Chess.com V.S. GM Alexander Onischuk

hi all, I just found this group, I hope my analysis and opinions are helpful and you dont find them annoying or useless.

Regarding openings - I like LaskerFan's suggestions, and prefer Caro-Kann to Petrov for e4.

2 days

Andrew:  Welcome!  Any analysis done diligently (and not pushed too hard as the only possible truth -- I know you're not that type of player) can be useful, so we are happy to have you.

So are we decided on Pirc for e4? No one's responding, so I'm assuming we are, which is good.

:-)  Silence doesn't necessarily equal agreement in discussions.  It may equal "I don't know", or "I have no specific suggestion" -- which is not the same as "I agree".

The choice of the opening, honestly, does not depend on us.  It'll be a majority vote on which I can't see us exerting much influence.

Regarding Pirc, I am not experienced in it, so I cannot say much, except that it's less popular -- though likely also less reliable, since most GMs don't play it unless they really have to surprise their opponent or pick some unprepared line.  In our case, there is no surprise value, so it's less clear why Pirc and not something like Caro-Cann, which many people have suggested and which is much more common and well-explored.

I second my opinion that we need a solid and well-explored opening, not an offbeat and rare variation.  So, on balance, I am personally not in favor of Pirc from what I have seen/know about it.

Valentin, I would advise you to read Winning Chess Openings by Yasser Seirawan where he shows how good the Pirc and the Barcza are. As for the Austrian "hyped-up" attack, if we play accurately, Onischuk will have a hard time trying to get an advantage, which is just want we want- an opening that will keep Onischuk on his toes.

The two variations in the Pirc that we should be prepared for best are-1) The Austrian Attack-

Thanks for sharing the lines, Vyomo!  It helps for a quick overview of the popular lines. 

(I have played this opening in a couple of my own games, so I noted a familiar piece placement.)

I hope my analysis proves the solidity of the Pirc as well as it's dynamic position which is what we need.

regarding promoting the group and it's move in the game forum, we could try adding a footer to all of our comments

something like

"
Move X is best because of Y
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Chess.com Alliance member - to join the Alliance go to http://www.chess.com/groups/home/the-chesscom-alliance

"

It would be rough to copy and paste for each comment, but its a professional way to advertise/add credibility to our posts

So, as I see, the options have narrowed down to -

d4- QID,Nimzo,KID,Gruenfeld(in order of likelihood)

e4- Pirc/French, Caro-Kann

I am happy with both the Pirc and the French however I prefer the Pirc.

The QID is solid and has my backing.

Any comments?

I like those posibililties, and am fine with all of them. I prefer the Caro-Kann, partially because since he prefers the accelerated panov attack, it may traspose to a nimzo line. I'll echo valentin from above that the KID and Gruenfeld are probably not best. The QID/Nimzo may not be too difficult to persuade the masses to since 1...Nf6 and 2...e6 is at the top of the chess.com database. We are going to have trouble convincing people of what to do in the event of 1. e4. This is where knowing the current vote count will be important so we can not only choose the best opening for us, but the best opening with a chance of winning the voting.

If 1. e4 we have two days to decide if we think Pirc, French, or Caro-Kann is best (or another possibility like the 3./4. a6 modern defense). All of these fit into the style of play I think we all agree is best, and I don't know how much more evidence can be presented in favor of or against either one.

After that we should also be prepared in case we can't steer the voting the correct way. For instance, if 1... e5 we seem set on pushing the russian game (assuming 2. Nf3). In case of 1... c5, I suggest the accelerated dragon to try to avoid overly sharp play (though this will be harder to push).

The problem with 1..c5 is that Onischuk can play the alapin. It's popularity is increasing(chessgames) and none of the sicilian supporters are even thinking about the alapin, a massive problem, since we shall then be underprepared and misled by the so-called sicilian experts.

very true, and he has played it before. In case I wasn't clear in my post, I am not advocating for the sicilian (at least not anymore if you followed the game forum over the last couple weeks), I just want to be prepared in case the masses decide on the sicilian despite our efforts.

The QID is not superior to the Pirc but equal.

I love the sicilian but I wouldn't it to be massacred by lower-rated drive-by voters.

LaskerFan, in the QID, white has already played c4, which still controls the d4-square whereas in the Pirc, white does it with e4. Also, The QID variations usually do not have c5, whereas the Pirc does however d5 is a counter in the QID which does not happen in the Pirc. So, both are equal, in fact very similiar in terms of their goals.

gmeillonc:  I don't think we as a team are prepared for the complexity of a tactical/strategic middlegame play as often arises in the Sicilian.  A few of us may be, but the game will be decided by the rest, and we can't really count on being heard by the masses, even if we (a small group) can come to consensus on what's a best plan when the middlegame comes.  Hence, my recommendation against the Sicilian for this particular game -- nothing against it in other contexts...

So then, if Onischuk plays e4, is it a Pirc( as we hope, assuming the masses listen to us) or a French or a Caro-Kann?

As for d4, I think all of us have agreed on a QID, which is very good.

I only pray Onischuk plays d4 otherwise we could have a tough time convincing everyone to play our choice.

Can some one post the main line of the Caro-kann( A response to the short variation and the Panov-Botvinnik Attack( the two best choices versus the Caro-Kann and the most likely Onischuk will play)?

Here's a thought: why not ask WGM Pogonina to play with us?  :)

No!!!

We all want to play alone vs a GM

There's no point pitting one Gm against another and watching.

The purpose of this game is to learn to work together against an extremely tough but not unbeatable opposition, not to watch someone else play a GM.

andymanchan - while i am no enthusiast, i definitely prefer the caro-kann in this game so im happy to see more support for it... while it usually winds up the same, he goes for the accelerated panov like 9 times out of 10 from what ive seen.