Why Masters don't play the BDG more often. I would have thought that was a no brainer.
A) At Master level defensive and counter attacking technique is much tougher, and accordingly there is more respect for a pawn, especially a Center one.
B) The BDG does not offer enough compensation in Time or Space for the pawn nor does it force black to make any concession in position by accepting (No doubt this can be debated for years, but not among masters....They already no better).
C) Yes you may upset the occasional FM IM or even GM with the BDG, but conversely you may lose to much lower rated players as well, such is the price of playing ropey Openings such as the BDG.
D) If you have to make almost perfect moves to have a playable game, then the Opening sucks. Masters prefer to have more options available than walking a tight rope where one slip could prove fatal..........Particularly with white.
E) Everytime a Master loses to a doubtful Gambit it is news, when the Master wins it is not. Amateurs maybe easily fooled and swayed by such sensational reporting, but Masters will hardly raise an eyebrow.
F) Masters have concluded that it is possible to play aggressive chess without giving away pawns in the Opening willy nilly, for vague attacking chances. Pawns are valuable assets, and Amateurs for some reason always tend to under value them.
G) When practicing BDGeers break into the Master and Grandmaster ranks and are successful against their peers, then perhaps Master opinion will change, but I would'nt hold your breath.
The BDG will continue to appeal to Amateurs looking for an attacking Opening with repetitive attacking themes that can be used against everything. For amateurs it does not matter whether it is sound or not, so long as they can beat an impress their buddies at the local club thats good enough for them. Masters require a higher standard.
Specialising in dubious Openings because the attacking scheme is one dimensional and easy to execute, and expecting sustainable growth, improvement and positive results from such an approach is plain absurd not to mention lazy.
No doubt you may find one or two eccentric Masters that will indulge in things such as the BDG, but these will always be in the minority. Most of the time such players will win games not because of any inherit value of the Opening but moreso due to their own individual gifts, Mike Basman of Grob fame springs to mind.
For the average player looking for a systematic way to improve, avoid the temptation of a quick fix. Learn how to form plans, implement ideas, force weaknesses and exploit them etc.
On the road to Chess Mastery it is the journey rather than the destination that is truly the most rewarding and enlightening.
Do not short change yourself.
Top