Section 2. the Opening of the Game
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The opening of a game in draughts is not as important as in chess. In chess you need to know many theoretical lines to be able to play at top level. In draughts one has more freedom to choose what to play. Still, it is necessary to have some knowledge of popular openings. It will save you a lot of time if you know how the opening works already. The goals of opening play are: Getting an interesting game Getting a type of game that you’re good at Getting a line of which you have knowledge We aren’t interested in changing pieces, of course. Therefore we will only address the sharp lines openings offer. This section will give you an overview of popular openings, but there is lots more to learn about openings. If you want to know more, you can study games yourself or visit the website of Frits Luteijn at http://home.kpn.nl/dammen/. There is a lot of theory about openings at his site. You can try the Google translator to read the Dutch text. 64 The opening of the game Index of openings 1.32 – 28 opening Introduction 1) 1… 19 – 23 Symmetrical variation How to play the opening depends on what type 1.1) The main line of game you prefer to play. Some people like 1.2) Roozenburg variation to play classical games and their opening play 1.3) Drost sacrifice will be aimed at getting a good classical 1.4) Wiermsa counter sacrifice position. Other people like modern play and 1.5) Springer counter attack their openings will have the directive of getting 1.6) System with 7.40 – 35 attractive modern play. And of course players 1.7) Groninger variation who like locking positions will play trying to get 1.8) Chizhov-exchange such positions. An example will make this more concrete. 2) 1… 18 – 23 Chefneux opening 2.1) The Fox (2.33 – 29 23 x 32 3.37 x 28 20 – Let’s assume white plays 1.34 – 29 25) If black wants a classical game he can choose 2.2) Modern variation (3… 17 – 22 x 22) 1…. 20 – 24 2.29 x 20 15 x 24 3.32 – 28 10 – 2.3) The Highlander (2.38 – 32) 15. 3) 1… 17 – 22 2.28 x 17 11 x 22 Chogoliev He can also delay making classics and try opening something like 1… 19 – 23 2.40 – 34 14 – 19 3.1) Korchov opening 3.45 – 40 10 – 14 4.32 – 28 23 x 32 5.37 x 28 3.2) The Chizhov attack 5 – 10 6.42 – 37 17 – 22 7.28 x 17 12 x 21 8.37 – 32 20 – 24 9.29 x 20 15 x 24. 4) 1… 17 – 22 2.28 x 17 12 x 21 Schwarzman manoevering opening Black takes <24> and the game becomes 4.1) The right wing variation (3.35 – 30) classical. Later the game may become closed 4.2) The wasp (3.31 – 26 7 – 12 4.26 x 17 12 x classical. 21) 4.3) Prosman-attack (4... 11 x 22) If black wants a modern game, he can choose 4.4) Main line (3.37 – 32) 1… 17 – 22 2.40 – 34 11 – 17. 4.5) Surrounding variation (3.34 – 30) If black wants a fork lock he can try 1… 20 – 5) 1... 18 – 22 The eagle 25 2.40 – 34 14 – 20 3.45 – 40 10 – 14 5.1) Mutual outpost variation (5.34 – 30 20 – The immediate 19 – 24 is here possible, but 25) played rarely. 5.2) The black rush (5.34 – 30 20 – 25) 5.3) Roozenburg variation (5.31 – 26 19 – 23) 4.32 – 28 17 – 21 5.31 – 26 19 – 24 6.26 x 17 5.4) Fork Lock variation (5.31 – 26 20 – 25) 11 x 22 7.28 x 17 12 x 21 6) The black panther 1... 16 – 21 And from this position many interesting games 6.1) Right wing lock variation (2.31 – 26 11 – have been played such as Georgiev – 16) Sijbrands (1999), that was covered in part 2 of 6.2) Russian variation (3.38 – 32) this course. 6.3) Dutch variation (3.37 – 32) 6.4) Andreiko variation (2... 18 – 22) There are many ways to play an opening. Isidore Weiss once said that every opening is 7) The hedgehog (1... 17 – 21) good, if continued correctly… 7.1) Schwarzman variation (5.38 – 32) 8) The Russian bear (1... 20 – 25) 65 9) The cow (1... 20 – 24) An overview of popular openings 1) The cow (2.34 – 30 14 – 20) 2) Semi classical variation (2... 18 – 23) The most frequently played move to open the game is 1.32 – 28 which gives white the 1.33 – 29 The diamond opportunity to develop his left wing immediately. 1) Roozenburg opening (1... 19 – 23 2.35 – 30 The 1.32 – 28 opening 20 – 25) 2) Keller opening (1... 17 – 22) Symmetrical variation 3) The hedgehog (1... 17 – 21) 4) Krajenbrink attack (1... 16 – 21) For the same reason black’s most frequently 5) Classical reply (1... 20 – 24) played answer is 6) The buffalo (1... 18 – 22 2.31 – 26 20 – 24) 1… 19 – 23 2.28 x 19 14 x 23 1.33 – 28 Sijbrands opening White’s most simple, but sound strategy is to change 1) Old Dutch (1... 18 – 23) 2) Modern play (1... 18 – 22) 3.33 – 28 23 x 32 4.37 x 28 3) The seagull (1... 17 – 21) and both players can develop their positions easily, for example: 1.34 – 29 Fork lock opening 4… 10 – 14 5.39 – 33 5 – 10 1) Chizhov opening (1... 19 – 23 ... 5.29 – 24) 6.44 – 39 14 – 19 7.41 – 37 2) Fork lock variation 1 (5.31 – 26) 3) Fork lock variation 2 (1... 20 – 25) 4) The peacock (1... 17 – 22) 1.34 – 30 French opening 1. The cheetah (1... 20 – 25 2.30 – 24) 2. Ottink variation (1... 17 – 22) 1.31 – 27 Polish opening 1) Semi-classical opening (1... 19 – 23 2.33 – 28 17 – 21) Now black has to make up his mind what plan 2) Left wing opening (1 ... 17 – 21 2.27 – 31) to follow. If he wanted a classical game he 3) The big leap (1... 17 – 22 2.36 – 31 22 – 28) could have played 6… 20 – 24 already. 1.31 – 26 The edge opening If black wants a quiet maneuvering game 7… 10 – 14 8.46 – 41 17 – 22 9.28 x 17 12 x 21 can be chosen. 1. The edge opening (1... 19 – 23) 2. The rejected edge opening (1... 17 – 21 2.26 If black wants a modern play with a possible x 17 11 x 22) Roozenburg-attack he can play here or at the next move 7… 16 – 21, for example: 1.35 – 30 The wild horse 7… 16 – 21 8.31 – 26 18 – 22 1) The wild horse (1.35 – 30 20 – 25) 9.37 – 32 11 – 16 10.46 – 41 9 – 14 11.41 – 37 3 – 9 White often goes to <23> in such situations playing 12.28 – 23 19 x 28 13.32 x 23. 66 At 12.34 – 29 black plays 20 – 24 x 24 and later 21 – 27 x 27 getting a Roozenburg attack. The main line Usually 1.32 – 28 19 – 23 2.28 x 19 14 x 23 is answered by: 3.37 – 32 10 – 14 There are several ways to play for white depending on what his preferences are. Things are different if white plays 9.45 – 40?! If white wants to play a sharp modern game he (instead of 9.31 – 27) 14 – 20 10.30 – 24? 19 x can play 4.35 – 30 or 4.41 – 37 5 – 10 5.35 – 30 11.35 x 24 for now 25 – 30! 12.34 x 14 23 x 30 hoping for a Roozenburg attack after 20 – 45 13.14 – 10 9 – 14! 14.10 x 19 22 – 28 15.32 25 33 – 29. Usually white plays x 23 18 x 20 wins a piece for black. 4.41 – 37 5 – 10 5.46 – 41 14 – 19 From the last diagram white usually plays Only then he decides how to continue. He can 14.38 – 33 17 – 21 15.42 – 38 21 – 26 also play the popular 5.35 – 30 or 5.34 – 29 16.41 – 36 23 x 34 6.39 x 30. Avoiding the king shot 16 – 21 26 – 31 13 – 19 17 x 46. 16… 11 – 17 17.48 – 42 1 – 6 Roozenburg – variation The most popular move is 6.35 – 30 and after 20 – 25 both 7.33 – 29 and 7.40 – 35 are played. If white wants a Roozenburg attack he If black plays 4 – 10 or 17 – 21 the normal should choose 7.33 – 29, for example 18.50 – 45 is fine, for example 17… 4 – 10 18.50 – 45 17 – 21 19.33 – 28 1 – 6 20.28 x 19 7.33 – 29 10 – 14 8.40 – 35 17 – 22 18 – 22 21.27 x 18 12 x 14 with a right wing 9.31 – 27 22 x 31 10.36 x 27 11 – 17 attack for white. In the second part of A Course 11.45 – 40 6 – 11 12.30 – 24 19 x 30 in draughts the game Sijbrands – Gantwarg 13.35 x 24 14 – 20 (1973) from this opening was shown. This Roozenburg position has emerged in But in this case black plays 17… 1 – 6! white many games.