1...c5
1.e4 ...
Sort:
How should I continue the variation of 1...c5?
IMO beginners should always play 1...e5.
begginers 1...e5
advanced 1...c5
Get some opening book and try find some opening wright for you or try find your favorite opening watching GM games.
but if you want you can play the caro-kann (c6) and the french defense (e6). you will either love them or hate them :)
I don't care if you don't like these openings. At your level, openings make very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very little differance. The number one reason beginners lose is tactics, openings aren't even close (although they do get blamed a lot... its easier to blame every opening that you play then it is to blame your own skills). If you want to pick an opening, scan through a lot of games of each opening, decide what moves you familiarize with the most, and play said openings. Keep on playing it until you can play it as well as anybody else, at least a year.
Honestly, this will probably point you right to 1... e5, the most logical and beginner friendly opening.
I am ceratinly not a beginner and absolutely despise 1.e4, I don't like 1...e5 or 1...c5, so I think the french Is my best option. Please post more openings.
Eugene, if you have to ask the question "what opening should I play?" then you ARE a beginner and should seriously consider playing 1...e5 for awhile. It is the most recommended opening move for lower rated players as it introduces you to many classical development/opening ideas. Once you are comfortable with that then finding your own opening identity can commence.
You could consider the Caro-Kann with 1. ...c6. At least you always get a reasonable game.
Why is c5 favoured over e5? I thought you had to control the centre space and all that jazz?
The french is not your best option. You will be cursing your bad bishop and the hard to time pawn breaks, come back here in 1 month, and complain that your opening is screwing you over. Its been done by nearly EVERYONE, I'm not picking on you.
By the way, we're still calling you a beginner. The question you made raised a red flag *BEGINNER ALERT* *BEGINNER ALERT*. Its not that we think you play chess like once a year, over half the regular players on this site (and yes, every other chess website) are considered beginners
with c5 you relieve the symmettry and black and white can both get a good game, but with e5 you get equality with best play with black or white, and white has better chances
and the french is pretty good, but some people are extremely prejudiced against it.
you either love it or hate it.
There are many good defenses to 1.e4. Which one feels most comfortable to you, the
A. Classical Defenses : 1...e5, 1...e6, 1...d5, 1...d6 ?
or the
B. Hypermodern Defenses: 1...c5, 1...c6, 1...b6, 1...g6, 1...Nc6, 1...Nf6
C. Irregular Defenses : All other possible first moves for Black
The Irregular Defenses violate the opening principle of trying to control one of the key central squares (e4,d4,e5,d5). The move 1...b6 is to be immediately followed by 2...Bb7, and 1..g6 is to be immediately followed by 2...Bg7. Both Bb7 and Bg7 bring the Black Bishop to the long diagonals and try to control the central key squares.
The Classical Defenses try to control the central key squares by occupying those squares with the pawn or piece itself and the power of the pawn or piece.
The Hypermodern Defenses try to control the central squares just with the power of the pawns and pieces. The general idea is that you do not occupy a central square or zone until you have established control of that square or zone with the power of your pieces and pawns. With that method you do not provide your opponent with targets. In theory it sounds very good, but remember that your opponent can use the same strategy if he knows it.
All of the defenses mentioned above have names that can be found in almost all chess books.
Remember use the defense that feels most comfortable to you. You can learn the theory behind it a little later.
ptfe, I can't say it better then wikipedia and Jonathan Rowson
Grandmaster Jonathan Rowson recently considered why the Sicilian is the most successful response to 1.e4, even though 1...c5 develops no pieces, and the pawn on c5 only controls d4 and b4. Rowson writes, "To my mind there is quite a straightforward explanation. In order to profit from the initiative granted by the first move, White has to make use of his opportunity to do something before Black has an equal number of opportunities of his own. However, to do this, he has to make 'contact' with the black position. The first point of contact usually comes in the form of a pawn exchange, which leads to the opening of the position. ... So the thought behind 1...c5 is this: 'OK, I'll let you open the position, and develop your pieces aggressively, but at a price -- you have to give me one of your centre pawns.'"
I wouldn't recommend beginners play the sicilian right off the bat. e5 is more immediately logical. I made the mistake of playing the dragon sicilian as my first opening against e4 and I got completely demolished in most of my games until I switched to 1...e5. Things just make more sense at that level with e5.
I see, thanks
Remember use the defense that feels most comfortable to you. You can learn the theory behind it a little later.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The one that gives you lots of ideas for moves and plans and attack and defense.
That you can play naturally out of your own head, instead of being stuck and totally lost. The books can't play your moves for you.
What should I play in response to 1.e4? I don't like the Scandinavian that much, or the Ruy Lopex, or the Maroczy bind. So what should I play?