Capablanca said that no first move accomplishes as much as 1.e4 and 1.d4, so one of those two must be White's best chance for an advantage, and modern theory still holds true to this.
Ever heard of 1.c4 / 1.Nf3 ?
+1
Openings don't matter at your level.
wow, this is the probably the most straightforward comment i've ever seen on this site.
Specific opening sequences don't matter that much at your level. It is more important to be able to reach a middlegame position that you are comfortable with and can play in, since it is unlikely that your opponent will follow variations that you prepare. Opening variation knowledge is more important at higher levels, but not now.
The book is, "Pawn Power In Chess". Whatever you do, DO NOT read this book from the beginning. Begin on pg. 107, where the author, Hans Kmoch, begins writing about the 6 characteristic pawn structures and read thru to the end pg. 373.
The pages are not the same in all copies. The section is a few pages into the chapter "Pawns and Rooks", chapter 5 section 3.
@rtr1129
Thanks for clearing that up. I will keep it mind.
Capablanca said that no first move accomplishes as much as 1.e4 and 1.d4, so one of those two must be White's best chance for an advantage, and modern theory still holds true to this.
Ever heard of 1.c4 / 1.Nf3 ?
yupp. neither of those offers as much advantage as 1.d4 or 1.e4.
1.Nf3 offers a very slight edge, and 1.c4 gives Black immediate equality after 1.e5.
Anything wrong with 1.e4? It's the best opening (tied with 1.Nf3 and for practical purposes 1.d4 and maybe 1.c4 too) but it has the very minor drawbacks of being unable to support a d4 pawn, the pawn is exposed to attack (Nimzowitsch went over a Pirc line that revolved around forcing white to defend the e4 pawn with the tabiya of Re8-Bf8(to get out of the rook's way)-d6-Nc6(restraint)-Nf6.
Another problem with 1.e4 is 1...e6!? preparing to bop at e4 with 2...d5! after white's best 2.d4! and the e-pawn will be forced to advance releasing the tension on d5 eventually. The d4 base will become an object of attack with the c5-Qb6-Nc6 tabiya while white holds d4 and prepares undermining black's e6 base, but since this base is farther back and requires more setup black's plan is more realistic. White has Qg4!? variations against the French but after sound defense usually has an inferior endgame if Dvoretsky's SoCE3 teaches us anything.
The Caro-Kahn one would think is better as it's the same strategy but with the lightsquare bishop freed, but in practice is somehow easier to deal with than the French. Maybe because surrendering the center with 1.e4,c6 2.d4,d5 3.Nc3,dxe4 4.Nxe4 solves the central pawn problems? The d-file is open for black to gradually build up pressure against the d-pawn while using d5 as a potential pivot for his pieces but, it's just hard to explain.
I don't play the French myself but white does face some difficult strategic tasks in it and is only one way for black to equalize (albeit with a clear and obvious plan involving d4)
In 1.d4 systems for example 1.d4,d5 2.c4,dxc4 3.Nf3,Nf6 4.e3! is quite solid. 3.e4!? is of course playable but white is committed to defending d4 and his center is attacked here.
I apologize for the "rant" but listing the weaknesses of 1.e4 requires quite an explanation.
Tl;dr: you don't have the option to solidify things with e3 or use an e3 pawn for a support with d4 or sometimes even f4, and e4 is far advanced enough to be attacked by black, can be provoked forward, etc.
"yupp. neither of those offers as much advantage as 1.d4 or 1.e4.
1.Nf3 offers a very slight edge, and 1.c4 gives Black immediate equality after 1.e5."
But 1.Nf3! is potentially even better than 1.d4 (albiet very marginally) because of the principle of flexibility: the knight will likely end up here anyway whereas you don't always want a pawn on d4. For example if 1.Nf3,f5?! white has 2.d3! and black doesn't have e4 available for a knight and an eventual e4 strike offers some nice active possibilities for white. If 1...d6 then 2.d4,f5!? transposing anyway, but white being flexible has 1...d6 2.e4! giving black the option to transpose into a Philidor or a Pirc, either one gives white good prospects (and black if he knows how to play those, and he likely will, but that applies to any sound opening).
1.Nf3,Nf6 is probably black's best, both sides obtain flexibility, some central control, and development. Black's tasks is to break symmetry as soon as feasible to avoid things becoming too drawish. 1.Nf3,Nf6 2.g3 black has some information here, he knows white will fianchetto the kingside bishop so black should play something like 2...e6 declaring an intent to get some imbalances going.
The Vienna game is not boring. Nothing wrong with e4 or any opening.
Nf3 is flexible but it gives too many options to black. After Nf3 you may get e4 positions, d4 positions, english opening, reti opening, and you don't always have a choice. For example after 1. Nf3-c5 playing 2. d4 is not a good move. But if you play 1. e4 or 1. d4 you limit black's options a lot.
Capablanca said that no first move accomplishes as much as 1.e4 and 1.d4, so one of those two must be White's best chance for an advantage, and modern theory still holds true to this.
Ever heard of 1.c4 / 1.Nf3 ?
yupp. neither of those offers as much advantage as 1.d4 or 1.e4.
1.Nf3 offers a very slight edge, and 1.c4 gives Black immediate equality after 1.e5.
Oh really ? You must be very knowledgeable.
Then I praythee, how come grandmasters still play the English on a regular basis, and their opponents do not always answer 1...e5 ?
greetings dildos and dildettes. because there is no way to delete accounts, I am activly trying to get this account deleted. I have chosen your forum to disrupt in order to get banhammered. go...eat some white dog shit, all of you. that should about do it
greetings dildos and dildettes. because there is no way to delete accounts, I am activly trying to get this account deleted. I have chosen your forum to disrupt in order to get banhammered. go...eat some white dog shit, all of you. that should about do it
So... You joined today and you already want your account deleted ?
By the way : http://www.chess.com/home/cancellation?type=account
(you have one more step to go before it actually cancels the account after clicking the link.)
Nf3 is flexible but it gives too many options to black. After Nf3 you may get e4 positions, d4 positions, english opening, reti opening, and you don't always have a choice. For example after 1. Nf3-c5 playing 2. d4 is not a good move. But if you play 1. e4 or 1. d4 you limit black's options a lot.
No but after 1.Nf3,c5 2.c4 and 2.e4! are. With 1.Nf3 you have many options yourself and you typically get to castle early. 1.d4 isn't too limiting since black still has 1...b6 1...g6 1...e6 (2.e4 is best in those cases though white can play 2.Nf3 or 2.c4 to keep in the spirit of a 1.d4 opening) 1...d6 1...c6 1...f5 and of course 1...d5 and 1...Nf6. With 1.e4 apart from 1...f5 all the previous are playable in addition to 1...c5 and 1...e5. 1...c5 can be played against 1.d4 but a preliminary 1...Nf6 is best for those lines.
The good thing about 1.e4 is black can't stop it since some themes of 1.d4 positions is preparing an e4 strike, but with 1.e4 it's already played, though some solidity is exchanged for the mobility 1.e4 grants.
Capablanca said that no first move accomplishes as much as 1.e4 and 1.d4, so one of those two must be White's best chance for an advantage, and modern theory still holds true to this.
Ever heard of 1.c4 / 1.Nf3 ?