On Mar 24, 1:12 am, Offramp wrote:

A subtlety often overlooked is that there is
no such thing as perfect "symmetry", as one
side or the other always has the right as well
as the obligation to move something.

And Fischer had some startling comments about symmetry.
After the moves 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O
5. d3 d6 ( asymmetrical position), Fischer wrote:

'"Believe it or not", Black stands better! Now whatever White does,
Black will vary it and get an asymmetrical position and have the
superior position due to his better pawn structure!


Well, BF was a nutter. There is no way that
Black "stands better" just because White has
the move here. A more rational person might
suggest that, no matter what White does, he
cannot achieve an edge or that no matter what
White does, Black can vary and play for a win;
but only a total loon would insist that having
the move was such a handicap.

And I can prove that having the move is not
a problem; just give me *two* moves to BF's
one, and I can easily (okay, it will be a bit of
a struggle for me) draw-- maybe even win
Now that BF is dead, I can play Rybka or GM
Anand or somebody like that; heck, I'll even
let 'em have White.


-- help bot