Author Archives: James Mansson

Horsham Club Championship 2010-11: Mansson – Harbott

The season ended on a disappointing note for me on Tuesday, as I lost my last game in the club championship from a winning position. Peter played the opening rather rashly, but I didn’t analyse the position carefully enough, and … Continue reading

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1 Nf3 repertoire: The Double Fianchetto System

The Double Fianchetto System is similar to the Hedgehog System in its basic philosophy of establishing a solid set-up, with the potential to counter-attack should White over-extend. The basic position arises after 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 b6 3 g3 … Continue reading

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1 Nf3 repertoire: The Hedgehog System

While variations on the basic Hedgehog formation can arise from a range of different openings, here we are concerned with the position after 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 b6 3 g3 Bb7 4 Bg2 c5 5 0-0 e6 6 Nc3, … Continue reading

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Horsham Club Championship 2010-11: Stimpson – Mansson

It doesn’t now like I shall be able to complete all my club championship games, although I did manage to play another just after the Quickplay Knockout Final last night.

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Horsham Club Quickplay Knockout 2010-11: Mansson – Forster

I played the final of the Horsham Chess Club quickplay knockout last night against Mike Forster, and I emerged victorious 1.5-0.5.

Posted in Club Quickplay Knockout, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The French Defence, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

1 Nf3 repertoire: The Symmetrical English with 2…Nc6

One of Black’s trickier move orders in the Symmetrical English is 1 Nf3 c5 2 c4 Nc6. Here Black creates the possibility of …e5, hoping to establish a strong position in the centre. White needs to decide how to confront … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Nf3 Repertoire, Opening Analysis, The Caro-Kann Defence, The Symmetrical English | 1 Comment

1 Nf3 repertoire: The Symmetrical English with 2…Nf6 and 3…d5

After 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 Nc3, an important option for Black is 3…d5. This is different to 3…Nc6 4 g3 d5, discussed in the previous post, in a couple of important ways: After 3…d5, White cannot play … Continue reading

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1 Nf3 repertoire: The Symmetrical English with 2…Nf6 and 4…d5

One of the features of symmetrical positions is that the same basic moves are possible for each side. However, because one side is a move ahead, the same move does not necessarily have the same value. For instance, in the … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Nf3 Repertoire, Games, Opening Analysis, The Symmetrical English | 1 Comment

Horsham Club Championship 2010-11: Comley – Mansson

Last night I played yet another club championship game, against Ian Comley. I usually manage to win against Ian, although this time he managed to hold out for a draw.

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1 Nf3 repertoire: The Semi-Tarrasch with g3

The position after 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 g3 e6 5 Bg2 d5 6 cxd5 Nxd5 can arise from a number of move orders after 1 Nf3. For instance, Black’s first and second moves can … Continue reading

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