TNich wrote on 10/02/12 at 18:01:09:
I think it's a little harsh to call the position after 9.Be3 a draw.
White's score is pretty good(57.2% vs 57.3% after 8.d5). In the database we see people like Tkachiev, Mamedyarov, Jobava and Wang Hao losing with the black pieces.
Aronian has even lost it with the white pieces!
Most of these games were rapids but if GMs can lose it, then I'm pretty sure that at my <2200 level I can too:)
No, it's not harsh to call it a draw. Black equalizes, and when he does there's nothing left. I repeat - white is hoping black doesn't know the theory to whatever sideline he chooses. If he does, he gets nothing in the purest sense of the term "nothing".
Under 2200 OTB just about anything is playable. It doesn't make the objective merits of the positions good.
I don't like statistics much, either. Misleading to the say the least.
@Pantu:
1.Nf3 g6 should be met with 2.e4 and heading towards a Bind if possible. The Bind forms the backbone of 1.Nf3 repertoires to a pretty significant extent (Symmetrical English, Modern, and KID can all transpose to it).
As for why white may play the pure Symmetrical - 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e3 doesn't lead to
as easy an edge as it used to be thought. As a recent Aronian game attests white is better, and I have a novelty in mind for black's other critical continuation, but the resulting positions can be quite complex and sharp.
That said, Fischer's Defense isn't the end of the world, so... white has options if he's playing for the full point. That is all.
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Yugoslav with 8.dxc5 (Read 63111 times)
