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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Chess for Cowards (Read 8704 times)
exigentsky
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #17 - 05/21/07 at 22:27:22
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Pingudon wrote on 05/19/07 at 13:36:46:
Hi friends: before anything let me say that chess for cowards was just a funny way to write a subject  Smiley I am not at all a coward when playing and I always fight for the win. BUT I hate going into complications where the logic is put aside. What are the positional considerations in the poison pawn variations or the Botvinnik in the semislav. I love playing logic positions like the French, Caro, Ruy Lopez, Tartakower, Queen's Indian and so on.  I have found that avoiding the heavy theoretical and forcing lines I can study more endgame and it is sometimes VERY easy to win against very strong players just because they are uneasy in this phase of the game. 
Now I have to say that your answers are very interesting and I am going to follow some of them. 
What do you think of going with Caro and Slav for black?
With white is a bit more difficult. It seems to me that when you play 1.d4, black can mix things with Kings Indian, Grunfeld, Benoni, semislav etc. When you play 1,e4 you can go against the sicilian with c3 and then follow the rest od your suggestions. 



I can't speak about the others, but in the Poison Pawn variation of the Najdorf, there is a  LOT of logic involved. In fact, I've been doing quite well not knowing almost any theory but just understanding positional factors and then checking them tactically. Safe king, strong center, open lines for rooks, etc. (too much for the scope of this post) 

You seem to think tactical positions have no logic, actually tactics are all logic but perhaps more demanding than usual. Still, even using your definition as logic meaning positional, tactics are founded in positional considerations. Qb6 for example, does not just grab a pawn, it compromises White's queenside structure. Some of the moves may not seem logical to you now, but it is only due to your chess strength, not because there isn't any logic. Positional moves usually have roots in tactical considerations and tactics (omitting losing blunder) are dependent on positional considerations too. For example, are his pieces all defended?, is his king weak or exposed for a check?, can I make my pieces much more active than his if I sacrifice a pawn?, etc.
  
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Antillian
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #16 - 05/19/07 at 14:40:52
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Well, if you want to play 1.d4 style but avoid the KID, Grunelfd and Benoni, you would opt for the 1.Nf3 2.c4 moveorder. You can then still play the QG or Catalan with an early d4. Of course, if you put your pawn on d4, Black can still try to force a semislav, but you can play the lines with an early Qc2 and KB finachentto.
  
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Pingudon
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #15 - 05/19/07 at 13:36:46
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Hi friends: before anything let me say that chess for cowards was just a funny way to write a subject  Smiley I am not at all a coward when playing and I always fight for the win. BUT I hate going into complications where the logic is put aside. What are the positional considerations in the poison pawn variations or the Botvinnik in the semislav. I love playing logic positions like the French, Caro, Ruy Lopez, Tartakower, Queen's Indian and so on.  I have found that avoiding the heavy theoretical and forcing lines I can study more endgame and it is sometimes VERY easy to win against very strong players just because they are uneasy in this phase of the game. 
Now I have to say that your answers are very interesting and I am going to follow some of them. 
What do you think of going with Caro and Slav for black?
With white is a bit more difficult. It seems to me that when you play 1.d4, black can mix things with Kings Indian, Grunfeld, Benoni, semislav etc. When you play 1,e4 you can go against the sicilian with c3 and then follow the rest od your suggestions. 

  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #14 - 05/16/07 at 15:22:14
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Alias wrote on 05/16/07 at 08:49:09:
Maybe there's a language problem here, but I don't see a problem forming a "safe" repertoire, as long as the intention of playing white is getting an advantage. Playing the exchange slav, the exchange Ruy Lopez or other safe lines is fine as long as you have the intention of playing for a win, not for the sole purpose of avoiding complictions.


I agree.  I think all the suggestions above have their merits.  The key will be identifying middlegame positions and/or pawn structures that you find interesting and learning them so that you are comfortable and have experience with them.  Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of a given position through training and experince is important.  This knowledge, no matter how small the advantage or how "safe" the theory, is critical to having a plan going forward...
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #13 - 05/16/07 at 08:49:09
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Maybe there's a language problem here, but I don't see a problem forming a "safe" repertoire, as long as the intention of playing white is getting an advantage. Playing the exchange slav, the exchange Ruy Lopez or other safe lines is fine as long as you have the intention of playing for a win, not for the sole purpose of avoiding complictions.

Many openings can be played both safe and more daring. The common example is the Nf6/gxf6 line in the Caro Kann.

My suggestion to Pingudon is to look at the games of your heroes and try to play the same openings. Take (later day) Karpov for instance. 1.d4 as white and Caro Kann and Nimzo as black. Once you have a fairly worked out repertoire you could start experimenting within it. Nd7/Bf5 in the Caro, different lines in the Nimzo as black, Nimzo/QID vs 2...e6 as white, even 1.c4 or 1.Nf3.
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #12 - 05/16/07 at 07:44:12
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Pingudon wrote on 05/13/07 at 16:44:15:
Hi friends, I love playing chess and my results over the board are very good. BUT i do not like taking risks!. I think I am in the company of Petrosian, Capablanca and Karpov Wink. Please help me to build a no risk repertory. What to answer to 1.e4, 1,d4 and what to play with white... 1.e4 or 1.d4 and what lines. But nothing like 1.Nf3 2.g3 3.Bg2 I want real theoretical lines lines. I know it is long but please gve me a hand.!! A friend from Venezuela  Wink


I don't really see the point of all of this. Instead of wasting your time constructing some stale repertoire, methinks you should first ask yourself why you don't like taking risks. Answering that simple question to yourself might just take you to the next level.

BTW I don't agree about Karpov and Petrosian. Capa was much stronger than his peers so did not need to take "risks" to beat them.
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #11 - 05/16/07 at 07:29:02
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The Petroff is solid but the Nxf7 variation might upset the solid black player.
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #10 - 05/16/07 at 07:26:44
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MNb wrote on 05/16/07 at 01:48:39:
Forget about the Caro-Kann; 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 is anything but solid and there is also 3.f3 to deal with.


Caro Kann is perhaps the most solid answer to 1.e4. The advance variation can be tricky but both Bf5 and c5 looks fine. I have played c5 in blitz games lately. I'm surprised by the amount of players choosing 4.c3?!. 3.f3 can be answered by e6.
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #9 - 05/16/07 at 07:14:58
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Cowardly chess openings.

Definitely with white something like the London system or the Reti with g3 and Bg2 (not the c4 stuff).

With Black 1..e5 may be a mistake in view of the macho  2 f4 ! But the Petroff or the Berlin might be in order.
Caro with Bf5 and 0-0-0 always was a solid choice. 3 e5 isn't that dangerous as the 4 Nc3 sharp play allows 4....qb6 or a6 which are less wild .

With white based on 1 e4 how about the following

v Petroff Qe2 !
Ruy lopez exchange with 5 d4 swapping the queens
French exchange
Pirc - probably 4g3 - classical far too risky
Caro- 2 d3 very mild and dull
Sicilian - either c3 sicilian or the Closed

But beware, I would always enjoy facing these cowardly openings !
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #8 - 05/16/07 at 03:26:52
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Petrosian sacced the exchange constantly (which is why he is winning the thread) and capa was one of the greatest attackers.
  
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MNb
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #7 - 05/16/07 at 01:48:39
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As Black: the open games. Forget about the Caro-Kann; 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 is anything but solid and there is also 3.f3 to deal with. If you read the thread about the exchange saccers, you will find out, that Karpov often was very willing to take risks, much more than Capa and Petrosjan.

2.Nf3 either the Petrov or the Berlin-Wall.
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 (4.c3 Nf6) Bxb4 (Bb6) 5.c3 Be7
2.d4 exd4 3.c3 Ne7 intending 4...d5.
2.f4 d5 3.exd5 exf4 4.Nf3 (4.Bc4 Qh4+ is justified here) Nf6.
2.Bc4 Bc5 3.d3 (3.Qg4 Qf6 or d5!?; 3.b4 Bb6 and Black does not have to play ...Nc6) Nf6 4.Nf3 (4.Nc3 c6!? 5.f4 d5! 6.exd5 0-0 is a correct gambit, but 5...exf4 6.Bxf4 d5 is also good) d6 5.c3 Nc6 (more ambitious than the ultra-solid c6) and 6...a6.
2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 (3.g3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nxc3; 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 c6!?) d5 4.fxe5 (4.exd5 exf4) Nxe4 5.Nf3 (5.d3 Nxc3 6.bxc3 d4 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Nxd4) Bc5 6.Qe2 (6.d4 Bb4) Bf2+ 7.Kd1 Nxc3+ 8.dxc3 Bb6.
You will have to find something against the Scotch.

Always remember: passive play is very unsolid, as Capa himself found out against my hero in Bad Kissingen, 1928.
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #6 - 05/16/07 at 01:38:58
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OK, here is my recommendation for cowards, who still don't want to play stuff like the London.
The Catalan is way too risky of course - all those lines, where White gambits by allowing ... b7-b5, brrrr .....

Caro-Kann: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 (3.Nc3 runs into the dangerous g6 or b5) dxe4 4.Nxe4
a) 4...Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 (or Ndf6) 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bc4 (7.g3 is worth considering) Bf5 8.0-0.
b1) 4...Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Bc4 Bd6 (Be7 7.Nf3 0-0 8.0-0) 7.Qe2+ Be7 (Qe7 8.Qxe7+) 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0.
b2) 4...Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 6.Qd3 preparing castling queenside. The reason is of course, that Black usually does the same. 
c) 4...Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Bd3 (but don't exchange on g6 too soon).

Sicilian: Open Sicilian with 6.g3 - buy Davies' book. A little troublesome is 2...Nc6/5...d6 6.g3 Bg4, which should be answered with 7.f3 Bd7 8.Be3
a)8...g6 9.Qd2 Bg7 10.0-0-0 (not really risky, as Black has played an early Bd7) 0-0 11.g4 and 12.Kb1.
b)8...e6 9.Bg2 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4 is similar to the Scheveningen with 6.g3. Don't forget to play a well-timed a2-a4 to hamper counterplay with ...b7-b5. You still might consider the English Attack (9.Qd2, 10.0-0-0 and 11.g4) as Black already has played Nc6 and Bd7.

Pirc/Robatsch: Classical with 4.Nf3, 5.Be2 and 6.0-0. If ...c6, then 7.h3 and 8.a4. Don't play a4-a5 too early, as Black will generate counterplay with ...b7-b6.

Scandinavian: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 (after other queen moves White can't go wrong with d4, Be2, 0-0 and Re1) 4.Bc4 followed by 5.d3 and 6.Bd2.
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 (Nbd7 4.Nc3 a6 5.Be2 Nb6 6.Nf3) 4.Bc4 Bg4 (b5 5.Be2 Nxd5 6.Nf3) 5.f3 Bf5/Bc8 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.d4 Nb6 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bd3.

French: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 (really solid is 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bf4) Nf6 4.Bd3.

Four Knights Game: 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4 (after 4...Bc5 don't play x.Nxe5, as the gambit Nd4 can be dangerous. Instead 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 is solid enough) 5.0-0 (if you need a draw, then 5.Nxd4).

Alekhine: 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 Ne4 (Nfd7 4.Nxd5 or d4 4.exf6 dxc3 5.fxg7 cxd2+ 6.Qxd2) 4.Nce2 f6 (d4 5.c3) 5.d3 Ng5 6.Bxg5 fxg5 7.h4.

Nimzovitsch: 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6 (e6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3) 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 followed by 5.Be2 and 6.0-0.
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #5 - 05/15/07 at 19:27:06
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The book for you is called Chess Advantage in Black and White by IM Larry Kaufman.  Very safe & solid low-risk variations..
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #4 - 05/14/07 at 18:35:59
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Pingudon wrote on 05/13/07 at 16:44:15:
Hi friends, I love playing chess and my results over the board are very good. BUT i do not like taking risks!.


Hmm, what's the problem then?? Do you get nervous during play or what? Btw, if so it might cost more than it's worth to play calmer positions - as nervousness is often the edge that separates winning from drawing or losing.
  
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Re: Chess for Cowards
Reply #3 - 05/14/07 at 18:23:13
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HgMan wrote on 05/14/07 at 13:09:33:
As a fellow coward, I have enjoyed considerable success with White playing the Catalan and various lines from Khalifman's Kramnik series.  For Black, you could do worse than Khalifman's Karpov book (Caro, Nimzo, HgMan5).  Instead of the HgMan5, though, I have been playing the Semi-Tarrasch as Black.  I'll be the first to concede that it doesn't yield the second player many winning chances, but I have yet to lose with it either...

Yep you could do much worse then the Karpov book.

Alternatively you may supply your opponents with books like the gambiteer Grin
  
If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.
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