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Dear reader,
Flank openings are often less challenging theoretically for black to play against. But they have their own ideas. And black should really be aware of them if he does not want to have a bad surprise. Often the white player will really know it because it's his "pet opening" and black should react soundly. I) <1. Nf3 d5> Reti Opening a) King's Indian Attack <2. g3> 
click for larger viewHere's a good system in my opinion, the anti King's Indian Attack, favoured by Keres, among others. b) Reti Gambit <2. c4 d5> 
click for larger viewWe will play the <advance variation> which seems to give a fair space advantage to white from the beggining on the game on c) The delayed Larsen attack <2. b3> 
click for larger viewAn example game from the positionnal genius Bent Larsen: J Garcia Padron vs Larsen, 1977 d) The transpositionnal <2. e3 Bg4> 
click for larger viewFor once we are going to walk on unknow roads with this odd bishop move. Why? Because I don't want to allow a transposition into the English Agincourt Defence. ------------
II) <1. b4> Sokolsky Opening 
click for larger viewWe will play this system which takes advantage of the potential weakness of the opening, namely no pressure against the d5 point, which allows the Bf5 move and easy development for black. See L Blumenoff vs Keres, 1933 ------------
III) <1. f4 d5> Bird's Opening 
click for larger viewThe From's Gambit is not as strong as many thinks and a well prepared white player should get out of it without too much difficulties. Black should aim for quick developement with double fianchetto or Bg4 depending on black does and aim for strong central play, as usual, because it's the soundest. Sure black risks to be attacked, but learning how to defend and to react by central counterplay is a vital element of positional play that anyone should master. ------------
IV) <1. g4> Grob opening 
click for larger viewAgainst this rare opening I recommend ...e5, followed by ...Ne7 (on ...Nf6 g5 can be annoying), possibly ...d5 and ...c6 (Keene system), quick development and smooth occupation of the center. It's pretty much all black needs to meet the Grob M Djukic vs Z Z Jovanovic, 2008 ------------
V) <1. Nc3 Nf6!> Van Geet's Opening 
click for larger viewIt is pretty much the best move in my opinion, when white has four choices. If e4 we transpose in the harmless Vienna Game with ...e5, if d4 we transpose into a laughable queen's pawn opening with ...d5, if Nf3 we play ...d5 and we are already better, if d3 it might transpose into some King's Indian Attack stuff, see I)a) ------------
VI) <1. b3 e5> Larsen's Opening 
click for larger viewThat how we should answer to 1. b3 followed by ...Nc6, ...Nf6 and possibly ...Bd6 (a rather unusual move which is best and necessary here in some cases). It fits to the rest of our repertoire where we answer 1. c4 with 1...e5 as transposition might occur ------------
VII) <1. g3 e5> Benko's Opening 
click for larger viewAn unusual opening that is not overagressive but should be treated with care and calm ------------
VIII) <1. e3 Nf6!> Van Geet's Opening 
click for larger viewNow anything should transpose. Be it in the english if c4 then ...e5 or in the Larsen-attack if b3 then ...e5 and if d4 then ...d5 and the pawn blocs the bishop ------------
IX) <1. d3 e5>
click for larger viewAgain it should transpose into some relatively harmless stuff. Namely, reversed Pirc Defence, English Opening with a premature d3 or open game with d3 and Be2...
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Kibitzing
