e4 or something else ?

If you are trying to claim white won the game because of the opening?  Youre wrong. 

Black misplayed the middlegame. 

17...dc and black is doing fine. 

This game is a good example of how you can play a weak opening, and survive.  But play the middle, and or the endgame weak, and youre doomed. 

No I never claimed white won because of the opening. I was in search for a playable position. It was Pfren who said the opening was a lemon.

Yet the lemon opening is turning into a playable middlegame isn't it? An white is not losing out of the opening.

I also never said 3.f4  Pfren said that statement as well.

If you actually read what I say and see what he actually said.

You will see he is the one who did the most talking.

I asked him about specific moves. Which could give me idea's that I could try out. He never responded with any.

He made up moves which I didn't say.

Than he made up scenerios like I don't need to study the opening.

I wasn't studying any opening. I was asking a simple question about a curious continuation he had mentioned previously.

An sense this is a discussion forum I was perfectly with in my rights to ask such a question.

I would want a bit more out of the opening than "white is not losing out of the opening"

I play the KIA which often ends up being equal.

So I do not see why I wouldn't play such a position as this. I'm guessing it is around equal-ish.

However, It doesn't matter because I do not plan on playing 3.f4.

It is a commit move like I said previously. Which I would like to keep the flexiblity of the move open.

I was thinking of playin 3.Nc3 or  3.g3

I was liking 3.Nc3 little more it doesn't commit any of my pawns.

And by not playin Nf3 it keeps my options alot more open.

My original question which I commented on was based off the following sequence of moves.

From that position I have never seen 3...b6 played against me. I was thinking about playing the move 4.Bf4.

However, No one really responded or said anything about 4.Bf4.

I did some digging I did find 1 game with it.

However, it was rather low ranked game.

The game was played in 2009.

The person playing white was ranked 1471

The person playing black was ranked 1901

Strangely enough white won. I think they won on time though.

I saw that game and I kind of was reconsidering my move orders.

Since that position had a lack of games. I figured since not alot of people play that line maybe many players believe its not that great. So I went to rethink my moves.

This is why i dont play any serious games here.  Look at the forums:

Openings: Topics: 20692

"Is the fried liver attack good for black?"

"What opening should i play?"

"Play the lolli"

"Im an agressive player"

"Im an attacking player"

Opening post after post on people wanting opening "tricks", "traps" and easy to play short cuts. 

Now look at at the Endgame forums:

Topics: 3739

Am i surpised? Not at all. 

Chess.com is a really nice site to play chess, and it has some really good learning aids, but its not where you go to seriously work on your game.   Thats what ICC is for.  Chess.com attracts the "I know the <insert opening here> 20 moves deep" crowd.  When you have people that cant even see simple tactics asking other people what opening they should play? 

Forget ICC.

You want to work on your game?  Get out your board and set, sit at a table, and study!  Whether it be books, or printing out games from ChessPublishing.com.  Practice?  It's called play in over the board tournaments!

The difference is that this site is free (unless you want the added perks - I have a free account) and ICC is not.  People think they can get better at chess without spending money, expecting magical responses of U-Tube sites or free downloads of some 3 page PDF article and think that's going to get them to Master playing the Najdorf.  DREAM ON!

All excellent advice thrillerfan. 

I had to lol at the youtube and .pdf mention.  They are right up there with the things i posted. 

Excuse me guys, but aren't you diverting from the topic ? I have started studying the closed sicilian with 3.g3, after watching one of my peers demolish an expert and draw an international master. My FIDE rating is 1393, but that does not speak about my playing strength. I lose games usually due to oversights and calculation errors. So, since I found an answer to the sicilian, can you suggest a similar defense against the pirc and french? I play French from the black side, and frankly, I am impressed by its counter attacking nature.

My advice to you is work on tactics, and middlegame planning.

There are times i want to bring a rubber mallet with me and smack the kids i work with.  So many of them have themselves labeled as "attacking players" "agressive players" "tactical players"  Yet they miss simple tactics, hang pieces, and have no idea how to formulate a middlegame plan.  And yet they want to know certain opening "X" moves deep. 

I don't know much about opening theory or theoretical prep. but in my opinion Black always decide which opening he wants to play. And white has to adjust accordingly.

I think what is happening on this forum is retarded.

I want to demonstrate a metaphor of what is happening here.

People claim to hate ants!

Than they decide to visit an ant farm.

Once they reach the ant farm they than get upset and shocked that there is ants on the farm.

The above scenerio is what is happening here.

The OP asked for help in some chess openings.

People who hate openings show up to an opening forum.

Than they get upset and shocked that people are talking about opening on the opening forum.

They than began to start trying to say how one should do middle game and endgame on an opening forum.

Than they start trying to critize the people who are talking about openings on an opening forum.

The problem on this forum is not the people who are talking about openings on an opening forum. It is with the people who decided to visit the opening forum when they hate talking about openings.

If you think the OP is making a mistake with studying openings and hate openings. Than go some where esle. This is an opening forum. We are going to talk about openings.

Look at the below link:

It is a link which is on the Opening section of Chess.com.

What are people doing here who hate openings.

Stupid people!

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/e4-or-something-else

Next I am going to talk about how I memorized an opening 15 moves.

To win the game. How unbearable it is going to be to the people who hate openings. I am going to show how accurate I was.

OOOO The torment. No Grand Master would memorize an opening. Heaven forbidd thats not chess!

An when you memorize openings your suppose to lose!

Memorized 10 moves this time.

I have no idea what youre trying to say with this post.  But i dont recall anyone saying they hated openings.  The OP asked for advice.  The OP was given advice.  Its up to the OP to take any and all advice given any way he chooses. 

What some of us were trying to let the OP know was not to put a lot of time into studying openings, when that time oculd and will be better spent on middle and endgame study. 

What the OP does with his study time is up to him. 

Yeah it is annoying sometimes when you're told to quit studying or even thinking about openings because you're a certain rating. I used to be told the same thing. Actually I still am by some pretentious people.

Those openings can't be avoided unless you play 1.d4. That being said, you can simply play a classical approach and get out of the opening. 

Against the Pirc play the classical 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 with Be2. Nothing gimmicky or theoretical. 

Against the French the exchange is simple and good. 

Against the dragon the classical Be2 is fine with ideas of either Be3 or Bg5 with the idea of Kh1 and f4 later on. You can take a similar approach against most sicilians except for the Kalashnikov/Sveshnikov where early Nd5 stuff can be the easiest to play. You pass over the fight for the d5 square and play a queenside pawn storm vs Black's attack.

Post #41

If you look at his losses, it isnt openings he needs to worry about.  Its simple tactics.

Post #52

This is why i dont play any serious games here.  Look at the forums:

Openings: Topics: 20692

Now look at at the Endgame forums:

Topics: 3739

Am i surpised? Not at all.

Chess.com attracts the "I know the <insert opening here> 20 moves deep" crowd.  When you have people that cant even see simple tactics asking other people what opening they should play?

^^ Yes your above remarks show how much you love openings on an opening forum.

Yes the OP wants advice. He wants advice on

"I have been facing troubles against the sicilian dragon, the french and the pirc. Any suggestions on how to avoid them ?"

What was your advice?

Post # 56

My advice to you is work on tactics, and middlegame planning.

How wonderful giving out middle game planning advice on a chess opening forum.

Shall I continue or do you want to hear it from the OP himself?

Post # 55

RatingCounts

Excuse me guys, but aren't you diverting from the topic ?

Yes they are diverting from the topic. However, Diakonia is not the only one diverting. Their are others anti-Opening commentors on this forum as well.

Don't you worry Rating Counts you will get some opening advice against the French and Pirc Defense. They will share with you there Middle Game secrets. Just close your eyes and move a few pieces around. Go on instinct and feeling. Than open your eyes and play that middle game with there middle game secrets you will win every time.

Still nothing about hating openings, and the OP's games i looked at, he lost because of simple tactics, not because of a lack of opening knowledge.