Markovich wrote on 07/30/13 at 15:23:53:


No shame in asking questions about the potential of some defenses and, for some time, introducing some variety, isn't it? I agree Spassky would not have been Spassky had he not met Tolush... neither had he not met Zak and Bondarevsky too! But unfortunately, I am not Spassky and never will be.

I know about the concept of the little center in the Sicilian, about the resilience of the Caro-Slav structure, etc. But what about 1...e5? Precisely, because this is the Open Game, I wonder whether there might exist some 'soak up' lines, systems, variations, in this tremendously rich complex of openings.

It seems to me that there exists two serious drawbacks in this technical/defensive opening approach:

1. White might not play along. What if White is a lower rated player and, instead of throwing themselves upon your resilient opening, they just sit there, shuffle pieces, and think - 'I'll just play solidly and take the draw'?

2. A linked problem is that by playing defensively you're missing out on a very rewarding strategy - attacking play! Attacking play can cause the opponent to feel pressured and make mistakes, even if your attack is not completely sound. I just think that, below Master level at least, attacking play is more rewarding (in terms of results, and in terms of fun, although obviously that's subjective) than technical play.

[EDIT: Typo]

tony37 wrote on 07/29/13 at 17:04:30:


I am a long time 1...e5 player, so I am curious about the possibilities available right now.

Markovich wrote on 07/29/13 at 15:48:23:


I guess I should have explained more - thanks for your answers, by the way!

My intention is not over-prepare an opponent by structuring a repertoire with 'endgame lines' only - and -+ lines, too. One could compare it with the Caro-Kann (the way Karpov played it). In this opening, you do not exchange queens so often, especially in the opening. You try to keep pieces on board, gives white some initiative while offering him a resilient structure against which he is hard-pressed to find a suitable pawn. Step by step, you methodically extinguish his initiative or his attack, exchange bad pieces for good ones, and stir the game to an endgame, or a static position, where you can 'technically' work his weaknesses.

To summarize, I am not looking for 'pure' endgame lines - the fact that I quoted two, and this topic this title was a bit misleading, i reckon -, but solid lines that have this trend : long-term advantages, ultra-resilient position, and exchange pieces mechanic. Something like 'soak up' defences.

Against the Italian you can steer for an endgame with 3...Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4 7.Bd2 Nxe4 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7 Kxf7 10.Qb3 Kf8 11.Qxb4 Qe7, but against the more common 5.d3 there's no easy way to force the queens off. Against the Spanish Four Knights you can reach an endgame with 4...Nd4 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6 8.dxc3 Qe7 9.Qe2 but it's a pretty boring endgame.

As black? No White has a decent chance of deciding the nature of play like this but black doesn't to any great extent. Not even with the Berlin, cf 4 d3 etc.