I am going to play 1...e5, 1...c5, 1...d5, and 1...e6.
1.e4 ...
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uhh...I would recommend sticking to one opening against e4 for the first while. Trying to play 4 different opening systems will probably prevent you from learning any of them particularly well.
skim each one, and if you like one, stick with it
I like d5, but you should always play a different move after it to experiment, like the "Scandinavian Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit (B01)" which i like to play and try tons of variations, and maybe try Qd6 after Nc3. you have to explore the un-well-known variations with the scandinavian,
transpositions wrote:
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 ...
I'm afraid I have to disagree. I agree with the moves that you suggested, but not with their categories. First of all, 1... d6 is by no means classical. It is a cousin, if not twin to the Modern, and it involves temporarily surrendering the center for a bishop on g7 and a pawn on g6, and then attacking it immediately after.
Second of all, the Sicilian is not hypermodern. The only thing hypermodern about it would be a Dragon-esque formation with the dark squared bishop on the flank. Still, the Sicilian does not give up the center, so it is not hypermodern. It attacks it in an imbalanced way making it anyone's game.
Third of all, the Caro-Kann is not hypermodern. It immediately contests the center with the d-pawn, supported by the c-pawn, rather than attacking from the flanks. It is very classical.
On a final, and much weaker note, I might add 1... a6 to the hypermodern list, but that is a matter of taste. Some people think the opening is trash, and some people think it has potential.
In conclusion, you offer good advice, but it is classified incorrectly. Though this would not affect a player very much, it might cause confusion during study.
On a personal note, my favorite responses go in this order:
e6, c5, c6, e5. I don't play anything else.
if you don't like the ruy play this
I used to like d5 as a reply but it exposes the king too much, really hard to defend.
BasicLvrCH8r wrote:
transpositions wrote:
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 ... I'm afraid I have to disagree. I agree with the moves that you suggested, but not with their categories. First of all, 1... d6 is by no means classical. It is a cousin, if not twin to the Modern, and it involves temporarily surrendering the center for a bishop on g7 and a pawn on g6, and then attacking it immediately after. Second of all, the Sicilian is not hypermodern. The only thing hypermodern about it would be a Dragon-esque formation with the dark squared bishop on the flank. Still, the Sicilian does not give up the center, so it is not hypermodern. It attacks it in an imbalanced way making it anyone's game. Third of all, the Caro-Kann is not hypermodern. It immediately contests the center with the d-pawn, supported by the c-pawn, rather than attacking from the flanks. It is very classical. On a final, and much weaker note, I might add 1... a6 to the hypermodern list, but that is a matter of taste. Some people think the opening is trash, and some people think it has potential. In conclusion, you offer good advice, but it is classified incorrectly. Though this would not affect a player very much, it might cause confusion during study. On a personal note, my favorite responses go in this order: e6, c5, c6, e5. I don't play anything else.
I am busy with last minute preparations for the Miami Open.
I leave you with, "I would agree with you, if you were right."
BasicLvrCH8r is on the ball about this one. But for someone just starting, I would not recommend the Sicilian. It creates wild and tactical games and requires a ridiculous amount of theory. e5 is okay, but it gives White a definite advantage with the extra tempo in an open game and still requires a lot of theory. c6 is too passive for someone just starting out. Many times, White can try to refute the variaton with an early d5 and requires knowledge of some long and forcing lines. I would recommend the French. It gives both a locked and open game, so you have more experience with the overall nature of the position. Also, there are many various lines in the French that one can change to his liking. Plus, you can get along well by knowing the themes of the French.
I personally find the French Defense (1. ...e6) and the Modern/Pirc Defenses (pawns on d6 and g6, bishop on g7, knight on f6) to be good.
I love the french, but I wouldn't recommend it to beginners. e5 is the way to go.
Sep 7, 2008
0
#33
EugeneS wrote:
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?
First ask yourself this question. "Why did my opponent play e4?" Then ask, "What is my best reply based upon what he is doing?" That way you can choose which replay to play. The one thing "some" of these people replying to you are wanting, is to get you to study the reasons behind the moves made in the opening. I can understand not liking an opening, but I want to know why you don't like it? Is it you don't win with it everytime, or are you bored with it, or do you not get any wins at all? Learning reasons behind the opening moves is very valuable. That way you start to understand the game more.
on the other hand, chess is a game, and one that I have played for a long time. I say try any opening you want. What is the worst that could happen? You lose! Wow, I believe we all have sufferend losses from a new opening we have tried.
On the other hand, it seems, because you are asking help, you think that one opening gives you a better chance at winning than others, well, to tell the truth, no opening is dominant in wins, if it were, it would be the only one played.
So, pick up an opening, study the moves and the reasons behind the moves in the opening, and go for it.
1... b6 (try it, experience it, study white's responses...)
I dont think an opening recommendation for a beginner should be about what is theoretically best or what kind of positions you LIKE. It should be about what he will learn the most from and e5 is definitely the most instructive opening move for the beginner. It is the most classical and sound choice.
Please ignore the people advocating the french, modern, whatever defense. These people advocate these openings becasue they like them, not because they are right for you. The only opening that should be advocated for is 1... e5 because its logical, instructive, & beginner friendly, and ericmittens makes a good point when he says you should play this opening. I personally believe that one should look for the opening that seems closest to their style...
P.S. BasicLvrCh8r is completely right. What is transpositions smoking?
First of all, NM-or-bust is correct in saying that 99.999% of the games Class-level players play are decided by tactics. You don't really need to study openings in-depth until you are an Expert level player (2000-2100+ Ratings).
However, I think e5 is a relatively weak response to e4 (and it shows in Black's overall win percentage)! The Ruy Lopez (Morphy's Defense) is probably Black's best bet defending with e5, and even that only gives him around a 25% chance to win.
There is no reason why a relative beginner can't adopt c5. I learned to play the Sicilian Dragon when I was a Class D player and did perfectly fine with it. I still play it now as a Class B player. Though e5 makes more intuitive sense, trust me, just start playing c5 now. It'll save you a lot of heartbreak and time having to learn c5 later down the road, as against better competition, it's almost impossible for Black to win a full point with e5!
About 1... e5: so traditional and disadvantageous even for a beginner. And what do you learn from it? You learn the controlling of the center by occupying it with pawns and pieces instead of occupying the center from the flank - which is hypermodern.
But does 1...e5 create imbalance to counter the advantage of white having the first move? It doesn't. No wonder Sicilian Defense is the most used by both amateurs and grandmasters alike.
Thus, try avoiding 1...e5 against 1.e4, and start learning 1...b6 or, the Sicilian and its variations. Even look into Pirc or Caro-Kann, if you wish.
All the best.
Thank you Mainstreet.
Dymtro, a beginner can learn opening fundamentals easily from the Sicilian: develop the minor pieces, challenge control of the center, and castle. There is almost no advantages for the beginner to play e5; all the tactical and positional advantages go to White and Black is forced to fight for equality the entire game. Yes, even grandmasters get their butts handed to them on occasion when playing the Sicilian, but such is the nature of playing Black.
EugeneS, the best advice is to adopt c5 over e5 and spend the rest of your time studying tactics!
NM-or-bust wrote:
Please ignore the people advocating the french, modern, whatever defense. These people advocate these openings becasue they like them, not because they are right for you. The only opening that should be advocated for is 1... e5 because its logical, instructive, & beginner friendly, and ericmittens makes a good point when he says you should play this opening. I personally believe that one should look for the opening that seems closest to their style... P.S. BasicLvrCh8r is completely right. What is transpositions smoking?
Another one of those that believes everything he reads in chess books.
If you are not too chicken to be at the Miami Open and we get paired I will be smokin' you!
Oh that's right you're not even an NM you would probably be playing in one those lower baby sections. Oh yeah don't forget to tip when you're in America eh!
Thanks everyone!