Any Resources on the Rat Defense?

1...d6 Move by Move - Cyrus Lakdawala

Thanks for the video but I'm not really interested in gambit lines.

Just what I was looking for, thank you very much

Keep in mind, only 1 chapter is on that line.  And that chapter also includes what to do if 3.Nf3 instead of 3.dxe5, which 3.Nf3 is actually the best move.

The other chapters are on other lines by White.  2.e4.  2.Nf3.  1.e4, etc.

Yeah that's fine. There seems to be very limited material on this endgame so I'll take what I can get. I might incorporate some of the other lines in the book as well if I like the look of them.

Are you dyslexic? Why are you calling it an endgame?

Some would call it an endgame and others would call it a Queenless middlegame. What you call it doesn't really matter. I'm just interested in how to play the position.

Moves 1-4 would be an opening, not a middlegame or endgame.

I'm not talking about the first few moves though. I'm talking about the position after the Queen trade.

Then you should study games from a database. Go over them and ask questions. I usually start with www.chessgames.com 

Yeah I do use databases quite a bit but it's even more beneficial to study annotated games selected by a master level player for their instructive value. You learn more that way.

I doubt you will have useful annotation on the rat defense, and you are on top of that demanding a queen trade. This is the earliest one I have found so far. You can use an engine and see what the point is and if it is really worth the time.

I suggest if you are really interested in the rat defense to not go for the queen trade.

On the contrary I've watched a few videos where John Bartholomew played this defense and his commentary was very helpful.

There is really no reason to avoid the Queen trade considering that this endgame is known to be better for Black and I'm very comfortable playing it.

Thank you for the Tal game though, much appreciated.

I've faced this opening and it's seriously annoying. It's actually so solid for black. I don't go for the exchange queen line as white ever anymore. 

John Bartholomew has what rating and title? Let's see top GMs make a go of it first. You say this on a day where Nakamura and Carlsen played the following.

Yeah that's why I like it. Black's position is much easier to improve than White's. It also neutralizes any prep that White might have had. Practically speaking I think it's a very good choice, especially for players like me who enjoy endgames and slow positional chess.

It doesn't matter what rating or title John has. He's a strong player and an amazing teacher. I've learned a lot from him over the years. 

And yes that game from Hikaru and Magnus today was absolutely legendary, haha