know it weakens the dark squares. But does white have a forced win I'm not seeing?
Thanks everyone -- I'll try some of these ideas (especially delaying that castle).
(Black Beetle -- I used to play the sicilian -- I dropped it because I used to end up getting murdered by early attacks all the time! I figured: "ok, I'm getting slaughtered by quick attacks, obviously I should be playing something a little more solid and quiet. What's the solidest black defense against e4... of course... the caro... hahaha)
Originally posted by paultopiaWhy don't you give Scheveningen a chance? It's quite sound and you may apply it to numerous situations!
Thanks everyone -- I'll try some of these ideas (especially delaying that castle).
(Black Beetle -- I used to play the sicilian -- I dropped it because I used to end up getting murdered by early attacks all the time! I figured: "ok, I'm getting slaughtered by quick attacks, obviously I should be playing something a little more solid and quiet. What's the solidest black defense against e4... of course... the caro... hahaha)