15 Aug 07
Originally posted by Northern LadThis is why 2.d4 makes perfect sense to me.
I'm less likely to now I know you're a c3 player. Not that I fear it at all, just that if I'm going to have the Sicilian in my repetoire, I need to play mostly against open Sicilians to decide which Sicilian is right for me.
After 1...c5 isn't the open Sicilian exactly what black is playing for & most comfortable with?
15 Aug 07
Originally posted by SquelchbelchThat's probably right, but I'm used to that sort of thing having once gone nearly ten years being prepared to play the Marshall Attack and no one allowing me. By the way, I certainly have no fear of the Morra - used to play it myself on occasion till a strong Soviet GM demonstrated the error of my ways!
This is why 2.d4 makes perfect sense to me.
After 1...c5 isn't the open Sicilian exactly what black is playing for & most comfortable with?
15 Aug 07
Originally posted by Northern LadThe Morra is worth re-investigating.
That's probably right, but I'm used to that sort of thing having once gone nearly ten years being prepared to play the Marshall Attack and no one allowing me. By the way, I certainly have no fear of the Morra - used to play it myself on occasion till a strong Soviet GM demonstrated the error of my ways!
Look up some games by Mladen Zelic or other specialists.
Even the "refutation" 4...Nc6, 5.Nf3...d6, 6.Bc4...a6! is unclear after 7.Bg5...Nf6, 8.Bxf6 which cripples black pawn structure & gives reasonable long term chances for white.
15 Aug 07
Originally posted by Squelchbelchwhat about 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 Nf6 ?
The Morra is worth re-investigating.
Look up some games by Mladen Zelic or other specialists.
Even the "refutation" 4...Nc6, 5.Nf3...d6, 6.Bc4...a6! is unclear after 7.Bg5...Nf6, 8.Bxf6 which cripples black pawn structure & gives reasonable long term chances for white.
15 Aug 07
Originally posted by KorchI meant a refutation to the accepted gambit.
what about 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 Nf6 ?
The Evans Defence 6...a6 line is the one pretty much all the GM's play against it on the rare occaisions it appears in top-flight games.
7.0-0?! looks rational but is the slight mistake in the line I quoted above, when white can't get any real attacking chances with anything like decent play by black.
7.Bg5! is the key to keeping things active.