Breaching the Reversed Stonewall with ...Nh6!? | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1781

[@Suho1004]

John, I don't think you ever have to worry about a game not being instruictional. I don't watch your videos because the games themselves are inherently instructional, but because you're such a good teacher that you can squeeze instructional content from pretty much anything.

[@jonmcclenahan8379]

As someone rated close to today's opponent, I'll say to JB that these videos are more instructive than you think. Knowing how to recognize and then capitalize on a weakness... is still a weakness for me!

[@ryaghnaramansanthosh3140]

Finally JB remembered his KZbin password 😄

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

😂

[@spartanthe300ththermopylae4]

@ryaghnaramansanthosh3140 😂

[@danambru2917]

I remember there was an idea of playing 1. ...Nh6 on the first move after 1.f4, and then play e5 next move, similar to the From's gambit, like an improved version of it. I think it was an analysys done by GM Huschenbeth Niclas on some old video of his here somewhere...

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Yes! I actually played this 1...Nh6 the other day, but I couldn't remember why it was feasible, lol.

[@danambru2917]

@@JohnBartholomewChess I guess it only makes sense if White plays 2.b3 to go for e5, otherwise if White plays normal 2.Nf3 it doesn't make any difference...

[@spartanthe300ththermopylae4]

@JohnBartholomewChess yes, 1...Nh6 (The Horsefly defence). Your fellow IM Miodrag Perunovic ("The Butcher") has an excellent lecture on it here on YT. Hope you don't mind my mentioning it. Btw please always post your games and analyses, even if they are short. In fact, this setup and showing how to dismantle the reverse Stonewall setup was very instructional!

[@DealerLoot1]

I always have played the g6 reversed StoneWall system against the Bird. I always followed it with Nf6 and trying to first exchange 1 pair of knights and then plant the N on e4 by bringing the other N from b8 to make sure to have e4 square under control. Nh6 is a very cool idea and thank you for sharing .... hmmm.... I am now doubting my own setup against the Bird. Love the detailed analysis JB! Have a lovely holiday season! ✌

[@teddythegod1919]

Nice to see you back John happy holidays!

[@InfiniteQuest86]

I think the instructional value is great. How to beat this type of player quickly is super useful.

[@BenRook]

Always good seeing a vid from you...cheers!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Cheers, Ben!

[@DrVeerjay]

Missed you JB. I learn lots from your videos. Thank you

[@PerceivedREALITY999]

Thanks John, your post game analysis is very instructional.

[@marlowe5511]

Hi John, with mention of the Leningrad Dutch, I would be super interested to see you play that soon and talk through some of the main ideas behind it

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Good call, Marlowe - I think I'd enjoy playing the Leningrad Dutch

[@GreatWhiteNinja431]

I'm going to parrot some of the comments below...don't underestimate the instructional value of your videos, even the ones you don't think are that instructional. Your comments revealing your thought processes is immensely helpful! Keep them coming!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Appreciate your input!

[@V61Sunda]

Circling back after a few months away from the channel but your videos got me through my med school exams over the summer! Great content as always. I hope your voice is doing better, I remember you were dealing with some issues back then. Thanks as always for the great videos and if you ever get a chance to play an accelerated dragon I would love it!

[@katis999]

very nice, John, post everything you have :) (even if it is a losing game [mouseslip etc...:) ]

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Will do - thanks, katis!

[@xx3868]

I learnt early on, unless you have the insane skill of bobby fisher, moving your King onto the next rank in the opening moves, is the worst weakest mess you could make and this shows that White seem to be setting up something, but it fell apart so quickly and shows solid "book" moves are best to give you best chance moving through the middle game.

[@TheChohr]

@JohnBartholomewChess That game was perfectly instructive. I learnt about the possibility of sticking the knight on h6 (not always on my radar but something I'll consider in these positions in future). But that aside, you're very good at articulating your thought process and that is always incredibly instructive.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Much appreciated, and glad you gleaned some useful points. Cheers!

[@k.k.2749]

Even though it was a short game, it was very instructional. This alternative setup can also be used against the Dutch defence as white. Thanks for the instructive video!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Absolutely - Nh3 vs. the Dutch Stonewall! Thanks for watching :)

[@rwbullock4197]

John, the egregious errors by white in this game are very instructive!

[@johnlesko5344]

That game was super instructive. I have been in dire need of new ideas against the stonewall.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Great to hear!

[@steelsteez6118]

John, one of my favorite people on the planet.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

🙏

[@scheimong]

I have this player at my local club (~2000 strength) who exclusively plays 1.f4. And it's really annoying to face because he almost always gets his attack. This Nh6 idea is maybe something I can look into. And btw, he plays the bird in a rather interesting fashion too. He starts with e3 d3 and works up to e4 f5, so in that structure a light square bishop trade is actually favourable for him. I've tried various setups against this guy and nothing works consistently. Usually my best bet is to hope he shows up drunk (which is not all that rare 😅).

[@spartanthe300ththermopylae4]

@scheimong look up 1... Nh6 (The Horsefly defence). IM Miodrag Perunovic ("The Butcher") has an excellent lecture on it here on YT. Hope it helps you beat that drunkard! 😂

[@user-ts3ij7te6j]

It helped a lot. Learnt Nh6. Thank you

[@docfrayon]

The relooking of the channel is very nice. You can climb the IT geek ladder too :)

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thank you! Will be rolling out a new channel image + thumbnails in the next 2-3 months :)

[@somethingness]

Ah, the Bird. Well, you know what they say. Bird, bird, bird, bird's the word. I'll show myself out.

[@JakeLemasterGuitar]

Welcome back brother

[@peterfredriksson1857]

I like d5, g6 and Nh6 against a white Stonewall. Sometimes exchanging white squared bishops with Bf5. There is also a plan that includes Nf5-d6 and Nd7-f6-e4 where the f6 square is free to chase away the probable white Ne5. Later on even e7-e5 with rooks on e8 and f8. Dream position. 😙 Time is not that important in these closed structures.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Yes, excellent point - you can sometimes get both knighted at e4! There's a similar possible move order for White against the Stonewall Dutch in fianchettoing and delaying the kingside knight development until Black commits to ...d7-d5, and then playing Ng1-h3.

[@walterbrownstone8017]

Lol why can't I get a 1700 player to play the Bird opening against me? Not only did he play the Bird but he blundered his central pawn before move 10! You're so lucky to get an easy 1781. 1700's don't seem to blunder against me until I'm clearly losing!

[@esmaeilrostami955]

Thank you

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks for watching

[@Orion-zq8jf]

Heyy.. Good to see ya back on youtube, more interesting game last vid than this one, but thx for the vids/games nonetheless.. I might break down and purchase your scandi course.. but ive seen all your vids so lol probably all i need to know already lol jk glad to hear you'r feelin better (throat/voice0 i heard beer helps, well, beer helps with anything lol thx, take care

[@flynnoconnell2260]

gang gonna be a great night with some fellow birders

[@goldenlion3184]

This was very helpful. It's not common to see this opening, but so annoying for some reason... Thanks!

[@guillaumecornu9919]

Hey John do you reckon the stonewall can be played at high level? Aman did a speedrun until 2000+ so i suppose you can but i feel like refutations are pretty easy and creating such weakness in the center plus blocking the dark square bishop so early seems suicidal

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Yes, I think you rarely see it, because strong players understand how to exploit/mitigate the weaknesses on e4/e5. For someone encountering it for the first time or without a a couple decent ideas, it's easy to get steamrolled, though.

[@samtugendhaft2678]

Hey John, quick question about how to handle the stonewall from the semi Slav move order. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 f5. Black has gone for a stonewall Dutch after I’ve committed to e3 when I normally go for a kingside fianchetto against the Dutch as you did in this game. Any advice to handle this version of the stonewall, I have a little trouble with this move order.

[@ZMHealing]

I enjoy 1.e5 2.d6 3. bd6 against bird, gambiting pawn for dynamic activity, weakening white's kingside immediately, etc. pretty fun in bullet/blitz never taken it seriously. any experience with this John?

[@danjeory3659]

Computer: c5 is a mistake. Also computer: c5 is the second-best move 😣

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

It's tough out there 😂

[@PerceivedREALITY999]

I recently lost a climbing the rating ladder game against AlphaZero chess, but then I beat it in chess boxing.

[@theinacircleoftheancientpu492]

Reverse stonewall can be kinda annoying to play against when you are trying to win, and the other side is trying to draw.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

100%. It can be hard to break down

[@Sunsetjanice]

looks like your camera keeps auto focusing, and makes the videos jump a lot. have you tried turn off the auto-focus?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks for the heads up - it has a tendency to do that. I'll look into it.

[@michigan53105]

Hey guys this is Yoda

[@stag6161]

I have trouble with the Kings gambit, I've won 4 of 14 games with exf4, d5 ; 1/5 games trying 2Bc5 and won a bullet game with 2d5 but that was a fluke, i just played faster

[@BuggatiWeryon]

First greetings John❤

[@PeripheralPurity]

Hey john this is guys

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

🙋‍♂️

[@avm36]

i swear u look younger than 37

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thank you :)

[@oldsuitman7762]

always play C5

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Usually a good idea 👌

[@spartanthe300ththermopylae4]

Always play Nh6

[@bbbrown3408]

1781?? loses in a couple moves yeah

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

🤷

[@thetransferaccount4586]

kid is best against stonewall

[@CatFang-or2lw]

First