Ponziani Opening

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Avatar of ChessMD97

Hey. So I tried playing the Ponziani for the first time (I finally thought I was ready but it took me a while. Not enough people play Nf3, too many play d6 as a response to my c6 knight). But I clearly played it badly. My opponent blundered and resigned, but regardless I need advice on the opening. Thanks!


Avatar of Charetter115

Qe2 seemed unusual. Why did you play that?

Avatar of ChessMD97
To break the pin so i could capture with my pawn. What do you recommend there?
Avatar of Charetter115

Bb5. Castling will break the pin and you can eventually push the f pawn to support the center.

Avatar of pfren

7.Qe2 is hilarious. By simple development (Bb5/ Be2/ Nc3 etc) white would have a huge advantage. And of course 5...Qe7? is equally bad.

Avatar of ChessMD97
Fair enough. I feared a7 then after retreating/trading and castling my pawns would be in trouble/his knight would be safe. Wasn't sure I had time to get to castling yet
Avatar of Lim_Charles

Isn't the Ponziani a inferior opening if black plays d5? I think that was the debate in another Ponziani forum because most black players don't play d5 and that there are many traps in the Ponziani.

Avatar of pfren

Choices. I have a couple of good reasons to prefer 3...Nf6 to 3...d5 myself.

Avatar of ChessMD97

What reasons?

Avatar of ponz111
Lim_Charles wrote:

Isn't the Ponziani a inferior opening if black plays d5? I think that was the debate in another Ponziani forum because most black players don't play d5 and that there are many traps in the Ponziani.

Any reasonable Ponziani player is ready for either 3. ...d5  or 3. ... Nf6

pfren likes to play  3. ... Nf6.  

With best play by both sides [this is very rare] the Ponziani is a draw just as with any other reasonable opening such as the Ruy Lopez, The Queens Gambit, The English etc. etc. etc. 

Avatar of ChessMD97

What are the responses for white to Nf6 and d5

Avatar of ponz111

3. c3  Nf6  4. d4      3. c3  d5  4. Qa4

Instead of just guessing and playing bad moves, why not buy the book?

There are many chapters explaining various responses to the Ponziani.