Below is what I wrote in my original "Panther" post. I guess Stigma is referring to the line I call "(2)" below, and yes, I'm sure this is one of the stiffest challenges. (NB: here, I think 8 ...Bg4!? needs looking at as well.) Should it put Black off or not? -- it would be good to get a debate going about this ...
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The Panther: 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nf3 d6!?
I couldnt resist! Having had a look at urusovs sites on this (see http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/kenilworthian/2006/02/panther-part-one.html) I thought Id start a separate thread on this interesting system.
As Uberdeker pointed out in another thread, it’s essentially an Old Indian with ...Nc6. It can be reached via a number of move orders, however (for which see Urusov’s site). I chose the order above just for ease of setting out the main variations, since White has a number of fourth-move choices here. Also, this move order might suit a Tango player looking for an alternative to a Zurich Nimzo-Indian after 3 Nf3.
Urusov quotes Richard Palliser as recommending 4 d5 Ne5 5 Ne5 de 6 g3 as conferring a small edge. I notice, however, that the young Ukrainian GM Miroshnichenko hasnt been afraid to try this for Black, and has done OK after 6 ...e6 7 Bg2 ed (7 ...Bb4!?) 8 cd Bd6 9 0-0 0-0 10 Nc3 h6 or 10 ...a6. The other non-main line Richard mentions is 4 Nc3 e5 (the point) 5 g3. Here Urusov seems to recommend 5 ...Bf5!?. I notice also that another Panther devotee, Slapikas, has played 5 ...Bg4!?, and that Larsen has played 5 ...ed 6 Nd4 Bd7, which might reach A15, A25 or E60 positions!
The main line though must be 4 Nc3 e5 5 d5 Ne7 6 e4 Ng6 (on 6 ...g6, aiming for a KID, White can try 7 c5!? which Urusov thinks is unclear after 7 ...Bg7 8 Bb5 Bd7) 7 g3 Be7. Here White has two lines:
(1) 8 Bg2 0-0 (Urusov also mentions 8 ...c5!? though Black has done very poorly with this) 9 0-0, and now praxis has seen (a) 9 ...c6 playing on the Queenside, (b) 9 ...Ne8 intending a quick ...f5 and (c) the newer 9 ...h6!?, intending ...Nh7 and ...Bg5 (and/or ...f5).
(2) 8 h4!? h6 (8 ...Nf8!?) and now 9 Bh3, 9 Qc2, and 9 h5!? Nf8 10 Nh4 N6h7 have all been played or suggested.
As a Tango player, I’ve been aware of the traditional wisdom that ...Ng6 plans aren’t so good if White can play g2--g3, but the Panther aims to prove this wrong. Does it succeed? Anyone got any thoughts on the variations above, or others?
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