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There Are No Good Anti-Scandinavians

#4

Nice study, don't forget Ntirlis's 3.h3 in Part 2

Nice study, don't forget Ntirlis's 3.h3 in Part 2
#5

I don't think transposing to the Nimzowitsch against the Danish Gambit is a good idea.
I used to play the Nimzo consistently about two years ago (including the outrageous e4 Nc6 Nf3 d5 !??), armed with a extensive homebrew Chessbase file. Led to 3 great classical OTB wins against 1800s, 400 points rated higher than me back then, in a single tournament. Sadly, I got some terrible losses in the next tournament against 2000+ opponents and ended up quitting.
I did in fact transpose to a Nimzo against the Danish Gambit, but eventually stopped doing that too.
The white side of the 3. e5 variations are suprisingly well handled by strong players, and even though a +0.3/+0.4 opening isn't unsound at all, it's very easy to get crushed by a solid setup and good understading by white. 3. exd5 also leads to positions with a slight edge for white that stronger players will love to play.
I personally believe accepting the gambit, defending the pawn with Nf6 and pushing c6 is enough for a big edge.
If you know your opponent is really familiar with the Danish, it could be an interesting surprise, but just analyse with the engine a bit before the game and accept it IMO.

I don't think transposing to the Nimzowitsch against the Danish Gambit is a good idea. I used to play the Nimzo consistently about two years ago (including the outrageous e4 Nc6 Nf3 d5 !??), armed with a extensive homebrew Chessbase file. Led to 3 great classical OTB wins against 1800s, 400 points rated higher than me back then, in a single tournament. Sadly, I got some terrible losses in the next tournament against 2000+ opponents and ended up quitting. I did in fact transpose to a Nimzo against the Danish Gambit, but eventually stopped doing that too. The white side of the 3. e5 variations are suprisingly well handled by strong players, and even though a +0.3/+0.4 opening isn't unsound at all, it's very easy to get crushed by a solid setup and good understading by white. 3. exd5 also leads to positions with a slight edge for white that stronger players will love to play. I personally believe accepting the gambit, defending the pawn with Nf6 and pushing c6 is enough for a big edge. If you know your opponent is really familiar with the Danish, it could be an interesting surprise, but just analyse with the engine a bit before the game and accept it IMO.
#6

I don't think the Study link leads to anywhere.

I don't think the Study link leads to anywhere.
#7

@JesseRoelandt said in #5:
Thanks for your insight! By Danish Gambit I assume you mean the Blackmar-Diemer (BDG for short).

I don't think transposing to the Nimzowitsch against the Danish Gambit is a good idea.
The white side of the 3. e5 variations are suprisingly well handled by strong players, and even though a +0.3/+0.4 opening isn't unsound at all, it's very easy to get crushed by a solid setup and good understading by white.

I can't lie, I'm yet to play one person with good understanding of these positions. Almost every game I get good position, mostly because of how easy it is to play the best move with Black. I didn't play that many games yet, but still. Many people just go Bd3, or allow me to capture on e5 with no repercussions. Or both...

  1. exd5 also leads to positions with a slight edge for white that stronger players will love to play.

My best scoring openings for White are the Caro and e5 — 58% wr. Against 3. exd5 I score 59% with black (all games from 3.d4 Scandi move order). These positions are insanely difficult to handle for White.

If you feel comfortable in BDG Accepted position, that's really good, but I didn't, therefore I started looking for alternatives. And since Nimzowitsch quickly became one of my favourite openings, the choice was obvious for me.

If you have the games can you share them with me here, or privately via DMs? I'm really curious on how they went.

@NaperCoach said in #6:

I don't think the Study link leads to anywhere.

Sorry for that, should be fixed:)

@JesseRoelandt said in #5: Thanks for your insight! By Danish Gambit I assume you mean the Blackmar-Diemer (BDG for short). > I don't think transposing to the Nimzowitsch against the Danish Gambit is a good idea. > The white side of the 3. e5 variations are suprisingly well handled by strong players, and even though a +0.3/+0.4 opening isn't unsound at all, it's very easy to get crushed by a solid setup and good understading by white. I can't lie, I'm yet to play one person with good understanding of these positions. Almost every game I get good position, mostly because of how easy it is to play the best move with Black. I didn't play that many games yet, but still. Many people just go Bd3, or allow me to capture on e5 with no repercussions. Or both... > 3. exd5 also leads to positions with a slight edge for white that stronger players will love to play. My best scoring openings for White are the Caro and e5 — 58% wr. Against 3. exd5 I score 59% with black (all games from 3.d4 Scandi move order). These positions are insanely difficult to handle for White. If you feel comfortable in BDG Accepted position, that's really good, but I didn't, therefore I started looking for alternatives. And since Nimzowitsch quickly became one of my favourite openings, the choice was obvious for me. If you have the games can you share them with me here, or privately via DMs? I'm really curious on how they went. @NaperCoach said in #6: > I don't think the Study link leads to anywhere. Sorry for that, should be fixed:)
#8

@CkickyCheck said in #7:

Thanks for your insight! By Danish Gambit I assume you mean the Blackmar-Diemer (BDG for short).

I don't think transposing to the Nimzowitsch against the Danish Gambit is a good idea.
The white side of the 3. e5 variations are suprisingly well handled by strong players, and even though a +0.3/+0.4 opening isn't unsound at all, it's very easy to get crushed by a solid setup and good understading by white.

I can't lie, I'm yet to play one person with good understanding of these positions. Almost every game I get good position, mostly because of how easy it is to play the best move with Black. I didn't play that many games yet, but still. Many people just go Bd3, or allow me to capture on e5 with no repercussions. Or both...

exd5 also leads to positions with a slight edge for white that stronger players will love to play.

My best scoring openings for White are the Caro and e5 — 58% wr. Against 3. exd5 I score 59% with black (all games from 3.d4 Scandi move order). These positions are insanely difficult to handle for White.

If you feel comfortable in BDG Accepted position, that's really good, but I didn't, therefore I started looking for alternatives. And since Nimzowitsch quickly became one of my favourite openings, the choice was obvious for me.

If you have the games can you share them with me here, or privately via DMs? I'm really curious on how they went.

Yes I meant the BGD :)
TLDR: I probably had bad memories linked to the 2. Nf3 d5? variation (the games I lost without learning anything), while the d4 line is quite sound. The Nimzo is in fact a decent opening against e4, but I still think black should try to refute the BGD.

Sadly, the laptop with those games on it is dismantled, but from memory I can somewhat reconstruct how they went

  • Initial surprise on the first move

White plays e5

  • Setup with Bf5 and even f6 before e6, which I can recommend
  • White goes for the logical Bb5 idea without taking on f6, I make the pin harmless with N(g)e7
  • Suddenly a6 and b5 loses a lot of time and space for white, the dream knight manoeuvre c6-a5-c4 comes on the board
  • Black castles long, c5 becomes a thing and the white position becomes undeniably worse and excruciating to play

White plays exd5

  • White needs to defend his d-pawn immediately, I'm not sure if the following e5 is a shocker for white, but it definitely could be
  • Early c4 ideas are popular but usually inaccurate due to Qe4+
  • Even if white plays all the best moves, the "final position: Nc3 Bb4 Bb2 Bxc3 e4 Ne5 Nxe5 dxe5 Ne7 (that's my main line at least)" is a lot more interesting than I thought

Other variations: Nc3 and Bb5

  • Theory is easy for black and a lot more equalizing than I thought, with even some serious alternatives and weapons lurking inside
  • A prepared player probably wouldn't go into this, so white is usually out of book

Conclusion
If I had learned e4 Nc6 Nf3 e5, I'd probably still be playing it today
I'm not sure if I'm considering playing it in OTB classical again, but it surely made a comeback in blitz and rapid
Also I am learning e4 e5, so 2. Nf3 isn't a problem anymore
Conclusion: Indeed, why not play the Nimzo against the Blackmar-Diemer? Sure, maybe in blitz it's actually the better option, your opponent's comfort zone advantage is suddenly entirely yours. In classical I think prep is enough to prove it unsound.
Best regards + Looking forward to your opinion!

@CkickyCheck said in #7: > Thanks for your insight! By Danish Gambit I assume you mean the Blackmar-Diemer (BDG for short). > > I don't think transposing to the Nimzowitsch against the Danish Gambit is a good idea. > The white side of the 3. e5 variations are suprisingly well handled by strong players, and even though a +0.3/+0.4 opening isn't unsound at all, it's very easy to get crushed by a solid setup and good understading by white. > > I can't lie, I'm yet to play one person with good understanding of these positions. Almost every game I get good position, mostly because of how easy it is to play the best move with Black. I didn't play that many games yet, but still. Many people just go Bd3, or allow me to capture on e5 with no repercussions. Or both... > > exd5 also leads to positions with a slight edge for white that stronger players will love to play. > > My best scoring openings for White are the Caro and e5 — 58% wr. Against 3. exd5 I score 59% with black (all games from 3.d4 Scandi move order). These positions are insanely difficult to handle for White. > > If you feel comfortable in BDG Accepted position, that's really good, but I didn't, therefore I started looking for alternatives. And since Nimzowitsch quickly became one of my favourite openings, the choice was obvious for me. > > If you have the games can you share them with me here, or privately via DMs? I'm really curious on how they went. Yes I meant the BGD :) TLDR: I probably had bad memories linked to the 2. Nf3 d5? variation (the games I lost without learning anything), while the d4 line is quite sound. The Nimzo is in fact a decent opening against e4, but I still think black should try to refute the BGD. Sadly, the laptop with those games on it is dismantled, but from memory I can somewhat reconstruct how they went - Initial surprise on the first move White plays e5 - Setup with Bf5 and even f6 before e6, which I can recommend - White goes for the logical Bb5 idea without taking on f6, I make the pin harmless with N(g)e7 - Suddenly a6 and b5 loses a lot of time and space for white, the dream knight manoeuvre c6-a5-c4 comes on the board - Black castles long, c5 becomes a thing and the white position becomes undeniably worse and excruciating to play White plays exd5 - White needs to defend his d-pawn immediately, I'm not sure if the following e5 is a shocker for white, but it definitely could be - Early c4 ideas are popular but usually inaccurate due to Qe4+ - Even if white plays all the best moves, the "final position: Nc3 Bb4 Bb2 Bxc3 e4 Ne5 Nxe5 dxe5 Ne7 (that's my main line at least)" is a lot more interesting than I thought Other variations: Nc3 and Bb5 - Theory is easy for black and a lot more equalizing than I thought, with even some serious alternatives and weapons lurking inside - A prepared player probably wouldn't go into this, so white is usually out of book Conclusion If I had learned e4 Nc6 Nf3 e5, I'd probably still be playing it today I'm not sure if I'm considering playing it in OTB classical again, but it surely made a comeback in blitz and rapid Also I am learning e4 e5, so 2. Nf3 isn't a problem anymore Conclusion: Indeed, why not play the Nimzo against the Blackmar-Diemer? Sure, maybe in blitz it's actually the better option, your opponent's comfort zone advantage is suddenly entirely yours. In classical I think prep is enough to prove it unsound. Best regards + Looking forward to your opinion!
#9

What is the point of not taking 2 exd5?

What is the point of not taking 2 exd5?
#10

@tpr said in #9:

What is the point of not taking 2 exd5?

"White attempts to take us away from the known territory and get something different from what we're hoping for."

After 2.exd5 it's difficult to avoid the typical scandinavian positions with the pawn on d4 and knight on c3 and if White doesn't like them then they don't go for that.

@tpr said in #9: > What is the point of not taking 2 exd5? "White attempts to take us away from the known territory and get something different from what we're hoping for." After 2.exd5 it's difficult to avoid the typical scandinavian positions with the pawn on d4 and knight on c3 and if White doesn't like them then they don't go for that.