Shock Value
Gary Lane
www.ChessCafe.com
It is possible to throw your opponent out of his comfort zone in the opening by playing something different and the search is always on for a new spectacular move.
Why not come up with an idea that would baffle your opponent on move 2?
Jack Collins from the USA has done just that, he writes “I play the Closed Sicilian and was wondering if I could get a similar set up against the Pirc Defense by playing 2 Nc3 instead of 2 d4?!”
I think you have spotted the perfect way to save time learning a new opening against the Pirc. I have looked through books on the Pirc and most don’t even mention the idea of 2 Nc3 and if they do they briefly say you have to challenge for the centre and play ….c7-c5. As an author they will not have room to mention how to deal with all the different Sicilians so understandably skip over such a difficult issue. Already one top player, Nigel Short, the former world title contender, has been cheekily meeting 1…d6 2 with Nc3. He has certainly transposed to the Closed Sicilian in the past but his aim tends to be for a Sicilian Grand Prix Attack which consists of a quick f2- f4 and the bishop being placed on c4 or b5. It is time to see how your plan works in tournaments:
Vitaly Bachin-Dmitry Dobrovlianskiy Vladivostok 2007
1 e4 d6 2 Nc3
Barely mentioned in books or on DVDs this move is perfect for those with limited time to study especially if you play the Closed Sicilian. 2…Nf6 It is all very well for star players to advance the e-pawn because they have knowledge of lots of opening but even they often can’t cope with the change in circumstances. For the casual player transposing into a completely different opening is a nightmare because they would not know what to do. For instance: 2…e5 and now: a) 3 f4 exf4 4 d4 Qh4+ 5 Ke2 (it looks crazy but this is a well known line in the King’s Gambit and White is an expert) 5…Nc6 6 Nf3 Bg4 7 Bxf4 0–0–0 8 Bg3 Qh5 9 Kf2 Nf6 10 Be2 d5 11 exd5 Nxd5 12 Nxd5 Qxd5 13 c3 with roughly equal chances, D.Reinderman-C.
Personally, I like to castle on move 2. That always upsets my opponent.:~)
Yo Susan after the short move 2 nc3 just play 2…f5!!!! and hes gotta throw chessbase in the garbage along with all his traditional theory! hehehe, i know im silly! haha!!