All,
We're getting a huge amount of traffic from Jorge and Che as of late, with
little impact. We need to consider that extensive reflection results in
constructive improvement. I'm of the belief that showing games of extensive
blunders is of little worth. We have to analyse games are of worth and value of
contemplation.
Games against chess engines, such as shredder or even Stockfish on Lichess are
of little worth. They tell us little and are of no value in their construction.
We need to be more critical and reflective on how we view such "tools". Notice,
I refer to them as "tools" and not elements to enhance our chess.
I believe that all correspondence on this list needs to adopt more
intellectually more active approaches to tackle their chessic difficulties and
approaches. Tyson has the expertise to advise on beginner chess, so I defer to
him to relate to those cases, but in my untrained opinion, the direct of
support and focus is misguided and not relevant to the aspect of betterment and
improvement.
Showing us a game with multiple blunders is of little value.
Cheers,
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of blindadrenaline@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: 19 March 2021 21:30
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: Suggestions for basic openings as black
Thanks George and Tyson,
George, I have looked at the Sicilian, but think from what I can tell it needs
to be studied a good bit to avoid slipping into the banana pit, but I agree it
is a good defense, many years of great players using it proves that point I
suppose.
Tyson, I will check out what you referred to, thanks for that, haven't ran
across a reference to the hippopotamus as yet, but that is like saying Lewis
and Clark hadn't run into any oceans the first three days of their journey.
As far as the Swiss Army knife, it can do a lot of things, but sure is hard to
do any fatal damage to your opponents with it, heh.
Have a good weekend out there all,
Che
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of mordue andrew (Redacted sender "tyson.mordue" for DMARC)
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2021 1:20 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: Suggestions for basic openings as black
Hello Che et al,
That's an interesting analogy.: the 'Swiss Army knife of Black responses'. If
you mean something that you can play against anything then it has to be one of
the hypermodern defences with 1...g7-g6 or 1...b7-b6. The point of playing
these is that you concede the centre to White and hope to counterattack later,
but you run the risk of getting pushed off the board early on by a broad White
centre.
1...b7-b6 is called the Queen's Fianchetto Defence, for obvious reasons, and is
also known as Owen's Defence. This was popularised by some English players in
the 1970s and 1980s.
1...g7-g6 2 e2-e4 Bf8-g7 is known by various names such as The Modern, Pirc,
Ufimtsev, and Robatsch (who was an Austrian GM and that's next door to
Switzerland!) but note that White could play 3 c2-c4 which brings you into
King's Indian territory.
The only other really universal opening is The Hippopotamus. Black intends a
formation that basically goes in any order you like but with ...g7-g6,
...Bf8-g7, ...b7-b6, ...Bc8-b7, ...e7-e6, ...Ng8-e7, ...d7-d6, ....Nd7,
...a7-a6, and ...h7-h6, then go for ...c7-c5 or f7-f5 as appropriate. Castling
is left late and appropriate to circumstances. However, it can require very
subtle and flexible handling in the early middle-game.
I'm not actually recommending anything because openings are a very complicated
subject. Don't be surprised if experiments get crushed and remember that main
lines are there for a reason. They've been established after decades of
tournament and match play.
Hope this helps.
Tyson
On 19 March 2021 at 17:42 blindadrenaline@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Hey all,
I have been going over a couple of openings for white, but was wondering if
anyone might suggest one or two for playing black as a beginner chess player.
I totally realize the responses depends on the openings white goes with, but
hoping to find something like a swiss army knife of black responses, where I
can improv responses without getting into too much trouble early on.
Jim was kind enough to suggest and show me the Colle system for a general
purpose white opening, and Tyson and others recommended the London system as
well, both of which are great.
If I am missing the boat here, and need to be asking different questions
about how to play black, I am all ears.
Thanks much all,
Che
