i've recently discovered that too. I always wondered why gms never played 3. c4, but then i went to a tournament and was overtaken because of it. Sometimes one fails to remember that white has the lead in all chess games. In theory black must first play for a draw before he can play for the win. white does not always need to be hyper aggressive
Avoid Trying to Gain Space In the Scandinavian/Center-Counter Defese
Sort:
PLEASE ALLOW TO
PRESENT MYSELF
MY NÉ NAME IS
BRØNDUM IE
BRANDON,ESQ IN MY
OTHER UNITED AMERICA
LOT OF FAMILY LIVES IN
CALIFORNIA & SAY
MANITOBA BRANDON-
CANADA
ADVICE: SCANDINAVIA OR
CENTER COUNTER....
DO´NT SNAP THE D5 PLAY
2.C3 LET HIM CHASE THE
WHITE QUEEN...2....DE4:
3. QA4+ NC6/BD7/C6
4.QE4: NF6MADMOISELLE ATT!
FAITH JAN BRØNDUM-HAPHNIAM FACTAM CW.
NOW TSCHIGORIN,M,I
PUPS UP-.....5.QK2!
MUTTERBAR
WUNDERSCHØN-TNX
CactusWren,
Hi. Thanks for the comment. I'm not sure if I would recommend the following line you suggested:
VinceyPoo
Thanks for the insight. After playing this game it became apparent to me why Masters prefer 2. exd5 to open up the game and follow it up with a tempo boost in 3. Nc3 to safely gain a small, small advantage in the opening. Like you said, to a GM, a minor edge is all you need to outplay your opponent.
I prefer 2. exd5 to White's other popular reply 2. e4 gaining a spacial advantage, but wasting a tempo and semi-locking up the game depending on what Black wants to do.
And we can both agree that the aforementioned options are much better than my 2. c4? =/
i too have found 2. exd5 to work better, but i've always had a harder time playing against someone who plays 2. ... Nf6. 2. ... Nf6 seems to really be a dominant move and does not allow white to gain immediate tempo.
e4, i find extends the pawn a bit too much for my taste. As one finds out, have two pawns side by side is quite powerful, but once one pawn is forced to move forward it loses its effectiveness.
i've always liked opening my wing on c4, but i guess that only works in lesser rated games =/
So this is me playing Little ChessPartner on "Hard" strength against one of its pet openings in its repertoire: the Scandinavian Defense. I don't really like the other options available, and recently, I've been more inclined to open up positions, so I went with 2. exd5. After Black recaptures with 2. ... Qxd5, I try to gain space by playing 3. c4, attacking the Queen before I play Nc3, hoping to gain a nice spacial advantage with c4, d4, Nc3, and Nf3 for a solid Queen's Gambit type position. That's how it would work in a perfect world at least =/
Of course, the position blows up in my face, and I find myself completely on the defense, wasting tempos left and right in an attempt to maintain the position, and with absolutely no piece coordination whatsoever, while Black has a solid position and good development with which he can use to play for the advantage.
Moral of the story: I am beginning to understand why Masters play 3. Nc3 over 3. c4 in the Scandinavian, and settle for a small advantage in position and lead in development in which to play for the win.