Well welcome to the hippo. I play it often. I learned a long time ago it can be a problem even to masters.
Because most players ignor it anr do not see its
Intrinsic value. It sp good I have seen many computets I practice on try to pull it on me. It is a lot pf fun. If you play it in a tournament the other player tends to use to much time!
It can be fun to play but a little complicated early on against players that don't overextend. Also watch out for the Austrian attack because it can lead to complications right out of the opening.
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/the-pincer-attack2
You may want to read that. I do plan on showing the games I play in that line and adding commentary as well eventually.
Yep as I said it can be a problem for masters as well. Even nigel short got into trouble when guest71
Played hippo on himany times and cleaned his clock. Everyone here can think what they want but
Guest71 did not use a program. Wheres the proof if he did?
I am from Missouri. Show me! Good chessing to you!
I just started messing with the Hippopotamus defense/attack.
It looks completely ridiculous - most of my games have me shuttling my king back and forth on two squares for like 5-7 consecutive moves in the middlegame while the opponent bashes their head in trying to crush me.
Weirdly, strategically I'm finding the hippo defense the most understandable (for someone like me who is poor on theory.) In the hippo,if the opponent allows you to block the center, it's almost always the right thing to do. After that, your plan/attack seems logical (down one or the other wing), while the opponent's pieces are usually badly placed for such an attack.
Just sayin' it' sa fun one!