Ametanoitos wrote on 12/28/10 at 00:07:17:


Have set a new thread rolling:-
http://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1293551419/0#0lf

I'll have to disagree on that.

I have made an extensive study of this kind of IQP positions that come up from the French 3.Nd2 c5 (!) and from the exchange variation 3.exd5 exd5 when c4 or c5 ideas of course produce symmetrical situations. 

Let's take White's position and see what set-up is optimal:
-> Nf3
-> Nc3
-> Bb5 (not Be2 or Bd3!) and after that
-> Bg5

and the other way around if we are talking for the Black side against the IQP position for White.

The general rule of thumb is that the IQP is logical (doesn't always produce equality but it's always a viable strategic solution) when the other side cannot set-up the above formation.

For example when it is played
-> Bd3 (Bd6) {B cannot go to b5 (b4)} we can play ...c5 (c4)
-> c3 (c6) {N cannot go to c3 (c6) and the pawn is a target for a successfull d4 (d5) break, so we can play ...c5 (c4)
-> Nd2 (Nd7) {again N cannot go to c3 (c6)}, we can play ...c5 (c4) again
-> When one or two stupid moves like h3 and/or Bf4 are played that don't much with the "optimal set-up" and lose time, then again ...c5! (c4)

So, following this rule of thumb we see that after 3.Nd2 the move 3...c5! is correct! Actually i believe that Black can play for a win very easily in the resulting positions and we can make a seperate thread to discuss this line in some dtail if you are interested.

After 3...Nf6 it is true that this is "French-like" but i'd say "Classical French-like" and i never liked the Classical (3.Nc3 Nf6), i was always (and i still am) a "Winawer-person"

Mind you, at club level, would you expect the 3...c5 and 5...Nc6 lines to be drawish? You never see them, but they look exciting enough to me.

Yes, although Psakhis keeps putting things to the effect that you can't count yourself a French player if you can't play IQP positions in his Nd2 book....

So I guess it depends slightly on your upbringing

3.. Nf6 maybe in slight danger of being overanalysed - black is taking on a fair bit of risk but a lot of the stuff is so analysed that white can get sundry slightly better endings. Maybe not so easily vs the very scary Qc7 main line.

Not really a huge problem but black's got so many playable options its simply easier to vary than plug away with the mega theory. Hence 3 .. Be7, Nc6 etc etc. Or 3..c5 and play the positions if you want reliable.

I play 3...Nf6 because I win with this move. Well, not always, but I can't remember a game losing after 3...Nf6. It's 3.Nc3 that gives me problems; unfortunately most of my opponents seem to know.