Questions tagged [opening]
Questions relating to the initial moves of the game and their aims
1,109
questions
2
votes
2answers
244 views
Are there decided recent games with 1. b4 at top level?
I would like to have a survey of the decided games with 1.b4 since 2010,
where both players had at least 2600 Elo.
chessgames.com allows to search games with given moves (with tight limits), but
...
5
votes
9answers
2k views
Why don't I have more success with the King's Indian Attack?
My last opening of choice as White was the King's Indian Attack to avoid having to learn a lot of opening lines, it being a system opening. I've read Eric Schiller's and Ken Smith's books on the KIA. ...
9
votes
1answer
2k views
Why don't we see more Kings Indian Defenses in top level chess?
One of the most interesting openings, in my opinion, is the Kings Indian Defense (KID). 2-4 decades ago it used to be very popular at the top level with Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov using it ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Mosquito Gambit?
[FEN ""]
[startply "5"]
1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Qh4 3. Nf3
I reached this position after following the line for the Englund Gambit. Lichess says that this is known as the Mosquito Gambit. Is it a joke ...
3
votes
2answers
232 views
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". ...
6
votes
10answers
3k views
Switching from 1.e4 to 1.d4?
I've only played 1.e4 as white so far (in clubs, tournaments, online, everywhere!), in the past 5 years since I learned chess. And it has been very fun, but I want to explore the dark side as well, as ...
2
votes
0answers
176 views
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 ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views
Can White play e4 followed by f3?
We know that 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 is a disaster for Black (Damiano Opening).
But White has an extra move. Can he therefore play 1. e4 e5 2. f3 ?
If Black replies 2... Nf6, White has 3. Ne2 (followed ...
6
votes
2answers
165 views
Is it ethical to refer to opening book for the first few moves of a correspondence game? [duplicate]
I am still learning chess (been playing ~6 months steadily now and am at ~1300) and have recently been enjoying correspondence chess with a 3 day time control. I find it gives me time to really ...
6
votes
4answers
568 views
In the Pirc, bringing a dragon pawn structure fails
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d6 2. e4 g6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. dxc5 Qa5 6. cxd6
Above you can see the first moves of a Pirc Defense game. To study this opening, I learn with the book "Pirc Alert!" by Lev Alburt ...
33
votes
10answers
8k views
Are there any gambits involving sacrificing a piece?
My impression of the word "gambit" is the sacrifice of a pawn or several pawns at the opening stage of a chess game. However, based on the definition on Wikipedia, a gambit (from ancient Italian ...
10
votes
3answers
186 views
Why does 4.dxc5 work well for white in the Advance variation of Caro-Kann?
[FEN ""]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4. dxc5
I don't want to play 3...bf5 instead, but this 4.dxc5 line in the Advance Variation gives me so much trouble, whether they go with 5.Be3, 5.a3 or 5.Nf3.
What'...
13
votes
5answers
2k views
Why is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 so unpopular?
Why is the Sicilian line with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 almost never played at any level, nor considered in books and similar? It seems logical to me, and after the usual 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7, the Bishop is ...
7
votes
1answer
444 views
How to play king's indian attack aggressively?
The King's Indian attack is my choice of opening. I choose this because more often I would prefer games where the actual clash between the sides is delayed (rather than outright in the opening). My ...
5
votes
2answers
4k views
Why, or how, can GMs make mistakes in opening books?
In the following position, McDonald states that 14. d4! is the move that gives a large advantage to White.
r1bqr1k1/2p2pp1/pbn4p/1p1np3/P7/1BPP1N2/1P3PPP/R1BQRNK1 w - - 0 14
However, 14. axb5 wins ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
Doubt on how move as black after pawn in e5
I am still at the beginning in playing chess, and I often encounter the following situation. Consider this sequence of moves:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 d5 2. e5
Presuming that I am the black player, how do ...
0
votes
4answers
1k views
On 1.e4, Fischer and opening theory
2 dumb/challenging conventional wisdom questions:
Why would anyone play 1.e4?
How is Fischer's saying that 1.e4 is best by test consistent with his saying that 'chess is dead'? (Quotes below)
On ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
In ChessBase 12, when viewing an Opening Tree, why do all the games always stop near move 26?
I have ChessBase 12 64Bit. To create an Opening Tree I do the following steps:
I click on "Mega Database 2014".
I filter all the 5.8 millions games like I want (for example, taking only the games ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
What is the 'combustion point' of a game? This was in an upvoted answer
Saw an answer and it had been upvoted.
Person answering had a large rep on stack.
The term used that was not explained is:
'Combustion Point' (of a game)
My question is just what does 'combustion ...
5
votes
6answers
235 views
In the opening stage, can we determine that one move is better than another by looking at winning percentage?
After 1.c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6, thousands of games have been played with the following two moves of white: 3.g3 and 3.e4. It seems that the winning percentage suggested that 3.e4 is clearly better than 3....
9
votes
6answers
4k views
Is the Grand Prix Attack a poor response to the Sicilian?
The Grand Prix Attack begins 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4. It is an anti-Sicilian for white that is popular among club players because playing it requires memorizing significantly less theory than the ...
8
votes
1answer
251 views
Difference between 7. Qc2 vs 7. Qa4 in the Catalan
This is a position from the main tabia of Catalan Opening:
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1bppp/4pn2/8/2pP4/5NP1/PP2PPBP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 0 7"]
[StartPly "12"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6....
23
votes
4answers
8k views
What is the worst opening move in Chess960 for White?
Is there a first move for white in Chess960 in which white can immediately blunder a piece or lose a significant advantage (say -2.0 or so)?
4
votes
3answers
361 views
How to decide what openings to stick with?
I've come to the conclusion that I'm at the point where it would be better for me to stick with a handful of openings I can know well as oppose to how I would normally just play quite a large range of ...
5
votes
2answers
184 views
Understanding Kh1 and Be3 in the King's Indian Defense Bayonet Attack
In this position (diagram), there have been two games where White played 14.Kh1 followed by 15.Be3, then Qe1 and Bf2.
What is the idea behind 14.Kh1 and the other Kingside moves when Black is not ...
2
votes
6answers
242 views
How do I make the right move after an opening? [duplicate]
I'm slowly getting better at my chess skills.
The one thing that bugs me the most right now is knowing which piece to move after many of my pieces have been developed and the king has been castled. ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
Opening book series with “complete” explanations
I am looking for opening books, preferably a series that explain different openings, where the opening is explained with a complete view:
strategic plans for main variants,
main tactical ideas,
usual ...
4
votes
4answers
877 views
About how to respond to this atypical black defense in the Ruy Lopez
I've recently begun studying openings, and I've been practicing the Ruy Lopez.
I played a game that began as follows.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. O-O dxe4 5. Nxe5 Qd5 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. ...
7
votes
3answers
676 views
White's c5 in Semi-Slav (or Slav) Defense
Lately, I've been experimenting as white with pushing the c pawn in the Semi-Slav Defence, but mostly in blitz games, so I would be very thankful if some of you could analyze a bit and point out if ...
8
votes
3answers
353 views
White's Response to the Norwegian Defense
In the Norwegian Defense of the Ruy Lopez
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5 6. O-O (6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 c5? 8. Bd5!)
Neil MacDonald suggests 6. O-O as a response. Why isn't ...
4
votes
1answer
353 views
Open Ruy Lopez for Black
Why there are no good videos on Open Ruy Lopez for Black? Is the variation too bad for Black? There are lots of videos from the White side, but I did not find any good videos from the black side; why ...
25
votes
3answers
6k views
Can anyone tell me name of this opening where knight is sacrificed?
Is there any way to take knight and save rook at same time?
Please do tell name, so I can search on YouTube.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 fxe5 4. Qh5+
1
vote
3answers
2k views
Morphy Defence in Ruy Lopez
I don't get the point of Morphy's Defence in the Ruy Lopez opening:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
If White's purpose was to exchange Bishop for Knight and take the e5 pawn after it loses ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
How to use a Polyglot book in C# with a chess engine
I would like, if possible, for someone to provide a code snippet of a basic logic to access a Polyglot book file. I'm having trouble finding the file format documentation, so I don't know how to ...
11
votes
5answers
366 views
In Caro-Kann Defense, what are the differences between 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2?
After 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5, what are the differences between 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2?
It seems 3. Nc3 is more popular, though after 3. ... dxe4, I failed to see the difference.
5
votes
8answers
627 views
Opening as a Beginner: Mainlines or Offbeaten path?
I am approximately 1500 OTB (Lichess Classical 1750, chess.com 1540, internal rating in my club ~1500), and of course I would like to improve. Work and family are demanding, so naturally I would like ...
5
votes
3answers
150 views
The Sicilian Defense Kalashnikov Variation: Why shouldn’t white play 5.Nxc6 here?
I get a lot of weaker players, who opt out of main lines, and they play 5.Nxc6?! against me. It has seemed to happen a lot lately. Why is that bad, and why shouldn’t white play that?
Note: This is ...
2
votes
3answers
487 views
How to deal with the pinned knight on f3 in the Ruy Lopez (as white)?
I find myself in positions like this a lot when playing the Ruy Lopez:
[fen ""]
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 d6
4. O-O Bg4
If I try to kick the bishop out with 5. h3, they back up to h5 and I'm in ...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
What to do when your opponent doesn't play along in the opening?
I looked around and could not find an answer for this.
I've studied a pretty good amount of opening theory and so I know the "correct" moves for some basic lines. Most e4 openings and a fair amount ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Ideas and tactics behind the 4.h4 (or 5.h4) attack vs. the Gruenfeld?
What are the main ideas and tactical themes behind the early h2-h4 attack vs. the Gruenfeld? I mean, the 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 (or 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4, which seems to me a fairly related line) ...
3
votes
1answer
49 views
Move orders in the 6.Qc2 Anti-Meran Semi-Slav
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 White can play the so-called Shabalov-Shirov Gambit with 7.g4!? on the grounds that 7...Nxg4 allows 8.Rg1 and the important g7 Pawn is ...
1
vote
2answers
407 views
Why Black should play Max Lange attack, when its favorable for white only.?
In Max Lange attack..when white is giving gambit of d and e pawns and can grab a piece or good attacking favorable position. Then why black should accept it? Is there any solid defense against it?
8
votes
4answers
2k views
Why doesn't white take after 8..c5 in the Grünfeld, Spassky variation?
I was looking through the titular variation and am confused why there are no master games with 9.dxc5. Is it simply because white doesn't want to give up the central pawn, even if they can gain a ...
38
votes
8answers
9k views
What are pros and cons around banning castling?
Vladimir Kramnik has proposed on chess.com that castling be banned for the good of the game.
What are the kinds of objective points that might be made for & against this idea? Based on these, do ...
2
votes
5answers
705 views
How important is the opening first move?
I have played against various chess engines at extreme difficulty levels. From what i have learned, any moves other than d4, e4 results in quick defeat (fewer than 25 moves).
How important are the ...
0
votes
4answers
143 views
Knight's opening move
I generally play 1.Nf3 as white . I actually wonder whether there would be any major difference if I play 1.Na3 instead of 1.Nf3 . I am a novice player . An illustration will definitely help me in ...
14
votes
3answers
1k views
Examples of harmony?
Recently my chess tutor used a word which in hindsight is very interesting: harmony. He mentioned I should not just develop my pieces in the opening, but develop them harmoniously. Since then, I've ...
23
votes
8answers
2k views
What should I do about the dilemma of castling early?
OK, it has been said that one of the opening fundamentals is to castle early, but I have a dilemma with this and it may very well be a natural dilemma that has to be dealt with or there many be signs ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
D5 move closing my bishop activity
I would like to know why playing d5 in these two positions is useful for me (Black).
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Why isn’t Black forced to prevent e4 in this Queen’s Indian Game?
Today, I played this game in which I played the Queen’s Indian Defense. This position was reached:
I played Be7, which is a correct move. I wonder however, why Black isn’t forced to play Bb7 in ...
