I suppose you have also found out that Müller and Voigt have forgotten a whole chapter? They only investigate 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2, not Black's other 4th move options.

I liked the Berg game more. That Russian game - well, typically for 1.e4 - a lot of patient manoeuvring and hardly tactics. Of course it's still a good game, but it kinda confirms my statement on 1.e4. I have also played through a couple of Kramnikvs Grünfeld games, especially the Bb5+ ones. Rather sharp stuff.

MNb wrote on 08/01/08 at 14:56:52:

Depends. If you take Tiviakov's and Topalov's games as white you are probably correct. If you take Kramnik's and Shirov's games as white probably not.

Btw those Berlin games are quite fun. In particular the Russian one is very good.

I have played pretty much every opening at one time or another (which is one reason I'm not that good).  I think the discussion here is very interesting because it hits on something that has been driving me crazy:  Playing the "best" lines vs. playing practical or fun lines.  At the moment, my location and lifestyle dictate that I can't engage very often in OTB games so I'm mostly doing online blitz and correspondence.  I've been going back and forth between playing "good" openings like the Ruy or QG as white, 1...e5 and Slav as black and playing openings that I know are not as good but are fun like the BDG and 2...Nf6 Center Counter.

To address the original question in this thread, yes, even though I'm currently playing the bad and fun openings like the BDG I have spent a lot of time in the last few years studying classical principles.  That is how I know the BDG is not as good as the Ruy Lopez.  I don't consider it a copout when my opponent replies 1 d5 d5 2 e4 e6 (or 2...c6) as I would probably do the same thing.  The BDG is pretty dangerous for black if taken by surprise in a fast time control game.  Usually when confronted with the Caro-Kann I will play the exchange with 4 Bd3 and with the French I'll just play the exchange with 4 c4 ala Waitzkin and Ashley.

Anyway, my feeling at the moment is that I'm never going to be an expert or above (I'm 49) and that last thing I need in life is more drudgery, so win or lose I'm just going to play fast time controls and aggressive openings for now.  I know the BDG is not as good as the Ruy, but at this moment I don't care.

Willempie wrote on 08/01/08 at 05:41:27:


I must admit I'm not sure how 5. Re1 is in the style of the Riga, or how your pawns can jump over your Knights.

SWJediknight wrote on 07/31/08 at 16:13:57:


Yes. I gave up the Danish around 1990 and the KG a few years ago. Despite Anon2's advise I like to waste my time as I feel like, so I try to keep up with the theoretical developments. Especially the Danish is an opening you can ask me questions about and hope to get a sensible answer. Here I must admit that I play much more corr. chess last few years than OTB. In my last OTB tournament I succeeded to play attacking chess with the London System.  

SWJediknight wrote on 07/31/08 at 16:13:57:


So you went exactly in the opposite direction as me ...
OK, after being a bit negative on White's attacking chances let me do two suggestions, besides the KG. Both are based on 2.d4 exd4.

A) the Danish according to Alekhine. 3.c3 dxc3 (Ne7 and there is some endgame with the centre pawns gone but slightly more active pieces White can reach - if interested I will look it up for you) 4.Nxc3 and White can avoid the main line of the Göring Gambit after Nc6 (Bb4 5.Qd4!? to avoid 5.Bc4 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6, though White may have other options but 7.Nf3 as well and even 7.Nf3 d6 8.Ng5 is worth investigating) 5.Bc4 Bb4 and now 6.Nge2 is possible. Black must give up the pair of bishops as well and White's pawn structure does not get ruined. The knight is not worse on c3 than on f3 and somewhat later White has f2-f4 available.
B) 3.Bc4 Nc6 (or Nf6 4.Nf3 Nc6; Bb4+ 4.c3 is A) 4.Nf3 Nf6 (Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.0-0!? is underestimated according to Emms in Play the Open Games) 5.0-0 and you already have found out about the sterility of ...Qh5. So focus on 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 (Bd7 gives White nice attacking play, as I learned at the wrong side of the board). At the moment I quite like Black, but there is quite some uncharted territory here.

Willempie wrote on 07/31/08 at 21:40:36:

Show me the way, because I can't find it ....

MNb wrote on 07/30/08 at 16:35:57:

If you want a slugfest you can get them there as well. Even if you play serious, very often the attack is the best way to beat the Berlin endgame (and also the Petrov). Though of course it is without queens and pawn sacs  
Then again against 1.d4 d5 2.c4 there is no way for black to avoid a tactical slugfest

May I quote from "Chess Openings for Black, Explained":

Openings are Schizophrenic

"Don't waste your time with the fantasy of the 'tailor-made' repertoire we sometimes hear about that will bring out your inner, winning you with just the right openings. Certainly, an experienced chess teacher can help you to improve much faster and absorb important principles more thoroughly than you could on your own. However, in any major opening, you can't play in a way that will guide you only to tactical terrain while preventing positional games, or vice versa.

Try staying in a 'solid' Caro-Kann agaisnt someone who wants to pry the game open for an attack. Even Mikhail Botvinnik couldn't do it in 1960 against Tal. Or try playing the Sicilian for a sharp, attacking game against an expert in White's c3-system, and you'll likely find yourself in a positional struggle. Some variations of the French are passive, while some are downright counterattacks. Some forms of the Ruy Lopez are positional; some are wild and hoary. Some Giuoco Pianos are hardly pianissimo. Your opponent can play the Queen's Gambit like the draw-prone Carl Schlechter or like the checkmate-obsessed Frank Marshall.

Openings are schizophrenic. Whatever opening you play, you risk getting a position that doesn't match your own attitudes about aggression or passivity. Still, in some extreme cases, consider the plusses and minuses of your play, indeed of your style. If you are a pawn-loving Korchnoi fan, don't play the Benko Gambit!"