Ponziani opening traps

Just visit a doctor ASAP, and I can assure you will be quite polite after that...

"pfren wrote:

I do not enjoy playing this crap with either colour.
It would (probably) be acceptable as Black if it could give an advantage, but it doesn't- so why play that thing, and not something more rational instead?"

I'm slightly puzzled by this because as black if one plays 1 e4 e5 then the Ponziani is hard to avoid if white wants it. Black is often happy to go into the Ruy Lopez yet that is supposed to score higher for white. Therefore I thought black would welcome the Ponziani if it is such a poor opening.

We all have favourite openings and unfavourable openings. I hate playing the French but if I open 1 e4 then I have to be prepared to face it. This is probably what makes chess interesting else we would all play the same thing!

All getting very personal isn't it - where is the chess?

Fraser's defence is fine but there is a difference between theory and practical play.

If u play OTB, will u remember the variations which lead more or less to a forced draw?

We fight Ponziani rarely, so I don't think it is a good practical choice, unless u have a fantastic memory and u don't have anything against a draw (few chances white play all the good moves but who knows...).

That's the reason why Pfren advocates exd4-Nd5 line for example : very practical, very easy to play/remember and no forced lines : u can easily outplay your opponent.

But it's your choice, play what u like.

Who said one has to remember all the lines? For me it is enough to know that the Position is playable with chances for both sides, I can leave the rest to my Intuition/creativity during a game. That's why I'm playing chess in the first place.

The Frazier Defense ends in a draw if Black can navigate through this very complex variation for about 20 moves. In the meantime White will probably win against a Black mistake.

The Frazier Defense ends in a draw with perfect play by both sides,

IM pfren is correct that other defenses which should end in a draw would be more practical for Black.  The Ponziani ends in a draw with best play as does the Ruy Lopez.  For players under 2300 it is a good defense as it is easy for Black to go wrong.

When I was above 2500 I played the Ponziani against strong opposition and did very well.

The problem is that (unless you do memorize everything) it's very easy for both sides to go wrong.

I have it memorized

ok, here is a slow play game a vote chess game. 3 days for each move and both sides did a ton of analysis for their moves. It was a really exciting game! 

Ponziani Power vs The Pirate Crew

Every opening where the majority says....It's weak....I find it interesting  

Why so many people play 3...f5 against Ponz??

3...f5 is insane move : maybe playable but shouldn't be recommended.

Actually noone should play 3. ...f5 if his opponent has my analysis!?

Here is another Vote Chess game. This has a very nice ending!

Ponziani Power vs Chess Unlimited

Well, even you must admit it had a very nice ending?

I didn't go that far. I stopped at 8...Na5.

Well, in this particular case you should look at the last 2 moves!?

It's a nice, and not frequent mating pattern, but in this position almost everything (e.g. 22.Re3) wins at once. Of course #2 is preferrable...

super nice checkmate ponz!

Indeed, very good game from white and beautiful mate.

But again, when opponents play poorly, it always look easy.

Do u have some defeats Ponz?

U never show games where black's play is good, and where he/she chooses a "normal"/main line.

U still don't answer me but nobody (almost) is fooled here.