18
votes
Accepted
Why doesn't white take after 8..c5 in the Grünfeld, Spassky variation?
9.dxc5? is a horrible positional blunder.
The Grunfeld for black allows white a big center, and his idea is to chip away at it, or force it to advance, and then chip away at it. That center controls ...
- 32.7k
17
votes
Why are side pawns better than center pawns in this position?
Chess strategy is complex and has several ingredients mingling at the same time. It is true that 3 c3 helps white mantaining two center pawns if black decides for a c:d4 pawn exchange. But black isn't ...
- 1,174
16
votes
Why after 1. d4 Nf6, 2. c4 is so common but after 1. c4 Nf6, 2. d4 is so rare?
To answer your question, I think it mainly comes down to selection bias. The White players of the games after 1.c4 Nf6 are often not intending to play a Queen's pawn opening (at least, not right away ...
- 19.9k
15
votes
Accepted
Modified move-order in the KID 4. ..0-0. What is the point and how to react?
In the vast majority of the cases, 4....d6 and 4....0-0 transpose into each other.
However, with 4....0-0 black keeps the option of playing c6 and d5. Recently, this idea has been played by GM Jobava,...
- 5,546
15
votes
Accepted
Why does Black want to trade off their King's Bishop in many d4 lines?
Black gains a tempo. Black has played two bishop moves, but white has played Nc3, a3, and bxc3. Once the smoke clears, black has a lead in development with one minor piece out (vs none) and can ...
- 1,193
14
votes
What to play vs. 1. d4 when Sicilian is my favorite defense?
You can play the Stonewall defence with black as well, as quid suggested. You can start with a Dutch and get the familiar structure (just an example):
[FEN ""]
1. d4 f5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d5. ...
- 1,638
11
votes
Why does Black want to trade off their King's Bishop in many d4 lines?
Bent Larsen explained it like this. If you want to win as Black you must unbalance the position, and this involves giving something to get something. Giving your opponent the two Bishops is something ...
- 8,686
10
votes
Accepted
Black's reply against anti-Grünfeld (3.d5)
In Volume 1 of his high-quality series on the Grünfeld for black, GM Avrukh recommends 3....b5!?, "playing in the spirit of the Benko Gambit". On page 6 of the PDF excerpt, you can find his analysis.
...
- 5,546
10
votes
Accepted
Difference between 7. Qc2 vs 7. Qa4 in the Catalan
As you mentioned, 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 and 7.Qa4 a6 8.Qxc4 lead to the same position.
However, after 7.Qc2 a6, white has the option to play 8.a4, which is recommended by GM Avrukh in Grandmaster ...
- 5,546
9
votes
Accepted
What's the best answer to 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.a3?
This really comes down to what you're comfortable with. Both the Benoni and the QGD are good options, precisely because of the reason you mention: a3 isn't really useful for White in those openings, ...
- 25k
9
votes
Why is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Bg5 almost never played?
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Bg5, the position resembles the Tromposvky Attack (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5), where white often gives up the bishop pair in exchange for a lead in development and the center. For ...
- 5,546
8
votes
Why doesn't white take after 8..c5 in the Grünfeld, Spassky variation?
it's actually impossible to keep the material advantage since after 9.dxc5 black has the move 9...Qa5 which puts a second attacker to the c3 pawn and also prepares to recapture the c5 pawn. All that ...
- 2,158
7
votes
Looking for way to “punish” the d5 push after 1. d4 Nf6
The most direct way to punish this move seems to be to attack the d-pawn immediately. Black gets a very slight advantage. For example
[FEN ""]
1. d4 Nf6 2. d5 c6! 3. c4 cxd5 4. cxd5 Qa5 + 5. Nc3 b5!...
- 8,845
7
votes
Looking for way to “punish” the d5 push after 1. d4 Nf6
If you're a Benoni player, there's nothing wrong with 2... c5, which will get you in familiar territory (3. dxc6 e.p. is harmless and not something White wants to play - exchanging a center pawn for a ...
- 25k
7
votes
Accepted
Why is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Bg5 almost never played?
Your bishop can be chased with h6, g5 and h5, after what white barely equalizes. It also gives black calm options, for example some c5 with Qa5 ans Ne4 ideas. It's just committing the bishop too early....
- 3,286
7
votes
Why after 1. d4 Nf6, 2. c4 is so common but after 1. c4 Nf6, 2. d4 is so rare?
Looking at this through the intentions of the moves helps me make sense of this.
The move 1. d4 establishes a dark-square pawn in the center. Light-square control however is still missing. If possible,...
- 396
7
votes
How to avoid QGD/Slav lines as black against 1.d4?
The King's Indian Defence is the first thing that comes to my mind. You'll have to like the pawn structures that arise from e.g. the Main line, with White trying to break through on the queenside ...
- 25k
6
votes
Accepted
King's Indian move order
It's actually a less flexible move order. The bishop will go to g7 in either case, but now black can't go ...d5 in one go. Only play this if you want to put the bishop on e7 (the Old Indian Defense)
- 152
6
votes
Accepted
Achieving Catalan-like structure against Slav response
Are there strong responses different from 4. .. e6 for black against 4. g3 that avoid the Catalan?
4...Bf5
One interesting alternative is 4...Bf5, with very original play. Before playing e6, Black ...
- 3,525
5
votes
Strongest / most aggressive 1. d4 openings
I feel that the most ambitious, principled and aggressive 1.d4 repertoire is the one given by John Cox in his book "Starting Out: 1.d4!". Of course these are the most ambitious lines for white in ...
- 28.4k
5
votes
Accepted
On the Mason Attack
What are the main points, tactical or otherwise, backing up the Mason Attack?
At least for normal (not top GM) players, the main points of the London system (never heard the name Mason Attack before)...
- 20.9k
5
votes
Why is 7 Bd3 in the Cambridge Springs QGD more often met with 7...Ne4 than 7...dxc4?
7...dxc4 is absolutely just as good as 7...Ne4. Stockfish 10 (at depth 32) gives 7...dxc4 an evaluation of -0.31, while 7...Ne4 is 0.23. A difference of 118 games vs 96 games isn't a big deal and has ...
- 19.9k
5
votes
Why not 1.d4 Nf6 2.d5?
In this case, because you probably cannot maintain it, and it will become weak. The principles of not making too many pawn moves, and developing your k-side and pieces quickly take precedence. It may ...
- 32.7k
5
votes
Why are side pawns better than center pawns in this position?
Move 3 is a bit early for such positional evaluations, but some food for thoughts:
after 3...cd 4.ed, e7-e6 will be played, rather sooner than later but then the pawn structure in the center is fixed,...
- 16.6k
5
votes
Why after 1. d4 Nf6, 2. c4 is so common but after 1. c4 Nf6, 2. d4 is so rare?
The first moves 1.d4, 1.c4. and 1.Nf3 can all potentially transpose to the same opening lines, but they can also each avoid specific openings, while also allowing others:
1.d4 gives Black the full ...
- 176
4
votes
Looking for an aggressive opening for black vs 1. d4
This is going to be kind of general, because there's a lot of territory to explore, and space limitations reduce me to doing not much more than pointing at some of the landmarks.
There might be ...
- 5,294
4
votes
What is a good French-like defense against 1. d4?
As a French player, I never liked d4 e6 because I didn't want to go into the QGD. I see its dynamic potential now, but it's just not my style.
I can't say this is based on strict logic, but my play ...
- 1,388
4
votes
Looking for way to “punish” the d5 push after 1. d4 Nf6
If you like the Benoni, 2...c5 is definitely an option. However, the kicker here is that White doesn't have to play 3. c4 and transpose to the main line. Instead, White could play 3. Nc3!? and if ...
- 19.9k
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