Curtains vs PoG

[David Ottosen]

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1. c4 e5
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 c6
4. d4 exd4
5. Qxd4


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Wow, didn't know this was gonna be a blitz game... [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

First comment is that exd4 was probably not that good a move. The standard play there would more likely be ...d6, as the exchange and then subsequent exchange on d8 is fine for black as in other similar positions.

As it stands now, POG has two basic plans to consider:

1) plans with d5: these will lead to the center opening and black being left with an isolated d-pawn. Having an isolated d-pawn is not the end of the world, but in this particular case, white's development is aimed specifically towards dealing with an isolated d-pawn (fianchetto'd Bishop). Such positions generally end up revolving around whether you can at some point in the future advantageously play d5-d4 (in which case you will usually either get a nice attack, or at worst, liquidate into a dry ending), or whether white will blockade it and trade down into a favorable endgame. This kind of plan leads to a more straight forward game where both side's plans are fairly clear.

2) Plans involving ...d6: in such cases, you are planning to try to just stay compact, and develop with d6, g6, Bg7, 0-0, and then elect whether to play for d5 or b5 as the position warrants. This is likely to lead to a more complex game where both sides have a variety of options on how to approach the position.