HoemberChess wrote on 08/02/09 at 09:27:14:


Did you mean 5...Qa5+?  The position after 5.g3 more typically arises via 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4.  If I recall correctly, normal moves are 5...d5, 5...Qc7, 5...Qb6, 5...Bc5 and 5...Bb4+. 

Also, have you considered the so-called Kasparov Gambit with 4...e5?

I was the one that recommended 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 Qa5, because I don't think black should be allowing Reversed Slavs where white gets to play dxc5, and make black regain the pawn. 

I still stand by it. It makes for a possible chance to obtain a central majority, or black can play d5/Nf6/g6/Bg7 etc. without worrying about having to regain the c-pawn after dxc5 at some point. In my opinion he gets easy equality, and an imbalanced position. Yes, the Q move looks artificial, but white, by playing c3, impedes his own development anyway, which is artificial in its own way. Even if white suddenly prefers 4. d5 (to prevent black's d5) the Q is useful in aiding a ...b5 advance. At that point I find the Q move more useful than white's c3 (in comparison to the analagous 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5)

I'm still unsure of playing 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 as black. It's very unclear, and I recall some variations where black is struggling. This is the critical variation of the whole complex.

Against your 5. a3 black can likely play Qc7, or maybe d5. He should not play 5...Nc6 allowing a transposition of lines after 6. Nc3 (white's objective).

Against 3. e3 d5 4. c3 I'm wondering if black can play it as a Reversed Noteboom with 4...Qc7, even if down a tempo. As white it'd occur via 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 e6 4. Qc2 Nf6 5. Bg5 being white's best when the board is flipped, and while with the extra tempo it is good enough for +=, maybe it is good enough for = as black.

Even if 4...d5 is best black isn't dealing with the b3 Colles, and in the main-line his chances aren't too bad at any rate.

Okay, all this aside - these lines are guaranteed to offer better practical chances in tournament play, undoubtedly. Most players with white intent on playing a Colle aren't going to opt for the critical 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5. Those that stubbornly insist on the Colle are going to be confronted with a rough time when black gets very ambitious set-ups that would be += if the board is flipped.