Bb/g5 in the opening?

Submitted by Layouter on Fri, 01/18/2008 at 7:16pm.

I am relatively new to the game and this seems to be a common move in the opening (especially Ruy lopez,Bb5, but others also). How do you defend against the ensuing end pawn (a/h6) defense? Do you retreat? I have always felt if I retreat along the path I cam I lose tempo onto a position that is not as good, so why make the original move at all? and if I move to a/h4 inevitably you have to deal with b/g5 forcing full retreat and losing tempo, I think. Why is this move so common? Is black weakened later in the game by this pawn move which I have not exploited yet?

I have not been able to find a great answer in books (granted I am not always sure where to look) as many opening seem to end with this move! How frustrating! lol.

Thanks in advance for the help,

Joe

» posted in Layouter's Blog

| 66 reads | 4 comments

Comments:

by lmadiedo - 7 months ago
Miami Cuba

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 64

This is one of the oldest openings and one of the best nowadays; for the white and for the black, both have chances, so, the move a6 is not bad, it is not that weak because the pawns structure is not still bad, White is not losing a tempo becase the move a6 was not a development move. White can answer BxN too, it is good too and well played by masters.

by ghostofmaroczy - 7 months ago
United States

Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 116

When you play B-N5 ( descriptive notation ) you had better desire one of the following. Either you are happy to take the knight ( if there is an opponents N on his B3 ) or you are happy to provoke the pawn advances P-R3 and P-N4. Those pawn advances weaken your opponents position.

by erik - 7 months ago
Mountain View, CA United States

Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 5953

this is actually an interesting and deep question. the sad answer is, IT DEPENDS. you should post this in the forums!

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