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Normal Topic Defense against Stonewall Attack? (Read 5443 times)
Smyslov_Fan
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Re: Defense against Stonewall Attack?
Reply #2 - 07/05/06 at 08:34:11
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Dinomike, 

By now you have probably noticed that your opening repertoire needs to conform to your opponent's moves. For instance, to play the the Old Indian (Nf6, d6, e5, Be7), Black needs White's complicity.  When White plays 1.d4 and 2.e3, you may not get to play your preferred set-up.  However, there are many positions that are excellent for Black that aren't Old Indians.  Kylemeister mentions one of them.  Another is 2...c5 and I'm sure you can find numerous other aggresive alternatives.  

If you are stuck in the mindset of playing the Old Indian and don't like Kylemeister's suggestion, then 2.e3 d6 3.f4 should still not worry you at all.  You can ignore White and play Nbd7, or even play g6!  White has just ceded control of e4 to you and Kylemeister is correct in your ideal response: 

Smiley
  
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kylemeister
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Re: Defense against Stonewall Attack?
Reply #1 - 07/05/06 at 04:05:31
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Hi,

In general ...d6 is perfectly good against the Stonewall.  Even desirable, since it denies White his characteristic Ne5, and can be used to enforce ...e5, which can lead to play against some weakened squares in White's setup.  An example which I have played with a King's Indian setup:  1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 g6 3. Bd3 Bg7 4. Nd2 0-0 5. f4 d6 6. Ngf3 Nc6 7. c3 e5 8. 0-0 Qe7, threatening both ...e4 and ...ed/...ef followed by ...Qe3+.  White can play 9. fe de 10. e4, but his centre is shaky. 

In your case after 1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 d6, the incipient Stonewall player has some immediate issues, since 3. Bd3 for example allows an immediate 3...e5.  Perhaps he would play 3. f4, but Black still has the option of a quick ...e5.  For instance, 3...e5 4. de de 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 and if 6. fe Black regains the pawn (6...Ng4 7. Nf3 Nc6), probably with advantage to Black due to the pawn structure.  3...Nc6 4. Nf3 e5 could be the same/similar.  3...Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 is no doubt playable too, though less clear due to possibilites like 5. de de 6. fe Ng4 7. e6.  

Another thought might be 1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 d6 3. f4 Bf5, "beating White to the punch" regarding Bd3.  

So in short, when you see 2. e3 you should look like this    Smiley    
  
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Dinomike100
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Defense against Stonewall Attack?
07/05/06 at 02:17:39
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Does anyone have any ideas for move orders to combat a stonewall setup for white?  That is (not necessarily in order) a setup similar to 1. d4 2. e3 3. f4 4. c3 5. Bd3.  I am usually going for an Old Indian setup, but I was wondering if this was a good idea against a Stonewall attack?  So far I am thinking about:

1. d4 Nf6
2. e3

Normally against 2. c4 I would continue 2. ...d6, but would that still be a good idea?  Or is there another move that is clearly better, such as 2. d5.

I have read on wikipedia, that often it is a good idea to play b6 and try to trade off white's d3 bishop by playing Ba7.  Also, if the d3 bishop isn't traded off, it looks pretty dangerous, possibly could be sacrificed on h7 at some point.

Are there any other considerations?  It looks like white's attack is mostly focused on the kingside.  Is it better to castle kingside or queenside, or does it depend.

Is it possible to have a move order where black replies 1. ...Nf6 and where white can't change gears and play something like c4 later, basically tricking me out of playing an old indian setup?

Thanks for your time.
  
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