does anyone think that those statistics may be biased as many beginners tend to play 1...e5.
Those statistics were compiled using Master games.
For sure the most complex response to 1. e4 is:
1...c5!
The renowned Sicilian! It is played religously at the master level.
1. e4 Na6!
The Lemming defense was played by Lemming against a computer to take it out of its book (chess computers those days relied on their databases more for moves than their own calculation)
He lost, because he screwed up.
Gurgenidze Counterattack in Caro-Kann
1.e4 c6
2.d4 d5
3.Nc3 b5!?
Actually, the name "Master games" is misleading. I discovered several games by 1400 players for example.
After reading linksspringer's post I decided to compile my own statistics to ensure lower rated games weren't included in the results. I used the Chessbase 2008 MegaDB as my source. The statistics have been compiled from games in which both players were rated between 2200-2875:
c5244320 games
Average Elo white 2394 perform 2428Average Elo black 2407 perform 2373
g618366 games
Average Elo white 2373 perform 2420Average Elo black 2392 perform 2346
e599061 games
Average Elo white 2414 perform 2446Averagee Elo black 2411 perform 2379
I personally prefer playing Morphy's Defense against a standard e4 opening by White, but that tends to lead into closed positions that explode tactically. If you are looking for a truly tactical game, I would recommend any version of the Sicilian. If you are looking for a somewhat erroneous tactical opening and are feeling courageous, I would recommend the Latvian Gambit. I always cringe when I see that particular gambit.
d5 always.
I don't like d5. after 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 White is ahead in development and already has a pawn in the center where black just has his queen on a slightly better square. It's solid, though.
d5 has always work well for me, and that set up doesn't always happen....
try the evans gambit.
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