Questions tagged [opening]
Questions relating to the initial moves of the game and their aims
1,113
questions
3
votes
2answers
203 views
Trompowsky: why does 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 e6 score so highly for white in master games?
I'm trying to find a suitable response to the Trompowsky using LiChess. I saw the following line, which looks like it might transpose into more familiar QGD territory.
[fen ""]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3....
1
vote
0answers
40 views
What's a good way to learn openings when coming back to chess as a former 1400-1600 player? [duplicate]
my question can be seen in the title. I used to play chess competitively in my teenager-years and would like to come back to it now. The important stuff is still in my head and I am not doing too bad ...
12
votes
8answers
2k views
(For training purposes) Are there any openings with rook pawns that are more effective than others (and if so, what are they)?
(Originally I hoped a lengthy prologue would not be needed here, but some of the answers and comments have led me to write one so that the purpose of the question is clear, thus this is now much ...
5
votes
3answers
554 views
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 ...
11
votes
5answers
371 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.
7
votes
1answer
712 views
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 ...
1
vote
5answers
222 views
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
4k views
Is the English opening the most suitable for beginners?
Here are my understandings of the English opening:
The English opening is as good as 1.d4.
Since it is less common than 1.e4 and 1.d4; it is more likely that an average amateur player is less ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Why is 7…Ne4 8.Bd2 such a popular line in this variation of the Queen's Indian Defence?
This is the opening I'm referring to:
[fen ""]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O Be7 6.c4 O-O 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2!?
The other white book moves at this point seem sensible 8.Qc2 or 8.Qd3, or even ...
4
votes
2answers
654 views
How to beat King's Fianchetto Opening Modified (White)
[fen "r1bqkbnr/ppp2ppp/2n1p3/3p4/3P4/6P1/PPP1PPBP/RNBQK1NR w - - 0 1"]
I have a few friends who I play with. Recently they have picked up on one of our better player's openings and it's surprisingly ...
25
votes
3answers
2k views
Why always 4…dxc6 and not 4…bxc6 in the Ruy Lopez Exchange?
[FEN "r1bqkbnr/1ppp1ppp/p1B5/4p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b - - 0 1"]
In the Ruy Lopez Exchange, black always takes back the bishop with 4...dxc6. In Timothy Taylor's 2011 book Slay the Spanish, he ...
7
votes
4answers
779 views
As black, how should one respond to 4. Qe2 by white in the Russian Game, Damiano Variation?
I recently played a game on as black. My opponent and I transposed into, according to Lichess, the Russian Game, Damiano Variation, when white played Qe2 on move 4. I wasn’t sure how to reply, and I ...
1
vote
2answers
140 views
Using the tree window in SCID on a subset of games in the database
With a database open in SCID, one can use the tree window to explore openings. Among other things, it shows the frequency of each move that has been played in the current position and how well that ...
9
votes
4answers
4k views
If 1. e4 c6 is considered as a sound defense for black, why is 1. c3 so rare?
At 365chess.com, 1.c3 is ranked as the 14th most common first move for white. If the Caro-Kann defense is considered as a sound defense, why is the Saragossa opening so rare for white? After all, ...
1
vote
2answers
224 views
Looking for a single, good opening that revolves around a “crab” pawn structure [closed]
I have often (or this one video just got it stuck in my head) heard Youtube videos (time 2:37, nothing else relevant) refer to this kind of pawn structure as a “crab” pawn structure (below, white ...
8
votes
2answers
229 views
Is this the only opening that allows one side to end up with three knights?
In Queen's Gambit Declined, Albin counter-gambit, Lasker trap, black ended up with three knights, which should be rare. Here white should not capture the additional knight in the next move (8. Rxg1 ...
0
votes
1answer
130 views
How would one respond to the Sodium attack?
The Sodium attack is characterised by the move 1.Na3, tending to be followed by the fianchetto of the bishop. This opening has never been played by myself, but I seem to encounter it quite frequently ...
4
votes
5answers
253 views
Is learning the English Opening helpful for learning the Sicilian Defence? How about vice versa?
Is learning the opening 1. c4 e5 as white helpful in learning the opening 1. e4 c5? How about vice versa?
Are the ideas behind the Sicilian Defence as black very similar to the ideas behind the ...
5
votes
3answers
274 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
255 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
74 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
392 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
207 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
74 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
159 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
128 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
3answers
439 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 ...
6
votes
4answers
511 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
579 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
206 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
190 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 ...
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. ...
5
votes
2answers
196 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
89 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, ...
6
votes
2answers
231 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 ...
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....
4
votes
3answers
328 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
214 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
287 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
184 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
338 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
208 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
201 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
151 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
208 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
471 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
223 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
555 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
236 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
392 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:
...
