Talk:Épine Dorsale

Many more references available if one simply googles "Epine Dorsale."

I don't understand how the French Defense branches of the Épine Dorsale; if blacks first move is completely different, how is it branching of from a future position. Perhaps he means that it can transform into Épine Dorsale.

If you make the move suggested the series of moves is just a transposition of the French Defense. The French Defense is one of many openings that branches off the Epine Dorsale.ThreeE 15:21, 24 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm new to chess, but this seems very similar to the Italian Game. Perhaps someone could enlighten me?Andrew zot 11:35, 24 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The Italian Game is one of many openings that branches off the Epine Dorsale.ThreeE 15:21, 24 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Please elaborate more on this. Both "Épine Dorsale" and Italian Game start with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. Where is the difference? Please also add a reference for this article if it is really different from Italian game. Searching in internet I didn't find anything, which would prove that the term "Épine Dorsale" exists. Andreas Kaufmann 21:35, 16 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"Epine Dorsale" is not an opening as such. It encompasses many openings (including what we now know as the Giuoco Piano and Ruy Lopez). The term pre-dates modern opening classifications by 100 years or so, and thus can't be fitted neatly into our current way of thinking. The name comes from an early observation that the "best" openings were those in which the pieces lined up on and around the h1-a8 diagonal. The name "epine dorsale" refers to this diagonal and not to any chess "main line". At the time it was simply a way of saying concentrate on the main diagonal and avoid wasting time with peripheral moves like 2.Qh5. In this respect it is not dissimilar to the modern concept of "control the centre". I shall try to find a reference so I can amend the article accordingly. 149.254.200.219 (talk) 03:18, 12 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Redirect[edit]

I think the redirect to Giuoco Piano is somewhat dubious. Is not the Italian Game more precise? SunCreator (talk) 13:00, 13 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Both are wrong as the Epine Dorsale can lead to either -- it isn't an opening, it is a series of moves that are very common that can lead to one of several openings. ThreeE (talk) 14:02, 13 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Can you explain more, like what series of moves? SunCreator (talk) 14:21, 13 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Look at the page's history before the redirect. ThreeE (talk) 22:36, 13 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

ah, I see. Thank you. SunCreator (talk) 23:36, 13 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The old version of this page [1] gives a good succinct explanation of the Epine Dorsale. Anyone redirected to Giuoco Piano will simply assume a mistake as that article doesn't mention Epine Dorsale at all. 82.1.57.47 (talk) 20:37, 8 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Great description in that old article. Why hasn't that been added back yet? 71.202.55.236 (talk) 00:43, 26 July 2017 (UTC)[reply]