DING DING DING!!!

Yes, sssthepro is right, it was Botvinnik who dominated world chess from 1948-1963 and often played 1...e6 in response to 1.d4!

I enjoy playing the french just as much as the stonewall dutch, so I crack a slight smile when white plays e4 after my 1...e6 move. 1...e6 gets rid of a lot of headaches abound in anti-dutch systems.

Quote:


My references are golden oldies (1964 and 1980) ... I hardly dare to give the titles, as I don't want to discourage Alumbrado getting back to this forum  .

MarinFan of course is right - I forgot 4...Bb4. Taimanov (oops) then gives 5.Qc2 0-0 6.Bd3 d6 like a game Bronstein-Botvinnik from the WCh match 1951. Even Williams does not claim full equality, citing Lautier-Vaisser, FRAch 2001 (Marseile) and giving 16.Rfd1 as an improvement. I don't know what Pinski and McDonald have to say.
White will have to do his own work, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Personally I believe, that a well prepared player can get good positions with the Rubinstein, especially in OTB chess.

Hello,

One line Mnb might have missed in the Rubinstein is 4... Bb4. In the past Bronstein and Botvinnik played this quite a lot from both sides, but don't know current theory.

Bye John S

Thanks, guys, plenty to chew on here.

I think I'll have a closer look at the Rubinstein, as it dovetails well with the rest of my repertoire and I have some familiarity with many of the lines from the Nimzo Rubinstein.
2) Nf3 would take me out of my reprtoire if Black plays 2...Nf6 or ...d5.

MNb, could you point me to any good references on the Rubinstein? Thanks.

Against 1...e6 I would rather recommend 2. Nf3 f5 3. e4!? which according to Mega Database 2007 scores really good for white.

There is the Miles Variation 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 e6 3.d5, but I don't find this particularly discomforting for Black.
If you don't mind to invest a little more time, the Rubinstein Variation is interesting and somewhat underestimated.
1.d4 e6 2.c4 (the "smart" 2.Nf3 f5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 b6! gives Black a good game) f5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3
a) 4...b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.f3
b) 4...d5 5.Bd3 c6 6.Nf3 Bd6 7.Qc2 0-0 8.h3 intending g2-g4 at some point.
c) 4...Be7 5.Bd3 0-0 6.Nf3
c1) 6...b6 7.0-0 Bb7 8.d5 (or 8.b3 first) Na6 9.e4
c2) 6...d5 7.Qc2 like line b.
c3) 6...d6 7.0-0 Qe8 8.e4 Van den Berg-Burstein, Tel Aviv 1958.

Black probably can get equality, especially in variation c1, but it is not as harmless as it seems.
And, as a bonus, if you ever grow tired of 2.Bg5, you only have to add the Leningrad.

PS you face the same problem after 1.d4 d6. I know someone, who combines the Pirc with the Leningrad.