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2. a3 (Read 46133 times)

MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #73 - 03/11/06 at 02:43:49	Post Tools	Print Post
	No, I never play 2.a3 nor 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 Nc6 4.axb4.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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Bubu13 YaBB Newbies Offline Chess is not a science ! It is a game !! Posts: 48 Location: Marseille Joined: 11/25/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #72 - 03/10/06 at 14:02:43	Post Tools	Print Post
	Not a bad idea, but with b6 and Bb7 to follow, black seems to get a decent setting. I can't get throught the black lines ... I am not sure about the Ra3, 'cause the c3 pawn blocks the third rank where it could lift ! Did you try your suggestion against somebody or something ?


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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #71 - 03/09/06 at 02:00:22	Post Tools	Print Post
	What about 7.d5 Na5 8.Qd4 Nf6 (f6 9.Nd2 Bh6 10.Ngf3 b6 11.Ba3 with pressure) 9.Ra3 Bg7 10.e5 Ng8 11.Nf3 !?

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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Bubu13 YaBB Newbies Offline Chess is not a science ! It is a game !! Posts: 48 Location: Marseille Joined: 11/25/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #70 - 03/08/06 at 13:05:32	Post Tools	Print Post
	My last game with 2.a3 ! Unfortunately, i've lost against a black setting involving a g6 & Bg7 ! It is quite strange because i don't exactly understand what went wrong with my strategic way of playing. If you have an explanation, please feel free to share it with us Busson,B (2089) - Ferrero,P (2031) [B20] CPI 2006 (4), 07.01.2006 1.e4 c5 2.a3 Nc6 3.b4 cxb4 4.axb4 Nxb4 5.d4 [5.Ra4!?] 5...g6 6.c3 Nc6 7.d5 [7.Bc4 Bg7 8.Nf3 e6 9.d5 Ne5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.dxe6 fxe6³] 7...Na5 8.Qd4 Nf6 9.Nd2!? [9.e5!? Nb3 10.Qa4 Nxa1 (10...Nxc1 11.exf6 Qb6 12.Nd2 Qxf6 13.Rxc1²) 11.exf6 Qb6 12.Qxa1 Qxf6 13.Be3 Qf5 14.Na3 Bg7 (14...Qxd5? 15.c4!±) 15.Nb5 0-0 (15...Be5 16.Nf3 Bb8 17.c4²) 16.Nc7 Rb8 (16...Qc2? 17.Ne2!) 17.d6 exd6 18.Bxa7 Bxc3+ 19.Qxc3 Qb1+ 20.Kd2 Qa2+ 21.Kc1 Qxa7 22.Nd5÷] 9...Bh6 10.Ngf3 0-0 11.e5 Ne8 [11...Nh5!?] 12.Qh4 Bg7 [12...Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 f6µ] 13.d6 Nc6 14.Ne4 exd6 15.Bg5 Qc7 16.Bf6 d5 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Nf6 h6 19.Nxd5 Qd8 20.Qxd8 Nxd8 21.Nb6 Rb8 22.Rxa7 Nc6 23.Ra4? [¹23.Nxc8 Nxa7 24.Nxa7 Ra8 25.Nb5 Ra1+ 26.Ke2±] 23...d6 24.exd6 Nxd6 25.Bd3 Re8+ 26.Kd2 Be6 27.Rha1 Rbd8 28.Kc2 Bf5 29.Bxf5 Nxf5 30.R1a2 Re2+ 31.Kb3 Rxa2 32.Rxa2 Rd1 33.Kc4 Nd6+ 34.Kb3 Rb1+ 35.Rb2 Rxb2+ 36.Kxb2 Ne4 37.Nd7 Nxf2 38.Nc5 b6 39.Nd7 b5 40.Kb3 Nd3 41.Kc2 Nf4 42.g3 Nd5 43.Kd3 Nc7 44.Nd4 Nd8 45.Kc2 g5 46.g4 Nde6 47.Nf5+ Kh7 48.Ne5 f6 49.Nf7 h5 50.gxh5 Nf4 51.Ng3 Kg7 52.Nd6 Nfd5 53.Kd3 g4 54.Kd4 b4 55.c4 Nf4 56.c5 Nfe6+ 57.Kc4 b3 58.Nde4 b2 59.Nc3 Kh6 60.Nge4 f5 61.Nd2 Kxh5 62.Nd5 f4 63.Nxc7 Nxc7 64.Kd3 Kh4 65.Ke4 g3 66.Kf3 Kh3 67.hxg3 fxg3 0-1


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AvH YaBB Newbies Offline I Love ChessPublishing! Posts: 4 Joined: 01/25/06	Re: 2. a3 Reply #69 - 02/23/06 at 15:32:03	Post Tools	Print Post
	I used to play 2.a3, but the variation that put me off is 1.e4 c5 2.a3 Nc6 3.b4 Nf6, which I faced twice in a row. I don't like 4.b5 as the pawn can only become weak. 4...Nd4 and 4...Ne5 both seem to give black, who is better developed and doesn't have any weaknesses, a very easy game. Does anyone have an idea for white?


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TalJechin God Member Offline There is no secret ingredient. Posts: 2892 Location: Malmö Joined: 08/12/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #68 - 02/17/06 at 20:37:35	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: Another interesting way to play is 3. Nc3 Bg7 4.h4 h5 5. Bc4 This is a favourite of IM Dobrov, who always stood very well after the opening. That sounds like a nice simple idea I'll try when the opportunity arises... I've tried most of the other ideas in blitz on the net: 3.h4 and setting up some kind of Clamp with c3, d3, f4 etc. 3.c3 isn't bad imo, usually you get a big pawn centre vs a slightly frustrated Bg7... van Duijn's Bc4, Nc3 etc - but with f4 instead of h4 - isn't bad either, similar to a grand prix attack. Play is a bit slow in all of the above, but often becomes interesting around move 25. The only plan I've given up on is 3.b4 Bg7 4. Nc3, not that it's bad but I prefer to go for the king (especially in blitz) - and you usually give up all such ambitions in that line with g3, Bg2 etc. Play is often reminiscent of playing black against an English Botvinnik set-up. And those d3,e4,f4,g3 vs d6,e5,f5,g6 positions are not very fun imo, as you can only wait for the opponent to exchange on e4 or f4...


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alumbrado God Member Offline Esse quam videri bonus malebo Posts: 1418 Location: London Joined: 02/17/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #67 - 02/17/06 at 16:05:23	Post Tools	Print Post
	The answer to 2...g6 must be to pursue a closed strategy involving d3, Bd2, probably Rb1 and ultimately b2-b4!, accompanied, probably, by a kingside fianchetto.

	If sometimes we fly too close to the sun, at least this shows we are spreading our wings.
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Borderliner YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 4 Location: Heidelberg Joined: 02/05/05	Re: 2. a3 Reply #66 - 02/17/06 at 15:30:27	Post Tools	Print Post
	Hey guys, I wonder whether anyone has examined 2....g6 throughly. I cant believe in 3.c3 for white, which Bezgodov rates quite highly. True enough, White may not be worse, but it looks to me like very easy equality for black.Much more in the spirit of 2.a3 is 2...g6 3.b4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Has anyone had experience with (or against) this? Bezgodov claims it is an improved version of a closed Sicilian if White continues with g3 and a timely bxc5. To me, f4 ideas in combination with bxc5 (without g3) also look quite interesting. Another interesting way to play is 3. Nc3 bg7 4.h4 h5 5. bc4 This is a favourite of IM Dobrov, who always stood very well after the opening. I dont believe black is really in trouble in these lines, but at least they seam to be more in the spirit of 2.a3. Im looking forward to your ideas.


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Strptzr Full Member Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 207 Location: Gent Joined: 11/05/05	Re: 2. a3 Reply #65 - 01/25/06 at 14:38:15	Post Tools	Print Post
	Such optimism ! Meantime I've browsed through Bezgodov's book on this, and I must confess that the move does look attractive... especially against optimists....


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Smyslov_Fan God Member Correspondence fan Offline Progress depends on the unreasonable man. ~GBS Posts: 6902 Joined: 06/15/05	Re: 2. a3 Reply #64 - 10/18/05 at 00:12:22	Post Tools	Print Post
	Rick, Thanks for your comments. Words help me to focus more on the positions than mere lines of analysis do. Your 9.Ba3 was such a natural way to play that I fully understand why you played it. In a practical game, I really wonder if Black would have survived for long if you had played 9.Bf4 instead. Black may have found 9...Qc6, but the rest of the computerised analysis gets harder and harder to play. It took me a while to realise that 10.Bd3 is played because of your weak e4 square. I don't like giving up the light-squared Bishop, so I'm trying to make 10.Nd6+ followed by c4 work. Let's say Black plays 10...Ke7 11.c4 e5? 12.de5 should give White an advantage (unless I'm missing some tactic). White has the open d-file, a weak f7 target, an uncastled Black king and several threats to develop with gain of tempi, all at no material cost. Not bad! 11.c4 Nf6 invites White to choose between 12.e5 and 12.Ne5 (Qxd6 drops the queen for only two minor pieces here) So... 11...Bh6, which is really hard to find, may be Black's hope. Unfotunately, once again 12.Ne5 comes to mind. This really does give up three minors for the Queen, but after 12...Qd6 13.Ng6+ hg6 14.c5+ Ke7 (I guess) 15.d5 (which doesn't threaten 16.Qd4?? Nc2+!) The White pieces are much more easily coordinated than Black's, and I would expect White to win in the middle game by combining attacks against loose pieces and the Black king. I'm doing this with the aid of a board, but not a computer, so some of my tactics may need refining. However, Black has made some sort of major mistake because I think he's in real trouble here. Interesting position!


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lost highway Senior Member Offline I may be crazy. Posts: 471 Joined: 06/17/05 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #63 - 10/17/05 at 18:21:30	Post Tools	Print Post
	Kamiel - Thanks for the Fritz analysis. I agree that white is better in that sample game. There may not be much in the way of improvement for black. I was overly optimistic to think that white was "very close to dead lost." Black could probably improve with the human move 14...e5 and then maybe 15.Nf3 Nc6 16.Qb3 Bd6. Fritz may be able to find all the right defensive moves after 14...e5, but I certainly wouldn't be able to find them in a real game with the clock ticking. So, I'm going to look for something else. Thanks. - Lost Highway


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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #62 - 10/17/05 at 15:42:00	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: Kamiel - I will decline your invitation to buy this book. If GM Bezgodov recommends (?) 11.Rb1, I prefer to invent a better wheel than he has invented if he really thinks white is ok in that line. White is very close to being dead lost after 11...Qe6+ 12.Ne3 Nxd4 13.Bc4 Qd7. When black consolidates, he will win easily. I see no real obstacle to prevent black from consolidating. - Lost Highway I don't think it's easy at all for black to consolidate. Ok black has 3 pawns more but he only brought two pieces into play; and both will have to move again with tempo loss(es) especially the queen. Also I don't see what black is going to do with his king, long castle isn't possible; leaving the king in the center is hardly an option and I haven't found a way for black to castle short without having to make major concessions like having to play Nf6 Bxf6 gxf6 which makes his castled king very dangerously placed. White on the contrary can devellop his pieces to all places he desires. I don't dare to claim white is better tough the position is way too unclear for that but in a game I would love to play white. I think it's pretty hard to analyse this position as there are many plausible moves for both sides so I'll give a sample line to start with which shows whites attacking potential. Black plays the moves suggested by fritz. 11. Rb1 Qe6+ 12. Ne3 Nxd4 13. Bc4 Qd7 14. Bc3 Nc6 15. Qh5 e6 16.Nf3 a6 17. O-O b5 18. Ba2 Nf6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Rfe1 Bg7 21. Rbd1 Qc7 22. Bxe6 Bxe6 23. Nd5 Qd7 24. Rxe6+ Kf8 25. Ree1 Re8 26. Nb6 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Qd6 28. Nc8 Qd7 29. Qc5+ Kg8 30. Qxc6 1-0


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RickKennedy YaBB Newbies Offline All my chess, I learned from Perry the PawnPusher Posts: 20 Location: Columbus Joined: 01/19/05 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #61 - 10/16/05 at 22:10:14	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: Rick, Thank you for sharing your game and its in-depth analysis. I'll take a closer look at it later. Do you have any comments to the game as well as lines? Thanks again! Some thoughts: I flatter myself to remember Bronstein's comment that it takes three small errors to add up to one big error - instead of one big honking blunder, I nibble away at my advantage. For Black, the ...e6 and ...g6 seemed to weaken the dark squares, and my strategy for much of the game was to take advantage of that, especially the square d6. I think I was right to do so: the problem came in not finding the right time to do something more than just improve my position. Black's Queen maneuver - Qb6-a5-d8 - seemed to waste time and give White the edge. The move to a5 seemed well-met by my Knight move to d2. White's 9th move was stereotyped - "Ba3 is the kind of move you make in this kind of position (i.e. the Sicilian Wing Gambit)" - but it's still not clear to me whether 9.Bf4 was the better idea. One of the computers liked c2-c4 followed by Ba3, so perhaps I just got the idea backwards? I'm still puzzling over the position - I'm better, but exactly what to do? Or are there several things to do? Frankly, I was astonished later to see that my c2-c4 (threat: c4-c5) idea was thought to be sound by the analysis engines - it was a pawn, not a piece moved; and it seemed a bit loosening at the time, but I wanted to go with it, as it reminded me of a successful maneuver I played in an OTB Sicilian Wing Gambit many years ago. It looks like the computer-recommended breaking in the center with 13.d5 was stronger than my 13.Bb2, which prepared for the center break - but then I changed my whole strategy with 14.e5. Can't remember why I did that; probably didn't analyze deep enough! Likely this is where the advantage slipped away. Throughout the game I had "compensation" for my sacrificed pawn, but regaining the pawn seemed to drain the compensation and lead to a drawn game. This kind of suggests that had my opponent been more accurate in his early pawn moves and Queen moves, I wouldn't have had enough for the sacced pawn. Which is the assessment many have of the Sicilian Wing Gambit. I will definitely play 2.a3 again vs the Sicilian. Rick


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lost highway Senior Member Offline I may be crazy. Posts: 471 Joined: 06/17/05 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #60 - 10/16/05 at 10:59:34	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: lost highway; GM Bezgodov did a deep analysis of the positions after Nc2 and he already deviates from you on move 11 with Rb1. But I don't want to copy all the lines that he gives for copyright reasons. If you want to really investigate the opening you should buy the book and then improve on the lines he gives cause now you are kind of reinventing the wheel. Kamiel - I will decline your invitation to buy this book. If GM Bezgodov recommends (?) 11.Rb1, I prefer to invent a better wheel than he has invented if he really thinks white is ok in that line. White is very close to being dead lost after 11...Qe6+ 12.Ne3 Nxd4 13.Bc4 Qd7. When black consolidates, he will win easily. I see no real obstacle to prevent black from consolidating. - Lost Highway


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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #59 - 10/16/05 at 07:18:49	Post Tools	Print Post
	lost highway; GM Bezgodov did a deep analysis of the positions after Nc2 and he already deviates from you on move 11 with Rb1. But I don't want to copy all the lines that he gives for copyright reasons. If you want to really investigate the opening you should buy the book and then improve on the lines he gives cause now you are kind of reinventing the wheel.


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Smyslov_Fan God Member Correspondence fan Offline Progress depends on the unreasonable man. ~GBS Posts: 6902 Joined: 06/15/05	Re: 2. a3 Reply #58 - 10/15/05 at 20:34:34	Post Tools	Print Post
	Rick, Thank you for sharing your game and its in-depth analysis. I'll take a closer look at it later. Do you have any comments to the game as well as lines? Thanks again!


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lost highway Senior Member Offline I may be crazy. Posts: 471 Joined: 06/17/05 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #57 - 10/15/05 at 13:20:01	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: Kamiel - I agree with 9.d5 being a forced draw. I didn't see that before. Thanks. I'll have to look at the other moves. - Lost Highway Kamiel - The other two moves look bad for white. 9.Bd2 Nf6 10.Nb5 Qd8 11.Bf4 Nd5 is no problem for black. 9.Nc2? Qxc3+ 10.Bd2 Qb3 11.Nf3 Nf6 will almost certainly be a win for black. However, the forced draw with 9.d5 is troublesome. - Lost Highway


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Rick Kennedy Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #56 - 10/15/05 at 10:43:08	Post Tools	Print Post
	I recently played an email 2.a3!? game with a friend in Ireland. It was a lot of fun, but frustrating, as I missed some basic ideas in the positions, and often felt like my game with White was like a balloon with its air slowly leaking out. Rory and his trusty computers annotated the game for me; Later I added Fritz8 comments, which sometimes vary. Kennedy,R - Nolan,R [B20] Hi Rick. I've had a fairly good look at the game now and as you will see there are a couple of moves that seemd to alter the evaluation greatly. More than this though when it goes to show how inaccurate computers are. Several time I went down the computers suggested line only to find that actually it was crap. You really have to hold the comps'. hand and 'walk it' through. This in actual fact makes computer assisted analysis longer! 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Nc3 cxb4 5.axb4 e6 [Fritz 8 (120s): 'Consolidates d5'] [0.59 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 5...d5 Nolan,Rory 6.exd5 Nf6 7.Bb5+ Nbd7 8.Nf3 Nxd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bb2 Nxb4 11.Re1 Nb6 12.Ne5 Bf5; 5...d6 6.b5 +/=] 6.d4 ' [±' Fritz 8 (120s).] [6.Bb2 Ne7 7.h4 d5 8.Ra3 d4 9.Nb5 Nbc6 10.Nf3 e5 11.Bc4 f6 12.h5 a6 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.Rxh8+ Bxh8 15.Bb3 Bg4 16.Qa1 Rc8 17.Nh2 f5 18.f3 axb5 19.fxg4 Nxb4 20.gxf5 Rxc2 21.Kf1 Rc6 22.Ra8 Nc8 23.Be6 Nd3 24.Nf3 Nf4 25.Bb3 gxf5 26.exf5 Qf6 27.Qa7 Qg7 28.Ne1 Qg4 29.Rxc8+ Rxc8 30.Qxb7 Qe2+ 31.Kg1 Qxe1+ 32.Kh2 Qh4+ 33.Kg1 Ne2+ 34.Kf1 Ng3+ 35.Kg1 Qh1+ 36.Kf2 Qf1+ 37.Kxg3 Qf4+ 38.Kh3 Qxf5+ 39.g4 Qd7 40.Qb6 Qc6 41.Qxc6+ Rxc6 42.g5 e4 43.Kg3 Be5+ 44.Kg4 e3 45.dxe3 dxe3 46.Bxe5 e2 47.Bg3 Rc3 0-1 Pudas,T-Siebarth,R/Mureck 2004 (47)] 6...Nc6 [6...d6 7.Nf3±] 7.Nf3 Qb6 '?' Fritz 8 (120s). [2.24 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 7...d5 Nolan,Rory 8.e5 Bd7 9.Nb5 Bf8 10.c3 Qb6 11.Be2 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxb5 13.0-0 Bg7 14.Bf4] 8.Nb5 '+-' Fritz 8 (120s). 8...Nxb4 When I was playing I felt that this was the critical positon, but as the analysis engines show there is huge variation in white's percieved advantage, what they all agree on though is that white is winning. 9.Ba3 [Fruit 2.2: 9.c3 Na6 10.Bf4 Bh6 11.Qc1 Bxf4 12.Qxf4 Ke7 13.Bd3 h6 14.Qh4+ Kf8 15.0-0 Kg7 16.e5 g5 17.Qh5; Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: Nolan,Rory: 2.00 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 9.c4 Qc6 10.Ba3 Bf8 11.Qb1 Na6 12.Bxf8 Kxf8 13.Ne5 Qb6 14.c5 Nxc5 15.dxc5 Qxc5 16.Qb2 f6 17.Nd3 Qb6 18.Qb4+ Kg7; Deep Junior 7: 9.Bf4 Qc6 10.Bd3 (10.Nd6+ Nolan,Rory 10...Kf8 11.c4 f6 12.Qb3 Na6 13.c5 Ne7 14.Bb5 Qc7 15.Bg3) 10...d5 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.0-0 e5 13.Bxe5 Bxe5 14.Nxa8 Bb8 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Qc5 17.Qf3 Be6 18.exd5] 9...Bf8 10.c4 [Fruit 2.2: 10.Qb1 Na6 11.Nd6+ Bxd6 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Bxd6 Nh6 14.Bd3 f5 15.e5 Nf7 16.Bb4 Kd8 17.0-0 Kc7 18.Rfb1] 10...Qa5 11.Nd2 Qd8 [2.92 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 11...Rb8 Nolan,Rory 12.e5 d5 13.Be2 Bd7] 12.c5 Nc6 [The computer reckons that 13.d5 is definitely the best move. It does have tha advantage of preventing my 14...Nd5 (after which I felt much more comfortable).] [Fruit 2.2: 12...Na6 13.Nc4 Be7 14.Nbd6+ Kf8 15.Qf3 f6 16.Be2 Bxd6 17.Nxd6 Qa5+ 18.Kf1 Kg7 19.Bb2 Qd8 20.Bc3 Ne7 21.Bxa6 bxa6 22.Ba5 Qf8 23.Bd2] 13.Bb2 [Fruit 2.2: 13.d5 a6 14.Bb2 f6 15.dxc6 dxc6 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.cxd6 Qxd6 18.Qf3 e5 19.Nc4 Qb4+ 20.Bc3 Qc5 21.Rd1 b5 22.Nd6+ Kf8 23.Nxc8 Rxc8 24.Rd7 h5] 13...Nf6 [13...Bg7 14.Nc4+-] 14.Qf3 is Fruits' suggestion and it does seem to keep the air in your balloon:) After 14.e5 Whites advantage is halved. 14.e5 [Fruit 2.2: 14.Qf3 Be7 (14...Ng8 15.Qg3 e5 16.dxe5 Bg7+-) 15.d5 exd5 16.exd5 0-0 17.d6 Ng4 18.dxe7 Qxe7+ 19.Be2 Nge5 20.Qd5 Re8 21.0-0 Nb4 22.Qd6 Qxd6 23.Nxd6; 14.d5 Bxc5 15.Qf3] 14...Nd5 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Nbd6+ Kf8 17.Qf3 f5 18.exf6 Bxd6 19.Nxd6 [19.cxd6?! Qb6 20.Rb1 Qb4+ 21.Nd2 Nxd4+/=] 19...Ncb4 20.Bd3 [0.87 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 20.Ra4 Nolan,Rory 20...a5 21.f7 Nc2+ (Fruit 2.2: 21...b6 22.Bc1 h5 23.Bd2 bxc5 24.dxc5 Rb8 25.Bb5 Ba6 26.Bxa6 Nxa6 27.0-0 Qf6 28.Qxf6 Nxf6 29.Rxa5) 22.Kd1 Ncb4 23.Bc4 b5 24.Bxb5 Ba6 25.Bxa6 Rxa6 26.Ke1 Qf6 27.Qxf6] 20...Qxf6 From here on all the computers are showing a draw (more or less) 21.Qxf6+ Nxf6 22.Kd2 Ke7 23.Bc3 [0.08 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 23.Bc4 Nolan,Rory 23...Rf8 24.f3 h6 25.Rhb1 g5 26.Ba3 Nc6 27.Kd3 Na5; 23.Ba3 Nc6±] 23...Nbd5 24.Rhb1 Nxc3 25.Kxc3 Nd5+ [0.99 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 25...b6 Nolan,Rory 26.Bc4 (26.Kd2 bxc5 27.dxc5±) 26...bxc5 27.dxc5 Rf8 28.f3 a5 29.Ra3 Ba6 30.Bb3 Rab8 31.Re1 Bb7] 26.Kd2 Rf8 27.f3 b6 [27...Nf4!?± Fritz 8] 28.Be4 '+-' Fritz 8 (120s). 28...bxc5 29.dxc5 a5 [1.75 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 29...Kd8 Nolan,Rory 30.Bxd5 exd5 31.Ke3 g5 32.Kd4 a5] 30.Bxd5 [1.12 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 30.Ra4 Nolan,Rory 30...Kd8 (30...Ra6+-) 31.Rb5 Kc7 32.Rbxa5 Rb8 33.Ra7+ Kc6 34.R4a5 Rb2+ 35.Kd3 Rb8 36.Ra8 Bb7 37.Rxb8] 30...exd5 31.Re1+ Kf6 32.Kd3 [0.32 Shredder 9.1 UCI UCI: 32.Ra4 Nolan,Rory 32...Ba6 33.Rf4+ Kg5 34.Rd4 Kh6 35.Rh4+ Kg7 36.Re7+ Kf6 37.Rxd7 Bf1 38.g3 h6 39.Rxh6 a4 40.h4; 32.Kc3!?±] 32...Ba6+ +/= Fritz 8 (120s). 33.Kd4 Bc4 34.Nxc4 dxc4 35.Kxc4 Rfb8 36.Re2 Rb4+ Fritz 8 (120s): 'Black prepares a4' 37.Kd5 a4 38.Ra3 h5 39.g3 Ra5 40.Re4 [40.Rc2 Rb1+=] 40...Rxe4 '=' Fritz 8 (120s). 41.fxe4 Ke7 42.e5 g5 1/2 - 1/2 Rick Kennedy


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lost highway Senior Member Offline I may be crazy. Posts: 471 Joined: 06/17/05 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #55 - 10/15/05 at 10:43:11	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: then according to bezgodov white has the choice of 9.d5 leading to a forced draw; 9.Bd2 with good compensation for the pawn or best: sacrificing another pawn with Nc2 which he analyses pretty deep leading to a winning advantage for white. Kamiel - I agree with 9.d5 being a forced draw. I didn't see that before. Thanks. I'll have to look at the other moves. - Lost Highway


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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #54 - 10/15/05 at 09:31:45	Post Tools	Print Post
	then according to bezgodov white has the choice of 9.d5 leading to a forced draw; 9.Bd2 with good compensation for the pawn or best: sacrificing another pawn with Nc2 which he analyses pretty deep leading to a winning advantage for white.


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lost highway Senior Member Offline I may be crazy. Posts: 471 Joined: 06/17/05 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #53 - 10/12/05 at 18:56:08	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: 1.e4 c5 2.a3 Nc6 3.b4 cb 4.ab Nb4 5.c3 Nc6 6.d4 d5?! 7.ed5! (not 7.e5?) Qd5 8.Na3! this is the key move! 8...Nf6 9.Nb5 Qd8 10.d5! that's it! Ne5 11.Bf4 Nfd7 12.Nf3 black is already lost. Daniel - What if black plays 8...Qa5! instead? This looks at least equal for black. - Lost Highway


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Daniel_Boix YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 20 Location: Barcelona Joined: 09/10/05	Re: 2. a3 Reply #52 - 09/11/05 at 15:41:52	Post Tools	Print Post
	Hi! I have played 2.a3 in blitz games. An example could be: Me vs. someone, I remenber, 1.e4 c5 2.a3 Nc6 3.b4 cb 4.ab Nb4 5.c3 Nc6 6.d4 d5?! 7.ed5! (not 7.e5?) Qd5 8.Na3! this is the key move! 8...Nf6 9.Nb5 Qd8 10.d5! that's it! Ne5 11.Bf4 Nfd7 12.Nf3 black is already lost. Another line , critical line is 2...g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Nc3 etc and 3.c3!? Bye!


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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #51 - 02/07/05 at 21:33:51	Post Tools	Print Post
	As promised before, a post on the Morra Gambit with a3: 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 (d3 is not too bad either, though 2.a3 might become useful if White proceeds with c4 and much later b4) 5.Nxc3 Bg7 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.Nf3 or 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.a3 d6 8.Qb3 and it is interesting again to compare this with 7.o-o Nc6 8.Qb3. After 8...Na5? 9.Bxf7+ the advantage of 7.a3 (and 2.a3) becomes clear. After 7.o-o Nc6 8.Qb3 e6 is considered weak and indeed after 7.a3 d6 8.Qb3 e6 it looks like Black can not take benefit of the White King on e1. By castling queenside White makes up for the lost tempo again, as the rook on h1 is not worse than on f1. Another known setup is 6...Nc6 7.a3 Nh6, but I doubt if this is the solution. 8.h3 o-o 9.Bf4 Kh8 (d6? 10.Qd2 wins the knight) 10.Qd2 Ng8 11.Ng5 Nh6 12.Nf3 is a quick draw. One question is, if White can get more after 11.e5 f6! 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.o-o? Nh5 and 14...Rxf3! Another question is, if White can do without h3, eg 8.Bf4 d6 9.Qd2 Ng4 or 8.e5 o-o 9.Bf4 Ng4. Remains 6...Nc6 7.a3 Nf6 (compare this with 7.o-o Nf6 again, which has a bad reputation) 8.e5 (after 8.Bf4 o-o I do not see anything tangible) Ng4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Ng5+ Kg8 (Ke8) 11.Qxg4 Nxe5 and I am not sure what White has. I have also looked at 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bb5 a6 6.e5!? but axb5 7.exf6 Nc6 8.Qd3 e6 9.Qxb5 Qxf6 10.Bg5 Qd4 11.Nf3 Qe4+ is probably slightly better for Black. And maybe 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.c3 dxc3 (Nf6) 7.Qb3 is playable. So I have not drawn definite conclusions.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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Kyle Truhe Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #50 - 02/06/05 at 08:38:34	Post Tools	Print Post
	er, obviously g6 itself isn't one of the declinations, but if used as the extra move in an already playable declined line, the extra piece on the d4 square makes it much more difficult for white to grab onto the center.


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Kyle Truhe Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #49 - 02/06/05 at 07:55:15	Post Tools	Print Post
	i do not understand why the bulk of the new analysis would focus on accepted lines to this gambit, as the move order would just put black into the most uncomfortable sort of wing lines for no particular good reason. in the normal wing gambit, there are several declined lines that are playable for black. if memory serves me correctly, b6, d6, and e6, as well as the above mentioned g6 have all seen action. isn't it pretty safe to assume that a3 would not be played by white if given the choice in the standard move order? if so, i don't see how this can be an improvement to the opening.


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RickKennedy YaBB Newbies Offline All my chess, I learned from Perry the PawnPusher Posts: 20 Location: Columbus Joined: 01/19/05 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #48 - 01/19/05 at 10:01:34	Post Tools	Print Post
	??? Still unsure about Challenging the Sicilian with 2.a3!? ? ??? Check out my review at chessville.com. Very good book even if the author, in his enthusiasm, tends to be a bit like Nimzovich, who supposedly rejoiced over advantages so small that his opponents couldn't even see them... Lots of new analysis by Bezgodov. This one was not "phoned in," and is nothing like a "database dump." The earliest example I have of 1.e4 c5 2.a3 is the already mentioned game Randviir - Keres, Tallin, 1943 (0-1, 26), which actually came out of the move order 1.a3 c5 2.e4. Keres' idea was 2...Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc64. Nf3 d5. According to Canadian IM Lawrence Day, Bezgodov did not know of van Duijn's games (1950s onward) and articles, or of the games played by Duncan Suttles, Day, and Jonathan Berry in the 60s and 70s. (For that matter, Ariel Mengarini was playing 1.e4 c5 2.a3 as early as 1952) Dutch IM Gerard Welling passed the information on to Bezgodov. Anyhow, van Duijn explained that he invented the opening during the championships of his school in The Hague. "What made me thinking about 2.a3 was simply the need to eliminate blacks c-pawn, in order to conquer the space in the center. And that succeeded. Every year I became champion of the school!" I agree with the poster who suggested that Wing Gambit fans scoop up the book.


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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #47 - 01/06/05 at 09:37:33	Post Tools	Print Post
	I will look seriously at this, as it would mean that 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.a3 is better than 7.o-o and provides to be an alternative for 7.e5, which I do not trust entirely. I assume that after 7.a3 Nh6 White also plans to castle queenside.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #46 - 01/06/05 at 07:19:21	Post Tools	Print Post
	Yes, I also think that after 8.Qb3! white has more than sufficient compensation.


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Vieto YaBB Newbies Offline Arriba! Posts: 15 Location: Grenoble Joined: 07/23/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #45 - 01/06/05 at 04:12:48	Post Tools	Print Post
	Not so easy... After 7...Nc6, Bezgodov's suggestion 8.Qb3 is really interesting, with the idea 8...e6 9.Bf4 followed by Rd1 or 0-0-0.


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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #44 - 01/05/05 at 21:07:34	Post Tools	Print Post
	Typing from memory is a bad habit. This line is similar to Sireta-Edel, 1987: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bc4 d6 (imprecise; Nc6 7.o-o d6 8.e5) 7.e5 Nc6 8.o-o (White could have played 8.Qb3! according to Carr) Nxe5 9.Nxe5 Bxe5 10.Re1 e6 11.Nd5 exd5 12.Qxd5 and here Carr gives Qc7! So after 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bg7 6.Bc4 d6 7.Nf3 instead of Nf6 Black must play Nc6 first, when 8.e5 leads to nothing. Exactly in such lines it is hardly probable, that White can get away with the loss of tempo a3. So I meant 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.o-o Nf6 and 9...o-o with the ideas Bg4 and Ne5 or (in case White plays h3) Nf6-d7-e5. Because of the loss of tempo even the pseudo-sac Nxe4 comes into consideration sometimes.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #43 - 01/05/05 at 13:38:28	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: Kamiel, I have posted some comments on the Fianchetto against the Morra in other threads. I also own Palkovi's book and found it disappointing. His chapter 8 contains not much new compared to Flesch' treatment of the early 80's. 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bg7 6.Bc4 d6 7.Nf3 Nf6 8.o-o o-o with the idea 9...Bg4 and 10...Ne5 almost forces 9.h3 Nd7 and 10...Nde5 and Black is more than OK. Maybe but white should play 8.e5! as bezgodov analyses with the following lines: 8. e5 Ng4 (8... dxe5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nxe5 Rf8 11. Nxf7+ Ke8 12. Ng5 +=) 9. e6 fxe6 (9... f5 10. O-O with compensation) (9... Bxe6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. Qxg4 +-) 10. Ng5 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Ne5 12. Bb3 Qc7 13. O-O d5 14. Bf4 O-O 15. Bg3 Rf5 16. h4 h6 17. Nh3 Kg7 18. Bf4 Bd7 19. Bc2 +/-


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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #42 - 01/05/05 at 06:46:45	Post Tools	Print Post
	I do not know, alas! I know that Van Duijn has played the opening and has written some articles, but I have not access to them.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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Panda Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #41 - 01/05/05 at 06:37:06	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: MNb wrote: Remains the positional 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Nc3, which was also the recommendation of the most important devotee of this opening, Roel van Duijn. In Hans Ree's article at The Chess Café, he gave some games van Duijn - Ree, but there van Duijn preferred Bc4 and a later Ba2 instead of b2-b4. How does van Duijn propose White should play against 2...Nf6? I don't like Bezgodov's main line here, so after 3.e5 Nd5 I prefer his extra options 4.Bc4 / 4.Nc3 which may not be an advantage but it's easy to play!


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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #40 - 01/04/05 at 21:22:31	Post Tools	Print Post
	I am pretty sure, that Bezgodov was not influenced at all by Van Duijn, who has written a few articles on de Van Duijn Opening some years ago. But Dutch is not a very common language, of course. Having said this, I can not deny Bezgodov's very important contribution of course. Kamiel, I have posted some comments on the Fianchetto against the Morra in other threads. I also own Palkovi's book and found it disappointing. His chapter 8 contains not much new compared to Flesch' treatment of the early 80's. 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Bg7 5.Bc4 d6 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.o-o o-o with the idea 8...Bg4 and 9...Ne5 almost forces 8.h3 Nd7 and 9...Nde5 and Black is more than OK.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #39 - 01/04/05 at 13:19:00	Post Tools	Print Post
	Yes, Roel van Duijn is the creator of the line 2. a3, but the way they handle the opening is almost completely different in all lines. For example: van Duijn played 1.e4 c5 2.a3 e6 3.b4 cxb4 4.axb4 Bxb4 5.c3!? While Bezgodov suggests 1e4 c5 2.a3 e6 3.b4 cxb4 4.axb4 Bxb4 5.Bb2!? which is a whole other story. So Bezgodov really can claim he invented a whole new attacking system, although he may not be the first to analyse the second move.


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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #38 - 01/04/05 at 13:03:10	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: I do not trust 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 at all. The fianchetto is an underestimated Defense against the Morra Gambit - especially with Nh6 - and a3 is just a loss of tempo. That should be deadly in a gambit, in which the compensation is the lead in development. After 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d5 White's 2nd move again is a loss of tempo, both after 6.exd5 (compare Panov with g6) and 6.e5, which is a kind of Gurgenidze system. Remains the positional 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Nc3, which was also the recommendation of the most important devotee of this opening, Roel van Duijn. I don't really thrust the morra kind of sacrifice either, although I don't agree that fianchetto variation is underestimated in the morra, I studied the book of Palkovi and white seems to get the upper hand against g6 lines. Also a3 is not a complete tempoloss as it may be somewhat usefull for a later b4 push or for a bishop retreat to a2. Your second comment about 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d5 6.exd5 (Nf6!) completely agrees with the book, he also refers to it as a caro kann with a tempo less, BUT that's why he doesn't play 4.d4? but first 4.Nf3 with the difference that after 4. ... d5 5. exd5 black can't play 5. ... Nf6 because of 6.c4 and black probably hasn't got complete compensation for the pawn. So black needs to retake with 5.... Qxd5 which transposes to the main line he gives in his book


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Ben_Hague Full Member Offline I'm always happier when I'm a pawn down. Posts: 157 Location: Oldham Joined: 06/20/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #37 - 01/04/05 at 12:48:20	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: <on an odd gambit written by its creator> Not true. The creator is, I have to repeat it again, the Dutchman Roel van Duijn, who plays it almost 40 years now. Bezgodov clearly considers himself to be the creator judging by his introduction to the book where he talks about the difficulty of creating a new opening system, so my point about the loss of objectivity of a creator still applies, even if he recreated it rather than being the original creator. Unfortunately there isn't anyway of searching Bezgodov's book for players so I don't know if there are any van Duijn games included. I can't find any in my database, and it appears that he is unrated, so I doubt he had much influence on Bezgodov's work. Incidentally my database gives the earliest game as being Juri Ranviir v Paul Keres from 1943. Does anyone know of an earlier example?


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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #36 - 01/04/05 at 08:27:08	Post Tools	Print Post
	<on an odd gambit written by its creator> Not true. The creator is, I have to repeat it again, the Dutchman Roel van Duijn, who plays it almost 40 years now. After 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 e6 with the idea Nge7 and d5 I am not sure, if a3 is a useful move.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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Ben_Hague Full Member Offline I'm always happier when I'm a pawn down. Posts: 157 Location: Oldham Joined: 06/20/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #35 - 01/04/05 at 08:03:49	Post Tools	Print Post
	Bezgodov mainly looks at a3 as a sort of delayed wing gambit. He does mention quieter lines when black declines the sacrifice, but as you would expect most of the work is on the accepted lines as they are the most critical. I don't find myself agreeing with TopNotch that often, but I do agree that this is a good book, it's much less one-sided than you would expect for a book on an odd gambit written by its creator. The amount and quality of analysis is pretty good as well, comparable with a normal opening book rather than the sort of rubbish that Chess Digest produced on this sort of opening. There are a few weaknesses, in particular a lack of practical examples, most of the games in the book are blitz games which are fun but don't prove much. It's already been mentioned that one of his recommendations against g6 is a dodgy version of the Morra , and I think he's too quick to give white an advantage in positions that look to be unclearly equal. However I must say that whenever I've looked at a position in his book, thought "No way does white have enough for the material" and actually worked on the position he's always been right, and I've always been wrong. My overall impression is that this isn't the refutation of the Sicilian, but that it deserves to become fairly popular as it is sounder than the straight Wing gambit, and the declined lines are more interesting than the c3 Sicilian transpositions in the Morra gambit.


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alumbrado God Member Offline Esse quam videri bonus malebo Posts: 1418 Location: London Joined: 02/17/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #34 - 01/04/05 at 04:14:32	Post Tools	Print Post
	A while back, I was looking at some odd move orders, attempting to circumvent main-stream theory. One of these was 1.Nf3 d6 2.Nc3!? when one Black try is to anticipate e2-e4 and reach a Sicilian with 2...c5. I was then looking at various ideas to avoid an Open Sicilian, with the set-up I decided looked most promising being essentially a King's Indian Attack, but with a sort of Panno twist, i.e. g3, Bg2, a3, Rb1, b4, d3, Bd2. Is this the sort of thing Bezgodov looks at (obviously with e4 already in, which is not quite what I was looking at)?

	If sometimes we fly too close to the sun, at least this shows we are spreading our wings.
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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #33 - 01/03/05 at 21:45:47	Post Tools	Print Post
	I do not trust 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 at all. The fianchetto is an underestimated Defense against the Morra Gambit - especially with Nh6 - and a3 is just a loss of tempo. That should be deadly in a gambit, in which the compensation is the lead in development. After 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d5 White's 2nd move again is a loss of tempo, both after 6.exd5 (compare Panov with g6) and 6.e5, which is a kind of Gurgenidze system. Remains the positional 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Nc3, which was also the recommendation of the most important devotee of this opening, Roel van Duijn.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #32 - 01/03/05 at 18:33:46	Post Tools	Print Post
	2. ... g6 is a good move to avoid a tactical mess and will probably lead to equality with correct play but it's unlikely to be the refutation of the system. I think if the opening will be refuted it's most likely it will happen in the crazy variations after 2. ... e6. Against 2. ... g6 bezgodov offers 3 different plans, the b4 thrust 3.b4 Bg7 4.Nc3 often with Rb1 and kingside fianchetto to follow leading to a very positional battle. the second option is going in some kind of alapin with 3.c3 claiming that the pawn on g6 gives some problems for black when he tries to complete development like in the main lines of alapin with d5 or Nf6. A third option he analyses is the gambit 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 when he says that it is hard to believe at first sight that the insertion of 2.a3 g6 can possibly be good for white but when you consider that g6 lines aren't very good against the morra gambit there may be something in it. Although he admits that at high level black should be able to equalise without much problems in the gambit line he dares to claim a small advantage for white in the other 2 lines.


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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 10780 Location: Moengo Joined: 01/05/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #31 - 01/03/05 at 16:54:50	Post Tools	Print Post
	I guess White can take benefit of the inclusion of 2.a3 a5 in the GP-attack, the Bb5 systems and the Open Sicilians. In my opinion 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 is critical.

	The book had the effect good books usually have: it made the stupids more stupid, the intelligent more intelligent and the other thousands of readers remained unchanged. GC Lichtenberg
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kamiel YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 43 Location: vlaanderen Joined: 08/23/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #30 - 01/03/05 at 07:09:56	Post Tools	Print Post
	Bezgodov says about 2. ... a5? :"This is a very weak move from the point of view of positional play. Black weakens the b6 and b5 squares without getting anything in return" 3.Nf3 Black cannot hope now to get a satisfactory position because white can get a big advantage in numerous ways


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lnn2 God Member Offline Posts: 1504 Location: nc Joined: 09/22/04	Re: 2. a3 Reply #29 - 01/03/05 at 06:16:55	Post Tools	Print Post
	2...a5 can't be good. It actually justifies your 2. a3!? I suppose you should just play practical chess and try to make some use of the b5 square. It appears that the latest New in chess yearbook features a sneak peek at 2. a3 by Bezgodov himself. Of course the coverage in the yearbook can't compare to Bezgodov's book itself, but is the coverage sufficient enough to play 2. a3? I don't want to invest so much money on a WHOLE book on such crap...


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Harvey Williamson Full Member Offline Posts: 193 Location: Media City, UK Joined: 01/04/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #28 - 01/03/05 at 05:46:41	Post Tools	Print Post
	What about if Black plays 1.e4 c5 2.a3 a5!? My first try with this line and I got 2...a5 It seems to stop 2.b4 So what is Whites best plan here?


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TopNotch God Member Offline I only look 1 move ahead, but its always the best Posts: 2211 Joined: 01/04/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #27 - 12/26/04 at 22:32:23	Post Tools	Print Post
	Ok, I got the book by Bezgodov, its good, original and thought provoking, though clearly not for everyone. Those of you who play the Wing Gambit against the Sicilian should definetly order this book quickly. Those looking for a decent surprise weapon could do worse. All in all, I get the feeling that Bezgodov put a lot of Blood, Sweat n Tears into this work, and after going through the material he certainly convinced me that 2.a3!? must be taken very seriously indeed. Two thumbs up. Top

	The man who tries to do something and fails is infinitely better than he who tries to do nothing and succeeds - Lloyd Jones
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Bubu13 YaBB Newbies Offline Chess is not a science ! It is a game !! Posts: 48 Location: Marseille Joined: 11/25/04 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #26 - 12/17/04 at 09:56:37	Post Tools	Print Post
	Here my last win in the 4th round of the Provence Cht (South of France) BUSSON (2078) - Metras (2045) 11/12/2004 1.e4 c5 2.a3!? d6 3.b4 cxb4 4.axb4 Qb6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nf3 Qxb4?! 7.Bb5+! Bd7?? 8.Ra4 ! 1-0 Before playing this, i have studied the Bezgodov book. All the concepts of Bezgodov help me when playing this funny little game (funny, but also important because of my bad situation in the ranking of the tournament). The early rook play seems very impressive ...


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Panda Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #25 - 07/17/04 at 18:36:29	Post Tools	Print Post
	Maybe. Still it seems an awful waste to pay a GM to write about such an off-beat opening, not to mention publishing costs and trees killed for paper. Obviously, someone at that publishing company believe in 2.a3. I would gladly play a3 in blitz myself, though I'd prefer to postpone it one move, hoping for something short and sweet like this: Wohl,A (2415) - Jones,R (2230) [B50] ch-GBR, Torquay ENG (9), 2002 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.a3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Bc4 g6 6.b4 cxb4 7.axb4 Nxb4 8.e5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 e6 10.0-0 Bd6 11.d4 Nd7 12.Ne4 Nxe5 13.Bg5 Qxg5 1-0


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nexirae Full Member Offline SMURF! Soviet Men Under Red Father! Posts: 238 Location: Cornell Univ., Ithaca Joined: 11/03/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #24 - 07/17/04 at 18:06:18	Post Tools	Print Post
	Once again, I think we should all listen to TopNotch's suggestion that we should pay attention to what a GM plays, not what he says. Do a quick search on chessbase.com of that author's (Bezgodov) Sicilian games, 95 of 'em with 91 2 Nf3, 3 2 Nc3, and 1 2 c3. Not a single 2 a3. So if he doesn't have the confidence to play it, why should anyone listen to his suggestions? NeX iRae


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Panda Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #23 - 07/17/04 at 09:13:41	Post Tools	Print Post
	Somebody has taken Craig seriously, as there is a 200 page book out on 2.a3, written by a russian grandmaster. http://uscfsales.com/item.asp?cID=15&scID=39&PID=1095 Anyone volunteering to get it and report if it's worth having?!


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notagmyet Junior Member Offline I heart the Caro-Kann Posts: 72 Location: Oldham Joined: 08/26/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #22 - 03/25/04 at 14:01:58	Post Tools	Print Post
	I feel the same way as you do Craig. Lots of posts...

	"When I am White, I am because I am White. When I am Black, I win because I am Bogolyubov" (?!) - Efim Bogolyubov, noted chess player and optimist.
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M.Nieuweboer Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #21 - 12/22/03 at 20:04:13	Post Tools	Print Post
	1.e4 c5 2.a3 is named the Roel van Duyn Opening in the Netherlands, after a Dutch politician and strong amateur who was World Champion of the Leidseplein, Amsterdam, during the 70's.


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honeymade YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing.com! Posts: 16 Location: LosAngeles Joined: 03/06/03	Re: 2. a3 Reply #20 - 12/02/03 at 08:02:03	Post Tools	Print Post
	1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 g6 4 a3 occurred in an old game between Ljubojevic and Tony Miles. The annotations were reprinted in NIC in 2001.


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CraigEvans God Member Offline If I can't sacrifice a pawn, I'll throw my rook in Posts: 588 Location: Bryn, South Wales Joined: 07/14/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #19 - 12/02/03 at 05:19:15	Post Tools	Print Post
	Whoa, this discussion has been carrying on in my absence. When I originally started the debate on the wing gambit I expected it to be laughed at and then deleted - looks like the gambiteering souls here have made a stand. Anyway, that IECC game I played finished a while back. Due to my absence this is the first opportunity I've had to post the game, but here it goes. Black had to resign due to technical problems, but white has an edge in my opinion anyway, and with f4-f5 coming in soon, black is struggling. (And yes, black played badly, but if the gambit can work in correspondence then OTB it must have a chance too, right?) [Event "CL4-2003.17.07"] [Site "IECC"] [Date "2003.08.03"] [White "Evans, Craig"] [Black "Sauceda Castillo, Francisco"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1895"] [WhiteCountry "WLS"] [BlackElo "1682"] [BlackCountry "MEX"] 1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.Bb2 e6 6.Nf3 d5 7.e5 Nd7 8.O-O Nb6 9.a3 Na4 10.Bc1 Nc3 11.Nxc3 bxc3 12.Rb1 Qc7 13.Qe1 Na5 14.Ng5 g6 15.f4 h6 16.Nh3 1-0 Regards, Craig

	"Give a man a pawn, and he'll smell a rat. Give a man a piece, and he'll smell a patzer." - Me. "If others have seen further than me, it is because giants have been standing on my shoulders."
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Glenn Snow God Member Offline Posts: 1720 Location: Franklin Joined: 09/27/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #18 - 12/01/03 at 18:56:19	Post Tools	Print Post
	I thought the Mengarini Variation was 1.e4 e5 2.a3? After 1.e4 c5 2.a3 Nf6 I think the best White is has is 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 as Black usually plays against 1.c4 e5 2.Nf3. Once again no advantage but something your opponent might not be prepared for.


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nexirae Full Member Offline SMURF! Soviet Men Under Red Father! Posts: 238 Location: Cornell Univ., Ithaca Joined: 11/03/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #17 - 12/01/03 at 18:20:53	Post Tools	Print Post
	Maybe I should use a board when giving my input...Oops! Well done in proving me a fool! Okay...how about Nf6 preparing d5? And if e5 Nd5, and white is forced to gambit if he wants to play b4! Oh, and one more thing...the USCL online ECO calls this the "Mengarini" variation. NeX iRae


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AmateurDragoneer Senior Member Offline Posts: 387 Location: NY Joined: 06/17/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #16 - 12/01/03 at 17:40:53	Post Tools	Print Post
	1. e4 c5 2. a3 b5? 3. Bxb5 looks like a free pawn to me.


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nexirae Full Member Offline SMURF! Soviet Men Under Red Father! Posts: 238 Location: Cornell Univ., Ithaca Joined: 11/03/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #15 - 12/01/03 at 16:24:39	Post Tools	Print Post
	Perhaps black could try e4 c5 a3 b5!?... If white continues with b4 then c4 should slow down counterplay...although white will surely attempt to undermine with d3 (maybe not immediately). No problems there though! If white can waste time on the queenside, surely black can do the same? Maybe I'm just ranting...I welcome all to prove me a fool! NeX iRae


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alumbrado God Member Offline Esse quam videri bonus malebo Posts: 1418 Location: London Joined: 02/17/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #14 - 11/28/03 at 04:31:11	Post Tools	Print Post
	You are spot on with the Bc4 idea - if you look at the theory of the Reversed Sicilian lines where Black plays ...Bc5, you will find that ...a6 is a very useful move. Of course, in those lines Black is fighting for equality, so here the extra move may be enough merely to make that completely comfortable - it certainly doesn't mean that White will have an advantage!

	If sometimes we fly too close to the sun, at least this shows we are spreading our wings.
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Glenn Snow God Member Offline Posts: 1720 Location: Franklin Joined: 09/27/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #13 - 11/27/03 at 20:51:06	Post Tools	Print Post
	I'd agree that 2...g6 is a good reply to 2.a3, but anyone who plays such a move (2.a3) probably isn't expecting a theoretical edge, just a lively game. After 2...g6 I'd think of the position as an English (1.c4 e5 2.g3) with Black (actually White) having the extra move ...a6. The question is what is the best way to use that extra move. Perhaps there are variations with Bc4 where is might be useful to have the option of Ba2 available, or perhaps a delayed b4 might be good. Actually I can't really think of a line where a3 has a definite benifit, perhaps someone else knows of one?


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badknight YaBB Newbies Offline I love ChessPublishing .com! Posts: 15 Location: SanDiego Joined: 11/20/03	Re: 2. a3 Reply #12 - 11/23/03 at 23:48:16	Post Tools	Print Post
	Quote: 1. e4 c5 2. a3 g6 3. d4!? cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. e5 N moves 6. e6! and White looks good. I am almost getting faith in this line! 8) Personally, after 1.e4 c5 2.a3(?!) g6(!) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5. e5(?) Nc6(!) I think white has nothing. He's lost the initiative, is behind in development, and has opened the a1-h8 diagonal for his opponent. I think in this position white is thinking hard about how to equalize. If he tries 6. Qc5 hoping to get some play against the opened center after 6....d6 then black can even avoid those lines (playable as they may be) by playing 6...Ne4! Once white moves his queen, Qa5+ will win the e pawn for black and white will be suffering. Other 6 moves for white appear equally hopeless as 6. Qc3 is answerd by the Ne4 and Qa5+ combo and Qh4 is answered by the simple Ne5. I know white will reply to Qa5+ with Bd2 (after a N exchange on d2) and follow the Q exchange on e5 with Bc3 pinning black's N but black simply plays f6 with an extra center pawn. This line is similar to subvariations of the accelerated where white exchanges on c6 early and plays e5. Those lines are known to be equal and here black has an extra center pawn. You may have found something here.....for black! I don't say that to be nasty, I hope this saves you a point or two. I'd like to add I agree with the fellow who posted about 2...g6. I don't think you need to be a confirmed dragon player to commit to this move here. Once it becomes apparent white can't challenge the long black diagonal successfully without further preparation then g7 becomes the proper place for the bishop. Most Sicilianers fianchetto their dark-squared bishop when they play against the closed variation for example regardless of how they answer the open variation. Maybe white can try 3. Nf3 or even 3.b4 but how willing are you Wing gambiteers to open that diagonal when black's king bishop will gaze down it immediately after say 3.b4 Bg7 ? I think it's very hard to justify 2.a3?! if black takes an aggressive stance to the position. Cheers, Badknight


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TopNotch God Member Offline I only look 1 move ahead, but its always the best Posts: 2211 Joined: 01/04/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #11 - 10/12/03 at 20:08:58	Post Tools	Print Post
	Gary you are chock full of useful input

	The man who tries to do something and fails is infinitely better than he who tries to do nothing and succeeds - Lloyd Jones
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Glenn Snow God Member Offline Posts: 1720 Location: Franklin Joined: 09/27/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #10 - 10/05/03 at 22:00:34	Post Tools	Print Post
	I've played 2.a3 versus Master David Sprenkle many years ago. Ok, so I lost but I feel I had good compensation after 1.e4 c5 2.a3 e6 3.b4 cxb4 4.axb4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6 7.Bd3 e5 8.f4. Unfortunately this is one of many old game scores I can't find.


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IMGaryLane YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 13 Joined: 12/20/02	Re: 2. a3 Reply #9 - 08/14/03 at 02:25:46	Post Tools	Print Post
	Send the game to me and I will put it on the site......even if you lose!


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CraigEvans God Member Offline If I can't sacrifice a pawn, I'll throw my rook in Posts: 588 Location: Bryn, South Wales Joined: 07/14/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #8 - 08/05/03 at 12:18:15	Post Tools	Print Post
	Well, I've started playing it in correspondence chess, I must finally be completely insane. Playing it against an 1800 on IECC, once it's finished I'll post the game on the wing gambit thread to be dissected by good players

	"Give a man a pawn, and he'll smell a rat. Give a man a piece, and he'll smell a patzer." - Me. "If others have seen further than me, it is because giants have been standing on my shoulders."
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not a gm yet Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #7 - 07/30/03 at 04:23:55	Post Tools	Print Post
	Craig, when I write a best selling book on the Wing Gambit, I will dedicate it to you!


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CraigEvans God Member Offline If I can't sacrifice a pawn, I'll throw my rook in Posts: 588 Location: Bryn, South Wales Joined: 07/14/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #6 - 07/29/03 at 07:32:31	Post Tools	Print Post
	If the wing gambit catches on OTB in grandmaster play, I want the credit

	"Give a man a pawn, and he'll smell a rat. Give a man a piece, and he'll smell a patzer." - Me. "If others have seen further than me, it is because giants have been standing on my shoulders."
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not a gm yet Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #5 - 07/29/03 at 06:18:55	Post Tools	Print Post
	I haven't got a board either. In your 'refutation', what about 8. Bg5, threatening Bxf6 and Qxh7. 8...h5 is probably best if you want to try and trap the Queen, but then can you play 9. Bxf6 ef 10. g4 and White can get the Queen out like that. With regards to the main line, 1. e4 c5 2. a3 (!) Nc6 3. b4 cb 4. d4, is 4...d5 really avoided. Nevertheless, after 5. e5 ba 6. Bxa3 Bf5 I think White has a Benko-esque position. Well worth a try OTB


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Ilikethedragon YaBB Newbies Offline Chesspublishing .com is great! Posts: 43 Location: USA Joined: 07/02/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #4 - 07/28/03 at 08:55:58	Post Tools	Print Post
	After 3.d4?! Nf6 can be played, but even in your line it doesn't work because 5.e5 Ng8 6.e6? fxe6 7.Qxh8 Nf6! Maybe their are some improvements that can be made because it is very hard to sight read without a board in front of you!


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not a gm yet Guest	Re: 2. a3 Reply #3 - 07/28/03 at 08:16:25	Post Tools	Print Post
	1. e4 c5 2. a3 g6 3. d4!? cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. e5 N moves 6. e6! and White looks good. I am almost getting faith in this line! 8)


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Mike Thomas Full Member Offline So many openings, so little time! Posts: 116 Location: Louisville Joined: 01/05/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #2 - 07/24/03 at 23:41:51	Post Tools	Print Post
	Right off the top of my head, I think that 2.a3 would simply be a wasted tempo after 2....g6, although if White knew that Black didn't like fianchetto set ups then...... 8)


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CraigEvans God Member Offline If I can't sacrifice a pawn, I'll throw my rook in Posts: 588 Location: Bryn, South Wales Joined: 07/14/03 Gender:	Re: 2. a3 Reply #1 - 07/24/03 at 12:10:56	Post Tools	Print Post
	I'm not so sure, after 6...d5 7. e5 white might not have enough for the pawn. But the good point about the 2. a3 order is that after 2...Nc6 3. b4 cb, 4. d4 takes us back into a wing gambit with 3. a3 where 3...d5 has been avoided. Maybe this is worth taking a look at. Regards, Craig

	"Give a man a pawn, and he'll smell a rat. Give a man a piece, and he'll smell a patzer." - Me. "If others have seen further than me, it is because giants have been standing on my shoulders."
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not a gm yet Guest	2. a3 07/24/03 at 08:29:14	Post Tools	Print Post
	There is a forum topic getting a lot of replies on the Wing Gambit 2. b4. Why not prepare it with 2. a3? After something like 2...Nc6 3. b4 cb 4. ab Nxb4 5. c3 Nc6 6. d4 surely White may have enough compensation for a pawn. Black is close to getting overrun by those White central pawns. 8)


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