Move 7

Brian-E · 2013-09-01, 18:53

As expected, we have a queen-bishop battery on the c1-h6 diagonal to contend with.

The natural developing move 7...Nge7 can be answered with 8.Bh6 and White can then whip up a dangerous attack on our king by throwing their h pawn forward, assuming we castle kingside which we are likely to want to do.

Paul has been recommending that we counter this plan with 7...h5. I have a lot of affinity with this, even though it's an unusual move. I've succumbed too often to the aforementioned kingside attack when I've played the Black side of this opening before, and a move like 7...h5 sets our own terms rather than let White have it all their own way.

Still, 7...h5 has its disadvantages too. One problem with the move is that it doesn't develop anything, and we're still in the opening. Another is that we weaken our g5 square where White may plant an annoying knight or bishop.

So we have an important decision to make this move.

richs · 2013-09-01, 21:57

At this point, I like Rb8 with the intention of Nd4 and b5 (not necessarily in that order) developing our queenside attack/powerbase. I think we can keep our g knight in place for a bit.

I'm not in favor of moving the h pawn yet since we lose pace and don't keep our attention on the center.

henryzz · 2013-09-02, 09:35

I am with richs. It is obviously possible to defend against white's kingside attack otherwise so many people would try to avoid it rather than let it happen. In a normal game there are lots of opportunities for mistakes which means I think I would prefer something like h5 then but we have 4 people to check for errors.
Instead of defending we can start mobilizing our queenside.

paulunderwood · 2013-09-02, 17:28

The knight on g8 is stopping the exchange of black square bishops.

I like Rb8 too, gearing up for a queen side pawn attack. :smile:

Brian-E · 2013-09-02, 23:31

7...Rb8 is fine by me too.

Brian-E · 2013-09-04, 09:37

Three people are explicitly advocating 7...Rb8 then. The other is implicitly doing so too.

Should we discuss any other moves, or should we play it?

henryzz · 2013-09-04, 10:10

[QUOTE=Brian-E;351839]Three people are explicitly advocating 7...Rb8 then. The other is implicitly doing so too.

Should we discuss any other moves, or should we play it?[/QUOTE]
Sounds like we should play it.

2013-09-01, 18:53	#1
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 7·467 Posts	Move 7 As expected, we have a queen-bishop battery on the c1-h6 diagonal to contend with. The natural developing move 7...Nge7 can be answered with 8.Bh6 and White can then whip up a dangerous attack on our king by throwing their h pawn forward, assuming we castle kingside which we are likely to want to do. Paul has been recommending that we counter this plan with 7...h5. I have a lot of affinity with this, even though it's an unusual move. I've succumbed too often to the aforementioned kingside attack when I've played the Black side of this opening before, and a move like 7...h5 sets our own terms rather than let White have it all their own way. Still, 7...h5 has its disadvantages too. One problem with the move is that it doesn't develop anything, and we're still in the opening. Another is that we weaken our g5 square where White may plant an annoying knight or bishop. So we have an important decision to make this move.

2013-09-04, 09:37	#6
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 7·467 Posts	Three people are explicitly advocating 7...Rb8 then. The other is implicitly doing so too. Should we discuss any other moves, or should we play it? Last fiddled with by Brian-E on 2013-09-04 at 09:39

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2013-09-01, 21:57	#2
richs "Rich" Aug 2002 Benicia, California 519₁₆ Posts	At this point, I like Rb8 with the intention of Nd4 and b5 (not necessarily in that order) developing our queenside attack/powerbase. I think we can keep our g knight in place for a bit. I'm not in favor of moving the h pawn yet since we lose pace and don't keep our attention on the center.

2013-09-02, 09:35	#3
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Cambridge (GMT/BST) 2³·3·5·7² Posts	I am with richs. It is obviously possible to defend against white's kingside attack otherwise so many people would try to avoid it rather than let it happen. In a normal game there are lots of opportunities for mistakes which means I think I would prefer something like h5 then but we have 4 people to check for errors. Instead of defending we can start mobilizing our queenside.

2013-09-02, 17:28	#4
paulunderwood Sep 2002 Database er0rr 3,739 Posts	The knight on g8 is stopping the exchange of black square bishops. I like Rb8 too, gearing up for a queen side pawn attack. :smile:

2013-09-02, 23:31	#5
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 7·467 Posts	7...Rb8 is fine by me too.

2013-09-04, 10:10	#7
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Cambridge (GMT/BST) 2³×3×5×7² Posts	[QUOTE=Brian-E;351839]Three people are explicitly advocating 7...Rb8 then. The other is implicitly doing so too. Should we discuss any other moves, or should we play it?[/QUOTE] Sounds like we should play it.