06 August 2009

Intimidation

At the suggestion of a friend, I signed up for another thematic tournament. This one features the Keres Attack, ECO B81.

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 we have the starting position.



A quick glance at the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings is sufficient to intimidate most players unwilling to spend many hundreds of hours learning theory. ECO has no less than fifty-five lines. Chess Informant has published 608 theoretically significant games through its first 103 issues--three in the first issue and four in 103. In Predojevic-Movsesian, Sarajevo 2008 (Informant 103/151), 15...Nad5 was the novelty.

Black's responses from the diagram:

6...e5 lines 1-4
6...a6 lines 5-27
6...Nc6 lines 28-36
6...h6 lines 37-55

Where should I begin?

4 comments:

  1. I suspect that ...e5 is the most principled response amongst the four choices.

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  2. I also would go for the e5-line. But then again, at our level each opening is good to play.

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  3. 6...h6 is the main line - might want ot check it out.

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  4. Thanks for the comments. I've added a new post concerning 6...e5, and will get to the mainline another day.

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