Questions tagged [opening]
Questions relating to the first few moves in a game
1,045
questions
5
votes
3answers
181 views
Top players move order when playing QGD?
Why is typical move order for QGD among top grandmasters 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5? Why does not black immediatelly go 1. ..d5?
Also, why is QID via 3. ..b6 almost never played?
3
votes
5answers
210 views
Why is 3. Nc3 played in mainline of the Modern Defense?
After:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7
by far the most common third move is 3. Nc3. This goes against the principle of not blocking the c pawn with the knight as white, now of course principles can be ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
KID Gligoric-Taimanov Variation [E92] Black inaccuracy? Move 7 … Nc6
Is there a specific reason why Stockfish thinks Black's 7th move is an inaccuracy?
Reference Game Aronian v Carlsen
I'm currently going over The King's Indian in Thirty Classic Games at Chessable ...
2
votes
3answers
215 views
For those who play the Catalan Opening, what are typical responses to the KID and slav defense?
I'm trying to form a 1d4 repertoire (exculsively 1e4 player) around the Catalan Opening. What are some lines that Catalan players play against the KID and slav defense(it seems the normal catalan ...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
Traxler Counter Attack [duplicate]
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kf1 Qe7
1) Chess.com computer at Level 10 plays 5. Nxf7. Theory recommends 5. Bxf7. Which line to follow in my game in tournaments? Please ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views
Is 9…Nxe5 recommended in this line of the Short Variation of the Advance Caro-Kann?
This question relates to the following possible continuation of the Short Variation of the Advance Caro-Kann:
[fen ""]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.c3 Bg6 8.a3 cxd4 9.Nxd4
...
3
votes
1answer
119 views
What are some ideas for black in the Ruy Lopez when white plays an early d3?
If white plays an early d3 in the Ruy Lopez (presumably after c3 to give the light-squared bishop a retreat square) what are some ideas for black? I'm talking about those lines where white doesn't ...
6
votes
1answer
110 views
Comparing 9…a6 to 9…b6 in the Panov-Botvinnik Attack
This question is motivated by a recent LiChess game where I was black where I played the Caro-Kann and white played the Panov-Botvinnik Attack:
[fen ""]
[Site "https://lichess.org/J9cdDkL5"]
[Date "...
5
votes
2answers
199 views
Do chess AIs still use old-style opening books?
(See also this related question and this related off-site discussion.)
Do state-of-the-art chess AIs still normally start games in human-compiled opening books of master games?
Years ago, as far as ...
3
votes
3answers
239 views
How can the Danish Gambit be exploited?
When dealing with gambits, especially ones where your opponent could have a lot more active pieces to pressure you. Is declining the best approach?
A friend of mine usually always wrecks me with the ...
-1
votes
2answers
373 views
Are AlphaZero's openings objectively better than the others? [closed]
Are AlphaZero's openings objectively better than the others? If so, why haven't top grandmasters like Carlsen exlusively adopted them in their own games?
1
vote
1answer
178 views
In the Berlin Defence, why is 4.0-0 prefered to 4.Nc3?
In the Berlin Defence, why is 4.0-0 preferred to 4.Nc3, as then White can transition into the four knights?
8
votes
5answers
168 views
Is 6…Bf5 inferior to 6…Bd6 in the Caro-Kann Tartakower after 6. Bc4? And if so, why?
I'm trying out the Tartakower variation of the Caro-Kann. It begins
[fen ""]
[startply "11"]
[startflipped "0"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. Bc4 Bf5 (6... Bd6)
I have ...
1
vote
6answers
217 views
How do I make the right move after an opening? [duplicate]
I'm slowly getting better at my chess skills, but the one thing that bugs me the most right now is not knowing which piece to move after many of my pieces have been developed and the king has been ...
5
votes
2answers
150 views
How do opening books in engine chess work?
I thought opening books were just big compilations of opening moves that engines have access to, and they choose at random which move to play from the list of moves that the opening book says is good. ...
-2
votes
1answer
85 views
Playing Ba4 in this position
Recently, I played a game and after running the computer analysis, it seems like playing 5. Ba4 was a mistake, being better Bxc6.
However, I cannot find the reason why. By retreating the bishop, ...
5
votes
3answers
200 views
Poor gambit for white
I was white and played this against a 1589 rated player on Lichess.
The gambit happens at move 10 and it is characterized as a blunder by stockfish analysis. However, black does some inaccuracies and ...
4
votes
4answers
145 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....
4
votes
3answers
299 views
Not Developing a Piece in the First Five Moves
Here are the first few moves:
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Bc5 4.Nf3 e4 5.d4 Bf8
After the fifth move, black has essentially only pushed one pawn, while while has developed two knights and his c-pawn ...
7
votes
2answers
197 views
What is the purpose of 12.a3 in the QGD Lasker Defence?
this is about queen gambit declined lasker defence :
[fen ""]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 Nxc3 10. Rxc3 c6 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. a3
why or ...
-1
votes
3answers
282 views
What is this opening, can't remember name, driving me crazy
Image attached. May not be exactly right but looks something similar to this! Thanks]1
3
votes
3answers
159 views
In the English Opening, where should the d-pawn go?
Whenever I play the English Opening, I usually try to achieve a c4, d4, e3 pawn structure. However, in this video by STL chess club, the instructor recommends playing d3 (and possibly e4 later) to ...
4
votes
2answers
224 views
Can anyone recommend a Chess platform that, well, you better read further
I thought I might take a minute to share a project I started about 20 years ago.
Essentially, I used my ChessMaster program to make a "Chess Explorer".
In 1998, I noticed I could add notes into ...
5
votes
2answers
155 views
What are the similarities and differences in pawn Structure from the Scandinavian and the Caro-Kann?
It seems both openings have the Capablanca Pawn Structure with c6 and e6
I'm curious about where the similarities stop and what are the optimal pawn breaks.
2
votes
2answers
187 views
Scotch 4 Knights with 4… d5
If black 'mirrors' whites 4. d4 in the Scotch 4 Knights and white wants to play sharp, aggressive moves. what would be the best move? I know that chess engines like stockfish, GNU Chess etc. would ...
0
votes
1answer
115 views
Sicilian Najdorf, Sozin Variation [duplicate]
e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6
1) For 6. Bc4 Black can play immediately b5 and attack it. But almost all Grandmasters reply with 6....e6. Theory also stresses to 6....e6. ...
1
vote
1answer
170 views
Sicilian Najdorf 6. Bg5 Nbd7 line
[fen ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7
1) Why 6... Nbd7 is not played by many players? Why they prefer 6... e6 only? I could not get the answer for this. Requesting ...
9
votes
1answer
385 views
Have engines refuted any established openings?
Before engines were introduced to chess in late 20th centry, there were many established openings that were played by the top players at that time. I am wondering if any of those openings were refuted ...
5
votes
2answers
180 views
“A better move” recommended by chess.com but almost never played?
I played a game starting with
d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nc3 a6 4. a4 Nc6 5. Nf3
Black's next move is 5... Bg4 and it was considered by chess.com as
Inaccuracy (-0.28) A better move was 5... e5 (5... e5 ...
4
votes
2answers
357 views
How bad is the Elephant Gambit?
I tend to think the Elephant Gambit is dubious, but what is the best path to a White advantage?
[fen ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5
Update:
RemcoGerlich's comment of an upcoming book is quite relevant! ...
1
vote
4answers
174 views
Can GMs use computers to beat their opponents?
For example, suppose it's game 12 of the Carlsen-Caruana match last year. Caruana has white, and he wants to win before the tiebreaks. Now if instead of Caruana playing white, Stockfish were playing, ...
0
votes
1answer
266 views
Most drawish and least drawish opening?
Based on statistics (drawing percentage), which opening is the most drawish and which one is the least drawish?
I am aware of questions such as this one, but my question is different.
Criteria:
...
2
votes
2answers
185 views
Why is this gambit also known as the Maltese Falcon Gambit?
Why is the Gibbins-Wiedehagen Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.g4) also known as the Maltese Falcon Attack (or Gambit)? Is there any specific reason for that?
2
votes
1answer
270 views
Is the queens gambit declined getting more popular than the slav?
Back when I used to study chess, like 10 years ago or so, all the text books and all the super GMs recommended either the slav or the semi slav against queens gambit, they said it's better than the ...
1
vote
1answer
351 views
What do advocates of the QGD exchange variation (from the white side) recommend against alternative move orders?
I've recently started to become interested in the exchange Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD) from the white side:
[fen ""]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5
Thematically speaking it's very ...
5
votes
2answers
136 views
Why 7. Bd3 in the 3 knights opening?
In this line of the 3 knights opening
[fen "start"]
1. e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Nc3 Bc5 Nxe5 Nxe5 d4 Bd6 dxe5 Bxe5
the best continuation according both to my engines and to databases is 7. Bd3. Why? For ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
How good is this variant of the Sicilian defense?
I am relatively new to chess SE, so I am not sure how to include the chessboard thing.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Bc4?! Nxe4
6. Bxf7+ Kxf7
7. Qh5+ ...
8. Qd5+
and ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Questions about the beginning of this game
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2018.12.29"]
[White "Leon_Likes_Chess"]
[Black "SmojLee"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "1625"]
[BlackElo "2310"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[EndTime "14:...
9
votes
5answers
370 views
What opening is recommended if white is only playing for a draw?
If in a tournament game, white is only aiming for a draw, what openings and strategies will be recommended for him? I guess that the answer may depend on the following different mindset for black:
...
1
vote
1answer
108 views
Why in Four Knights, Italian variation the winning percentage favours black after the move 4…Bc5?
I was searching C46 Four knights, Italian variation at 365chess.com and here is what I found:
I am curious why 4...Bc5 gives black a slightly higher winning percentage. It seems to me that after 4......
5
votes
1answer
162 views
Which is better in the Rossolimo Sicilian, 3… e6 or 3… g6?
[FEN ""]
[StartPly "5"]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
In this opening is it better to do e6 to activate the dark square bishop which will protect c5 pawn. If the opponent plays Bxc6, it will have a ...
5
votes
2answers
275 views
In tournament chess, is the Traxler Counterattack just a dubious opening or a blunder?
In the level of tournament chess, is the Traxler Counterattack just a dubious opening or a blunder? In club or online chess it works just fine, but it is one of those opening rarely seen in ...
5
votes
2answers
104 views
Ideas for the English opening
I'm playing recently the English opening. specifically this line in the two knights variations
[FEN ""]
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2
But I find it difficult to see when it's advantageous to go ...
2
votes
1answer
198 views
Good follow up to 1.d4 Nf6 2. e3 for black
I play the nimzo Indian defence, and so in response to 1.d4 I play Nf6, planning on playing e6 and Bb4.
However, if they follow up with any other moves, I am at a bit of a loss as to what to play. I ...
1
vote
2answers
165 views
Is my representation of the Pirc Defense correct?
I tried to represents all the main lines of the Pirc Defense to play at a 2000 ELO level. Am I right with the following tree?
What I mean by right is I wonder if I do not miss any popular line or ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Morozevich variant in the Tarrasch french
I am confused with the Morozevich variant. I've seen quite a few funny games where they played ...g5, which gives very interesting moves, but I'm surprissed at not having seen any game in which white ...
1
vote
2answers
140 views
Why play 7… Nxd5 instead of 7… exd5 in the QGD?
I'm currently following the rapid game Caruana-Nakamura in the London Chess Classic, and I have a basic question about the opening moves.
Why play 7... Nxd5 instead of 7... exd5? Is the idea to trade ...
30
votes
10answers
7k 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
In King's gambit, is Fisher's conclusion that “3…P-KN4 … is inexact” inexact?
I was reading A Bust to the King's Gambit by Bobby Fischer. The game starts with
1 P-K4 P-K4 2 P-KB4 PxP 3 N-KB3
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/8/4Pp2/5N2/PPPP2PP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 0 3"]
Bobby ...
0
votes
2answers
89 views
Why white retreats the knight at the beginning of the game?
This is one variation from Bird's Opening:
f4 e5 2. e4 exf4 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 g5 5. h4 g4
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/ppp2p1p/3p4/8/3PPppP/5N2/PPP3P1/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 6"]
The most popular move is Ng1 ...
