English Chess Forum

Firstly I’d make sure my opponent doesn’t read these pages, and then I'd play something sensible and be grateful that he/she hasn’t played a ‘proper’ opening (which is exactly what a team mate often says about my own white repertoire).

Paul, I note you started this thread in September – have you faced any orangutans since then?

From White's POV, having toyed around with 1.b4 when 1...e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 simply gave Black too much play so early on IMO, I would nowadays follow Smyslov's example and preface the possibility of b4 with 1.Nf3, depending on Black's first move reply, of course.