Questions tagged [opening]
Questions relating to the initial moves of the game and their aims
1,419
questions
5
votes
1answer
294 views
Why is the King's Indian often used to play for a win against 1. d4 when it allows an early queen trade?
Lichess's opening explorer database shows a 49% win rate for White wins compared to Black's 41% in the King's Indian, Exchange Variation. Meanwhile, the Master's database shows a whopping 64% draw ...
4
votes
4answers
807 views
How to realize this +2 evaluation in the Ruy Lopez, Steinitz defense
I played a game as White using the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz defense against a lower-rated player (1594 vs. 1500 on chess.com). While I won the game due to a blunder by my opponent in a drawn endgame, the ...
2
votes
3answers
151 views
Knights on c3 & f3, bishops on d3 & e3 - what is this called, and is it sound?
Sometimes when opening I fall into this odd rut of developing knights to C3 and F3, and bishops to D3 and E3. (Or, as black, C6, F6, D6 and E6). For instance, the position after 7.Be3:
[FEN "&...
2
votes
2answers
218 views
Openings that tempt opponents to overextend?
What are examples of provocative openings where the opponent can be baited into playing more aggressively than they normally would, ie. pushing a lot of pawns or sacrificing material to keep an ...
5
votes
1answer
147 views
Resources on Italian Game, Two Knights Defense with 4. d3 h6 and quick ...g5
Do any books or other resources discuss this variation for Black? Does it have a name?
The general idea is to go 4...h6, then ...d6 and ...g5 in some order, depending on what White does.
S. Mamedyarov ...
4
votes
1answer
422 views
Why do modern Grandmasters prefer playing quiet openings?
I am rated 1450 and I am have been analyzing GM level games since I began playing chess. I noticed that most GMs consistently play balanced almost boring openings against each other and that only a ...
5
votes
2answers
198 views
Franco-Sicilian Defense Theory [duplicate]
I am wondering what the main lines and point of the Franco-Sicilian Defense are for Black. I could barely find any theory about it online, and it' is my favorite opening as Black. As such, I am ...
4
votes
1answer
567 views
What does columns 1-24 mean?
I was reading Modern Chess Openings by Nick de Firmian, and found "columns 1-24 deals with 2...exf4 " in relation to a theory table. So what does "columns 1-24" mean?
9
votes
3answers
472 views
What are the ideas behind the 4.Qxd4 variation of Philidor's Defense?
I recently learned that this is a valid way for White to play for advantage against the Philidor:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6
According to the ...
3
votes
2answers
240 views
Why are English setups with g3 like the Catalan considered solid for White, while the Sicilian Dragon is risky for Black?
I know that the Sicilian Dragon is considered very risky for Black if White knows what they're doing; they can go for the Yugoslav Attack setup, play h4-h5 to break open the h-file, try and exchange ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Why does black gain from this "center fork trick"?
In the following position, Bc4 by white is evaluated as a bad move that can be punished by ...Nxe4.
Although I can see why it tactically works, I fail to see how the resulting position favors black. ...
0
votes
1answer
520 views
Is Whale Variation a successful opening?
I am an early, intermediate in chess. I played the Whale Variation and won some games as White. But there is an issue when Black moves their knight to d4. I have a problem with it. Is the Whale ...
1
vote
1answer
113 views
Can one theoretically prove that these moves are marginally better?
I heard that for the first move, 1. e4, 1. d4, 1. c4 and 1. Nf3 are equally good and none of them is better than others, even marginally. However, after 1. e4, both 1... e5 and 1... c5 are marginally ...
4
votes
2answers
212 views
Does one need to know all popular openings if they wants to be a top-level player?
Let's say there is a player who knows nothing about Sicilian Defense. If they always start the game with 1. d4 or 1. c4 as white and play the Caro-Kann as black against 1. e4, it seems to me that they ...
3
votes
1answer
143 views
How did chess change over the 2010s and should I keep anything in mind for buying books from before 2010?
I presume I am being overly paranoid regarding this, and I definitely don't intend to turn away from older books at all, but were there any developments opening-wise, middlegame-wise, or endgame-wise ...
6
votes
1answer
604 views
Two Knights of the Caro-Kann: 2.Nc3 vs 2.Nf3
Is there any difference at all in playing 2.Nc3 or 2.Nf3 in the Two Knights of the Caro-Kann? On Lichess, why is 2.Nc3 the second most common move in the Masters database, and 2.Nf3 played almost one-...
6
votes
1answer
316 views
Intuitive play vs learning strategies
When I first 'learned' chess, it was just the moves of each piece and then I started playing. I had no plan at all other than just moving pieces and trying to take from my opponent and protecting ...
1
vote
1answer
264 views
Why are avoidable openings played instead of systems?
It's been a while since I've played OTB chess, but I've gotten back into playing it online. Before my break (I was rated ~1400 USCF), I was a heavy advocate of the English Opening:
rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/...
7
votes
3answers
458 views
Is there a free online chess repertoire tool?
Is there a free online chess repertoire tool? It can be some place where you register, save variations and comments, and navigate with a board what you do. I was used to chessply, but apparently it ...
2
votes
3answers
232 views
Openings where Black castles queenside and White castles kingside
I really enjoy opposite-side castling positions where I'm able to launch pawn storms and put my opponent under pressure. For this reason, I actually enjoy the Exchange French as Black / I want to take ...
10
votes
6answers
431 views
Where can I play against specific openings?
Is there a website where you can play against real people with an opening already installed by default? For example, I want to play against the English opening, but my opponents rarely play it, so I ...
2
votes
2answers
183 views
What is White's main plan in Sicilian Keres variation?
I want to learn a new opening in the Sicilian defense called the Keres variation. What is White's main plan here?
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Ne2
10
votes
5answers
2k views
Up to which rating is my strategy in the opening is applicable?
I don't want to waste time on opening preparation. By this, I mean that I don't want to have to understand/memorize the moves or the typical plans in the middlegame. I just want to develop my pieces, ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
How to score a certain move in a PGN, for how well opening theory is followed
I am making a bot that plays opening moves from a PGN. When the player reaches a position out of PGN, I want to give a score to the player how well he followed the PGN. What kind of statistics can I ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Developing the king before developing most of your pieces
I saw this opening for the first time and was amazed by the position of the white king.
[FEN "?"]
[startply "21"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. h5 e6 7. f4 c5 ...
3
votes
1answer
184 views
How much does adding an opening book to a relatively weak chess program affect its strength?
Jonathan Schaeffer in One Jump Ahead (via the Chess Programming Wiki):
To solve the opening problems of his chess machine, Belle, Ken
Thompson typed in opening lines from the Encyclopedia of Chess
...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Find an opening based on the position of one player only
Given a position for just one player, how can I check to see if there is a standard opening that leads to that position?
For example, how could I find if there is an opening that leads (or may lead, ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
How to avoid falling into unfamiliar traps in the opening stage?
I will be playing with a player in a few days and his level (1400ish) is slightly lower than mine (1500ish). However, he is very familiar with dubious gambits and opening traps and I can easily lose ...
2
votes
2answers
203 views
Attacking as Black in the Caro-Kann
Is it possible to play the Caro-Kann aggressively/tactically as Black?
What are the attacking chances/ideas for black in the Caro-Kann? Or is it simply the wrong opening for that?
I found a few ...
1
vote
2answers
225 views
What openings can I play against most openings?
I'm looking for a "universal" opening. One example is the King's Indian, which you can play against e4, d4, and several other openings. What other openings, for Black or White, can be played ...
0
votes
1answer
145 views
Will I have to memorize all this?
I never studied openings so decided to try it.My plan is to play e4 openings and Caro-kann for black.
Now to learn the Caro-kann,I have to look at the Advance,exchange and Nc3/Nf6 stuff variations.
...
1
vote
2answers
355 views
What's the point of the Two Knights French?
According to lichess, if Black simply goes 3...Nf6 against the Two Knights Variation, then the main line is 4.e5 Nfd7 5.d4. This is the exact same position as White would have reached if they'd played ...
6
votes
4answers
436 views
Most common tactic motifs in the opening phase of chess
On analyzing my games, I found that I usually miss tactics in the opening than during middlegame and endgame. To supplement my study by solving tactical problems based on motifs, it would be helpful ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
What tools can I use to help me memorise my opening repertoire? [duplicate]
I have been taking some lessons with an opening coach, and I have now got an extensive repertoire that I need to memorise. I have a big qualifying tournament in 2 weeks and up until that time I want ...
1
vote
2answers
824 views
The early ...Qf6 in the Scotch Game
In the Scotch Game, what is the best move for White after this sequence?
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qf6 5. Be3 (5. Nb5) (5. Nf3) 5...Bc5
Most videos don't even count ...
0
votes
3answers
190 views
How good is 1. e3 2. c4 as an opening for White?
How good is 1. e3 2. c4 as an opening for White? Afterward, developing the knight on b1 to c3, and developing the bishops too, it seems good. Castling is preferably done on opposite sides as well.
3
votes
4answers
1k views
What is the name of this unconventional opening?
You start by moving the knight's pawn on either side to b3 or g3. Then you do the same on the other side. Ideally, you fianchetto the bishops into both triangle pawn formations.
[FEN ""]
1....
3
votes
1answer
146 views
Why not 7.Bb4+ before playing Ne7 in the French Defence: Advance, Paulsen Attack?
After playing 5.Qb6 which I believe is the final move of the Advance variation of the French, my opponent played 6.a4. I followed with cxd4 and them by cxd4 as well. After that I couldn't remember the ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Why not 5.Bd2 in the French Defense: Exchange Variation?
After the initial moves of the French Defense: Exchange Variation, my opponent played 4.Bb4+. I followed with 5.Bd2, but after analyzing it, I saw that it is not in the master games opening on chess....
2
votes
0answers
188 views
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
181 views
Engine-invented variations/hypotheticals
After watching a few alphaZero vs stockfish games, I was very intrigued. Clearly, engines can play at a different kind of level, but for the most part the openings seem pretty meta. Nothing extremely ...
0
votes
2answers
200 views
Why are lots of different moves usually considered equivalent in the opening, but not in the middlegame?
When you go to websites like chess.com and analyze your games, you'll notice that most of the first moves are marked as being "book moves"—which I assume are considered equivalent to each ...
2
votes
1answer
155 views
Should I study players or specific games?
I'm a relatively new player (1400 on chess.com, best game I won OTB was against a 1800) and I finished going through a tactics book. I still do tactics puzzles almost every day, but I realized I don't ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
A way to add an "opening names" column to the SCID game list
I've been googling and looking through SCID's options but just can't seem to find the answer.
The database gamelist in SCID has a few informative columns for all the games in the gamelist, including ...
4
votes
2answers
169 views
Why am I losing so much more often with black (newer player)?
I have played about 125 games so far online and am rated 834 in rapid (I did play a lot as a child but not in many years) and I have double the win percentage with white pieces that I do playing as ...
1
vote
2answers
139 views
What are some "quick start" openings?
First of all, I'm sorry if it looks like I didn't really research before asking the question, but I really did put in some effort and couldn't find a satisfying answer.
My problem is, I don't want to ...
2
votes
3answers
286 views
Looking for a defense against 1.d4
I wanted to learn a good opening against 1.d4 that does not involve the second move being 1...d5. I personally don't like symmetric positions very much. To give you an idea of the type of openings I ...
4
votes
2answers
170 views
Why does castling in the Four Knights: Double Spanish opening inadvertantly stop Bxc3?
So I am currently working through Chess Fundamentals by Capablanca and he said something I find opaque: following 1.e4, e5 2.Nf3, Nc6 3.Nc3, Nf6 4.Bb5, Bb4 "5.0-0 an indirect way of preventing 5.....
-2
votes
1answer
113 views
What opening variation begins with c4? [closed]
Black’s best response to White’s c4 opening move; what is the name of this opening?
5
votes
1answer
104 views
Lichess summary analyzer tool
I'm trying to find an online tool that I had once used to analyze my games. It allowed me to import thousands of my games from Lichess and showed what my most common opening mistakes were. The only ...
