One tidbit:  I notice that my suggested 7...g6 (in line a, by either move order) was played in a game between GMs (Meister-Poluljahov 2001) which was apparently agreed drawn after 8. e3 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 0-0 11. Bxf6 (11. Nf3 could end up transposing to a Larsen-Geller game that I associate with this kind of line) Bxf6.

MNb wrote on 07/30/09 at 02:21:42:

Thanks.
I want to be sure that Kilemeister was considering the same move order than me.
And in fact I was considering another:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.a3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5
a) c6 6.Qc2 Be7 7 Nc3 0-0 etc where I don't see any problem for white.
b) Bf5 6. Qb3 and Nc6 is - in my opinion- dubious.

I insist i was not waiting passively a solution!

Finally I would to add that I'm an exchange QGD player.
This is the reason why I'm looking a solution in this line with a quick 3.a3

Uruk wrote on 07/30/09 at 05:42:04:


Well, aside from the other possibilities Black would have in that case, I think that a3 in the Orthodox (like in Alekhine-Capablanca, m/34 1927) is generally considered as leading to equality, and suboptimal for White.

7...g6 in MNb's variation (a) would be pretty natural; it's the standard move in the comparable position in which White has in Nf3 instead of a3, and the attempt to make use of the changed situation by 8. f3 with the idea 8...Bf5 9. e4 looks doubtful.

kylemeister wrote on 07/26/09 at 04:05:34:


Thanks for your reply.
Yes probably Bf5 has to be played (Qb3 doesn't threat nothing).
But when do you play it?
Do you play first c6 for example?

Thanks again!

Even if Black cooperates, leaves the bishop on c8 and plays ...Nbd7, 3.a3 in the Exchange might be a loss of tempo if Black answers b2-b4 with ...a7-a6.

I wonder if we can play an exchange variation of the QGD after 3.a3.
I remember that Kasparov played the exchange variation (with Kne2 and f3) against Short and had included a3 and b4 in order to avoid the rupture c6-c5.
See: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070687

I have previously reached Tarrasch-like positions through two move orders:
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.d4 d5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 d5 5.Nc3 Nc6

Neither of these are very probable, firstly because they involve White avoiding the main lines, and secondly because in both cases, I play 3...c5 only occasionally. However, several other lines in my repertoire can lead to similar IQP positions, with either colour. I feel more confident in those positions than in certain critical lines in the NID/QID/Catalan.

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!