Systems for Black?

Owen, the Dark Knight or the Sniper?

THE SICILIAN!!!!!!!!!! But between those, the best is Owens defense, then the sniper, and i do not know what the Dark Night is. please tell me so i can in form you!

The "Dark Knight" is from the title of a recent book.  It's not really called that.  In essence, it's 1...Nc6, which is commonly known as Nimzovich's Defense (at least against 1.e4).  Against 1.d4, it depends on what White does.  If he plays 2.c4 or 2.Nf3, then 2...d5 is a transposition to the Chigorin Defense.  2.e4 transposes to Nimzovich's Defense, 2.d5 I'm not sure if that has a name or not, but it does give Black problems.

I highly disagree with Owen's Defense.  If you had to choose of those 3, the Sniper is definitely the best of the three.  Even I've played that line.  I'd have to say 2...Nc6 would be second, and Owen's last.

Thank you for the input

hey, i looked at the percentages on http://www.shredderchess.com/online-chess/online-databases/opening-database.html (you might want to check it out) and owens defence had a higher percentage than the sniper, BUT THE SICILIAN IS STILL THE BEST FOR BLACK!!!!!

Please tell us what those percentages mean for us.

I've always been curious, how do Sniper players answer 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.dc Qa5 5.Bd2 Qxc5 6.Nd5?

5...Qxc5 is bad isn't it?

The owen's defence is trash. The dark night isn't so bad, but I would prefer the sniper. But the sicilian and the open games are still the best!!!!

What does Black play instead?

4...Bxc3+ probably.

Yes, 4...Bxc3+ is the move Sniper players use. I've been very interested in all three, the Sniper, 1...Nc6 (DKS version), and 1...b6. I'm a huge fan of universal that also dodges the pet systems of opponents. I'm currently using the DKS trying to see if I can develop a better feel for it. I like the directness of 1...b6 but the cramping effect puts a damper on it. The Sniper is of particular interest to me since I'm drawn to mirror repertoires (even if it's a totally different game as black and white) and I'm playing the Dynamic English, the first three moves being the same as in the Sniper (in a different order). But the Sniper is somewhat loose and I'm not fond of my king becoming a target. It seems to me that the DKS is probably the best choice, the cramping isn't as bad as in 1...b6, and the looseness isn't as bad as in the Sniper. Still considering a bit, but I think I've made my mind up.  

That post triggered about every pet peeve of mine (taking random author's names of openings and systems and calling the opening that. the 'Sniper' is a Pterodactyl, the 'DKS' is a Nimzowistch defense, the 'Dynamic English' is just the English and actually Kosten's lines in his 'Dynamic English' book don't stand up to scrutiny in certain critical variations)

Great comments! Thank you all!!

I think the "Black Lion" may be the most system-ish way to play as black.  It's really the Modern Philidor and the Old Indian thought of as a single system instead of two openings that happen to share a lot of moves.

It's easy for black to wind up passive in these if he's not careful, so they're probably not great openings for most players.  But they can be a solution if all you want are five or six moves you can play against almost anything without getting lost or confused along the way.  It'll pretty much amount to d6, Nf6, Nbd7, and e5 against anything that doesn't force you a different direction, usually with Be7, 0-0, and c6 not far behind.

I see a lot of coffeehouse players using this stuff, and while I don't know if it helps them improve, they seem happy enough.

Games are won in the late middlegame with a simple 3 move tactic, normally a tactic or 'play' that had the person been familiar with - would never have allowed to happen - this is why Systems are good, they consider human weakness in this area and fight against it.

Thank you for the feedback, Charlie!

*nods to FM CharlieStorey 3 years later for one of the best quotes about chess and life in general ever!  beware there are snares everywhere..

All are playable. Just play them