tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097781840059992476.post8726665151769835155..comments2023-08-06T03:01:26.305-05:00Comments on Chicago Chess Blog: Nakamura wins U.S. ChampionshipBill Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14550157556545540714noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097781840059992476.post-7490708883495388192012-05-22T11:16:25.345-05:002012-05-22T11:16:25.345-05:00I've played 2.f4 several times OTB. The idea ...I've played 2.f4 several times OTB. The idea is to achieve a superior version of the Advance, e.g. 2.f4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c3 .: Na3-c2 and only then d4. c2 is the ideal square for White's difficult-to-develop QN in the Advance French where it supports d4 and doesn't get in the way of White's other pieces, but it's hard to get it there because Na3 can usually be met with ..cxd4 and ..Bxa3.<br /><br />I feel Black can equalize based on playing an early ...h5 securing f5 for his KN and blockading White's K-side pawns. But it's a much different type of position for Black to play.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00704670187177665661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097781840059992476.post-32461968540836832082012-05-22T01:49:44.121-05:002012-05-22T01:49:44.121-05:00I suppose 3.d3 d5 4.Nd2, not that that's any g...I suppose 3.d3 d5 4.Nd2, not that that's any great shakes. 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 is also legal. I agree with your assessment of Nakamura's motivations.Frederick Rhinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11728232939607408071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097781840059992476.post-47034002859078697892012-05-21T15:57:56.867-05:002012-05-21T15:57:56.867-05:00So how does White play for the advantage after 2.....So how does White play for the advantage after 2...c5?<br /><br />Nakamura probably wasn't worried about that: he just wanted to play chess.Bill Brockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14550157556545540714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097781840059992476.post-42206007300624379482012-05-20T19:38:33.688-05:002012-05-20T19:38:33.688-05:00I'm told that 2.f4!? isn't as "Brand ...I'm told that 2.f4!? isn't as "Brand X" as I thought. There's an article about it at http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/games/java/2009/french-f4.htm. In recent years it's been played by GMs like Zvjaginsev (gesundheit!), Bologan, Igor Glek, Alex Stripunsky, and even the half-man/half-caribou Dimitri Reinderman. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?node=466618Frederick Rhinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11728232939607408071noreply@blogger.com