Bughouse for Beginners: Being Safe
How to be safe in bughouse? A million dollar question. Here let's briefly analyze some common positions.
At this stage, the safest continuation will depend on what material is coming from the other board.
A pawn drop at e4 can be very useful. I don't know what the very strongest players think of this move, but I like the control of the center that White gets from it. After...
White is safe plus solid. But suppose that White never got a pawn to drop at e4...
In general, resist the temptation to attack before developing. The normal developing moves you learn in classical chess are usually good for covering key squares. Although there are some exceptions...
There are many situations in which Ne2 or Ne7 is bad in bughouse where it would be acceptable in classical chess. The reason is usually that it cuts off the Queen from the defense of the f3 square, or it may be that it cuts off the Bishop from the d3 square.
What about for Black? ...d5 and Nf6 is a good way to stay safe. If you are unambitious and modest in the opening, you can often get unstoppable attacks in the middlegame.
If White tries to do anything with the d5 pawn, it is fine for Black.
In general, it is better to seek control of key squares than to go after the enemy King immediately. These simple positions are ones that all bughouse players should be familiar with.
