Van Geet Opening and Myers Attack
Van Geet Opening (1. Nc3)
Definition
The Van Geet Opening is an irregular first-move choice for White that begins with
1. Nc3. By developing the queen’s knight before committing any pawns,
White keeps the central structure flexible and aims to catch the opponent
slightly off guard. The opening is named after the Dutch International Master
Dirk Daniel van Geet, who over decades played 1.Nc3 almost exclusively.
Typical Move-Orders
Because 1.Nc3 does not stake an immediate claim in the centre, play can transpose into many main-stream openings:
- 1…d5 2.e4 => Scandinavian-style positions.
- 1…e5 2.Nf3 => Vienna Game or Four Knights.
- 1…c5 2.e4 => a Closed or Open Sicilian depending on White’s choice.
- 1…Nf6 2.e4 => Alekhine Defence reversed.
- 1…g6 2.e4 => Pirc/Modern setups.
Strategic Themes
- Flexibility: White can still decide whether to push the d- or e-pawn and can choose from closed or open central structures.
- Surprise Value: Club-level opponents see the move rarely and may consume extra time in the opening.
- Piece Play over Pawns: Because no pawn occupies the centre yet, both sides fight early with pieces; rapid development and tactical alertness are essential.
- Risk/Reward Balance: 1.Nc3 neither grabs space nor hinders Black, so if White drifts, the first-move advantage can evaporate quickly.
Historical Notes
Dirk van Geet began employing 1.Nc3 in the 1950s and 60s, scoring enough success that the line took on his name in western chess literature. In older Russian sources the move was sometimes dubbed the “Dunst Opening” after Theodore Dunst, an American master of the 1930s.
Illustrative Mini-Game
[[Pgn| Nc3|d5|e4|d4|Nce2|e5|f4|exf4|Nxf4 |fen|rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/3p4/3pN3/6P1/PPP1NP1P/R1BQKB1R|arrows|c3e4,d5d4|squares|e4,d4]]After 6.Nxf4 White has sacrificed a pawn but seized the centre and opened lines for rapid development—typical Van Geet compensation.
Interesting Facts
- Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen used 1.Nc3 in several blitz and rapid games, treating it as a “Swiss-army knife” for transpositions.
- Engines now evaluate 1.Nc3 at roughly equal (≈ 0.20) after best play, validating its practical soundness.
- Dirk van Geet once joked that he preferred the line because “I can decide what opening I’m playing after seeing Black’s facial expression.”
Myers Attack (Caro-Kann Defence)
Definition
The Myers Attack is an aggressive line against the Caro-Kann Defence that arises after:
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. f3
With the early pawn thrust f3, White immediately questions the pawn on e4, offers a temporary sacrifice, and aims for a broad pawn centre (after fxe4 fxe4) combined with open lines for the bishops. The variation is named after the American master and opening theoretician Hugh Myers, famous for his love of unorthodox ideas (including 1.g4, the Grob).
Key Ideas for White
- Pawn Sacrifice for Initiative: White often allows …exf3 in order to recapture with the queen or g-pawn, gaining rapid development.
- Centre Expansion: After fxe4 fxe4 and c2-c3, White may obtain a “Maróczy-style” clamp on d5.
- Open Lines: The aggressive pawn on f3 supports e4–e5 pushes and opens the f-file for rooks.
Typical Continuations
- 4…exf3 5.Nxf3 Bg4 6.Bc4 White is a pawn down but all pieces point menacingly at f7.
- 4…Nf6 5.fxe4 e5 6.Nf3 Bb4 Black returns the pawn for quick development.
Strategic Considerations for Black
- Accepting the pawn leads to sharp, tactical play; declining it lets White cement a large centre.
- Moves such as …e5 or …g6 aim to undermine White’s pawn phalanx.
- Because the Caro-Kann is usually chosen for solidity, many Caro-Kann specialists prepare a specific antidote to the Myers Attack.
Historical & Practical Significance
Although not part of elite grandmaster repertoires, the Myers Attack has a devoted following in correspondence and over-the-board club play. Hugh Myers analyzed the line extensively in his periodical Myers Openings Bulletin. The variation gained brief spotlight when GM Alexander Morozevich tried it in rapid games during the early 2000s, reflecting his taste for provocative set-ups.
Sample Game (H. Myers – J. Jerger, U.S. Open 1978)
[[Pgn| e4|c6|d4|d5|Nc3|dxe4|f3|exf3|Nxf3|Nf6|Bd3|Bg4|O-O|e6|Qe1|Nbd7|Ne5|Nxe5|dxe5|Nd7|Qg3|Bh5|Ne4|Qc7|Nd6+|Bxd6|exd6 ]]After 17.exd6 White’s bishops and queen dominate the light squares; Myers eventually converted the initiative into a full point, showcasing the line’s attacking potential.
Fun Facts & Anecdotes
- When asked why he invented so many “unsound” openings, Myers replied, “If it’s unsound, prove it over the board.”
- Engines at depth 35 still disagree on the objective evaluation of the pawn sacrifice; some consider it nearly equal, others give Black a small edge—ideal territory for the practical gambler.
- Because 4.f3 is so forcing, many databases label the entire 3.Nc3 Caro-Kann as “Fantasy Variation”; in some sources the term “Myers Attack” and “Fantasy Variation” are used interchangeably.