Answers.Body: <blockquote>
  <p>I was not able to find an idea on how to generate long-term counterplay.</p>
  <p>How can Black generate queenside counterplay that gives him equality?</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>It might be cruel for you but...answer is simple: in this position black can not achieve equality or counterplay at all. Your opening choice made you wait for him to kill you or if he's not able to (can't find as you said 'best moves'), then it might end in a draw. Scandinavian is not a good choice in case of counterplay.</p>
  <p>Let's have a look at the position without using any engines:</p>
  <p>White adventages:</p>
  <ul>
  <li>Space</li>
  <li>Pair of bishops</li>
  <li>Pawn structure</li>
  </ul>
  <p>Black has no pluses in this position at all. If you are standing worse you want to simplify the position by exchanging some pieces. However, looking at the black's pawn structure, it might be a bad idea to go for an endgame with doubled pawns which make the majority less effective and more vulnerable.</p>
  <p>As you mentioned before, <code>12. ... - a5</code> might have been better than <code>12. ...-O-O</code>. I would rather play <code>a5</code> myself. Once he got to a5 square he might want to play <code>a6</code> and create weakness n <code>c6</code> making his <code>Bg2</code> even stronger. And you can't really play <code>a6</code> yourself leaving a nice hole on <code>b6</code> and making <code>b7</code> pawn vulnerable for rest of the game.</p>
  <p>Another thing is, I don't understand why you'd like to play on a queenside when you are 3-4 in terms of pawns there. Any <code>b-pawn</code> or <code>c-pawn</code> move there makes his white-squared bishop a monster.</p>
  <p>To sum up, I'm against that Scandinavian. Reason is simple: If there's a skill gap between you and your opponent, you end up in a (bit) worse, positional position, sooner or later you will get crushed. You have much better chances to play, as you called, <code>sparta</code>. There's better chance in complicated tactical positions against GM than playing against his positional (and overall chess) understanding and huge experience. Scandinavian is praying for a draw for me.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-10-04T10:54:44.437Z
Answers.Text: I still believe that Black can achieve freeing break. *Another thing is, I don't understand why you'd like to play on a queenside when you are 3-4 in terms of pawns there.* This is typical Caro-Kann pawn structure. If Black achieves `...c5` or `...e5` he will stand equal. *Any b-pawn or c-pawn move there makes his white-squared bishop a monster.* Not if you apply "scorched earth" tactics -> `...b6` + `...c5`+ `...Rc8`, and `Bg2` is a ghost -> he has no targets to attack, and will be further blocked with `...Nd5` for example. Thank you for your efforts, +1 from me. Best regards.
Answers.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-10-04T08:00:23.823Z
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-06-17T09:59:59.497Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pijotrek
Answers.Body: <p>3...Qd8 is a very passive move and you should be playing more active moves in the opening for counterplay. It may have been played by strong players but usually it's for a draw. Example Lutz-Adams <a href="http://www.chessworld.net/chessclubs/ltpgnviewer32/ltpgnboard.asp?GameID=584891" rel="nofollow">http://www.chessworld.net/chessclubs/ltpgnviewer32/ltpgnboard.asp?GameID=584891</a></p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-29T22:55:51.193Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-12-29T22:55:51.193Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: magd
Body: <h2>INTRODUCTION:</h2>
  
  <p>Recently, I have played online blitz game against very strong GM ( who is also a chess writer ). I didn't even know it until asking him if he has any ELO / title. </p>
  
  <p>We played 7 games and I lost all of them. Although I know my opening choice for White is "idiotic" I just couldn't resist and "went Sparta on him" -> sadly, he dispatched me with ease. Still, with Black, I offered real resistance. Even he said that he had to "work for those wins." </p>
  
  <p>I knew <strong>exactly</strong> when I made the mistake in all the 7 games, but for the life of me, <strong>I was not able to find an idea on how to generate long-term counterplay.</strong> </p>
  
  <p>Even analysis with <em>StockFish 5</em> confirmed my evaluations but the engine couldn't find any move that will give me counter-play when I was Black. </p>
  
  <p>It also confirmed that the GM played <strong>the only winning moves</strong> which confirms that his above comment wasn't an "empty" compliment but the truth.</p>
  
  <p>I am interested in improving the <code>3...Qd8</code> line of the <em>Scandinavian defense</em> so I will limit my question to the positions that arose from those games. </p>
  
  <h2>RELEVANT INFORMATION:</h2>
  
  <p>To further help you, I will quote the opening positions from those games, and will give additional info / instructions in order to make your task easier.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "How can Black generate counterplay?"]
  [fen ""]
  
  1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Nh4! Bg6 7.g3! e6 8.Bg2 Be7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.O-O Nf6 11.Ne2! ( 11.a3 a5! $8 ) 11...Nbd7 12.a4 O-O?! ( 12...a5! $8 ) 13.a5! $16
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The point of <code>Ne2!</code> and <code>a5!</code> is in grabbing as much space as possible in the center ( with subsequent <code>c4</code> ) and queenside. He also tried with <code>a3</code> instead of <code>a4</code> in other games, but the idea was the same: <code>Ne2</code> -> <code>c4</code> -> gain space on the queenside. </p>
  
  <p>His <code>Bg2</code> killed my <code>...c5</code> push, so I was without any counterplay. I still think Black would be fine if he had played <code>12...a5!</code>, but I don't see how to generate freeing break or any other sort of counterplay. </p>
  
  <p>As a good chess writer he knew for <code>Nh4</code> + <code>Nxg6</code> + <code>g3!</code> plan from the Slav defense, but so did I. It didn't surprise me. His <code>Ne2!</code> maneuver <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/6114/cant-find-long-term-plan-for-black">didn't surprise me either</a> but the idea to gain space on queenside threw me off.</p>
  
  <h2>QUESTION:</h2>
  
  <p>How can Black generate queenside counterplay that gives him equality?</p>
  
  <p><em>Please avoid computer-only analysis. This is the position where they can do little as it involves planning, for which engines are not capable of.</em></p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-01-05T21:46:30.207Z
Comments.Text: reminds me of the French except all the pieces are still on the board and its not mirrod
Comments.UserDisplayName: theeppright
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-10-04T07:30:19.500Z
Comments.Text: Positionally black is already considerably worse, with a semi-open position, the two bishops and the center for white. I don't know if it's possible (against best play) to achieve any kind of equality.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Pablo S. Ocal
Tags: <strategy><scandinavian-defense>
Title: Can't engineer queenside play for Black
ThreadText: # Can't engineer queenside play for Black
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-03)
  
  ## INTRODUCTION:
  
  Recently, I have played online blitz game against very strong GM ( who is also a chess writer ). I didn't even know it until asking him if he has any ELO / title.
  
  We played 7 games and I lost all of them. Although I know my opening choice for White is "idiotic" I just couldn't resist and "went Sparta on him" -> sadly, he dispatched me with ease. Still, with Black, I offered real resistance. Even he said that he had to "work for those wins."
  
  I knew **exactly** when I made the mistake in all the 7 games, but for the life of me, **I was not able to find an idea on how to generate long-term counterplay.**
  
  Even analysis with *StockFish 5* confirmed my evaluations but the engine couldn't find any move that will give me counter-play when I was Black.
  
  It also confirmed that the GM played **the only winning moves** which confirms that his above comment wasn't an "empty" compliment but the truth.
  
  I am interested in improving the `3...Qd8` line of the *Scandinavian defense* so I will limit my question to the positions that arose from those games.
  
  ## RELEVANT INFORMATION:
  
  To further help you, I will quote the opening positions from those games, and will give additional info / instructions in order to make your task easier.
  
  ```
  [Title "How can Black generate counterplay?"]
  [fen ""]
  
  1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Nh4! Bg6 7.g3! e6 8.Bg2 Be7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.O-O Nf6 11.Ne2! ( 11.a3 a5! $8 ) 11...Nbd7 12.a4 O-O?! ( 12...a5! $8 ) 13.a5! $16
  
  ```
  
  The point of `Ne2!` and `a5!` is in grabbing as much space as possible in the center ( with subsequent `c4` ) and queenside. He also tried with `a3` instead of `a4` in other games, but the idea was the same: `Ne2` -> `c4` -> gain space on the queenside.
  
  His `Bg2` killed my `...c5` push, so I was without any counterplay. I still think Black would be fine if he had played `12...a5!`, but I don't see how to generate freeing break or any other sort of counterplay.
  
  As a good chess writer he knew for `Nh4` + `Nxg6` + `g3!` plan from the Slav defense, but so did I. It didn't surprise me. His `Ne2!` maneuver [didn't surprise me either](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/6114/cant-find-long-term-plan-for-black) but the idea to gain space on queenside threw me off.
  
  ## QUESTION:
  
  How can Black generate queenside counterplay that gives him equality?
  
  *Please avoid computer-only analysis. This is the position where they can do little as it involves planning, for which engines are not capable of.*
  
  **Tags:** strategy, scandinavian-defense
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Positionally black is already considerably worse, with a semi-open position, the two bishops and the center for white. I don't know if it's possible (against best play) to achieve any kind of equality.  
  > **username_1**: reminds me of the French except all the pieces are still on the board and its not mirrod  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2014-10-04. Score: 3
  
  > I was not able to find an idea on how to generate long-term counterplay.
  >
  > How can Black generate queenside counterplay that gives him equality?
  
  It might be cruel for you but...answer is simple: in this position black can not achieve equality or counterplay at all. Your opening choice made you wait for him to kill you or if he's not able to (can't find as you said 'best moves'), then it might end in a draw. Scandinavian is not a good choice in case of counterplay.
  
  Let's have a look at the position without using any engines:
  
  White adventages:
  
  * Space
  * Pair of bishops
  * Pawn structure
  
  Black has no pluses in this position at all. If you are standing worse you want to simplify the position by exchanging some pieces. However, looking at the black's pawn structure, it might be a bad idea to go for an endgame with doubled pawns which make the majority less effective and more vulnerable.
  
  As you mentioned before, `12. ... - a5` might have been better than `12. ...-O-O`. I would rather play `a5` myself. Once he got to a5 square he might want to play `a6` and create weakness n `c6` making his `Bg2` even stronger. And you can't really play `a6` yourself leaving a nice hole on `b6` and making `b7` pawn vulnerable for rest of the game.
  
  Another thing is, I don't understand why you'd like to play on a queenside when you are 3-4 in terms of pawns there. Any `b-pawn` or `c-pawn` move there makes his white-squared bishop a monster.
  
  To sum up, I'm against that Scandinavian. Reason is simple: If there's a skill gap between you and your opponent, you end up in a (bit) worse, positional position, sooner or later you will get crushed. You have much better chances to play, as you called, `sparta`. There's better chance in complicated tactical positions against GM than playing against his positional (and overall chess) understanding and huge experience. Scandinavian is praying for a draw for me.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: I still believe that Black can achieve freeing break. *Another thing is, I don't understand why you'd like to play on a queenside when you are 3-4 in terms of pawns there.* This is typical Caro-Kann pawn structure. If Black achieves `...c5` or `...e5` he will stand equal. *Any b-pawn or c-pawn move there makes his white-squared bishop a monster.* Not if you apply "scorched earth" tactics -> `...b6` + `...c5`+ `...Rc8`, and `Bg2` is a ghost -> he has no targets to attack, and will be further blocked with `...Nd5` for example. Thank you for your efforts, +1 from me. Best regards.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2014-12-29. Score: 0
  
  3...Qd8 is a very passive move and you should be playing more active moves in the opening for counterplay. It may have been played by strong players but usually it's for a draw. Example Lutz-Adams <http://www.chessworld.net/chessclubs/ltpgnviewer32/ltpgnboard.asp?GameID=584891>
  
  
  ---
  
  