Enjoy!

Nice game. Ruy Lopez players get real pissed when that comes up.

I played 3.Nc3 for awhile against petrov's defense, but 3...Bb4 lets black equalize, it think I am going to start playing 3.d4.

Its quite a common beginning in chess (???)

Nxe5 Nxe4 is fine withcont. with me this is almost like the berlin with out bishop out

hellrazor wrote: Nxe5 Nxe4 is fine withcont. with me this is almost like the berlin with out bishop out

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 ??

After 3 Nxe5 , 3...Nxe4 is an inferior response, but entirely playable if you know what you're doing. Much better to play 3...d6.

A-ok, Comments coming fast

AnthonyCG wrote: Nice game. Ruy Lopez players get real pissed when that comes up.

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 Agreed. I learned a lot about the Petrov just for that reason. I HATE the Ruy Lopez. I'll play whatever it takes to keep the Ruy out of a game.

hellrazor wrote: Nxe5 Nxe4 is fine withcont. with me this is almost like the berlin with out bishop out

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 Black has to kick the knight out with the d-pawn before it is safe to retake the pawn.

 

 

I have a line against the Petrov that gives White a dynamic and good game.  e4 e5 Nf3 Nf6 Nxe5 d6 Nf3 Nxe4 Nc3!? Nxc3 dxc3! and White has active square for his pieces, will castle queenside, and pawnstorm the kingside.

I would disagree - the doubled up pawns on the c-file would end up being a weakness in the endgame.

(That's why people play the Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation)

For some fun with White, try the Cochrane Gambit 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Ne5 d6 4 Nf7!? as Topalov played recently against Kramnik

Weakness on the c file?  Hardly.  In the Ruy Lopez exchange variation, White has a kingside majority, whereas Black has a useless queenside majority, resulting in a win for White.  In this case, Black has no kingside majority and his strong queenside pawns are unable to make a passer without undoubling White's pawns.  Nc3 is a great way to play.

The computer likes 5.d4 over 5.Nc3 - I'm gussing that it would rather have a pawn in the center instead  of having the pawns trip over eachother on the c-file.

Nc3 is the computer's second choice.

The computer is likely influenced by book theory.  There are many things that the c3 pawn does.  First of all, it adds extra protection to White's castled king.  If Black puts a bishop on g7, it would be hitting granite rather than the b2 pawn.  It also blocks penetration along the c file to c2.  Second of all, it bestows upon white the half open d file.  This creates greater mobility and activity of White's forces.  This may be in conjunction with c3-c4-c5 creating a weak pawn on d6.  White also has ideas of Rd1-d3 to get at the castled king.  I think you have read that doubled pawns are bad and a weakness.  In reality, they have their good qualities as well.  What do you think about the isolated pawn?  Is it good or bad?

The isolated pawn becomes an asset only during the endgame IMO.

I'm just wondering why the book move is d4 and not Nc3 then, if there are so many reasons to do Nc3.

The reason d4 is a book move is that it's the most logical move.  It puts a pawn in the center and gains space.  d4 has it's merits to be sure, but it very drawish.  Nc3 immediately creates dynamism in the position.  It makes the games more fun and creates more winning chances for both sides.  Grandmasters typically like sterile positions because they can live with a draw, but can never afford to lose lest it put them out of contention.  So that's why the popular move is d4.  That may soon change though.

what a rating of 8925?

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Huh?!