2...Nc3 is illegal.
2...Nc6 is legal. 2...N-QB3 is legal. But NOT 2...Nc3!
What's your preference? 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc3 3.e3 or 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc3 3.c4?
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You are right. I meant 2.Nc6
You are staking a claim on the d5 square with c4. Your Bishop has influence on c3,d4, with pressure on e5 so presumably d6 will be played to support the e5 pawn as extra protection beyond Nc6. Are you expecting a pawn break against c4 if you play it early?
I prefer 3 e3...I think is more flexible and has more counter-punching ability.
My preference is not playing 1. b3. Here’s a sample game:
Playing 1. b3 is like playing the London System but even more boring.
vik-mouse-slip wrote:
My preference is not playing 1. b3. Here’s a sample game:
Playing 1. b3 is like playing the London System but even more boring.
1.b3 is not boring if you are Black and White plays the mainline.
I guarantee you that if you put this into Chesstempo and learn the variations I made, you will be begging your opponent to play 1.b3. I found a lot of traps and brilliant moves that will surely keep you excited
EKAFC wrote:
vik-mouse-slip wrote:
My preference is not playing 1. b3. Here’s a sample game:
Playing 1. b3 is like playing the London System but even more boring.
1.b3 is not boring if you are Black and White plays the mainline.
I guarantee you that if you put this into Chesstempo and learn the variations I made, you will be begging your opponent to play 1.b3. I found a lot of traps and brilliant moves that will surely keep you excited
This works only if white plays 7.Bb2. If white plays the correct move, Bg3, then black is down a pawn with no compensation.
ClegChess wrote:
I have been using 3.e3 and I am wondering if c4 is superior. Adhiban Baskaran recommends c4. I don't want to waste a lot of study time learning new variations if e3 is just as good.
Both moves are completely fine, and relatively equal in strength.
It's just a matter of which resulting positions you enjoy playing more. Choose the one that you find more to your liking.
ClegChess wrote:
This works only if white plays 7.Bb2. If white plays the correct move, Bg3, then black is down a pawn with no compensation.
Bg3 does avoid all of these lines but Black still has compensations but it is an equal position. Don't rely too much on the quick analysis as once you play a few moves in, it changes its mind
ClegChess wrote:
This works only if white plays 7.Bb2. If white plays the correct move, Bg3, then black is down a pawn with no compensation.
Black does not lack compensation, but you are correct that Bg3 is the correct move. Black should play h5, and if white responds with h4, then Bg4! provoking either weaknesses or development concessions is very good.
Thanks for the responses. However, my question is do you refer e3 or c4 on move 3? I own 2 courses on the Nimzo Larsen and they recommend 2 different moves in their variations. I am wondering which to focus on as each will take many study hours. I am more familiar with 3.e3.
OR
I prefer e3, since it is less committal. You can play BB5 while also retaining the option of playing c4 later on.
Thanks for your replies. Bizmark, what you say makes a lot of sense.
I have been using 3.e3 and I am wondering if c4 is superior. Adhiban Baskaran recommends c4. I don't want to waste a lot of study time learning new variations if e3 is just as good.