I used to play the Panov, but that has a big problem: There are multiple forced endgame lines, and there is the "Modern" variation with Be6 that is just a killer. Black equalizes with good piece play, not just 'computer-equal' suffering.
Then I switched to the Two Knights about a year ago. There are some Rubinstein-French-esque lines in the Mindeno after 6. d3, but in 6. d4 there is again this strong equalizing line:
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. d4 dxe4 7. Qxe4 Nf6 8. Qd3 Na6! 9. a3 Qa5 10. Rb1 Nc7 11. Be2 Nd5! 12. O-O
The only way I know to try to counteract this line is to play the crazy 11. Rg1!? with a balls-to-the-wall kingside attack and your king on f1. That's not a good practical choice as a main line because it gives you so many weaknesses.
So maybe I finally need to study the main line. Is there a good way to get a 'durable' advantage while still retaining a dynamic structure, but without incurring a lot of danger? I know in CK there are plenty of ways to get very drawish, hard-to-lose positions, and there are also high risk lines ofc. But is there a way to navigate the main line to avoid the super-boring and also the super-dangerous positions?
I don't have a good 'feel' for CK/Scandi structures, so if it gets into e4-e5 or French/Sicilian-like structures then that would be even better for me personally, but that's less important.
Thanks!
Then I switched to the Two Knights about a year ago. There are some Rubinstein-French-esque lines in the Mindeno after 6. d3, but in 6. d4 there is again this strong equalizing line:
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. d4 dxe4 7. Qxe4 Nf6 8. Qd3 Na6! 9. a3 Qa5 10. Rb1 Nc7 11. Be2 Nd5! 12. O-O
The only way I know to try to counteract this line is to play the crazy 11. Rg1!? with a balls-to-the-wall kingside attack and your king on f1. That's not a good practical choice as a main line because it gives you so many weaknesses.
So maybe I finally need to study the main line. Is there a good way to get a 'durable' advantage while still retaining a dynamic structure, but without incurring a lot of danger? I know in CK there are plenty of ways to get very drawish, hard-to-lose positions, and there are also high risk lines ofc. But is there a way to navigate the main line to avoid the super-boring and also the super-dangerous positions?
I don't have a good 'feel' for CK/Scandi structures, so if it gets into e4-e5 or French/Sicilian-like structures then that would be even better for me personally, but that's less important.
Thanks!