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Hi Everyone,  I am sure you noticed that Killer Openings has a picture. Please express your opionion on it! I would love to hear from you. 

Ok! Here are the alteratives to 2... Qxd5 and 2... Nf6:2... c6The 3rd most popular move. The plan is:3. dxc6        Nxc6There is also an offshoot I read about on the forums called the reversed Danish:3. dxc6     e54.cxb7    Bxb72... e5I belive this is called the Bohenke gambit. It is a fairly good idea. This is the "main line:3.dxe6 e.p      Bxe6Also:2... e6This is my invention, but I belive it to be inferior. I have never played it. Play is similar to the Bohenke gambit, only in the Bohenke, if White does not recapture, Black gains a central pawn. In my creation (I call it the accelerated Icelandic!), Black gets none of this.I will present the statistics for all of Black's 2nd moves in a later post.

Hi Everyone, Here is an intro on how openings will be presented: Day 1: A simple explanation of the opening, with moves, diagrams, and history on the opening. No complex stuff today. Day 2: We will go deep into diffrent variations with expanations, advice from diffrent members, books, and chessmaster programs. We will have lots of diagrams and charts. This is the most complex day, and for in depth openings, (Like the Ruy Lopez or the Sicilian Defense), this may take several days. Day 3: We will have famous games with the opening we have been discussing, with a forum and annotation on what we learned on Day 1 and 2.  This will be a fun day. Then, after Day 3, we will have games together with the opening we have been discussing. We will try to get a game in for each member as white and black for the opening, and afterwords we will discuss the games in detail and analyse it. Then, a few days break and a new opening!

Hi Everyone,We are starting Killer Openings now.Our first opening, the Evans Gambit, is an attacking gambit. It runs:1. e4    e52.Nf3  Nc63.Bc4  Bc54.b4The purpose of b4 is to follow up with c3 and d4, and chase the bishop around. Then, use development and open files to finish with a whirlwind attack.The Evans Gambit has been played since the 1820's, and here are a few facts:It has not been refutedNobody has found equality for black.Over the next few days, we will discuss variations. Feel free to talk and ask questions!

Hi Everyone,I am creating a group Evans Gambit Tournament. The basic rules are:The Evans Gambit must be used3 days per move is the time controlWe will start when we have a good amount of peopleName tournament games "Evans Gambit game #1, #2 etc.Post your username if you would like to join, I will try to get this all together in a couple of days.

This forum is dedicated to the study of Scandinavian Defense with 2... c5:1. e4   d52.exd5 c5This is my novelty that I have analysed in great depth and will post my analysis here.

Hi Everyone, Ok, we are finally starting the Scandinavian Defense! Here is a quick introduction:The Scandinavian Defense, or Center Counter game, begins:1. e4   d5It is one of the oldest chess openings, the earliest recorded game with it was played in 1475!White's normal response is 2.exd5, but let us examine the alteratives:2. d4 This transposes into the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, which is most likely unsound but full of traps that black can fall into. This is a solid way to counter the Scandinavian.2. Nc3This transposes into van Geet's opening (1. Nc3), but doesn't trouble Black to much. he should gain a fully equal game after 2... d4 and 3... e5.2. e5Often transposes into the Advance Variation of the French Defense.2. d3?2. d3?   dxe43.dxe4  Qxd1+4.Kxd1  e5Black should have an advantage here.Next, we will talk about the critical 2.exd5 

Ok, here are the variations we have been waiting for!After:1. e4     d52.exd5There are 2 options for black:2... Qxd5This is the most obvious reply, and the most common as well. It is the main line because of its popularity and because it was played in the 1475 game with the Scandinavian. White generally follows with:3. Nc3.Then Black must decide where to retreat the queen. 3... Qa5 is the most popular and logical, because it controls the center, does not get in the way of other black pieces, and is hard to attack from her a5 post. This is what I would play.3... Qd6:This is called the Bronstein or Pytel variation, which is very popular nowadays, and there are several books on the market now. I have not done much reading on it, and stick with Qa5, but for the sake of the group I will dive a little deeper into it.3... Qd8This was played in 1475, and is now considred rather dubious because it basically reverses the development that Black has already done. This is not a good variation.3... Qe6+This is called the Patzer variation, is also not very wise, as it blocks the e pawn, forcing the Queen to move again.3... Qe5+This, followed by Qg5, was used by David Norwood against Garry Kasparov. Kasparov quickly won, as the plan is rather dubious.3... Qc6??Loses to 4.Bb5 pinning and winning the queen, but, sadly, some people will play this against you! But now you know, do not make this move! Conclusion:Qa5 and Qd6 are the best Queen retreats, and you should do some more research on each to decide which you prefer, but I reccommend Qa5.In my next post in this topic, we will discuss 2... Nf6, which is very popular, and also discuss several minor options for Black.

Hi,Now that the Holidays, We will be starting again shortly. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I'm looking for a really good opening! One that will get me off to a good start for a change. What is you guys's favorite openings, and what are some really good ones?

The Stone Ware Variation:It is not to be confused with Preston Ware.White's 6th moves:6.d4 breaks up the center. Probobly best. White and Black both win 38.1% of the time.6. 0-0 is rarer, but not any worse, than d4. In 12 games, White wins 33.3%, Black 41.7%.I am sorry I haven't been posting, I'll be at it again soon.

Here is the first recorded game with the Evans, played by Captian William Davies Evans himself against the best English player of the day, Alexander McDonnell.

Hi Everyone,Why don't we all go play a game or two with the Evans, and post it back on here. It can be online or OTB. If it is OTB, ask your opponent (Assuming it is not a tournament game) to play the set opening.I'll post mine soon.

After 4.b4, the two options for black are:4... Bxb44... Bb6Now we will cover Bxb4. 5.c3 is the most common and most respected. 5.0-0 is also acceptable, but defeats the purposes of the gambit. After 5.c3, the bishop retreats are:5... Ba5:The "Normal Variation" of the Evans, and one of the best retreats. We will cover all of the retreats in more detail soon.5... Bc5:Considered5... Bd6:The Stone Ware variation. This is not well known, but results so that Black is well off. I will do research on this soon.5... Be7:The modern preference. But not any better that Ba5.5... Bf8:The Mayet Defense. Not much to say about this.We will analyse all of these in depth very soon.

6.d4:The most common, and probobly best. White opens lines up and controls the center. According to chessgames.com, white has a 52.2% chance of winning, so it is not bad.6.0-0:Also respectable, but uncommon. It does not open up lines in the center. 51.9% chance of victory for white**.6. Qb3:Attacking f7, but not much else. Not bad, but not as common or as good as d4 or 0-0. In 19 games, white has a 47.4% chance of victory, but so does black.** All percentages of victory and/or defeat are taken from chessgames.com.

Even though it's a little early, anyone have ideas on the next opening?? 

Hi Everyone,Don't worry! I plan to start the Evans within a week at the most.Thanks for your patience,Eric

Hi Everyone,Starting on New Years, these are the openings coming up:Evans GambitKings GambitScandanavian DefenseDutch DefenseBendcat Gambit! Center Game.This won't be the exact order, but these are the first openings.

Hi,Out of the openings listed in the Killer Openings forum, which one should we do first? Preferrably something intresting.....Post what you think and we'll be getting started!Chesslover96