tissue
34 ( +1 | -1 ) Are you serious? This is a weakening move like no other. I can't find a good move for this except maybe a fianchetto. But, that really destroys your queenside, and if black can stop you from fianchettoing by making even weak threats, then you'll sustain material loss like you won't believe. Can't say I recommend this one.
anaxagoras
53 ( +1 | -1 ) English Opening and Larsen's OpeningI can't say I know much about them, but I know enough to say that tissue's advice is false. 1 c4 is a fine opening move because it aims to control the central d5 square. The queen's knight then finds a nice home on c3, and in many lines White fianchettos the King's Bishop to give it an open diagonal. Play tends to be "strategic" or "positional" with a viscious struggle by both sides to push their Queen's pawn's to d4 or d5. I can't say anything useful about 1 b3, though I've gathered it is not as a clear of an opening as 1 g3.
tissue
27 ( +1 | -1 ) Huh? 1. c4 on it's own is a great move, known as the English opening. 1. b3 isn't that bad, it's known as the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack. However, the line 1.c4 followed by 2. b3 certainly can't be recommended. His subject implies the moves 1. c4 followed by b3, and I gave the advice accordingly. So, I'd have to say your advice is, in fact, false.
caldazar
47 ( +1 | -1 ) 1. c4 and 2. b3 is alright, I suppose; this particularly pawn structure is sometimes seen in Reti and English setups. The c1-bishop goes to b2 of course and the other bishop is either developed via g3/Bg2 or e3/Be2. It's nothing for Black to worry about; as long as he doesn't go crazy, Black usually obtains a decent counter-setup (usually either ...c6/...d5/...e6 or ...c5/...d5/...e6). Typical classical 'occupy the center' vs. hypermodern 'control it from afar' type of deal, but nothing to write home about.
anaxagoras
79 ( +1 | -1 ) I see that I mistook 1 c4... 2 b3... for the two previous openings already named in my original post. Caldazar has said what needs to be said about it.
As for you tissue, it's charming that you try to immitate my vocabulary, but take a second look at your original post in this thread. It's a gross over-reaction or panic-attack:
"This is a weakening move like no other. I can't find a good move for this except maybe a fianchetto. But, that really destroys your queenside, and if black can stop you from fianchettoing by making even weak threats, then you'll sustain material loss like you won't believe."
Opening with 1 c4... 2 b3... isn't an aggressive opening, but it shouldn't promise worse than equality with accurate play from White. Has the boogey man got you spooked?
loreta
26 ( +1 | -1 ) My very humble opinionIt's a good enough development schema for those who likes similar positions. Of course, it depends on first answer of Black, but it's playable in many common ones: 1. ... e5; (Petrosian; Popchev, Bulgaria) 1. ... c5 (Balashov, Russia); 1. ... b6 (Gulko, Russia), 1. ... e6 (Taimanov, Russia); 1. ... Nf6 .....
premium_steve
34 ( +1 | -1 ) here's a game where my opponent used that opening.... i was black. i got smooshed! www.chess.nfld.net/chess/chessbase%20data/spraggettvsmartin29082003.htm i hope this link works ok. if not, i'll post the full text.
youngglor
23 ( +1 | -1 ) ..."Even a seemingly bad opening will have some positive points. If you don't take what you opponent is doing seriously, then these positive points will end up beating you." - The Amateur's Mind by IM Jeremy Silman
fabian
6 ( +1 | -1 ) 1c tournmamenti like and play 1.c4 a lot i opend a tournament too for it.. you can lookat my games too:)
soikins
36 ( +1 | -1 ) He-he...I like to play his setup with c4, b3, g3, and bishops on b2 and g2. Maybe that is why werwolf asks this question... We do play in one tournament... lol
ok, ok, quite egocentric... Maybe werwolf just searches for a new opening system as white... :)
werwolf
8 ( +1 | -1 ) soikinsI didn't know about that! But I'm realy searching a new opening systems.
fabian
15 ( +1 | -1 ) new openings.i have a book about unusual openings.. there is too 1.h4 and 1.g4 1.b4
maybe somethinkg like 1. a3 i did not found now. i like 1.c4 e5 2. e3 Bc6 3. d4 exd 4.exd g6 5. Bd3 etc or some other move order