wname White
bname Black
kibitz Welcome to the Wild 5 Primer!
kibitz Many people do not understand wild 5 because of the way the pieces are set up: pawns begin on their 7th rank, confusing many people that try to move the pieces on the bottom of the screen, when their pieces are actually on the top.
5
kibitz A solution to this is to flip the board on the interface. Some people actually like playing wild 5 without flip, it's up to you.
5
kibitz Due to the pawns being on the 7th rank, with your pieces behind it, this means your king is smothered. Much of the opening process of a wild 5 game is a mix of smother mate threats with development.
5
kibitz This means there are only four legal moves for White to begin the game: Nh6, Nf6, Nc6, and Na6.
5
Nh6
2
back
2
Nf6
2
back
2
Nc6
2
back
2
Na6
2
back
2
kibitz As a general rule of thumb for the opening, develop the knight diagonally opposite whatever your opponent moved. This prevents mate in most cases, or if White is not trying to go for the throat, develops your weak side.
2
Nc6
kibitz Using the rule of thumb, Black has two replies - Nf3 and Nh3. However, since White moved his Kingside Knight, and is not threatening mate immediately, Black can use his full arsenal of moves, being Na3, Nc3, Nf3, and Nh3.
Na3
2
back
2
Nc3
2
back
2
Nf3
2
back
2
Nh3
2
back
2
kibitz Nc6 and Na6 aren't very commonly played, as most players prefer to seize the initative and go for the throat, whereas Nc6 and Na6 are passive.
2
kibitz Nf6 was the "original" opening move and is known as the Queen's Classical Opening. It is the most forcing opening move, as Black MUST move Nc3 to avoid mate.
Nf6
2
Na3
kibitz This is why Black must play Nc3: it prevents Nd5!
Nd5
2
Nc4
Nc3
kibitz White wins.
5
back 2
Nb5
Ne3
kibitz White wins again.
5
back 2
b1=N
Ne3
kibitz White wins, no matter what Black does.
5
back 2
Nc3
kibitz Nc3 is forced.
Ng4
kibitz Now Black is forced again to make a single move that prevents mate: Nd5, covering the e3 square and preventing Ne3#
5
Nd5
kibitz This is the positional setup for the Classical. Mate is avoided, and it is up to the players now to proceed further into the opening.
5
back 4
kibitz Now, let us examine Nh6, the "Modern" Opening. It's much more flexible than Nf6, as it offers White two options for his second move, but by the same token, allows Black the choice of his opening move. It can tranpose to the Classical setup via 2. Ng4.
5
Nh6
kibitz Black has two choices here. Na3 and Nc3.
Na3
kibitz This is the opening position for the Kingside Defense, which is known to be a forced win for White with perfect play.
kibitz That doesn't mean that it isn't unplayable, it will just generate more HATE if you win as black with this :)
5
kibitz White has two choices here: transpose into a Semi-Classical with Ng4, or go to the Modern formation with Nf5.
kibitz This by all means doesn't mean White has to PLAY those two moves, He can defer them or not move them at all.
kibitz To either move, Black has the same reply.
Nf5
Nc4
kibitz Black must move Nc4 to prevent Ne3# by White.
5
back 2
Ng4
Nc4
2
back 3
kibitz Now let's look at Black's reply of Nc3 to Nh6.
Nc3
kibitz White can tranpose to a Classical with Ng4, or go into the Modern formation with Nf5.
Nf5
5
Nd5
kibitz Black's only reply. This prevents mate.
kibitz This is the positional setup for the Modern. It's up to the players what to do next.
5
kibitz This concludes the Wild 5 Primer by Angel.