Can someone explain me Rat Defense: English Rat (A41) !?

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ESP-918

1. d4 - d6

2. c4 - e5

3. d×e5 !!

So my question is if white captures blacks pawn on e5 which is obvious , then what is the blacks plan? They can't capture it back as their queen= no castling and k.o. , do they devolop a bishop a knight , what is the hall idea behind this opening and giving a pawn away ?

ChePlaSsYer

So my question is. Why do you even consider capturing? White has no advantage after 3...dxe5 4. Qxd8+ Kxd8. Look at my eyes and tell me Black had any problems because he lost the right to castle.

 Oh wait, I am rated 1500 on blitz. I must be wrong! Sorry dude, I did not mean to teach the teacher. Please, I beg your pardon. 

toiyabe

That line is known to give nothing to white...castling isn't important for black, he can just play ...c6 and park the king on c7, instant equality.  This is actually a nice line to play OTB, as many players with the white pieces who haven't studied it will automatically assume that removing black's castling rights will give them an edge, but NOPE!   

ESP-918

I See , don't you think it's a bit risky to play without castling? I mean you must play so precise to make an advantage and sure you can if you are a GM + , but how about 2000-2300 ratings isn't it a bit risky? Especially playing black giving white more material?

Let's say white is 2200 rating and black say 2100 or 2150, do you think black will have that much of advantage to finish him off? I don't think so very risky in my opinion especially OTB classical time control or rapid not bullet or super blitz , very risky in my opinion

ESP-918

What about Nc6 move for black instead of capturing, much better in my opinion

ESP-918

🤔

Spectator94

Hardly risky to play without castling without the Queens on. Also the pawn on c4 isn't that good for White, weakening his d4 square and blocking the scope of the LSB while the Black pawn on e5 is a healthy centre pawn.

MickinMD

No one answered the question: what is Black's plan?

After the Q-exchange, one possibility would be developing ...Be6, ...Nc6, ...Kd7, ...Rd8, ...Kc8, artificially castling long and then launching a pawn attack against the K-side, where White has hopefully castled.

Of course, it's a wide open position after ...Kxd8 and the game can reach a lot of positions.

ChePlaSsYer

There is no risk for the king. There are no queens on the board and White has not developed a single piece. This reminds me of the Old Indian Defense. Black plays c6-Kc7 develops comfortably and players agree to a draw on move 40.

Nc6 is certainly playable in blitz, but I do not know why you would hang a pawn with Nc6 OTB.

toiyabe
ESP-918 wrote:

I See , don't you think it's a bit risky to play without castling? I mean you must play so precise to make an advantage and sure you can if you are a GM + , but how about 2000-2300 ratings isn't it a bit risky? Especially playing black giving white more material?

 

Let's say white is 2200 rating and black say 2100 or 2150, do you think black will have that much of advantage to finish him off? I don't think so very risky in my opinion especially OTB classical time control or rapid not bullet or super blitz , very risky in my opinion

 

There's no material difference, and black doesn't have an advantage in this line, just equality.  But that is a nice accomplishment 4 moves into the opening!  Recapturing and giving up castling is much better than gambiting a pawn with ...Nc6, no reason to play with such risk after white threw away his advantage 4 moves in.  

 

The game ChePlaSsYer posted is a good example, although playing ...c6/...Kc7 seems to be more common.  Regardless, the structure of pawns on e5 and f6, Be6, Nd7, and then c6 with King on c7 is solid and equal and even offers chances for you to outplay your opponent due to the easy and natural development that you are allowed.

ESP-918

Thank you all very much I read each one of your answers

ChePlaSsYer

Glad we were able to help you buddy. wink.png