You are right! If White wants b4 to be unstoppable, then if he plays c3, a3 and THEN b4, he can achieve it.
However Black, by threatening his own expansion and provoking a4, can take control of b4 with a5.
Why is this played? - Italian Game
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Aug 28, 2019
0
#3
kamalakanta wrote:
You are right! If White wants b4 to be unstoppable, then if he plays c3, a3 and THEN b4, he can achieve it.
However Black, by threatening his own expansion and provoking a4, can take control of b4 with a5.
Great- nice to know my initial assessment was correct.
True, White weakens b4, but also gains b5. "To get squares you gotta give squares!"
This a4 and a5 pawn formation is a familiar pattern in many openings, so one to take note of for sure.
Aug 29, 2019
0
#4
It is an ancient idea, first seen in the Staunton - St Amant match!! In this set up, ...a6 preserves the Bishop., And then .. a5 prepares to meet d3-d4 by exchanging on d4, then playing ...d5 with ...Nb4.👍
Aug 29, 2019
0
#5
simaginfan wrote:
It is an ancient idea, first seen in the Staunton - St Amant match!! In this set up, ...a6 preserves the Bishop., And then .. a5 prepares to meet d3-d4 by exchanging on d4, then playing ...d5 with ...Nb4.👍
Looking at the game in question, you could be right. Black immediately broke with d5 after exchanging on d4:
Aug 29, 2019
0
#8
simaginfan wrote:
It is an ancient idea, first seen in the Staunton - St Amant match!! In this set up, ...a6 preserves the Bishop., And then .. a5 prepares to meet d3-d4 by exchanging on d4, then playing ...d5 with ...Nb4.👍
Hi, Simaginfan! In which game? I am looking at the games from the match, and there are only two Giouco Piano games...
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=79243
Aug 31, 2019
0
#12
I personally approach this differently. White usually plays bb3 in these kinds of positions, but in this case didn't go for that but instead played Re1. The main move for black in these positions is Na5, which forces a trade with the white bishop if it's not on b3, because the white bishop is simply a very good piece for white. However in this case, if black played Na5 white simply goes Bb5. So that's the reason why black plays a6. White however, doesn't want to move the bishop from the diagonal so after a6 he responded with a4. Stopping b5 but more importantly giving the bishop a retreat square to a2.
The Giuoco Pianissimo is enjoying a spell of popularity at the highest level of chess, with numerous recent clashes between super-GMs featuring the opening. However, as I combed through games from the Sinquefield Cup, I was stumped by some moves in the opening:
Why did Black play a7-a6 then a6-a5 two moves in a row? My only guess would be that the first move was a useful waiting move in the same vein of white's previous h2-h3, then when White had committed himself with a2-a4, with intentions of advancing on the Queenside, Black decided to spend another move in order to stop it. Of course, I could be wrong so any input is welcomed.