Ponziani opening traps

For sure mistakes were made in the above game. White got the advantage in the opening and then threw it away.

He could have played 10. Bb5  Nge7 11. Be3

Even in the line he played--he could have played 12. Be3!  Rxb2 13. Rxg7

Just as in any other opening if you make bad moves in the Ponziani you will lose even after obtaining an opening advantage.

Here is a hint for players who play the Ponziani:

after this sequence:

Are talking about practical chess or theoretical chess.  Every game posted here has flat out blunders worthy of players rated around 1200-1800.  The mistakes in the game I posted was between two 2500 strength players.

My intention was to show that after Black's initial error(s), White still must win the game.

Errors that result in White having initative or space require plenty of work and still would probably mot be enough to win unless additional errors were made by Black.

here is a game I played with 3. c3  f5 4. exf5

Nobody ever said White has a forced win with the Ponziani. With best play by both sides it is a draw just the same as any other opening.

For any player who is booked up on the Ponziani, he will get very good practical chances. 

The game you showed above was given in my co authored book "play the Ponziani" as an example of how NOT to play the Ponziani.

Sure, Kantifields, you can take any opening, Queens Gambit, English Opening, Ruy Lopez and give a game where White misplayed the opening and Black won.  This is all you are doing and you are using a game published in my book. 

I did not know that game was in your book.  I pulled it from chess.com.

Again you are missing my point.  We are looking at the ... d6 Bc4 line.  There are errors Black (and White) can make.  My point is that even after the error is made, there is still plenty of work to do.  In the game I posted, Black's error cost a pawn for little compensation and still won against a 2493 rated player.  I was attempting to deepen the conversation on the line.

The lines you are posting result in initiative or space advantage... these will still be hard to win (a statement for readers other than Ponz).  The games you are showing are blunderfests at the lowest levels of chess and are usually not traps, people are often just dropping pieces.

Ponz please stop addressing me directly.  Your illness makes it difficult for me to converse with you rationally and I do not wish to be insensitive (that is why I deleted all of my comments). 

I do respect your chess ability and appreciate that your favorite line got me interested in playing chess again.  However, your inconsistencies (probably related to your illness) and abusive language when I disagree with you is not appreciated.

TrumanB The line you encountered  3. c3  g6 is covered in Play the Ponziani.

Here is a game from the book:

That line was not playable in Truman's game.

Yeah, I should have played Bc4 instead of d4...ponz showed me a better move. Thank you ponz.

It would not be playable because your opponent played ... d6, therefore you could not play d6.

OK, but I still had benefit from his example. I learnt that Bc4 is a better move. Or maybe it wasn't, maybe both options are equally good...

I would think Bc4 is better.  It targets f7 and has the potential Qb3 follow-up.  If black plays ... d6, then your LSB is on the correct square (see the ... d6 lines posted earlier).

That being said, d4 should be ok.

OK coach me then.  Start by explaining what is wrong with Bc4?

well that was not helpful at all.

I have invited you to play a game with me playing the Ponziani.  1 day per move.  I am out of town now, but when I get home wecould also play a live standard time game.  The coaching can begin with the analysis of the games.

What is your name?  What credentials do you have?

Here is another game with 3. c3  d6 4. Bc4!