I'm back and ranked all 20 responses to b3 - Chess Forums

Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack goes for an immediate queenside fianchetto, which really isn’t that scary. Black is usually the one who wants imbalances, which will be easy to accomplish here. Since there are not many moves that give black a terrible position, the bottom tier will be passive or pointless responses that could pass for middle tier moves in previous rankings.

#20 f6

I guess maybe this supports e5 which is a square white is about to attack. However there are better ways to do that, and now there are potential sacks or trades for the e5 pawn with the idea of Qa5+ from white. You could try to move the knight to h6, then f7, but there are better ways of going about that.

#19 h5

There’s really no way for the early rook to help against a fianchetto. I experimented with the engine, you can get the rook to h6 if white makes his queenside fianchetto, but you pretty much have to ignore it for who knows how long afterwards.

#18 h6

I don’t think white was planning on attacking g5 so this move is passive. This does make a luft for your king to stop a back rank, which is definitely what you should be thinking about right now…

#17 a6

At least this protects a square that white might actually attack. The engine, for some reason. says this is practically even.

#16 g5

You are now able to kick white’s knight after Nf3, but white could fianchetto the bishop as expected, forcing you to either play f6, or Nf6 both of which are followed with e4. Or white can instead play d4, attacking the pawn. Black’s still weirdly fine in any of these lines, but his position looks mighty stupid. There is a bit of counterplay though, so you’re playing for a win here, unlike the last few.

Passive:

These are moves that are either pointless, committal, drawish, or weird. But they are all playable

#15 b5 (Polish Variation)

This is kind of like Ruy Lopez or the Catalan, everything is equal, except for 1 small thing that gives white the edge. While both sides have a queenside bishop on the long diagonal, black’s one is more vulnerable. Compensation is that it discourages Nc3.

#14 b6 (Symmetrical Variation)

This is too drawish, and white may be able to get an initiative. It probably winds up equal though, and it's not like the Classical variation of Petrov’s Defense where it really should be a draw.

#13 Na6

I wanted to put this and the next one at 10 and 9 respectively since they at least have points. You can either move it to c7 or c5, or aid a c5 push. However you may as well hold off in case Nc6 winds up being better (which it most likely will).

#12 Nh6

You can follow up with f6, and tuck the knight back securing e5. If white plays d5 instead of Bb2, b3 will have been committed. It’s still not overly aggressive though, as I don’t see how black can actually get a position that’s better than white.

Has a point:

These moves have logical goals, but there are better ways of doing them,

#11 c6

I know this objectively belongs higher, since it turns into decent positions, but it’s really too committal, there are better ways to reach these positions without revealing your cards so early..

#10 Nc6

Like the last 1, except this supports e5 and can therefore transpose into its lines, unless white plays 2d4, in which case why did you just block in your c pawn?

#9 e6

Same thing, except these positions are slightly better, and it’s more flexible.

#8 d6

Same as the last 3 except it’s the most flexible and solid out of them. It also provokes f4 after you play Nd7, and then you can get a space advantage with e5. But white is still really more flexible, especially if he doesn’t take the bait and play f4

Strong Alternatives:

#7 f5 (Dutch Variation)

I normally like the Dutch, but not against an immediate queenside fianchetto. White should probably go for a double fianchetto.

#6 g6

Less committal, and has better statistics. Otherwise, it has the same problem as f5.

#5 c5 English Variation

I love the English Opening, like the English Defense, and hate the Sicilian Defense. This one is somewhere in the center of it all. I think it’s as good as the English Defense, but not relative to the other options; black should really be more ambitious against 1 b3.

#4 a5

This sets up to attack the queenside fianchetto that white is making, without weakening your kingside. You are practically forcing a same side castling game since neither of you should castle on the queenside, as black you should be the one deciding this.

Top Tier:

B3 being middle tier and all, the only moves I can put in the top tier are moves where I might say black is better, though in all honesty I still think the game is roughly even.

#3 Nf6

Very good move, that annoys the fianchetto, and hopes for a trade. I just think it should be played after the move I put at 1, but even by itself it’s flexible, and you can try for other ideas (like following up with e6 or d6 or adopting a KID position).

#2 e5 (Modern Variation)

This move leads to a fight for the center where black is the one occupying it, and white is the 1 attacking from the side.

#1 d5

This bypasses e5 being a target, and therefore detracts from white’s goal with this opening, adopting a London set up instead.

Please post your thought's and/or rankings.

BaronWasteland1

May 12, 2024

0

#2

When you play the modern against everything

Im_a_Crow

May 13, 2024

0

#3

#2 lol

janverboris

May 25, 2024

0

#4

lol happpens with my opponents

CastPoc

May 25, 2024

0

#5

you mean b3?

Yerachmeal

May 25, 2024

0

#6

Yes, my bad. Fixed it.