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Hello and welcome to the page that details the Lightning position on a chessboard.
This position is fairly uncommon and difficult to achieve, but may offer substantial
rewards if it is achieved. Do not go out of your way to achieve this position. However,
sometimes the opportunity presents itself, and then you could possibly attain a similar
position to this one. |
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Advantages
- Fairly well-defended Bishop, and if Bb2 is traded for, then d4 wreaks more havoc in the
center, as Nc3 is now secure from an early trade.
- Standard Knight positions, with a tradeable Nc3, hoping to gain the opposing Bishop for
this Knight. It could also go to Ne4 to expand the attack on the Kingside.
- The "Lightning" is so named because of the double Bishop thrust on Black's Kingside, made
even more threatening if Bxc4 becomes a reality later.
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Disadvantages
- Limited options on both sides of the board in the early stages of the game.
- The minor pieces are seperated into 2 groups, and until they start to work in unison, this
position at best matches the opponent.
- A weak a-pawn, and a smothered Queen might cause some difficulty in executing evasive
maneuvers.
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Move Sequence
- c4. The English Opening.
- Nf3. before ...e4.
- h6. Protecting against a ...Bg4 pin.
- b3. Supporting c4.
- Bb2. A fianchetto against e5.
- Qc2. Before the opposing Bishop controls this diagonal.
- e3. Releasing the Bishop.
- Be2. Bd3 also works to maintain control of this diagonal.
- Nc3. Gets the other Knight into the fray.
- 0-0-0. Castling to safety on the surprising side.
- A curious situation. Although weak at certain spots, the position seeks to build a
favorable attack on Black's Kingside in the 2nd part of the middlegame.
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Pitfalls
Throughout the entire opening sequence, black can give white trouble with these moves:
- Bf5 seizes control of the crucial b1-h7 diagonal, preventing Qc2
- Bb4 troubles you to no end, as removing this pest is difficult in this position
- e4 and a supporting f5 jam up the center quite well, buying time for Black to develop on
the Queenside
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Similar Openings
1. c4 is the English Opening.
1... e5 2. Nf3 is the Nimzowitsch Variation of the
English Opening.
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Frozenlightning