Quote:TN wrote:
1.f4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.e3 d5 4.Be2 Nh6 5.0–0 c6 6.d3 Against this setup, I would recommend 6...Nd7 7.a4 e5 which seems about equal. Black could also consider 7...f6 8.Na3 e5, but 8.e4 e5 9.Nc3 looks like an improvement.
When black plays c6 isn't Black open to Dutch Stonewall with colors reversed? Isn't ...c6 saying Nd7 with the idea of e5? Doesn't a simple and timely d4 negate this?
Here play can go down the Nh3 lines against the Dutch. Although Nh3 lines against the Dutch are for the most part a good choice... I don't know how they turn out with colors reversed) Example…. 1.f4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.e3 d5 4.Be2 Nh6!? 5.0–0 and on …c6 white plays 6.d4 then 6...Nd7 (what else? Black is committed) then 7.c4!? (...dxc 8. Bxc4 looks good too) 0–0 and 8.Nc3. This is just quick analysis.... so I don’t know what kind of pull the position really has (if any) but at a quick glace it looks as white....easy to play. slow yes...but black looks to be mired in his own pawn formation and Black's Nh6 looks out there considering black is already a tempo down.
Take in mind I'm trying to find good things so I'm coming from an optimistic point of view
Quote:Also, after 1.f4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.e4 c5, the Big Clamp setup doesn't give White any advantage (according to Bird connoisseur Vigus in DW) but is still a playable line that players such as McShane have successfully used. Personally I would either transpose to a Grand Prix with 4.Nc3 or a Closed Sicilian with 4.d3 Nc6 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2.
Taylor's line looks ok…as someone who played Be2 , pawns at e4 and f4 lines against the Sicilian, The line 1.f4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.e4 Bg7 4.Be2 Nc6 5.0–0 d6 6.d3 looks to be satisfactory and certainly "can" lead to unique play. Again this is another line where the colors are reversed I.e (English ...e5 lines..)
1 f4 has got some flex something people don't give it enough credit for.