4

According to the data base at lichess, after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 Qe7 7. a3 Ngxe5, 8. axb4?? has been played 27,409 times (including played by a player with a rating 2300+), and it is in fact the second most popular move in this position. Black wins 99% of the game after 8. axb4.

[fen "r1b1k2r/ppppqppp/2n5/4n3/1bP2B2/P4N2/1P1NPPPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 8"]

Another example: after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Qe2, 5... Ngf6?? has been played 16,366 times (including played by a player with a rating 2600+) and white wins 98% of the games after 5... Ngf6??.

 [fen "r1bqkbnr/pp1npppp/2p5/8/3PN3/8/PPP1QPPP/R1B1KBNR b KQkq - 2 5"]

Statistically speaking, what are the most popular opening blunders?

7
  • 1
    "white wins 98% of the games after 5... Ngf6??" I'm struggling to work out what happens in the 2%. It's a bit early for a flag fall. Maybe White's phone goes off before they can play Nd6#?
    – Brian Towers
    Jan 21 at 14:13
  • 1
    what is the source of the results. is it from a mega database or a lichess games database
    – cmgchess
    Jan 21 at 17:24
  • Another evergreen is 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 Bxf3 6.Bxf3 Qxd4. Had (almost) the same on my board in 1975. Gelenczei's "Opening Traps" book surely will contain more beloved blunders. Jan 21 at 18:47
  • @BrianTowers, not everyone chooses the move Nd6#. Nxf6+, Nf3 and nine other moves have been played.
    – Zuriel
    Jan 21 at 19:40
  • @cmgchess I believe it is lichess games database.
    – Zuriel
    Jan 21 at 19:41

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