FreeRepublic wrote on 12/30/25 at 21:24:08:

Another source is Ask Avrukh:
https://ask-avrukh.com/Games.aspx

stockhausen wrote on 06/03/19 at 16:33:09:


After a cursory look, I agree.

Quote:


The Short system has never appealed to me much from either side. However, anyone who likes the Short system should be encouraged by your suggestion.

I've been very encouraged by lines beginning with 5...Be7 which maintains the option of playing ...c6 or ...c5.

I think the exchange variation has to be the central focus of any player of the black pieces who plays (or considers playing) 1d4 d5 2c4 e6. I think black has acceptable answers but it is an acquired taste.

After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.Qc2 h6 7.Bh4, the moves 7...g6 and 7...Be6 both look interesting. I'm curious as to why neither of them are commonly played - in the rare cases strong GMs have played them, they have had good results, especially after 7...g6 (which of course has the natural idea of 8.e3 Bf5). Are there some ways for white to gain an advantage against these lines? IM Panayotis Frenzdas has claimed that black is completely equal after 7...Be6, but I feel that were this the case elite players would use this more often, especially as many players such as Caruana have recently used 6.Qc2 to avoid the Short System.