opening
 

We are white, right? Are we going to play d4 or e4? Or some other first move?

We are black as we were white last time. As there are only 2 common moves for white, it would be worth discussing our next move(s). Some people need to speak their mind before becoming unavailable(richs before 2nd, me before 28th).

I see. We are Black. Let's wait for White's first move.

We could discuss any very general opening preferences that we have as individual players while we're waiting for their first move.

I have a personal aversion to highly theoretical lines where the latest theory counts, especially in correspondence games. It's always been a preference of mine to avoid bookish lines because I don't get the feeling I'm playing chess if we're just looking up what Grandmaster X played in the position and what theoretical expert Y analysed. Against that, it is of course inadvisable to play dubious lines, especially with Black, in a correspondence game. So in general I like positional openings where long term strategy for the middlegame is more important than exact move order.

I fully expect disagreement about this from you all though.:smile:

The closed sicillian from the last game always felt a little defensive. I would prefer to aim for a closed centre if possible but we also need solid plans for attack.

Some opening are more theoretical and have been studied much more than others. Sometimes this is because they are better that alternative lines. Sometimes that line just requires less study. They are the ones we want to look for.

I can't really see white doing anything other than e4 or d4.
In reply to e4:
Our main options are e5 and c5
c5: This is the Sicillian Defence. Based on the result of the last game I would expect them to avoid the closed variation which means the game will be very open. I would expect the responce Nf3
e5: Again the most common reply is Nf3. This leaves us with a most likely move of Nc6 with d6 and Nf6 as alternatives.
In reply to d4:
I haven't really studied this much as I don't encounter it often. I have grown fond of the Dutch Defence(f5). It provides a solid centre while leaving oportunities to attack on the wings. It also fits the not overly studied/theory known criteria.

I play a combination of Sicillian(open as white. I fell out with closed.), ruy lopez and dutch defence. I expect to learn quite a bit about the opening we play in this game so it would be nice if I can fit it into my general playing.

What does everyone else think? What do people play usually? Do we have any specialists in any of the slightly more unusual openings(french, caro-kann etc)?
What does everyone else do against d4?

The only point where my repertoire seems to coincide with yours, David, is that I play the Sicilian Defence with Black (and then one of the more off-beat variations, especially the Kann 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 to avoid the most critical lines). I have little experience with 1.e4 e5 because I don't open 1.e4 as white and I avoid open games with Black. I also sometimes play the French and Caro-Kann defences, and have experimented with the Alekhine and Scandinavian defences to 1.e4, neither of which I consider suitable for correspondence chess.

Against 1.d4 I sometimes play queens gambit accepted, sometimes queens gambit declined, sometimes Nimzo-Indian defence.

I most enjoy defending against flank openings 1.c4/1.Nf3/1.g3/1.b3 all of which I use myself as white. 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 in particular are both especially popular and flexible opening moves and I would not be at all surprised if the Pirates open with one of them. I go for a closed, positional game if at all possible in response to these moves.

I think we avoided the book last game, and although we did not succeed in winning, I liked our analyses and thought processes. I look forward to playing with all of you.

Last time David came up with some video on the opening that we initially pursued and I thought that was helpful.

Let's see how they open.....

[QUOTE=richs;347169]
Last time David came up with some video on the opening that we initially pursued and I thought that was helpful.[/QUOTE]
I plan to do that again.

+1 for the Sicilian Defence.

I too like the Sicilian defense so c5 would be a good start. Perhaps we will have as much success with it as our opponents did last game.

Here's the link that David posted last time that was helpful: [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU9iOKsYitk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU9iOKsYitk[/URL]

There are other instructive videos on youtube if you search "beginner chess openings."

1...c5 is fine by me too.

Since David is away through August 4 (our due date for response to White), we should go ahead and play our move c5. David was ageeable to this defense in his earlier post.

An early response may allow me to provide input on our next move before I'm off backpacking on August 2.

Brian, would you like to take the honors?

Yes, playing 1...c5 does indeed seem the right thing to do in the circumstances. Three voted for it already, and our absent captain said he plays it himself. What more do we want? All very logical thinking, Rich.:smile:

Now that I'm staying somewhere which offers a decent wifi which doesn't keep disconnecting on me, I'll play the move as you suggest, Rich.

Managed to find WiFi. C5 was a good move to make :smile: