Patzer wrote on 04/13/09 at 11:09:06:


Actually I've looked pretty hard at 10...0-0, and played one cc game with it, and concluded that it is indeed Black's best try.  I am not sure that it equalizes but it comes close.  I believe I posted earlier on this subject, but I am not sure on which thread.

peon4rey wrote on 02/06/07 at 01:55:16:


The line you give used to be topical, but is under a cloud nowadays because of the following variation which has proven good for White in practise: 

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. c4 Nb6 8. exd6 cxd6 9. Nc3
Be7 10. d5 e5 11. g4 Bg6 12. h4 h6 13. Bd3:




The Kingside pawn roller coupled with White's central control, in particular the e4 square, leaves Black with little counterplay and a difficult defensive task ahead.

Toppers

I read your posts and im thinking...
Is better 4...g6 or 4...Bg4 (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 3.d6 4.Nf3 ....)??
What do you think, because i found that the commented line ( 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 Nb6 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Be3 d5 10. c5 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Nc8 12. b4 Nc6 13. f4 ) was almost 1-0.

If i play 4...Bg4 where can i deviate ffrom this critical line for black?¿


Thanks

Kylemeister: correct; by inserting h3 White virtually rules out this ...Nc6 line. But he handicaps himself a tad against 9...d5. Swings and roundabouts.

It's all in my book, as I observed to a kibitzer before losing in 20 moves at the weekend (different book, mind).

lg, you spoilsport, you.

Black normally plays ...Bh4 in this line so as to have e7 available for his knights while he squirms around trying to untangle himself. This design is thwarted if the queen can hang around on g4 and (as lg says) h3, which it can do if there isn't a pawn on that square. Black then finds it hard to organise himself.

To the OP: if you just want to know how to survive in this line in general, get a database and look out Bagirov's games as Black. If you mean this specific try at moves 12 and 13, then I can't help as I never considered this line a good idea without h3 in. I wouldn't be surprised if you were right and White stands very well.

Keano

as far as the experts say (JCox, for instance) the disadvantage of having played h3 is that you
cannot put your queen there after playing (for instance, Qg4) and being attacked with, for instance
f5.

Well I suppose White is going to play Kh1, so having the pawn on h2 would be better - whereas a King on h2 is not ideal given the situation - something like that? otherwise I´ll sneak a look at this chapter if I see it in the bookstall 

I suspect he does not want to buy a book   
And who can blame him! Although if serious about Alekhine it might be an idea.

Incidentally I know nothing of this line, but am curious why would having a pawn on h3 or not make that much difference?