Thematics Event

* Senior TD Hans Winsemius

Thematics Waiting List:

This is a great way to explore specific openings. You play either a two-game match, both as black and white, or a one-game match where you decide the color you would like to play. A list of players waiting for opponents appears below, along with popular variations with no players. You can also specify a variation that does not appear on the list.

You may specify a minimum or maximum rating for your opponent. Otherwise, we'll assign an opponent within 400 points of your rating at the time that the match is set up.

In the event that 3 players sign up at once the TD reserve the right to change the 2 game matches to a Trio.

Special Notice:

In order to leave room on our waiting list for new variations and to limit the accumulation of very specialized requests, we are having to establish limits.

Requests older than a year will be deleted. You can get your name back on the list by making another request.
Unusual variations will be deleted after three months at the discretion of the Tournament Directors. We will strive to retain variations that might be of general interest.
New variations will ONLY be accepted if the requestor will play a two-game match with no special rating request.
New variations will be limited to 7 move pairs.

We appreciate your understanding.

To report the results of your match

The following form is for reporting the results of your chess match. The report is submitted by the winner, or in tha case of a draw, by the white player.

Please enter all the details, including the complete PGN record, which can be copied and pasted into the large text box.

The form is unable to send a copy to your opponent, so to observe the usual courtesy of sending them a copy, it is recommended that the response page that will appear in your browser window when you submit the form, is copied in its entirety, and pasted into an email message, and sent to your opponent.

Thematics Available for Play

Updated: January 28, 2011

Albin Counter Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.g3 f6
Mario Lampon, 1723, two-game match

Albin Counter Gambit/Morozevich-Mengarini Variation:
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Nge7
Richard Hargreaves, 1597, one-game match as Black

Benoni Defense A60 (Semi)
1.d4 c5 2.d5 *
Eric Raymond Van Dusen, 1534, two-game match
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as black, opponent >1950

Benoni Defense - Snake Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 Bd6
Sandor Porkolab, 2011, two-game match

Benko-Volga Gambit
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.*
Ali Fazil Anil, 1905, one-game match as White, opponent > 1900
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as Black, opponent >1950

Bird's Opening
1.f4 *
Jose Luis Llorente, 2080, two-game match

Blackmar Diemer Gambit:Holwell Variation
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Qd6
Pedro Canizares Cuadra, 2097, two-game match

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit:Kampers Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Bf5 5.g4 Bg6 6.g5 Nd5 7.fxe4 *
Pedro Canizares Cuadra, 2097, two-game match

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit:Rasmussen Attack
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nge2 exd4 5.Qxd4 *
Pedro Canizares Cuadra, 2097, two-game match

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit:Ziegler Variation
1.d4 d5 2.e4 c6 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Nf6
Pedro Canizares Cuadra, 2097, two-game match

Blackmar's Second Gambit
1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 *
Pedro Canizares Cuadra, 2097, two-game match

Caro-Kann Classical Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 *
Matthew Lachlan Finn, 1000, one-game match as white
Brian Wood, 1464, one-game match as Black

Caro-Kann/Milner-Barry Gambit, Rasa-Studier Gambit:
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3
Wayne Jordaan, 1809, two-game match

French Defense Classical Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 *
Ginger Alice Wincinson, 1175, two-game match
Brian Wood, 1464, two-game match

Gruenfeld Modern Exchange Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 *
Ginger Alice Wincinson, 1175, two-game match

Gruenfeld Exchange Classical Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 *
Brian Wood, 1464, two-game match

King's Indian Samisch Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 Nc6 *
Simon Henke, 1853, one-game match as black
Mirko Djuric, 2408, two-game match
Brian Wood, 1464, two-game match

Nimzo Indian Classical
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as Black, opponent >1900

Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as Black, opponent >1950
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as White, opponent >1950

Nimzo Indian S�misch
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as Black, opponent >1950

Old Indian Defense
1.d4 d6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 *
Norbert Lipcak, 2006, one-game match as Black

Philidor's Defence C41
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 *
Dusan Petrovic, 2155, two-game match, opponent >2250

Pirc
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.*
Eric Raymond Van Dusen, 1534, two-game match

Queen's Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as black, opponent >1900

Queen's Gambit Declined, Classical Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O *
Michael Dufour, 2097, two-game match, opponent > 2000
Brian Wood, 1464, two-game match

Queens Gambit Declined semi-Slav /
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5 dxc4 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as black, opponent >1950

Queen's Gambit Declined Semi Slav
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.*
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as black, opponent >1950

Queen's Gambit Declined Semi Slav
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5*
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as black, opponent >1950

Queen's Gambit Slav
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as black, opponent >1900

Queen's Indian
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.*
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as black, opponent >1900

Ruy Lopz Open variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4
Michael Dufour, 2097, two-game match, opponent >2000

Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.*
Brian Leemoon, 1900, two-game match

Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, two-game match, opponent >2000
Brian Leemoon, 1900, two-game match

Ruy Lopez Marshall Counterattack
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8. c3 d5
Brian Wood, 1464, one-game match as White, 3 matches

Sicilian Boleslavsky Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.*
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as White, opponent >2000

Sicilian: Closed B23 Kavalek-Bosch Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g4 *
Brian Leemoon, 1900, two-game match

Sicilian Defense - Perenyi variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.g4 e5
Frederic Giua, 2103, one-game match as black, opponent >2000

Sicilian Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.*
Virgilio Cuaycong, 1629, two-game match

Kan Sicilian Kan
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
Michael Dufour, 2097, two-game match, opponent >2000

Sicilian Rossolimo Attack (1)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as White, opponent >2000

Sicilian Rossolimo Attack (2)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as White, opponent >2000

Sicilian Scheveningen Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6
Frederic Giua, 2103, one-game match as black, opponent >2000

Sicilian Taimanov Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 *
Michael Dufour, 2097, one-game match as white, opponent >2000

Trompowski Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 *
Craig James Evans, 1812, one-game match as black

Two Knights Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 *
Heinrich Basson, 1639, two-game match

-----------------------------

POPULAR VARIATIONS WITH NO PLAYERS:

Alekhine's Defense B02
1.e4 Nf6 *

Alekhine's Defense B02: Mokele Mbembe (Buecker) Variation
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ne4 3.*

Alekhine's Defense Modern Variation B03
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 *

Benoni Defense A60
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 *

Benoni Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 d6 *

Blackmar Diemer Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 *

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Brombacher Counter Gambit
1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 c5!?

Bogo(lyubov) Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+

Budapest Defence
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.*

Caro Kann Advance Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 *

Caro-Kann Exchange Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 *

Caro-Kann/Gurgenidze Variation
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 b5

Catalan Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 *

Center Counter Defense
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 *

Colle
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3

Damiano Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 *

Dutch Defense
1.d4 f5 2.*

Dutch Defense Staunton Gambit
1.d4 f5 2.e4 *

Dutch Leningrad-Main Line
1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.c4 d6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nc3

Elephant Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 Bd6

English Opening-Botvinnik System
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.e4 d6 6.Nge2

English Opening, Hedgehog
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.g3 b6 *

English Hedgehog System
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.*

English Opening
1.c4 e5 *

English Bellon Gambit
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 b5 *

English-Dutch
1.c4 f5 *

English Opening Four Knights
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 *

Evans Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 *

French Defense
1. e4 e6

French Defense
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5

French Defense Advance Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 *

French Bird Variation
1. e4 e6 2. Bc5

French La Bourdonnais Variation
1. e4 e6 2. f4

French Chigorin
1.e4 e6 2.Qe2

French Defense Classical Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 *

French Defense Tarrasch Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 *

French Hecht System
1.e4 e5 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6

French Defence MacCutcheon
1.e4 d6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4

French OrthoSchnapp Gambit
1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Qb3

French Pelikan Variation
1.e4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.f4

French Reti variation
1. e4 e6 2. b3

French Steinitz Attack
1.e4 e6 2.e5

French Steiner Variation
1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5

French Two Knights Variation
1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3

French Defense Winawer Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.*

French Wing Gambit
1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4

From's Gambit
1.f4 e5 *

Giuoco Piano
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.*

Gruenfeld
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.*

Gruenfeld Modern Exchange Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 *

Gruenfeld Exchange Classical Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 *

Gruenfeld Russian Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 *

Hikaru Nakamura`s 2.Qh5
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 *

Irregular Opening
1.a3 *

King's Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.f4 *

Kings Indian Attack (1)
1.Nf3 c5 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O *

Kings Indian Attack (2)
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.O-O e6 5.d3 *

Kings Indian Defense Main Line
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 *

Kings Indian Defense, S�misch Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 e5 *

Konstantinopolsky Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 *

Latvian Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.*

Max Lange Attack
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O Nf6 6.e5*

Mittel Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 *

Morra Gambit
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 *

Nimzo Indian Hubner Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bxc3

Nimzowitsch-Larsen: Indian Variation
1.b3 Nf6 2.*

Omega-Osiris Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e5 3.*

Petrov Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 *

Petrov Defense, Cochrane Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 *

Petrov Defense; The 5.Nc3 Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 *

Pirc Austrian Attack
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 *

Queen's Gambit Baltic Defence
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5

Queen's Gambit Declined Chigorin Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.*

Queen Gambit Slav Defence - Moldavian-Chebanenko Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 *

Queen Gambit Slav Defence - Rausis Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 dxc4 4.e3 Be6

Queen Gambit Slav (Tolush-Geller Gambit.)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 *

Queen's Gambit Declined Tarrasch Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 *

Queen's Pawn Counter Gambit:1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5

Reti Opening
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 *

Ruy Lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 *

Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.*

Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defence
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.*

Scandinavian Defense/Gubnitsky-Pytel Variation
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 6.g3 b5 7.*

Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 *

Scotch Game Exchange Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 *

Scotch Four Knights, Belgrade Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5 *

Scotch Opening Miles Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bb4 5.c3 Bc5

Semi-Slav Defense/ Anti-Moscow Variation
1.d5 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 *

Sicilian
1.e4 c5 *

Sicilian c3, Alapin system
1.e4 c5 2.c3 *

Sicilian 2.Na3
1.e4 c5 2.Na3 *

Sicilian defence
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 *

Sicilian, Bryntse Gambit
1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 *

Sicilian Boleslavsky Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.*

Sicilian: Closed B23 Kavalek-Bosch Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g4 *

Sicillian Defense
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bd3 *

Sicilian Defence:Meszaros Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Rb8

Sicilian Defense - Hyper Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.*

Sicilian Dragadorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 a6

Sicilian Kalashnikov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 *

Sicilian Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.*

Sicilian Paulsen
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 *

Sicilian Richter-Rauzer Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 *

Sokolsky
1.b4 *

Soller's Gambit
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 f6 3.*

Spanish
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d4*

Two Knights Defence, Belgrade Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5 *

Two Knights: Traxler Counter-Attack
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5

Vienna Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 *

Winawer Counter Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5 4.*

Wilkes-Barre / Traxler Counter Attack
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5

E10 - Blumenfeld counter gambit
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.*

Thematics Event

To request a match: (IECC members only)

Thematics Waiting List:

Special Notice:

To report the results of your match