The point of 4...g6 is to gain some tempi. The normal 4...Be7 was usually followed up with ...Nf6, ...o-o, ...Re8, ...Bf8, ...g6, ...Bg7. So the idea behind ...g6 is to fianchetto immediately instead of via the detour e7-f8-g7. The system with 4...g6 is not that bad. It is however razor sharp. White can attack, but black can counterattack. It is comparable with the Sicilian Dragon, minus the open c-file but plus an additional c-pawn for the counterattack.
@tpr I agree with most of your points, it's a sharp battle. But your argument of the Be7-f8-g7-maneuver is just wrong. If both sides castle in opposite directions theres no time for white to reroute the bishop to g7 because each tempi counts. Instead black starts his counterplay without that maneuver. You can look into the database for that. Also Be7 seems to be the preferred choice at high level chess. Your maneuver might exist but I don't think it is used in positions where both sides castled in opposite directions.
also be7 is whats called "duders moves". that is its a champmaster move.
I think one can play it for some time to learn about that type of positions. I tried similar stuff myself.
Actually you can play ...g6 in the main 1. e4 e5 opening positions without ...d6. This way they're better I think, as if allows you to play the ...d5 break in one move (instead of ...d6, you play ...Nc6, which has other benefits). You play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, then against Scotch you take and play g6, against Italian or 3. Nc3, g6 again. Against the Spanish you have immediate ...g6 too, or you can play ...d6 and play according to the opponent's choice (if he pushes d4, you take and play g6; otherwise you don't need it etc). A nice tactical repertoire for an amateur. Don't worry about engine treatment: At your (or my) level you're not losing your games mainly because of slightly inferior opening choices.
Actually you can play ...g6 in the main 1. e4 e5 opening positions without ...d6. This way they're better I think, as if allows you to play the ...d5 break in one move (instead of ...d6, you play ...Nc6, which has other benefits). You play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, then against Scotch you take and play g6, against Italian or 3. Nc3, g6 again. Against the Spanish you have immediate ...g6 too, or you can play ...d6 and play according to the opponent's choice (if he pushes d4, you take and play g6; otherwise you don't need it etc). A nice tactical repertoire for an amateur. Don't worry about engine treatment: At your (or my) level you're not losing your games mainly because of slightly inferior opening choices.
The manoeuvre Be7 - Bf8 - Bg7 occurs for example in the line 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Be7 6 Be2 o-o 7 o-o Re8 8 f4 Bf8. Later the Bishop is re-developed to g7. The point of Larsen's idea is to develop the Bishop to g7 right away, thus saving 2 tempi, but at the cost of playing ...g6 early and thus provoking an attack with o-o-o and h4-h5.
One does not always have to play ...d5 in the Philidor defence. Sometimes the pawns just stay at d6 and c6. Sometimes black plays ...c5, which leaves a hole at d5, but which enables ...b5 and ...b4 or ...b5 and ...c4.
One does not always have to play ...d5 in the Philidor defence. Sometimes the pawns just stay at d6 and c6. Sometimes black plays ...c5, which leaves a hole at d5, but which enables ...b5 and ...b4 or ...b5 and ...c4.
yeah dude thats just some awsome moves.
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