Webinar 112. How to Play Italian Game for White
Dear Chess Friends!
What’s your primary opening for White? Do you play 1.e4 or 1.d4? Or maybe you prefer some closed systems such as 1.c4 or 1.Nf3 which can transpose to already known and well-studied openings or lead to rare variations with a complicated play?
I think nobody would argue if I say that the opening should reflect your playing style? If you prefer playing open positions with tactics and tempo play, you are likely to choose 1.e4. Strategic players usually prefer 1.d4 or 1.Nf3 to get closed and complicated positions where their ability to maneuver with their pieces provides them an edge.
However, sometimes coaches force you to play what they know, but it doesn’t suit your playing style. That’s why actually, I was playing 1.d4 in my early chess career, at the same time being mainly a tactical player with good calculation skills and with a lack of positional play ability. It’s a good experience, but I believe I could achieve more playing Open Sicilian positions instead.
So, if you are a tactical player who prefers sharp play, I’m sure you enjoy playing 1.e4 and you are happy to get into any Sicilian or French Defense lines. Same as me)
However, how to deal if your opponent reacts with 1…e5 and plays for a draw. What should you play then? Rui Lopez? It requires a lot of knowledge. You should also somehow deal with Berlin Defense to avoid a draw.
King’s Gambit? No, it’s a common knowledge Black is better there. Vienna Game? Black can easily equalize. Evans Gambit? Good choice for club players, but can’t be a primary opening for players over 2000, it’s easy to prepare for Black if they know that you are going to play Evans Gambit.
What else is left? Scotch game? According to my experience, Black almost always equalize the position there. However, if you have some research there you may play Scotch. For example, Garry Kasparov plays it!
This is how I came up to the conclusion that I (being an 1.e4 player) should choose Giuoco Piano (Italian Game). I know there are tons of draws in this opening, but if you learn the lines, analyze possible plans and do some research you may get positions where you can play for a win. This is what I’m going to base my research on my next webinar 112th webinar “How to Play Italian Game for White”.
The webinar starts on Sunday (30th of January) at 9 a.m. (EST), 2 p.m. (GMT), 5 p.m. (Moscow time). This webinar is free.
Please, join for the webinar on my Twitch or YouTube channels:
https://www.twitch.tv/tricks_of_chess
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfk1bxCgvfhNRPtUZs0FWOw
UPDATED! The recording of the webinar below:
See you at the webinar!
FM Victor Neustroev
P.S.: Guys, if you have any other ideas of what to play for white after 1.e4 e5, please, leave a comment below this post.
