Latest Bristol Chess Times - week ending 24th March

[Jon Fisher]

Three new articles this week, two exploring the unlikeliest move in chess.

The unlikeliest chess move part 1 - A search for the rarest notation
https://bristolchesstimes.com/2018/03/1 ... revisited/

The unlikeliest chess move part 2 - The heavyweight of queens, rooks and kings
https://bristolchesstimes.com/2018/03/2 ... vyweights/

Seeking asymmetry in an anti-London System
https://bristolchesstimes.com/2018/03/1 ... on-system/

Enjoy!

[Roger de Coverly]

Seeking asymmetry in an anti-London System

That's quite an interesting idea with a drawback that it's not available to those who meet 1. d4 with 1. .. Nf6. To summarise the article Black's first three moves are ..d5, .. Nc6 and .. Bf5. Against the stereotype London set up, you intend to play, e6, f6 and Nge7, Qd7 and 0-0-0 and then throw pawns at the White King starting with a g5 hit to the exposed Bishop.

[Paul Dargan]

It's reminiscent of the "Raetsky's broken toy variation" - see his book "No Passion for Chess Fashion". Nf3 d5; g3 Nc6; d4 Bg4; Bg2 Qd7 - with 0-0-0, f6 and e5 or g5 to follow ... it's quite a fun system to play, if a little hairy. Though no worse than many an old-fashioned Albin.

Paul

[Chris Goodall]

That's quite an interesting idea with a drawback that it's not available to those who meet 1. d4 with 1. .. Nf6.

That's a bit like saying a drawback of the Najdorf Sicilian is that it's not available to people who play the French! The "London" makes no sense while Black still has the option of a King's Indian setup, because the ...e5 break is going to gain a tempo on the bishop.

In fact I'd go so far as to say that if you're afraid of the London System, to the point where you're worried about finding an antidote to it? Give up 1...d5! Because what are you hoping to meet instead of the London when you play 1...d5 - the Queen's Gambit, statistically the best White opening that exists?

[Roger de Coverly]

In fact I'd go so far as to say that if you're afraid of the London System, to the point where you're worried about finding an antidote to it?

Have you not noticed the recent development of a dangerous version of the London? It goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3. If you now continue 3. .. Bg7 then 4. e4. They can then follow up with Qd2 and Bh6 transposing to a line of the 150 Attack, I would rather not face.

"They" in this context is Mark Hebden and Simon Williams, perhaps others.

[Chris Goodall]

Have you not noticed the recent development of a dangerous version of the London? It goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3. If you now continue 3. .. Bg7 then 4. e4. They can then follow up with Qd2 and Bh6 transposing to a line of the 150 Attack, I would rather not face.

"They" in this context is Mark Hebden and Simon Williams, perhaps others.

If you're planning to transpose to the Pirc with ...d6, it makes no sense to play 3...Bg7 instead of the immediate 3...d6. Every Pirc player knows that when White is telegraphing Bh6 to you, there's no point wasting a move on ...Bg7. Alternatively, don't transpose to the Pirc after 3...Bg7. I like MVL's 4...d5 against Bacrot.