|
< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 17 OF 129 ·
Later Kibitzing> |
| Jan-19-07 | | TTLump: and of course we would need a special title for the person who drew the short straw and had to stay behind - "The Designated Alchemistetalinover"
|
|
Jan-19-07
 | | jessicafischerqueen: <TLump> check out the <Hippopotamus Defence> on the Net if you're not familiar with it. It features the same four move sequence for black NO MATTER WHAT WHITE PLAYS. heh.
Also, it's not a joke. It's an actual opening that has been used by Master level players, often with success. NOBODY expects the <Hippo...> Or the <Spanish Inquisition>, for that matter. |
|
Jan-20-07
 | | TheAlchemist: <TTLump> The start date should be tomorrow, I copied the text from one of <brankat>'s posts and didn't even notice it, thanks :-) Now, regarding the straws, I can't help it, I'm just unlucky... :-) |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | dakgootje: I actually like the idea of the Hippopotamus Defence... One of the most odd openings one can imagine as symbol to mark the start of an epic battle between 2 chess-site's which in the end would take a great many hundred years, none expected - except for some 'dakkie' - and none knows the conclusion of... |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | hitman84: < I actually like the idea of the Hippopotamus Defence... One of the most odd openings one can imagine as symbol to mark the start of an epic battle between 2 chess-site's which in the end would take a great many hundred years...> The hippos would have evolved into humans. |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | Zebra: Hello world!
<TheAlchemist: <Zebra> Happy birthday! We'll be sure to make a good first move for you :-)>
Thanks! I gather I am in time to join in.
<The hippos would have evolved into humans.>
Not zebras?
|
|
| Jan-20-07 | | hitman84: <<The hippos would have evolved into humans.> Not zebras? >Zebras would have evolved into Newcastle Utd. footballers :) |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | Zebra: The price of progress... |
|
Jan-20-07
| | TheAlchemist: Should we start thinking about the opening? |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | Zebra: I think that would be a good idea. |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | dakgootje: Hippo, Hippo, Hippo! =P
Nah, if we see an e4 I vote AGAINST any form of Sicilian |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | Zebra: Hmmm. I was just about to suggest that there seem to be several Sicilian players among us. Maybe the first question is what alternatives to c5 have a strong following if we face e4? My own preference is for a Sicilian, though I don't mind most of the main alternatives with the exception of Alekhine (and the Hippopotamus ;)). |
|
Jan-20-07
| | TheAlchemist: I think we will most likely face 1.e4, since it seems to be the most popular. In that case, the Sicilian is probably the best way of playing for a win in such a game, not that I have anything against the Hippo :-). My slight preference would be for the Sveshnikov, or if we chose the Najdorf it would be nice to play Topalov's variation with b5 and b4, which could be quite exciting. |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | Zebra: My favourite is the Dragon, though I'm probably on my own on that one and am not seriously suggesting it. Something in the Scheveningen-Najdorf complex would be fine with me, though I'm not well up on Najdorf theory. The Kan might also be worth thinking about (?). |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | hitman84: <My slight preference would be for the Sveshnikov, or if we chose the Najdorf it would be nice to play Topalov's variation with b5 and b4, which could be quite exciting.> I agree.
Sicillian Dragon would be good too. |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | chessmoron: Any players want to play the French Defense? ...after 1 e4. |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | Rocafella: After e4, c5 is the only option! |
|
Jan-20-07
| | TheAlchemist: <chessmoron> Personally, I'm not very comfortable with it, with either colour :-). Seriously, though, it should be perfectly playable as well and quite interesting in some variations, either in the Classical (if we get to an opposite sides castling situation) or the Winawer (the Qg4 lines are very double-edged). We still have to hear from others, though, and see their thoughts. |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | dakgootje: I radically changed my mind.
As ...c5 can hardly be avoided after a possible e4, I don't mind that much. This rather egoïstically though as I won't be of any use in the opening for our team, however I might learn a lot from it as I have the opportunity how sicilian-players think. |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | TTLump: I am not strong in the openings or in the end game, but if I had to choose an opening, I would choose Sicilian against e4 and Dutch against d4. I just like the assymetry and the idea of "sniping at the enemy from the bushes". Please bear with my naive questions, but doesn't the specific variation of the Sicilian depend significantly on White's second move? For example, I am running into a fair bit of 1.e4 c5 2.d6 recently in correspondence games. |
|
Jan-20-07
| | TheAlchemist: <TTLump> I assume you mean 2.d4? I expect White will choose the main lines, i.e. the Open Sicilian with 2.Nf3 and 3.d4 and am thus making my suggestions accordingly. Of course we can't know for sure what White will choose, after all, the first consultation game that was played here at chessgames (M Ronteltap / Allies vs R Barber / Allies, 2006), featured a Morra Gambit by transposition and White may have had a winning position somewhere. Regarding 2.d4, it is not considered to be as dangerous for Black (strong correspondence players don't fear it too much), but proving it is very difficult, I suffered many losses myself against it, as White can get a strong initiative for a pawn. But I believe that since there's 10 of us and we have 2 days (even 3 if needed) for each move, we should be able to equalize in the opening against it. <dakgootje> Don't worry, I'm sure most of us here aren't big opening experts. We are allowed the use of opening databases, and I think we should take advantage of that (but not by blindly following it). There we may find useful plans. |
|
Jan-20-07
| | TheAlchemist: <TTLump> Only now it dawned to me that you probably meant 2.d3, right? That could lead to a King's Indian Attack setup for White, with Nf3, g3, Bg2, etc. I think we can do fine there as well. |
|
| Jan-20-07 | | TTLump: <TheAlchemist: <TTLump> Only now it dawned to me that you probably meant 2.d3, right?> of course! sorry about that! I have to be more careful to remember which color I am playing when mentally reviewing a game! so for the record: 1.e4 c5 2.d3
|
|
| Jan-20-07 | | TTLump: <TheAlchemist:<TTLump> Only now it dawned to me that you probably meant 2.d3, right? That could lead to a King's Indian Attack setup for White, with Nf3, g3, Bg2, etc. I think we can do fine there as well.> If, in response to 1.e4 c5 2.d3, black plays 2... d6, then pretty much all roads lead from there to Sicily right? ... except that might not be such a good idea because of 3.f4 (see: Opening Explorer ) |
|
Jan-20-07
| | TheAlchemist: <TTLump> Ok, glad we got that cleared :-) A possible setup that could emerge from a KIA (which I assume 2.d3 strives for) could be something like Opening Explorer etc. I play the KIA against the French and my plan is usually to play e5, overprotect it with Re1, Qe2, Bf4 and then strive for an attack on the kingside with h4-h5-h6, Nb1-d2-f1-h2-g4 manoeuvres etc, or maybe with f2-f4-f5 instead. Basically, White wants to attack on the kingside, while Black tries to open up the queeside with b5-b4, a5-a4, Ba6, maybe c4, etc and force White to defend against the (sometimes) weakened c3-pawn, he can attack on the b-file etc. Now, from my experience I've had quite good success with it, although not entirely because of my play :-), so it's not easy to deal with White's attack if Black lets it happen. |
|
 |
|
|
< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 17 OF 129 ·
Later Kibitzing> |
Kibitzing
