Re: The "swap rule" in chess...

"David J Bush" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
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> Ron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
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<Snip>

> >  Furthermore, chess at a high level has never been about traps, so it
> > seems likely that the trappy variations you hypothesize would only be an
> > issue among weak amateurs, who, honestly, make enough mistakes that the
> > advantage of the first move means less.
>
> I guess it depends on what you mean by "trap." It seems you regard a trap
> as something high level players don't use between themselves. My latest
> issue of New in Chess (2003 nr. 6) features an exciting game between
> Viswanathan Anand and Viktor Bologan. Anand sprang an opening novelty
which
> he had prepared last year, which led to his victory over Bologan. I would
> call that novelty a high-level trap. You can call it whatever you like.

I'd call a trap any sequence played primarily for the hope that the opponent
will play a specific. superficially appealing, but inferior move. That does
happen high-level play, but rarely in comparison to play among
non-tournament players and beginning tournament players. I think due to
opening preparation, it may at the among professional more than it does
among above-average tournament amateurs, but still not often enough to shape
the game.