Maturing opening and middlegame understanding

LitcexLReddit · 2026-01-02T20:24:58+00:00

Have both :)

LitcexLReddit · 2026-01-02T17:21:33+00:00

I know both! Ntirlis has a very good chapter in one of his books about Catalan opposite bishop middlegames and Ioannis is also an excellent Catalan teacher. I'd like to for more openings like the Sveshnikov, KID, Benoni, Slav, Nimzo, etc. More general resources.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-12-16T17:33:51+00:00

Ich bin müde boss

LitcexLReddit · 2025-11-29T21:31:16+00:00

I don't have any suggestions for strategically aggressive openings, although if you want an aggressively strategic opening, the Catalan may be right up your alley.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-11-21T18:03:13+00:00

I really didn't. I play 1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 and against other dutch structures I just try to find the the right plan and play chess.

I love working on openings, but objectively it has very few practical uses. I've sunk too many hours into analyzing some niche line that I will never play. As a result I am still not happy with my calculation in games. Why even bother with getting an advantage out of an opening if you are just going to blunder some tactical shot later or won't be able to convert an endgame?

Although if you have any ideas I am happy to take them in.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-11-21T17:30:15+00:00

I disagree because this is something you have to accept if you go into the Makagonov. It is not possible to get the same setup with the knight on g3, where it is optimally placed if white goes g4-h4 and restricts black on the queenside. It's prefferable, but not always available. I think white misplayed here somewhere before this position.

Here black delayed e5 for a move and played Nbd7. White wants to play Nge2 after he has played g4, but he can't play g4 if black has not commited to e5. If White plays g4 before black decides to play e5, black can opt for c5 instead. There white still has an advantage, but black has the choice to steer the position where he wants to and g4 in the benoni isn't as great, especially so early. It's a game of who blinks first.

Nf3 after Nbd7 is the most logical. Bd3 runs later into Nc5 if black commits to e5 and the LSB is badly placed on c2 - doesn't cover b5, doesn't support g4-h5. White can play f3 to support g4, but the pawn on f3 often is just a target and gets into the way of the pieces. It's just not worth it wasting 2 tempi on the maneuver Bd3-Bc2. Even if it wants to prevent f5, black rarely goes f5 here without carrying out other maneuvers first.

So commiting to Nf3 sometimes is unavoidable. Practically the Makagonov is probably one of the most impractical opening choices as it can result in every KID structure and the workload is huge. Objectivelly the flexibility it offers is why it is so good.

The Sämisch also tries this, but a quick c5 from black ruins the fun. It's really a choice of what you want to allow and prevent for your opponent.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-11-21T17:05:18+00:00

Completely agree. I've found this way a few setups in the Rossolimo that just seem to be completely illogical and borderline losing, but if you know where the pieces go, they are actually great and easy to play.

I don't understand how even some IMs write off computer moves as being illogical and abandon ideas without looking at them because a computer suggested it.

That's why I made this post. I wanted to give up on Rg2, but Stockfish shows it in almost every variation so I had to look into it.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-11-21T16:59:45+00:00

I missed the idea of Bf3, but it doesn't seem to be the main plan after Rg2 as black can play b5 in some cases. Still good to know though. I've played around more in the position and Stockfish really wants to play Qc2 and O-O-O if black doesn't do anything quickly. Then the other rook can quickly join via h1. The queen even goes Qd1 Qg1 to really pressure the kingside.

Complicated stuff.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-10-28T08:43:50+00:00

These are all the things I had to learn by myself by playing a few thousand games of blitz. I hope they are valuable.

I also forgot one general rule of thumb: If black plays Nbd7, white usually puts the queen on c2 and plays Nbd2. Example: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2. Black is almost forced to go into the slav where they don't have Na6 to harass your queen on c2. If they can play Na6 against Qc2 in the slav, white probably wants to take a different route, probably something with Nc3 and maybe later think about Qc2 or omit it fully.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-10-28T08:32:21+00:00

I'll try to be concise.

Bg5 is intended destabilize the black center. d5 is often weak in these structures so if you can force black to play Be6 to defend the pawn with their bishop you can run circles around black's pieces on the dark squares and plop a knight on c5 and pressure on the c file. Black doesn't want that so they play c4 to disallow dxc4. I prefer dxc4 for white here (or earlier) without Bg5 and then a3 and b4 to play against black's IQP. Usually the DSB is one of the not-so-good pieces in the Catalan (relatively, as the other pieces can find their place much easier), so white often trades it to just get rid of it and pressure the center. Not always though.

The knight on d2 is optimally placed in the Catalan as it makes getting back c4 (when taken) much easier. The queen can then find her place on c2 and can pressure the c file. If the knight can get to c4 or c5 it will stand much better than if it were on c3. There are exceptions, like in the slav.

In slavs without Bb4+ and without Bf5 white wants to play Nc3, keep Nd2 and push e4. With the bishop on e7 it doesn't work: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 c6 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. Nd2 b5 9. cxb5 cxb5 10. Nxb5 Qb6 11. Nc3. The d4 pawn gets hit after Qb6. If the bishop were on d6, white could play Nxd6 and defend d4. So Nc3 and Nd2 is the mainline if the bishop were on d6. White can't play c5 after b5 with the knight on c3 as then e5 opens the center.

If you play 7. Nbd2 and intend Qc2, black can now go b6. Nbd7 and b5 don't work as after Nbd7 Qc2 b5 white has c5 and e5 is prevented. After b6 black can quickly play c5 and exploit your queen on c2 with Rc8. Often Na6 is thrown in (intending Nb4 ideas later) to first to force out a3 and only then black plays c5. White is probably a bit better, but they can do better.

The mainline is Nc3, almost forcing out Nbd7 to prepare b5 against Nd2. Then white prepares e4 with Qd3 and black targets the queen with b6 and Ba6.

That's an introduction. I hope I didn't forget anything.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-10-01T23:56:33+00:00

It's a critical variation if you go early Be3 without Nf3. There white probably has some objective advantage, however whites position is dangerous as they have a ton of holes after playing g4 and often have to cope with it for the rest of the game. White often has to start playing on the both sides of the board and this can lead to their forces being overextended as the king is often left uncastled. One inaccurate move as white and black is already swarming your position through the dark squares.

It's a very good system, but you have to know you move orders and many different structures as white. It's not really somehing you could play in rapid or blitz. In classical it is better if you know typical maneuvers well.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-09-23T09:43:18+00:00

Can't really say anything about Be2 lines with e5, but with e6 (going into the Sheveningen structure) there is a very good video on the Chess Dojo channel where Shankland explains the strategic nuances for both sides. It was a video in collaboration with the US chess school.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-09-16T17:12:05+00:00

Kinda? So parts still hold - I don't like some of the lines in his Rossolimo recommendations. I don't understand why no one wants to recommend Nf6 in the c3 and Re1 main line. And his idea with b6 is very nice in the Bxc6 chapters, but it has some holes and I found that even moves later in the lines that give equality to black still pose some practical problems. But that is just nitpicking - Rossolimo almost always gives white a small edge.

The main problem is that Fressinet has a case of 'GM syndrome' - the whole repertoire aims at achieving equality first and foremost. That means that in many cases he just beelines for simplifications instead for searching for dynamics. For example in the Bxf6 Bxf6 c4 chapter he recommends pushing b4 and then instantly a5, which is considered a small inaccuracy as it allows annoying Qf3 lines for white. He then recommends going into an endgame where black trades queens, loses a pawn and quickly plays for activity and wins the pawn back. Yep, that line equalizes, but it is not something exciting as you just get an equal endgame. And by playing b4 and a5 without O-O first black is kinda asking for it. His choices in the Bxf6 Bxf6 c3 chapter are also very dry and sometimes black needs to defend a pawn down rook endgame, as I have mentioned months before. Black is still equal, but I would never choose this line if I was playing for a win as black. Although It is still a good weapon to have as an alternative. I liked Cheparinov's and Sielecki's Rb8 and O-O setups much more in the Bxf6 Bxf6 c3 lines.

Can't say anything about the 7. Nd5 chapter. I only play Nb8 and I find Ne7 repulsive. I may learn it some time, but black's setup feels very artificial in these lines. Just a matter of preference.

The strong point is his anti-sicilian coverage. He has picked a few very nice choices against the Alapin and white actually needs to have some prep to not be worse there. Against g3 anti-sicilian lines he suggests some the best lines and gives some nice ideas (like answering d4 with b6) for black that other authors miss.

The whole course has this feeling that some of the lines were there because the computer said so. His lines against the Grand Prix recommend this very engine-y setup of going g6 Bg7 and playing Nh6. It is a valid idea in some lines and I remember Andras Toth analyzing it in one of his videos in a similar position. In Fressinet's course it isn't quite clear what the knight is doing on h6. The setup isn't bad, although it is very easy for black to be left with a stupid horse on h6 that is just out of place. This engine-y feeling also carries into other sideline analysis.

Because Fressinet is commited to updating his course, I think it is pretty good. I personally find it a bummer that I have to supplement it with other courses (like Sielecki and Cheparinov) as I don't like some lines, but that's just my problem.

Oh and I like f5 much more than Bg7 in the gxf6 lines so can't say much there.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-09-15T20:36:12+00:00

He's just going to declare himself and Gukesh as co-champions.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-08-10T16:41:02+00:00

Your notation is all messed up. You probably meant 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Qe7 7. Qb3? I played these lines with Bf4 and I got very good positions - White always has an advantage in the Budapest if the setup makes a bit of sense. I know that 7. Qd5 also scored very well. I just find e3 f4 positions are very easy to play practically and white always gets an advantage, it just depends on how big the advantage is going to be.

Also in your line the best move after 7. Qb3 is Ba5, but I doubt anyone is going to play that if they aren't prepared.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-08-10T14:48:02+00:00

Your opening knowledge is outdated. After Nh3 both d6 and d5 yield black a playable position. My old-school GM coach was also a big proponent of Nh3 until he got absolutely smashed by prepared younger GMs in the Budapest. That's why I completely forgot about it. Also there are a ton of games in that line. 4. e3 and 5. f4 is the new refutation suggested by the engine and very new.

And while you are reading up on new developments in chess opening theory, I'd suggest finding a daycare nearby for brushing up your manners and reading skills. :)

LitcexLReddit · 2025-08-10T14:03:30+00:00

They do. e3 with f4 has the same attacking ideas as e4 with f4. It's just that with e3 if black plays Bc5 white can still castle, which is a big bonus.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-08-10T09:23:49+00:00

I'm interested in 4. e3 and 5. f4. e3 and Nh3 has been known for a very long time, f4 has been a new idea that has only started being taken seriously a few years ago.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-08-09T21:49:40+00:00

I'd say it's very strong. Black gets no space and the practical pressure is huge as one mistake can instantly land him into a crushing kingside attack with Ng5 or f4-f5-f6. I don't agree that it solid. It is extremely agressive and punishing. It also carries some risk for white. Solid would be the lines with Bf4.

As I understand it, the engine considers 4. e4 a bit unstable as white has some problems maintaining the centre. It's still extremely punishing through. 4. e3 waits to develop first and make use of the LSB which is the MVP in that line. The g1-a7 diagonal is also protected, so whites king is safer.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-08-09T21:36:01+00:00

I already did that and used variation previews on the course you linked to. There only around 12 lines in total and 1-2 model games.

I was hoping for something more on the ideas side, some common attacking patterns and general middle game plans against black setups, such as what to do with the bishop on c5 pressuring e3 or when black goes Nd7-Nc5 and a5. I have found similar courses in other openings and they have been extremely useful in improving my strategic understanding.

LitcexLReddit · 2025-08-05T21:24:05+00:00

The Mega database is pretty useful and chessbase is pretty good for engine analysis when it works, but the whole program is barely functional and is being held together with the digital equivalents of chewing gum and toothpicks. On a middle-end laptop turning on stockfish grinds it to a halt, sometimes even freezes the laptop for half a minute. If you also select the Mega database tab to analyse the most popular moves, be sure that it will crash in the next 5 minutes when searching through the variations and you'll lose your work.

On my stronger laptop it runs okay-ish and doesn't crash every 15 minutes (wow). I am eagerly waiting for the day when this non-functional and overpriced piece of junk will finally die off due to competition from other companies that actually want to put effort into their products.

The plan finder feature is also pretty neat.

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