English Chess Forum

Oh dear, what started as a much better season is suddenly hitting the buffers of less common openings. can anyone suggest idiot proof replies to the:

Petroff, Scandinavian and Alekhine Defenses.

All sensible suggestions greatly appreciated.

Michele

1. d4 would be my recommendation!

I knew someone would say that

But it would be impossible, and possibly even unhelpful to just recommend antidotes out of the blue, since the same system that may be idiot-proof for one person may be totally unsuitable for another.

You could try and get an overview of various different systems in order to get a feel for which one(s) you feel would suit your needs, ie. playing style, soundness, time needed to study it etc etc and then investigate in more detail the lines you think would be best for you.

If you are playing recognised lines against these openings the problem could be that those lines dont suit you or another possibility is that the cause of your losses does not lie where you think it does.

I wish there were a simpler answer but good luck !

How about using the Four Knights thing against two of them?

Petroff 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3
Alekhine 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3

Against the Skandinavian...

1. e4 d5 2. ed Qxd5 3. Nf3 - then Be2, 0-0, d4 in some order and kick the Queen with c4 later on
1. e4 d5 2. ed Nxd5 3. Bb5 4. Bd7 4. Be2 - then Nf3, 0-0, d4 in some order and kick the Knight with c4 later on

John Hickman wrote:How about using the Four Knights thing against two of them?

Petroff 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3

I've been playing the Petroff since 1991, and am always happiest to see 3 Nc3, it is what most weaker players essay

Ultimately, if you have problems against many defences to e4, you need to try d4, Nf3 or c4 - you'll learn a lot by changing, although your results go backwards for a while

Mick Norris wrote: I've been playing the Petroff since 1991, and am always happiest to see 3 Nc3, it is what most weaker players essay

Well that'll teach me for taking recommendations off Nigel Davies DVD

That's interesting about the Petroff Mick. Which line do you least like to see?

Any that quickly indicate my opponent knows their theory!

Try the mainlines; they shouldn't be too hard to learn and should also be a bit better for white.

Another two-for-the-price-of-one solution (well, sort of):

Scandinavian: 1.e4 d5 2.d4
Alekhine: 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4

I guess one could also add:
Petrov: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4
(Not quite the same thing but it has a similar feel.)

I play e4 d5 Nc3 then if de d3, its quite a cool gambit if played correctly.

Ben

Ben Purton wrote:I play e4 d5 Nc3 then if de d3, its quite a cool gambit if played correctly.

Ben

Yeah, it looks like it could be. I suspect the best response if you don't know it is 3...Nf6, which looks like it shouldn't be too troublesome for black.

Any prospects of getting some notes from you for Ledger v Purton, by the way? It was a nice game, and I'd like to see your comments.

Ive only got CB Light... I can do it in text if your up for the conversion , let me know Ill do it tonight.

Yes, I am.

Hi.

Don't worry about about what they play - let them worry about
what you are going to play.

Scandinavian.

1.e4 d5 You play 2.d4! Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.

Alekhine.

1.e4 Nf6 you 2.f3 they play 2...e5 you play f4 - Latvian Gambit.

Petroff

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 you play 3.a3.

Now you take on the role of the Black pieces and you are playing the Petroff.

They spend £14.95 on the book of the Petroff and end up playing against it!
This always cracks me up.

Good Luck.