ErictheRed, I was only banned once as Anonymous but I don't think it was fully warranted. When I created a new account, Anonymous2 was already taken so that's why I chose Anonymous3. 

MNb, my comment about your Kc1 was just one cyncial response that was warranted due to your constant abuse. 

31...f6? 32 Bxe5 dxe5 33 g4 +- White has a winning endgame due to a 3-2 majority on the queenside and Black can't create an offsetting majority on the kingside.

Anonymous3 wrote on 05/08/11 at 17:26:31:


Awesome, let us know how that works out for you.

I'm not trying to stir the pot here, really I'm not, but...haven't you already been banned twice?  I mean, as Anonymous and Anonymous2?   

Anonymous3 wrote on 05/06/11 at 20:41:13:

Very possibly you don't know such rules yourself:

Anonymous3 wrote on 05/08/11 at 02:14:10:

A Bishop can't go from f2 to e4, especially not if there is a pawn on that square. Please check the Chess Laws of FIDE.

31.Be3 Ke6 doesn't make sense. 31...Bg3 idea 32...Be1 maintains equality. Black's strategy is to prevent White from invading his position.
For this reason 31.Be1 Ke6 32.b5 f6 33.a4 Bb2 23.a5 Ba3 and the Bishop will return to c5.

Anonymous3 wrote on 05/08/11 at 03:30:37:

With emphasis on the word trying.

kylemeister wrote on 05/08/11 at 03:44:30:


Analysis!

3...Nf6 4 d4 Nxe4 5 d5 Ne7 can be considered a main line in terms of popularity but what I think Quality Chess means by "main line" is the best move and that, as Aagaard says, is 3...d5(!). 

I noticed that after 3...Nf6 4 d4 Nxe4 5 d5 Ne7 6 Nxe5 Ng6, the book "Play the Ponziani" gives the move 7 Nxg6 a "?!" but do they consider 7...hxg6 8 Nd2(!)?. The book came out after Tony analyzed 8 Nd2! so their is no reason for them to miss this just like there was no reason for the 2nd edition of "Beating the Open Games" to miss this.

Flig, the point I am trying to make is 8 Nd2! gives White a slight advantage. 

I agree that there are more attractive ways to play against the Ponziani but the following books recommend the line. "Beating the Open Games", "Survive and Beat Annoying Chess Openings", and "Play the Open Games as Black" (as a secondary recommendation). They all recommend this line to avoid the complications of 3...d5 (which can be massive after 4 Bb5). However, 3...Nf6 4 d4 exd4 5 e5 Nd5 (4...Ne4!?, recommended in "Dangerous Weapons: 1 e4 e5", might be ok as well but more complicated) is a solid way to play that gives Black more play and I don't think gives White the slight advantage like 3...Nf6 4 d4 Nxe4 does. "Play the Open Games as Black" analyzes 4...exd4 5 e5 Nd5 and shows that it's fine for Black but since general theory considered it to be bette for White at the time, you can't fault the book, or "Survive and Beat Annoying Chess Openings" for giving 4...Nxe4 as the main line. However, "Play 1 e4 e5! recommends 3...Nf6 4 d4 exd4 5 e5 Nd5 so I don't see any reason why "Beating the open Games" would want to choose 4...Nxe4 over 4...exd4. The book gives 4...exd4 a "?!" with no supporting analysis but I think it's better than 4...Nxe4.

I think it is easy to understand why White is better. He has more space, more active pieces, and the better structure. I think your comment "White only has the better side of a draw but no way to force a substantial advantage" doesn't mean you don't understand why White is better here but means you think the position is a tiny bit better for White but may be not enough to win. However, I think it is a little bit better for White than that. 

When I used the word "refutation", it meant I was showing that Aagard's analysis and assessments were wrong. Maybe the use of the word "refutation" was a bit harsh.

We already discussed Aagaard playing 8 Nd2(!) in the thread "Beating the Open Games 2nd Edition" (http://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1214079417/120). ;

GM Tony Kosten, according to Aagaard he didn't play 8 Nd2(!) because he thought it was better for White after all but still called it a random move and said, "I just thought it was a really funny thing to try out. I am Danish by birth and thus prone to irony. I am sorry if anyone missed the joke". However, I have a hard time believing that a GM wouldn't see how this move is better for White and that he would play a move he called normal and random in a pretty serious tournament game. 

I also agree that 11 Qf3 is probably the best move in Aagaard's game. 

MNb, 26...b6 27 Be4! Bxe4 28 fxe4 Ke8 29 Kd3 Be5 30 Bf2 Kd7 31 Be4 Ke6 32 b5 f6 33 a4 +=. 

Marin recommendation against the Ponziani, and most of his recommendations in "Beating the Open Games, goes against the philosophy of Quality Chess which is "Tired of bad positions? Try the main lines!". Aagaard says in the "Beating the Open Games 2nd Edition" thread says that 3...d5 is probably the best move.

[quote author=19130A31302715312D2A3B305E0 link=1304672342/14#14 date=1304766887]I suppose most members are simply not aware of the possibilty. ::)[/quote]

that was correct, yes :)

[quote author=36030E2807010A0B0C620 link=1304672342/13#13 date=1304759278]How come no one uses the chessflash tags anymore? (pgn /pgn) Maybe we need a board symbol to click for inserting games / analysis?[/quote]
I added them to the original post - I suppose most members are simply not aware of the possibilty. ::)