Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:04 am
The Brooklyn Defense
One of the most underestimated openings is the Brooklyn Defense, a variation of Alekhine's Defense which resets Black's position on the second move. It is truly bizarre: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8. I have experimented with this because it seems better than the standard Alekhine's 2. .. Nd5, because White does not gain the tempo 3. c4, and Black's knight is not exiled to Siberia on b6 where it does little or nothing.
Most players continue 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 or f4, but Black has adequate replies to either of these moves. The opening is full of hazards for both sides, but Black has to be careful, because White has a temporary lead in development that will disappear only if Black plays the right moves. I like the opening mainly because it is not the Sicilian, not the French, and not the Ruy Lopez.
Most players continue 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 or f4, but Black has adequate replies to either of these moves. The opening is full of hazards for both sides, but Black has to be careful, because White has a temporary lead in development that will disappear only if Black plays the right moves. I like the opening mainly because it is not the Sicilian, not the French, and not the Ruy Lopez.
