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Bushka Tutor
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Strategy
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Opening theory
1.f25

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1. ...eg8
1. ...e96?
1. ...f87?
1. ...c54?
1. ...c74?
1. ...bc4?

1. ...c64
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2.fe4
2.ge5

2.ed3
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Treep defense
A dubious alternative


Regular Defense

1. f25- c64
2. ed3- bd4!

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7.f45 7.hg6

The regular defense was found by Myron Freeling at the age of eight. The sacrifice of two men on the 4-line is actually about the man on c5. This square must be vacated because white, on his fifth move, captures over the 5-line. White can keep his man on b4 one move longer by playing 2. ...cd4. This also keeps the option to choose Treep defense. But if black decides for the regular defense, his move 3. ...c54 still implies the sacrifice of the man on b4.

Note that both players, barring tactical refutations such as 6. ...f0x7??, capture at maximum pace. The same sequence at minimum pace has a different outcome in strategic terms. The game remains closed in all variants, so tempoconsiderations are important, and it is not at all certain that either sequence represents best play.