You can never be prepared for all moves that are "useful to some extent, but uncritical," especially not with Black. I'd say 3.a3 falls into that category. Actually, I don't think I have ever seen that move in a serious game during my 13 years as a chess player. If I ever meet it, I would probably play 3...d5 and head for a Tarrasch.

If one of your main concerns with your black repertoire is how to meet moves such as 3.a3, then it's a very good sign for the rest of your repertoire, as it means you are confident in all of the main lines.

I don't know of any books which cover this move, because after this move Black is essentially playing a Reti, with the only differences that his pieces are of a different colour and that White has the marginally useful a3 included. 

If 3...c5, then 4.dc5 Bc5 5.b4 justified the move 3.a3 to some extent, so I would prefer 3...d5 and playing in similar fashion to the Colle, with either ...c6 or ...b6 depending on how White handles the opening. Compare with 1.Nf3 c5 2.e3 d5 3.d4 (more commonly reached via. 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.e3).

HoemberChess wrote on 05/13/09 at 10:35:31:


I haven't seen any recommendation yet. But as a3, like said before in this topic, is hardly critical I don't think anyone will give it anything but a few lines. And why should they? 

To answer the orginal queastion "What do you play versus 3. a3": chess! 

Quote:


Does 3...Ne4 make any sense, I wonder?  E.g. 4. e3 b6 or 4. g3 d5.

[quote author=woofwoof link=1167569842/0#3 date=1168023679][quote author=Uberdeker link=1167569842/0#1 date=1167577513]You have two good options here. [/quote]

I'd dare go further to say that those are the [b][i]only[/i][/b] 2 options which are best for black, as going into a QGD or a benoni would render 3.a3 as a waste of tempo, rather black gets into the above openings with a move in hand so to speak.

[/quote]

Having played 3. a3, White will probably play e3 in reply to 3...c5, inviting a "Normal Variation" of the Tarrasch.  This is no great shakes for White, but it's a game of chess, and the early a3 is a quite good there.  Likewise I suspect that many Whites, having played a3, would react to 3...d5 with something like 4. Nc3 Be7  5. Nf3 0-0  6. e3.

3. a3 is a joke move, but it's a very funny joke.  2...e6 after 1. d4 Nf6  2. c4, for all its solidity, isn't very ambitious!  Black can't even switch to 3...e5, for crying out loud.   

Personally as White however, I would rather not toss my += birthright just to have a good laugh.

[quote author=Uberdeker link=1167569842/0#1 date=1167577513]You have two good options here. First you can steer the game into Queen's Gambit territory with 3. ...d5 when White's a3 will only be moderately useful, mostly in connexion with a minority attack.
The Tarrasch treatment with a subsequent ...c5 is thus a logical follow-up.
This brings us to Black's second option 3. ...c5. Now 4. d5?! is a Benoni where a3 is completely useless. Eric Prié has advocated 4. Ktf3, but after a bit of prompting acknowledged this to be inferior as well. In addition to the Tarrasch transposition with 4. ...d5, Black has 4. ...cd ; 5. Ktxd4 when both 5. ...Ktc6!? ; 6. Ktc3 Qc7 ; 7. e4? Ktxe4 and 5. ...a6 ; 6. Ktc3 Qc7 ; 7. e4 Ktxe4!? are good winning attempts.  [/quote]

Thank you! I am interested in theTarrasch lines, at least more interested than in the QI lines. I will look more closely at both of these suggestions.

Hi. Long-time lurker and learner, first-time poster here. ChessPublishing.com is a terrific site with information that has really helped my understanding of the game.

I like to play the Nimzo, but am ready with the BogoIndian versus 3. Nf3.  I am faced on more than a few occasions, however, with the prophylactic move 3. a3.

I would rather not have to learn the Queen's Indian if I don't have to.  Any other suggestions?

Thank you -- and Happy New Year!