The happy Hippo

  I am interested in the Hippopotamus system for both white&black. Do you know of any famous games where it was played?

Spassky played it a bit.  Check out you tube.  Lot of interest in the hippo lately.

Don't they have hippos in America?!

Every chess player must win with the Hippo at least once in their life, it's a right of passage.

I must admit, I am yet to do it and I am ashamed. :(

I played the Hippo a few weeks ago over the board.  However, it's a complete and utter mistake to pre-meditate that you will play the Hippo no matter what.  It sucks for White, and as Black, it's only worth playing if White plays an early Bc4 (as in the game below after 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Bc4) or an early a4 (as in 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.a4). 

If White doesn't commit to either an early Bc4, or else an a4 push, the Hippo is a complete mistake.  For example, the Austrian Attack will blow the Hippo right off the board.

The following game should have been a draw, but White tried for too much, and eventually lost:

http://www.charlottechess.com/games2/1147.htm

I've only ever played the hippo system a few times with White. You are safe for a draw, but hard pressed for a win. With Black I should imagine you are hard pressed to hold the draw! A guy called pafu has a free ebook on his website looking at this system for both sides. Its the worst chess book I have ever read, but the section on typical piece placement might be of interest.

Hippo didn't go so well with me...

Also if you can watch the videos here, Roman has a video on crushing/punishing the hippo...

You cannot crush the Hippo. If you try too hard, it will bite you.

hippos are my best friend.They look like a slow animal but they get deadly when they attack...hippo rules!!!

When in doubt - play a Hippo!

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     def Hippo