Markovich wrote on 06/22/11 at 14:25:42:


The rating is a difficult question in my case and I can speak openly about that. (Wouldn't answer so in the net if I were younger and had to search for jobs in the future.) It's an example that rating is sometimes a difficult thing.

For health reasons I mostly start playing worse after two or three hours according to a lack of concentration. And I played three tournaments in the last two years. My rating in those tournaments oscillates around 1850 DWZ.

In standard games on FICS with a time control finishing the games normally between one and two hours my rating is stable around 2050. I ruin it sometimes when playing faster.

In correspondence chess it's around 2100 atm on lss.

So I would conclude - otb I'm 1850, my knowledge is between 2000 and 2100.

About 12. - d4. I'll analyze this game next days. The plan was an exchange of the d4-pawn against one of the white queenside pawns and that was the way the game went. Alternatively black could have secured the d4-pawn with a knight on b3 and start an attack on the queenside. So I'm not so sure about the quality of this move.

Back to topic: The content of your remark is double - edged. Not learning flank openings, but analyzing a position out of a flank opening. Generally this maybe right under the view of playing strength.

Jupp53, what's your rating?  Are you up to 2100 or so?  If not, no, you should not learn flank openings.  

I can't resist commenting on your game; 12...d4 was a weak move, in my opinion.  You make a huge donation to White's cause on the kingside.  

P.S. You chose the right forum.  The theory sections should concern specific chess moves and/or books, DVDs etc.

What is the problem?

Part of the thing with flank openings is that most players study them less than 1.e4 and 1.d4. Spend a bit of time trying to figure out how you tie your repertoire vs 1.Nf3 and 1.c4 together with your replies vs 1.e4 and 1.d4 and you'll be fine. 

You should also keep in mind that flank openings are very flexible. If you're used to more direct openings where there are much fewer alternatives at each move and that the consequences of mistakes are bigger, you have to reset your mind a bit. General opening principles and tactics still apply though.