Saturday, November 26, 2005
Circle 4, Step 3 Complete
Down a percentage point but happy to complete it nonetheless. Setting the time limit to 2 minutes really made it difficult, but I hope to get to 99% + by circle 6.
Sancho's opening post has encouraged me to learn a little about the Benko Gambit. After several days I have gotten a general sense of the most common ideas, focusing mainly on when the gambit is accepted and noting some rudimentary responses if White declines. I have no idea how to turn the Queenside pressure into equality in the middlegame/endgame with this puppy, but it seems like a fun challenge.
My goal is to eventually know 2 or 3 defenses as Black in the Queen's pawn opening. I like the Black side of the Queen's Gambit Declined and Grünfeld. There is plenty of reason to look at others, but so far none of the others have stuck with me. I have seen Queen's Gambit Accepted players do well with the Black pieces, either leaving White with the typical isolated Queen pawn or exchanging Queens early and ruining White's castling. As far as simplicity is concerned, that might be the best.
Sancho's opening post has encouraged me to learn a little about the Benko Gambit. After several days I have gotten a general sense of the most common ideas, focusing mainly on when the gambit is accepted and noting some rudimentary responses if White declines. I have no idea how to turn the Queenside pressure into equality in the middlegame/endgame with this puppy, but it seems like a fun challenge.
My goal is to eventually know 2 or 3 defenses as Black in the Queen's pawn opening. I like the Black side of the Queen's Gambit Declined and Grünfeld. There is plenty of reason to look at others, but so far none of the others have stuck with me. I have seen Queen's Gambit Accepted players do well with the Black pieces, either leaving White with the typical isolated Queen pawn or exchanging Queens early and ruining White's castling. As far as simplicity is concerned, that might be the best.
-=-=-=-=-
TCT Results | Circle 1 | Circle 2 | Circle 3 | Circle 4 |
| Step 1 | 97% | 99% | 99% | 100%r |
| Step 2 | 93% | 96% | 95% | 97% |
| Step 3 | 93% | 97% | 97% | 96% |
| Step 4 | 80% | 86% | 90% | ??% |
| Step 5 | 74% | 77% | 83% | ??% |
