It's tricky for sure and it depends on the exact position of course but if you're not comfortable being a pawn dow for a while for "comp", you shouldn't be playing the Catalan... :-)
Question About the Catalan
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Oct 30, 2019
0
#3
Indeed. You are speaking in terms of Open or Closed Catalan. Weird. I think the Catalan is one of the most fearsome lines. Of course, there are equalizing lines; on the other hand, just concentrate on Open lines. Any one variation should be studied, to me. White enjoys a nice initiative. No need to overthink this is my advice. Experience plays a big part. As it is, cool...just play, my friend.✌🏽
Oct 31, 2019
0
#4
Good luck if get anything useful, from that returning troll.
I think the second post was most accurate, The catalan is quite a complicated opening with white needing to be comfortable playing gambit positions, and subtle positional ideas exploiting weak squares on the queenside. Don't think the OP is ready for it to be honest.
TwoMove wrote:
Good luck if get anything useful, from that returning troll.
I think the second post was most accurate, The catalan is quite a complicated opening with white needing to be comfortable playing gambit positions, and subtle positional ideas exploiting weak squares on the queenside. Don't think the OP is ready for it to be honest.
Well I found the postings interesting and added to the debate.
When I read your suggestion that I should consider not playing the Catalan I considered throwing away my recently acquired Wojo trilogy. Nevertheless, inspired by your amazing powers of assessing my chess strength based on the question I asked, I looked up your chess grade. Lo and behold, I out grade you by twenty points. And yet your online rating is very high - hmmm
Oct 31, 2019
0
#6
For somebody who has those Wojo books, it was quite a low grade question and a bit pointless because surely they answer this question and more.
I am a FIDE 2000ish rated player, i.e a mediocre club player strength. Considered playing Catalan myself at one time but didn't think I was strong enough. Can't find any OTB rating for you, if you are named as claimed to be.
TwoMove wrote:
For somebody who has those Wojo books, it was quite a low grade question and a bit pointless because surely they answer this question and more.
I am a FIDE 2000ish rated player, i.e a mediocre club player strength. Considered playing Catalan myself at one time but didn't think I was strong enough. Can't find any OTB rating for you, if you are named as claimed to be.
It was a question aimed at generating debate.
Me:
Smith, Simon C : grading profile Games
Field Value Description Ref 156634K Grading Code Name Smith, Simon C Name of player, surname first Sex M Member 014630 ECF membership number, class and expiry. Class GOLD 31-08-2020 Club(s) Warley QuinborneWarwickshire CA Club(s) player is listed for Nation ENG Nationality code FIDE 424633 FIDE code Standard Category A Grade 164 Current Standard grade (amended version, if appropriate) 164 Standard grade (original unamended) Games 39 Standard games played, latest 12 months 39 Standard games counted (total) Rank 1448 Rank, excluding FIDE registered foreign players Rapid Category B Grade 157 Current Rapid grade (amended version, if appropriate) 157 Rapid grade (original unamended) Games 20 Rapid games played, latest 12 months 30 Rapid games counted (total) Rank 694 Rank, excluding FIDE registered foreign players
Smith, Simon C : Grade History
Standardplay Grade List Rapidplay Grade 164A July 2019 157B 166A Jan 2019 160C 165A July 2018 166C 161A Jan 2018 172B 167A July 2017 170B 170A Jan 2017 160B 172A July 2016 156A 171A Jan 2016 152A 167A Jul 2015 151B 172A Jan 2015 155B 175X July 2014 156B 170X Jan 2014 142B 174A July 2013 139B 167A Jan 2013 140A 156X July 2012 154A 157X Jan 2012 162D 158A July 2011 160D Jan 2011 160C 175A July 2010 162D Jan 2010 166D 160A July 2009 137A July 2008 143B July 2007 146C July 2006 146D July 2005 151C July 2004 148B July 2003 144C July 2002 146B July 2001 147C July 2000 July 1999 144B July 1998 153A July 1997 139E 146A July 1996 144C July 1995 144E July 1994 Standardplay Grade List Rapidplay GradeYou:
Simmons, John : grading profile Games
Field Value Description Ref 151018G Grading Code Name Simmons, John Name of player, surname first Sex M Member 007634 ECF membership number, class and expiry. Class BRONZE 31-08-2020 Club(s) St Albans Club(s) player is listed for Nation Nationality code FIDE FIDE code Standard Category F Grade 147 Current Standard grade (amended version, if appropriate) 147 Standard grade (original unamended) Games 2 Standard games played, latest 12 months 5 Standard games counted (total) Rank Rank, excluding FIDE registered foreign players Rapid Category Grade Current Rapid grade (amended version, if appropriate) Rapid grade (original unamended) Games 0 Rapid games played, latest 12 months Rapid games counted (total) Rank Rank, excluding FIDE registered foreign playersSimmons, John : Grade History
Standardplay Grade List Rapidplay Grade 147F July 2019 134F Jan 2019 163E July 2018 161E Jan 2018 157E July 2017 161E Jan 2017 166E July 2016 167D Jan 2016 147E Jul 2015 153E Jan 2015 155E July 2014 153D Jan 2014 155C July 2013 153C Jan 2013 161C July 2012 154C Jan 2012 151B July 2011 150C July 2010 153C July 2009 139B July 2008 140C July 2007 139B July 2006 145C July 2005 141C July 2004 151B July 2003 155B July 2002 151C July 2001 138C July 2000 141B July 1999 162B July 1998 154C July 1997 152C July 1996 156C July 1995 151D July 1994 Standardplay Grade List Rapidplay Grade2000ish FIDE is a stretch IMO.
Oct 31, 2019
0
#8
Have to say looking at the quality of your online daily games, if you are really 20 points higher than me OTB, your not spending much time on the moves, you are drunk whilst playing or both.
That's a different John Simmons, my FIDE rating is actual, but not based on many games. If you are if claimed to be there isn't much difference in playing strength. If find value in people posting games from database, you got what wanted. I'm not going to say anymore.
TwoMove wrote:
Have to say looking at the quality of your online daily games, if you are really 20 points higher than me OTB, your not spending much time on the moves, you are drunk whilst playing or both.
That's a different John Simmons, my FIDE rating is actual, but not based on many games. If you are if claimed to be there isn't much difference in playing strength. If find value in people posting games from database, you got what wanted. I'm not going to say anymore.
Well perhaps I use chess.com as batting practice. To explore new opening. That must be you, since if you claim regular play you must have an ECF grading to play OTB tournaments.
Once again assuming I want to spend a lot of time on moves. I'm playing around forty at the moment. Who made you the arbiter of who should play what opening and how long they spend on game consideration ?
I'm also the webmaster of my club http://warleyquinborne.co.uk , so if you wish verification of my identity, I can call you a snotty nosed git from that email as well.
Catalan pawn sacrifice is too deep. Positional sacrifice is too deep to be seen as a mistake by powerful program like Stockfish. Stockfish accepted pawn sacrifice at move 10...... Qxd4??. and got hopeless game after 20 moves later.
This is a known pawn sacrifice variation by Leela.
Thanks for posting. Nice game.
pfren wrote:
drmrboss έγραψε:
Catalan pawn sacrifice is too deep. Positional sacrifice is too deep to be seen as a mistake by powerful program like Stockfish. Stockfish accepted pawn sacrifice at move 10...... Qxd4??. and got hopeless game after 20 moves later.
This is a known pawn sacrifice variation by Leela.
Only an idiot would attach a double question mark to 10...Qxd4, which is a perfectly good move, and has been played by several super-GM's (and in a few serious ICCF games as well).
You need to wake up to learn the changes in technologies. 
Leela is at least +1000 elo above GM, GM are like amateurs to Leela.
All your ICCF GM used old version of Stockfish, so they do copycat of Stockfish mistakes.
Stockfish programmers already aware of it, it is still hard to fix for such mistake of Stockfish without sacrificing the speed.
Bryan Stockfish is the main analyser of stockfish by doing reverse analysis.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/fishcooking/catalan%7Csort
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/fishcooking/catalan%7Csort
Black can of course play dc in various positions. Sometimes white can recover immediately, and sometimes not. Should white always analyse towards being able to recapture in concrete variations, or is it enough that his pull hopefully leads to the recapture of the black pawn on c4 ? I find this one of the toughest opening ideas to untangle.