Ponziani: Impractical in non-computer Correspondence Chess?

But that's not what I am saying, SF. Reread my comments.

Most Black class players don't study the Ponz because why should they? Hardly anyone plays it.

But as I said:

IMO the Ponz is more suitable against lower-rated players and unprepared players.

I would not play the Ponz as a main repertoire weapon.

Here I will disagree with you. Very few players will go through the hundreds of lines to learn the Fraser as Black and if they do, they would not know the current lines. 

As I said there are only about 3 people on this earth who know the current lines and they all play Ponziani as White.  The  Fraser gets no advantage if White plays correctly. Not only that Black has to walk through a mine field. 

I have a high opinion of the Ponziani as I have won from many experts and masters with that opening and only lost 1 game and that was about 40 years ago when the theory was developing.

For the best opening I go with the English  1. c4  or  the 1. Nf3 opening.

I would love to but I am several years senile and do not remember any except for a couple in Peoria Illinois. 

The players who know the current theory have every chance of doing well against the Fraser as White.

You are simply wrong when you state nobody knows the current theory of the Fraser. 

"Three people on earth" is close enough to zero.  And I am referring to non-centaur chess when you would not survive with white.  You would be forced to pre-game analysis stored in your database almost immediately.  

If you use the Ponziani as your main repertoire weapon, your rivals will learn to play key lines against it.

SmyslovFan: Sure. But it's not at all that simple.

I'm basically a 1700 player. Who are my rivals who know that I play the Ponz and will consequently bone up on it?

If I show up at a random USCF tournament, the answer is nobody.

At chess.com players can look up my record, if they know they are going to play against me, and if they do, they will discover I also play the Ruy and the King's Gambit against 1...e5. Furthermore they will discover I play 1. d4 half the time.

If a class player wants to prepare for me, they will have their hands full figuring me out. I suspect that working out the intricacies of the Fraser defense or 3...d4 will be a low priority.

Ipcress, go down to the Mechanics Institute for a few months and play the Ponziani as your main weapon. I will just about guarantee that players in your rating group will start boning up on it. 

Kantifields you are wrong. The people who know the current lines will pass them on to their friends. They will gradually pass the lines along.

You think you know the lines because you saw my chess exhibition and then used some of the lines [or similiar lines] Remember I was Black and do very well as Black in my games.

I would survive as White in non Centaur chess Fraser if I were not senile. [even senile I would probably do fine]   

By the way, if any strong players with a strong chess engine are interested --contact me to see if you are eligible  to join "Ponziani Analysis" group which is set up just to study and add to the theory of the Ponziani and I have recently added a lot of new theory.

SmyslovFan: But I wouldn't do that and you don't read my posts carefully.

The point of openings like the Ponz or the King's Gambit is that you don't play them repeatedly against players who see you coming.

Spassky played many games against Fischer, but he only played the King's Gambit once and he won.

I read what you wrote. I'm not talking about someone using the opening occasionally or about someone who only plays OTB tournaments occasionally. I'm talking about players who use the Ponziani as their main repertoire weapon against players who have an incentive to come prepared.

Perhaps I'm not the one reading carefully?

Ipcress, it is you who is not reading what others are writing. Ponz argues that you can play his opening for the rest of your life.

I'm talking about players who use the Ponziani as their main repertoire weapon against players who have an incentive to come prepared.

SF: And I keep repeating that's not the Ponziani scenario I'm talking about.

You are not reading me carefully. Period.

I agree with ponz111 about some things but not all things. However, I am not ponz111 .

Or, maybe I'm addressing the topic rather than how you play it.

Well, if you are rated under say 2450.  In my next life I will open 1. c4 with the Ponziani as a second opening.

There is a whole lot of new theory on the Ponziani.

However, chess is getting played out and there are drawish lines vs most openings.  Winning lines vs the bad openings.

Or, maybe I'm addressing the topic rather than how you play it.

SmyslovFan: Nonetheless you keep addressing me.

I must conclude you are either careless or dishonest.

You start off by quoting me in several posts (#278 for example), then you make the statement above. You don't say that you play the Ponziani only occasionally, you use the generic terms "White" and "Black"

I have said repeatedly that I think the Ponziani is fine as an unusual or offbeat opening. 

And yet you continue to attack me personally. 

You are responsible for your own conclusions. You have tried to make this personal. I have tried to discuss the opening as a general repertoire choice.

That game is not going to help you very much as White did not play very well.