Menalque v Llama

[Menalque]

Odds I’m white, evens I’m black

Original Roll String: 1d6

1 6-Sided Dice: (3) = 3

[Menalque]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3

Are we treating this as standard correspondence aka opening books okay?

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1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3

Cool, just wanted to check as I only found out using opening books in correspondence games was cool in the mafiascum tournament not too long ago

[Menalque]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. h3

Pretty much anything that doesnt have analysis attached to it im fine (even just setting up a board and playing a few lines to see what works)... unless there is a clock anything but bringing in an engine is fair game to me. Both white knights out here like this is already a bit atypical though, probably at least 60% of games white goes 2. d4 followed by e5.

Sure, that makes sense to me. I’ll play out lines depending on the position. If I think I have winning chances I sometimes like to try and play out several variations to make sure I’m winning in all of them before doing anything rash. And yeah, this is the approach I learned against the Caro Kann from watching some of Aman Hambleton’s videos on YouTube. I prefer it to the advance variation as it seems to lead to more open positions (which, as a Caro Kann player, I’m assuming aren’t your favourite )

[Menalque]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. d3


Not familiar with the bayonet lines tbh. I used to play the French when I first got into chess a few years ago, but then I took a long break and ever since I came back I've disliked it aha. Tried out the Caro Kann a bit, but I'm mostly just not really a fan. I personally play either some sort of Sicilian or e5 against e4, depending on my mood.

Also, that's interesting: the database on lichess has some different numbers:

d4 (8,422,591) -- 48/6/46
Nf3 (3,027,891) -- 45/5/50
Nc3 (1,520,401) -- 48/6/46
d3 (483,910) -- 48/6/46
c4 (466,696) -- 49/7/44

But I think these often don't give the full indication, as a lot of Nf3 lines transpose into Nc3 and vice versa. I normally like to look through to see if there are any particular lines I like the look of, and to then play for those if possible.

[Menalque]

my bad, forgot this existed!


feel free to PM me if you're getting antsy in future, I'm a bit inconsistent of checking in on the chess subforum if it slips my mind

[Menalque]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. d3 e6 6. g4

[Menalque]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. d3 e6 6. g4 Bg6 7. Qe2

okay cool!

[Menalque]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. d3 e6 6. g4 Bg6 7. Qe2 Bb4 8. Bd2