TL Chess Match 4 - Page 28

c3 is certainly a plausible move in this case. In fact, from the few games I've checked, for this position it seems that c3 is played anyways, whether it's played now or later. See: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer?node=460727&move=4&moves=e4.e5.Nf3.Nc6.Bb5.Bc5&nodes=21720.21721.21722.21723.21724.460727

That's fair, but there's a big difference between playing now and playing later. O-O is more common, and I consider it to be a more solid move for defending our kingside. I'd rather shore this up now and play c3 later.

As pointed out earlier, c3 is the proper response to this move. 5. D4 is really strong.

Reason: I want a more direct approach first because personally it doesn't matter all that much to me if we play 4. c3 or 4. O-O because either move is good in this position. If we play 4. O-O, our next move will probably be 5. c3 anyways. And vice-versa (4. c3 followed by 5. O-O before our eventual d4 advance).

For now, at least. I don't play 1. e4, so this is all foreign to me, but I'm doing as much research as I can. I feel that O-O and c3 are the two only considerations in this position, and both no doubt will be played. However, I like 4. c3 as it prevents 4...Nd4 which would almost certainly lead to early simplification.

And 5. D4
Sorry about that

Basically a coinflip between this and 4. c3, but this is what I'm most comfortable with.

The move that I normally play against the classical. Black usually play the following 2 moves.
4. ... Nxe5
5. d4 Bxd4
6. Qxd4
and i like the white position

or

4. ... Bxf2
5. Kxf2 Nxe5
6. Rf1
and black can try several tactical lines but i think its mostly good for white (in my opinion :p)

I think the main move in this position is 4. O-O with the idea to play c3 then d4. 4. c3 just transpose to the 4. O-O line except if black play 4 .... Nd4 after 4.O-O, where the best move is probably 5.Nxd4 Bxd4 6. c3

After 4. O-O Nf6
5. c3 usually black will play 5. ... O-O but I cant remember what white should do if black just take the pawn with 5.... Nxe4 since white usually play Re1 in this kind of position but it doesn't work here because of Bxf2. If white plays 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb6 8. Re1 d5 it looks like black should be okay here and i dont like white d4 pawn.

4.... Nxe 5. d4 forking the nite and bishop. Seems like a pretty simple trick. Of course he won't fall for it but seems to me like we just scooped up a free pawn. I haven't had to much time to go over counterplay so I'll update later when I have more time to think about it. Feel free to tell me why this wouldn't work.

4. b4. This move challenges the bishop's position (think Evan's gambit). If this pawn offering is taken then we play c3 followed by d4 gaining time and challenging the center. Otherwise, we are telling that bishop to gtfo. It is an interesting move to me.

Ng5's bishop doesn't cause any direct threat to our stuff. Let's keep on going with the 3.Bb5 thing many of you were excited about and take his knight. Then as he'll likely take the bishop, we take his central pawn with the knight and weaken his center. Then we deal with the bishop.
Unless that's a very bad idea for some reason that I don't see.

Have you considered
4. ... Nxe5
5. d4 c6
6. Be2 Bd6
7. dxe5 Bxe5

Black has the upper hand here imo.

The fork won't work, we'll just go down a pawn and position. 5 ... c6 crushes us so lets cast votes for c3 or O-O please.

Actually found a game i played in that line a while back which end in a draw and it does looks good for black. I think the position is level after that move order and obviously not what white wants since black easily counter break with d5 and level the position. I wonder why my past opponents didnt play this way :p.

Dont really remember any theory from the classical main line though other than white wants to go c3 and d4.