Lesson 5:Barcza opening

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FHansen

Welcome! this is a private lesson for my friend but anyone who could enjoy my lesson will have my blessing. Please report any mistakes through writing a post so that I will not trick my friend.

The Barcza defence is created not on the basis of swift counters but to create a slow maneuvering game where black at the very least have equal chances to white even though white will have a spatial advantage. Black's plan of action is to await an over extension by white and then counterattack. If both players are of about equal streangth there is no way for white to locate a crack in black's position. Instead of breaking through will white probably overextend and lose minor material (possibly a pawn) that black can take advantage of in a long endgame.

This is one of my favorite defences as black, I also have played a lot against it as it is also the favorite defence of my closest friend. I have countless times tried aggressive continuations like f4 but never really managed to break through black's position. Black has a very easy game in simply holding his position together without advancing. If black gets early ideas of attacking will he probably soon find himself overextended instead of his opponent though.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief explanation about my favorite opening. I could have gone into variations but as I feel that it might have been too much at one time for my friend to take in. I simply want to give him an idea of how the opening starts so that he can create an opinion of his own about it.

mvh Fredrik

Sharukin

This is actually a Pirc Defence. The Barcza System is an offshoot of the Reti and starts 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3. It can lead into a proper Reti or become a King's Indian Attack or transpose to a range of other openings. The Pirc (and Robatsch/Modern) Defence is similar to a reversed Barcza.

Mebeme

is the barcza defense also this?

Sharukin

You can get into a Pirc via 1. e4 d6 2. d4 or 1. d4 d6 2. e4. Same position, same opening.

FHansen

If white starts d4 there is no reason for d6 so early. Nf6 is a more common response but yes it transposes into the same opening.

mvh Fredrik

FHansen

I am so sorry it seems like Mebeme is correct, strange I have always thought of it as the Barcza?

mvh Fredrik

GothamChessSubscriber1478

The Barcza System is similar to the King's Indian Attack (for white, King's Indian Defense is for black)

and is played like this often