after e4 c5, what is white's best move?

grit

Only Chess

21 Feb 09

Meadows

Joined: 06 May 08
Moves: 1908

21 Feb 09

If we're looking at less common lines or at the very least anti-book lines, what are people's thoughts on 2. Na3!? A friend of mine swears by it. At the very least he gains a time advantage OTB.

greenpawn34

Joined: 06 May 08
Moves: 43363

21 Feb 09

5 edits

Originally posted by moteutsch
Can you show some games? I haven't found any success with it...

I'll dig out a few next time I'm on my computer that has all my chess stuff on it.

This was played recently on here by me in the one day/three day league.
It's a delayed Wing gambit. 2...e6 avoids all my Bb5 nonsense
which I started playing 30 years ago so I employ the wing gambit
because it goes into one of my anti-French lines.

But it can come about with 1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.Nf3 e6.

Anti French: 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4 and I have whole bucket load
of wins OTB with that line.

White Me - Black headsy Game 5986139

~~Aumonde~~

Joined: 22 Mar 07
Moves: 7330

21 Feb 09

Originally posted by heinzkat
Could you be a little bit more specific?

I was referring to the high rated and strong players like the Grandmaster, etc.

gaychessplayer

Joined: 22 Aug 06
Moves: 359

21 Feb 09

Originally posted by grit
What is white's best path when after e4 black plays c5?

grit

It's almost certain that, if there is in fact a "best" move after 1 e4 c5, it is 2 Nf3. It's also the move that requires the most study, unless you transpose into the King's Indian Attack (e.g., 2...d6 3 g3 Nf6 4 d3 Nc6 5 Bg2 e6 6 O-O).

If you enjoy having the initiative early on AND you don't mind sacrificing a pawn, then the Smith-Morra Gambit suggested earlier in this thread is probably the way to go.

gaychessplayer

Joined: 22 Aug 06
Moves: 359

21 Feb 09

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi

Gave up the Morra when a few bods played 3...d3.
Then the c3 pawn just gets in the way.

I sometimes play the Smith-Morra Gambit, but I think I'd play it every game against the Sicilian if I knew in advance that Black would play 3...d3. True, White doesn't get to play his gambit, but after 4 Bxd3 it seems to me that White is +=. Not terrible for Black obviously, but if I knew that I was guaranteed to get a += position every time I played against the Sicilian, I'd jump at the opportunity to do so.