Hello Everybody,

as the title suggests, i am interested in transpositions into the BDG. I try to play attacking chess, but i play 1.e4 rather than 1.d4 usually, so i don't play the BDG that often. But i am thinking about learning the BDG to avoid defensive opening choices against 1.e4, for example: If my opponent tries to avoid theory by playing 1. ... d5 (the Scandinavian), i might transpose to the BDG with 2.d4.

Other possibilties: 

The Caro-Kann Player

The French Player

So basically my question is: Do you know other possible transpositions for e4 players? Is there a way to play BDG in the Rubinstein French (one might play a3 to prevent Bb4, but it wastes a valuable tempo)

Thanks in advance,

sirprim

P.S.: I already have opening choices against e5/c5 and i play d6/g6 (Pirc/Modern) as black myself, so i am comfortable playing these as white, too. But i want to crack these defensive openings c6/e6/d5

In the French, one can play 3.Be3!?, the Alapin French to generate a different type of BDG-like game: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Be3!? dxe 4.Nd2.

Not at any cost B.D.!

Some of my latest games run like that: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 c6 3. ed cd 4. c4 Panow is also a strong attack!

You might be right about the Panov being a strong variation for white, probably stronger than the BDG. But my motivation for going into a BDG is different:

1. I want to cut down theory myself. There seem to be ways to reach BDG like positions via d5/c6/e6. That way i have to learn one opening against these choices instead of three.

2. The BDG is more likely to get my opponent "out of book" than the Panov. This is something i personally like

Having played the Black side of the Caro-Kann many times as a low-rated amateur, Eventhorizon's post just reminded me of the cold sweats I used to get when White whipped out the Panov-Botvinnik Attack!

Karo Cann fantasy var:

1.e4 c6

2.d4 d5

3.Nc3 dxe4

4.f3

and you go into a simil_BDG line

That is very interesting, leaving the Scandinavian lines for the Blackmar- Diemer.  I never thought of it.

Don't think you need to play a3 with White against the French.  Would you play a3 against the Nimzo-Indian?  Waste of time.

Openings don't win chess games (especially against all those database moves).  Even the Blackmar-Diemer will run up against chess databases.  Click your mouse.  Let the computer tell you what to do.  It is not really chess, but why bother?  People who don't like to make their own moves can be robots.

You have a more than valid point here.  It may be better to begin 1.e4.  That way chess players may be fooled and unable to recognize the Blackmar-Diemer and find it in the databases.  That is like in the old days when we were actually able to catch the unsuspecting in our chess traps.  Databases do not even let you know a trap is there.  They tell you the best moves, not the worst moves. 

This is a very playable line in the French ...had quite some succes with it OTB.

Yeah i've had some success with the alapin french otb as well.....

In regards to the scandinavian..... it reminds me of some prep I did one day.  Traditionally I'm a d4 player...but I knew my opponent played the benoni..... but i knew my opp played the scandinavian..... so for the first time in years I played 1.e4 as my opening move..... and my prep worked!

You'd like some ideas of tranpositions ? You are right about the french and Caro-Kann player, but not only them...

Please visit this french BDG website http://gambit-blackmar-diemer.perso.sfr.fr/articles.php?pg=art17

On the left you are 5 transpositions found at a high or medium International level (and two others I didn't choose yet : the english & the Nimzowitsch).

Enjoy !!!

My favorite method of transposing from the Caro-Kann is:

1 e4 c6  2 d4 d5  3 Nc3 dxe  4 Bc4!? Nf6  5 f3. This reduces Black's options somewhat, and c4 generally turns out to be a good post for the bishop.

I am presently playing a French Alapin game. No advice please as this is an active game, but you are welcome to watch.