hypermodern ideas

post you favorite hypermodern opening or defences

mine is the hippo system

For me it is Larsen's Opening 1.b3 (A01) - more commonly referred to as the Nimzo-Larsen Attack although the Nimzo version usually opens 1.Nf3 with a subsequent b3 played in the following few moves. For reasons I do not understand it appeals to me and my sense of logic. I have had fairly good success with it, winning about 65% of the 150 or so games I have played with it. It all started many years ago when I saw Raymond Keene's book and was intrigued by this tiny move 1.b3. I am so thankful to GM Keene for his wonderful treatment of the subject. It is my favorite chess book. But I didn't really start playing the NLA (or chess for that matter) enthusiastically until the past couple of years when I started playing CC type games on the internet. I've studied other more mainline center pawn openings but it seems like I always go back to my old favorite.

With black I am still experimenting - having tried Owen's Defense 1...b6 and the QID and KID (are they considered hypermodern?) More recently it's been the Pirc/Modern complex.

 Thanks for the suggestion. I looked it up at Wikipedia and it bears a strong resemblance to an opening I stumbled across once which was called by the undignified name "Beginners Opening". I have used it a few times but not enough to make judgement. I will probably look into this some more. Thanks again.

I am having fun winning with the Black and white Lion, which is basically the Philidor defense or Old Indain. I am interested in trying out the reti.

Lately I've been playing the Pirc and the King's Indian.  I've played the King's Indian Attack off and on for about 25 years.

As White:

I play the KIA and occasionally the Nimzo-Larsen.

As Black:

I play Pirc against 1.e4. For a while, I tried the hyperaccelerated dragon, but I hated it when people forestall this by playing "Smith-Morra" or some other Anti-Sicilian.

I play KID against 1.d4. Against 1.c4/1.g3/1.Nf3 I try to transpose into KID. I hate it when people play 1.d4, but then refuse to push their c-pawn because it makes me allot additonal study time to prepare against a whole bunch of further ACOs (=annoying crap openings ). I also feel uncomfortable against 1.b3 because I like to fianchetto my king's bishop which is not easy to achieve against the Larsen.

I sometimes play 1...g6 to be a bit more flexible.

I'm constantly considering the Owen as an alternative opening for Black, but it seems just so inferior. However, the most economical opening repertoire would definitely be Nimzo-Larsen/Owen, so in that respect this combo is extremely appealing.  

I like the classical openings better - recently I've been playing Ruy Lopez / Open Sicilian as White and Scandinavian / French / QGA as Black. At the moment I'm experimenting with King's Gambit as White and Scandinavian Gambit / Budapest Gambit as Black, however I still don't feel like I'm ready for employing these in a rated OTB game ... Don't think I'll try hypermodern openings anywhere soon.

I play 1.b3 in most of my OTB tournaments, but have been experimenting with 1.g3 and 2.Bg2, the Benko system, lately.  Here is a recent game.

Nice game. :) Black went out of book with 6...Bf5 which soon cost him. Maybe he should have played 7...Bg4, even if it seems losing a tempo. 8...Nxe4 was the first real blunder, though. 8...Be6 should have been played there I think.

Against openings like the Hippo and Pirc I like to delay castling until my opponent does so if he goes kingside I can castle queen side, exchange off dark bishops, and go for a yugoslav-esque attack.  As black I love to play with Hypermodern Openings such as the Grunfeld against D4 and occasionally Alekhine's Defense vs. e4.

Hypermodernism is a fad.  Soon all GM's will be playing the Center Game 100% of the time.

lol

modern.