Normal Topic cambridge springs versus the moscow (Read 7714 times)
Fernando Semprun
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Re: cambridge springs versus the moscow
Reply #8 - 03/31/08 at 19:35:10
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Do you use Panczyk's book as a reference? It looked a bit unpromising to me...

I also don't quite understand black's strategy on the Cambridge. Surely Ne4, Bb4 are not THAT difficult to meet nowadays, and no typical pawn breaks/levers I feel are necessary these days...
  

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winawer77
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Re: cambridge springs versus the moscow
Reply #7 - 02/29/08 at 17:38:59
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I prefer the Cambridge Springs and intend to reach it via the Semi-Slav move order. This is a direct replacement for the Botvinnik variation, which I no longer trust. I think there are plenty of chances for White to go wrong in the CS.

I never felt that comfortable with the Moscow line, it always seemed that Black's position was hanging by a thread. Its pretty exciting though.

  
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LeeRoth
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Re: cambridge springs versus the moscow
Reply #6 - 02/29/08 at 17:26:26
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I prefer the Cambridge Springs.   

As Justin correctly points out, in the Semi-Slav move order White has Nf3 in, so the Exchange Variation is less troublesome and, in the main lines of the minority attack, Black can sometimes drum up chances vs the White king.  See, e.g., Taimanov-Nezh 1954.

In the main lines, after 7.Nd2, Black sometimes has to be careful to avoid a passive position, but it seems to me, that even here, he gets more chances to complicate things than in the Moscow with 5..h6 6.Bxf6.

Of course, if you really need a win, play the Benoni.   Wink

  
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Justinhorton
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Re: cambridge springs versus the moscow
Reply #5 - 02/29/08 at 14:06:40
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I played against it last Saturday and lost with White in 21 moves. Ho hum.
  
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zoo
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Re: cambridge springs versus the moscow
Reply #4 - 02/29/08 at 13:04:12
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prepare the Cambridge Springs if you wish, but don't expect to play it a lot over the board, as a rule it is almost always avoided by a last-minute cxd5.  Iirc Matthew Sadler didn't even bother to consider it in his excellent Queen's Gambit booklet.
  
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Justinhorton
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Re: cambridge springs versus the moscow
Reply #3 - 02/29/08 at 09:44:24
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I reckon that beloww 2200 or so it's perfectly possible to generate winning chances on the Black side of the Exchange QGD with Nf3. You don't just have to sit there while the queenside pawns advance.
  
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DoubledPawns
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Re: cambridge springs versus the moscow
Reply #2 - 02/29/08 at 09:37:31
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Zatara wrote on 02/29/08 at 07:12:23:
Hi all,
Thanks for reading this post.  my question is which will lead to more wins the cambridge Springs or the Moscow variation in the semi slav?? finally, which is sharper the Cambridge springs/ semi slav repertoire or a Nimzo/benoni repertoire??
thanks,
M


The Moscow variation will undoubtedly get you more wins - I do not have a high opinion of the Cambridge Springs as a practical choice, respectable as it is. However, you do have to know some topical theory to play the Moscow at a high level.

My recommendation would be the Nimzo/Benoni - I know 2000-2100 players who play the Nimzo successfully knowing next to no opening theory. The Benoni is also a decent choice, although you could also consider the Blumenfeld Gambit with 4.d5 b5, which is not as safe as say the Queen's Indian or Bogo-Indian, but it is very effective against untitled players. 

And make sure you know how to meet the Catalan and White's d4 deviations (you will face them a lot at the club level).
  

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Re: cambridge springs versus the moscow
Reply #1 - 02/29/08 at 09:35:35
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I have been pondering over the exact same question for a few days now.  For starters the Cambridge Srings approach allows white to play the Exchange QGD.  As white can't play the lines with Nge2 this isn't totally scary but I feel generating real winning chances against a white player who knows how to handle the Carlsbad structure is tricky.  Secondly, in both the Moscow and Cambridge Springs black often wins a pawn.  From the games that I have seen white has better chances of developing an initiative in the Cambridge Springs as black often wins the c3 pawn in exchange for the dark squared bishop and losing time with his queen.  In the Anti Moscow gambit the price for a pawn is the weakening of the black kingside and often the ineffective Bb7.  I feel more comfortable in the Anit Moscow than I ever did in the Cambridge Springs - although in the Cambridge Springs there are a few traps for the unwary!

Regarding Nimzo and Benoni they both unbalance things either minor pieces or pawn structure early on.  If I'm assuming you mean to only play the Benoni after Nf3 than I'd say the Semi Slav produces the sharpest positions - but also a number of duller positions e.g. exchange Slav etc.
  
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Zatara
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cambridge springs versus the moscow
02/29/08 at 07:12:23
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Hi all,
Thanks for reading this post.  my question is which will lead to more wins the cambridge Springs or the Moscow variation in the semi slav?? finally, which is sharper the Cambridge springs/ semi slav repertoire or a Nimzo/benoni repertoire??
thanks,
M
  
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