Considering most Morra advocates prefer a sharp game, d3 lines seem a simple solution although there is no surprise value in these lines now.

It is very popular for players to construct an Open Sicilian Repertoire 1.e4 c5 2. nf3 and when hit with 2... g6 they opt for either an Alapin/Morra with 3. c3.

MNb wrote on 05/26/11 at 02:42:18:

Yes. My (limited) understanding is that an early Nf3 is a concession from White in these Panov positions and it should be even easier for Black to equalize here than in the regular g6-Panov (which for some reason many theory books still pretend is +=).

Stigma wrote on 05/26/11 at 02:34:03:

When 5.exd5 Nf6 6.Bb5+ looks like an irregular Panov Caro-Kann.

ChevyBanginStyle wrote on 05/26/11 at 02:34:47:

While 12...f5 might be too ambitious I don't see it after the logical 12...a5. I also think Black is on familiar territory after something like 12...Bd7 13.Qd2 Qa5.

ChevyBanginStyle wrote on 05/26/11 at 02:19:43:

With the bishop already on c4 White could take the d3-pawn with the queen and try to justify the pawn being on c3, but it doesn't look like an advantage to me. Maybe he should throw in 6.Qb3 e6 and try to play on the weakened d6 square. I think this is the direction I would look at if I were to play this Hyper-Accelerated Morra-Dragon as White.

Btw. Black can even meet 4.c3 with the waiting 4...Bg7, intending 5.Bc4 d3 or 5.cxd4 d5.

Not by Palkovi and I agree. Results in practice haven't been particularly good either.
But perhaps I am wrong and does White have an edge after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d3 4.Bxd3 Nc6 5.c4 g6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.0-0 d6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 Nd7 11.Qd2 Nc5 12.Bh6 (12.Rac1 f5 13.exf5 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Bxf5 = Babula) Bxh6 13.Qxh6 f6.
But I can't say I'm impressed. I'd prefer 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Nge2 d6 8.0-0 Nf6 9.f3 0-0 10.Be3 or even 9.b3 0-0 10.Bb2.

What I really would like to play is a GPA setup without 5.c4, but with f4, Nf3, Qe1, Qh4 etcetera. Alas an early ...d5 seems to spoil it.

nimzo5 wrote on 05/25/11 at 00:23:17:


My opinion is that Black does not have a good alternative to entering the accepted Morra. I could be missing something, but I do not see a good way to transpose to a normal c3 Sicilian with 4..d5. If 5.exd5 Qxd5, Black has prematurely captured on d4 in comparison to Ftacnik's recommended line, and if 5..Nf6 6.c4 seems to be a problem. 4..Nf6 and 4..Qa5 look dicey to me. 4..d3 looks playable but very comfortable for White (+/= perhaps). 4..Bg7 is probably the best declined variation aiming for 5.cxd4 d5, transposing to known c3 Sicilian theory (a recommendation from Dzindzichashvili); however, it's not clear to me that Black has a better alternative to accepting the gambit after 5.Bc4!?. If this is the case, then even if Black likes that line of the c3 Sicilian, he still should be prepared for the accepted Morra. The good news is that Langrock's book on the Morra considers the fianchetto variation to be an underrated option for Black, recommending the line (by transposition) 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bg7 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.e5 Nxe5 as the safest way to reach an equal position. However, these lines in the Morra can be very dangerous, especially if you are not accurate and do not know the theory. Perhaps 4.c3 is not the most theoretically challenging, but it could be very dangerous in practice against an unprepared opponent.

I think 2..g6 is riskier than the other mainstream second moves, but I also think that is part of its appeal. Maybe 3.Bc4 (edit: I did not mean 4.Bc4) is the safest "anti-Dragon theory" move White has. I think it's a good choice against players who do not like to face the Dragon. The cost of this move order is that you need to know a few sharp sidelines, so that you're not the one being tricked as TopNotch points out.

I would rather say that it's an improved version for Black with the Knight on f3. In any case White is doing pretty well.
After 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d3 4.Bxd3 Nc6 5.c4 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 a setup with f2-f3 is usually thought to give White better prospects of an opening edge.

While I am not TopNotch, as I know Smith-Morra theory, the Fianchetto variation of accepted Morra gambit is genrerally thought to be good for white.
Perhaps black can reply d5 after c3? Or else play d3?

While on the topic of Acc Dragons in books/DVD's, here is a small wrinkle not disscussed in any media that I'm aware of.

Suppose you like Ftacnik's recommendation against the Alapin as given in GM Rep 6, which goes 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6!? and decide to tranpose to this line via an Acc Dragon move order if neccessary e.g. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 d5, so far so good. However there is a potential repertoire issue if White chooses the delayed Smith Morra option, which is quite dangerous for Black if he accepts: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3!?.

I am not 100% sure but if memory serves, Andrew Greet recommends in his Starting Out the Acc Dragon book, the line advocated by Ftacnik by transposition. Unfortunately Greet does not consider the serious Repertoire issue outlined in the previous paragraph.

Transpositional and Move Order issues is a serious consideration when contemplating one's repertoire choices, and one that is largely ignored by many books on openings.

Be proactive with your repertoire and avoid becoming a move order victim.

Tops

Quote:


LOL.  You got me on that one.  As with everyone, I'm looking for that magical chess book that will solve all my problems with the black pieces.  Very few new opening books actually change the landscape of theory.  It is just always interesting to get another author's perspective on various lines and read about new recommendations.  

I would really like to see a new edition of the Donaldson book.  I believe there is enough new material since 1998 to warrant a new edition.  If you read his 1998 book, he makes a tons of references to certain lines now being playable or unplayable from the previous edition.  I would imagine theory has changed more than we realize.  

Unfortunately, I'm just not a big fan of videos and chessbase/fritztrainer DVD's.  I find myself actually reading books and never getting around to watching the DVD's.

Note for Mr Alekhine: the first "quote" is without slash.
MNb

Speaking of winning against the Bind...

GMTonyKosten wrote on 05/08/11 at 10:17:11:


Sweet, but does it present coherent spoon fed repertoire choices for the unwashed masses? Or is it simply a collection of recently annotated games geared towards a sophisticated audience.

Another point is that Chesspublishing authors for the most part simply analyse the current opening trends impratially, sort of like a survey but with a bit more depth, while books and dvd's usually offers a much more intimate and biased view of the author's opening preferences.

Sorry Tony, Chesspublishing will never replace Books or Kindles but it does compliment them quite well.

Toppy

GMTonyKosten wrote on 05/10/11 at 09:55:51:

Actually, I subscribed prior to Carsten Hansen.  Even so is probably still an exageration.  I believe it was Rowensen(sp?).  No reason to really call him out now though.  Have you all ever considered a "fundamentals" section?  Basically like a training session section?  Seems like it might be easy for the GMs out there, and I would definitely 'burn' one of my freebies.  One month it could address games where color weaknesses are a theme, and another month it could cover something else worthwhile rounding out those of us who have been plateaued for some time?

I think it is a worthwhile idea.  I am leaning to renewing my membership for three sections, but I will probably have to sell a book or two to keep my wife from complaining.  I assume there is an option to pay with Paypal?

Mr. Kosten,

How timely are the monthly updates for the Sicilian and Flank sections.  I subscribed some time ago, but I let it lapse because the prior person was posting updates to the flank section about every 2 months.

Your reply would be very much appreciated.

It´s a matter of taste but some prefer a real board to the computerscreen...

Have there been so many new developments in the Accelerated Dragon to warrant a new book?

If not then using electronic resources like ChessPublishing to update the existing works does indeed look very logical.

Despite being a "Starting out"-title Greets book is a very good source...

I'm curious if there are any rumors of a new Accelerated Dragon book in the works?  I believe the last book (not including chessbase or dvd's) was the Starting Out series, and that seemed like a long time ago.  Thanks.