What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

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Date: 09 Aug 2005 15:09:50
From: Peter Billam
Subject: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?

After 3. Nc3 a6 White can move into a Closed Sicilian
in which a6 is not really a high priority,
and after 3. Nc3 d6 or 3. Nc3 Nc6 White can continue
4. d4 and trap Black in alien (and even bigger) mainlines...

I.e. why learn the Kan if you have to prepare the Scheveningen as well ?

Regards, Peter

--

TAS/DPIWE/CIT/Servers hbt/lnd/l8 6233 3061 http://www.pjb.com.au
And how sweet a story it is, when you hear Charley Parker tell it
- Kerouac, Mexico City Blues

Date: 18 Aug 2005 18:52:53
From: Roger
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

On 2005-08-09 07:09:50 +0200, Peter Billam <[email protected] > said:

> Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
> 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
> do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?
>
> After 3. Nc3 a6 White can move into a Closed Sicilian
> in which a6 is not really a high priority,
> and after 3. Nc3 d6 or 3. Nc3 Nc6 White can continue
> 4. d4 and trap Black in alien (and even bigger) mainlines...
>
> I.e. why learn the Kan if you have to prepare the Scheveningen as well ?
>
> Regards, Peter

If 3..a6 really loses a tempo, then what would be wrong with useful
moves like 3...Nc6 or 3...Qc7?
I do not think white can force it over into Scheveningen then.

Date: 19 Aug 2005 22:37:39
From: Ray Gordon
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

>> Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
>> 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6

I prefer to go for a oczy Bind with 3. c4.

There are a few good lines against it, but most players just fall down
against that move. I also tend to have a good record of finding answers to
whatever Black throws at me there.

Date: 18 Aug 2005 19:20:25
From: Roger
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

On 2005-08-18 18:52:53 +0200, Roger <[email protected] > said:

> On 2005-08-09 07:09:50 +0200, Peter Billam <[email protected]> said:
>
>> Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
>> 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
>> do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?
>>
>> After 3. Nc3 a6 White can move into a Closed Sicilian
>> in which a6 is not really a high priority,
>> and after 3. Nc3 d6 or 3. Nc3 Nc6 White can continue
>> 4. d4 and trap Black in alien (and even bigger) mainlines...
>>
>> I.e. why learn the Kan if you have to prepare the Scheveningen as well ?
>>
>> Regards, Peter
>
> If 3..a6 really loses a tempo, then what would be wrong with useful
> moves like 3...Nc6 or 3...Qc7?
> I do not think white can force it over into Scheveningen then.

Sorry, my answer was a little to short.
After 3.Nc3 a6 White can move into the Closed Sicilian where Rb8 and b5
probably is better than a6 and b5. But in this line white has commited
his knight to f3 before moving his f-pawn. Usually in the closed
sicilian white plays f4 first, then Nf3.

How, after 3. Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 can white force black into bigger alien mainlines?
Lets say black plays cxd4 4. Nxd4 and now 4... a6 or 4..Nxd4 5. Qxd4 Ne7.

Date: 19 Aug 2005 09:35:58
From: Peter Billam
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

In article <[email protected] >, Roger wrote:
> On 2005-08-18 18:52:53 +0200, Roger <[email protected]> said:
>
>> On 2005-08-09 07:09:50, Peter Billam <[email protected]> said:
>>
>>> Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
>>> 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
>>> do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?
>>> After 3. Nc3 a6 White can move into a Closed Sicilian
>>> in which a6 is not really a high priority,
>>> and after 3. Nc3 d6 or 3. Nc3 Nc6 White can continue
>>> 4. d4 and trap Black in alien (and even bigger) mainlines...
>>>
> After 3.Nc3 a6 White can move into the Closed Sicilian where Rb8 and b5
> probably is better than a6 and b5. But in this line white has commited
> his knight to f3 before moving his f-pawn. Usually in the closed
> sicilian white plays f4 first, then Nf3.

Good point. Which weighs heavier ? There's a big book on the Closed
Sicilian, isn't there (Lane ?). Anyone have it ? How do the lines with
early Nf3 and early ..a6 work out ?
>
> How, after 3. Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 can white force black into bigger alien mainlines?
> Lets say black plays cxd4 4. Nxd4 and now 4... a6 or 4..Nxd4 5. Qxd4 Ne7.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 or
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 is the Taimanov
Sicilian B45-49, which is fine, er, except if you don't know it.

I guess one good solution would be play Taimanov, not Kan, after Nc3, i.e.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Qc7
which is the Taimanov B48 mainline (the Kan moves were 5...Qc7
and 5...b5!?). But in that case after the 3.Nc3 moveorder
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6
Black also has to know the B46 Taimanov lines 6.g3 and 6.Be2.

Of course 3...d6 is likely to lead to the Scheveningen, which is good,
but it really is a lot to learn.

So to deal with 3.Nc3 my guess is Black has to choose between
* 3...a6 and learn the Kan, and the Closed with early Nf3 and early ..a6
* 3...Nc6 and learn the Kan, and large parts of the Taimanov
* 3...d6 and then learn all the Scheveningen; treat the Kan as a byline.

So a lot depends on how the Closed with early Nf3 & early ..a6 works out.

Hope this makes sense ... Regards, Peter

--
TAS/DPIWE/CIT/Servers hbt/lnd/l8 6233 3061 http://www.pjb.com.au
And how sweet a story it is, when you hear Charley Parker tell it
- Kerouac, Mexico City Blues

Date: 19 Aug 2005 22:39:28
From: Ray Gordon
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

>> After 3.Nc3 a6 White can move into the Closed Sicilian where Rb8 and b5
>> probably is better than a6 and b5. But in this line white has commited
>> his knight to f3 before moving his f-pawn. Usually in the closed
>> sicilian white plays f4 first, then Nf3.
>
> Good point. Which weighs heavier ? There's a big book on the Closed
> Sicilian, isn't there (Lane ?). Anyone have it ? How do the lines with
> early Nf3 and early ..a6 work out ?

The Closed Sicilian is very much correlated to the lines of the Symmetrical
English where White plays g3 and Bg2.

Study the English in those lines and you should have no difficulty with
either side of the closed Sicilian. King's Indian theory is also very
relevant to the formations, and for that, try Bronstein's book on the Zurich
1953 tournament.

Date: 19 Aug 2005 06:17:36
From: Roger
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

On 2005-08-19 01:35:58 +0200, Peter Billam <[email protected] > said:

> In article <[email protected]>, Roger wrote:
>> On 2005-08-18 18:52:53 +0200, Roger <[email protected]> said:
>>
>>> On 2005-08-09 07:09:50, Peter Billam <[email protected]> said:
>>>
>>>> Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
>>>> 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
>>>> do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?
>>>> After 3. Nc3 a6 White can move into a Closed Sicilian
>>>> in which a6 is not really a high priority,
>>>> and after 3. Nc3 d6 or 3. Nc3 Nc6 White can continue
>>>> 4. d4 and trap Black in alien (and even bigger) mainlines...
>>>>
>> After 3.Nc3 a6 White can move into the Closed Sicilian where Rb8 and b5
>> probably is better than a6 and b5. But in this line white has commited
>> his knight to f3 before moving his f-pawn. Usually in the closed
>> sicilian white plays f4 first, then Nf3.
>
> Good point. Which weighs heavier ? There's a big book on the Closed
> Sicilian, isn't there (Lane ?). Anyone have it ? How do the lines with
> early Nf3 and early ..a6 work out ?
>>
>> How, after 3. Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 can white force black into bigger alien mainlines?
>> Lets say black plays cxd4 4. Nxd4 and now 4... a6 or 4..Nxd4 5. Qxd4 Ne7.
>
> 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 or
> 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 is the Taimanov
> Sicilian B45-49, which is fine, er, except if you don't know it.
>
> I guess one good solution would be play Taimanov, not Kan, after Nc3, i.e.
> 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Qc7
> which is the Taimanov B48 mainline (the Kan moves were 5...Qc7
> and 5...b5!?). But in that case after the 3.Nc3 moveorder
> 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 Black also has to know
> the B46 Taimanov lines 6.g3 and 6.Be2.
>
> Of course 3...d6 is likely to lead to the Scheveningen, which is good,
> but it really is a lot to learn.
>
> So to deal with 3.Nc3 my guess is Black has to choose between
> * 3...a6 and learn the Kan, and the Closed with early Nf3 and early ..a6
> * 3...Nc6 and learn the Kan, and large parts of the Taimanov
> * 3...d6 and then learn all the Scheveningen; treat the Kan as a byline.
>
> So a lot depends on how the Closed with early Nf3 & early ..a6 works out.
>
> Hope this makes sense ... Regards, Peter

3... Nc6 and 5...a6 would be classified as Taimanov, but it isn�t a
scary mainline such as the Keres attack or the english attack against
the Scheveningen. A scary alien mainline depends on memory and a lot of
preparation. This version of Taimanov isn�t like that for black. It
depends on understanding and lookes to me a lot like Kan.
Black has also a lot of other alternativs to commiting his d-pawn early
and thus entering a Scheveningen mainline. What would be wrong with
something like 3...Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 and now 5...Nxd4 or 5....Qc7?
If that does not work black has, what lookes to me, like a lot of other
alternatives to early d6.

Date: 22 Aug 2005 10:04:38
From: Peter Billam
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

> So to deal with 3.Nc3 my guess is Black has to choose between
> * 3...a6 and learn the Kan, and the Closed with early Nf3 and early ..a6
> * 3...Nc6 and learn the Kan, and large parts of the Taimanov
> * 3...d6 and then learn all the Scheveningen; treat the Kan as a byline.
>
> So a lot depends on how the Closed with early Nf3 & early ..a6 works out.

After, let's say,
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 a6 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2
My somewhat incomplete database reveals:
ECO : B23, B24, B28, B30, B40, B46, B80
369 games selected, 368 results known
Overall : 57.0652 %
Next Moves :
g5 ( 0/1/0 ) 50 %
e5 ( 2/0/0 ) 100 %
d5 ( 2/1/0 ) 83.3333 %
Nd4 ( 3/0/1 ) 75 %
Be7 ( 3/0/2 ) 60 %
b5 ( 7/3/4 ) 60.7143 %
Nge7 ( 9/8/5 ) 59.0909 %
g6 ( 19/7/12 ) 59.2105 %
Qc7 ( 26/19/14 ) 60.1695 %
Nf6 ( 28/29/22 ) 53.7975 %
d6 ( 51/52/38 ) 54.6099 %

and White still hasn't committed the d-pawn.

> 3... Nc6 and 5...a6 would be classified as Taimanov, but it isn�t a
> scary mainline such as the Keres attack or the english attack against
> the Scheveningen. A scary alien mainline depends on memory and a lot of
> preparation. This version of Taimanov isn�t like that for black. It
> depends on understanding and lookes to me a lot like Kan.
> Black has also a lot of other alternativs to commiting his d-pawn early
> and thus entering a Scheveningen mainline. What would be wrong with
> something like 3...Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 and now 5...Nxd4 or 5....Qc7?
> If that does not work black has, what lookes to me, like a lot of other
> alternatives to early d6.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 cd4 5. Nxd4
ECO : B33, B43, B45, B46, B47, B48, B49, B54, B62, B66, B68, B80,
B81, B82, B83, B84, B85, B88, B89, B90
17883 games selected, 17457 results known
Overall : 53.0847 %
Next Moves :
a5 ( 1/0/1 ) 50 %
b6 ( 1/0/0 ) 100 %
Bd6 ( 2/0/1 ) 66.6667 %
e5 ( 4/0/1 ) 80 %
d5 ( 6/3/5 ) 53.5714 %
g6 ( 6/5/2 ) 65.3846 %
Nge7 ( 13/4/5 ) 68.1818 %
Nxd4 ( 15/3/6 ) 68.75 %
Be7 ( 14/4/9 ) 59.2593 %
Qb6 ( 16/7/5 ) 69.6429 %
Bc5 ( 44/9/19 ) 67.3611 %
Bb4 ( 131/42/51 ) 67.8571 %
Nf6 ( 706/509/521 ) 55.3283 %
d6 ( 1059/823/949 ) 51.9428 %
a6 ( 1811/1566/1485 ) 53.3525 %
Qc7 ( 2709/2481/2401 ) 52.0287 %

so among the mainlines, Nf6 (the 4-knights) is the least successful,
Qc7 is the most common, and Qc7 and d6 are the most successful, with
d6 being less drawish. 5...Nxd4 has been tried, but hasn't worked very
well. The least bad of the unusual moves has been 5...d5 ...

My conclusion is that White can bypass the Kan. If Black is looking
for a move-order-robust Sicilian in that genre, then the Taimanov
is a better choice.

Regards, Peter

--

TAS/DPIWE/CIT/Servers hbt/lnd/l8 6233 3061 http://www.pjb.com.au
And how sweet a story it is, when you hear Charley Parker tell it
- Kerouac, Mexico City Blues

Date: 19 Aug 2005 22:42:05
From: Ray Gordon
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

>> Hope this makes sense ... Regards, Peter
>
> 3... Nc6 and 5...a6 would be classified as Taimanov, but it isn�t a scary
> mainline such as the Keres attack or the english attack against the
> Scheveningen. A scary alien mainline depends on memory and a lot of
> preparation. This version of Taimanov isn�t like that for black. It
> depends on understanding and lookes to me a lot like Kan.
> Black has also a lot of other alternativs to commiting his d-pawn early
> and thus entering a Scheveningen mainline. What would be wrong with
> something like 3...Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 and now 5...Nxd4 or 5....Qc7?

Those are Kan-type lines where Black (or white) can aim at a Pelikan.

> If that does not work black has, what lookes to me, like a lot of other
> alternatives to early d6.

d6 is kind of necessary unless Black wants to surrender the bishop pair to a
possible Nd6+.

I still prefer 3. c4 for White along that stem.

Date: 11 Aug 2005 13:55:33
From: Ray Gordon
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

> Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
> 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
> do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?
>
> After 3. Nc3

Black now has the freedom to dictate the opening.

Date: 12 Aug 2005 02:06:31
From: Nick
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

"Ray Gordon" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
> > 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
> > do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?
> >
> > After 3. Nc3
>
> Black now has the freedom to dictate the opening.
>
>

After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
5.Nc3 - Tactical continuation
5.Bd3 - Positional continuation
5.c4 - Sound continuation

White has done very well with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3!

Date: 12 Aug 2005 15:12:09
From: Peter Billam
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

In article <HuTKe.195869$%K2.154819@pd7tw1no >, Nick wrote:
>
> "Ray Gordon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> > Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
>> > 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
>> > do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?
>
>
> After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
> 5.Nc3 - Tactical continuation
> 5.Bd3 - Positional continuation
> 5.c4 - Sound continuation
>
> White has done very well with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3!
>
Ah, well that's a whole other subject, the delayed Alapin, very
common at the club level. It's probably been successful because
the early ...e6 traps Black in an Alapin line he didn't prepare for.

Black needs Alapin lines against all move orders - 1.e4 c5 2.c3 and
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3, various tranpositions from 1.e4 c5 2.d4 and the
Morra, probably other stuff. It's quite hard to work out.

As for myself, as Black I now play 1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 which usually ends
up in lines from the Exchange French, Tarrasch French or Advance French.
As I play 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 this means I'm prepared for the Alapin and
the Delayed-Alapin. But if you (as Black) want to play 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6
or 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 you'll have to prepare the Alapin quite differently,
to cope with its delayed version.

My original post was about the similar issue facing Kan players
if White plays Nc3 before committing the d-pawn...

Regards, Peter

--
TAS/DPIWE/CIT/Servers hbt/lnd/l8 6233 3061 http://www.pjb.com.au
And how sweet a story it is, when you hear Charley Parker tell it
- Kerouac, Mexico City Blues

Date: 12 Aug 2005 13:42:54
From: Ray Gordon
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

>> After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
>> 5.Nc3 - Tactical continuation
>> 5.Bd3 - Positional continuation
>> 5.c4 - Sound continuation
>>
>> White has done very well with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3!
>>
> Ah, well that's a whole other subject, the delayed Alapin, very
> common at the club level. It's probably been successful because
> the early ...e6 traps Black in an Alapin line he didn't prepare for.
>
> Black needs Alapin lines against all move orders - 1.e4 c5 2.c3 and
> 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3, various tranpositions from 1.e4 c5 2.d4 and the
> Morra, probably other stuff. It's quite hard to work out.
>
> As for myself, as Black I now play 1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 which usually ends
> up in lines from the Exchange French, Tarrasch French or Advance French.
> As I play 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 this means I'm prepared for the Alapin and
> the Delayed-Alapin. But if you (as Black) want to play 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6
> or 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 you'll have to prepare the Alapin quite differently,
> to cope with its delayed version.
>
> My original post was about the similar issue facing Kan players
> if White plays Nc3 before committing the d-pawn...

White gives Black nothing with 3. Nc3 that Black couldn't have had anyway,
so it cani't be a bad move.

3. c4 can get a oczy Bind, of course, which may be a forced win for
White.

Date: 12 Aug 2005 23:34:17
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

Ray Gordon <[email protected] > wrote:
> 3. c4 can get a oczy Bind, of course, which may be a forced win for
> White.

With current levels of knowledge, almost any position at move 3 ``may be a
forced win for White.''

Dave.

--
David Richerby Psychotic Beefy Chicken (TM): it's
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ like a farm animal that's made from
a cow but it wants to kill you!

Date: 10 Aug 2005 11:44:41
From: Gordon
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

"Peter Billam" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Greetings Kan players. What do players of the Kan Sicilian as Black
> 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nxd4 a6
> do if White plays 3. Nc3 ?
>
> After 3. Nc3 a6 White can move into a Closed Sicilian
> in which a6 is not really a high priority,

I'm relatively new to playing the Kan, so I'm no expert in this opening. I
had a browse through a database of games, and I'd be happy to play 3. a6 in
response to 3.Nc3. I'm not convinced that White has the option here of
getting a better Closed Sicilian. a6 is providing support for b5, which
Black will often aim to play as part of a typical queenside expansion.

> and after 3. Nc3 d6 or 3. Nc3 Nc6 White can continue
> 4. d4 and trap Black in alien (and even bigger) mainlines...
>
> I.e. why learn the Kan if you have to prepare the Scheveningen as well ?

Although I'm prepared to enter some Scheveningen positions - e.g. if White
plays Nc3 without a prior c4; i.e. no oczy bind - I believe that playing
the Kan move order denies White some important early options. I need to
check further, but doesn't White have some early g4 options against the
Scheveningen?!

cheers

Gordon

>
> Regards, Peter
>
> --
>
> TAS/DPIWE/CIT/Servers hbt/lnd/l8 6233 3061 http://www.pjb.com.au
> And how sweet a story it is, when you hear Charley Parker tell it
> - Kerouac, Mexico City Blues

Date: 11 Aug 2005 08:51:35
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: What do Kan players do after 3.Nc3 ?

Gordon <[email protected] > wrote:
> Although I'm prepared to enter some Scheveningen positions - e.g. if
> White plays Nc3 without a prior c4; i.e. no oczy bind - I believe
> that playing the Kan move order denies White some important early
> options. I need to check further, but doesn't White have some early
> g4 options against the Scheveningen?!

Yes: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4, the Keres attack.
I'm not sure what it's theoretical status is these days but, these days,
most top-level players transpose into the Scheveningen via 6... a6, which
avoids it.

Well, it doesn't totally avoid it. The last time I was at the London
Chess Centre for a Kasparov book signing, I was chatting with a guy called
Alain Dekker who had written an article for one of the British chess
magazines about playing 6.g4 after 5... a6, sacrificing a pawn. He calls
this, with a reasonable amount of tongue in cheek, the Dekker gambit and
says he's been pretty successful with it. The general opinion seems to be
that after 6... Bxg4 7.f3 Bd7, White has insufficient compensation for the
pawn. See, for example, pages 7-9 of

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/lane24.pdf

The only time somebody played the Scheveningen against me OTB, I gave the
Keres attack a go and won handily. On the other hand, I knew none of the
theory and nothing more specific of the general goals than `attack on the
kingside!' Since my opponent was rated quite a bit lower than even I am, I
correctly surmised that he wouldn't know any theory either and that I'd do
a better job of making it up over the board than he would. Sometimes it's
useful being no damned good. :-)

Dave.

--
David Richerby Zen Cheese (TM): it's like a brick
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ of cheese that puts you in touch with
the universe!