TL Chess Match 4 - Page 15

Remember that this is a correspondence game, so while playing the King's Gambit may seem like a great idea to some of you now, we are basically giving black equality as I don't think that our presence in the centre would make up for our material deficit and open kingside. I think it may be fun for 10 moves or so, but it won't be so fun when we end up fighting for a draw after 15 moves or w/e. Also iirc Ng5 plays the king's gambit a lot in his blitz games, so he probably has more experience with it than all of us combined.

Hence I prefer to play the more standard move 2.Nf3, where we can enter a Ruy Lopez or something similar with the initiative, and maintain that through into the midgame. This will give us good winning chances as long as we don't slip up. Other moves such as Bc4 and Nc3 should be considered as well, but I think that Bc4 commits too much too early. Nc3 could allow a kind of delayed king's gambit, or a more passive game where we fianchetto the bishop by playing g3 Bg2, which may be interesting, however the current voting seems torn between 2.Nf3 and 2.f4, so I voted for which one of those I preferred. Ironically I moved to 1.d4 to avoid symmetrical king pawn openings haha.

These are basically my thoughts at the moment, I'll probably try and type up something like this for each move I make just so I can remember what I was thinking at the time, and I'd encourage you guys to do the same.

Look up the Halloween Gambit and tell me you don't wanna play that amirite?

Most standard reply in my opinion. Develops a piece, puts pressure on the center, and prepares castling. I almost automatically play this move since I'm not too familiar with the King's Gambit.

I'm not signed up (if it's possible could you? T_T), but Nf3 is the standard move here.

It was my vote for first move, it still stands having seen black's opener. Knights are Quality.

Because it's pretty much the most conservative choice. I don't like gambits or uneven positions, and this is the best second move I can think of since my suggestion of 1. d4 was defeated .

Halloween Gambit goes:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Nxe5 Nxe5
5. d4

I guess most people here want to play standard (not crazy) games, so I'll just go with them, instead of thinking about other moves which wouldn't pass the vote anyway.

Personally I prefer playing openings like the english with lots of closed, positional play but since TL wants the game open, I want it to follow a path I am at least familiar with.

After reading all the arguments for this move, I really like this.

I say we try and end it sooner rather then later! Lets keep the option of f4 open and still attack e5, best of both worlds. Let's add some bacon and make it blend!

Thank goodness we're voting on this one XD