Answers.Body: <p>2...a6 does not seem like the best way to respond. The bishop has already gone to c4; preventing it from going to b5 isn't something you need to do. You're essentially <em>hoping</em> they'll play 3.Qf3 so you can spring your trap. But what if they play something like 3.d4 or 3.Nf3? Then all you've done is waste a move. A normal developing move would probably be better.</p>
  <p>3...Ne5 seems like the best move after the Qf3 move, though. You're defusing the checkmate threat and getting the bishop pair.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-08-04T06:17:52.157Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-08-04T06:17:52.157Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: D M
Answers.Body: <p>In addition to DMs perfectly acceptable answer:</p>
  <p>a) Here is the Stockfish quick rating of the moves</p>
  <ul>
  <li>1.e4 +0.2 Works since centuries</li>
  <li>1...Nc6 +0.4 Nimzowitsch defense, playable</li>
  <li>2.Bc4 -0.2 Not the best, e6 and d5 will win a tempo</li>
  <li>2...a6 +0.8 Waste of time</li>
  <li>3.Qf3 -0.7 Bad, you get the bishop pair and probably
  development tempi by attacking the Q</li>
  </ul>
  <p>But how probable is that this comes on board?
  Four principled possibilities:</p>
  <ul>
  <li>White and Black are beginners: The advantage of the bishop pair would be near to meaningless since White probably doesn't know how to use it</li>
  <li>Black is a beginner, White not: Black knows better ways to defuse shepherds mate AND get a slight edge</li>
  <li>White is a beginner, Black not: White knows better ways to get a slight edge than testing whether Black knows the shepherds mate</li>
  <li>Neither White nor Black is a beginner: White wouldn't try Bc4 in the first place but rather play standard theory, say 2.d4</li>
  </ul>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-08-05T23:41:58.330Z
Answers.Text: "White is a beginner, Black not" - You have that twice. I think the second one should be flipped?
Answers.UserDisplayName: D M
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-08-06T00:58:32.560Z
Answers.Text: Are these german piece abbreviations?
Answers.UserDisplayName: qwr
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-08-06T06:49:34.543Z
Answers.Text: Such happens when I write *once* without five minutes of correction reading afterwards...Edited.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Hauke Reddmann
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-10-13T23:56:01.740Z
Answers.Text: Rereading this, I think you flipped the wrong one.
Answers.UserDisplayName: D M
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-08-04T08:36:41.203Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-08-06T06:49:59.103Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2023-08-06T06:49:59.103Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Hauke Reddmann
Body: <p>For the Bishop opening,</p>
  <blockquote>
  <ol>
  <li>e4 Nc6 2. Bc4</li>
  </ol>
  </blockquote>
  <p>is this the right way to respond?</p>
  <pre><code>    [fen &quot;&quot;]        
      1. e4 {[%clk 0:10:00]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:09:57.8]} 2. Bc4 {[%clk 0:09:56.1]} a6 {[%clk 0:09:54.7]} 3. Qf3 {[%clk 0:09:51.1]} Ne5 {[%Clock 0:00:00.1] What would like to give up over this board, I may tempt to ask, may I. Play you part.!]}
  </code></pre>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2023-08-04T06:37:39.537Z
Comments.Text: That's not the Bishop's Opening. The Bishop's Opening is 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4.
Comments.UserDisplayName: bof
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2023-08-04T10:07:05.357Z
Comments.Text: Though a better reply than 2 ... a6 would be to transpose to the Bishop's opening with 2 ... e5
Comments.UserDisplayName: Ian Bush
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2023-09-19T08:57:42.653Z
Comments.Text: Yes, this is not a Bishop Opening. Agree! It is **Nimzowitsch Defence** — `1. e4 Nc6` I had just referred to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimzowitsch_Defence **NOW**, I have to find out what variant it is `2. Bc4` in `Chess Mega Base`
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dev Anand Sadasivam
Tags: <bishops-opening>
Title: Is this the right way to respond for Bishop Opening?
ThreadText: # Is this the right way to respond for Bishop Opening?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2023-08-04)
  
  For the Bishop opening,
  
  
  e4 Nc6 2. Bc4
  
  
  is this the right way to respond?
      [fen ""]        
      1. e4 {[%clk 0:10:00]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:09:57.8]} 2. Bc4 {[%clk 0:09:56.1]} a6 {[%clk 0:09:54.7]} 3. Qf3 {[%clk 0:09:51.1]} Ne5 {[%Clock 0:00:00.1] What would like to give up over this board, I may tempt to ask, may I. Play you part.!]}
  
  **Tags:** bishops-opening
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: That's not the Bishop's Opening. The Bishop's Opening is 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4.  
  > **username_2**: Though a better reply than 2 ... a6 would be to transpose to the Bishop's opening with 2 ... e5  
  > **username_0**: Yes, this is not a Bishop Opening. Agree! It is **Nimzowitsch Defence** — `1. e4 Nc6` I had just referred to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimzowitsch_Defence **NOW**, I have to find out what variant it is `2. Bc4` in `Chess Mega Base`  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2023-08-04. Score: 5
  
  2...a6 does not seem like the best way to respond. The bishop has already gone to c4; preventing it from going to b5 isn't something you need to do. You're essentially *hoping* they'll play 3.Qf3 so you can spring your trap. But what if they play something like 3.d4 or 3.Nf3? Then all you've done is waste a move. A normal developing move would probably be better.
  
  3...Ne5 seems like the best move after the Qf3 move, though. You're defusing the checkmate threat and getting the bishop pair.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2023-08-04. Score: 1
  
  In addition to DMs perfectly acceptable answer:
  
  a) Here is the Stockfish quick rating of the moves
  
  * 1.e4 +0.2 Works since centuries
  * 1...Nc6 +0.4 Nimzowitsch defense, playable
  * 2.Bc4 -0.2 Not the best, e6 and d5 will win a tempo
  * 2...a6 +0.8 Waste of time
  * 3.Qf3 -0.7 Bad, you get the bishop pair and probably
    development tempi by attacking the Q
  
  But how probable is that this comes on board?
  Four principled possibilities:
  
  * White and Black are beginners: The advantage of the bishop pair would be near to meaningless since White probably doesn't know how to use it
  * Black is a beginner, White not: Black knows better ways to defuse shepherds mate AND get a slight edge
  * White is a beginner, Black not: White knows better ways to get a slight edge than testing whether Black knows the shepherds mate
  * Neither White nor Black is a beginner: White wouldn't try Bc4 in the first place but rather play standard theory, say 2.d4
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: "White is a beginner, Black not" - You have that twice. I think the second one should be flipped?  
  > **username_5**: Are these german piece abbreviations?  
  > **username_4**: Such happens when I write *once* without five minutes of correction reading afterwards...Edited.  
  > **username_3**: Rereading this, I think you flipped the wrong one.  
  
  ---
  
  