drukenknight: DB: I had toyed w/ it, ummmm....wHen? You know when I was a kid, I was always Spanish, but after e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb4 a6 I never quite understood what I doing as white. So I had thought about Ponziani back then.I picked it up again last week and am playing it on the internet every day. It is very strong, there's no reason to think it weakens and it's really interesting. THere are many ways to play the B/Q...there are patterns w/ open e files either white or black gets his Q on there and lots of fun.
But you know what key pattern I am seeing? In the main lines, black is often forced to double the c pawn. (Bxc6 bxc6) And then he usually ...00. However as I play a lot of these openings I am finding that it is better to keep the K where the pawns have been busted (if they happen to break) because he can use the pawns to enhance spatial command, those 9 squares around the K.
It is of course a natural function of opening that the pawns may have to double. (that B vs N on c6 thing) The question then is: Is this fatal? If not fatal how do I find compensation for it?
The answer seems to be: Use the doubling to gain Space.
I am seeing this over and over. There is a CaroKann where white takes Nxf6 gxf6 and the black K stays right there. ANd it's fine.
However, most black players naturally want to get the K out of there and so 00 becomes the normal move played quickly. If I can get him to 00 right after Bxc6 bxc6, then I know he has somehow messed up space and/or messed up the K.
There happen to be lots of mating patterns in this w/ K trapped behind pawns and R or Q that sneaks up behind or back rank.
Kibitzing
