Ponziani opening traps

I know that some people like to do Ad hominem attacks against me but indicating I might have Alzheimers is a little too much. My sister died of Alzheimers and my wife is a nurse who works with Alzheimers clients. Millions of people have a loved one who has Alzheimers. Lets please stop the constant Ad Hominem attacks against me and instead be brave enough to play me and test the lines? 

You are ignoring the fact that when tested I have proved the claims I have made.

Dear "pfren" and "DeirdreSkyE" please please please can we stop this unproductive personal diatribe or move it to personal messages?

This thread started as some interesting pitfalls that people often experience whilst playing the Ponziani. This has been of great benefit to players like me who will never meet a grand master or are just interested in opening theory.

No one claims the Ponziani is the best opening as "ponz111" keeps on repeating for you but it is still useful and often played as is the Latvian or the Blackmar-Diemer etc - all inferior openings that often score wins amongst us lesser mortals. We need this analysis to decide whether to play the opening or not. 

So lets talk chess please and not meaningless insults as no one cares what you think of "ponz111" but I and many others do want this thread and his analysis to continue.

Please do not reply to this comment - please just stop.

Thank you

Yes, thank you, we know all that but what would you recommend after 6Qb3 please?

"We know all that" : u know it so u think everybody does?

If u know it, u should know how black handles these positions, so why asking about Qb3 instead of thinking a bit?

Yes, I agree, that's very useful thanks.

My old engine gives that position +.25 (probably as white has easy development and more space) but all very temporary and fairly equal as you say.

I'm glad the quarrel will end now. Hoping IM pfren will be man enough to play this game eventually!

IM pfren  Here are some of your quotes: Post 455 "In the main top level encounters Black equalizd pretty easily, and in the rest of the games with

 9. ...Bg4 (mainly from correspondence chess) White has scored pretty horribly."  Then you mentioned 4 games where White scored zero against

9. Bg4.  Also note what you said in Post 457.

Here is something you said in Post #492 "Pulling fictitious games out of one's butt is not proof of anything." [of course I did not pull fictitious games out of my butt -- that was regarding a game played by Caruana in chess.com's Titled Tuesday!]

Here is your statement in Post #496 "I will gladly play you sir, My tariff for pompous guys is $50/game. I sincerely hope you will accept."

Well, Mr IM phren I have accepted your challenge and showed I will send you the $50 either by master card or by personal check.

I am waiting for your response!?  Let's both investigate your move

9. ...Bg4 and see if you are correct regarding the good play Black  will get with that move?

Are you solving the issue by playing a game? You could win the theoretical discussion, if possible, and still lose the game. It happens every day (Yermo dixit).

Enough talking, lets play!

bump

You two could probably run a pay-per-view with winner-take-all on top of the $50 per each you intend to put up. It'd be as much fun as the Trash Talk Match, Ben Feingold vs Ginger GM!

Inspired by this thread I decided to give the Ponziani a try.  I've played a few games with it, all against lower rated players.  I got an advantage in every game and won in the endgame.  No brilliant tactical games.  But...so far so good. 

You got it a little wrong--I put up $50 which I could not get back and

IM pfren pockets the $50.

Good news! IM pfren has agreed to play me and test out the line we both are interested in [9. ...Bg4 in the Ponziani]  and he agreed to play me without a fee.

 He is involved with some serious correspondence games right now and will not be available until after Sept 20th.  This is fine with me.

Thank you! IM pfren!

Popcorn!

While we are waiting for the great event--I will give one of my games where I beat a GM playing the Black side of the Ponziani

GM    vs   ponz

White wins two pieces for two pawns and is lost in 11 moves - that's quite some game!

What should white have played after 9...o-o?

Ponz vs fren, that will be an interesting game!