Recently, I came across of the newly translated Manual by Harald Keilhack on 1.Nc3 titled “Knight on the Left,” which is well reviewed here. I’ve been inspired by Asa Hoffmann to look more deeply into this terribly neglected first move, and my readers will likely remember my recent post on this line against the caro-kann. It’s odd that it isn’t played more often, considering it is not only sound but also in line with classical opening principals. By developing a knight, white hits central squares, places a knight on a good square, and leaves options open as to the direction the game may take. And yet, if you look for top players who play this, there really aren’t any. Morozevich has tried it on for size, though this shouldn’t surprise anyone, and the Danish Correspondence GM Ove Ekebjaerg played 1.Nc3 exclusively, nearly becoming the Correspondence world champion with this move. And yet, there is a paucity of material on it.
Tag: Ove Ekebjaerg
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