Thanks, I'll check that out!

BPaulsen, do you mind sketching out the path to equality after 4.d5?  As I said, I have absolutely no chess resources at the moment.

I believe the usual view of 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 is that it should lead to a slight advantage for White.

Anonymous3 wrote on 03/13/10 at 23:49:16:


The computers are too optimistic regarding Black's chances. The position is equal according to all the sources I am aware of after 6...g6, e.g. 7.b3!? (I like the idea of exchanging the advanced c4-pawn to gain some space) 7...Bf5 8.Qd1 cb3 (other moves are also decent) 9.Qb3 and while Black has no problems here, neither does White. The position is balanced with c4 on the cards in the future.

Ametanoitos wrote on 03/12/10 at 00:13:34:

I think Eric is talking about this line:
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 Bf5 6.Ngf3 e6 
Now 7.Bd3 would obviously just lose the bishop.
Were you thinking about 6.Ndf3 here?

@ Paddy,

Thanks for your reply. No excuses, really but straight after I played ...Nc6, I realised what I have done. I have read Watson's Mastering Chess Openings Vol 2 but ... I guess it is practice that actually makes the words stick in your mind and it was my first ever 1 d4 game since my return to chess.

GabrielGale wrote on 03/11/10 at 01:14:50:


You played 1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bf4 Nc6?

If so, you might find it helpful to read a book on general opening principles, rather than a specialised manual.

Rule of thumb: as Black, after 1 d4 d5, do not block your c-pawn with your knight unless you have some very specific idea in mind.

The reason is that if White is able to advance his c-pawn and Black is not, then it is as if Black is fighting with one hand tied behind his back.

Furthermore at some stage after developing the minor pieces Black is going to need an open or semi-open file for his rooks. That will generally require a pawn break. After 1 d4 d5, the pawn break ...e5 is hard to execute except as a gambit; in contrast, ...c5 is much easier to support.

[There are defences that break this rule, such as the Chigorin (1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6) but they are controversial and very much the exception.]

The whole classical theory of the Queen's Gambit theory is constructed on trying to prevent or discourage Black from playing ...c5.

Modern theory is less dogmatic and more concrete, and we keep finding more and more exceptions to the old classical rules, but nevertheless it is probably better for most inexperienced players to start with the rules rather than the exceptions.

After 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.c3/4.e3 Black can also play cxd4. This again leads to either the Caro-Kann Exchange in an innocent form (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 is not as good as 4.Bd3) or the Slav Exchange.