
Advanced Opening Analyses in Bughouse : The e6 - d6 System
Here is my new post about bughouse openings; in this text, I will cover the e6 - d6 system for Black. It does seem like a pretty passive system, but it's a solid opening that is quite playable, even up to the highest level. Like every opening, It has its own "tiny moments" and tricks. As always, I will reveal all of these tricks to you, my dear reader.
This is the main setup. Here, White has many options - 5. Bb5. 5. Bd3, 5. Be2 and 5. d5 are the most popular moves and I will analyze them all.
Do note that the e6 - d6 opening system works best with an early pawn in hand. If your partner is playing some kind of 1. d4 d5 setup and a pawn isn't coming, you will have some problems in most lines here.
1) 5. Bb5
With a pawn up and a huge space advantage, White is clearly better in this position. Do note that Black can't really move the c6 knight after 9. d5 since 10. P@c6 would win for White. However, an early pawn drop could solve Black's problems quite well:
Now Nxb5 is not possible because the c6 knight is protected and e4 is still hanging. After 6...b4, Black has basically won the opening. Therefore, (if Black has a pawn in hand), after 5...a6, White would be forced to take 6. bxc6 and after 6...bxc6, Black would have an equal position right out of the opening.
Now, let us consider 5...Bd7 lines:
Indeed, this line might look a little bit scary, but, unless there's high flow, White has no crushing blow in the final position.
Let us now turn out attention to 7. Nxe5:
2) 5. Bd3
To begin with, let us analyze what happens after 5. Bd3 P@g4 6. Ng5:
5. Bd3 is an interesting option because it basically loses to the P@g4 drop. After 7. Nxf7, White has absolutely no compensation for his or her sacrificed knight. Not only is White material down, but White also has a shattered center. Moreover, Black is going to play B@h5 when it is available, and White would find himself or herself in even more trouble. With all of that said, if there is no pawn available to drop on g4, Black is in serious trouble:
Here, 7. N@h5 just wins the opening for White.
Now, if Black attempts 5...Nb4: