Any Black Lion Players here ?

I'm trying to find some games where White uses the Lion system .

Can anyone point me in the right direction or give me some tips.

For example should I go with d6/Nf6 etc as White or do I need to adjust my opening moves ?

Are you saying you are trying to get practice in the White side of it?  (In essence, the Black Lion is nothing more than Philidor's Defense).

Or are you trying to say that you are looking to play the opening with the colors reversed, thinking the extra move will get you some advantage?

If it's the latter, think again.  Defenses are defenses for a reason, and are not intended to be played on the reverse side.  There is little to no benefit with the extra move.  Here's why:

1) Defenses are named as such because they typically involve getting less space than White has (because he goes second) - So why would you voluntarily give up space to Black with the first move?

2) Many Defenses are "reactionary", as in what you do is dependent upon what White does.  A prime example is the Dutch compared to Bird's Opening.  When White plays 1.d4, the move 1...f5 stakes control of e4, and e4 has been weakened by pushing d2-d4, since that pawn can no longer cover the e4-square.  If you play 1.f4, Black has not committed to 1...d5, and so the e5 square is not weakened, and Black can put the pawn on d6, fighting for control of e5, rather than d5.  This is why the Dutch is more sound than Bird's Opening.

3) 99.99% of the time, White either ends up with the slight disadvantage that Black gets in the normal opening despite the extra move, or else ends up equal at best.  There are a few rare exceptions.  Like the Reverse Dragon, Black doesn't have time to play the Yugoslav Attack being down the Tempo, but he can play the Classical Lines against the Dragon with the colors reversed and White has zero advantage.  Same thing goes for the Reversed King's Indian.  Reversed Fianchetto - Equal.  Reversed Saemisch - Equal, albeit riskier than the Fianchetto.  Reversed Classical - White's better, Black doesn't have the time to spare White the move in that line.

You won't find games where White uses a system normally played by Black, especially one that is questionable at best for Black to begin with.  Take advantage of the first move when given the opportunity.

here is the truth about the lion system. It is not sound to play g5 with black in every line. It is very strong again a 0-0 when white plays h3, but alot of the time white can stop that set up with correct play look it up on youtube there is a GM that gave a 20 min video on the black lion, and he tell you when not to try the g5 push and just play ng6. I have been trying the lion out from both sides of the board and with tell you it is a all or nothing open and you do have to play very sharp or your busted fast also

@Jeremiah...

Thanks for the utube info.

I'm aware that the Lion has shortcomings. But at my level (1200) OTB it's doing it's job...getting me into games and I am actually winning the OTB games I am suppose to and using the LIon against 1700U players gives them fits.

Have yet to beat one of them yet, but still have fun and interesting games against players that would kill me before I statrted the Lion.

For someone who doesn't like to study openings much - the system is working decently.

I have another pretty decent tournament in two weeks , so I will get to use it on players of my own ability .

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/animalkingdom/ss/Black-Lion-Picture.htm

Nevada2012 wrote:

"... should I go with d6/Nf6 etc as White or do I need to adjust my opening moves ?"

I would think that it would be difficult for White to achieve d6/Nf6 in the opening.

Misspoke, meant d3/NF3.

But figured it out on my own....so yes d3/Nf3 is correct.

Somewhere around here there is a 2000 or so OTB player who plays both colors with the Lion opening.

"correct"

the Shirov g4 line is certainly interesting to consider as a white option, I know Bauer considers it dubious but it is a very tough option for black

the lion can roar from either side with correct adjustments.. be flexible!!!