Ponziani Opening

Looks like Carlsen has read this thread - he follows pfren`s recommendations.

He played f6 instead of Bb4 on move 9, probably forgot the correct move order

He deviates to avoid opening preparations.

So what are the moves so far and how can I follow the game?

Yes, he didn't check, which is new, and does not seem bad. He followed the rest of the plan, though. Black is still very comfortable.

come on guys what are the moves and how can i follow the game?

I posted the link some posts ago. Maybe you will be able to find it somehow.

Link in post 323:

12.e6 is enterprising, and most probably wrong. White has to play something brutal like 12...Qd6 13.Nc3 0-0-0 14 a4!? to justify it. I don't believe this sort of chess can work here, though.

I would have made a different 9th move for White.

thanks for giving link to the game 

Now that she has played 12. e6 she may be in trouble and my guess she is going to have to try pushing her" " pawn at some point to try and justify her e6 move..

should read "a" pawn

What would you play? I'd probably go with Nc3.

Yes, 9. Nc3  but I would not play  6. Bc4 either and we avoided that line in our vote chess games.

However Carlsen is playing a line very similar to what Pfren suggested against 6. Bc4  which goes to show both  Pfren and Carlsen think much alike at least in this particular variation!

While this opening variation will come down in flames--I am kinda glad it was played as I have analyzed it a little. 

I cannot see (after casually looking at the position) white going anywhere after 9.Nc3 or 9.Nbd2.

Black can answer both by castling long, but he can also play 9.Nbd2 Bb4!? when again the pressure against d4 is annoying.

In short, Carlsen's handling (no ...Bb4+) is perfectly good, and gives Black a splendid game.

For the record, poor Hou was convincingly busted.

6.Bc4 looks like being totally toothless, factly I am not sure how white can play to get equality.

For the record, this variation should be fine for Black even for meeting the Goring gambit.

You are correct that the variation 6. Bc4 is a bad variation and that is why we have abandoned that variation in our little group. [or I should say we never even started rather than "abandoned"]

We have seen 3 games in a row where in the variations White chose inferior lines by these super grandmasters.  Maybe some day we will get lucky and they will play the better theory lines in these particular variations. 

The problem with sometimes playing an opening such as the Ponziani is there is no way they can know the latest and best theory.  They play it apparently as a gamble as the other guy will not know the best theory also. 

[other girl in this case]

Was the girl who played it.

She put up a good fight but in a bad position especially after the e6 really bad move.