I just played this game and found it kind of funny since there's the other thread in here talking about playing against this "style". My opponent was about 2000 ICC 5-min. This isn't really a serious analysis or anything. Just one idea on how to play against this type of play[er].

1. d4 h5 2. e4 a5 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 b6 5. Nf3 Bg7



It's apparent what sort of development my opponent is aiming for. The problem is it's just too slow and is creating weaknesses all over his position, but white needs to prove this is bad!

I like to create an early imbalance against these type of opponents. So I decided to play the provocative:

6. e5

The thing is, black doesn't really have any good way to combat my move. His natural central counter-attacks f5/c5 are basically impossible as they'd leave gaping holes all over his position. And playing something like d6 is extremely dangerous when he has no development or central control.

The point of e5 is to gain more space further cramping black. It also opens up the e4 square for pieces eventually and open the light b1-h7 diagonal around his king.

6. .. Bb7



7. d5

Again, he just can't really counter-attack my center so I'll take all the space he'll give me.

7. .. e6

So he finally tries to do something, but again - his development makes counterattacking bound to fail. 7. .. d6 would have been met by 8. .. e6 with the goal of targeting the very vulnerable g6.

8. Bg5 Qc8 9. Rc1



c7 is already looking very weak. Rc1 indirectly strengthens my center even more as now he can never afford to trade off my d pawn since opening the c file would be immediately decisive.

Bh6 10. Be2 Bxg5 11. Nxg5 Ne7 12. O-O Nf5



13. Nge4??

Incredibly inaccurate. I have no idea why I played this. Nce4 is simply a hundred times better. Fortunately, your moves don't have to be particularly accurate to win when your opponent plays an opening like this!

13. .. Kf8 14. Nf6 Na6



15. Bf3

Starting to prepare for the final attack. Now ideas of d6/dxe/etc are all starting to come out.

Kg7 16. Qd2

Starting to poke at the kingside dark squares, as well as further supporting d6/dxe ideas. It's important to make sure that black's Bxf3 does not come with tempo in alot of variations.

Nc5 17. Qg5 Kf8 18. Rfd1



Developing while keeping an eye on the d6/etc ideas. Now Nd7+ or Rd7 can become important ideas.


18. .. d6 19. Nce4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 dxe5



21. dxe6

And finally! Black falls to the thematic dxe. The ending to the game should have been a short and simple, but it was blitz and I had no time left :

21. .. Bxe4 22. Rd7! fxe6 23. Rcd1 Nd6 24. Qxe5 when black must lose all his pieces, or his king.



24. .. Bf5



And here white has a forced mate.

I played 22. Nd7+ which also wins, but is much less clean.

Thanks for this. Even though I understand the basic idea when my opponent doesn't develop properly (build a big pawn center and put your pieces on squares where they support or will be given scope by one or more central breakthroughs), it's good to see a strong player do something that I usually want to do but sometimes chicken out of in favor of development: build an advanced pawn center! I like your reasoning, too: if he's just going to sit there and let you steamroll him, then do it.