The dutch defence

Originally posted by Hayduke
The Leningrad Dutch is anything but dull.

It's essentially the KID, except with black's kingside left more or less undefended in the hope of creating a far more aggressive counterattack. You could easily make the argument that it is the most aggressive of all d-pawn openings.

The Stonewall can be dull, if both sides know their lines.

That said, there's some question at the highest levels about whether or not it's entirely sound, but there hasn't been an out and out refutation or anything. It just doesn't score particularly well. But it's a lot of fun. And there are some very good books.

Originally posted by RahimK

Play boring openings and you will quickly lose your interest in chess.

It all depends on what one considers boring. I much prefer the long, drawn-out positional games; always have from the start.

I like my games to be like novels. Those quick tactical games are more like a t.v. sitcom. Then again, I don't own a t.v. and read a lot of books, so to each his own.

And like another poster said, the Dutch Leningrad is far from boring! But I stay away from that and love the stonewall.

Originally posted by tmetzler
It all depends on what one considers boring. I much prefer the long, drawn-out positional games; always have from the start.

I like my games to be like novels. Those quick tactical games are more like a t.v. sitcom. Then again, I don't own a t.v. and read a lot of books, so to each his own.

And like another poster said, the Dutch Leningrad is far from boring! But I stay away from that and love the stonewall.

Im exactly like you. I started playing about two years ago and I would always get slaughtered in a flash of firework openings. So i checked a few mid game books out of the library (Im now regretting not getting the tactics ones) and have been hooked on positional games every since. To me nothing is more fun then slowly gaining space, choking the oponent with his own pieces, eventually squeezing out a successful trade and getting your queen. The fireworks are fun, but I really enjoy these games too.

Originally posted by Yuga
Ah...the Benko never occurred to me as something that I may want to play.

Indeed Black gets adequate compensation for the pawn.

Thanks! 🙂

I'm not sure if you were totally serious or not.. However if you are serious about taking up the benko, I would play a couple of games against SeraphimVulture User 64737. He is a strong player, plays the accepted lines and his theory of the benko is completly up to date (he plays the 10. Rb1 line advocated by GM Epishin).