Quote:Hi,
I have a new student who wants to stop playing the Danish (which I think is a good idea ~ probably why her parents chose me) and move to openings that score better against the best high school players in the state (1800-2200 USCF).
I was planning to recommend the Scotch Gambit as a reasonable transitional opening (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 ed4 4.c3), but 4...Nf6! is supposed to lead to immediate equality while 4...d5!? may even give Black a slight edge.
So I was thinking of just going straight into the Scotch proper, but I don't have much practical experience playing this on the White side in serious games. I prefer Black after 4.Nd4 Bc5 5.Nc6 Qf6!
This leaves me in a quandry. Do I recommend a system that is still somewhat popular but that I don't believe in, or do I find something else? This student needs an opening that is
not the Spanish.
I am looking for a theoretically sound opening that is sharp, dynamic and fun. What openings do you recommend that fits this description???
You haven't said what this player's
own rating is (nor, so far as I can see, has anyone asked)! It would be helpful to know something about her strengths and weaknesses, but what
most players at this level need to learn are (a) tactics (b) theoretical endings and (c) how to play wide-open positions, all of which are quite fundamental. All also are
much more important than choice of opening system.
Systems that have good theoretical repute are not necessarily the best ones for young, developing players to play. Indeed, the theoretical merit of the line chosen has very little to do with the outcome of games of chess at this (or probably any) level. If this player isn't able to score well against players with ratings 1800-2200, I am sure that it has much less to do with her choice of opening than with her merits as a player.
The Danish Gambit is a pretty good practical choice for players below 2000
and excellent for a young player's chess education, notwithstanding that it is somewhat unsound; likewise the Goering, the Smith-Morra and the Blackmar-Diemer Gambits. Only if this player were so formidable that people prepared for her would I fret very much over the objective soundness of her systems.
I also think that the King's Gambit, particularly with 3. Bc4, is a fine choice for players at this level (and, if it makes any difference, it is probably also sound).
I would not have a player below 2000 playing "open" systems that in fact do not lead to an early opening of files, examples being the Spanish, the Guioco Piano with d3 and the Bishops Opening with an early Nf3. These often produce slow, maneuvering games, which are not very useful vehicles for learning chess fundamentals. On the other hand, the Scotch Four Knights leads to all sorts of interesting, open play.
Although I agree that 4...Nf6! is a fully adequate theoretical answer to the Scotch Gambit, that certainly would not stop me from recommending that system to a young player. The chess that results from 4...Nf6 5. O-O is quite interesting, and good for teaching what a player at this level should know.
With the Black pieces, all young and developing players should answer 1. e4 with 1...e5, and all should play the Two Knights Defense. Versus 1. d4, 1. c4 and 1. Nc3, the Tarrasch is the best way to insist upon a more or less open position.