Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Changed my mind

In my previous post, I said I was going to switch from the Two Knights to the Giuoco Piano as black. I've changed my mind, at least until there is a decent opening book, from black's perspective, on the Giuoco. The line that starts with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4! is incredibly tricky for black, and frankly I have enough on my plate right now learning to play the Ruy as white. So, for now, I will stick with the Two Knights. I am familiar with it, so it won't take too much work to give it a spit-shine. Sure, I may end up a pawn down after 4. Ng5 (etc), but perhaps this will help me learn about initiative.

One of my favorite opening books, Emms' Play the Open Games as Black has five chapters on the Two Knights. Sweet.

7 Comments:

Blogger Schereschevsky said...

BDK,

I have almost your same rating on ICC. On last open tournament I won my first game against a master (he is now 75 years old and a rating near 2000, but I think he still should have the "master" experience) with that line with black pieces. If you really know the line, black equalizes. I hope you consider to go back to giuoco piano. Here is the game. Book is up to move 13 I think.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4
8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 h6 14. Nf3
O-O 15. Qe2 Ng6 16. Nd4 Bd7 $2 17. Re1 (17. Ne6 fxe6 (17... Bxe6 18. dxe6 d5
19. e7) 18. dxe6 Bxe6 19. Rxe6) 17... Ne5 18. Ne6 fxe6 19. dxe6 Bxe6 20. Bxe6+
Kh8 21. f4 Qf6 22. Bb3 Nd7 23. Bc2 Qxb2 24. Rb1 Qxa2 25. g3 Nf6 26. Ra4 Qd5
27. Rb5 Rae8 28. Qxe8 Rxe8 29. Rxd5 Nxd5 30. Rxa7 Rb8 31. Bg6 Kg8 32. Kf2 Kf8
33. Be4 c6 (33... Nc3 34. Bxb7) 34. Bxd5 cxd5 35. Ke3 Ke7 36. Kd4 Ke6 37. g4 g6
38. Ra1 b5 39. Re1+ Kd7 40. Kxd5 b4 41. Rb1 b3 42. Rb2 Rb4 43. h3 Rb5+ 44. Kc4
Kc6 45. Kd4 Rb4+ 46. Ke3 Kd5 47. Rd2+ Kc4 48. Rxd6 b2 49. Rd1 b1=Q 50. Rxb1
Rxb1 51. f5 gxf5 52. gxf5 Kd5 53. Kf4 Rb4+ 0-1

ShakhMat

2/07/2007 06:41:00 AM  
Blogger Blue Devil Knight said...

Shakmat: the key in your paragarph is "if you really know the line, black equalizes." I don't have the time right now to learn such a sharp line. And as I said, until there is a good book for black on this, I ain't touching it.

2/07/2007 10:17:00 AM  
Blogger Schereschevsky said...

BDK,

I never played the giuoco before this game. I allways played the two knights defence. That was my first time. It took me less than one hour the same day of the tournament to learn that, not because of me but because it is easy thing to learn. I think that you even don't have to memorize the 14 moves. If you take a look a it 2 o 3 times you will see the idea and will never forget the sequence. I hope you can reconsider that :). Good luck.

Shakhmat.

2/07/2007 01:40:00 PM  
Blogger Blue Devil Knight said...

Shakmat: jeez you are persistent :)

I've got too much on my plate for it right now. I'm learning new systems as white including:
1) Ruy (hence I need to learn things like the Philidor and other deviations which I didn't face in my Bishop's opening which I used to transpose into the Vienna game).
2) French (I'm not doing the exchange variation anymore), but 3. Nc3.
3) Deferred GPA against the Sicilian (instead of the flat-out caveman (ht Patrick) 2. f4.

As black, I'm changing to:
1) Open Ruy instead of (boring) closed.

The two knights I am familiar with and need to prioritize. Also, I prefer to learn openings for which there are very good books available, as this helps me save time. In the future, if such a book comes out, I'll switch to the Giuoco.

2/07/2007 02:44:00 PM  
Blogger wayward son said...

The Two-Knights definately has more books available. The only book that I can think of that uses the Guioco Piano for Black is "Chess Advantage Black and White," but I agree that you are busy enough right now, especially if you are changing to the open Ruy which is a ton of work.

2/07/2007 04:47:00 PM  
Blogger katar said...

yes, definitely play 2 knights. you can learn a lot about active pieces and initiative. a pawn is a trifle for such gains. when GM's commonly play an opening that loses a pawn by force, this is an opening to be feared.

besides, giuoco piano is freaking boring. :)
btw, that book Chess Advantage in general advocates very safe and solid openings with queenless middlegames. this can be good or bad depending on your tastes.

2/07/2007 04:59:00 PM  
Blogger takchess said...

Sure black position looks like it is in shambles in the 2 knights but look at the winning percentage.
\
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=c59

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1008358

2/08/2007 05:03:00 AM  

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