Meyer's Defense Against the English Opening

     For those who like radical openings, check out Hugh Meyer's 1.c4 g5; it is worth looking at. It can't be too good but white's advantage is not overwhelming.
     Myers was a connoisseur of obscure openings and he made an extensive study of this defense. 2.d4 Bg7 is the unsound Myers Gambit and is not based on a sound foundation. It weakens the K-side and gives up a P for no real reason. When you play a gambit, or any sacrifice for that matter, you want to get some kind of compensation for the sacrificed material. 
     2.d4 h6 has been referred to as a reverse Macho Grob. After 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 white has a dominating position.
  

Barcza

   Here's a game between Barcza and van Geet to get you started. Gedeon Barcza (August 21, 1911 in Kisújszállás – February 27, 1986 in Budapest) was a Hungarian Grandmaster. In addition to many successes in international tournaments, Barcza won the Hungarian Chess Championship eight times (1942, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957, and 1958) and played for Hungarian team in seven Chess Olympiads (1952, 1954, 1956,1958, 1960, 1962, and 1968). He was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1954.

van Geet

     Dirk Daniel van Geet of The Netherlands was born in 1932, was an IM and a correspondence GM. He was was among the best Dutch correspondence players as well as a strong over the board player. He was awarded the correspondence GM title in 1990. One of his best results was winning the 40 Jahre BDF tournament (1986-1992), ahead of English GM Simon Webb and Dutch GM and later World Champion Gert Jan Timmerman. In over the board play, van Geet became Dutch youth champion in 1952. One of his best achievements was winning the 1965 Master group of the Hoogovens tournament. This also earned him the IM title.
     However, he is probably best is known for the opening 1.Nc3 that was named after him. Well known for his unconventional opening play, after defeating GM Arthur Bisguier over the board in 1961 with his trademark opening he said in a Dutch newspaper interview: “I employ guerilla tactics. I know little chess theory. If I want to be successful I have to systematically try to get my opponent out of his preparation. An unexpected and unusual move sometimes does magic.” He also successfully employed his opening in correspondence play defeating Danish GM Erik Bang in the HJ Mostert Memorial Team Match (2006-2009).