So, I stumbled in a recent game with how to deal with this QGA variation. I was white. The typical wisdom of the QGA says that black is not able to hold on to it's extra pawn, that white will easily recapture. I know the tactics to deal with b5 - c6 and b5-a6, as I showed above. But how would you handle Ba6 from Black?
How to handle this QGA variation as white
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looks like they have to give it back or get hurt badly
AnthonyCG wrote:
6.Bxc4 I think is better.
like that?
that seems to work as well. there black would need to get an e5 or c5 break in soon, but not having the light square bishop doesnt look as fun for white.
Thanks a bunch ackbar and anthony. For some reaosn i completely forgot the concept of Qa4.
How bout this? I don't see anything concrete for black after 6. b3. True black will have a passed a - pawn (if you capture with b), but black will have 3 pawn islands, opposed to whites 1 to defend. White should also be able to keep his lgt B in this variation too.
Heh, I set up an identical topic before (last year, when I was still quite new). People's thoughts on the matter can be seen here: http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/odd-response-to-qga?lc=1#last_comment
Basically it seems White has a variety of choices after the pawn exchange 5.axb5 Bxb5 which all seem to work decently, including 6.Bxc4 (using the queen check to regain the bishop if Black captures on c4) or 6.b3 to regain the pawn by making use of the pin on the bishop or even 6.Nc3 to poke the bishop away before using b3 to regain the pawn (which was what Kasparov played in one game).
tyzebug wrote:
Heh, I set up an identical topic before (last year, when I was still quite new). People's thoughts on the matter can be seen here: http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/odd-response-to-qga?lc=1#last_comment
Thanks for the link tyzebug. Looks like someone else in your other thread mentioned 6. b3 also. I'm sort of inclined to agree with admiralackbar, about keeping the lgt sqr B. I suppose white is fine after AnthonyCG's variation. But I'd personally prefer keeping the B.