Quote:So far I have not studied theory very deep as I play the Classical Defence only sometimes in blitz but I strongly prefer the 3...Bc5 move order!
After 3...Bc5 4.0-0 Black not only has 4...Nf6 with transposition or 4...Nd4 5.Nxd4 Bxd4 with a "dull endgame" (I like to defend this), but also 4...Nd4 5.Nxd4 exd4!? with a Bird.
Regarding 3...Bc5 4.c3 Black has even more possibilities which White must be prepared for:
- 4...Nf6 with transposition as mentioned
- 4...f5!? is very sharp, maybe += but for sure playable
- 4...Qf6!? is not easy to counter, should be += but still playable
- 4...d5?! (Konikowski) can´t be sound but also White can go wrong
- 4...Bb6?! 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Nce7! was played in Sanakoev-Oim , 14th CC World Championship final 1994 (and Black won to become champion!)
4. 0-0 should be met with 4...Nf6 and not 4...Nd4. Black perhaps may may be able to draw in the latter, but the task is dreary. I remember a game of Spassky's where he played ...Ke7, but that's been refuted, right?
4...f5 is a "bad boy" move that I used to play. My opponents were often very intimidated (rapid breathing was heard across the table) but I think that with best play, White is much better than he is against the "Berlin Classical." You cannot play chess above elo 2000 expecting that your opponents don't know theory.
4...d5 is a crappy move. About such a move, you have to ask, if this is right, how can 1. e4 be correct?
4...Qf6 looks like Steinitz at his stubborn worst. OK, call me opinionated, but it just smells bad. Maybe some super-GM will use it to draw some other super-GM someday, and prove me wrong, but that would surprise me.
I do not fear 3...Nf6 4. d4 one little bit. Isn't this widely held to be equal?
I am impatient with rationalizations like "After 3...Bc5, White has to worry about so many different moves." Why worry about somebody offering you more winning chances than you had in the initial position?