17 Nov 06
I'm currently evaluating the French defense as a second response to e4. I hope it will develop my strategical thinking and also make me a better all around player.
Anyway, I recently faced the Steinitz variation:
Black to move.
I've always lost in this variation, but only played it twice. How do you think Black should play on move 7? I'm having a lot of trouble with this line.
17 Nov 06
1 edit
some plan like a6 now(to prevent Nb5-Ne6 later) followed by pxd4 Nxd4 Bc5 Nxc6 pxc6 Bxc5 Nxc5 looks ok for black in my vision...anyway, I do not know any theory regarding this line...and I am courious too to find it out
I did not see the previous posts when posting this
17 Nov 06
1 edit
Originally posted by exigentskyI prefer 7..a6 in this position which prepares to gain space on the queenside. I think this is better than the other two options 7..Qb6 which can lead to a somewhat forced variation with Na4 Qa5+ c3 cxd4 b4 and in this position if you retreat the queen you'll just have a cramped position with not much counterplay instead of retreating the queen you can try the knight sacrifice Nxb4 which I think is dubious and i feel that 7..cxd4 releases the tension in the center too early. Here are some interesting games in the a6 line.
I'm currently evaluating the French defense as a second response to e4. I hope it will develop my strategical thinking and also make me a better all around player.
Anyway, I recently faced the Steinitz variation:
[fen]r1bqkb1r/pp1n1ppp/2n1p3/2ppP3/3P1P2/2N1BN2/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 7[/fen] Black to move.
I've always lost in this variation, b ...[text shortened]... ce. How do you think Black should play on move 7? I'm having a lot of trouble with this line.
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1282030
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1334610
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1260681
18 Nov 06
Originally posted by omulcusobolaniThanks for the suggestions! I will see more into the a6 line. But what about the cxd line? It seems fine, although I wonder if Black gets enough counterplay on the queenside.
I prefer 7..a6 in this position which prepares to gain space on the queenside. I think this is better than the other two options 7..Qb6 which can lead to a somewhat forced variation with Na4 Qa5+ c3 cxd4 b4 and in this position if you retreat the queen you'll just have a cramped position with not much counterplay instead of retreating the queen you ca ...[text shortened]... chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1334610
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1260681
18 Nov 06
Originally posted by exigentskyI'm not into openings to much, but I have seen Qb6. I don't know if it's a good move or not.
I'm currently evaluating the French defense as a second response to e4. I hope it will develop my strategical thinking and also make me a better all around player.
Anyway, I recently faced the Steinitz variation:
[fen]r1bqkb1r/pp1n1ppp/2n1p3/2ppP3/3P1P2/2N1BN2/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 7[/fen] Black to move.
I've always lost in this variation, b ...[text shortened]... ce. How do you think Black should play on move 7? I'm having a lot of trouble with this line.
What I recommend is to look in some databases for games resulting from this position and seeing what black plays and what types of positions results depending on black's 7th move. Then pick the move which leds to the positions you like.
That's the way I do it.