Mafiascum.net

Anyone up for a game? I'm open to either side.

I kinda wanna.

Your avatar makes me wanna play shogi or Chinese chess instead though

I do not know Chinese chess, unfortunately. I could try it out sometime.

Would you prefer to start, or shall I?

What is Chinese chess

Chess but the pieces move different.
I didn't bookmark this thread so I ignored it for weeks, sorry Heron
I prefer black ftr

pops, no problem.

1. b4.

b4

I wanted to try playing the Polish Opening. I've been exploring it in lichess, and it has had some success against some...reasonably-skilled players.

b4 d5
Please don't use computers to study the moves although that probaby goes without saying?
I'm really bad this opening will destroy me.

2. Bb2.

b4 d5 Bb2

Nah, I'm not going to use computers to study the moves. I have a computer, but not the program to study the moves. I just use my brain in my spare time.

It really depends on how you respond to the Polish. The idea behind the opening is to gain more spatial advantage of the queenside while allowing for a fianchetto, playing a lot of aggressive pawn moves in the process. The most common refutations of 1. b4 that I have seen are 1. ...e5 (unlocks Black's kingside bishop to threaten the pawn, while simultaneously developing your pieces and also stakes a direct claim for the centre and allows for development away from White) and 1. ...d5 (which is what you have played; no immediate threat that White has to worry about, but also implies that Black is going to get in-your-face).

Besides that, 1. ...b6 also isn't a bad opening for Black, I have found; allows for 2. ...c5 and allows for development on the kingside, since the queenside bishop is unlocked and also impedes White.

My thinking was that d5 would "force" you to play d4, blocking your own bishop in. I learned chess growing up with my dad and we just always did de45 openings all the time so I can't shake that thinking I guess.

(I'm 3 shots in and will not submit a chess move with this BAC)

I have tried 2. d4 in the past. I suppose can play it.

Another alternative is 2. c4 immediately into a sort-of Queen's Gambit, or 2. a3 to shore up the queenside (I usually don't play this, since the whole idea behind the Polish opening is to grab space on the queenside, and if you're not doing so, it defeats the purpose). 2. Nf3 is also an alternative; you are trading some early development to let Black decide how it wants the game to progress from there.

Crazy openings would include 2. b5. Very risky, depends on your opponent's demeanour and lack of experience with irregular openings.

No problem, pops. It is a correspondence game after all. Take your time.

yeah generally moving a night in an unfamiliar opening feels like I don't expect it to be the great answer but it's not too often a terrible move

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6
I might be missing something here, like maybe allowing Nxb4 can be more easily exploited than I expect, but otherwise it seems like this force a3, which doesn't accomplish many auxillary things so it will feel like I developed my Knight for free.

Or just...

3. b5.

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5

Grabs more space in the meantime, forces Black to spend one move manoeuvring the knight:

• 3. ...Na5, where she is safe but her movement options are limited.
  
• 3. ...Nb4, where I can keep developing my pawns queenside by threatening the knight.
  
• 3. ...Nb8, which would waste you a move doing so.

Yes, 3. a3 is also playable, but it would depend on how cautious you want to be.

nononononononono I am 120% "uh b5" is "that thing I'm missing" that was on the tip of my tongue
Skipping a move again for similar reasons. b5 looks like a powerful move here, soberpops will have to figure out a way to salvage things.

4. a4.

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4

Moves to reinforce the b-pawn.

Yeah the left side of the board is just a dumpster fire now I might as well try to make something happen on the other side.
b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5

5. d3

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5 d3

Solves both your knight running away, develops the queenside more and guards against the bishop.

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5 d3 c5
Qd2 is horrifying and a c push seems like the only answer. I'd rather do it sooner instead of put it off. Especially since maybe the feasibility of accepting the en passant capture could change later on. Right now it looks not great.

I'm not quite sure that I like 6. bxc6.

Since:


b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5 d3 c5 bxc6 Nxc6 Nf3 e6 (Qb6)

Like...I feel that I would lose all cause of playing the Polish; you regain the mobility of your knight, threaten with your development of pieces on the queenside too with Bb4, gain a potential outpost for the knight on the d4 square, and with Nf6 and then Bg4, it becomes difficult to dislodge that bishop. And all this in return for passivity, as White.

Nope. Not going for it. I would rather go for piece development.

6. g3.

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5 d3 c5 g3

I was saying the en passant capture looked like a very move. Was that a long bit of violent agreement?

Not sure about this move but hope it's not too bad.

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5 d3 c5 g3 Nf6

Sorry. I didn't read your post properly.

Not much else to do now except develop pieces.

7. Nf3.

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5 d3 c5 g3 Nf6 Nf3

8. Bc3.

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5 d3 c5 g3 Nf6 Nf3 c4 Bc3

Have I mentioned you're going to win?

b4 d5 Bb2 Nc6 b5 Na5 a4 Bf5 d3 c5 g3 Nf6 Nf3 c4 Bc3 g5