Bump. This was the thread that tipau was referring to in the new thread on 9.Qe2.

Play for f5 or d5 - those are your pawn breaks, so pick one and organize your play around that.

Maybe try a database search and look at some games with strong players as Black, perhaps against weaker opposition?

Or alternatively look at one of the books and/or DVDs about the open games, which recommend the Giuoco Piano for Black.

Can some one please suggest some good set ups for black which could give some advantages or some model games... 

ErictheRed wrote on 08/15/13 at 22:02:09:


Good advice. Plus books by Fred Reinfeld and Irving Chernev.

Some ideas:

1. I would hestitate to play d7-d6 because you can play d7-d5 at the right moment. The right moment comes when White loses  time in the opening (like h2-h3).

2. h7-h6 ist not really necessary because you can shake off the pin after g5 with h6 and g5 but you should study the situations when White can play Nxg5 and later something like Qf3 or f2-f4.

3. When you send the queens knight to g6 consider Ng6-f4 (esp. after an exchange of the dark squared bishops). A Nf4, light squared bishop and a queen gives you attacking chances (study master games - that is always the best advice - look for games where Black wins)

4. In Game 2 7...d7-d6 is an interesting option because after Bxc5 dxc5 Black has a nice play.

Why don't you tell us what you think, and then maybe we'll comment?  Bring something to the table, in other words.