MNb wrote on 10/29/11 at 16:28:02:


I'd say it's worse although I've played this system in speed chess with colors reversed just for something different.  Of course the knight usually retreats to f7 which is often a decent square.  I remember Basman combining this with ...c6, ...Na6, and ...Nc7 with both Knights covering some important squares.  Still a difficult opening too play but maybe Black can limit it to plus equals.

I just now found a German translation of the book (see my previous message), called "Eroeffnungen, Moderne Ideen". It refers to the original as "The openings in modern theory and practice" from 1979. The chapter was shorter than I remembered (less than 4 pages) but still quite good.

MNb wrote on 10/29/11 at 16:28:02:


Thanks for the references.  As for your question, I'm not convinced it is, although, equally, I'm not convinced it's truly terrible on h6 either.

Zwischenzugzwang wrote on 10/29/11 at 10:14:30:



Many thanks Zwisch.

I'd noticed Mr. Petran too, but while his high 2380 is a good few hundred points higher than I'll ever be, I was hoping to find somebody else of GM standard (no offence to him).

I meant to mention that Holloway - Harding game, btw, but forgot so I'm glad you cited it to remind me.  I think the analysis published was a joint effort between Harding and a certain Ray Keene. If you have it to hand, would you mind checking who is credited?

Thanks again,


Jonathan

PS: your question about an early h2-h4 is very apt.  Basman himself once got flattened by a direct h2-h4-h5 hack before he worked out that you have to wait with <b>... Nh6</b> until after White has castled short.  Both he and Harding emphasise that going to the rim too early is really taking your life in your hands.

1 d4 f5, 2 g3 g6, 3 Bg2 Bg7, 4 Nf3 c6, 5 o-o Nh6, 6 c4 d6, 7 Nc3 o-o

Essentially a mainline Leningrad with the king's knight on h6 instead of f6.  Played by Basman a lot circa 1973/74 and 'invented' by him although I gather Paulsen played the same way.

I didn't find any games in this line in the CP database (not particularly to my surprise) and my megabase is getting a little old (2009 version).

Henrik Danielsen seems to have played it a fair bit in the last decade.  Anybody know of any other strong players using the idea or any other high profile encounters?

Theoretical references also welcome.  I know there was a chapter on this sub-variation in Harding's book on the Leningrad for Batsford (1976).  Anything since then?