Top 10 Played Openings Part 1 of 2
This text is translated from Dutch to English. Correct me on my mistakes if u see some please, thanks.
The openings that i am going to give a look at are all played regularly at all levels. Its important you can recognize them and name them. When you know the names, u will also be able to talk easyer with friends about games. You can say: "I tried the French today, but i more like the Sicilian." or "I love the Italian Opening and you?".
Talking about chess games is almost the same fun as playing a game. Think about it that you got atleast one thing in common as the other clubmembers.
You can only understand this article when you understand the chess notation. Learn it, when you didnt do it yet. Its good to know it, because you will have to write the notation at official games.
Spanish Opening
In English-talking countries this opening calls the Ruy Lopez, as the name of the first chessplayer that played this opening. The position in figure 1a comes after the moves:
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5
The Ruy Lopez is one of the most logical openings, what maybe explain his popularity. Ofcourse this opening is analyzed much, there are books writing about some variations! When you play on clublevel, you can come a whole way with this opening.
Sicilian Opening
The sicilian got his name from the fatherland of Carrera, the man that wrote about this opening in 1617. It toke another couple of century's (Almost 400years) until the opening became very popular.
At the moment the sicilian is a very popular opening, because it has a assymetric position with both colors having changes. White attacks with the a-pawn while black reinforces his c-pawn with his rook. Because both black and white control a different file (file or line? a, b, c ... h), the pieces wont get exchanged quickly. And the more pieces on the board, the most changes for each color.
The sicilian is made after the following moves:
1.e4 c5 (see figure 1b).
French
The French is my favourite opening (I am translating a text from player James Eade, its not MY favourite opening). I am in good company with this opening, Aaron Nimzowitsch (1886-1935) played this opening much also. The name of this opening was made when a correspondence match between French and London, the French team played this opening the most.
The French is a closed opening. Its harder to open files and strategy has a more important role then tactic. The French (See Figure 1c) is made after the moves: 1.e4 e6
The most important 'bad thing' about this opening is that white mostly gets more space. And black mostly has a hard time developing his light bishop. But still Bobby Fischer had a hard time playing against this opening!
The Caro-Kann
The name caro-Kann comes from the british player Horatio Caro (1862-1920) and the (...) kan er iemand mij zeggen wat 'Weense' is in het Engels? Marcus Kann (1820-1886) that publiced there analyzes on this opening. The Caro-Kann (See figure 1d) is made after the moves:
1.e4 c6
The Caro-Kann has much things in common with the French, but also 2 important differences. In the Caro-Kann black usually has a weaker centre then white but it doesnt block in a bishop like in the French. The Caro-Kann is played much on toplevels these days.
Pirc/Modern
This position is named after the Yugoslavic player Vasja Pirc (1907-1980). Pirc normally is spoken as: Pirtch. The Pirc (see figure 1e is made after the moves:
1.e4 d6
In the pirc (Or Modern Defence) black in almost every variation plays Nf, g6 and Bg7, however he can also first fianchetto and the bishop and then the knight. This flexibility is marked by modern theory.
