No thanks, don't feel like it.

Check Vigus' analysis on pages 250-251, notes to white's 10th move, note c, and have fun finding the improvements if you care to.

I've spoken about the equalizer in the Accelerated Classical on this forum before, black can just use the Pirc/Philidor structure that Roman doesn't view too highly (Rb8/b5 version). Go figure. It's only in the sharp lines that white players can get rewarded for overly ambitious black players thinking they might get to refute something.

punter wrote on 07/02/11 at 15:04:39:


Roman does a great service to people that have a bunch of improvements prepared ahead of time over his stuff.

Step 1: Roman puts out a crappy recommendation in some sharp variation.

Step 2: Black players are foaming at the mouth to get to refute it when the chance comes up.

Step 3: White player gets an easy win by deviating from Roman analysis.

Ironically in the case of his Pirc recommendation his original recommendation in the sharpest line is the best one, and leads to +/- if white knows exactly where to look for the improvements later on. However, both Roman/Vigus dismissed the best critical continuation for white as being okay for black when that time comes, which can only be because they didn't really push it further to see what happens.

Similarly, black's best set-up against his recommendation is one he doesn't think highly of. However, at least Vigus correctly identified it as being fine for black.

Roman claims many things to sell his stuff. My favourite is his variation against pirc and modern which supposedly gives white winning attack but is just losing if black makes 2 accurate moves.
After seeing this I stopped bothering about his reccomendations. For sure entertaining and good for <2000 players but hopeless against someone who actually prepares his/her openings.

Zatarra wrote on 07/02/11 at 09:16:37:

5.Nc3 is certainly a line you need to study, but it's far from a refutation. Take a look at this:

Kleijn,C - Van Delft,M [C42]
NEDchT 0708 Meesterklasse KNSB (7), 2008

½-½

You might catch some of those Dzhindzhi followers with this line.

Ive recently changed from 1 ...c5 to 1...e5 and adopted the petroff defense with successful results so far.  Its apparent I never really got the grasp of the sicilian over the years.

However, many people online telling me that one of romans tape lines renders the petroff defenseless.  Ive bought some of roman's tapes before but dont really think ill buy more of them just to see this one line.

What line are they referring to, and is it really something i need to study up on, or just a sideline?