Questions tagged [1.e4]
1. e4 is White's most common first move (except at the top grandmaster level). It tends to produce open games.
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Good response to the french defense [duplicate]
I am rated 1840 rapid(10+0) chess on chesscom and 1500 semi rapid (25+5) OTB.
I am preparing for a tournament and I want a suggestion regarding an approach to the french defense.
I tried playing the ...
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Most people say that the best opening for beginners to improve is 1.e4 e5. But after 2.Nf3, what should we teach beginners to play: 2...Nf6 or 2..Nc6?
The players under consideration here, the so-called "beginners", are players who are below 1100 Elo, players who do not yet know what openings to play, players who do not know anything about ...
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is there a name for the opening moves 1. e4 b5?
While this is a terrible opening which gives up a pawn for nothing I would like to know if it has a name.
Wikibooks state that it is called O'Neill Gambit but its citations lead nowhere. The only ...
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Why is the outdated Steinitz Defense still so popular among non-professionals?
The Steinitz Defense is generally considered outdated by modern professional players. However, according to the Lichess Database, the move 3... d6 is actually the second most popular choice after 1.e4 ...
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What is the best option for White after 1.e4 e5? [closed]
So lets say I am white, and I open with 1.e4. Black responds with 1...e5. What would be the best move to get me into the best opening position?
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Why is there a clear difference in master's and other player' opening choice?
For example, based on the database at lichess, after 1. e4, 46.3% of the master games continue with 1... c5 while only 23.4% of all games continue with 1... c5 (31.7% continue with 1... e5).
Another ...
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What is the point of playing the 5.d3 (or 6.d3) Ruy Lopez, when White can play Giuoco Piano (or Modern Italian)?
As title above, what is the point of playing the 5.d3 (or 6.d3) Ruy Lopez, when White can play Giuoco Piano (or Modern Italian)? In other words, why play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 (or ...
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Harry Potter Chess Analysis
So, I've been reading Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone. If you haven't read the book yet, or watched the movie, and you don't want any spoilers, stop reading this question. Continuing, there ...
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I cannot for the life of me settle on some openings for black [closed]
I've started to pick chess back up after a few years where I wasn't playing. (~1750 rating) I can't figure out what to play as black against either d4 or e4
For a long time, I've been very happy with ...
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After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, is 2...Nf6 safer and easier to learn than Nc6?
I am an amateur player and do not have much time to study and memorise complicated opening lines. Am wondering after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, if 2...Nf6 is a safer and simpler option for black than 2...Nc6. My ...
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Vienna Gambit vs King' Gambit
The Vienna game/gambit goes as 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 .. 3. f4...
Why is this considered much more solid/sound than just the King's gambit. It doesn't seem to me that the extra 2. Nc3 thrown in is doing ...
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Unusual sequence of opening moves in the Open Ruy Lopez with 6.d4 Be7
As title above,could someone kindly explain the tactical highlights of the rather unusual sequence of moves arising with the recent interpretation of the Open Ruy Lopez with 6.d4 Be7?
[FEN ""...
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Why isn't 6.Bc4 considered by theory in the 5.Bxf7+ Traxler Counterattack?
In the Traxler Counterattack of the Two Knights Defense, after
[fen ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bb3 (6. Bc4)
why isn't 6.Bc4 considered as a "serious"...
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How should one play as Black vs. the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation?
As the title above states, how should one play as Black vs. the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation? In other words, after `
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6
(The Exchange ...
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What is the reason for 5...Bb4+ in this line of the Bishop's Opening?
After the opening moves
[fen ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3
one of Black's fashionable answers is
5...Bb4+
What is the aim of this seemingly useless check?
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How to master 1.e4 repertoire from scratch
I was a hardcore 1.c4 player. But, for quite some time, the popularity of Nakhmanson Gambit, Jerome Gambit etc. has encouraged me to experiment with 1.e4.
I have read 1.e4 with backup plan before. Now ...
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The Vienna Game: Good, inferior or bad?
I have been taking a look at 1.e4 2.e5 2.Nc3, which is known as the Vienna Game. At this point I have become familiarized with a substantial amount of variations and main lines. The principal ...
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Is there value to learning openings as a new player?
Am a new player (had played before hadn't picked up a board for 3 years having never taken the game that seriously) and am going to try and commit to at least 1 rapid (10+5) game per day.
Have made it ...
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I like to play 1. e4 but I dislike 1. ... c5. Can I continue with 2. c4?
I read a related but closed question here and I share a very similar feeling. I would love to play 1. e4 but I only feel comfortable when my opponent replies with 1. ... e5, or French, or Caro-Kann. I ...
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Why isn't the English Attack popular vs. the Sicilian Kan?
As title above states, why isn't the "English Attack" popular vs. the Sicilian Kan? I mean the White setup in the Open Sicilian with Be3, Qd2, f3 and eventually g4 and h4. As far as I know, it is ...
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Flexibility over solidity? Defending against 1. e4
When defending against 1. e4, I'm a French Defense player. I enjoy the French Defense very much, and my win rate with it is fairly good. Lately, though, I've been wanting to explore new defenses, only ...
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What is the opening value of 1. e4 in 2020?
Bobby Fischer:
e4 -- best by test.
What is the current theory or trend in theory behind this statement?
We have seen huge strides taken in chess AI in the past two years. How is this affecting ...
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Symmetrical opening
In Capablanca's "Chess Fundamentals" this symmetrical oppening is considerd.
[fen ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6 7.Bg5
The author then claims that a long analysis shows ...
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Top players strongly in favor of 1.e4
Which are some top players known to be strongly in favor of 1.e4 in the opening?
In this respect I find interesting a comment by Fischer on Alekhine:
"there is nothing light or breezy in his style". ...
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Ideas behind the 8.Bd3 line in the 4.Ng5 Two Knights Defense
In the Two Knights Defense, after
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6
8. Bd3 has become ...
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Why isn't 5. f4 considered strong in the French Advance, main line?
Why isn't 5. f4 considered a strong move in the main line French Advance, after
[fen ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6
Everyone plays 5. Nf3 here, but isn't it logical to support e5 with ...
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What is the reason (if any) for 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3?
As title above, what is the point of playing 3.Nc3 (before d2-d4) after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6? Compared to the “normal” 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4?
[fen ""]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "B50"]
[Opening "Sicilian ...
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How to play vs. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6?
As title above, how to play vs.
[fen ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6
I see that this move (3...d6) is generally considered inferior in books, or not even mentioned in books about 3.Bc4, but I ...
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Why is the Advance Variation considered strong vs the Caro-Kann but not vs the Scandinavian?
As title above, why is the Advance Variation in these recent years considered strong vs the Caro-Kann, especially owing to White's early space advantage in the center, but not vs the Scandinavian? In ...
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Why aren't 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bh6, and 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Ba6 considered by theory?
As the title above, why aren't 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bh6, and 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Ba6 (or eventually beginning with 1.d4) for Black not even considered by theory? Isn't the eventual early trade-off of White's strong ...
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What next after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 for the White tactical player?
How should a tactical player as White play after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6?
The openings I am looking at are:
Ruy Lopez
Italian game
Scotch game
Three Knights
I am currently playing Scotch since it opens ...
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Giuoco Piano / Two Knights Defense / Fried Liver Attack
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3 Ncb4
White can play 9. Qe4 (Old variation protecting c2 square from ... Nxc2+ forking King and Rook and ...
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How to play vs 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nxd4?
How to play vs 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nxd4? Assuming that we want to recapture, is it better to take the d4 Knight or the e5 Pawn?
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How does White crumble Black's center?
Negi suggests 18.Kh1!N but it seems Black can continue to push his pawns.
[FEN ""]
[White ""]
[Black ""]
[Event ""]
[Site ""]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 ...
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Should I just avoid playing 1. e4? [closed]
I can play 1. e4 as long as my opponent does not play 1... c5.
However, I have recently been succeeding in playing 1. d4 despite knowing little to no theory. The only exception is that I am booked ...
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Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation (B35) 10.Ndb5!
After:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 a5 9.O-O d6
It appears 10.Ndb5 is difficult for Black to play against. I only found some games from 2008. ...
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Ruy Lopez 3...a6 & 6...Bc5 setup - a4 vs c3+d4 idea for White?
Here's the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5
[StartPly "12"]
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5
There are 2 main ...
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Looking for a repertoire book on the Spanish with 5.d3 (4.d3 vs the Berlin)?
Does anyone know of a good (or not so) repertoire book on the Spanish with 5.d3 vs the main line and 4.d3 vs the Berlin? Is there such a thing on the market? I've already got Andrew Martin's DVD The ...
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What is a sharp line against the Lion?
What is a sharp line for White against the Philidor Lion:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7
with 4...e5
The majority of games seem to be slow positional battles where Black is quite solid. 4....
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How could I have played this opening better?
This was a recent game on chess.com. The "Maximum" analysis tool they have says my first mistake isn't until move 9, but I felt like I misplayed the opening even earlier. Indeed black's white squared ...
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Why is 5.c3 the most common move in the Ruy Lopez, Berlin defence, Beverwijk variation?
Disclaimer: I'm a very, very green player.
After the first 4 moves, all of which seem natural given my understanding of basic opening principles (control the center, develop your knights, etc.), I ...
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Najdorf poisoned pawn with or without 7..h6 8 Bh4
In the Sicilian Najdorf poisoned pawn variation what is the difference between including the moves 7...h6 8 Bh4 (as many top players do) and not including them?
[FEN ""]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4....
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Scotch opening 5.Nf3
Yesterday Anish Giri played the scotch opening at the Tata Steel Tournament with the strange looking move(to me) 5.Nf3.
[fen "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 ...
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1. e4 with backup plan
I recently started playing 1. e4. Since black has a big choice of replies, I would like to learn one opening at a time. If black plays something I haven't learned yet, I would like to resort to a ...
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Sicilian Najdorf 6. Bg5 line
In the Najdorf can white play 7. Qd2 and plan later 0-0-0 for faster development? It looks very interesting. But we do not find such games with these move orders. Chess experts, please explain with ...
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Ruy Lopez Open Variation
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4
Why is 6. Re1 not played, prefer players 6. d4 only? Please answer with explanation and variations so that it could help all players.
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What to play as black after Bishop's Opening: 1. e4 e5; 2. Bc4
I keep losing at my chess club to the Bishop's Opening:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4
I have no idea what to play after that, any help?
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Are there any lines in the Lopez Opening / MacLeod Attack that are actually good for White?
In an event I played in this past weekend, I was surprised when (playing Black) I encountered: 1. e4 e5 2. c3.
I'd never seen this opening before - later web searching told me that it is the Lopez ...
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Why is 7. f3 so ubiquitous in the Yugoslav Sicilian?
I'm a mid-level player just starting to systematically study openings, and I'm wondering why it is that after the signature Yugoslav initiation 6. Be3 by White, and the certain follow-up 6. ... Bg7, ...
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Unusual Caro-Kann Variation
I'm looking for information about the unusual Caro-Kann variation that appears to be a sort of Pirc. I recently ran across this line and I'm struggling to understand why you would deviate from 2... d5....
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