http://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1529062283 incidentally, I made a thread about that variation. Didn't have the time yet to check out the most recent posts, I just notice..

Gorath wrote on 08/16/18 at 01:01:05:


I just got the Bologan. I'd be curious to know the problematic line(s) in the main Two Knights' if you remember.

Against the Evans, 4... Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 Na5 7.Be2 d6 always looked reasonable and straightforward to me, although nobody ever plays the Evans so I haven't had a chance to test it.

Leon_Trotsky wrote on 08/21/18 at 23:23:39:


In principle it should be easier to play against d3 systems as there are no direct threats. The problem is how to respond when White plays d3-d4. I suspect as Black you need to know a wide range of "systems", so as to be able to select the most promising response. Assuming you've managed to get .. c5 in before they play d4, do you play e5xd4, c5xd4 or just ignore it? If you ignore it, how strong is d4-d5? Even if you just play e5xd4 or c5xd4, are you trying to provoke d4-d5? 

TD wrote on 08/21/18 at 20:12:01:


Well, they're both much more conducive to a slow buildup than the Two Knights or Evans or Scotch, and the Philidor will still give you a good taste of chess history.  There are a lot of Philidor and Philidor-like positions in My System, for instance.   

But in any case if you know what your taste is, just play that.  I assume that at this point in life you aren't trying to become an IM, so just try to play whatever you want and not worry about whether there's too much theory or whether you're too old or whatever.  Just give it a try for a while and see how it goes.

doefmat wrote on 08/21/18 at 19:31:25:

Not really.

Have you considered the Petroff? Maybe not 'real' open game but it is an easy to learn opening, you cut down some theory (Spanish, Italian, Scotch etc) and still get to play classical e4 e5 lines like the Four Knights, some gambits etc.