Questions tagged [opening]
Questions relating to the initial moves of the game and their aims
1,113
questions
10
votes
4answers
348 views
Advance of d4 in the Ruy Lopez
I was White in this position, and Black had just played f6.
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/ppppn1pp/2n2p2/1B2p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 1"]
I played c3 to prepare a push of d4 and strike the center.
...
4
votes
1answer
87 views
How does the move order 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 “rule out Philidor's Defence 2…d6”?
So I was reading "An Opening Repertoire for the Positional Player", by Gufeld and Kalinich, and found the title's assertion. And I just can't think why after "1. e4 e5 2. Nc3", d6 would be bad for ...
9
votes
4answers
3k views
Can black play the London system?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3, Black usually plays Nf6 or e6 (which blocks his light-square bishop) and I wonder if it is possible for him to adopt the ideas from the London System and play Bf5 ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Opening Moves: Pawn Chains and Countering Attacks
What is it called when your opponent opens with their pawns in a zigzag formation, leaving the front line defended by the back? (Pawn Chain) Also what is the best way to counter this move?
2
votes
2answers
150 views
Elephant gambit game analysis
I would like to get some explanations on the mistakes and blunders of my game posted below.
My Lichess rating is around 1770, so I do not know if the mistakes of the game are hard to spot for my level ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Why is the Exchange French considered drawish?
Why is the Exchange French considered so drawish since it is very early in the game, so it seems like there would be a lot more play left. A lot of lower rated players play it against me, although I ...
4
votes
1answer
114 views
Sicilian Dragon
[fen ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 Qa5 13. h5 Nxh5 14. g4 Nf6 15. Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Rxc3 17. bxc3 ...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Playing against the 2…c5 systems in the Kings Indian Attack against the French
[FEN ""]
1. e4 { Shockingly, I did not play 1.a3} 1... e6 2. d3 c5
This can still transpose into the main line with 3...d5. But I played a game with this yesterday, and my opponent played Nc6, d6, ...
6
votes
4answers
801 views
Artificially isolated pawn in the Caro-Kann
I would like to know why it is so disadvantageous to have an advanced artificially isolated pawn when it can be exchanged by another pawn.
I refer to situations where a side cannot mantain such square ...
6
votes
7answers
2k views
Why not 1.d4 Nf6 2.d5?
Why isn't 1.d4 Nf6 2.d5 a good move? It gains space in the center. As beginners we are told that after 1.d4, 1...d5 directly opposes White's ambitions in the center, stopping d4-d5 (similarly, in some ...
9
votes
5answers
12k views
Is this really played by 2200+ players?
I came across the following game and was surprised to find that it was played between players with 2200+ ratings:
How do players of level 2200+ lack the very basics of opening principles to play a ...
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
188 views
Central control disliked by engine in 1.e4 e6 2.d4 a6 3.c4
Recently I played a chess game that started with the moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 and then I played 3. c4 which according to Stockfish is inaccurate.
[fen ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4
What is the ...
10
votes
5answers
3k views
Trade a bishop in the opening
In several openings white or black trades a bishop for a knight (Ruy Lopes exhange, Sicilian Rossomilo, Nimzo Indian etc).
I have learned the bishop pair is worth a half pawn, and I have difficult to ...
3
votes
2answers
235 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". ...
13
votes
1answer
3k views
How did the Fried Liver Attack get its name?
Many chess openings get their name from a player who invented it and/or played it and/or documented it. Place names are also frequently used, denoting where an opening was first played or became ...
3
votes
0answers
60 views
Opening systems that enable strong tactics [duplicate]
First off I'm not looking for a gimmick / trap, but rather I'm looking for a new opening system for white / black that could enable more tactical options.
For the last year or so I've been playing ...
2
votes
2answers
135 views
What chess app displays the name of the opening being used in the game?
I used to have a chess app that would say the name of the opening being used when you played. Then my tablet broke, and I thought it would be easy to find that chess app, but no luck.
Does anyone ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
In Bb5 systems against the Sicilian, why does White exchange their b5 bishop without playing a6?
Isn't White giving up too much, i.e. one tempo in the opening and the bishop pair, for too little, i.e. doubled pawns?
For example, after
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6
Bc6 is the second ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
Uncovering the Accelerated Dragon opening
I had previously heard and seen in commentaries about the Dragon opening where black plays an early g6 to develop the bishop on g7 after the typical open Sicilian starting moves c5 cxd d6. But how ...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Software with support for Database with opening analysis
I'm looking for a software tool that will:
Engine Support. For analysis suggestions.
Support for software evaluation of the moves. I guess this is optional, although I've seen this feature in ...
6
votes
1answer
485 views
King's Gambit, Wagenbach Defense 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h5
Has this gambit (6.Ng5!) been played? (I only found games with 6.Ne5.) Is it any good? Is it the refutation of Black's silly 3...h5 (the Wagenbach Defense)?
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h5 4.d4 ...
13
votes
3answers
419 views
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
286 views
How does Alphazero Respond to the QGD?
I recently started reading Game Changer, the new(ish) book on Alphazero, and I'm really enjoying it. My one issue so far is that I can't find, in the book or elsewhere, games where Alphazero played ...
1
vote
3answers
116 views
How would you make a queenside pawn storm opening idea work?
I played a Lichess bullet game as Black in which I disregarded any opening theory because I just wanted to mount up a pawn storm on the queenside. Has anybody come across this idea? It seems to me ...
9
votes
2answers
891 views
Why is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Bg5 almost never played?
Why is
[fen ""]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Bg5
almost never played? Isn't it a logical opening move? OK, it goes against the rule of "Knights before Bishops in the Opening", but is a general rule ...
5
votes
1answer
126 views
Why is 7 Bd3 in the Cambridge Springs QGD more often met with 7…Ne4 than 7…dxc4?
My question relates the Cambridge Springs QGD when Black deviates from the main line by playing the well-known inaccuracy 7 Bd3.
[FEN "..."]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. ...
5
votes
1answer
137 views
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
169 views
Who revitalized 5. Bf4 vs the Queen's Gambit Declined?
It seems to me that after the popular move order
[fen ""]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7
the most popular option - at least at top GM level - is currently 5. Bf4. Yet, back in the 1980s ...
15
votes
4answers
3k views
How many different ways are there to checkmate in the early game?
We all know the shortest possible checkmate is 4 ply:
f3 e5
g4 Qh5#
This isn't the only possible move order. In fact, there are 8, depending on whether white moves the f or g pawn first, ...
4
votes
2answers
373 views
Conceptually, what makes the Sicilian opening sensible for black?
We all know the Sicilian as shown below, is one of the most famous and commonly employed openings in chess. But compared to the other replies, which tend to be more about fixing the center (such as e5,...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
Introduction to the Sicilian
I am trying to work on my openings and start playing the Sicilian as a response to 1. e4 but I am slightly overwhelmed by the huge amounts of resources available. I am rated around 1850 FIDE and I ...
4
votes
2answers
110 views
Definition of Soundness
What exactly does it mean for a gambit to be unsound? I see this term being used a lot but I have yet to come across a precise definition.
Is it enough for white to lose the advantage that comes ...
2
votes
3answers
171 views
A question on psychology / strategy in Chess opening
Is it a good idea to play unusual openings (openings except d or e file) (like c4, played by Bobby Fischer on the game of the century ) to confuse the opponent and stop him/her to play his/her natural ...
2
votes
1answer
129 views
Bad symmetrical variations
I know that symmetrical variations of some openings are good up to a certain point, after which White gets a significant advantage (like gaining a piece or even mating the opponent's king). One such ...
3
votes
3answers
228 views
Are there any gambits which yield an advantage for the side down material?
For this question I'm interested only in gambits that:
Are real gambits. That is, the side that's risking the material actually ends up down material + cannot count on winning the material back. This,...
2
votes
3answers
428 views
Novice - Capitalizing on players not knowing their openings?
I am a 1400-rated player currently working on my theory and understanding of openings.
I am good at learning lines, much more so than others at my rating. But I'm less sure on where/how to learn the ...
1
vote
2answers
346 views
How to “bore your opponent to death”?
“The Caro-Kann has often been maligned for being dry and boring, played by those wishing to bore their opponents to death.” – IM (WGM) Jovanka Houska
Are there other defenses in which black can bore ...
0
votes
1answer
108 views
What to choose to play as black if you play King's Indian Attack as white?
I am around 1700 - 1800 player on chess.com, mainly playing 3+2 and 5+5 games and as white I always play KIA, but what I have noticed recently is that with white my score is much better that as black -...
6
votes
1answer
305 views
Are there any known examples of spurious strong chess openings, which have been determined to be dubious with the introduction of the first engines?
I'm curious about the history of chess openings. Nowadays there is a lot of theory about what opening moves are considered mainstream and (near) optimal, such that either side can keep up with their ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What is this opening trap called, and how should I play afterwards? How can I refute the gambit, and play if I accept it?
I played a short and funky game as Black on Lichess not too long ago, in which I fell victim to a gambit trap that caught me totally off guard. Due to the mental blow that I received, I didn't play ...
2
votes
3answers
251 views
Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 f6
Theory recommends 5. ... f6. Why? What is the specific reason behind this move? How this move helps Black? Other than 5. ... f6, are ...
3
votes
3answers
237 views
Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4
What is White's plan & idea behind 12. Bd4 move?
12
votes
3answers
903 views
Why is c4 bad when playing the London against a King's Indian?
Recently I (rated ~1900 "classical" on Lichess) played the following opening:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Nbd2 d6 6.c4
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/3p1np1/8/2PP1B2/4PN2/PP1N1PPP/R2QKB1R w KQ - ...
8
votes
2answers
435 views
Openings in King of the hill
As you probably know, "King of the hill" (KOTH) is a variant of chess where one can win either like in classical chess or by putting the king in the central squares, namely d4, e4, d5 and e5, by a ...
1
vote
1answer
151 views
Which opening requires the longest amount of chess moves? [closed]
For most openings that I play (e4 and d4 openings) I have observed that they take exactly 4 moves (e.g. Giuoco Piano Game without variation).
C50: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian four knights variation ...
2
votes
6answers
585 views
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
212 views
What’s the point of early …a6 move in Queen’s Gambit Declined?
As title above, what is the point or the main idea of a very early ...a6 Pawn move in Queen’s Gambit Declined? I see that the move is fairly popular at GM and even top level.
-7
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it racist that white pieces move first in a chess game? [closed]
There is a movement in chess endorsed by several grandmasters called “MoveForEquality”, which revolves around the idea that the black pieces should start first instead of the white pieces. The ...
2
votes
1answer
168 views
What is this opening/position called, and what is white’s best move?
[FEN "r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b3B1/4P3/8/PPP2PPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
Do you know the name of this opening/position? Additionally, please tell me what white’s best move is in this position. I ask ...
