Sunday, March 6, 2011

How to Beat Me

For about the last ten years,  I have had the same basic opening repertoire.  I play the English (1.c4) as White and as Black, I have played either the Najdorf Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6) or the Nimzo-Indian (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4).  I recently looked through my database of games against players rated 1800 and above, of which there were

The best way to beat me is to move first.  When I have had the White pieces, I have 44 wins to 29 losses with 17 draws for 58%.  When I have had the Black pieces, I have 33 wins to 39 losses with 16 draws or 47%.  Against 1.e4, I have scored only 47% and against 1.d4, I score only 40%. My worst record comes against 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3, when my combined record with the Bogo-Indian (3...Bb4+) and the Queen's Indian (3...b6) is only 27% in 11 games.