Apr-30-05
 | | Sneaky: I don't agree with Blackburne when he says about the central variation 3.e4 "Not often played, and inferior to the usual  f3." However, Steinitz went astray as early as 4.d5. This is not a good idea. The newer, better idea is 4.f3 and if 4...exd4 you don't take on d4 but instead 5. xc4 and worry about the d-pawn later. I find it these lines lead to imbalanced lively positions that slightly favor the first player.But don't get the wrong idea, of course I don't criticize either of these immortal players for not knowing about modern theory. |
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| Apr-30-05 | | WorldChampeen: How about this <Sneaky> I think 4. d5 is okay, 4. ...Nf6 (correct) 5. Nc3 (correct) and then, now 5. ...Bb4 to pin the knight can not be played because of 6. Qa4+! that is why 5. ...Bc5 by Blackburne. |
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Apr-30-05
| | Sneaky: You are right 5...Bb4 is impossible on account of Qa4+, but ...Bc5 is a very good move in that position. In fact according to the Opening Explorer, Black has never lost with it! (out of 3 games.) |
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| Apr-30-05 | | WorldChampeen: <Sneaky> I don't doubt your word, I do have Glenn Flear's book on countless games of the QGA shall we say, Look this is when you want the d5 move,
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc 3. Nc3 Nc6 and then, one needs to be careful about the Queen or Knight taking the pawn on d4 so then, 4. d5 is needed... |
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| May-05-05 | | WorldChampeen: 1620, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3 1-0 ~ Greco vs NN, 1620 You know, you can catch people on this trap, but 3. e3, I'd much rather do 3. e4 and for a long time, I was playing 3. Nc3 and doing okay; but that is not a very popular choice. Check this little trap of El Greco. And the thing is, I might have played this before but may not have realized 6. Qf3; it's kind of an unfair advantage and 3. e3 is playable but not the best move. M. Yudovich is whom I credit with showing me this. It's almost unfair but I guarantee you; a lot of people will go for it. Amazing, from 1620 and I think, this reflects the wisdom of not trying to hold on to the pawn. Hey <Sneaky> there's that a4 move! |
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| Dec-16-05 | | Frankly: Wow, tremendous game, And I was just checking up the 4d5 line! |
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| Apr-26-06 | | netlava: 4. d5 reduces the scope of white's light squared bishop. But other than that, I don't see anything wrong with it. What else is wrong with 4. d5? Also I think 3. e4 is inferior but I'm not sure how. lol |
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| Apr-07-07 | | Knight13: Based on this game I think ...Bc5 works better than ...c6. |
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| Jan-08-08 | | sneaky pete: The losing move 26.d6? .. is conveniently ignored in Blackburne's notes. After 26.Rc3 .. (so as to be able to play Qf1-c1-f4 if necessary) it's not clear how black can save the game. |
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Jan-09-08
 | | Pawn and Two: 25...Nf6?? was a serious error.
Blackburne should have taken the draw with: (.00) (23 ply) 25...Nf4 26.f3 Qh5+ 27.Kg1 Bxf3 28.gxf3 Qh4 29.Rc2 Nh3+ 30.Kg2 Nf3+ 31.Kg1. Steinitz then returned the favor with 26.d6??.
Instead, he had at least 2 lines that offered very good winning chances: (2.21) (21 ply) 26.Kg1 Qh5 27.Qe1 Bd7 28.Rc7 Qe5 29.Rdc4 Bc6 30.R7xc6 bxc6 31.dxc6, or, (1.95) (21 ply) 26.Qe1 Re8 27.Qe3 Bf5 28.Kg1 Ng4 29.Qf4 Qf6 30.Rb4 g5 31.Qg3. Not as good was: (1.13) (21 ply) 26.Rc3 Qh5+ 27.Kg1 Bf3 28.Qc1 Ng4 29.Rc8+ Kh7 30.Bxe4+ Bxe4 31.Rxe4 Qf5 32.Rxg4+ Rxc8, and Black can still offer strong resistance. |
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sac: 15...Nb6