isnt black just slowly getting crushed by whites big center , white overextends a bit , but that cant fully compensate against a very big center vs small center , or can it ?
You can occupy the centre classically with pawns or you can give up the centre in hypermodern style. Your goal is to counterattack the central pawns and prove they're overextended.
1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 and now 4 Nf3 is more popular than the Four Pawns Attack 4 c4 Nb6 5 f4 fully occupying the centre but allowing a counterattack with breaks such as c5 and f6. There's even the line 5... g5 that may surprise an unprepared opponent.
1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 Nc3!? Nxc3 4 bxc3!? is a much more interesting way to play this opening, IMHO. White will catch some black players unprepared as it's a side line.
"White will be able to fortify his e5-pawn by means of f4 and d4. Black's specific counter-play against White's center is reduced to minimum in this variation. In addition, White will use the open b-file to exert pressure on the queenside." ~ ICS
This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.