Whattt?? 1. e4 Nf3? How is this possible.. unless you mean e4 Nf6 but then again.. your second move is also written incorrectly. Maybe post a link to your game?
Opening development/controlling the center
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never mind, I read it wrong :P e5 Nd5 is possible lol.. I'm bad at visualization :/
When you've got a huge center like you get in the 4-Pawns attack (which is what I'm assuming this is, and that your missing move is in fact d4, since that's the only opening I know of with the rest of those moves), it's automatically going to become a target for black.
First of all -- that's okay. Because you've got that nice, stable d4-e5-f4 bulwark, and simply dxe5 is swiftly answered by fxe5, and you've still got a nice, thick center.
But you can't EVER keep black from dismantling your center if he's really and truly determined to do so. What you can do, is make sure you're poised to take advantage if he does so.
Because of two factors...(1), the huge space advantage you get at the outset of the 4PA, and (2), the fact that in the Alekhine's, black isn't developing so much as running for his life the first several moves...because of these, you are able to develop your forces behind your pawn wall very swiftly and effectively.
If black gets good and determined to blow up the center, you want to be well developed and ready to spring into the breach. An open center favors the better developed player.
So if you made any major strategic mistake, it was probably a failure to use the time you bought yourself by building a big target to set up the rest of your forces.
In general:
- If black is slow to attack the wall, fortify it and plan to crush him with space.
- If black sets about attacking it swiftly, develop rapidly behind it and prepare to use your advantage in development to rush in behind it where the gaps appear.
Obviously those two ideas alone won't win or lose the chess battle, but they'll get you planning and executing in the right direction.
Ah, I will take that to mind next time. but for.. pretty much any opening, what is the best way to try to control the center, and keep good development as well, for black or white? Also, there is one thing that I despise, is my knight being pinned. (bb5, etc). Then I may lose a center pawn. What should I do?
Yes, there is king of a checklist. Castle, develop both bishops and knights, and (Try) to advance both center pawn two squares. (much harder for black).
Yes, black seems to be th eone who counterattacks and such. Haven't had much practice with that, but I think I should try it.
Ah, that would work. Thanks.
The opening in post #10 is not the 4 pawns attack of Alekhine's defense but the exchange variation..... shame on you !
Fezzik wrote:
Sorry, Reb. I hoped nobody would notice.
Still, whaddya think of the recommendation for beginners? It makes sense to me.
I agree with your recommendation. I never spent much time on openings as a beginner.
More practice, I guess. As to the exchange variation, that does look workable. Probably better than what I did. How do you think I should try to practice (or what to try to do, etc, to practice.), Reb?
Hello there. I want to become better, but there seems to be a critical issue in the way. Controlling the center, and opening development, which are connected as well. LEt me tell you as story.
Earlier today, I was trying this against computer 4. Suprise, suprise, I lost. But I lost in that game because, and in most of my other games that I lose, because my opening development is bad, I lost control of the center, or both. The game went 1 e4 Nf3
I think that in itself gives white a great space and mobility advantage. But I managed to lose it.
2 e5 Nd5
3 c4 Nb2 (I think it is b2?)
4 (I guess I forgot what move I made) d6 (attacking my king pawn)
5 f4...
Soon after the exchange, they demolished my center. As you would expect, a loss can tumbling after. Even with such a good opening and playign white (perhaps that goes hand-in-hand), I lost control of the center. In countless other games, I also had bad development, or lose control of the center. Moreso for black, but also as white. So I desperately want to improve. What is key to a good opening developtment, and controllign the center throughout the game? Perhaps also how to fight back, moreso for black than white, and regain equality. Can anyone help?