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Preparing London with 2. h3

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Yigor

This seems to be a quite good way to prepare the London system. The idea of 2. h3 is to prepare the retreat of DSB to h2 if necessary (when it's attacked by Nh5, for example).

 

 

Bishop_g5

Well Yigor, let's return to your lesson number one since you deny to pass for your reasons.

"Move orders in openings are important and when White decides to play h3 eventually its because Black gave the opportunity to do so. Now as a good mathematician you are, try to find by your own ( the equation) why it's awkward for White to prepare this nonsense on the second move."

 

Yigor
Bishop_g5 wrote:

Well Yigor, let's return to your lesson number one since you deny to pass for your reasons.

"Move orders in openings are important and when White decides to play h3 eventually its because Black gave the opportunity to do so. Now as a good mathematician you are, try to find by your own ( the equation) why it's awkward for White to prepare this nonsense on the second move."

 

Well, personally, I don't see any problem to play 2. h3 and even there is a bit of common sense in it. I also bet that I'll not have any problems in 90% of cases with this variation vs players rated around ELO 2000. tongue.png

BluemanIsBack

Why would black play 2...d5?

MickinMD

I don't see any problem with 2 h3 since you are basically playing the Slav or Caro-Kann Defense in reverse and have the first move.  It depends on how much you value your "Bad Bishop."

Personally, if my opponent wants to trade his Night or Bishop for my Bad Bishop, I'm usually happy about it, so I would work on center control or piece development instead of an early h3.

Yigor
BluemanIsBack wrote:

Why would black play 2...d5?

 

What do U propose?

BluemanIsBack

2...e6

Nckchrls

2. h3 does have uses and white can get away with a tempo loss in the opening. Though even this loss is probably temporary with the right plan.

I'm not sure the best response is 2...d5. 2.h3 weakens g3 which weakens the A8 diagonal. I might consider 2...e6 then ...b6 looking for some sort of Queen's Indian setup with 2... e6 then ...d5 as an option depending where White wants to go.

SIowMove
Yigor wrote:

This seems to be a quite good way to prepare the London system. The idea of 2. h3 is to prepare the retreat of DSB to h2 if necessary (when it's attacked by Nh5, for example).  

h3 isn't needed to protect the bishop at this point. And I agree with Optimissed above—it's too early in the game to be wasting time with wing-pawn moves. You should be developing fast and furious here.

Nh5 doesn't truly threaten the f4 bishop here, anyway. White can shuttle it to safety, while tempting black to weaken his kingside. Example:

It's a useful pattern to remember.

P.S. Be5 is also playable, instead of Bg5, for the same reasons. Though it's a bit sharper.

chesster3145

2... c5! 3. d5 e6 and Black is at least equal.

BluemanIsBack

Or 2..c5 or g6

Yigor

Optimissed and SlowMove: Your critics is accepted. happy.png

Yigor
BluemanIsBack wrote:

Or 2..c5 or g6

 

Imho these moves are not better than 2...d5.

Yigor
chesster3145 wrote:

2... c5! 3. d5 e6 and Black is at least equal.

 

Well, maybe, I'd play 4. c4.

chesster3145

4... b5 with a good Blumenfeld.

BluemanIsBack

Fight, fight, fight! grin.png

Yigor
chesster3145 wrote:

4... b5 with a good Blumenfeld.

 

The gambit 5. Nf3. grin.png

 

 

chesster3145

 

toiyabe

"Preparing the London"

 

HAHAHA

Yigor
chesster3145 wrote:

 

Interesting position happy.png: 6. Nc3