Barcza System

The Barcza System is a chess opening system played by White, comprising the moves Nf3, g3, Bg2 and 0-0, regarded as non-committal moves whilst black exposes their intention.[1] It is named after the Hungarian grandmaster Gedeon Barcza who employed the opening on many occasions throughout his career.

Barcza System
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8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
f3 white knight
g3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white bishop
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
f1 white rook
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
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MovesNf3 g3 Bg2 0-0
ECOA07
Named afterGedeon Barcza

After playing the four moves outlined above White will usually choose to direct play into another opening system[2] such as the Réti Opening (by playing c4), the King's Indian Attack (by playing d3, Nbd2 and e4), the Catalan (by playing d4 and c4), or the Hippopotamus (by playing b3 and Bb2). The Barcza System is thus essentially a transpositional tool where White delays committing to a specific structure until it is clear how Black intends to develop. The Barcza System only has independent significance on the rare occasions where play does not enter another opening complex.

The Barcza System has been suggested as a universal system ideal for club players by grandmasters such as Lajos Portisch,[3] David Bronstein[4] and Yasser Seirawan.[5]

References
  1. Horton, Byrne Joseph (1972). Dictionary of modern chess. New York. p. 12. ISBN 9780806501734.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. Yasser Seirawan, Winning Chess Openings, p202 'White's four opening moves, 1.Nf3, 2.g3, 3.Bg2, 4.0-0, create the Barcza Opening. After these initial moves, if White follows up with c4 the opening often transposes into an English Opening. If he plays d4, a likely transposition into a Catalan will occur. And if White plays for d3 and e4, the opening becomes a King's Indian Attack'. Everyman Chess, 2003, ISBN 1857443497.
  3. Lajos Portisch, How to Open a Chess Game. RHM Press, 1980, IBSN 0890582033.
  4. David Bronstein, The Sorceror's Apprentice. Cadogan Chess, 1995, ISBN 1857441516.
  5. Yasser Seirawan, Winning Chess Openings, pp199-212. Everyman Chess, 2003.
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