But then again 2...d5 is the engine's best choice after 2...e5, and as the op won't play the best move here, we'll have to look for other unusual moves. The only playable alternatives seem to be 2... d6 or 2...g6.
A Nimzowitsch problem
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Mar 23, 2022
0
#23
Donnsteinz wrote:
Where? I don't see it.
At this point I’m sure you’re either trolling or deliberately misunderstanding. You didn’t even consider exd5, which is awfully strange. If you’d even read dark’s post you’d know that white wants to play for Ne5 at some point, and clearly he can’t do that if there’s a pawn on the square.
B1ZMARK wrote:
Donnsteinz wrote:
Where? I don't see it.
At this point I’m sure you’re either trolling or deliberately misunderstanding. You didn’t even consider exd5, which is awfully strange. If you’d even read dark’s post you’d know that white wants to play for Ne5 at some point, and clearly he can’t do that if there’s a pawn on the square.
I was looking for a refutation (and the Bb5 line that we discussed clearly doesn't end with +-)... A 0.89 plus isn't a refutation it's slightly better for white at grandmaster level and better for white (which would be +/-) at intermediate/advanced level. Know your chess terms 
Mar 23, 2022
0
#25
It’s less about the definition of refutation here and more of the fact that you did not even seem to consider what dark said in your diagram. And of course… using the engine to show that a line is “not refuted.” Black has his queen out in a corner in an open position and no real pawn breaks to even work with. At grandmaster level, this is usually enough to win. After all, he will have to walk a chess and mental tightrope of defense, and while not being winning, I’m not sure anyone would want to take this position as black in any reasonably long time control.
Mar 23, 2022
0
#26
black may have to play 5...a6 but after 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.d4 bg4 8.qd3, i dont envy blacks position one bit.
Mar 23, 2022
0
#27
Donnsteinz wrote:
But then again 2...d5 is the engine's best choice after 2...e5, and as the op won't play the best move here, we'll have to look for other unusual moves. The only playable alternatives seem to be 2... d6 or 2...g6.
I wouldn't trust the engine evaluation on move 2.
2...d6 is definitely the strongest, and 2...Nf6 and 2...g6 are probably better also.
Mar 23, 2022
0
#28
Steven-ODonoghue wrote:
Donnsteinz wrote:
But then again 2...d5 is the engine's best choice after 2...e5, and as the op won't play the best move here, we'll have to look for other unusual moves. The only playable alternatives seem to be 2... d6 or 2...g6.
I wouldn't trust the engine evaluation on move 2.
2...d6 is definitely the strongest, and 2...Nf6 and 2...g6 are probably better also.
I would much rather play 2...e6 than 2...d5 as well.
Mar 23, 2022
0
#29
for completionist's sake
and with this and my earlier analysis i conclude my analysis of the 1.e4 nc6 2.nf3 d5 line. my verdict stands. IF white knows his lines, black at best has an inferior position for no major upside and would likely hope to limp his way into a mercy draw after an agonizing 30 moves
Hmm this idea seems to really put some pressure on black... and yes, the engine recommendation is 4...Qd6, but even then it gives a 0.89 plus for white (which is not a refutation btw, but I understand the point). The N on c6 does seem out of place here, and black has lost a lot of tempi as compared to the normal Scandi. He must play very carefully to neutralize white's initiative.